The great mirror of love between men

“The Great Mirror of Love Between Men” is a fundamental work of Japanese literature of the Edo period, considered the first in the ukiyo-zōshi genre (literary version of ukiyo-e), which captures the essence of everyday life and the emotional complexities, in this case, of love between men, exploring both the context of samurai society and that of Edo merchants, say, the common people, in contrast to works that focus on nobility (e.g. , he Genji Monogatari).

The work is divided into two main parts (some editions in Spanish separate the book into two volumes). The first chapters focus on mentor/ward relationships (very much in the style of the Athenians) within samurai society. Here, Saikaku describes how love between men was a socially accepted practice, influenced by the samurai code of honor, where loyalty and morality are intertwined with emotional relationships. For example, in the first chapter, the story is told of a man who, after having spent a fortune on women (“I spent my fortune on women and alcohol, the rest I wasted”; George Best, 1999), concludes that the true Pleasure resides in love between men, thus underlining the moral and aesthetic superiority of these relationships over heterosexual ones (very much in the style of those philosophers and lovers of children).

The later volumes shift the focus to the world of Edo merchants and kabuki actors. Saikaku details the customs of the wakashu, beautiful young men who, in addition to performing in theaters, maintained romantic relationships with their clients in tea houses (a very nice euphemism). A significant example is found in the second chapter of the second volume, which tells the tragic story of a young man who, after the premature death of his lover, decides to become a monk, reflecting the intensity and pain inherent in these relationships (see Brokeback Mountain).

Furthermore, “The Great Mirror” not only documents loving practices, but also serves as a mirror of the dynamics of power, honor and affection in different social strata. The stories range from idealized romances to tear-jerking melodramas, offering a multifaceted vision of how love between men was perceived and experienced in different spheres of society. A refreshing sight after so much courtly love.

“The Great Mirror of Love Between Men” is a seminal work that offers an invaluable window into the world of Edo Japan. Ihara Saikaku, with his literary mastery, is not only entertaining, but also shows us his vision of the complexities of human relationships and the social constructions that frame them.