Medieval world reflected in Japanese Literature

1341 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Compare and contrast medieval Japan and medieval Europe—political, cultural, religious, and military aspects

There are many methods of research that can allow a person to gain an insight into a specific time period and place. Historical records, books, essays, and school lectures are just a few examples. However, perhaps one of the most important and effective ways to see into the past is through literature. This is true for medieval Japan as well. The literature written during the medieval period of Japan is very different from literature written during earlier time periods, and the differences show the changes and innovations that took place during the medieval period, and thus reflects important aspects of Japanese medieval society. These changes and innovations can be seen by comparing a few of the works from the medieval period to written works from earlier periods. Comparing written works such as The Tale of Genji and The Tale of Heike, the Kokinshuu and Shinkokinshuu, and The Pillow Book and Essays in Idleness successfully shows the changes and innovations that took place during the medieval period of Japan.

The literature of the Heian period is known for its emphasis on romance. The Tale of Genji is an examples of this. Throughout the novel the many romances of Genji are described. There is emphasis placed on his relationships and his feelings for those he loved. The poetry used throughout The Tale of Genji are usually either love poems sent back and forth between Genji and his various lovers, or Genji’s personal feelings on his situation. An example of this is when Genji is exiled and Murasaki writes a poem for him:

“I would soon give up this unhappy life of mine if that might just stay

a little while the farewell now suddenly upon us” (The Tale of Genji, 233).

This poem gives an example of the emphasis on lo...

... middle of paper ...

...s what was found beautiful during that time, and shows how the political world was changing. It is through examples of literature such as these, that people are given an insight into the medieval world of Japan, and what was occurring during that time.

Works Cited

 Huey, Robert N. “The Medievalization of Poetic Practice.” Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies 50.2 (1990): 17. Harvard-Yenching Institute. Web. 9 Aug. 2009.

http://www.jstor.org/stable/2719210

 Shikibu, Murasaki. The Tale of Genji. Abridged. New York, New York: Penguin Books, 2001. Print.

 The Tale of Heike. Tokyo, Japan: University of Tokyo Press, 1975. Print.

 The Tale of Heike. New York: Columbia University Press, 2006. University of Hawaii at Manoa Libraries. Web. 30 Mar. 2011.

http://site.ebrary.com.eres.library.manoa.hawaii.edu//lib/uhmanoa/docDetail.action?docID=10183590

Show More
Related

  • Kokoro and the Parallels of Historical Events

    1187 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout history artists have used art as a means to reflect the on goings of the society surrounding them. Many times, novels serve as primary sources in the future for students to reflect on past history. Students can successfully use novels as a source of understanding past events. Different sentiments and points of views within novels serve as the information one may use to reflect on these events. Natsume Soseki’s novel Kokoro successfully encapsulates much of what has been discussed in class, parallels with the events in Japan at the time the novel takes place, and serves as a social commentary to describe these events in Japan at the time of the Mejeii Restoration and beyond. Therefore, Kokoro successfully serves as a primary source students may use to enable them to understand institutions like conflicting views Whites by the Japanese, the role of women, and the population’s analysis of the Emperor.

    Read More

  • Ideal Man and Woman in The Tale of Genji

    1336 Words  | 3 Pages

    Tyler, Royall. The tale of Genji: abridged. Abridged ed. New York, N.Y.: Penguin Books, 2006. Print.

    Read More

  • Men and Women of the Heian Court

    1113 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the Heian period, an educated person like Genji who wrote beautiful poetry becomes well known and highly regarded. “When the time came to declaim the poems, the Reader could not get on with Genji’s because the gathering repeated and commented admiringly on every line. Even the Doctors were impressed. His Majesty was undoubtedly pleased, since to him Genji was the glory of every occasion.” (Tyler 153)

    Read More

  • Comparison of the Partheon and the Cathedral of Chartres

    536 Words  | 2 Pages

    Fiero, Gloria K. "The Medieval Synthesis in the Arts." The Humanistic Tradition Prehistory to the Early Modern World. 6th ed. Vol. 1. N.p.: McGraw-Hill College, 2005. 155-157, 309-16. Print.

    Read More

  • Western Influence on Japan

    1060 Words  | 3 Pages

    Greene, Carol. Enchantment of the World Japan, p. 97. 28 Pitts, Forrest R., Japan. p. 78. -. 29. Davidson, Judith.

    Read More

  • The Tale of the Heike

    877 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Tale of the Heike is a collection of tales that depict the livelihood of warriors during the Heian and Kamakura period. These tales illustrate that warriors during this period spent their existence dedicated to their duty to the Buddhist Law and that the growing contention arose from each warrior’s devotion and loyalty to the Buddhist Law.

    Read More

  • Tales of Heike

    1902 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Tale of Heike." Traditional Japanese Literature: An Anthology, Beginnings to 1600. Ed. Haruo Shirane. New York: Columbia UP, 2007. 736-39. Print.

    Read More

  • Buddhist Art of The Wei Dynasty

    1903 Words  | 4 Pages

    Print. Gardner, Helen, and Fred S. Kleiner. "Chapter 1: South and South East Asia Before 1200. " Gardner's Art through the Ages: Non-western Perspectives. Boston: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning, 2010.

    Read More

  • Differences Between Feudalism in Europe and Japan

    1033 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...ut. I need a source like a diary, either from the lord or vassal's perspective. With that diary, we can see what the lord/vassal thinks of how their lives are like. We can find out what their daily routines. The Tale of the Heike, translated by Hirohi Kitigawa and Bruce Tsuchida, may have many issues with its reliability. This story is like a fairytale, describing how the relationship with the lord and vassal should be. It is said by Wikipedia that The Tale of the Heike has “differ[ent] versions[,] [which was] passed down through an oral tradition[.]”12 The original version of the story was probably written back in the day before the battle, not in 1975. As the story gets passed down, it gets changed. We won't know which version is the real one. I would need a diary from one person on each side of the battle. I would know what is happening and what they are thinking.

    Read More

  • Ideal Man and Woman in The Tale of Genji

    1487 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Heian period was a peaceful era that is highly regarded in Japan’s history. At this time Japan was beginning to break away from Chinese influence, thus the culture of Japan was morphing into something unique and independent from that of China. An example of resulting change was Japan’s further development of their writing system known as kana, which allowed authors to express their feelings in a more Japanese way. The Japanese court also progressed independently from China and created unique concepts and values such as miyabi “courtliness,” makoto “sincerity,” and aware “sadness of impermanence” (Hooker). The expectations put on men and women in the court during the Heian period must have been concurrent with such values.

    Read More

  • Poetry Compare And Contrast Essay

    1076 Words  | 3 Pages

    Shirane Haruo. et al. Early Modern Japanese Literature: An Anthology 1600-1900. New York: Colombia University Press, 2002. Print.

    Read More

  • Japanese Literature

    1043 Words  | 3 Pages

    As we learned during the first half of the course, the Heian period focused their attentions on elegance, aesthetics (of actions or objects), and relationships (specifically the feelings of love, longing, and waiting). This is reflected that period’s literature. In “Genji Monogatari,” the characters continuously behaved elegantly and gracefully spoke in poems. “Makura no Sōshi” acted as a reference and guide for appropriately refined court behavior. While various nikki, such as “Izumi Shikibu Nikki” and “Kagerō Nikki,” gave readers insight into the lives and relationships of people in the Heian period court.

    Read More

  • Gender Ideals in Heian Society

    1083 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Heian period(794-1185), the so-called golden age of Japanese culture, produced some of the finest works of Japanese literature.1 The most well known work from this period, the Genji Monogatari, is considered to be the “oldest novel still recognized today as a major masterpiece.”2 It can also be said that the Genji Monogatari is proof of the ingenuity of the Japanese in assimilating Chinese culture and politics. As a monogatari, a style of narrative with poems interspersed within it, the characters and settings frequently allude to Chinese poems and stories. In addition to displaying the poetic prowess that the Japanese had attained by this time period, the Genji Monogatari also demonstrates how politics and gender ideals were adopted from the Chinese.

    Read More

  • Manyoshu vs. Kokinshu: Roles and Significance

    1026 Words  | 3 Pages

    Keene, Donald. Anthology of Japanese literature, from the earliest era to the mid-nineteenth century. New York: Grove P, 1955.

    Read More

  • Reflection of Modern East Asia

    895 Words  | 2 Pages

    Deal, William E. 2006. Handbook to Life in Medieval and Early Modern Japan. Facts on File, Inc., 2006. eBook

    Read More

More about Medieval world reflected in Japanese Literature

Open Document