The Columbia Anthology of Japanese Essays : Zuihitsu From the Tenth to the Twenty-First Century

A court lady of the Heian era, an early modern philologist, a novelist of the Meiji period, and a physicist at Tokyo University. What do they have in common, besides being Japanese? They all wrote __zuihitsu__—a uniquely Japanese literary genre encompassing features of the nonfiction or personal essay and miscellaneous musings. For sheer range of subject matter and breadth of perspective, the zuihitsu is unrivaled in the Japanese literary tradition, which may explain why few examples have been translated into English. __The Columbia Anthology of Japanese Essays__ presents a representative selection of more than one hundred zuihitsu from a range of historical periods written by close to fifty authors—from well-known figures, such as Matsuo Basho, Natsume Soseki, and Koda Aya, to such writers as Tachibana Nankei and Dekune Tatsuro, whose works appear here for the first time in English. Writers speak on the experience of coming down with a cold, the aesthetics of tea, the physiology and psychology of laughter, the demands of old age, standards of morality, the way to raise children, the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, the thoughts that accompany sleeplessness, the anxiety of undergoing surgery, and the unexpected benefits of training a myna bird to say "Thank you." These essays also provide moving descriptions of snowy landscapes, foggy London, the famous cherry blossoms of Ueno Park, and the appeal of rainy vistas, and relate the joys and troubles of everyone from desperate samurai to filial children to ailing cats. Introduction Beginnings. The pillow book / Sei Shonagon Essays in idleness / Yoshida No Kenko The Late Medieval Era. Conversations with Shotetsu / Shotetsu "To unify the nation and restore civil society" / Ichijo Kaneyoshi "Cottage of dreams" and "Three loves" / Shohaku A Tenbun miscellany / The Fujiwara Lay Monk The Edo period. Laughs to keep you awake / Anrakuan Sakuden "On Ohara" / Kinoshita Choshoshi Haikai prose / Matsuo Basho Amusements / Amenomori Hoshu Window musings / Matsuzaki Kanran A miscellany of stories / Morita Morimasa Chats with myself / Dazai Shundai Jeweled comb basket / Motoori Norinaga Idle chats beneath a northern window / Tachibana Nankei Blossoms and the moon / Matsudaira Sadanobu Year by year: a miscellany / Ishiwara Masaakira Behind the koto / Murata Harumi Shunparo's jottings / Shiba Kokan Unusual people of the modern age and Kanden's crop of jottings / Ban Kokei Hoary stories / Tadano Makuzu Haikai prose / Natsume Seibi Clouds of floating grasses The Modern Period. Autumn ensemble / Higuchi Ichiyo "A cat's grave" and "London fog" / Natsume Soseki "Snow" / Tokutomi Roka "Desk" / Tayama Katai "Fireworks" / Nagai Kafu "Laughter" / Terada Torahiko "Various thoughts on the Great Kanto earthquake" and "my moral precepts for everyday life" / Kikuchi Kan "Master Hyakken's idle fantasies," "Bumpy road," and "A long fence" / Uchida Hyakken "The image of an author" / Dazai Osamu "Baby sparrow," "Turtledoves," and "Morning glories" / Shiga Naoya Esprit and humor / Kawamori Yoshizo "Sleepless nights" and "A bed for my books" / Osaragi Jiro "On being down with a cold" / Kawakami Tetsutaro "The road" / Shono Junzo "Kitchen," "Raindrops," and "A memento of the season" / Koda Aya "On surgery" and "Rainy day" / Kono Taeko "Looking for gloves" / Mukoda Kuniko One, we count, then / Takenishi Hiroko Sunday musings / Hiraiwa Yumie "Dust mogul" and other short essays / Dekune Tatsuro "Myna bird" / Kizaki Satoko "Concerning the order of culture" / Shiroyama Saburo "On zuihitsu" / Sakai Junko. A court lady of the Heian era, an early modern philologist, a Meiji-period novelist, and a physicist at Tokyo University. What do they have in common, besides being Japanese? They all wrote zuihitsu#x97;a uniquely Japanese literary genre encompassing features of the nonfiction or personal essay and miscellaneous musings. For sheer range of subject matter and breadth of perspective, the zuihitsu is unrivaled in the Japanese literary tradition, which may explain why few examples have been translated into English. Springing from a variety of social, artistic, political, and professional discourses, zuihitsu is an undeniably important literary form practiced by all types of people who reveal much about themselves, their identities, and the times in which they lived. Zuihitsu also contain a good deal of humor, which is often underrepresented in translations of #x93;serious" Japanese writing. This anthology presents a representative selection of more than one hundred zuihitsu from a range of historical periods written by close to fifty authors#x97;from well-known figures, such as Matsuo Basho, Natsume Soseki, and Koda Aya, to such writers as Tachibana Nankei and Dekune Tatsuro, whose names appear here for the first time in English.Writers speak on the experience of coming down with a cold, the aesthetics of tea, the physiology and psychology of laughter, the demands of old age, standards of morality, childrearing, the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, sleeplessness, undergoing surgery, and training a parrot to say #x93;thank you." Varying in length from paragraphs to pages, these works also provide moving descriptions of snowy landscapes, foggy London, Ueno Park's famous cherry blossoms, and the appeal of rainy vistas, and relate the joys and troubles of everyone from desperate samurai to filial children and ailing cats A Court Lady Of The Heian Era, An Early Modern Philologist, A Meiji-period Novelist, And A Physicist At Tokyo University. What Do They Have In Common, Besides Being Japanese? They All Wrote ZuihitsuÑa Uniquely Japanese Literary Genre Encompassing Features Of The Nonfiction Or Personal Essay And Miscellaneous Musings. For Sheer Range Of Subject Matter And Breadth Of Perspective, The Zuihitsu Is Unrivaled In The Japanese Literary Tradition, Which May Explain Why Few Examples Have Been Translated Into English. Springing From A Variety Of Social, Artistic, Political, And Professional Discourses, Zuihitsu Is An Undeniably Important Literary Form Practiced By All Types Of People Who Reveal Much About Themselves, Their Identities, And The Times In Which They Lived. Zuihitsu Also Contain A Good Deal Of Humor, Which Is Often Underrepresented In Translations Of ÒseriousÓ Japanese Writing. This Anthology Presents A Representative Selection Of More Than One Hundred Zuihitsu From A Range Of Historical Periods Written By Close To Fifty AuthorsÑfrom Well-known Figures, Such As Matsuo Basho, Natsume Soseki, And Koda Aya, To Such Writers As Tachibana Nankei And Dekune Tatsuro, Whose Names Appear Here For The First Time In English.writers Speak On The Experience Of Coming Down With A Cold, The Aesthetics Of Tea, The Physiology And Psychology Of Laughter, The Demands Of Old Age, Standards Of Morality, Childrearing, The Great Kanto Earthquake Of 1923, Sleeplessness, Undergoing Surgery, And Training A Parrot To Say Òthank You.Ó Varying In Length From Paragraphs To Pages, These Works Also Provide Moving Descriptions Of Snowy Landscapes, Foggy London, Ueno ParkÕs Famous Cherry Blossoms, And The Appeal Of Rainy Vistas, And Relate The Joys And Troubles Of Everyone From Desperate Samurai To Filial Children And Ailing Cats. Contents Acknowledgments Introduction I. BEGINNINGS 1. The Pillow Book 2. Essays in Idleness II. THE LATE MEDIEVAL ERA 3. Conversations with Shiotetsu 4. "To Unify the Nation and Restore Civil Society" 5. "Cottage of Dreams" and "Three Loves" 6. A Tenbun Miscellany III. THE EDO PERIOD 7. Laughs to Keep You Awake 8. "On Ohara" 9. Haikai Prose 10. Amusements 11. Window Musings 12. A Miscellany of Stories 13. Chats with Myself 14. jeweled Comb Basket 15. Idle Chats Beneath a Northern Window 16. Blossoms and the Moon 17. Year by Year: A Miscellany 18. Behind the Koto 19. Shunparo's jottings 20. Unusual People of the Modern Age and Kanden's Crop of Jottings 21. Hoary Stories 22. Haikai Prose 23. Clouds of Floating Grasses IV. THE MODERN PERIOD 24. Autumn Ensemble 25. Short Works from Long Days 26. "Snow" 27. "Desk" 28. "Fireworks" 29. "Laughter" 30. "Various Thoughts on the Great Kanto Earthquake" and "My Moral Precepts for Everyday Life" 31. "Master Hyakken's Idle Fantasies;' "Bumpy Road;' and "A Long Fence" 32. "The Image of an Author" 33. "Baby Sparrow;' "Turtledoves;'and "Morning Glories" 34. Esprit and Humor 35. "Sleepless Nights" and "A Bed for My Books" 36. "On Being Down with a Cold" 37. "The Road" 38. "Kitchen;' "Raindrops;' and "A Memento of the Season" 39. "On Surgery" and "Rainy Day" 40. "Looking for Gloves" 41. One, We Count, Then 42. Sunday Musings 43. Not Much of a Book, but Please .. . and just Be Sure You're Not a Bother to Anyone 44. "Myna Bird" 45. "Concerning the Order of Culture" 46. "On Zuihitsu" A court lady of the Heian era, an early modern philologist, a novelist of the Meiji period, and a physicist at Tokyo University. What do they have in common, besides being Japanese? They all wrote zuihitsu —a uniquely Japanese literary genre encompassing features of the nonfiction or personal essay and miscellaneous musings. For sheer range of subject matter and breadth of perspective, the zuihitsu is unrivaled in the Japanese literary tradition, which may explain why few examples have been translated into English. The Columbia Anthology of Japanese Essays presents a representative selection of more than one hundred zuihitsu from a range of historical periods written by close to fifty authors—from well-known figures, such as Matsuo Basho, Natsume Soseki, and Koda Aya, to such writers as Tachibana Nankei and Dekune Tatsuro, whose works appear here for the first time in English. Writers speak on the experience of coming down with a cold, the aesthetics of tea, the physiology and psychology of laughter, the demands of old age, standards of morality, the way to raise children, the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, the thoughts that accompany sleeplessness, the anxiety of undergoing surgery, and the unexpected benefits of training a myna bird to say "Thank you." These essays also provide moving descriptions of snowy landscapes, foggy London, the famous cherry blossoms of Ueno Park, and the appeal of rainy vistas, and relate the joys and troubles of everyone from desperate samurai to filial children to ailing cats. This anthology presents a representative selection of more than one hundred zuihitsu from a range of historical periods written by close to fifty authors - from well-known figures, such as Matsuo Bashō, Natsume Sōseki, and Kōda Aya, to such writers as Tachibana Nankei and Dekune Tatsurō, whose names appear here for the first time in English. Writers speak on the experience of coming down with a cold, the aesthetics of tea, the physiology and psychology of laughter, the demands of old age, standards of morality, childrearing, and much more