The Chrysanthemum and the Sword Patterns of Japanese Culture

<p><b>Essential reading for anyone interested in Japanese culture, this unsurpassed masterwork explores the political, religious, and economic life of Japan.<br> <br> <br> <br></b> The World War II-era study by the cultural anthropologist Ruth Benedict paints an illuminating contrast between the culture of Japan and that of the United States. <i>The Chrysanthemum and the Sword</i> is a revealing look at how and why our cultures differ, making it the perfect introduction to Japanese history and customs.<br> <br> <br> <br> This influential book shaped American ideas about Japanese culture during the occupation of Japan, and popularized the distinction between guilt cultures and shame cultures.</p>