“Flatulence?” Kenkō, a 14th-century monk, believed unspoken thoughts caused it. Here at Tsurezuregusa, we explore his remedy: writing. What is Tsurezuregusa? It is also known as Essays in Idleness.
Kenkō lived during a tumultuous time. Warfare and instability disturbed him deeply. He eventually became a Buddhist monk. Before that Kenkō was a courtier. He witnessed the decline of aristocratic culture. Various warrior groups sought control over Japan.
Tsurezuregusa is a collection of Kenkō’s thoughts. It is similar to Sei Shōnagon’s Pillow Book. However, cheerfulness gives way to melancholy here. Nostalgia replaces it. The court was losing its importance culturally and politically.
Kenkō tried to salvage what he could from the old ways. He knew their time had passed. His work still informs Japanese sensibility. Kenkō’s aesthetic was never lost. More confident forms later overlaid it.
He wrote about many topics. Buddhist rituals were one. Carp fishing also intrigued him. The education of courtiers filled his mind. Physical deformities caught his eye. Burning moxa on kneecaps sparked his curiosity. He pondered dew-covered flowers. He considered the best way to view the moon on cloudy nights.
Kenkō wrote, “If I fail to say what lies on my mind it gives me a feeling of flatulence.” He jotted random thoughts on paper. He pasted them to the walls of his cottage. After his death, they were sorted and copied. This became Tsurezuregusa.
He also wrote about houses. Kenkō favored houses among venerable trees. He preferred gardens where plants grew wild. Yet, they seemed disposed with care. Kenkō admired spare room in construction. He found it pleasing and useful.
Kenkō understood impermanence. He saw beauty in uncertainty. He noted, “Truly the beauty of life is its uncertainty.” He found deeper feelings in longing for the moon. He saw them in drawing blinds, unaware of spring’s passing.
Are we to look only at flowers in full bloom? Should we only admire the clear moon? Kenkō suggests otherwise. He saw charm in young boughs about to flower. He appreciated gardens strewn with withered blossoms.
Kenkō’s influence remains strong. His essays offer a glimpse into medieval Japan. They reveal the inner workings of a forthright thinker. His sensitivity to beauty embodies all things good. So, let’s remember Kenkō and Tsurezuregusa. Embrace the beauty of impermanence.