VLVL2 (9.5): "The Folks Who Invented Giri"

Otto ottosell at yahoo.de
Wed Dec 3 06:15:03 CST 2003


----- Original Message -----
From: "Dave Monroe" <monrobotics at yahoo.com>
To: <pynchon-l at waste.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2003 6:09 PM
Subject: VLVL2 (9.5): "The Folks Who Invented Giri"


> "'I'm your doctor bill, bright boy, you pay by havin'
> me in your life day in and day out, the person who
> once murdered you, OK, attached to you now by bonds of
> obligation far beyond what you, a disgrace to the
> folks who invented giri, can grasp, it seems.'" (VL,
> Ch. 9, p. 176)
>
>
> "giri"
>
> Cf. "giri chits" (VL, Ch. 7, p. 100)
>
> Giri, what this feature
> is based on, does not have a clear English
> translation. The birth of the concept of giri occurred
> during the feudal period in Japan, and holds the
> highest regard in human relationships. A basic
> breakdown of the the relationships are:
> Master-subordinate, parent-child, husband-wife,
> brothers-sisters, friends, and sometimes even enemies
> and business associates. The most basic definition one
> can give giri is a debt of gratitude and a
> self-sacrificing pursuit of their happiness.
>

So there are no binary oppositions allowed in a giri-relationship! Basically
giri can only exist between equals.

Otto




More information about the Pynchon-l mailing list