Pathway to Japanese Literature
Discover Japan's stories—across time, across language.
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| Original Title | 神神の微笑 |
|---|---|
| Author | 芥川 竜之介 |
| Genre | Modern Short Fiction |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In 16th-century Japan, Padre Organtino, a devout Jesuit missionary, grapples with homesickness and a profound, inexplicable melancholy. Despite his unwavering faith and the promise of conversion, an unseen, ancient force seems to permeate the landscape, hindering his sacred mission. His reality shatters when he's plunged into a hallucinatory vision: a primal Japanese Bacchanalia, filled with clamoring spirits and the triumphant cry of 'Amaterasu Ōmikami!' Convinced it's a demonic illusion, Organtino renews his resolve. Yet, a mysterious old man appears, a spirit of the land, asserting that Japan doesn't conquer but transforms. All foreign influences—from philosophy to religion—are subtly reshaped into its unique essence. He warns that even Deus risks becoming another native god. Organtino came to convert a nation. Will he succeed, or will Japan's ancient, silent power ultimately transform his God, his faith, and even himself? |
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