JAPANESE LITERATURE By: Andre Abad & Jeriel Maglangit

Japanese Japanese LiteratureLiterature

Brief History of JapanBrief History of Japan Heavy cultural influence from China and Heavy cultural influence from China and

Korea (Buddhism, ways of farming, art, Korea (Buddhism, ways of farming, art, language / letters)language / letters)

First emerged as separate state in eighth First emerged as separate state in eighth century C.E.; feudal dynasties began. Chose century C.E.; feudal dynasties began. Chose to be isolated.to be isolated.

1212thth to 19 to 19thth centuries: Samurais ruled centuries: Samurais ruled ((shogunshogun), emperor was only figurehead), emperor was only figurehead

1853: American Commodore Matthew Perry 1853: American Commodore Matthew Perry (with four warships) “requested” Japan to (with four warships) “requested” Japan to begin tradingbegin trading

1868: After civil war, shogun resigns and 1868: After civil war, shogun resigns and Emperor restored to power; once again, he Emperor restored to power; once again, he is truly in charge of Japan. Emperor begins is truly in charge of Japan. Emperor begins modernization of country, abolishes samurai modernization of country, abolishes samurai class and feudal system.class and feudal system.

the history of the islands of Japan and the history of the islands of Japan and the Japanese people, spanning the ancient the Japanese people, spanning the ancient history of the region to the modern history history of the region to the modern history of Japan as a nation state. Following the of Japan as a nation state. Following the last ice age, around 12,000 BC, the rich last ice age, around 12,000 BC, the rich ecosystem of the Japanese ecosystem of the Japanese Archipelago fostered human development. Archipelago fostered human development. The earliest-known pottery found in Japan The earliest-known pottery found in Japan belongs to the Jomon Period.belongs to the Jomon Period.

The earliest-known pottery found in Japan The earliest-known pottery found in Japan belongs to the Jomon Period. The first belongs to the Jomon Period. The first known written reference to Japan is in the known written reference to Japan is in the brief information given in Twenty-Four brief information given in Twenty-Four histories in the 1st century AD. The main histories in the 1st century AD. The main cultural and religious influences came cultural and religious influences came from China.from China.

Traditional CostumesTraditional Costumes The kimono is the The kimono is the

traditional dress of traditional dress of Japan, and it is Japan, and it is worn nowadays on worn nowadays on formal occasions. It formal occasions. It is sometimes is sometimes accused of being an accused of being an impractical form of impractical form of dress, but it has the dress, but it has the advantage of giving advantage of giving the wearer a the wearer a graceful and graceful and elegant deportment.elegant deportment.

Theatre’s CostumesTheatre’s Costumes Japan has many different types of Japan has many different types of

costumes, each unique. There are many costumes, each unique. There are many different features that a Japanese costume different features that a Japanese costume must have to be used for the theatre. Each must have to be used for the theatre. Each costume has specific rules to follow. Every costume has specific rules to follow. Every costume is specially made for a certain costume is specially made for a certain actor, but can be used for different parts. actor, but can be used for different parts. Costumes are intricate, formal and Costumes are intricate, formal and extremely imaginativeextremely imaginative..

Costumes are a big part of the theatre in Costumes are a big part of the theatre in Japan, and in theatre all around the world. Japan, and in theatre all around the world. Costumes represent the person who wears Costumes represent the person who wears them and bring the characters to life. them and bring the characters to life. Costumes have a huge impact on the Costumes have a huge impact on the audience and everyone enjoys themaudience and everyone enjoys them

KABUKIKABUKI Kabuki costumes Kabuki costumes

use big wigs, and use big wigs, and many different many different types of mask types of mask styles to match the styles to match the character they character they portray. The color portray. The color red is excellent and red is excellent and means passion and means passion and super human super human power. Blue is power. Blue is considered to be a considered to be a bad color and gives bad color and gives a negative feeling a negative feeling that articulates that articulates jealousy and jealousy and fearfulness.fearfulness.

BUNRAKUBUNRAKU In Bunraku In Bunraku

theatre, actors that theatre, actors that handle puppets in handle puppets in the background the background wear black so they wear black so they can blend in with can blend in with stage assistants stage assistants and try to become and try to become the puppets that the puppets that they animate. they animate. Japan puppetry is Japan puppetry is very difficult and very difficult and may be the most may be the most difficult puppet difficult puppet theatre in all of the theatre in all of the world.world.

Japanese Literature - Japanese Literature - TheatreTheatre

Theatre:Theatre:NohNohKabukiKabuki

Poetry:Poetry:HaikuHaiku

NohNoh Oldest Oldest

(formalized by (formalized by 1400’s)1400’s)

Stories are Stories are spiritual in spiritual in nature (ghosts, nature (ghosts, demons, demons, possessions)possessions)

Masks are wornMasks are worn Audience is Audience is

aristocratic / aristocratic / upper classupper class

elegant, refinedelegant, refined

Noh Noh Simple sets, little Simple sets, little

or no propsor no props Stage has three Stage has three

sides for sides for audience, audience, connects to connects to dressing room dressing room (separated by (separated by curtain)curtain)

Accompanied by Accompanied by music / “chorus”music / “chorus”

A Traditional Noh A Traditional Noh TheatreTheatre

KabukiKabuki Developed around Developed around

1600’s1600’s Stories based on Stories based on

folklore, historyfolklore, history Highly stylized Highly stylized

makeupmakeup Appeals to middle Appeals to middle

class audience that class audience that often yells during often yells during performanceperformance

lavish, exaggeratedlavish, exaggerated

KabukiKabuki Elaborate sets, often Elaborate sets, often

using special effectsusing special effects Extensive use of props, Extensive use of props,

especially the fanespecially the fan Stage has one side Stage has one side

(long proscenium), (long proscenium), walkway connects to walkway connects to rear of theaterrear of theater

Accompanied by music Accompanied by music / “chorus”/ “chorus”

omnagataomnagata: males : males performing as femalesperforming as females

Comparisons: Kabuki andComparisons: Kabuki and Elizabethan (Shakespearean) Elizabethan (Shakespearean)

TheaterTheaterWhen thinking of how Elizabethan theater is When thinking of how Elizabethan theater is

like Kabuki, particularly like Kabuki, particularly A Midsummer A Midsummer Night’s DreamNight’s Dream, consider:, consider:

Only men play female partsOnly men play female parts Human characters interact with Human characters interact with

supernatural people / forces (fairies)supernatural people / forces (fairies) Use of songsUse of songs Exaggeration, especially for humorExaggeration, especially for humor Love of special effects (Globe Theater: trap Love of special effects (Globe Theater: trap

doors, galleries, cannons)doors, galleries, cannons)

Contemporary Influence of Contemporary Influence of Kabuki & NohKabuki & Noh

Japanese Japanese animeanime (cartoons) and (cartoons) and manga manga (comic (comic books)books)

Costume / makeup Costume / makeup design for modern design for modern movies (such as movies (such as Star WarsStar Wars))

HAIKUHAIKU A form of minimalist Japanese poetryA form of minimalist Japanese poetry Was opening stanza of longer poem Was opening stanza of longer poem

before becoming stand-alone formbefore becoming stand-alone form Traditionally, the subject is nature or Traditionally, the subject is nature or

the seasonsthe seasons Attempts to be profound, or compare Attempts to be profound, or compare

two unlike thingstwo unlike things Consists of three lines and a certain Consists of three lines and a certain

number of syllables per linenumber of syllables per line Traditionally, haiku is 5-7-5.Traditionally, haiku is 5-7-5. Because of language differences, Because of language differences,

Japanese haiku that is translated Japanese haiku that is translated into English may not fall into this into English may not fall into this syllabic structure.syllabic structure.

Japanese HaikuJapanese Haikuthe first cold showerthe first cold showereven the monkey seems to wanteven the monkey seems to wanta little coat of straw.a little coat of straw.

old pond (old pond (fu/ru/i/ke yafu/ru/i/ke ya))a frog jumps (a frog jumps (ka/wa/zu to/bi/ko/muka/wa/zu to/bi/ko/mu))the sound of water (the sound of water (mi/zu no o/tomi/zu no o/to))

- both by Matsuo Basho (1644-1694)- both by Matsuo Basho (1644-1694)

English HaikuEnglish HaikuA leaf falls forward –A leaf falls forward –A tumbling red-gold toddlerA tumbling red-gold toddlerMeets the ground surprised.Meets the ground surprised.

Moist snowflake gleams, perchedMoist snowflake gleams, perchedAt the end of my own noseAt the end of my own noseBefore it melts, like lost tears.Before it melts, like lost tears.

Japan’s Tourist Japan’s Tourist SpotsSpots

Mount Fuji Mount Fuji  located on Honshu Island, is located on Honshu Island, is

the the highest mountain in Japan at highest mountain in Japan at 3,776.24 m (12,389 ft).3,776.24 m (12,389 ft).

An activestratovolcano that An activestratovolcano that last erupted in 1707–08, last erupted in 1707–08, Mount Fuji lies about Mount Fuji lies about 100 kilometres (60 mi) 100 kilometres (60 mi) south-west of Tokyo, and can south-west of Tokyo, and can be seen from there on a be seen from there on a clear day. clear day.

It is one of Japan's "Three It is one of Japan's "Three HolyMountains" (Sanreizan) HolyMountains" (Sanreizan) along with Mount along with Mount Tate and Mount HakuTate and Mount Haku

It is a special place of scenic It is a special place of scenic beauty, a historic site, and beauty, a historic site, and was added to the World was added to the World Heritage List as a Cultural Heritage List as a Cultural Site on June 22nd, 2013Site on June 22nd, 2013

Rainbow BridgeRainbow Bridge Officially called the Officially called the

“Shuto Expressway “Shuto Expressway No. 11 DDaiba No. 11 DDaiba Route - Port of Route - Port of TokyoConnector TokyoConnector Bridge," the name Bridge," the name "'Rainbow Bridge" "'Rainbow Bridge" was decided by the was decided by the public.public.

is a suspension is a suspension bridge crossing bridge crossing northern Tokyo northern Tokyo Bay between ShibaurBay between Shibaura Pier and a Pier and the Odaiba waterfront the Odaiba waterfront development in development in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.Minato, Tokyo, Japan.

The bridge is 798 The bridge is 798 metres (2,618 ft) long metres (2,618 ft) long with a main span of with a main span of 580 metres (1,903 ft).580 metres (1,903 ft).

The Great Buddha of The Great Buddha of KamakuraKamakura is a colossal outdoor is a colossal outdoor

representation of Amida representation of Amida Buddha, one of Japan’s Buddha, one of Japan’s most celebrated Buddhist most celebrated Buddhist figures. figures.

Cast in bronze, the Great Cast in bronze, the Great Buddha stands at over 13 Buddha stands at over 13 meters (40 feet) high and meters (40 feet) high and weighs nearly 93 tons. weighs nearly 93 tons.

The statue reportedly The statue reportedly dates from 1252. dates from 1252. Although it originally was Although it originally was housed in a small wooden housed in a small wooden temple, the Great temple, the Great Buddha now stands in Buddha now stands in the open air as the the open air as the original temple was original temple was washed away in a washed away in a tsunami in the 15th tsunami in the 15th century.century.

Kinkaku-ji or the Temple Kinkaku-ji or the Temple of the Golden Pavilionof the Golden Pavilion

is the most popular tourist is the most popular tourist attraction in Japan and Kyoto.attraction in Japan and Kyoto.

The pavilion was originally The pavilion was originally built as a retirement villa for built as a retirement villa for Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu in the late 14th century. in the late 14th century. Unfortunately, the pavilion Unfortunately, the pavilion was burnt down in 1950 by a was burnt down in 1950 by a young monk who had become young monk who had become obsessed with it. obsessed with it.

Five years later, the temple Five years later, the temple was rebuilt as an exact copy of was rebuilt as an exact copy of the original. Emphasis is the original. Emphasis is placed on the building and placed on the building and surrounding gardens being in surrounding gardens being in harmony with one another. harmony with one another.

The pavilion is covered in gold The pavilion is covered in gold leaf which highlights the leaf which highlights the reflection of the pavilion in the reflection of the pavilion in the pond and the pond’s reflection pond and the pond’s reflection on the building.on the building.

Hiroshima Peace Hiroshima Peace MemorialMemorial

is a haunting tribute to is a haunting tribute to the lives lost when the the lives lost when the atomic bomb was atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Set in on August 6, 1945. Set in a park, the memorial a park, the memorial features Genbaku Dome, features Genbaku Dome, the only building left the only building left standing in the vicinity standing in the vicinity after the bomb dropped.after the bomb dropped.

This harsh reminder of a This harsh reminder of a world at war reminds world at war reminds visitors of the visitors of the importance of human importance of human life and honors the life and honors the victims so they will never victims so they will never be forgotten.be forgotten.

END OF SLIDE END OF SLIDE SHOW SHOW A First Quarter Group ProjectA First Quarter Group ProjectIn English 8In English 8(MOGCHS)(MOGCHS)

TO: Mrs. Janet M. AbaoTO: Mrs. Janet M. AbaoSubject TeacherSubject Teacher

By: Andre G. AbadBy: Andre G. Abad&&

Jeriel C. MaglangitJeriel C. MaglangitGrade 8 – DeterminedGrade 8 – Determined

August 3, 2013August 3, 2013