Slide 1

Japaneseand Chinese

LITERATURE

Objectives:

To know about the history of Japanese Literature 1.1Ancient literature (until 794) 1.2Classical literature (7941185) 1.3Medieval literature (11851603) 1.4Early-modern literature (16031868) 1.5Modern literature (18681945)Significant authors and works 1.1Ancient literature 1.2Classical literature 1.3Medieval literature 1.4Early-modern literature 1.5Modern literature

Japanese Literature is one of the major literatures of the world comparable to the English literature in age and variety.

Japanese Literature

Japanese literaturewere heavily influenced by cultural contact withChinaandChinese literature, often written inClassical Chinese.Indian literaturealso had an influence through the Diffusion ofBuddhism 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 theEdo period. Since Japan reopened its ports to Western trading and diplomacy in the 19th century,Westernand Eastern literature have strongly affected each other and continue to do so.

History

Japanese Literature can be divided into four main periods:

ancient, (until 794)classical, (7941185)medieval (11851603)Modern (18681945)

Ancient literature (until 794)

Before the introduction ofkanjifrom China, Japanese had no writing system. 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 adapted, creating what is known as man'ygana the earliest form ofkana, or syllabic writing.

The earliest works were created in theNara period. These include theKojiki (712), a historical record that also chronicles ancient Japanese mythology and folk songs; the Nihon Shoki(720), a chronicle written in Chinese that is significantly more detailed than theKojiki; and theMan'ysh(759), a poetry anthology. One of the stories they describe is the tale ofUrashima Tar, which has been identified as the earliest example of a story involvingtime travel.

Classical literature (7941185)

Classical Japanese literature generally refers to literature produced during the Heian period, referred to as the golden era of art and literature.Genji Monogatari(early 11th century) by a woman namedMurasaki Shikibuis considered the pre-eminent masterpiece of Heian fiction and an early example of a work of fiction in the form of anovel. Other important writings of this period include theKokin Wakash(905), awaka-poetry anthology, andMakura no Sshi(990s), the latter written by Murasaki Shikibu's contemporary and rival,Sei Shnagon, as an essay about the life, loves, and pastimes of nobles in the Emperor's court. Theirohapoem, now one of two standard orderings for the Japanesesyllabary, was also developed during the early part of this period.

Medieval literature (11851603)

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 lifestyles, and redemption through killing. A representative work isThe Tale of the Heike(1371), an epic account of the struggle between theMinamotoandTairaclans for control of Japan at the end of the twelfth century. Other important tales of the period includeKamo no Chmei'sHjki(1212) andYoshida KenksTsurezuregusa(1331).Other notable genres in this period wererenga, or linked verse, andNohtheater. Both were rapidly developed in the middle of the 14th century, the earlyMuromachi period.

Early-modern literature (16031868)

Literature during this time was written during the largely peaceful Tokugawa Period (commonly referred to as theEdo Period). Due in large part to the rise of the working and middle classes in the new capital ofEdoforms of popular drama developed which would later evolve intokabuki. Thejruriand kabuki dramatistChikamatsu Monzaemonbecame popular at the end of the 17th century, and he is also known as the Japan'sShakespeare.Matsuo Bash wroteOku no Hosomichi(1702), a travel diary.Hokusai, perhaps Japan's most famous woodblock print artist, also illustrated fiction as well as his famous36 Views of Mount Fuji .Jippensha Ikkuis also known as Japan'sMark Twain.

Modern literature (18681945)

TheMeiji periodmarks the re-opening of Japan to the West, and a period of rapid industrialization. The introduction ofEuropean literaturebrought free verse into the poetic repertoire. It became widely used for longer works embodying new intellectual themes. Young Japanese prose writers and dramatists struggled with a whole galaxy of new ideas and artistic schools, but novelists were the first to assimilate some of these concepts successfully.

Significant Authors and worksOfJapanese Literature Ancient literature

Kakinomoto no Hitomaro(c.660c.720): numerouschkaandtankain theMan'ysh

was a Japanesewakapoet and aristocrat of the lateAsuka period.

tomo no Yakamochi(c.718785): possible compiler of theMan'ysh

was aJapanese statesman andwakapoet in theNara period. He is a member of theThirty-six Poetry Immortals.

Classical literature

Sei Shnagon (c.~966c.1017):The Pillow Book

Was a Japanese author, poet and acourt ladywho served theEmpress Teishi (Sadako) around the year 1000 during the middleHeian period. She is best known as the author ofThe Pillow Book.

Murasaki Shikibu(c.973c.1025):The Tale of Genji

Was a Japanese novelist,poetandlady-in-waitingat theImperial court during theHeian period. She is best known as the author ofThe Tale of Genji, written inJapanesebetween about 1000 and 1012.

Medieval literatureYoshida Kenk(c.12831352):was a Japanese author andBuddhist monk. His most famous work isTsurezuregusa(Essays in Idleness), one of the most studied works ofmedieval Japanese literature. Kenko wrote during theMuromachiandKamakura periods.

Miyamoto Musashi(c.1584-1645):The Book of Five Rings.was an expert Japaneseswordsmanandrnin. Musashi, as he was often simply known, became renowned through stories of his excellent, and unique double bladed swordsmanship and undefeated record in his 60 duels.

Early-modern literature

Ihara Saikaku (16421693)Matsuo Bash(16441694)Chikamatsu Monzaemon(16531725)Ueda Akinari(17341809)Yokoi Yay (17021783)Sant Kyden(17611816)Jippensha Ikku (17651831)Kyokutei Bakin(17671848)

Nakane Ktei(18391913)Edo Meisho Zue(travelogue, 1834)

Hokuetsu Seppu (work ofhuman geography, 1837)Koizumi Yakumo(1850-1904)

Chinese Literture

extends thousands of years, from the earliest recorded dynastic courtarchives to the maturevernacular fiction novels that arose during the Ming Dynasty to entertain the masses of literate Chinese. The introduction of widespreadwoodblock printingduring theTang Dynasty(618907) and the invention ofmovable typeprintingbyBi Sheng(9901051) during theSong Dynasty(9601279) rapidly spread written knowledge throughout China. In more modern times, the authorLu Xun(18811936) is considered the founder ofbaihualiterature in China.

Pre-classical period

Formation of the earliest layer of Chinese literature was influenced by oral traditions of different social and professional provenance: cult and lay musical practices (Shijing),divination (Yi jing), astronomy, exorcism. An attempt at tracing the genealogy of Chinese literature to religious spells and incantations (the sixzhu, as presented in the "Da zhu" chapter of theRites of Zhou) was made by Liu Shipei.

Shang Dynasty (about 1700-1050 BC) - Development of Chinese Writing.

The first dynasty for which there is historical record and archaeological evidence is the Shang Dynasty. It was a small empire in northern central China. No documents from that country survive, but there are archaeological finds of hieroglyphic writing on bronze wares and oracle bones.

Zhou Dynasty (1045-255 BC)Basic Philosophical and Religious Literature

The Zhou Dynasty was contemporaneous with the Shang Dynasty, and then they conquered the Shang Dynasty. Their dynasty lasted for about 800 years, but for most of the time, their original territory was broken up into dozens of competing kingdoms, and these finally coalesced into several big and warring kingdoms by the end of the Zhou era. The great literary works of philosophy and religion that became the basis for Chinese religious and social belief stem from what is called the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476) and the Warring States Period (475-221).

Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC)Literary Disaster and Legalism

At the end of the Zhou Dynasty era that is called the Warring States Period, of the surviving few big states in the land, the Qin Dynasty became the most powerful. The Qin Dynasty had big armies and conquered the others. Once the Qin emperor had control, he wanted to keep it, and they squelched any opposition to his authority. In the conquered territories, there were teachers of many different doctrines and religions. A big philosophical and religious school then was called Mohism.

Han Dynasty (206 BC 220 AD)Scientific and Historical Texts

A former peasant leader overthrew the Qin Empire. The Han Dynasty era lasted for 400 years. At the beginning of the era, Confucianism was revived. Confucian texts were rewritten and republished. Confucianism was mixed with the Legalism philosophy of Li Si. The resulting ideology was the official ideology of the Han Dynasty and influenced political thinking afterwards.

Tang Dynasty (618-907)Early Woodblock Printing and Poetry

The Tang Dynasty had a big empire that benefited from trade with the west along the Silk Road, battled with the Tibetan Empire, and experienced the growing influence of organized Buddhist religions. This eras main contribution to Chinese literature was in the poetry of Dufu, Li Bai and many other poets. Dufu and Li Bai are often thought of as Chinas greatest poets.

Song Dynasty (960-1279)Early Woodblock Printing, Travel Literature, Poetry, Scientific Texts and the Neo-Confucian Classics

The next dynasty is called the Song Dynasty. It was weaker than the Tang Dynasty, but the imperial government officials made remarkable scientific and technical advances. Military technology greatly advanced. They traded little with the west due to the presence of warring Muslim states on the old trade routes. There wasnt territorial expansion, but the empire was continuously attacked by nomadic tribes and countries around them.

Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368)Drama and Great Fictional Novels

The Mongols were nomadic people who herded cattle north of the Tang Empire and wandered over a large area fighting on horseback. They believed that they might be able to conquer the world. They easily conquered Persia far to the west. It was a big empire with high technology, a big population and a big army. Then they decided to try to conquer all the countries around them. They attacked the Tang Dynasty, the Dali Kingdom in Yunnan, and much of Asia, and they formed the biggest empire in the history of the earth until then

Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)Novels

The Chinese rebelled against the Mongols, and the Ming Dynasty era began about 1368. The Mongols and the Ming government still sometimes fought. Because of this and the presence of Muslim countries in between, trade with the west was reduced to the pre-Yuan level. The Ming initially were interested in exploration, and Muslims whose ancestors arrived during the Yuan Dynasty and who were familiar with seagoing trade were employed to make long voyages to the Indian Ocean, the Middle East and perhaps Africa.

QingDynasty(1644-1911)Novels and Pre-modern Literature

The Manchus invaded the Ming Empire from the north and established the last dynasty called the Qing Dynasty. The Manchus were not Chinese, but they retained the Neo-Confucian governing system of the Song and Ming eras. The Qing Dynasty came under increasing attack from both internal rebellions and foreign countries.

Modern Era (1912-present)Westernized Literature

Sun Yat-sen led a revolution that marked the end of Chinese dynasties in which a clan rules an empire. Of course, the big change of Chinese society that happened with the change of government led to a change in literature. It became westernized, and the Classical Language wasnt used. The national government wanted women to have more of an equal status in society, and women writers and scholars were taken more seriously. There was a lot of politically oriented literature printed.

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