November 12, 2004
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The above link is in memory of
Iris Chang,
who ended her life at 36
on Nov. 9, 2004.A central concept of Zen
is satori, or “awakening.”
For a rude awakening, see
Satori at Pearl Harbor.Fade to Black
See, too, my entries of
Aug. 1-7, 2003,from which the following is taken:
“…that ineffable constellation of talents that makes the player of
rank: a gift for conceiving abstract schematic possibilities; a sense of
mathematical poetry in the light of which the infinite chaos of
probability and permutation is crystallized under the pressure of intense
concentration into geometric blossoms; the ruthless focus of force on the
subtlest weakness of an opponent.”– Trevanian, Shibumi
” ‘Haven’t there been splendidly elegant colors in Japan since ancient
times?’‘Even black has various subtle shades,’ Sosuke nodded.’ “
– Yasunari Kawabata, The Old Capital
An Ad Reinhardt painting
described in the entry of
noon, November 9, 2004 –
the date given
as that of Chang’s death –
is illustrated below.
Ad Reinhardt,
Abstract Painting,1960–66.
Oil on canvas, 60 x 60 inches.
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Comments (3)
I swear, call me a conspiracy theorist, but with so much to offer why would a talented author end her life. I don’t believe that she did.
Conspiracy theorist.
I understand Iris. Dear Gawd, do I understand Iris.
Suicide is a very Zen thing, indeed.