Hello all, I'm Aaron and this year I'm the JCC's treasurer/law advisor. My focus within the club aside from my official duties with managing and creating out treasury is on Japan's culture from a more historical and martial arts based perspective. If you are interested there are two books I recommend that might open some insights for you that you didn't have before. The first is this one:
The Chrysanthemum and the Sword by Ruth Benedict. An early Anthropologist, Ruth Benedict studied the Japanese culture around World War 2. Though she was never able to visit the country her studies through reading books, letters and accounts are still considered quite valuable and the book is required reading for a number of Japanese school children. Even the title itself speaks to her understanding of the culture, looking at it both through the warrior tradition that helped define the culture and the ideas of beauty and simplicity.
Now here is the second book:
The Book of Five Rings (Go Rin no Sho in Japanese) was written by Myamoto Musashi, a powerful swordsman who in his entire life of 60 duels lost only one and still was not killed. In the book he wrote his personal beliefs on swordsmanship and spirituality as well as his philosophy of winning. The book is still widely read in many parts of the world, has been applicable to business as well as the battlefield and life and is considered in some circles one of the definitive books on dominating your opponent.
Thanks, Aaron! I've read both of these and they are full of win. I can't remember, do we have these in our library?
ReplyDeleteNo idea one way or the other. I'll use my library time and check soon.
ReplyDeleteAlso, you say "Japan's culture from a more historical and martial arts based perspective".... That's really effing broad. Exactly what are you wanting to focus on? Also, there's more to their culture than war and martial arts.
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