Kenkō Yoshida

Kenko

Moonlight, spring blossom, a woman's hair - a medieval Japanese monk reflects on idle moments and life's fleeting joys.

A Cup of Sake Beneath the Cherry Trees

Kamil Crain

To think that a monk wrote this, yet most of his profound writings perfectly fit with Bible principles. (Started reading this while reviewing for my PSS—I’m glad that what I read for leisure aided my reading for school.)

Though some of his perspective, especially about marriage and love, are unreliable, it’s still quite refreshing to read another person’s reflections about life.

Also, imo, it’s not a book that you’ll read in one sitting. It requires time to meditate on some of the passages, while the others are more lighthearted and entertaining.

To think that a monk wrote this, yet most of his profound writings perfectly fit with Bible principles. (Started reading this while reviewing for my PSS—I’m glad that what I read for leisure aided my reading for school.)

Though some of his perspective, especially about marriage and love, are unreliable, it’s still quite refreshing to read another person’s reflections about life.

Also, imo, it’s not a book that you’ll read in one sitting. It requires time to meditate on some of the passages, while the others are more lighthearted and entertaining.

"Rather than seizing thieves and punishing their crimes, it would be better to make the world a place where people did not go hungry or cold. A man without stable means is a man whose heart is unstable. People steal from extremity. There will be no end to crime while the world is not governed well, and men suffer from cold and starvation. It is cruel to make people suffer and drive them to break the law, then treat the poor creatures as criminals.

The true criminal must be defined as a man who commits a crime though he is as decently fed and clothed as others."

Trisa P

"Rather than seizing thieves and punishing their crimes, it would be better to make the world a place where people did not go hungry or cold. A man without stable means is a man whose heart is unstable. People steal from extremity. There will be no end to crime while the world is not governed well, and men suffer from cold and starvation. It is cruel to make people suffer and drive them to break the law, then treat the poor creatures as criminals.

The true criminal must be defined as a man who commits a crime though he is as decently fed and clothed as others."

Maureen

“It is the ephemeral nature of things that makes them wonderful.” —Kenkō 

***

More like a cup of overflowing wisdom!

He is so wise!! I could highlight the entire book because every word he says is gold.

Maybe because he was a monk who had endless time to reflect. I loved Kenkō's musings, even his opposing views offered food for thought. It’s amazing how despite him living in the 14th century, Kenkō's words were relatable. Timeless, really. That’s the word to best describe him.

My Top 6 fave quotes:

1. "A certain recluse monk once remarked, ‘I have relinquished all that ties me to the world, but the one thing that still haunts me is the beauty of the sky.'"
2. “We long to leave a name for our exceptional wisdom and sensibility – but when you really think about it, desire for a good reputation is merely revelling in the praise of others. ”
3. “What kind of man will feel depressed at being idle? There is nothing finer than to be alone with nothing to distract you.”
4. “In all things, perfect regularity is tasteless. Something left not quite finished is very appealing, a gesture towards the future. Someone told me that even in the construction of the imperial palace, some part is always left uncompleted.”
5. “If you can look on any sentient being without compassion, you are less than human.”
6. “ People steal from extremity. There will be no end to crime while the world is not governed well, and men suffer from cold and starvation. It is cruel to make people suffer and drive them to break the law, then treat the poor creatures as criminals.”

lucrezia

— In all things, perfect regularity is tasteless. Something left not quite finished is very appealing, a gesture towards the future. Someone told me that even in the construction of the imperial palace, some part is always left uncompleted.

isa/bella

there is legitimately something so sacred in the experience of connecting w/ someone who lived a near millennia ago through words that you might have guessed were written yesterday b/c of how relatable they still are... it's the fact that i want to talk to this dude so bad and that i genuinely think we would get along... the fact that despite everything people never really change and through the ages we are all privately taking note of the exact same little things in the massive continuity of daily life... the fact that in all this you come to know that the centuries are not nearly as far apart as they seem. yea im crying dude

in all of kenko's prescient anecdotes there is just one instance where i'm forced to disagree with him, and it's in the final sentence of this excerpt:

"Writing this, I realize that all this has already been spoken of long ago in The Tale of Genji and The Pillow Book – but that is no reason not to say it again. After all, things thought but left unsaid only fester inside you. So I let my brush run on like this for my own foolish solace; these pages deserve to be torn up and discarded, after all, and are not something others will ever see."

A Cup of Sake Beneath the Cherry Trees

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