Japanese Lit

LITERATURE
A group of work of art made up of words.

Most are written, but some are passed on
by word of mouth.
JAPANESE
LITERATURE
Contains some of the world’s longest novels and
plays.
Early works of Japanese literature were
heavily influenced by cultural contact with
China and Chinese literature, often written in
classical Chinese.
Indian literature also had an influence
through the diffusion of Buddhism in
Japan
Eventually, Japanese Literature developed into a
separate style in its own right as Japanese writers
began writing their own works about Japan, although
the influence of Chinese literature and classical
Chinese remained until the end of the Edo period.
Since Japan reopened its ports to western trading and
diplomacy in the 19th century, western and eastern
literature have strongly affected each other and
continued to do so.
JAPANESE LITERATURE
• ANCIENT LITERATURE
• CLASSICAL LITARATURE
• MEDIEVAL LITERATURE
• MODERN LITERATURE
• POST-WAR LITERATURE
Ancient Literature
• Before the introduction of kanji from china, Japanese had no writing
system.
• Chinese characters were used, not for their meanings, but because
they had a phonetic sound which resembled a Japanese word.
• At first, Chinese characters were used in Japanese syntactical
formats, and the result was sentences that look like Chinese but were
read phonetically as Japanese
Chinese characters were further adopted, creating what is known as
Man’y o̅ gana
The earliest form of kana or syllabic

writing.
ANCIENT LITERATURE
Literature were produced
during the NARA
Earliest work were created. PERIOD
This include the Kojiki (712) The Nihongi or Nihonshoki(720)- a

– a work recording Japanese chronicle written in Chinese that is
mythology, folksongs, and significantly more detailed thanthe
legendary history. Composed by O Kojiki.
no Yasumaro at the request of
Empress Genmei. One of the stories they describe is
the tale of Urashima Taro, which has
And the Man’y o̅ shu̅ (759) – been identified as the earliest
(Ten Thousand Leaves) a example of a story involving time
poetry anthology. travel.
CLASSICAL LITERATURE
Literature produced during the Heian
Period.
Referred to as the golden era of art

and literature.
During this time, the imperial court patronized poets. Many of whom
were courtiers or ladies in waiting. Editing anthologies of poetry was
a national pastime. The poetry was elegant, sophisticated and
expressed emotions in a rhetorical style which reflects the aristocratic
atmosphere.
CLASSICAL LITERATURE
Works include:
>The Tale of Genji, written by Murasaki Shikibu (11th

century).
>Considered as the pre-eminent masterpiece of Heian fiction
and an early example of a work of fiction in the form of
novel.
>The world’s first novel.
>Described the intrigues of court life during the Heian
period.
Kokin Wakashu̅ (905), or kakinshu, meaning-ancient and
modern songs. It comprises 1,111 poems. It is an imperial
anthology, conceived by Emperor Uda.
Makura no So̅shi (990), written by Murasaki Shikibu’s

contemporary rival, Sei Sho̅nagon, as an essay about the
life, loves , and pastimes of nobles in the emperor’s
court.
Meigetsuki (The Record of the Clear Moon)- the diary of

Fujiwara no Teika
MEDIEVAL LITERATURE
Literature produced during the Kamakura-Muromachi period.
During this period, Japan experienced many civil wars

which led to the development of a warrior class, and
subsequent war tales, histories, and related stories.
Work from this period is notable for its insights into
life and death, simple life styles, and redemption
through killing.
Medieval Japanese Literature is marked by the strong
influence of Zen Buddhism.
Medieval Literature Ho̅jo̅ki(1212) by Kamo no Cho̅mei, a
court poet. It depicts the Buddhist
Most notable works during
concept of impermanence(mujo̅)
this time includes:
through the description of various
The Iroha poem, one of two disasters.
standard orderings for the
Japanese syllabary. Tsurezuregusa(1331) by Yoshida Kenko̅,
a Japanese author and a Buddhist
Tale of the Heike (1371), an monk. It is a collection of essays.
epic account of the struggle
between the Minamoto and Oku no Hosomichi(1712), a travel diary
Taira clans for control of written by Matsuo Basho̅.
Japan at the end of the 12th
century.
Due in large part to the rise of the working and the middle
classes in the new capital of Edo(modern Tokyo), forms of
popular drama developed which would later evolve into kabuki.
Popular people during time were:
Chikamatsu Monzaemon, Jo̅r uri and Kabuki dramatist. Known as Japan’s

Shakespeare. Became popular at the end of the 17th century.
Hokusai, Japan’s most famous woodblock print artist. Illustrated fiction

as well as his famous 36 Views of Mount Fuji.
Jippensha Ikku is also known as Japan’s Mark Twain.

MODERN LITERATURE
(1830’s-1930’s)
Literature produced during the Meiji period and
Taisho period.
Meiji period marks the re-opening of Japan

to the West, and a period of rapid
industrialization.
The introduction of European literature brought free verse into
the poetic repertoire. It became widely used for longer works
embodying new intellectual themes.
Young Japanese prose writers struggled with new ideas and artistic
schools, but novelist were the first to assimilate some of these concepts
successfully.
Tsubouchi Shoyo, literary scholar, created an essay Shosetzu

Shinzui(1885-1886)- greatly influenced the writing of subsequent friction
because of its emphasis on realism.
Ukigumo(1887-1889) “Drifting Cloud”- first Modern Japanese novel by

Futabatei Shimei.
POST-WAR LITERATURE
(1945-1989)
World war II, and Japan’s defeat, deeply influenced Japanese Literature.
Many authors wrote stories of disaffection, loss of purpose, and the

coping with defeat.
Notable works were:
Sakurajima(1946), a short story written by Haruo Umezaki, shows a

disillusioned and skeptical Navy officer stationed in a base located
on the Sakurajima volcanic island.
The Setting Sun(1947), a novel by Osamu Dazai. It is a tragic,

vividly painted story of life in postwar Japan.
Other notable works include:
Almost Transparent Blue(1976)- written by Ryu Murakami. It features a

portrait of narrator Ryu and his friends trapped in a cycle of sex, drugs
and rock ‘n roll during the 1970’s
Kitchen(1988), a novel written by Banana Yoshimoto. It is about young women
grieving following the death of a loved one, and deal with how that death plays a
profound role in reationships going forward.
END

Japanese Lit

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Japanese Lit

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Japanese Lit

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

LITERATURE

A group of work of art made up of words.

The earliest form of kana or syllabic

This include the Kojiki (712) The Nihongi or Nihonshoki(720)- a

Referred to as the golden era of art

>The Tale of Genji, written by Murasaki Shikibu (11th

Makura no So̅shi (990), written by Murasaki Shikibu’s

Meigetsuki (The Record of the Clear Moon)- the diary of

Literature produced during the Kamakura-Muromachi period.

During this period, Japan experienced many civil wars

Chikamatsu Monzaemon, Jo̅r uri and Kabuki dramatist. Known as Japan’s

Hokusai, Japan’s most famous woodblock print artist. Illustrated fiction

Jippensha Ikku is also known as Japan’s Mark Twain.

Meiji period marks the re-opening of Japan

Tsubouchi Shoyo, literary scholar, created an essay Shosetzu

Ukigumo(1887-1889) “Drifting Cloud”- first Modern Japanese novel by

Many authors wrote stories of disaffection, loss of purpose, and the

Sakurajima(1946), a short story written by Haruo Umezaki, shows a

The Setting Sun(1947), a novel by Osamu Dazai. It is a tragic,

Almost Transparent Blue(1976)- written by Ryu Murakami. It features a

You might also like