A recognized landmark of cultural anthropology, The Chrysanthemum and the Sword is essential reading for anyone interested in Japan. In this brilliant analysis of the culture, the world-renowned anthropologist Ruth Benedict offers an invaluable introduction to Japanese character and attitudes as reflected in daily manners, customs, and traditions. Tracing the political, religious, and economic life of the country from the seventh century through World War II, Benedict shows the evolution of Japanese ideology and explores some of the fascinating complexities of the society. In an eloquent new foreword written specifically for this sixtieth-anniversary edition, Ian Buruma reveals why Benedict's groundbreaking insights remain as relevant now as when they were first published. Book jacket.