Izumi Kyōka (1873–1939)

As the title indicates, these tales reveal themselves through the atmosphere of Izumi's writing. It is masterful. The landscapes twist and dissolve and resonate with fear and anticipation. Some of the descriptions are among the most unique I have ever encountered.

But it's not just the atmosphere. The formalistic approach Izumi employs complements the gothic mood. The stories also twist and dissolve into themselves, their resolution never sure at hand. At the end, a cloud of melancholy show more pervades the book. But that is one with the idea of the gothic.

The stories are set from a period between the turn of the last century to the third decade of the twentieth century. This was a period of intense Japanese modernization, building upon what had already begun during the latter half of the nineteenth century. Izumi's stories reflect those times, but they do so in a timeless manner. Railways and hospital surgeries become places of haunting memories. Seasides and festivals provide a background to enchantments and encounters with death. Utterly fascinating. show less

I wanted to enjoy it more than I did.
Truly beautiful language and descriptions, extremely cinematic and visual, but this oddly contrasts to the plots and symbolism of these short stories which are very hermetic to me, at this point in time anyway.
I would absolutely love to see if anyone has made an analysis of the stories, especially for “the surgery room” and “the spring day” which are both extremely enigmatic.

Puntgave, 120 jaar oude Japanse novelle.

Een monnik vertelt aan een medereiziger het relaas van één van zijn eerdere bergtochten. Na een aantal kwellingen en twijfels lijkt de ontmoeting met een zorgzame, bloedmooie jongedame in een afgelegen berghut soelaas te bieden. Ze woont er samen met een idioot aan een heilzame rivier, een ontmoeting die de monnik niet zomaar achter zich kan laten.

Een mooie, zinnelijke parabel zonder vingerdikke moraal. Schoon.

TBC