History of Japanese Literature: Medieval Volume (Volume 1 and 2): Medieval Volume

Author: Tang Yue Mei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: "The Integration of Eastern Culture" was advocated by Professor Ji Xianlin and organized by the editorial committee jointly established by the China Society for Eastern Culture and the Institute of Oriental Studies, Peking University. This is a global cultural project aimed at the revival and renaissance of Eastern culture in the 21st century. National Social Science Fund "10th Five-Year Plan" Project. "History of Japanese Literature" in four volumes (Ancient Volume, Early Modern Volume, Modern Volume, and Contemporary Volume), this volume being the Early Modern Volume. This volume focuses on the theme of destruction and reconstruction in literary theory and creation as the ancient literature transitions to early modern literature, narrating the development from noble literature to samurai literature, and then to merchant literature. It explores the dual nature of early early modern literature, the gradual diversification, popularization, and massification of literature in the middle period, giving rise to a rich variety of literary forms. From rhyming forms like renga and haiku, to prose forms such as war tales, storytelling literature, and the Gohyakusha literature, as well as popular reading materials like ukiyo-zōshi. It also covers dramatic forms like Noh, kyōgen, ningyō, and Kabuki. Additionally, it discusses the decline of popular literature in the later period, the evolution of Neo-Confucianism, the revival of Japanese national studies, and the early introduction of Western scientific civilization. This marked the beginning of translating and introducing Western literature, as well as the initial adoption of Western literary concepts and methods. Building upon the traditional model of "conflict, coexistence, and integration" established through ancient and Chinese literary exchanges, the opposition and fusion of early and Western literature promoted the transformation of modern factors within Japanese early modern literature, paving the way for the dawn of modern Japanese literature.