description The Life of an Amorous Man (Kōshoku ichidai otoko) Overview
The Life of an Amorous Man, or Kōshoku ichidai otoko, is a Japanese prose work by Ihara Saikaku, published in 1682. It follows Yonosuke's erotic life from childhood through age sixty, describing his movement through the pleasure quarters and the social world of the Edo period; the book is commonly regarded as an early ukiyo-zōshi, or “floating world,” novel for readers interested in early modern Japanese literature and sexuality.
help The Life of an Amorous Man (Kōshoku ichidai otoko) FAQ
Who is Yonosuke in The Life of an Amorous Man?
Yonosuke is the central character in Ihara Saikaku's 1682 prose work. The book follows his erotic life and movement through the pleasure quarters of Edo-period Japan.
How long does Yonosuke's story cover?
The narrative follows Yonosuke from childhood through age sixty. That long span lets Saikaku depict changing relationships, pleasures, and social settings across an entire life.
When was The Life of an Amorous Man published?
Ihara Saikaku published Kōshoku ichidai otoko in 1682. The work is also known in English as The Life of an Amorous Man.
What historical world does the book depict?
The story is rooted in the social world of the Edo period and its pleasure quarters. Saikaku uses Yonosuke's experiences to explore sexuality, money, status, and urban life in seventeenth-century Japan.
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