MISHIMA’S SWORD: TRAVELS IN SEARCH OF A SAMURAI LEGEND

Book ID/图书代码： 01200005B02872

English Summary/英文概要： On 25th November 1970 Japanese writer Yukio Mishima plunged a knife into his tightly muscled belly, then stretched out his neck so his friend might decapitate him using Mishima’s own antique sword. Mishima’s spectacular suicide has been called many things: a hankering for heroism; a beautiful, perverse drama; a political protest against Japan’s emasculated post-War constitution; the last act in a theatre of death; the epitaph of a mad genius. Why then did Mishima choose to die in such an extreme manner? And what happened to Mishima’s sword? Christopher Ross found his life echoed Mishima’s own. Both fascinated by the relation of body to mind; both dedicated decades to Japanese martial arts; both obsessed by language and the power of words. Thirty years after Mishima’s suicide Ross sets off for Tokyo on a journey into the heart of the Mishima Incident. He aims to find Mishima’s sword whilst re-evaluating the life and anachronistic death of this unique man. Borrowing the apartment of his friend Ken, who seems to be on the run from gangsters, he launches out to track down those who knew Mishima, craftsmen and critics, soldiers and swordsmen, boyfriends and biographers – even the man who taught Mishima hara-kiri. Following a thirty year old trail leads the author to reflect on, amongst other things, bushido and socks, mutineers and Noh ghosts, nosebleeds and metallurgy - and how to look your very best when ending it all.

Chinese Summary/中文概要： 1970年11月25日，日本作家三岛由纪夫把刺刀插入了自己的腹部，接着他把自己的脖子扭长，这样朋友就可以用三岛由纪夫自己的那把剑他的脖子砍下来。三岛由纪夫的这一悲壮的自杀被形容成对英雄主义的渴望；一处美丽的扭曲剧目；对日本战后被阉割了的宪法的政治性抗议；献给疯子天才的墓志铭。那为什么三岛由纪夫会选择这样一种极端的方法来自杀呢？后来那把剑又出了什么事？作者Christopher Ross仿佛从三岛的生活中看到了自己的生活，因为两人都对身体与心灵的关系很痴迷，都花了数十载研究日本武术；都对语言和文字的力量和痴迷。在三岛离世三十年之后，Ross出发来到了东京，要直击三岛自杀的本质。他一边寻找那把剑，一边则重新分析这位非同寻常的家伙的生和死。Christopher从朋友KEN那租了间公寓后，便开始全面出击，寻找所有认识三岛由纪夫的人，他们中有手艺人、批评家，军人、剑客、男朋友和传记家，就连那位教授过切腹自尽的人都没落下 ……

Awards/获奖情况：‘(Ross’s) digressive reflections on his quest are personal, pertinent and philosophical: he gives a vivid picture of a Japan still haunted by nostalgia and nationalism.’ The Times

’Entertaining, deftly written and wise…a very good book. Its achievement is that not only does it make the reader learn, it makes the reader think.’ Daily Telegraph

’An engaging patchwork of a book, a blend of cultural history, memoir, travelogue and philosophical rumination.’ Hari Kunzru, Sunday Telegraph

‘“Mishima’s Sword” resembles a bento, those beautiful lacquered lunch boxes in which delicacies nestle side by side in separate compartments, each a feast in miniature.’ New Statesman

’A fascinating read.’ Arena Magazine

About the Author/作者介绍： Christopher Ross has travelled in over a hundred countries. He now lives in Oxfordshire. His first book, ‘Tunnel Visions: Journeys of an Underground Philosopher’, was published in 2001.

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Rights Status/版权销售情况：Simplified Chinese/简体中文：AVAILABLE(到期可授)

Complex/Traditional Chinese/繁体中文：AVAILABLE

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