I’ve only read Yoko Tawada’s German books. She finds many layers of meaning in German words, many from her Japanese perspective. Similar in her Japanese works?
Oh, you are so lucky to be able to read her work in German. She is so fascinating. I think the example of 遣唐使 versus 献灯使 is telling of her stress on language nuance--like you said. I think any Japanese person in seeing 献灯使 would realize it is a play on 遣唐使 and then the choice of 遣唐使 versus 献灯使 brings up other flights of fancy.. like that English novel, the Lantern Bearers. I've not read her latest novel yet, have you? Am looking forward to reading it https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/02/28/the-novelist-yoko-tawada-conjures-a-world-between-languages
I didn’t realize till you said that how much my languages are resources to me!
I’m not advanced enough in Japanese, though, to catch the play on words. Interesting 💡 that there are also kanji word plays.
I haven’t read any of Yoko Tawada‘s novels. I think she wrote all those in Japanese? The works in German that I’ve encountered are mostly essayish, reflections.
Your languages are definitely resources! I thought she wrote something in her early career that was part Japanese and part German, and that it was really hard to translate into English how to evoke the differences. I could be remembering incorrectly though. But she’s really interesting, I think!
Fascinating! I'm sure there's a lot more nuance in the Genji that I missed during my one & only read (when I knew less than nothing) so I'm enjoying these little tidbits. Not sure about karamono being the most highly priced as every Urasenke person I know says Japanese raku bowls are at the top. It is true that karamono tea procedures are very high up in the hierarchy though & not available to beginners.
Thank you so much for reading and this comment, Vanessa! The connection to China in Genji is ultimately my main interest--or obsession :) You are right about raku. I studied Urasenke and my sensei would agree with you, I am sure. I think historically the tea ceremony grew up around issues of connoisseurship, in particular for karamono. And the procedures, as you said, are not for a beginner. I only ever saw it one time in our lessons... !!
Oh, you're a 茶人 too? I'm still too new to even observe karamono in action (about 2 years of regular practice) but my sensei mentions it sometimes. I do love learning about the history & different influences of how/which utensils are used.
Your layers of information are so fascinating, Leanne!
Thank you so much for reading and commenting Sally! It means a lot to me!!
I’ve only read Yoko Tawada’s German books. She finds many layers of meaning in German words, many from her Japanese perspective. Similar in her Japanese works?
Oh, you are so lucky to be able to read her work in German. She is so fascinating. I think the example of 遣唐使 versus 献灯使 is telling of her stress on language nuance--like you said. I think any Japanese person in seeing 献灯使 would realize it is a play on 遣唐使 and then the choice of 遣唐使 versus 献灯使 brings up other flights of fancy.. like that English novel, the Lantern Bearers. I've not read her latest novel yet, have you? Am looking forward to reading it https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/02/28/the-novelist-yoko-tawada-conjures-a-world-between-languages
I didn’t realize till you said that how much my languages are resources to me!
I’m not advanced enough in Japanese, though, to catch the play on words. Interesting 💡 that there are also kanji word plays.
I haven’t read any of Yoko Tawada‘s novels. I think she wrote all those in Japanese? The works in German that I’ve encountered are mostly essayish, reflections.
Your languages are definitely resources! I thought she wrote something in her early career that was part Japanese and part German, and that it was really hard to translate into English how to evoke the differences. I could be remembering incorrectly though. But she’s really interesting, I think!
Fascinating! I'm sure there's a lot more nuance in the Genji that I missed during my one & only read (when I knew less than nothing) so I'm enjoying these little tidbits. Not sure about karamono being the most highly priced as every Urasenke person I know says Japanese raku bowls are at the top. It is true that karamono tea procedures are very high up in the hierarchy though & not available to beginners.
Thank you so much for reading and this comment, Vanessa! The connection to China in Genji is ultimately my main interest--or obsession :) You are right about raku. I studied Urasenke and my sensei would agree with you, I am sure. I think historically the tea ceremony grew up around issues of connoisseurship, in particular for karamono. And the procedures, as you said, are not for a beginner. I only ever saw it one time in our lessons... !!
Oh, you're a 茶人 too? I'm still too new to even observe karamono in action (about 2 years of regular practice) but my sensei mentions it sometimes. I do love learning about the history & different influences of how/which utensils are used.
I studied for several years in Tochigi. I loved it but I was hopeless... worst 茶人 ever! But I loved it!!
If you love it, that is more than enough, I'd say!