Mayoi Jiangshi and Sartre: Existence vs. Essence | Kabukimonogatari Analysis

In its exploration of what defines a person, Mayoi Jiangshi—Monogatari Second Season’s second arc—echoes the belief held by French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre that existence precedes essence. Are we a culmination of our experiences and relationships in life or is there some collective, fundamental nature guiding each of us along our path? Wrapped in a delightful time travel story, here I look at how Mayoi Jiangshi reflects Sartre’s views and ultimately offers an encouraging way forward. Enjoy! Sources and More Reading on Sartre: “Existentialism is a Humanism“ (1946), Sartre. Jean-Paul Sartre - Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Basic intro video on Sartre: Autonomy and the Self. Kühler, Michael, Jelinek, Nadja (Editors).