Traditional Japanese literature: an anthology, beginnings to 1600 [abridged ed. 2012]

Stretching from ancient times to the late medieval period, Traditional Japanese Literature spans both high and popular styles and contains key examples of poetry, drama, prose fiction, and essays. Its depth and breadth have made the anthology an indispensable resource for classroom and individual study. For this abridged edition, Shirane retains substantial excerpts from such masterworks as The Tale of Genji, The Tales of the Heike, The Pillow Book, Man'yoshu, and Kokinshu. He preserves his comprehensive survey of secular and religious anecdotes (setsuwa) as well as classical poems.;Acknowledgments; Historical Periods and Key Terms; Introduction; Language and Writing; Language And Writing; Power and Courtship; Power And Courtship; Loss and Integration; Sociality; Loss And Integration; Sociality; Condensation and Intertextuality; Condensation And Intertextuality; Attachment and Detachment; Attachment And Detachment; Performance and Narration; Performance And Narration; 1. The Ancient Period; The Beginnings of Japanese Literature; The Beginnings Of Japanese Literature; Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters, 712); Book 1: The Beginning. Traditional Japanese Literature Features A Rich Array Of Works Dating From The Very Beginnings Of The Japanese Written Language Through The Evolution Of Japan's Noted Aristocratic Court And Warrior Cultures. It Contains Stunning New Translations Of Such Canonical Texts As The Tales Of The Heike As Well As Works And Genres Previously Ignored By Scholars And Unknown To General Readers. Introduction -- Language And Writing -- Power And Courtship -- Loss And Integration -- Sociality -- Condensation And Intertextuality -- Attachment And Detachment -- Performance And Narration -- 1. The Ancient Period -- The Beginnings Of Japanese Literature -- Kojiki (record Of Ancient Matters) -- Man'yōshū (collection Of Myriad Leaves) -- 2. The Heian Period -- The Emergence Of Kana Literature -- The Rise Of Women's Writing -- Late Heian Kana Histories And Anecdotal Literature -- Keikai -- Record Of Miraculous Events In Japan (ni Hon Ryōiki) -- Ono No Komachi -- Sugawara No Michizane -- Kokinshū (collection Of Ancient And Modern Poems) -- The Birth Of Vernacular Prose Fiction -- The Tale Of The Bamboo Cutter (taketori Monogatari) -- The Tales Of Ise (ise Monogatari) -- The Pillow Book (makura No Sōshi) -- Murasaki Shikibu -- The Tale Of Genji (genji Monogatari) -- Daughter Of Takasue -- Sarashina Diary (sarashina Nikki) -- Heian Literati --^ Lieterary Essence Of Our Country (honchō Monzui) -- Record Of A Pond Pavilion (chiteiki) -- Late Heian And Early Kamakura Monogatari -- The Stories Of The Riverside Middle Counselor (tsutsumi Chūnagon Monogatari) -- The Mirror Of The Present (imakagami) -- Collection Of Tales Of Times Now Past (konjaku Monogatari Shū) -- Tales From India -- Tales From China --buddhist Tales From Japan -- Secular Tales From Japan -- 3. The Kamakura Period -- The Samurai And Literature -- The Spread Of Buddhism And The Way Of The Gods -- The Aristocracy And Literature -- The Priesthood And Literature -- Saigyō -- Fujiwara No Teika -- Essentials Of Poetic Composition (eiga No Taigai) -- Shinkokinshū (new Collection Of Ancient And Modern Poems) -- Recluse Literature (sōan Bungaku) -- An Account Of A Ten-foot-square Hut (hōjōki) -- Tales Of Awakening (hosshinshū) -- Anecdotes (setsuwa) -- A Collection Of Tales From Uji (uji Shūi Monogatari) -- Tales Of Renunciation (senjūshō) --^ Warrior Tales (gunki-mono) -- The Tales Of The Heike (heike Monogatari) -- Travel Diaries -- The Confessions Of Lady Nijō (towazugatari) -- Kenkō -- Essays In Idleness (tsurezuregusa) -- 4. The Muromachi Period -- The Patronage Of The Ashikaga -- Zen And Samurai Culture -- The Rise Of Provincial Culture -- Nō Drama -- Lady Aoi (aoi No Ue) -- Stupa Komachi (sotoba Komachi) -- Pining Wind (matsukaze) -- Atsumori -- Shrine In The Fields (nonomiya) -- Comic Theater (kyōgen) -- Delicious Poison (busu) -- Linked Verse (renga) -- East Country Dialogues (azuma Mondō) -- Three Poets At Minase (minase Sangin Hyakuin) -- Muromachi Tales (otogi-zōshi) -- Lazy Tarō (monogusa Tarō) -- Popular Linked Verse (haikai) -- Hobbyhorse Collection Of Mad Songs (chikuba Kyōginshū) -- Mongrel Tsukuba Collection (inu Tsukubashū). Edited By Haruo Shirane. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Acknowledgments Historical Periods and Key Terms Introduction Language and Writing Language And Writing Power and Courtship Power And Courtship Loss and Integration Sociality Loss And Integration Sociality Condensation and Intertextuality Condensation And Intertextuality Attachment and Detachment Attachment And Detachment Performance and Narration Performance And Narration 1. The Ancient Period The Beginnings of Japanese Literature The Beginnings Of Japanese Literature Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters, 712) Book 1: The Beginning. Man Yoshu (Collection of Myriad Leaves, Ca. 785)First Period First Period Second Period Second Period Third Period Third Period 2. The Heian Period The Emergence of Kana Literature The Emergence Of Kana Literature The Rise of Women's Writing The Rise Of Women's Writing Late Heian Kana Histories and Anecdotal Literature Late Heian Kana Histories And Anecdotal Literature Keiki Keikai Ono No Komachi Ono No Komachi Selected Poems Selected Poems Sugawara No Michizane Sugawara No Michizane Children Career Exile Kokinshu (Collection of Ancient and Modern Poems, Ca. 905). Kokinsh(Collection Of Ancient And Modern Poems, CA. 905)The Kana Preface The Birth of Vernacular Prose Fiction The Birth Of Vernacular Prose Fiction The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter (Taketori Monogatari, Ca. 909) The Tales of Ise (Ise Monogatari, Ca. 947) The Tales Of Ise(Ise Monogatari, Ca. 947) Sai Shonagon The Pillow Book (Makura No Soshi, Ca. 1000) The Pillow Book (Makura No Soshi, Ca. 1000) Murusaki Shikibu The Tale of Genji (Genji Monogatari) Murasaki Shikibu Heian Literati Late Heian and Early Kamakura Monogatari Late Heian And Early Kamakura Monogatari. 3. The Kamakura PeriodThe Samurai And Literature The Spread Of Buddhism And The Way Of The Gods The Aristocracy And Literature The Priesthood And Literature Saigyo Selected Poems Essentials of Poetic Composition(EIGA NO TAIGAI, CA. 1222) Shinkokinshu (New Collection Of Ancient And Modern Poems, Ca., 1205) Recluse Literature (SOAN BUNGAKU) A Collection Of Tales From Uji (Uji Shui Monogatari, Early Thirteenth Century) Warrior Tales(GUNKI- MONO) The Tales Of Te Heike(HEIKE MONOGATARI, MID- THIRTEENTH CENTURY) Travel Diaries 4. The Moromachi Period The Patronage of the Ashikaga. Zen and Samurai CultureZen And Samurai Culture The Rise of Provincial Culture The Rise Of Provincial Culture No Drama Theatrical Elements Theatrical Elements Comic Theater (Kyogen) Comic Theater (KYOGEN) Linked Verse (Renga) Linked Verse (RENGA) Muromachi Tales (Otogi-Zoshi) Muromachi Tales (OTOGI- ZOSHI) Popular Linked Verse (Haikai) Popular Linked Verse (HAIKAI) English-Language Bibliography Permissions Index Translations From The Asian Classics. Haruo Shirane's critically acclaimed Traditional Japanese Literature: An Anthology, Beginnings to 1600 , contains key examples of both high and low styles of poetry, drama, prose fiction, and essays. For this abridged edition, Shirane retains substantial excerpts from such masterworks as The Tale of Genji , The Tales of the Heike , The Pillow Book , the Man'yoshu , and the Kokinshu . He preserves his comprehensive survey of secular and religious anecdotes ( setsuwa ) as well as classical poems with extensive commentary. He features no drama; selections from influential war epics; and notable essays on poetry, fiction, history, and religion. Texts are interwoven to bring into focus common themes, styles, and allusions while inviting comparison and debate. The result is a rich encounter with ancient and medieval Japanese culture and history. Each text and genre is enhanced by extensive introductions that provide sociopolitical and cultural context. The anthology is organized by period, genre, and topic—an instructor-friendly structure—and a comprehensive bibliography guides readers toward further study. Praise for Traditional Japanese Literature: An Anthology, Beginnings to 1600 "Haruo Shirane has done a splendid job at this herculean task."—Joshua Mostow, University of British Columbia "A comprehensive and innovative anthology.... All of the introductions are excellent."— Journal of Asian Studies "One of those impressive, erudite, must-have titles for anyone interested in Asian literature."— Bloomsbury Review "An anthology that comprises superb translations of an exceptionally wide range of texts.... Highly recommended."— Choice "A wealth of material."— Monumenta Nipponica