Hōjōki
Kamo no ChōmeiWritten in 1212 and still read as one of Japan's essential prose works, Hōjōki turns catastrophe into a durable philosophy of simplicity.
“Of the flowing river the flood ever changeth, on the still pool the foam gathering, vanishing, stayeth not.”
— Kamo no Chōmei
Why It's Lindy
Written in 1212 and still read as one of Japan's essential prose works, Hōjōki turns catastrophe into a durable philosophy of simplicity. Its ten-foot hut is one of literature's great images of freedom from status, possessions, and public noise.
About This Volume
A compact Japanese classic on impermanence, disaster, and withdrawal from worldly ambition, written after Chōmei witnessed fire, famine, political upheaval, and earthquake in late Heian Kyoto.
Frequently Asked
Why should I read Hōjōki?
Written in 1212 and still read as one of Japan's essential prose works, Hōjōki turns catastrophe into a durable philosophy of simplicity. Its ten-foot hut is one of literature's great images of freedom from status, possessions, and public noise.
What is Hōjōki about?
A compact Japanese classic on impermanence, disaster, and withdrawal from worldly ambition, written after Chōmei witnessed fire, famine, political upheaval, and earthquake in late Heian Kyoto.
