Japanese Literature

JAPANESE
LITERATURE
In the trees chirping, 
They carry music and joy 
Wherever they go.

Through the air flying, 

Drinking nectar from flowers 
Beautiful and bright.
 JAPANESE
LITERATURE
Japanese literature is one of the major
bodies of oriental literature. It is less
lengthy than Chinese literature but
comparable to Arabic, Persian and Indian
literature. It covers the period from the
50 century A.D to the present.
Poems and odes to the gods were
composed in the early Japanese language
before the art of writing was known in
Japan.
PERIOD OF JAPANESE LITERATURE

 Ancient Literature
 Classical Literature
 Medieval Literature
 Modern Literature
o Edo Period
o Meiji Period
o Post-War Japan
o Contemporary Literature
 JAPANESE
LITERATURE
Ancient literature in Japan deals
primarily with myths and legends. Tales
like the creation of Japan, wherein the
islands came from the gemstones imbued
in the swords of gods are very prominent
during this period. The celebrated writers
during this period are:
Ono Yasumaro, Nihon Shoki, and
Man’yoshu who wrote based
on real events in the country.
 ANCIENT
LITERATURE
Two of the oldest Japanese literature:
• Kojiki (Records of ancient matter)
relates to the creation of the world,
describes the gods and goddess of the
mythological period, and contains facts
about ancient Japan
• Nihongi (Chronicles of Japan) tells
the history of Japan in poetry and
shows the profound influence of Chinese.
CLASSICAL LITERATURE
The Heian Period
Referred to as the golden era of
Japanese art and literature.
Man’yoshu (Collection of Myriad
Leaves)
The oldest collection of
Japanese poetry collected in the
year 800.
CLASSICAL LITERATURE
Genji Monogatari(The Tale of
Genji) written by court lady named
Murasaki Shikibu is considered the
pre-eminent masterpiece of Heian
fiction and the first example of a
work of fiction in the form of a
novel.
 MEDIEVAL
LITERATURE
History and literature were
intertwined during the Medieval period
due to the influence of the civil wars and
the emergence of the warrior class.
Thus, war tales are very prominent
during this period. Besides war stories
and tales, the popular form of
Japanese poetry, the renga,
which is known as tanka.
 MEDIEVAL
WorkLITERATURE
from this period is
notable for its insights into life
and death, simple lifestyles, and
seppuku, Tale of the Heike, an
epic account of the struggle
between two clans for
control of Japan at the end
of the 12th century.
 MODERN
LITERATURE
Modern literature can be further
divided into early modern, which happened
during the Edo and Meiji period, when
Japan opened its doors to the West. The
early modern gave way to the rise of new
genres like the Japanese drama (kabuki),
the poetry form known for its simplicity
and subtlety(haiku), and the (yomihon),
a type of Japanese book which put
little emphasis on illustration.
 EDO PERIOD
• The Tokugawa Period is commonly
referred to as the Edo Period. The
capital of Japan moved from Kyoto to
Edo (modern Tokyo).
• Scholarly work continued to be
published in Chinese, which was the
language of the learned much as
Latin was in Europe.
 EDO PERIOD
• Chikamatsu Monzaemon, a kabuki
dramatist, known as the Japan's
Shakespeare
• Many genres of literature made their
début during the Edo Period, helped by
a rising literacy rate among the growing
population of townspeople, as
well as the development of
lending libraries.
 MEIJI PERIOD
The Meiji period marks the re-opening
of Japan to the west, and a period of
rapid industrialization.
Kawabata Yasunari, for his narrative
mastery, which with great sensibility
expresses the essence of the
Japanese mind" became Japan's
first winner of the Nobel Prize for
Literature.
 POST-WAR AND
CONTEMPORARY
World warLITERATURE
II, and Japan's defeat, deeply
influenced Japanese literature. Many authors
wrote stories of disaffection, loss of purpose,
and the coping with defeat.
The Second World War heavily affected
Japanese literature but soon, the distinct
Japanese style of writing manage to regain its
popularity. Some of the prominent modern
Japanese writers are Yasunari
Kawabata, Kobi Abe, Takiji Kobayashi,
and Haruki Murakami to mention a few.
Japanese Drama
NOH PLAY
A classic Japanese drama (1400’s)
Stories are spiritual in nature
Legend says that the Noh dance
was invented by the gods.
Audience: Aristocrats/upper class
Highly stylized action, costuming,
masks and scenery
Accompanied by music or chorus
Joruri
Play a puppet play or
doll theatre wherein
the dolls are
beautifully made and
life-like in size.
 Kabuki

 The play for the masses. It is less

intellectual and more realistic, even
sensational.
 Developed around 16oo’s
 Stories are based on folklore and history
 Appeals to middle class audience that
often yells during performance.
 Lavish and exaggerated
 Extensive use of props, especially the fan
 Accompanied by music or chorus
 Elaborates sets, often using special
effects
 OMNAGATA: males performing as
females
JAPANESE POETRY
Tanka (5-7-5-7-7) It is a five line
poem. The first and third lines have five
syllables each and the others seven,
making a total of thirty-one syllables per
poem.
Haiku (5-7-5) It is a seventeen-
syllable poem of three lines arranged in
lines of five-seven-five.
JAPANESE
POETRY
QUIZ- Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. It relates to the creation of the world, describes the gods
and goddesses of the mythological period.
a. Kojiki b. Tanaga c. Haiku d. Nihongi
2. It tells the history of Japan in poetry and shows the profound
influence of Chinese.
b. Haiku c. Kojiki c. Tanaga d. Nihongi
3. It is the Golden Era of Japanese art and literature.
c. Ancientb. Heian c. Medieval d. Modern
4. The oldest collection of Japanese poetry
collected in the year 800.
a. Nihongi b. Kojiki c. Manyoshu d. Haiku
5. The Japan’s first winner of the Nobel Prize for
Literature.
a. Yasunari b. Monzaemon c. Tokugawa d. Shikibu
QUIZ- Choose the letter of the correct answer.
6. A classic Japanese drama and it is only intended for
aristocrats.
a. Joruri b. Noh Play c. Kabuki d. Zen Play
7. A puppet play or doll theatre in Japan.
b. Joruri b. Zen Play c. Kabuki d. Noh Play
8. It is a play for the masses or common people.
c. Zen Play b. Joruri c. Kabuki D. Noh Play
9. It is a seventeen-syllable poem of three lines arranged in lines
of five-seven-five.
a. Kojiki b. Haiku c. Tanka d. Nihongi
10. A kabuki dramatist known as the Japan’s
Shakespeare.
a. Yasunan b. Tokugawa c. Monzaemon d. Shikibu