Japanese Literature

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

As I read the section on Japanese literatrue and prose I thought it would be interestint to give my seventh graders some of the prose in the form of a dialectical journal and have them respond to the text. It would help them to understand the history in the daily lives of the Japanese people. They could also use some of the poetry and model their own or do an activity called found poetry with some of the rich images in the poems. I also thought reader's theatre would be fun with the Noh drama or just a choral reading togehter taking parts. The readings on Japanese lit were rich with ideas to use with intermediate school. I look forward to discussing the readings in their historical context hopefully at our next meeting.

[Anonymous]

I've always found it interesting to look into the cause of things.. anything really.

A friend of mine is doing her master's in educational administration. She was telling me about how the impetus for the first American school houses was to teach children to read the Bible so they could defend themselves against the devil.

I found it just as interesting that the oldest existing works in Japanese literature are genealogical histories commissioned by the imperial house to justify and legitimize their rule.

-Cindy

[Anonymous]

Much of our preliminary reading for the Japanese Literature section compares and contrasts the emergence of Japanese women writers and western women writers. Some of their points are striking and poignant regarding the long established and accepted position of women writers in Japanese literary history. They contrast this with lamentations from 19th century British writers such as Virginia Woolf over the absense of a literary tradition of notable women writers. It's too bad Woolf didn't know of Higuchi Ichiyo.

[Anonymous]

Condensing a few powerful lines from one of the introductions in the Japanese Literature section led me to some interesting thoughts.

"The Western reader, fed, if at all, with an image of the Japanese woman as yielding and submissive, a delicate Madame Butterfly, might find this fact something of a surprise."

"...why the significant contribution of women to modern Japanese literature has been virtually ignored in the West until very recent years... as evidence of unconscious cultural conditioning only now beginning to dissipate and of the preference for the reproduction of the symbols of the "exotic," so closely allied with the image of Japanese femininity in Western eyes (and so unlikely to appear in pure form in the writing of women themselves)."

Reading these sentences, I wondered why the strength and talents of Asian women have been overlooked for so long. Not to get uber-feminist, but even though I'm well aware of the white male's revisionist historicizing, omitting such literary accomplishments by Japanese women for such a long period of time seems to be not due to accidental ignorance, but purposeful neglect.

It would be interesting to know more about the impetus behind western people's perceptions of Asian women.

[Anonymous]

Being an English teacher... I just love discussing interpretations of art, poetry, prose, film... well, most anything I suppose.

Two of the poems that stood out to me from these readings are the following:

spring is here before
year's end when New Year's Day has
not yet come around
what should we call it is it
still last year or is it this

The contrast between nature's uncompromising cycles and human's arbitrary assignation of 'time' is subtle yet poignant.

though I bask in the
comforting warmth of spring's light
how melancholy
to think that my hair now
wears a crown of winter snow

Well, isn't this a theme we all contemplate? Aging... whether it happens gradually or suddenly, we can't escape it. Similar to the role nature plays in Robert Frost's poems, spring's light, here, is unaffected by the afflictions of humans. It simply is itself. We may appreciate it or ignore it, but it simply is. And, we.... we go about our joy, sorrow, and aging looking for sympathy, looking for meaning, looking for more. But, it all just is.

[Anonymous]

I enjoyed reading excerpts from The Pillow Book. From the "Hateful Things" section, I found it especially amusing that Sei Shonagon included "to speak badly about people". Isn't that exactly what she is doing? Some of her ideas made me laugh out loud; especially when she admits she hates anyone who sneezes.

[Anonymous]

I very much enjoyed the brief historical presentation of Japanese history. There are so many similarities between the Japanese and Chinese cultures and of course so many differences. Women of course have so much influence and so little real power. They are objects… . it is a terrible thing what we do to one another still in today. The persecution of religious, cultural, beliefs, and abilities etc. I know that I am an idealist but, I wish that we could all find a way to value our differences.

[Anonymous]

01/09/06
As an elementary school teacher I am finding some difficulty finding enough pedagogically acceptable educational materials in literature and regalia for my young students. I have found a few literature books and some teacher materials but I find that I am reinventing the materials that I find. I was pleased to discover the elementary site in the “Asia in my classroom” discussion board.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes I find these lectures hard to follow. It must be so difficult to squeeze hundreds of years of history into a few hours. What I did fine interesting was the information about marriage politics and the Fujiwara family controlling the Imperial family. I found it rewarding to hear that piece of information come up again.

[Anonymous]

I also enjoyed reading excerpts from The Pillow Book. As a teacher of 7th graders I believe this would be a great primary source document for students to read. A follow up activity could have students write a similar diary entry discussing things in life that they find pleasure with.

[Anonymous]

Becky,

Cricket magazine is aimed at an audience aged 9-14 and has some great material introducing kids to Asia. Usually, I'll find at least one legend in the monthly magazine, or an Asian-American tale, and often, an easy recipe for kids to try. Just this month, "Little New Year's Message from the Kitchen God," and "Li T'ien and the Demon Nian" were featured. When my son read The Kitchen God's Wife in the summer after his junior year, I'm sure he would have appreciated knowing who the Kitchen God was first.

I'll bring in my copy for you if you'd like.

Elzbieta

[Anonymous]

Elzbieta,

I would love to see your magazine. That sounds like it is highly useful and had many great ideas. Sharing resources is what it's all about!

[Anonymous]

I am so glad the Insect Lady was written into a children's book. I can't wait to introduce it to my students. I also think I will be using the Peach Boy in my class. All of us have unique gifts and strengths - both of these books are great for this lesson.

[Anonymous]

I remember reading The Peach Boy when I was in elementary school many years ago. It had a big impact on me, (I still remember it), but I didn't have a 100 percent positive reaction to the book back then. I think it's great now!

I thought that the story and the illustrations were on the bizarre side and it made me think as a child, that Japanese people or perhaps all Asians were kind of weird and little spooky. I guess that can be a side-effect of exposing a different culture to an elementary-aged student.

Currently, I am collecting children's books from around the world for my two baby daughters with the hope that they will be more open to different things than I was.

Louis

[Anonymous]

I don't know if this counts as Japanese literature, but has anyone read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance? Good book. The Zen isn't directly referred to much - at least up through 2/3 of the book - but great book for a teacher to read. What is Quality?

[Author]

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