October 2020 Favorites: Books to discover Asian Culture

We aren’t (yet) confined to Italy but it is surely only a matter of weeks, considering the curve of positive coronavirus cases.

I have a rather long list of books to read, but I will give you the books I have already read and loved, to accompany you during the evenings of confinement.

This month, we will talk about books or films that help us better understand Asian (or Eastern) culture and beliefs. The list I give you isn’t mainstream. It’s not a list of Asian bestsellers, on the contrary.

Journey to the East by Nguyên Phong (link): Since I am Vietnamese, I start with a Vietnamese author, whom I have just discovered. This book is supposed to be a translation of a book published in 1924 in English. In fact, I found the 1927 edition of the book in question but the contents aren’t the same. I much prefer Nguyên Phong’s version which uses words, simple examples and general knowledge to explain the two pillars of the oriental belief: Reincarnation and Karma. Through the accounts of a journey through India to meet the great masters with power and wisdom beyond our imagination, but inaccessible, we learn more about the origin of the world, what happens after death, how quantum physics has managed to demonstrate some of these beliefs, why karma does not react immediately, there are also explanations about astrology. Written by an engineer (Vice President of Boeing), of course the examples and arguments given are very logical. My words aren’t enough to describe this book correctly. Those who are always looking for the meaning of their life will find answers in it. Those who are in despair will see a light at the end of the tunnel. Those who are mourning will find comfort in it. The only drawback is that this book is only available in Vietnamese or English (link).

Dix Milles Printemps by Yveline Feray (link), who knows more about Vietnamese customs than anyone else. It is based on a real drama in Vietnam, to recreate the Vietnam of the 15th century under Chinese domination. By reading this book, you will perhaps better understand our customs, our ways of thinking and the millenary tensions between China and Vietnam. It is a pity that this book, translated into Vietnamese, isn’t as widely distributed and accessible as it should be, because of a few incorrect details in the book, implicating a very respected character in Vietnam . Only one copy remains at the National Library in Hanoi. I feel so lucky to be able to read it in its original language (French).

Neither of Eve nor of Adam by Amélie Nothomb (link): I usually avoid trendy authors, but this book has completely upset me. The story, told with great sincerity, opens the doors of a Japan closed to foreigners. Amélie goes out with a Japanese man, whom she believes to be part of the mafia. Between the cultural differences, the quipro quo, the search for oneself… we have the impression that we are living her adventure. I read it in one go.

The Annals of Spring and Autumn (link) relate the history of China between 722 and 481 B.C., they would have been corrected by Confucius himself and tell the main events that took place in this period: wars, political and diplomatic events as well as natural events. This book is to be read with Stratagems of the Fighting Kingdoms (unfortunately not translated into French), 481-221 B.C. It is an obligatory reading for any self-respecting Asian, even if it is the history of China, we find common themes: the life cycle, the cycle of a country, karma, power, political practices… a way of seeing that history repeats itself, again and again. And we find exactly the same themes in the world today. Absolutely nothing has changed. A classic novel to read is The Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong (link). Behind the story worthy of an HBO series, there are coded messages and valuable lessons. All three books are still quoted in modern philosophical or personal development texts. Ancient Chinese poems regularly referred to them.

Hero (2002, link) is a Chinese film bringing together several famous Chinese actors, freely inspired by a real fact before J.C. I think it is a film with an undeniable propaganda purpose but with a very original script. From an artistic viewpoint, it deserves to be seen. And from an anthropological viewpoint too. The film does carry an important message, one that has been repeated since the early childhood of every inhabitant of the Middle Kingdom. One must sacrifice oneself for the good of the many (one person’s suffering isn’thing compared to the suffering of many). This is acceptable in itself from a Confucian viewpoint, but it is in fact a matter of letting a notoriously violent (and psychopathic) dictator take over because he is the only one who can unify the country. Uh…. Can you see what’s wrong? You have to stay unified to be stronger, it’s by sowing this idea that the country is able to get billions of people to join. Moreover, in a video of a Chinese woman living in Germany, yelling at the Hong Kong people protesting, her message is exactly the same, proving her brain washing. As soon as there are problems within the country, they point to a common enemy (another country, or the Covid for example) to unify the nation and distract people from their original protest.

Here you go, I hope you liked this list. To read all this, you will need several confinements 🙂