Rituals Of Self-revelation: Shishōsetsu As Literary Genre And Socio-cultural Phenomenon (harvard East Asian Monographs)

Irmela Hijiya-Kirschnereit brings a sophisticated and graceful method of analysis to this English translation of her book on the shishosetsu , one of the most important yet misunderstood genres in Japanese literature. Thorough and insightful, this study of the Japanese version of the I-novel provides a means of researching and interpreting the tradition of the genre, linking it to forms of autobiographical fiction as well as to cultural assumptions of the classical period of Japanese history. Hijiya-Kirschnereit provides a model of systematic inquiry into literary traditions that will stimulate American and English Japanologists, providing a much-needed bridge between German Japanologists and the rest of the field. Rituals of Self-Revelation: Shishōsetsu as' Literary Genre and Socio-Cultural Phenomenon Contents Preface Abbreviations Used in the Notes and Bibliography Preliminary Remarks on Procedures Introduction PART ONE: CONTEXT AND ORIGINS 1 HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CONTEXT 2 SHIZENSHUGI-JAPANESE NATURALISM 3 TAYAMA KATAI-A JAPANESE NATURALIST The Question of"Influence" West-East Elective Affinities "Misunderstandings" Innovation as Renovation 4 "FUTON" Autobiographical Elements The Influence of Hauptrriann The Genealogy of the Work "Reinforcements" in Contemporary Literature 5 THE "THEORETICAL" RECEPTION OF "FUTON"REVIEWS AND ESSAYS 6 THE "PRACTICAL" RECEPTION OF "FUTON"IMITATIONS AND PARODIES PART TWO: SHJSHŌSETSU RESEARCH 7 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE STATE OF RESEARCH 8 THE "CLASSICS" OF SHISHŌSETSU RESEARCH Kobayashi Hideo: "Watakushishōsetsuron" Itō Sei: Shōsetsu no hōhō Nakamura Mitsuo: Fuzoku shōsetsuron Hirano Ken: Geijutsu to jisseikatsu 9 A SURVEY OF SHISHŌSETSU RESEARCH History of Shishōsetsu and of Shishōsetsu Theory Shishōsetsu Authors and Works Special Aspects of Shishōsetsu Recent Trends in Shishōsetsu Research, 1979-1988 PART THREE: GENRE THEORY 10 HISTORY OF THE TERM Predecessors of Shishōsetsu Theoretical Premises The Origins of the Term Watakushishōsetsu 11 THE LITERARY DEBATE SURROUNDING SHISHŌSETSU The Context of the Discussion The Dispute over Shishōsetsu 12 CONVENTIONAL DEFINITIONS OF SHISHŌSETSU 13 GENRE THEORY IN JAPAN 14 SHISHŌSETSU-AN ATTEMPT TO DEFINE THE GENRE Preliminary Thoughts Outline of a Structural Model PART FOUR: TRANSFORMATIONS IN SHJSHŌSETSU 15 LITERARY EVOLUTION-AN OUTLINE 16 SHISHŌSETSU-EXAMPLES AND ANALYSES Iwano Hōmei: "Tandeki" (1909) Chikamatsu Shūkō: "Giwaku" (1913) Shiga Naoya: "Wakai" (1917) Kasai Zenzō: "Koo tsurete" (1918) Kikuchi Kan: "Torno to tomo to no aida" (1918) Hayashi Fumiko: Hōrōki (1928-1930) Dazai Osamu: Ningen shikkaku (1948) Miura Tetsuo: "Shinobugawa'' (1960) PART FIVE: SHISHOSETSU WITHIN THE SYSTEM OF LITERARY COMMUNICATION 17 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 18 SHISHŌSETSU'S COMMUNICATIVE FUNCTION The Author of Shishōsetsu The Hero in Shishōsetsu The Shishōsetsu Reader 19 ASPECTS OF TRADITIONALISM Diaries and Miscellany Literature "Lyricism" Nature Mysticism 20 THE CULTURAL CODE The Makoto Principle Empiricism The Myth of lmmediacy Irrationalism and Fatalism 21 SHISHŌSETSU-A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT Bibliography Appendix to the Bibliography Index Bibliography Appendix to the Bibliography Index of Persons and Works Subject Index Harvard East Asian Monographs Irmela Hijiya-kirschnereit Brings Her Sophisticated Literary Methods And Graceful Method Of Analysis To This English Translation Of Her Book On The Shishosetsu, One Of The Most Important Yet Misunderstood Genres In Japanese Literature. This Thorough And Insightful Study Of The Japanese Version Of The I-novel Provides A Means Of Researching And Interpreting The Whole Tradition Of This Genre, Linking It To The Forms Of Autobiographical Fiction As Well As To The Cultural Assumptions And Ways Of Thinking Of The Classical Period Of Japanese History. Hijiya-kirschnereit Provides A Model Of Systematic Inquiry Into Literary Traditions That Will Stimulate American And English Japanologists Used To Different Methods, Providing A Much-needed Bridge Between German Japanologists And The Rest Of The Field. 1. Historical And Cultural Context -- 2. Shizenshugi -- Japanese Naturalism -- 3. Tayama Katai -- A Japanese Naturalist -- 4. Futon -- 5. The Theoretical Reception Of Futon -- Reviews And Essays -- 6. The Practical Reception Of Futon -- Imitations And Parodies -- 7. General Observations On The State Of Research -- 8. The Classics Of Shishosetsu Research -- 9. A Survey Of Shishosetsu Research -- 10. History Of The Term -- 11. The Literary Debate Surrounding Shishosetsu -- 12. Conventional Definitions Of Shishosetsu -- 13. Genre Theory In Japan -- 14. Shishosetsu -- An Attempt To Define The Genre -- 15. Literary Evolution -- An Outline -- 16. Shishosetsu -- Examples And Analyses -- 17. Introductory Remarks -- 18. Shishosetsu's Communicative Function -- 19. Aspects Of Traditionalism -- 20. The Cultural Code -- 21. Shishosetsu -- A Critical Assessment. Irmela Hijiya-kirschnereit. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 329-355) And Indexes. Irmela Hijiya-Kirschnereit brings a sophisticated and graceful method of analysis to this English translation of her book on the shishōsetsu, one of the most important yet misunderstood genres in Japanese literature. Thorough and insightful, this study of the Japanese version of the “I-novel” provides a means of researching and interpreting the tradition of the genre, linking it to forms of autobiographical fiction as well as to cultural assumptions of the classical period of Japanese history. Hijiya-Kirschnereit provides a model of systematic inquiry into literary traditions that will stimulate American and English Japanologists, providing a much-needed bridge between German Japanologists and the rest of the field.