A Reader of Essays
Tags
Summary
Editor's review
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Deep readers with a strong interest in Japanese literature, especially Showa-era prose
- Writing enthusiasts eager to sharpen their literary appreciation and sense of verbal beauty
- Literary researchers seeking to understand the nature of creation from a classic author's perspective
- Readers who enjoy slow, careful reading and the combination of theoretical discussion and aesthetic cultivation
Not a good fit for
- Utilitarian readers seeking quick writing templates or ready-to-use techniques
- Readers lacking basic interest in or background knowledge of Japanese culture and classical literary criticism
Reading tips
- Read the book alongside a representative Tanizaki novel (such as The Makioka Sisters) to see his theories practiced in his fiction
- Keep pen and paper at hand to note specific analyses of "feel for language" and "rhythm" that strike you, and try applying them to your own reading or writing
- Don't feel obliged to finish it in one sitting; it works well as a bedside or desk book, to be dipped into a chapter or two and savored repeatedly
About the publisher
Shanghai Translation Publishing House is a Chinese publisher oriented mainly toward translation and publishing. Its publications cover foreign literature, world classics and classic works, as well as social culture, folk literature and classical poetry. The database contains 2,618 titles, including Never Let Me Go, Les Misérables (2 volumes), Don Quixote (illustrated collector's edition), The Complete Comedies of Molière (4 volumes), The Complete Novels of Kafka (3 volumes), The Collected Works of Dostoevsky (9-volume set), Reason and Persons, and Oedipus Rex (Translation Classics). Its author resources include foreign writers such as Kazuo Ishiguro, Victor Hugo, Cervantes and Molière, as well as translators such as Zheng Kelu, Sun Jiameng, Li Jianwu and Zhang Kun. The publisher has brands such as "Translation Classics Selections" and "Translation Documentary," and emphasizes translated works in foreign literature and the humanities and social sciences, while also publishing bilingual dictionaries and foreign-language educational books. Public information is limited; the above is based on the book information in the database.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 一 何谓文章
- 语言和文章
- 实用性文章和艺术性文章
- 现代文和古典文
- 西洋文章和日本文章
- 二 文章精进法
- 不要被文法囚禁
- 研磨感觉
- 三 文章的要素
- 文章有六个要素
- 用语
- 调子
- 文体
- 体裁
- 品格
- 含蓄
- 译后记
FAQ
Is this a practical manual on how to write fiction?
Can I understand this book without having read Tanizaki's works?
Are the book's arguments outdated, and do they still have value for modern Chinese writing?
Comments
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About the author
Jun'ichirō Tanizaki was a modern Japanese novelist and a leading representative of aestheticist literature. Born in 1886 into a rice-merchant family in Tokyo, he studied in the Japanese literature department of Tokyo Imperial University before dropping out. In 1910 he made his name with the story "The Tattooer," which brought him attention in literary circles. After the Great Kanto Earthquake, he moved to the Kansai region, and his focus gradually shifted toward classical aesthetics. He left important works in both fiction and prose, including "The Makioka Sisters," "Naomi," "In Praise of Shadows," and "A Portrait of Shunkin." He also translated "The Tale of Genji" into modern Japanese, helping to spread the classical work. He died of kidney disease in 1965. His writing is delicate and refined, and he had a profound influence on modern Japanese aestheticist literature.
Lai Mingzhu is a Chinese-language book author about whom limited public information is available; details such as nationality, dates of birth and death, and educational background remain unclear. Judging from the four works held in the collection, her writing spans essays and miscellaneous works, applied psychology, and foreign literature. Representative titles include A Reader for Articles, The Perch of the Heart: Hayao Kawai on Spiritual Healing, Adult Friendship: Hayao Kawai on Friendship, and The Cat, Shozo, and Two Women. Two of these works are connected with the Japanese psychologist Hayao Kawai, indicating her attention to psychological themes such as spiritual healing and friendship and her involvement in compiling or introducing related writings; The Cat, Shozo, and Two Women shows that she also engages with foreign literature. Overall, her works combine informative content with readability, offering gentle and practical guidance in the fields of psychological healing and literary reading.
