No. 88
"A certain man owned a copy of Wakan Roei Shu which, he claimed, was in the hand of Ono no Tofu. Another man commented, 'I am sure that there must be good reason for the attribution, sir, but does it not seem an anachronism that Tofu should have written the manuscript of a work compiled by Fujiwara no Kinto, a man born after his death? It seems rather strange.'
The owner replied, 'That's precisely what makes the manuscript so unusual.' He treasured it more than ever"
-- Kenko --
Essays in Idleness
Edited and translated by Donald Keene
I wonder if there really are such people.. It seems hard to believe.
Notes:
Ono no Tofu (896-966) was a celebrated calligrapher.
Fujiwara no Kinto (966-1041) was born in the year that Ono no Tofu died.
"beauty is in the eye of the beholder", i guess... i haven't got this book, although i have others translated by DK... it's difficult to judge qualities of translation when you can't read the original, but DK's work has seemed to me pretty poetic and musical... tx for the tidbit...
ReplyDeleteMudpuddle,
ReplyDeleteYes, I've read a collection or two of Japanese works translated by Keene. I've never heard of any complaints about his work, so I just go on trust that he's a good translator.
Although it's been some time, I've posted others by Kenko, and so far I haven't heard any complaints about Keene's efforts.
I had to read your blurb a few times. Reading the notes helped. I think I would get a head ache reading such "logic".
ReplyDeleteSharon,
DeleteYes, that's why I included the notes. I had to go over the chapter several times before I got what I think is Kenko's point.
Some folks do say and/or believe strange things.I think that there are indeed indeed such people.
ReplyDeleteBrian,
DeleteYes, I suspect that many people do this. I wonder why this is. It seems that there are those who would rather believe something impossible than admit they might be wrong.
a lovable human trait... to me there's something whimsical about people believing in fantasies, particularly of their own invention... sort of wishful thinking personified.... a kind of sci fi maybe....
DeleteMudpuddle,
DeleteExcept when they kill people in support of their fantasies. And, this happens too often for me to see it as lovable.
i guess i wasn't thinking along those lines; more Peter Panish...
DeleteR.T.,
ReplyDeleteBorges would be a good choice. As far as I can figure it out, the anecdote goes something like this:
1st man--I like this book because the calligraphy was done by Ono no Tofu.
2nd man--that attribution seems strange because Ono no Tofu died before the author of the book was born.
1st man--Yes, that's what makes it most unusual.
In other words, the 1st man would rather believe something impossible than admit that it was not done by Ono no Tofu.
Mudpuddle,
ReplyDeleteThere is an underlying theme of cruelty in Peter Pan which I was surprised to find when I first read the book a few years ago for a book group. My conception had been formed by the Disney version which took the real guts out of it. Peter Pan, the book, is not a children's book, or at least so I read it.
i wasn't aware of that... but it was so long ago... i've no reason to question your reaction, tho; interesting...
ReplyDeletehave you ever read any George MacDonald? At the Back of the North Wind, Phantastes, et alia.... i recall quite being entranced with his work at one point...
Mudpuddle,
DeleteThat was my reaction, so you and others may differ.
I know the name but I can't think of anything that I have read by MacDonald. I may have read some of his shorter works, but I doubt if I've read any of his novels.
What brings him to mind?
for some reason i just associate him with Barrie; a mindless connection of which i seem to be composed, in large measure...
DeleteMudpuddle,
DeleteSuch "mindless connection(s)" can be fascinating and fruitful.