CHARACTERISTICS OF

JAPANESE LITERARY TEXT

Exploration of the human Use of symbolism:

condition: Japanese literary texts
Japanese literature often often employ symbols
explores the universal to convey deeper
themes of love, loss, and meanings and emotions.
mortality.

Focus on nature:
Minimalism:
Nature is a recurring
theme in Japanese Japanese literature often
literature, and often features spare, minimalist
reflects the relationship prose, emphasizing
between humans and the simplicity and clarity.
natural world.

Use of seasonal references: Emphasis on inner

Seasonal references are
frequently used in
Japanese literature to
evoke a specific time of
year and create a specific
mood.
thoughts and emotions:
Japanese literature often
explores the inner thoughts
and emotions of
characters, delving deeply
into their psyches.

Exploration of human relationships: Japanese literature

often explores the complex relationships between
individuals, including family, friends, and lovers.
JAPANESE
LITERARY
TEXT
Use of onomatopoeia: Use of metaphor: Many Japanese
Japanese literature Japanese literary works can be
often employs literature often described as
onomatopoeia, or words culturally specific,
employs metaphor
that mimic the sounds reflecting the
to illustrate
they describe, to create country's unique
a vivid sensory
complex concepts history and
experience. and emotions. traditions.

Use of irony: Use of haiku: Focus on aesthetics:

Haiku, a form of Japanese literature
Japanese literature
traditional Japanese
often employs irony often emphasizes
poetry, is often used
to highlight the the importance of
in Japanese
contrast between aesthetics, including
literature to convey a
appearance and beauty, harmony,
sense of beauty and
reality. simplicity. and simplicity.

USE OF KIGO:
KIGO ARE
USE OF MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES:
SEASONAL WORDS JAPANESE LITERATURE OFTEN EMPLOYS
OR PHRASES THAT MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES TO CREATE A
ARE USED TO COMPLEX AND NUANCED
EVOKE A SPECIFIC
UNDERSTANDING OF A SITUATION OR
SEASON OR TIME
OF YEAR.
CHARACTER.
CHARACTERISTICS OF
JAPANESE
LITERARY TEXT

JAPANESE LITERATURE THE LANGUAGE OF THE JAPANESE WRITING

OFTEN EMPHASIZES JAPANESE LITERATURE SYSTEM UTILIZES THREE
SIMPLICITY AND IS CHARACTERIZED BY SCRIPTS: KANJI (CHINESE
CHARACTERS), HIRAGANA
SUBTLETY OVER A RHYTHMIC PATTERN
(PHONETIC SYMBOLS),
GRANDIOSE OR OF ALTERNATING
AND KATAKANA (USED
FLAMBOYANT LONG AND SHORT MAINLY FOR
LANGUAGE. SYLLABLES. LOANWORDS).

MANY JAPANESE JAPANESE JAPANESE LITERATURE

LITERATURE OFTEN OFTEN FEATURES
LITERARY WORKS
CHARACTERS WHO
ARE WRITTEN IN CONVEYS A SENSE
MUST NAVIGATE
POETIC FORMS OF SINCERITY, COMPLEX SOCIAL
SUCH AS HAIKU AND HUMILITY, AND SYSTEMS AND
TANKA. HONESTY. CUSTOMS.

THE MEIJI RESTORATION OF 1868 HAD

A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON JAPANESE
LITERATURE, AND MANY WORKS FROM
THIS ERA REFLECT THE CHANGES THAT
OCCURRED DURING THIS TIME.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF

JAPANESE
LITERARY TEXT
The concept of Japanese Honesty,
"mono no aware," literature often sincerity, and
roughly translated uses symbolism
humility are
as "the pathos of and metaphor as
highly valued in
things," is a a means of
recurring theme in conveying deeper Japanese
Japanese literature. meanings. literature.

Many Japanese Japanese

Japanese literature literature can be
literary works often features divided into
are influenced characters who different periods,
by Zen
must navigate each with its own
Buddhism and
complex social distinct
other forms of characteristics and
systems and
philosophy. influences.
customs.

The style of
Japanese literature Many Japanese literary
often emphasizes works are influenced by
understatement and
subtly, rather than Zen Buddhism and other
overt emotional forms of philosophy.
expression.
CHARACTERISTICS OF
JAPANESE LITERARY TEXT
Many Japanese literary works include references to
the changing of the seasons and the natural world.

seasonal This reflects the importance of nature in Japanese

culture and the influence of the traditional Japanese

references calendar, which is based on the seasons.

Japanese literary texts often use sparse, simple

language and focus on subtle emotions and actions.
minimalism This is partly due to the influence of traditional
Japanese aesthetics, such as wabi-sabi, which values
simplicity, understatement, and imperfection.

Japanese literature often reflects important

cultural values such as harmony, respect for

cultural tradition, and the importance of community.

These values are often expressed through

values character relationships and interactions.

Japanese literary texts frequently use

symbolism to convey deeper meanings. For
symbolism example, in haiku poetry, natural images such
as flowers, birds, and the moon are often used
to represent human emotions and experiences.

Many Japanese literary works are deeply rooted in the

country's history and reflect important cultural and
political events. For example, the works of Yukio
historical Mishima often explore themes related to Japan's
militaristic past and the country's relationship with the
context West.
C H A R A C T E R I S T I C S
O F
JAPANESE
L I T E R A R Y
US E OF PO ET IC
LA NG UA GE
Japanese literary texts often
incorporate poetic language, such as
metaphors, similes, and allusions. This is
particularly true of traditional forms of
Japanese poetry, such as haiku and
tanka.
IM PO RT AN CE OF
TR AD IT IO N
Japanese literary texts often emphasize the
importance of tradition and the continuity
of cultural practices across generations. These
themes are often expressed through depictions
of traditional Japanese arts, such as tea
ceremony, calligraphy, and flower
arrangement.
US E OF MU LT IP LE
PE RS PE CT IV E
Japanese literary texts often
employ multiple perspectives to tell
a story, allowing readers to see
events from different angles and
gain a more complex understanding
of the narrative.
T E X T
FO CU S ON TH E
IN NE R W OR LD
Japanese literature often explores the
inner world of characters, emphasizing
their thoughts, feelings, and emotions.
This is sometimes achieved through the
use of stream-of-consciousness
narration.
EX PL OR AT IO N OF
SO CI AL IS SU E
Many Japanese literary works explore
social issues, such as gender roles, class
differences, and the tension between
individualism and collectivism. These
themes reflect the changing social and
political landscape of Japan over time.
IM AG ER Y AN D
SE NS OR Y DE TA IL S
Japanese literature often incorporates
vivid sensory details and imagery to
create a rich and evocative atmosphere.
This is particularly true of works set in
natural environments, such as mountains,
forests, and gardens.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF

JAPANESE LITERARY
TEXT
USE OF HUMOR
Japanese literature often employs
humor, ranging from subtle wit to bawdy
humor. This reflects the importance of
humor in Japanese culture, which has a
long tradition of comedic storytelling.
EMPHASIS ON PERSONAL
RELATIONSHIPS
EXPLORATION OF
THE SUPERNATURAL
Many Japanese literary works
incorporate supernatural elements,
such as ghosts, demons, and other
supernatural beings. These elements
are often used to explore deeper
themes related to the human
condition, such as the fear of death
and the nature of good and evil.

Japanese literature often explores the

complexity of personal relationships,
particularly those between family
FOCUS ON PERSONAL
members, friends, and romantic
GROWTH
partners. These relationships are often
depicted as being interconnected with Japanese literary texts often
broader social and cultural issues. explore the process of
personal growth and
development, emphasizing
USE OF MINIMINALISM the importance of self-
AND UNDERSATEMENT reflection and introspection.
Japanese literature tends to use This is often achieved
understated language and through depictions of
minimalism, allowing readers to characters overcoming
interpret and fill in the gaps personal obstacles and
with their own understanding. challenges.

EXPERIMENTAL FORM
Japanese literature has a long tradition of experimental forms, ranging from avant-
garde poetry to experimental prose. These forms often challenge traditional
narrative structures and explore new ways of expressing complex ideas and emotions.
CHARACTERISTICS OF

JAPANESE
LITERARY The use of seasonal
references is
TEXT common in Japanese
literature, reflecting
the country's strong
connection to the
natural world.

Popular genres
of Japanese Japanese
literature include literature often
historical fiction, explores the
romance, and tension between
mystery. tradition and
modernity.

Honesty, sincerity,
Many Japanese literary
and humility are works can be described
highly valued in as culturally specific,
Japanese literature. reflecting the country's
unique history and
traditions.
CHARACTERISTICS OF
JAPANESE
LITERARY TEXT
PHONOLOGICALLY, THE JAPANESE LITERATURE
JAPANESE LANGUAGE IS IS HEAVILY
CHARACTERIZED BY A INFLUENCED BY THE
RHYTHMICAL PATTERN OF COUNTRY'S HISTORY,
ALTERNATING LONG AND POLITICS, AND
SHORT SYLLABLES. CULTURE.

MANY JAPANESE THE JAPANESE WRITING

LITERARY WORKS SYSTEM UTILIZES THREE
ARE WRITTEN IN SCRIPTS: KANJI (CHINESE
CHARACTERS), HIRAGANA
POETIC FORM, SUCH (PHONETIC SYMBOLS), AND
AS HAIKU AND KATAKANA (USED MAINLY
TANKA. FOR LOANWORDS).

JAPANESE LITERATURE THE CONCEPT OF

OFTEN USES "MONO NO AWARE,"
SYMBOLISM AND ROUGHLY TRANSLATED
AS "THE PATHOS OF
METAPHOR AS A MEANS THINGS," IS A
OF CONVEYING DEEPER RECURRING THEME IN
MEANINGS. JAPANESE LITERATURE.

MANY JAPANESE
LITERARY WORKS ARE JAPANESE LITERATURE
INFLUENCED BY ZEN OFTEN FEATURES
BUDDHISM AND SUPERNATURAL
OTHER FORMS OF ELEMENTS, SUCH AS
PHILOSOPHY. YOKAI (GHOSTS) AND
KAMI (SPIRITS).