Zenchi Naigu is a Buddhist priest during Japan’s Heian period. He is ascribed the “wisdom of zen”, but is more concerned with diminishing his ungainly, large, and dangling nose. The story is mainly a commentary on vanity and religion, in a style and theme typical to Akutagawa’s work.

「鼻」（はな）は芥川龍之介による初期の短編小説。1916年に『新思潮』の創刊号で発表された。『今昔物語』の「池尾禅珍内供鼻語」および『宇治拾遺物語』の「鼻長き僧の事」を題材としている。「人の幸福をねたみ、不幸を笑う」と言う人間の心理を捕らえた作品。この小説で夏目漱石から絶賛された。

(from Wikipedia)

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Language: Japanese

Published in: 1916

Word count: 59 words (≈ less than a minute)

Copyright: This work is available for countries where copyright is Life+70 and in the USA.