Analysis Of Idleness By Kenko

Another lesson Kenko teaches in his Essays in Idleness is that life is fleeting, so every day should be celebrated. Kenko writes that people should always keep in mind the constant possibility of death, and not worry too much about worldly desires. He explains that many people do not expect death until they are about to die. At this point, all they can do is think about their lives and regret their past actions (Kenko 52). A few pages later, Kenko adds onto this, stating that life is fleeting, and that people should live in the present and not procrastinate. He asks, “Why should it be so difficult to do something now, in the present moment?” (Kenko 78). Kenko illustrates this idea with a scenario in which a man trying to study at night postpones …show more content…
People should celebrate each day simply because they are alive. Kenko states that people do not enjoy life because they do not fear death, and do not realize how imminent death is. Therefore, realizing the preciousness of life is invaluable, and is well worth the cost of an ox. In another essay, Kenko shares a story about how he attended a horse race at the Kamo Shrine, where he notices a priest sleeping on a branch. The people around him laugh at the priest, calling the priest an idiot for sleeping so peacefully in such a dangerous spot. Kenko suddenly realizes that death may come at any moment for anyone, not just the priest. Kenko writes about the fleetingness of life multiple times throughout his Essays in Idleness, constantly emphasizing how life is a gift, and that death can come at any moment. He summarizes all of these thoughts in essay 155, where he writes, “The hour of death waits not its turn … Everyone knows of death, but it comes unexpectedly, when people feel they still have time, that death is not imminent.” People assume they are going to live for a long time, but in reality, death can come at any moment. Everyone should keep this in mind, and realize that life is a fragile …show more content…
Kenko begins essay 137 by stating, “Are we to look at cherry blossoms only in full bloom?... branches about to blossom or gardens strewn with faded flowers are worthier of our admiration.” Kenko writes that it is natural to be disappointed when cherry blossoms scatter and the moon disappears in the sky. However, only an extremely insensitive person would think that there is nothing worth seeing once the blossoms are gone. Kenko believes that the beginnings and ends are the interesting moments of all things. To support his idea, Kenko first writes about the love shared between two people. He asks, “Does the love between men and women refer only to the moments when they are in each other’s arms?” According to Kenko, the man who knows what true love means is the man who laments when a relationship is over, and yearns for the relationship he once had. In other words, love is more so about the feelings experienced at the beginning and end of the romance, not during the relationship. Kenko continues with an example using the moon and cherry blossoms. He writes that the moon is more profoundly moving when it is almost dawn, compared to a full moon shining in a cloudless sky. Furthermore, the moon is more lovely and heartfelt the moment it disappears behind the clouds. Kenko’s thoughts on the beginnings and ends can be applied to the 21st century society as well. For instance, the