Death is a part of life. For as long as someone can live, they can die just as quickly. The reality of death has been portrayed through multiple mediums in various cultures but poetry seems to address it quite often. One poet: Kakinomoto Hitomaro, wrote about the life and death of his wife with frightening emotion. Hitomaro lived in Japan during the 8th century and “his elegy on his first wife is among the most touching poems in any language” (Barnstone 461). Although Hitomaro’s poem is important in it’s own right, it is vital to understand the cultural context in which it took place. Thus, to further understand one of “the most touching poems in any language,” it is vital to explore the ancient Japanese view of death in relation to American beliefs and in relation to Hitomaro’s poem (461).
Westerners seem to exclusively believe death to be a touchy subject while Asians believe death can have multiple interpretations. In America, funerals are somber occasions. The people attending the funeral wear black and tissues are always in abundance. Funerals most often take place in a church where the deceased’s loved ones can mourn and cry their way through the pain in a public space. In contrast, 8th century Japanese culture has a much different perspective, “to bury the dead, coffins are used. …show more content…
Americans mourn in private and somber settings while 8th century Japanese mourn in more public and lively settings. Hitomaro does neither as he mourns but he mourns in public. However, Hitomaro seems to be mourning not to spite his cultural tradition but because he feels he has lost his connection with his wife. He could not hear the birds and therefore, he could no longer hear his wife. Understanding both American culture and 8th century Japanese culture brings new light to this somber
Westerners seem to exclusively believe death to be a touchy subject while Asians believe death can have multiple interpretations. In America, funerals are somber occasions. The people attending the funeral wear black and tissues are always in abundance. Funerals most often take place in a church where the deceased’s loved ones can mourn and cry their way through the pain in a public space. In contrast, 8th century Japanese culture has a much different perspective, “to bury the dead, coffins are used. …show more content…
Americans mourn in private and somber settings while 8th century Japanese mourn in more public and lively settings. Hitomaro does neither as he mourns but he mourns in public. However, Hitomaro seems to be mourning not to spite his cultural tradition but because he feels he has lost his connection with his wife. He could not hear the birds and therefore, he could no longer hear his wife. Understanding both American culture and 8th century Japanese culture brings new light to this somber