Japanese Flashcards
It was the period of peace and prosperity, of aesthetic refinement and
artificial manners. The emperor began to diminish in power but continued to be a
respected figure. Since the Japanese court had few official responsibilities, they
were able to turn their attention to art, music, and literatu
Heian Age
represents a unique form of the diary genre. It
contains vivid sketches of people and place, shy anecdotes and witticisms, snatches
of poetry, and 164 lists on court life during the Heian period. Primarily intended to
be a private journal, it was discovered and eventually printed. Shōnagon served as
a lady-in-waiting to the Empress Sadako in the late 10th century.
The Pillow Book by Sei Shōnagon,
was dominated by the samurai class which included the
militaristic lords, the daimyo and the band of warriors, the samurai who adhered to
a strict code of conduct the emphasized bravery, loyalty, and honor. In 1192
Yorimoto became the shogun or chief general one of a series of shoguns who ruled
Japan for over 500 years.
Feudal Era
in the late 1500s crushed the warring feudal lords
and controlled all of Japan from a new capital at Edo, now Tokyo. By 1630 and for
two centuries, Japan was a closed society: all foreigners were expelled, Japanese
Christians were persecuted, and foreign travel was forbidden under penalty of
death. The shogonate was ended in 1868 when Japan began to trade with the
Western powers. Under a more powerful emperor, Japan rapidly acquired the latest
technological knowledge, introduced universal education, and created an impressive
industrial econ
Tokugawa Shogonate
What are the two religions of Japan?
Zen Buddhism
Shintoism
It connotes duty, justice, honor, face, decency, respectability, courtesy, charity,
humanity, love, gratitude, claim. Its sanctions are found in mores, customs,
folkways. For example, in feudal Japan ‘loss of face’ is saved by suicide or
vendetta, if not renouncing the world in the monastery.
Giri
It suggests a sense of obligation or indebtedness which propels a Japanese to act,
as it binds the person perpetually to other individuals to the group, to parents,
teachers, superiors, and the emperor.
Ob
is an anthology by poets from a
wide range of social classes, including the peasantry, the clergy, and the ruling
class.
Manyoshu or ‘Book of Ten Thousand Leaves’
poems that consist of alternate lines of five and seven syllables with an
additional seven-syllable line at the end. There is no limit to the number of lines
which end with envoys, or pithy summations. These envoys consist of 5-7-5-7-7
syllables that elaborate on or summarize the theme or central idea of the main
poem.
Choka
is the most prevalent verse form in traditional Japanese literature. It
consists of five lines of 5-7-5-7-7 syllables including at least one caesura, or
pause. Used as a means of communication in ancient Japanese society,
often tell a brief story or express a single thought or insight and the common
subjects are love and nature
Tanka
a work of tremendous length
and complexity, is considered to be the world’s first true novel
The Tale of Genji by Lady Murasaki Shikibu
It traces the
life of a gifted and charming prince. Lady Murasaki was an extraordinary
woman far more educated than most upper-class men of her generation. She
was appointed to serve in the royal court of the emperor.
The Tale of Genji by Lady Murasaki Shikibu
It is written by an anonymous author during the 13th century
was the most famous early Japanese novel. It presents a striking portrait of
war-torn Japan during the early stages of the age of feudalism.
The Tale of Haike
It was written during the age of
feudalism. It is a loosely organized collection of insights, reflections, and
observations, written during the 14th century. Kenko was born into a high-
ranking Shinto family and became a Buddhist priest.
Essays in Idleness by Yoshida Kenko
