Want an overview of the main content of each chapter of Chrysanthemum and the Knife from chapters 8

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The chrysanthemum and the sword are about the Japanese nation"Chrysanthemum"(delicate, urbane, melancholy, etc.) and"Knives"The antagonistic personalities (strong, violent, brave, etc.) were analyzed in depth, and important conclusions were drawn for the future understanding of Japanese people.

While "The Chrysanthemum and the Sword" is a very subtle visual interpretation of the spirit of bushido, "The Chrysanthemum and the Sword" is not deep enough in its analysis of the Japanese and Japanese culture.

The author of the book uses cultural anthropologyResearch Methods:toJapanese Imperial FamilyThe family crest "chrysanthemum" and the "sword", which symbolizes the status of a samurai, are a set of contrasting and contradictory images, from the perspective of othersJapanese cultureThe seemingly contradictory aspects of the article are explained and explained, pointing out that Japanese culture is a culture of shame.

The book is not very long, consisting of thirteen chapters, with some notes on Japanese words and an index to the whole book. In addition to the first and last two chapters, we will start with my views on the war and talk about the Meiji Restoration.

It will also talk about Japanese customs, morals, and how to "self-train" (self-cultivation) and how children learn traditions.

Background. At that time, Japan and the United States were still at war, and Benedict could not go to Japan to investigate. Benedict, who was a fieldworker, used the methods of cultural anthropology to investigate Japanese living in the United States and Japanese war criminals interned in the United States during wartime.

At the same time, it collects a large number of literary and academic works about Japan, interprets the Japanese way of thinking and habits from the details of daily life, and uses the images of "chrysanthemum" and "knife" to reveal the contradictory character and national character of the Japanese. Japan surrendered in August 1945.

In 1946, she published this report in a book, "The Chrysanthemum and the Knife".

The "chrysanthemum" and "sword" in "Chrysanthemum and Sword" refer to "chrysanthemum" and "katana". "Chrysanthemum" is the Japanese imperial family.

The family coat of arms represents beauty and art. The "sword" is a katana, which represents honor and loyalty.

The book is named after "The Chrysanthemum and the Sword", which symbolizes the contradictory character of the Japanese people and Japanese culture.

The duality of sex. At the same time, chrysanthemums represent the humility and casualness of the Japanese nation. At the same time, it also shows that the Japanese nation has the same quality as chrysanthemums.

The sword is a katana sword that symbolizes the samurai spirit of the Japanese. It carries the hope and perseverance of the Japanese nation, and also represents the belligerent side of the Japanese nation.

The three words "chrysanthemum and sword" can more fully summarize the contradictory character of the Japanese and the duality of Japanese culture.

The Chrysanthemum and the Knife was written by Ruth Bensuk, an American scholar of human culture.

The reason why the United States sought an American to study Japan was because of World War II.

At the end of the period, Japan was certain to lose, and the United States had little contact with the Japanese before this, in order to be able to better manage them after the end of World War II, the United States sent a scholar to study them, but because World War II was not officially over at that time, the United States also considered the safety of the author, so it arranged for the author to communicate with the Japanese living in the United States and some prisoners of war and wrote this "Chrysanthemum and Knife".

Through the author's research, there has always been a contradiction in the growth of Japanese people. Their free period is in infancy and old age. At this time, they can do whatever they want.

But as they get older, they become more and more restrictive. They are to be deferential to their father and brother, but they are free to abuse their mother and sister. Their class system is very clear, and you can enjoy it as much as you want within your own class range, but you have to keep respect for those who are higher than you, and those who are of higher class cannot trample on the strictest of those who are of lower class at will.

Because the author also feels that the behavior of the Japanese is full of contradictions, you can not only appreciate the beauty of chrysanthemums and cherry blossoms, but also pick up a katana and kill at will.

The former Yunai is a chrysanthemum, and the latter is a knife. Mainly because both of these are quarrels, and the author is very fond of dissipating spring. And it was also a very rare thing at the time. He wanted to remember them by writing a book.

The chrysanthemum and the knife in "Chrysanthemum and the Knife" symbolize the contradictory poles in the spirit of Japanese culture, quiet and indifferent, but fierce and cruel. "Kiku" was originally the family crest of the Japanese imperial family, and "sword" is a symbol of bushido culture. "The Chrysanthemum and the Sword" reveals the contradictory character of the Japanese people who respect the diggers, that is, the duality of Japanese culture (such as the love of beauty and martial arts, the courtesy and aggressive, the new and stubborn, and the obedience but not the tamed......).And this unusually contradictory national identity runs through the entire culture of Japan.

The chrysanthemum symbolizes the status of the royal family. The sword symbolizes the identity of the samurai. Through these two things, we can experience some of the social status of Japanese society, and it can also give us a better understanding of some of the culture of Japanese life.

The United States urgently needed to formulate a postwar policy toward Germany and Japan. I know more about Germany and the United States, but I don't know much about the Japanese nation. In view of this, in 1944, the United States mobilized experts and scholars from all walks of life to study Japan, and the American anthropologist Benedict wrote a book "The Chrysanthemum and the Knife" (published in 1946).

Benedict used the words "chrysanthemum" (Aimi, Shorei) and "sword" (aggressive, martial) to symbolize the contradictory character of the Japanese. The practice of Zen and the tea ceremony in Japan are like "chrysanthemums", and the various crimes committed in the war are "swords". In short, this is a sick people!

The text is divided into thirteen parts. Benedict captures two typical character manifestations of the Japanese nation, one is that the god of the emperor is the most inviolable, and the other is the high degree of cooperation between the captured Japanese and the American military.

He did not shy away from talking about such a character, which is valuable for the disposition of Japan after World War II.

Benedict also discusses Japan's hierarchy and the Meiji Restoration's push out and change of traditional hierarchies, and sharply points out that Japan's superstition of hierarchical culture has led to its attempts to import this hierarchy when it invades foreign countries, and this unique Japanese ethical system is certainly difficult for other countries to accept and digest. She then analyzes the logic of "negative grace" in Japanese culture, and further points out that Japanese culture is a culture of shame, which is very different from the American culture of guilt.

In order to wash away the shame, the most extreme act of the Japanese is suicide. Japan's extreme moral code keeps their lives often in a state of high tension, and as compensation, Japanese culture is surprisingly tolerant of sensual pleasures.

Benedict also introduced the Japanese way of self-cultivation and parenting, regardless of the specific method and form, which is essentially in line with the strict moral code. Finally, she analyzes and evaluates the Japanese and their policies toward Japan after the surrender.

Japan, a small land and an island nation with extremely few resources, unleashed a world war with one hand and created the world's biggest economic miracle after World War II with the other. Why did Japan play the role of a heinous aggressor during the war, how big were Japan's ambitions, how quickly it recovered and rose after becoming the only country bombed by atomic bombs, and whether Japan, which is in economic recession and political chaos today, still upholds the feeling of a great power......All questions can be answered in this book "The Chrysanthemum and the Knife".

The book provides an in-depth analysis of the opposing characters of the Japanese people, "chrysanthemum" (delicate, gentle, melancholy, etc.) and "sword" (fierce, violent, bold, etc.).

Background of the book:

The Chrysanthemum and the Sword is an investigation report commissioned by the American scholar Benedict to analyze and study Japanese society and Japanese national character, aiming to guide the United States on how to control Japan after the defeat of the war. In 1946, after the publication of "The Chrysanthemum and the Sword", it caused a strong response in Japan, and the book is known as a classic work on Japanese studies by the originator of modern Japanese studies.

The title of the book, "Kiku" and "Sword", is interesting, "Kiku" is the family crest of the Japanese imperial family, "Sword" is a symbol of Japanese samurai culture, and "Kiku" and "Sword" symbolize the contradictory character of the Japanese people, that is, the duality of Japanese culture. By distilling the connections between the small behaviors of Japanese people, the author constructs the overall life patterns of specific people. Among the opponents of the United States, Japan is undoubtedly the most puzzling.

Therefore, understanding the way the Japanese behaved became a need for the war. This book provides an accurate judgment of the Japanese national character and an accurate reference for the decision-making of the United States.

The meaning of chrysanthemum.

The chrysanthemum is the emblem of the imperial family of Japan, and the chrysanthemum represents the Japanese people's idea of loyalty to the monarch. Before the end of World War II, the Japanese army's official saber had this chrysanthemum badge on the handle. The bow of the navy is also a copper chrysanthemum, which represents that this ** is the emperor's precious wealth, which must be carefully cared for and not damaged.

And the cherry blossom is the symbol of the Japanese samurai!

The chrysanthemum is the symbol of the Japanese royal family, while the cherry blossom is the symbol of the Japanese samurai. During the Edo period, Japan cleaned up its rivers and planted a large number of cherry blossoms and willow trees on both sides of the river. Since then, a culture of cherry blossom viewing has gradually developed in Japan.

An important driver of the association between bushido and cherry blossoms was the Meiji scholar Shinto Inazzo, who wrote at the beginning of his book "Bushido"."Bushido is something like the cherry blossoms, the symbol of Japan. "The cherry blossoms in full bloom are similar to the group spirit of the Japanese samurai, and the time when they wither is the most beautiful time, and it is in line with the Japanese samurai's pursuit of giving full play to their own value and dying without regrets.

Both of these points became the most important glue for the cherry blossoms and the bushido spirit.

What is the origin of chrysanthemum and knife?

Japanese chrysanthemum is an imported product that originated from China. In terms of literature, the earliest document related to chrysanthemums is Sugawara Michizane's "History of the Quasi-Gathering Kingdom", which was written in 892. And in the "History of Similar Gathering Countries", it is recorded:

In 797, Emperor Kanmu recited a waka about chrysanthemums at a kosui banquet. This is the earliest record of chrysanthemums in Japan. Since the chrysanthemum was introduced to Japan, it has been deeply loved by the Japanese royal family, holding chrysanthemum banquets, planting a large number of chrysanthemums in the palace, and so on.

The Japanese royal family's love for chrysanthemums is the Emperor Go-Toba at the end of the Heian period. Legend has it that Emperor Go-Toba personally made a knife and designed a sixteen-petal chrysanthemum as the inscription on the blade. In addition, royal costumes, car patterns, etc. are also tattooed with chrysanthemum patterns.

Since then, the chrysanthemum pattern has been spread among the royal family, and the sixteen-petal chrysanthemum has also become the family crest of the Emperor. To this day, you can see a 16-petal chrysanthemum on the cover of your Japanese passport.

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