Just because I feel like it...
It is SOOO typical of me =_=
I am in China, surrounded by a different language, different culture, so many books on chinese history, philosophy, folklore (my roommate has an electic book collection: chinese, french, spanish, german, english classics, Greek philosophy, etc.)....
And I choose the ONE book on the shelf that just HAPPENS to be about Japan!
SHEESH!!!! XDDDDDDD
It is called "The Chrysanthemum and the Sword" and it is an anthropological study of the Japanese made by an American because of the war.
But HOLY MOLY, Japanese people were/are complicated. They have such an incredible responsibility. Hierarchical pressures, duty to one's family, abiding by social rules and conventions, sooo many factors come into their day-to-day behaviour. It's such an intricate and delicate balance that they have to maintain. It's like a skillful dance of indirectness. Showing exterior obeisance whilst manipulating the rules to how you want to live.
I am just laughing at myself right now. It's my day off and I was looking for some light reading, and THAT was what I chose to pick up. It's even funnier because I can't stop reading. I am compelled to discover more, to get a greater understanding, and yet, it's like the more I understand, the more I have to learn about, and the more I learn, the more confusing and complicated it all seems.
I suppose if I compare Japanese beliefs to the Irish, well it is very different. From birth the Japanese have a sense of the debt they bear to their parents, and later their relatives, friends, teachers, and society. In Ireland every debt had to be paid as soon as possible.To have the weight of that debt above you was so shameful. I even feel it sometimes. When people do kind things for me or help me out I feel a sense of duty and almost impatience to do something to repay their kindness. I suppose the Irish couldn't risk being in debt too long since land was such a coveted thing. To lose one's land to repay your debt, would be to lose your social standing and respect, and livelihood obviously.
It's all so interesting.... Even in China I see so many things that I see as strange or different, or just plain confusing. I wonder how many things I do generate the same confusion in the people around me (probably one would humming to myself, whilst unconsciously skipping and swishing my arms back and forth when I walk down the street XDDD).
... So interesting, and perplexing and compelling, and confusing...
I am in China, surrounded by a different language, different culture, so many books on chinese history, philosophy, folklore (my roommate has an electic book collection: chinese, french, spanish, german, english classics, Greek philosophy, etc.)....
And I choose the ONE book on the shelf that just HAPPENS to be about Japan!
SHEESH!!!! XDDDDDDD
It is called "The Chrysanthemum and the Sword" and it is an anthropological study of the Japanese made by an American because of the war.
But HOLY MOLY, Japanese people were/are complicated. They have such an incredible responsibility. Hierarchical pressures, duty to one's family, abiding by social rules and conventions, sooo many factors come into their day-to-day behaviour. It's such an intricate and delicate balance that they have to maintain. It's like a skillful dance of indirectness. Showing exterior obeisance whilst manipulating the rules to how you want to live.
I am just laughing at myself right now. It's my day off and I was looking for some light reading, and THAT was what I chose to pick up. It's even funnier because I can't stop reading. I am compelled to discover more, to get a greater understanding, and yet, it's like the more I understand, the more I have to learn about, and the more I learn, the more confusing and complicated it all seems.
I suppose if I compare Japanese beliefs to the Irish, well it is very different. From birth the Japanese have a sense of the debt they bear to their parents, and later their relatives, friends, teachers, and society. In Ireland every debt had to be paid as soon as possible.To have the weight of that debt above you was so shameful. I even feel it sometimes. When people do kind things for me or help me out I feel a sense of duty and almost impatience to do something to repay their kindness. I suppose the Irish couldn't risk being in debt too long since land was such a coveted thing. To lose one's land to repay your debt, would be to lose your social standing and respect, and livelihood obviously.
It's all so interesting.... Even in China I see so many things that I see as strange or different, or just plain confusing. I wonder how many things I do generate the same confusion in the people around me (probably one would humming to myself, whilst unconsciously skipping and swishing my arms back and forth when I walk down the street XDDD).
... So interesting, and perplexing and compelling, and confusing...