William Scott Wilson Explained
William Scott Wilson (born 1944, Nashville, Tennessee) is known for translating several works of Japanese literature, mostly those relating to the martial tradition of that country.Wilson has brought historical Chinese and Japanese thought, philosophy, and tactics to the West in his translations of famous East Asian literature.
Awards
On November 3, 2015, Wilson was inducted into the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, for "promoting understanding of Japan through the introduction of Japanese Literature in the United States."[1]
Wilson received Japan's Foreign Minister's Commendation from the Consulate General of Japan in Miami, Masakazu Toshikage on November 15, 2005. According to the Consulate Press release:[2] The award is "conferred upon individuals or groups that have rendered especially distinguished service in strengthening the relationship between Japan and other countries. Through his literary works and translations, Mr. Wilson has contributed greatly to increased cultural understanding and friendship between the US and Japan."
His first original work, The Lone Samurai: The Life of Miyamoto Musashi, was published in 2004. He has done extensive research on Japanese philosophy and Bushido, the way of the samurai."
Timeline
- Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Dartmouth College
- Bachelor of Arts, Japanese Language and Literature, Monterey Institute of Foreign Studies, Monterey, California, USA (Now Monterey Institute of International Studies, a graduate school of Middlebury College)
- Aichi Prefectural University, Nagoya, Japan (1975–1977) extensive Study of Edo period (1603–1868)
- Master's Degree in Japanese Language and Literature, University of Washington at Seattle. (1979)
Books
- , Kodansha International (October, 2004)
- Walking the Kiso Road, Shambhala Publications, 2015 [3]
- Oyama, Sumita. The Life and Zen Haiku Poetry of Santoka Taneda, translated by William Scott Wilson, Tuttle Publishing, 2021 ISBN 978-4-805316-55-9 [352 pp. 300 haiku and translator's introduction]
Translations
- Roots of Wisdom (Saikontan) (1984)
- Ideals of the Samurai: Writings of Japanese Warriors (October, 1982)
- Hagakure (Hidden by Leaves) by Yamamoto Tsunetomo (03/01/1983)
- Budoshinshu: The Warrior's Primer by Daidōji Yuzan (04/01/1984)
- The Unfettered Mind by Takuan Sōhō (12/01/1987)
- Taiko: An Epic Novel of War and Glory in Feudal Japan by Eiji Yoshikawa (10/27/2000)
- Go Rin no Sho (The Book of Five Rings) by Miyamoto Musashi (01/18/2002)
- (The Living Sword) by Yagyu Munenori (February, 2004)
- The Flowering Spirit: Classic Teachings on the Art of No by Zeami. Kodansha (release date: May 19, 2006)
- The Demon's Sermon on the Martial Arts by Issai Chozanshi. Kodansha International (release date: November, 2006)
- The 36 Secret Strategies of the Martial Arts by Hiroshi Moriya (March, 2008)
- Yojokun: Life Lessons from a Samurai (The Way of the Warrior Series) by Kaibara Ekiken (January 1, 2009) Kodansha International 224 pages
- The Unencumbered Spirit: Reflections of a Chinese Sage, 2010, Kodansha International
- Tao Te Ching: A New Translation by Lao Tzu, Shambhala Publications, 2012
- Afoot in Japan by Yasumi Roan, 2015
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Conferral of the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, upon translator William Scott Wilson . Consulate-General of Japan in Miami . 2015-12-08.
- Web site: Author William Scott Wilson of Miami honored by Japan's Foreign Minister. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20060418183220/www.miami.us.emb-japan.go.jp/PRAWARD4.HTML. 2006-04-18.
- Giles . Morgan . 4 March 2016 . William Scott Wilson: WALKING THE KISO ROAD: A modern-day exploration of old Japan. . TLS. Times Literary Supplement . 5892 . 35 .
