Japanese Literature
Japanese literature expresses multiple components of Japanese people. It expresses their gratitude towards traditions and their sympathy towards nature. However, Japanese literature was not known outside of Japan until the 1900’s. In Japanese literature, the main type of poems are haikus and a popular way of story writing is fictitiously. The Piece of Straw by Yoshiko Uchida is a folk tale. Most folk tales tend to be fictitious and therefore this folk tale became popular.
Examples of Japanese Literature:
- Man’yoshu (Poems)
- The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter (Fiction)
- The Tale of the Heike (War Story)
- Manga (Comic books/ graphic novels that are very popular and widely known as Japanese literature)
Beginnings of Literature
After a writing system was set, literature came to be. Haikus were a very popular literary form in Japan for a long period of time. In fictional writings, the illustrations were there to feature the climaxes. Fiction writings were seen as entertainment that had no value to those that had serious minds. During the World War 2 time period, Japanese literary expression died down. The Record of Ancient Matters (A.D. 712) and The Chronicles of Japan (720) are the oldest works of Japanese literature that exist. The works include many other literary forms. The Man'yoshu is a collection of Japanese poetry that consists of over four thousand poems by multiple poets. It consists for the most part of 31-syllable poems that are called tanka. Tanka talked about friendship, love and more. The Japanese poems do not tend to rhyme; they merely express themes and feelings.
The Heian Period to The Tokugawa Period
During the Heian period (794-1185), nobles were the ones that wrote and read literature. Japanese literature used to be for nobles only and was not in the reach of the common people. The common people (before the 17th century) could not read and were too poor to afford literature. Therefore, the Japanese did not produce any of their own literature. However, The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter was the first work of fiction. In the Heian period, important literary forms included diaries and essays. More Buddhist ideas were also introduced and made Japanese poetry more serious.
In the Medieval period (1185-1587), educated warrior classes began to create and read literature. The people creating and reading literature were no longer just the noble class, thus giving more people the pleasure of literature. Not only did the number of people getting involved with literature increase, but Japanese drama was performed as well during the Medieval period. Haikus came to be in the Tokugawa period (1603-1867). New types of drama came to be as well. The types of dramas were Kabuki plays and puppet theaters.
In the Medieval period (1185-1587), educated warrior classes began to create and read literature. The people creating and reading literature were no longer just the noble class, thus giving more people the pleasure of literature. Not only did the number of people getting involved with literature increase, but Japanese drama was performed as well during the Medieval period. Haikus came to be in the Tokugawa period (1603-1867). New types of drama came to be as well. The types of dramas were Kabuki plays and puppet theaters.
Modern Period
- The Edo Period: (1603-1868)
- The Meiji Period: (1866-1912)
- Taisho and Early Showa Period: (1912-1945)