Skvortsova E.L., Lutskiy A.L. Existentialism in Japan and its Infuence on Siina Rindzo's Creative Writing

Abstract: The subject of the research is the peculiarities of introduction and perception of existential philosophy in Japan, in particular, the influence of the existential philosophic thought on Siina Rinzo’ works. The authors of the article state that within the Japanese culture a traditional attitude to a human being as a creature deeply involved in the natural and social world had been (at least up to the middle of the 20th c.) opposed to the Western one, taking a human being as an individual withdrawn into himself. Also, a considerable proximity can be found between existential and Buddhist mentalities which had favored the spread of existential philosophy in Japan. However, spreading of Capitalism in Japan led to strengthening of individualistic tendencies in Japanese society. Consequently, the main problem for existentially-oriented Japanese writers became “maintaining and determination of their own Self” (Jiga). The method of research: The empirico-hermeneutic methodology was applied: i. e. the method of correct description and interpretation of original sources; dialectical methodology supplemented with the principle of complementarity. Scientific novelty and conclusions: for the first time in Russian history of literature studies, the original texts both by Siina Rinzo (in the light of existential thought in Japan) and Japanese literature critics, texts by dedicated to Siina had been translated and analyzed; the authors also conclude that Siina’s existential motives are much closer to those of Dostoevsky than to the Western representatives of existentially-oriented literature. The characters in Siina’s works show obvious signs of their creator’s ethical striving which leads Siina to the ideals consonant to be ones of a Catholic representative of existentialism Gabriel Marcel.

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