Early Modern Japanese Literature: An Anthology, 1600-1900 / Edition 1

by Haruo Shirane

Overview

This is the first anthology ever devoted to early modern Japanese literature, spanning the period from 1600 to 1900, known variously as the Edo or the Tokugawa, one of the most creative epochs of Japanese culture. This anthology, which will be of vital interest to anyone involved in this era, includes not only fiction, poetry, and drama, but also essays, treatises, literary criticism, comic poetry, adaptations from Chinese, folk stories and other non-canonical works. Many of these texts have never been translated into English before, and several classics have been newly translated for this collection.Early Modern Japanese Literature introduces English readers to an unprecedented range of prose fiction genres, including dangibon (satiric sermons), kibyôshi (satiric and didactic picture books), sharebon (books of wit and fashion), yomihon (reading books), kokkeibon (books of humor), gôkan (bound books), and ninjôbon (books of romance and sentiment). The anthology also offers a rich array of poetry -waka, haiku, senryû, kyôka, kyôshi -and eleven plays, which range from contemporary domestic drama to historical plays and from early puppet theater to nineteenth century kabuki. Since much of early modern Japanese literature is highly allusive and often elliptical, this anthology features introductions and commentary that provide the critical context for appreciating this diverse and fascinating body of texts. One of the major characteristics of early modern Japanese literature is that almost all of the popular fiction was amply illustrated by wood-block prints, creating an extensive text-image phenomenon. In some genres such as kibyôshi and gôkan the text in fact appeared inside the woodblock image. Woodblock prints of actors were also an important aspect of the culture of kabuki drama. A major feature of this anthology is the inclusion of over 200 woodblock prints that accompanied the original texts and drama

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780231144155
Publisher:	University of Tokyo Press
Publication date:	04/14/2008
Series:	Translations from the Asian Classics Series
Edition description:	abridged edition
Pages:	552
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Haruo Shirane is Shincho Professor of Japanese Literature and Culture at Columbia University. His publications include The Bridge of Dreams: Poetics of the Tale of Genji and Traces of Dreams: Landscape, Cultural Memory, and the Poetry of Basho.

Table of Contents

Historical Periods, Measurements, and Other Matters
1. Early Modern Japan
2. Kana Booklets and the Emergence of a Print Culture
3. Ihara Saikaku and the Books of the Floating World
4. Early Haikai Poetry and Poetics
5. The Poetry and Prose of Matsuo Bash_
6. Chikamatsu Monzaemon and the Puppet Theater
7. Confucian Studies and Literary Perspectives
8. Confucianism in Action: An Autobiography of a Bakufu Official
9. Chinese Poetry and the Literatus Ideal
10. The Golden Age of Puppet Theater
11. Dangibon and the Birth of Edo Popular Literature
12. Comic and Satiric Poetry
13. Literati Meditations
14. Early Yomihon: History, Romance, and the Supernatural
15. Eighteenth-Century Waka and Nativist Study
16. Sharebon: Books of Wit and Fashion
17. Kiby_shi: Satiric and Didactic Picture Books
18. Kokkeibon: Comic Fiction for Commoners
19. Ninj_bon: Sentimental Fiction
20. G_kan: Extended Picture Books
21. Ghosts and Nineteenth-Century Kabuki
22. Late Yomihon: History and the Supernatural Revisited
23. Nativizing Poetry and Prose in Chinese
24. The Miscellany
25. Early-Nineteenth-Century Haiku
26. Waka in the Late Edo Period
27. Rakugo
English-Language Bibliography
Index
xii

What People are Saying About This

Sonja Arntzen

This volume provides a cornucopia of early modern Japanese texts, from high to low, the cool reason of philosophy and literary criticism to 'hot' fiction for popular consumption, Rai Sanyô's history to Chikamatsu's historical drama, kanshi to haiku, autobiography to ghost stories. The full range of Edo life and thought may be found within its covers. The anthology will do well as required or supplementary reading for courses in literature, history or cultural studies. On the basis of this volume alone, one can mount a comprehensive course in Edo literature.

Thomas Rimer

There is no more rich or diverse period of Japanese literature than that of the Tokugawa period. The present anthology, which spans three centuries of creative writing in all forms, ranging from philosophical tracts and poetry to proto-comic books and playtexts, is the first single volume I know of in any language to encompass with such gusto the best and most representative writing accomplished during these many decades. Much of the material is newly rendered into English, and the work of some of the finest translators at work today is included. There has quite simply never been a collection like this one. It's an experience not to be missed, and it will give pleasure to many.

Editorial Reviews

There has quite simply never been a collection like this one. It's an experience not to be missed, and it will give pleasure to many.

Thomas Rimer

This volume provides a cornucopia of early modern Japanese texts, from high to low, the cool reason of philosophy and literary criticism to 'hot' fiction for popular consumption, Rai Sanyo's history to Chikamatsu's historical drama, kanshi to haiku, autobiography to ghost stories. On the basis of this volume alone, one can mount a comprehensive course in Edo literature.

Sonja Arntzen

This book will become an indispensable reference, not only for students of Edo literature but also for those who have an interest in Japanese culture in general.

Asian Studies Review

Shirane has given us so many angles from which to view this unique society that before long we almost feel we have joined it.

Asahi.com

This single volume from Columbia University Press has the bulk and the breadth to introduce to the full scope of Edo literature to the English-speaking world.

— Haruko G. Iwasaki

The Journal of Asian Studies

Haruo Shirane's Early Modern Japanese Literature will serve as the standard anthology for some time to come.

Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies

This volume has much to offer both students and scholars of Japanese theatre.

— Julie Iezzi

Asian Theatre Journal

This anthology stands alone. It is the first comprehensive anthology of early modern literature. The richness of content allows it to fulfill many different purposes...This volume provides a wealth of material.

Monumenta Nipponica - Robert N. Huey

This book will become an indispensable reference, not only for students of Edo literature but also for those who have an interest in Japanese culture in general.

Asian Studies Review - Hiroko Kobayashi

This single volume from Columbia University Press has the bulk and the breadth to introduce to the full scope of Edo literature to the English-speaking world.

The Journal of Asian Studies - Haruko G. Iwasaki

This anthology stands alone. It is the first comprehensive anthology of early modern literature. The richness of content allows it to fulfill many different purposes...This volume provides a wealth of material.

— Robert N. Huey

Monumenta Nipponica

This volume has much to offer both students and scholars of Japanese theatre.

Asian Theatre Journal - Julie Iezzi