A novel of family dynamics set in MAINE
An overview of the history of JAPAN
30th August 2024
The Shortest History of Japan by Lesley Downer, an overview of the history of JAPAN.
What a charming way to absorb a panoramic and short history of the Japan archipelago. There are several publications in The Shortest History of… series, including a choice of countries, together with Sex and Economics (not together, obviously, each accorded its own book). A veritable smorgasbord of fascinating subjects from Old Street Publishing.
In this book the author starts out with a quick overview of the early days, starting way back in 14,500BCE with the Jōmon; the different historical ages, as the trajectory moves forward, are then set in a context paralleling ages across continents, highlighting notable periods and events. This is a helpful structure to aid the reader in understanding what was unfolding not only in Japan but also across the world: for example, the height of the Kamakura period (1180-1333) is set against Marco Polo arriving in China / the Heisei period (1989-2019) encompasses Fukushima, the Fall of the Berlin Wall plus the break-up of the Soviet Union.
There are periods of calm across the country contrasted with upheaval. The Mongols took over much of what we know as China and had their eye set on this beautiful string of islands. During the Kamakura period (1180-1333) the warrior elite took the helm, the court slipped into decadence and religion became a great comfort to many. The principles of Buddhism and Shintoism had already been embedded in the culture of the country and today they remain a strong and integral part of Japanese society.
Natural disasters could sway the trajectory of governance. Earthquakes and tsunamis were common and caused a change in weather patterns, which in turn affected harvests and all manner of infrastructure. The Fukushima nuclear disaster is a modern case in point.
In 1339 the first Zen garden was created. Women warriors were revered and the world’s first novel (The Tale of Genji) was written by a woman. Overall there are lots of interesting snippets of information, bringing the reader right up to modern day. This is a richly and creatively told story of the country from the early days right up to the present, through WW2 and the recently held Tokyo Olympics.
“Japan has found a unique way of reconciling past and present, being a hugely successful modern nation while also nurturing it ancient traditions, customs and culture.” The author has spent 40 years of her life living in and around Japan and is therefore well placed to cast her eye over the history of the country and bring it to life for readers who are in search of an overview. She writes with authority and style.
Tina for the TripFiction Team
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