theoretical Application

[a_priori]

I put together this list more than a month ago, when perpetua54 advertised at academics_anon. Then I sat on it for awhile, until the early semester crazy faded and I now am just a bit more available to parry your challenges, quench your queries, and prostrate my intellect for your procrastinatory amusement. So have at it!

Comments

[a_priori]

Can I explain it? That is an unfair question!

But I'll try to say something about it. I doubt this will add much that you haven't thought of, since you've obviously thought about it at least some. But perhaps other folks, less acquainted, are reading along.

Mono no aware refers to a sort of sad-but-unperturbed resignation at the impermanence of things, where 'things' includes objects, human lives, and nations. It seems to be deeply set in Japanese culture, appearing in the 'floating world' ephemera of the Edo period, the complex quasi-spiritual justifications given to kamikaze trainees, and arguably in contemporary Japan's obsession with prettily wrapping absolutely every product. And, of course, there's the cherry blossoms, whose beauteous death is a national obsession.

A completely unwarranted socio-historical theory -- Japan's culture is in part a response to its geography. The Japanese live an incredibly precarious existence, stuck on a string of volcanic islands with little arable land surrounded by some of the deepest and most violent waters in the world. The home islands are regularly hit by typhoons. The city of Kagoshima will likely be smothered by a volcano eventually. Tokyo itself - the largest city in the world - is almost inevitably doomed to destruction in an enormous earthquake. (It happened once before, in 1923.)

I don't know if that explains Japanese attitudes toward loss and passing, but it wouldn't be a huge surprise if they turned out to be connected.

[max_ambiguity]

Thanks. I'm still looking for the magic source that discusses mono no aware at length and in English. Alas, I'm afraid it does not exist.

[a_priori]

I'm glad to have given it a shot, at any rate. I'm more knowledgeable on Japanese history and politics than culture. But if I come across anything that looks promising, I'll point it out to you.