JAPANESE

LITERATU
RE
Zarate, Bryan F.• 31-MFL-01
One of the Literary History of
Japanese Literature
Heian Period
平安時代

794-1185
 The Heian period ( 平 安 時 代 , Heian jidai) is the last
division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185.
The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or
modern Kyoto. It is the period in Japanese history when
Buddhism, Daoism and other Chinese influences were at their
height.
 In the resplendent aristocratic culture that thrived early in the eleventh
century, a time when the use of the hiragana alphabet derived from Chinese
characters had become widespread, court ladies played the central role in
developing literature. One of them, Murasaki Shikibu wrote the 54-chapter
novel Genji monogatari (Tale of Genji), while another, Sei Shonagon, wrote
Makura no soshi (The Pillow Book), a diverse collection of jottings and
essays [around 996 ]. Others also wrote diaries and stories, and their
psychological portrayals remain fresh and vivid to present-day readers. The
appearance of the Konjaku monogatari (Tales of a Time That Is Now Past)
around 1120 added a new dimension to literature. This collection of more than
1,000 Buddhist and secular tales from India, China, and Japan is particularly
notable for its rich descriptions of the lives of the nobility and common
people in Japan at that time.
 The 'Tale of the Genji' or Genji
Monogatari, written in the 11th century CE by
Murasaki Shikibu, a court lady, is Japan's
oldest novel and possibly the first novel in
world literature. The classic of Japanese
literature, the work describes the life and loves
of Prince Genji and is noted for its rich
characterisation and vivid descriptions of life in
the Japanese imperial court. The work famously
reproduces the line 'the sadness of things' over
1,000 times and has been tremendously
Gengi Monogatari influential on Japanese literature and thinking
ever since it was written.
 The Pillow Book (Makura no Soshi) is
a personalised account of life at the Japanese
court by Sei Shonagon which she completed
c. 1002 CE during the Heian Period. The
book is full of humorous observations
(okashi) written in the style of a diary, an
approach known as zuihitsu-style
(‘rambling') of which The Pillow Book was
the first and greatest example.

Makura no Soshi
Places in Japan where the country's
Literary heritage can be
appreciated
Town of Uji
 Written by a Japanese noblewoman, Murasaki Shikibu, and acclaimed as the world’s first
novel, The Tale of Genji dates back to the 11th Century. You can visit the town of Uji at the
heart of the novel and visit The Tale of Genji Museum. Uji is a small city located in Kyoto
prefecture, between Kyoto and Nara, and can be reached by train using your JR Pass. Uji
features numerous statues and plaques throughout the city displaying the locations where the
novel’s events took place. One of the most famous is Uji Bridge, which was first constructed in
646. You will also find The Tale of Genji Museum close by. The museum brings this epic novel
to life with exhibitions, murals, displays, infographics and more. It also features more than
3,000 different editions of the book itself. Uji Bridge is a 5-10 minute walk north of JR Uji
Station and the museum is just east of Keihan Uji Station. Both stations are easily accessible
from Kyoto or Nara. While in Uji, don’t miss Byodoin Temple and Ujigami Shrine, the oldest
extant shrine in Japan. Uji is also famous for its green tea!
References:
https://www.jrpass.com/blog/a-literary-tour-of-japan
https://www.kanzaki.com/jinfo/jliterature.html
https://www.ancient.eu/Tale_of_Genji/#:~:text=The%20'Tale%20of%20Genji'%20covers,direct%20lin
e%20to%20the%20throne
.
https://www.ancient.eu/The_Pillow_Book/
http://jpellegrino.com/teaching/japaneseliterature.html
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2110.html