LITERATURE OF ANCIENT JAPAN

1. LITERATURE OF ANCIENT JAPAN 12th Lit. World Literature

2. JAPANESE TANKA POETRY TRADITION TANKA Verse was common in everyday life “Poetry springs naturally form the heart in response to sights, sounds, and feelings” (905AD) Poetic skill was highly prized (Festive Poetry Contests) The Tanka was used a social means of communication After receiving a poem, a person must respond or “cut that person dead.”

3. TANKA • Most prevalent verse form in traditional Japanese • Tanka is NOT defined by the usual elements of poetry: (rhyme or meter) • The defining feature is SYLLABLE COUNT • 5 – 7 - 5 – 7 – 5 • The segments stand out clearly in Japanese, although they are not necessarily divided into separate lines

4. READING TANKA “When tankas are translated into English, the translator often must alter the syllabic structure of the poem and, in some cases, also change the number of lines. Therefore, when reading a tanka in translation, it is more important to focus on the imagery used and the emotions evoked than on the poem’s form.”

5. KiTsurayuki When I went to visit The girl I love so much. That winter night The river blew so cold That the plovers were crying.

6. Ono Komachi Was it that I went to sleep Thinking of him, That he came in my dreams? Has I known it a dream I should not have awakened.

7. Priest Jakuren One cannot ask loneliness How or where it starts. On the cypress-mountain. Autumn evening.

8. HAIKU HISTORY Began 3 or 4 centuries ago Syllable count: 5 – 7 – 5 Began as the opening of a chain of “linked” verse Similar to jazz improvisation, elaborating on ideas of others The haiku eventually went “independent” Became even more popular than the tanka Typically focuses of some aspect of nature Often presents a comparison of images or actions

9. HAIKU Matsuo Basho Clouds come from time to time – And bring to men a chance to rest From looking at the moon. Seven sights were veiled In mist – then I heard Mii Temple’s bell. Summer grasses – All that remains Of soldier’s visions.

10. HAIKU YOSA BUSON KOBAYASHI ISSA Spring rain: Soaking on the roof A child’s rag ball. Far-off mountain peaks Reflected in its eyes: The dragonfly.

11. ZEN PARABLES ZEN BUDDHISM • Falls somewhere between religion and philosophy • Seeks to leap over everyday logic and reach enlightenment through intuition • Began in 6th century China with the mingling of Buddhism and Taoism • Focuses on a “sudden” breakthrough to enlightenment through meditation or deep thought • Enlightenment: mental tranquility, spontaneity, and fearlessness

12. ZEN TRAINING Individual enlightenment passed down from Master to student Various sects have different paths…… • RINZAI – asks puzzling, riddle like questions (koams) • SOTO – focuses on meditation • OBAKU – meditates on particular phrase paying homage to Buddha ***In all sects, a person must abandon their sense of self and break through everyday, logical thought to reach enlightenment.

13. ZEN TRAINING, con’t. A student of Zen must practice over and over, often for years, and engage in mundane every day tasks One day, enlightenment comes with complete spontaneity, fusing the mind, body, and spirit so that performer and activity are one. • Zen qualities of mental tranquility, spontaneity, self-discipline, and fearlessness lend themselves to the art of Swordsmanship and the samurai warriors of medieval Japan. • Even today, students of Zen study it along with the martial arts

14. ZEN PARABLES • Parables are short stories that teach a moral or spiritual lesson • Zen parables teach the principles of Zen Buddhism • Rather than expressing clear moral, a Zen parable inspires contemplation (deep thought) • Zen parables often are based on a PARADOX • Paradox: a statement or situation that appears contradictorily but actually presents a truth • Zen parables may contain a paradoxical statement OR a situation that is itself a paradox.

15. TEXT BOOK….. • PAGES 320 - 322