IGESSIGESS (Institute for Global Economics and Social Sciences)

This course is a survey of ancient to medieval Japanese literature. Major literary works are introduced with an emphasis on their literary artistry as well as their historical and cultural importance. Focus is also placed on the unique philosophy that shaped the aesthetic values in Japan throughout the centuries. This topic will be further highlighted by discussing differences in Eastern and Western world views and by introducing Okinawan poetry which displays unique features when compared with classical Japanese poetry.

1. to learn about major literary works in their historical and cultural context
2. to gain deeper understanding of the different philosophical backgrounds that have influenced the way of thinking in Japan and the West
3. to improve your English vocabulary regarding the topic

英語 / English

This course is based on lectures by the instructor featuring the use of written and audio-visual materials. In addition, every student will be required to deliver a class presentation on a given topic, to submit a short written summary of the presentation topic and an essay, and to pass the final exam. The topics for the presentation will be distributed at the beginning of the course.
Comments and explanation about assignments and answers to questions from students are given at the end of each class.
This course is in principle a face-to-face course. However, the first lecture will be taught online on Zoom. Please see HOPPII for further instructions about how to join our Zoom session.

あり / Yes

なし / No

授業形態/methods of teaching：対面/face to face

※各回の授業形態は予定です。教員の指示に従ってください。

1.[オンライン/online]：Introduction

Introduction to course; scheduling of presentations

2.[対面/face to face]：Historical overview of Japanese literature

Brief overview of major literary works in their historical context with a focus on the Nara and Heian periods

3.[対面/face to face]：Japanese perception of nature, Part 1

Definition of nature and corresponding terms in Japanese; Japanese love for nature and its various aspects; Japanese vs. Western concepts of nature

4.[対面/face to face]：Japanese perception of nature, Part 2

The four seasons as one of the central concepts in Japanese culture and literature; the concept of transformation and change, harmony of yin and yang; perception of time

5.[対面/face to face]：Natural images in classical Japanese poetry

Literal and figural meaning of images in Japanese and Western poetic tradition

6.[対面/face to face]：Key concepts of Japanese aesthetics

Four aesthetic concepts in Japanese culture and literature; demonstration of these concepts in Essays in Idleness by the Buddhist priest Kenkō

7.[対面/face to face]：Japanese mythology

Records of Ancient Matters (Kojiki); Japanese mythology vs. Western ideological concepts (Greek mythology and Christianity)

8.[対面/face to face]：Japanese poetry, Part 1

The role of poetry from ancient times through the era of Man’yōshū (Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves) to the flourishing era of imperial poetry anthologies

9.[対面/face to face]：Japanese poetry, Part 2

Long and short poetic forms (chōka and tanka); believed to be the first Japanese poem in the fixed form; major themes in classical poetry

10.[対面/face to face]：Japanese prose, Part 1

Japanese tales and its various genres; the oldest preserved tale (The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter; Taketori Monogatari) and the collection of poem tales (Tales of Ise; Ise Monogatari)

11.[対面/face to face]：Japanese prose, Part 2

Flourishing of women writers in the Heian period with a focus on two prominent figures Murasaki Shikibu and Sei Shōnagon and their works The Tale of Genji (Genji Monogatari) and The Pillow Book (Makura no Sōshi)

12.[対面/face to face]：Okinawan language and poetry – Introduction

Languages of the Ryūkyū Islands as part of the Japanese language group; language rules in Okinawan poetry ryūka

13.[対面/face to face]：The world of Okinawan poetry

The oldest preserved collection of old epic songs Omorosōshi; Okinawan lyrical poetry ryūka

14.[対面/face to face]：Course wrap up

Submit short summary of presentation topic and essay; final written exam

1.Prepare a short self-introduction
2.Reading: handout on anthology of Japanese literature
3.Reading: Asquith 1-35
4.Readings: Asquith 36–53; handout related to the topic
5.Readings: Asquith 54–67; handout on Western poetry
6.Reading: Keene 3–22
7.Reading: handout on the Kojiki
8.Reading: Keene 47–69
9.Reading: Keene 25–44
10.Readings: Keene 73–95; handout on Japanese tales
11.Reading: handout on women’s classical prose
12.&13.Reading: text by lecturer on Okinawan language and poetry
14.Submit short summary of presentation topic and essay; final written exam
Before/after each class meeting, students will be expected to spend four hours to understand the course content.
(University guidelines suggest preparation and review should be around four hours a week for a two-credit course.)

Keene, Donald. The Pleasures of Japanese Literature. New York: Columbia University Press, 1988.

All other study materials and handouts will be provided by the lecturer.

Asquith, Pamela J. and Arne Kalland, ed. Japanese Images of Nature. Richmond: Curzon Press, 1997.
Keene, Donald. Anthology of Japanese Literature. Rutland, Vermont & Tokyo: Charles E. Tuttle Company, 1956. Twenty-second edition, 1991.
McCullough, Helen Craig. Classical Japanese Prose: an Anthology. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1990.
Miner, Earl. An Introduction to Japanese Court Poetry. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1968.
Further references related to the topic of each class will be provided by the lecturer.

Class attendance and oral participation are expected; failure to participate in class will result in the subtraction of marks from the total. Grading criteria: oral presentation and written summary (40%); final examination and essay (60%).

There are no student comments that would require major changes to the course.

● Please prepare the designated textbook.
●In case this course needs to switch to online format, it will be taught on Zoom, so students who attend the Zoom session on campus will need to prepare a headset.
● Please check HOPPII for further instructions and details about the course.