CITY COLLEGE OF CALAMBA

1st Semester AY 2022-2023

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ENGM 301C –
Survey of Afro Asian Literature
MIDTERM
Lecture 2
Japanese Literature
Historical Background of Japanese Literature
Both in quantity and quality, Japanese literature ranks as one of the major literatures of the
world, comparable in age, richness, and volume to English literature, though its course of
development has been quite dissimilar. The surviving works comprise a literary tradition
extending from the 7th century CE to the present; during all this time there was never a
“dark age” devoid of literary production.
Not only do poetry, the novel, and the drama have long histories in Japan, but some literary
genres not so highly esteemed in other countries—including diaries, travel accounts, and
books of random thoughts—are also prominent. A considerable body of writing by
Japanese in the Chinese classical language, of much greater bulk and importance than
comparable Latin writings by Englishmen, testifies to the Japanese literary indebtedness to
China. Even the writings entirely in Japanese present an extraordinary variety of styles,
which cannot be explained merely in terms of the natural evolution of the language. Some
styles were patently influenced by the importance of Chinese vocabulary and syntax, but
others developed in response to the internal requirements of the various genres, whether
the terseness of haiku (a poem in 17 syllables) or the bombast of the dramatic recitation.
Japanese literature traces its beginnings to oral traditions that were first recorded in written
form in the early eighth century after a writing system was introduced from China. The Kojiki
(Record of Ancient Matters) and Nihon Shoki (Chronicle of Japan) were completed in 712
and 720, respectively, as government projects. The former is an anthology of myths,
legends, and other stories, while the latter is a chronological record of history. The Fudoki
(Records of Wind and Earth), compiled by provincial officials beginning in 713, describe the
history, geography, products, and folklore of the various provinces.
The most brilliant literary product of this period was the Man'yoshu (Collection of Ten
Thousand Leaves), an anthology of 4,500 poems composed by people ranging from
unknown commoners to emperors and compiled around 759. Already emerging was a verse
form comprising 31 syllables (5-7-5-7-7) known as tanka. In 905 the Kokin wakashu or
Kokinshu (Collection of Poems from Ancient and Modern Times) was published as the first
poetry anthology commissioned by an emperor; its preface paid high tribute to the vast
possibilities of literature.

Japanese literature spans a period of almost two millennia and comprises one of the major
literatures in the world, comparable to English literature in age and scope. It comprises a
number of genres, including novels, poetry, and drama, travelogues, personal diaries and
collections of random thoughts and impressions. From the early seventh century until the
present there has never been a period when literature was not being produced by Japanese
authors. Japan adopted its writing system from China, often using Chinese characters to
represent Japanese words with similar phonetic sounds.
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1st Semester AY 2022-2023
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The Kojiki is a collection of myths and legends.

These are the great deities Izanagi and Izanami, who birthed the islands of Japan
and Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess and goddess of the universe

Early works were heavily influenced by cultural contact with China and Chinese literature,
and was often written in Classical Chinese. Though the Japanese writing system was
adapted from Chinese, the two languages are unrelated. The rich emotional vocabulary of
the Japanese language gave rise to a refined sensitivity of expression, while Chinese was
often used to write about more intellectual and abstract concepts such as morality and
justice. The nature of the spoken Japanese language, in which all words end with a simple
vowel and stress accents do not exist, shaped the development of poetic forms which were
relatively short in length and defined by the numbers of syllables in each line; and which
sought above all for precise expression and rich literary allusion. Official court patronage of
poetry produced strict artistic codes which dictated the vocabulary and form which could be
used for poetic expression. Prose emphasized the smooth transition from one statement to
another, rather than organization according to a formal theme.

READINGS
The Thief Who Became a Disciple
(Zen Story)

It was a quiet night when the prayers of a Buddhist monk, famous for always telling the
truth, were disturbed by the rustling of leaves in his front yard. Few moments later, a thief
rushed into his room with a knife in his hand, asking for the monk’s money.
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1st Semester AY 2022-2023
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“But, why would you interrupt me for an unimportant issue such as this?”, screamed the
monk. “The money is in the cupboard. Just go and get it. And leave me to my meditations,
please.”

The thief went straight to the cupboard and, truly, the money was there. While he was
putting as much as he could take in his bag, he heard the monk grumbling from the other
room:

“Now, don’t take everything. I will need some of it to pay the taxes this year.”

What’s the use of bothering for such a small amount, thought to himself the thief and put
some of the money back in the cupboard. Then, disbelieving his luck, headed straight for the
door.

“Now, that’s no-good manners!”, the monk said. “You come here, you disrupt my
meditation, and you are not gracious enough to utter a mere ‘thank you’.”

Is there a point in arguing with a madman? – figured the thief. He thanked the monk and left
the scene.

Few days passed and the police caught the thief. They summoned the monk as a witness
and within a week a trial was scheduled.

“But why did you bring him here? This poor man is not a thief!”, the monk told the jury. “He
needed the money and I gave him as much as I could. He even thanked me before leaving.”

After being released, the thief visited the monk once again. Soon enough, he became his
most devoted and distinguished student.

END
The Spider’s Thread
(Ryunosuke Akutagawa)

Kandata climbing up to heaven, followed by other sinners.

One day, the Buddha was strolling along the brink of the lotus pond of Paradise. His eyes fell
on a man named Kandata who was squirming with the other sinners in the bottom of hell.
This Kandata had done so many evil things his lifeline but he had to his credit one good
action. Once, while on his way through a deep forest, he had noticed a little spider creeping
 CITY COLLEGE OF CALAMBA
1st Semester AY 2022-2023
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along beside the road. He was about to trample it to death when he suddenly changed his
mind and spared the spider’s life.

Now, as he looked down into hell, the Buddha remembered this good deed and thought he
would like to deliver Kandata out of hell. Looking around he saw a spider of Paradise
spinning a beautiful silvery thread on the lotus leaves. The Buddha took up the spider’s
thread in his hand and let it straight down to the bottom of hell which held Kandata securely
with the other sinners in the Pool of Blood on the floor of hell.

On this day, Kandata lifted his head by chance and saw a silver spider’s thread slipping down
toward him from the high heavens. Kandata grasped the thread tightly in his two hands and
began to climb up and up with all his might.

After climbing for a while, he was finally exhausted and could not ascend an inch higher. He
stopped to rest and looked below him. What he saw filled him with fear. For, below on the
thread, countless sinners were climbing eagerly after him up and up, like a procession of
ants.

Kandata blinked his eyes at them with his big mouth hanging foolishly open in surprise and
terror. How could that slender spider’s thread which seemed as if it must break with him
alone, ever support the weight of all those people? If it would break in mid-air, even he
himself would have to fall headlong back to Hell.

So Kandata cried out in loud voice. “Hey, you sinners! This thread is mine. Who gave you
permission to come up it? Get down! Get down!”

At that moment, the spider’s thread broke with a snap the point where Kandata was
hanging. Without even time to utter a cry, Kandata shot down and fell headlong into the
darkness, spinning swiftly around and around like a top.

END

DR. JASCELYNN N. OLIMPIADA, LPT

Senior Lecturer III