Traveling: Japan-China is the thrilling outcome of Nikos Kazantzakis's journey as a journalist in 1935. Returning from his second trip there with Eleni, he passed away in Freiburg, Germany, on October 26, 1957.
The vivid images, unparalleled descriptions, and poetic similes and metaphors coexist with historical, cultural, theoretical, and novelistic elements, as well as social and geopolitical commentary and observations, alongside personal confessions in texts of high aesthetics.
Kazantzakis aptly expresses his worldview and political positions: this is evident in his references to Buddha and Epictetus, in the unity of opposites and the synthesis he seeks, as well as his critique of modern Western culture; namely, the pursuit of material conquests, the worship of machinery, exploitation, and hypocrisy.
On December 5, 1917, he wrote to G. Angelakis from Zurich: "The West has nothing to give us, all my soul, […] is turned towards the East!" This, in his opinion, was identified with a spirituality and aestheticism that expressed his needs and quests.
