The Secret Tales of Lord Bushu
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Summary
Editor's review
The title story, "The Secret History of Lord Boshū," is set in the Edo period and weaves a bizarre secret history surrounding "Lord Boshū," with a twisting plot rich in ghostly tales and classical flavor, reflecting Tanizaki's absorption and re-creation of traditional Japanese monogatari literature. Other pieces such as "The Sorcery of Hassan Khan" carry an exotic atmosphere, displaying the author's rich imagination and fondness for strange aesthetics. Overall, this collection is a key text for understanding the formation of Tanizaki Jun'ichirō's literary world. Readers will not only appreciate his meticulously crafted narrative technique and gorgeous prose but also glimpse the diverse experiments and artistic ambition of a literary master in the formative stage of his style. For readers who love Japanese literature, especially those interested in aestheticism and classical tales of the bizarre, this book offers unique reading and collection value.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers interested in Jun'ichirō Tanizaki's creative trajectory and early style
- Readers who love Japanese aesthetic literature and classical tales of the bizarre and strange
- Literary researchers seeking a deeper understanding of the origins of "diabolism" in modern Japanese literature
- Readers who appreciate meticulously crafted, gorgeously written narrative with a classical flavor
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking intense dramatic conflict or fast-paced modern narrative
- Readers who feel alienated by classical literary contexts and more understated narrative modes
Reading tips
- Reading in order is recommended, with particular attention to "The Secret History of Lord Bushu" and "The Sorcery of Hasan Khan," to appreciate two different flavors of Tanizaki's early work.
- While reading, note how Tanizaki combines classical materials with his personal pursuit of "the beauty of evil" to create a distinctive narrative atmosphere.
- If unfamiliar with the background, some prior reading on Edo-period Japanese culture and Tanizaki's life will help you savor the text on a deeper level.
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
- 序
- 卷之一
- 妙觉尼写《夜梦所见》之事，及道阿弥手记之事
- 武藏守辉胜甲胄之事，及松雪院画中容姿之事
- 卷之二
- 法师丸为人质育于牡鹿城之事，及女首之事
- 法师丸在敌阵砍人鼻之事，及展现武勇之事
- 敌我阵营皆狐疑不安之事，及药师寺围城解除之事
- 卷之三
- 法师丸元服之事，及桔梗夫人之事
- 筑摩则重成为兔唇之事，及贵夫人如厕之事
- 卷之四
- 桔梗夫人与河内介会面之事，及两人阴谋之事
- 则重失鼻之事，及源氏花散里和歌之事
- 卷之五
- 河内介归父城之事，及与池鲤鲋家女儿喜庆之事
- 道阿弥感激落泪之事，及松雪院悲叹之事
- 卷之六
- 牡鹿城没落之事，及则重遭活捉之事
FAQ
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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.
