The aesthetic philosophy in the works of Yukio Mishima : the pursuit of absolute divine

Abstract

Yukio Mishima is perhaps the most widely discussed figure of post-war Japanese literature, considering his large number of outstanding works, the philosophical depth embodied in his works, and also his legendary life in the turbulent era of modern Japan. The scholarly and non-academic debates on Mishima have never exhausted. Notwithstanding that these discussions seem scattered and unrelated, the writer’s persistence on beauty has always been addressed by various commentaries. While many of these commentaries are unable to provide lucid interpretation to the essence of the destructive and violent beauty pursued by Mishima, this dissertation seeks to pinpoint a solid elucidation by associating human existence with Mishima’s aesthetic philosophy. Through examining three major works of Mishima – Forbidden Colours (1951-1953), The Temple of the Golden Pavilion (1956) and Patriotism (1960), this dissertation intends to identify the essence of Mishima’s aesthetic philosophy as the most transcendent moment of human existence. In particular, the concepts of George Bataille on irrational human nature and eroticism, and also the concepts of Jacques Lacan on the formation and operation of human subjectivity, will be employed. Biography of the writer, and also the historical and social-political situations in post-war Japan will serve as an essential backdrop to study Mishima’s belief and his literary representations, with which I shall conclude with Mishima’s idea of highest form of art and the significance of irrationality in human existence.