Oct. 13 Art and Human Development - John Clammer

Please invite a friend to join us for this interesting talk from a scholar of developing economies(especially in Southeast Asia) whose recent research includes an examination of so called tribal people's cultures--what is art? what is modern? extending perhaps to thinking about what is essential to being human?

 

John, has been associated with the United Nations University for over a decade, and is now visiting professor.  He has written fifteen books, including “Diaspora and Identity: The Sociology of Culture in Southeast Asia” (2003), “Race and State in Independent Singapore: The Cultural Politics of Pluralism in a Multiethnic Society” (1998); Japan and Its Others: Globalization, Difference and the Critique of Modernity” (2001) and “Diaspora and Belief: Globalization, Religion and Identity in Postcolonial Asia” (2009).


You can read more about him at

http://unu.edu/faculty/john-clammer.html

 

John has generously spoken to us several times, and we always find his talks stimulating, informative and enjoyable.

Hope to see you at the International House of Roppongi at 3 pm October 13 on the fourth floor meeting room.   Everyone is welcome to this and all monthly meetings of the Unitarian Fellowship of Tokyo where we welcome new people and both new and old thoughts.

Sept. Talk Saigyo the Poet by Bonnie McClure

In September, Bonnie McClure spoke to us about the medieval poet Saigyo and his impact on the subsequent poetry in Japan.   Bonnie, one of our long time members, is getting her masters in Japanese literature at UW in Seattle.

Saigyo (西行）1118-1190, lived just as Japan was changing from the sedate Heian period, where poetry was written without moving off the futon, to a period where poets began to roam the countryside, capturing thier impressions, and opening up new themes.

Many of his poems are famous and Bonnie shared with us some of her translations.

道のべに清水流るる柳陰

しばしとてこそ立ち止まりつれ (SKKS 262)

 By the roadside
A willow’s shade
With clear water flowing:
Thinking “just for a moment…”
I stopped and stood

I particularly liked another one, where, although a priest, rather than wanting to have his final rest facing the Buddha, he preferred to be buried under a cherry tree.


願わくは花の下にて春死なん 

その二月の望月のころ (SKS 77)

My wish:
to die in spring
under the blossoms—
At that full moon
 of Kisaragi month

Ways his poetry foreshadowed the medeival literary era included
a more serious interest in Buddhism, close observation of nature, an honest (raw) tone, and a high presence of self/narration.   Major themes of his poetry included travel, reclusion, conflict with religious resolve, and cherry blossoms with the moon.  Japan would have been a poorer place without him. 

For further reading in English she suggested Burton Watson's translation "Saigyo, Poems of a Mountain Home."

 Thanks Bonnie.