Ah, the mystery of love poetry! Wonderful piece, Leanne. And I am thinking about a collection of Japanese poetry written after WWII (in a box here somewhere), because I am now curious (thanks to Oppenheimer flying around the world) how love poems faired ever since; the bombing never mentioned by a single poet, but always in the background.
I translated an essay by Mamoru Oshii over a decade ago for Oshii scholar Brian Ruh, and while the material didn't make his book, I remember it well. Oshii was a fan of renouned Chinese language scholar Shirakawa. Shirakawa said that kanji were the playthings of the gods, their path to the world of men. And ours to theirs. I'm paraphrasing, ofc, but Oshii went on to say that's why he used kanji in manadalas or power (computer interfaces and starship warp portals), because of the power kanji represented. I have been in love with that essay ever since.
I cannot thank you enough for this comment! I had never heard of Oshii before and have been poking around!! I don't know if you saw this post I wrote on Shirakawa but I am a huge fan! I keep one of his dictionaries close at hand--and on his stele stone in his hometown he chose the kanji for play because it was his favorite--as you said!!! Thank you so much for reading! https://dreaminginjapanese.substack.com/p/playing-with-kanji
Yes, yes! Oshii used the first 2 lines in his essay too. I have the essay and translation on my drive, and I would love to share with my readerd, but I'm afraid of copyright. Lol.
I would love to see it!! I wonder what the rules are about casual translation where someone is not selling anything--surely that is allowed? Like we share books...
Peter is an incredible guy. The one time I got to meet him, I was far too shy to really talk to him. My loss. But would, 10000000% meet up with him again.
Ah, the mystery of love poetry! Wonderful piece, Leanne. And I am thinking about a collection of Japanese poetry written after WWII (in a box here somewhere), because I am now curious (thanks to Oppenheimer flying around the world) how love poems faired ever since; the bombing never mentioned by a single poet, but always in the background.
That sounds like a fascinating book! By the way, I just bought the other book that you recommended and it arrived today I’m going to email you!
Oh, I actually found it on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Japanese-poetry-now-Thomas-Fitzsimmons/dp/0805203842/ref=sr_1_1?crid=24L2IJBD5I32&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.k___29df-QM1eJ2RghAD69OQSb8eFCIGYdWs-ASFmGTEA_Qy6zOJOWR3UsjAleJeO3jA_ABLEtGfnkvW05GJ4YnjJXtdCtR3ZAAjkyPga3N2SumoH9CVWrb5337DJLKEarhXFzd9O0XVWiLuJBXqLUR4IsvyjSA-u0d25JFKSbHx5i5m7WY9pFZw-LCTpmGuaj_UzaliY3tlzx4JzuS0FWVo9LVJSW0PU-BIXVERID0.Eh9wCXOUOWb13rE0pv0CemePPithXZAC2J1f9V-j9m4&dib_tag=se&keywords=japanese+poetry+now&qid=1710375100&s=books&sprefix=japanese+poetry+now%2Cstripbooks%2C99&sr=1-1
I translated an essay by Mamoru Oshii over a decade ago for Oshii scholar Brian Ruh, and while the material didn't make his book, I remember it well. Oshii was a fan of renouned Chinese language scholar Shirakawa. Shirakawa said that kanji were the playthings of the gods, their path to the world of men. And ours to theirs. I'm paraphrasing, ofc, but Oshii went on to say that's why he used kanji in manadalas or power (computer interfaces and starship warp portals), because of the power kanji represented. I have been in love with that essay ever since.
PS The quote you gave is actually on his stele! The stele reads thus:
遊ぶものは神である。神のみが遊ぶことができた。
遊は絶対の自由と、ゆたかな創造の世界である。それは神の世界に外ならない。この神の世界にかかわるとき、人もともに遊ぶことができた。（中略）
遊とは隠れたる神の出遊をいう。
（遊学論）
I cannot thank you enough for this comment! I had never heard of Oshii before and have been poking around!! I don't know if you saw this post I wrote on Shirakawa but I am a huge fan! I keep one of his dictionaries close at hand--and on his stele stone in his hometown he chose the kanji for play because it was his favorite--as you said!!! Thank you so much for reading! https://dreaminginjapanese.substack.com/p/playing-with-kanji
Yes, yes! Oshii used the first 2 lines in his essay too. I have the essay and translation on my drive, and I would love to share with my readerd, but I'm afraid of copyright. Lol.
My pleasure, I will read the Shirakawa post too!
I would love to see it!! I wonder what the rules are about casual translation where someone is not selling anything--surely that is allowed? Like we share books...
I'll ask Brian Ruh or Peter Durf if they know the legalities. I think Peter once informed me.
Peter knows all!!!!
Peter is an incredible guy. The one time I got to meet him, I was far too shy to really talk to him. My loss. But would, 10000000% meet up with him again.