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Tanizaki's "Kirin" was published in Shin-shi-cho, number 4, December, 1910, and he took many ideas for this work from a Chinese classic. The main theme of "Kirin" is, "a beautiful person is potent, and an ugly person is weak." Reiko becomes submissive to lady Nansi, who is a vampish woman. Reiko hesitates between "charm" and Confucius's "virtue", nevertheless he is defeated by lady Nansi's "charm" at last. Lady Nansi dominates Reiko. However, Confucius recognizes that lady Nansi is not able to overcome the power of "virtue", and he leaves the city. Thus, it can be said that Confucius is not defeated by the devilish lady Nansi. Confucius is not affected by the situation, and he remains intact. Confucius is able to live as Confucius of "virtue" as before. In "Kirin", Tanizaki discusses "womanly beauty" (also found in his story "Shisei" [The Tattoo]), and its power to dominate men. |
