> Would be nice if Google didn't limit the visibility of a book published in the 17th century.
This book was published in 1959. It is copyrighted by Cambridge University Press and is a translation by G. W. Sargent, with introduction and commentary.
I can't find any new items for sale, but a quick search revealed some used copies. It also seems to be available in a few libraries, but surprisingly I haven't been able to find a public domain download yet. https://smile.amazon.com/Japanese-Family-Storehouse-Ihara-Sa...
The front page + preface say that this translation was done by G.W. Sargent, as does the Bookfinder information, with no mention of any other translators, so I think Sargent translated everything in the book. As Saikaku's style is light and witty, I imagine most translations would read a good deal like Sargent's.
Searching, I can't find any scans or versions online aside from this unsatisfactory Google Books version. This also appears to be 1 of only 2 translations ever (the other being "Nippon eitaigura. The way to wealth. Translated by Soji Mizuno" 1955, but which is much shorter and the used copies also more expensive), and a brief excerpted story in Keene's _Anthology of Japanese Literature_.
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I've always meant to read Saikaku and didn't realize that _Storehouse_ was so hard to get (probably his third most famous work after _Amorous Man_ and _Women Who Loved Love_), so I've bought one of them off Amazon ($28.99) and I'll scan & upload it online at some point.
This is related to the Buddhist notion of the "opportunity of human form". (In the Fukazazengi, Dōgen renders this as 人身の機要, read "ninshin no kiyō".)
To be born a god is too easy -- it's hard to turn to the dharma when life is so good. To be born a demon or an animal is too difficult -- it's hard to practice the way when life is so tough. As a human, we recognize fairly early that life does not always go our way; but we are not without some control and capacity for disciplined practice. It's this combination that allows us to (a) want to practice and (b) be able to practice.
If he made his money by honest means, he still wouldn't have been able to take it to the afterlife.
I make a honest living, but, having no wife or children, I know that all the money I save will ultimately be enjoyed by people who hate and despise me.
Would be nice if Google didn't limit the visibility of a book published in the 17th century.