31107 - Japanese Literature 1

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students knows the general outlines of the history of Japanese literature from the origins to the beginning of modernity.  They will be provided the basic analytical tools to understand the works of the main authors, and they are able to contextualize them within their cultural, linguistic, artistic and historical background.

Course contents

Canon Formation, Cultural Identity, and Classical Japanese Literature   
The course will trace the outlines of Japanese literary history from its origins to the end of Tokugawa period. The primary aim is to provide students with some basic tools to approach literary texts, in order to facilitate the understanding of the most representative authors and to stimulate the critical analysis of some fundamental notions such "classic" or "literary canon". The focus will be on classical narratives and their influence on later prose, poetry, theater and on contemporary pop culture. 

Students who choose not to attend the course will find all informations under the heading "Recommended reading". 

Readings/Bibliography

Bibliography for all students (attending students and non-attending students):  

Students are expected to show a basic knowledge of the history of Japanese literature until 1868. Our reference text is:  

L. Bienati, A. Boscaro, La narrativa giapponese classica, Collana "Elementi", Marsilio, Venezia 2010

Critical sources (compulsory): 

A. Boscaro (a cura di), Letteratura giapponese. I. Dalle origini alle soglie dell'età moderna, Einaudi, Torino 2005

Primary sources (compulsory): 

Kojiki. Un racconto di antichi eventi, a cura di P. Villani, Marsilio 2006.

Nihon ryoiki. Cronache soprannaturali e straordinarie del Giappone, a cura di Maria Chiara Migliore, Carocci 2010

Storia di un tagliabambu', a cura di Adriana Boscaro, Marsilio.

Storia di Ochikubo, a cura di Andrea Maurizi, Marsilio.

La principessa di Sumiyoshi, a cura di Carolina Negri, Marsilio.

Murasaki Shikibu, La Storia di Genji,  Einaudi, Torino 2012 (trad. dal giapponese di M. T. Orsi)  (cap. II,  L'arbusto di saggina; cap. XII,  Suma; cap. XIII,  Akashi ;  cap. XXV,  Lucciole) 

Il diario di Tosa, Libreria Editrice Cafoscarina.

Le memorie della dama di Sarashina, a cura di C. Negri, Marsilio.

Diario di Izumi Shikibu, a cura di C. Negri, Marsilio.

Sei Shonagon, Le note del guanciale, SE.

Kamo no Chomei, Racconti di un eremo, a cura di F. Fraccaro, Marsilio.

Ihara Saikaku, Cinque donne amorose, a cura di Lydia Origlia, Bompiani.

Ihara Saikaku, Vita di un libertino a cura di Lydia Origlia, SE.

La monaca tuttofare, la donna serpente, il demone beone, a cura di Roberta Strippoli, Marsilio.

Hiraga Gennai, La bella storia di Shidoken, a cura di Adriana Boscaro, Marsilio.

Ueda Akinari, Racconti di pioggia e di luna, a cura di Maria Teresa Orsi, Marsilio.

Ueda Akinari, Racconti della pioggia di primavera, a cura di Maria Teresa Orsi, Marsilio.

The Powerpoint files used during the course will be available for students by the end of the course on the AMS Campus website.  

Teaching methods

The course will consist mainly in lectures held by the teacher. A strong and active participation in class discussions by the students is warmly encouraged.

Assessment methods

The exam will be oral.  The exam will test the student's ability to elaborate on the topics exposed in class, to show the knowledge acquired thorugh the study of the proposed bibliography, and their capability for critical thinking.  A critical knowledge of the topics will be evaluated as excellent, while an excessive dependence on texts and manuals without any interpretative support will be evaluated with a positive but low score. The proven and repeated difficulty in creating logical and descriptive connections between cultural phenomena and literary contents, as well as a partial reading of the compulsory bibliography will result in an insufficient evaluation.

Teaching tools

Slides, video, multi-media supports.  A series of films related to the texts in this syllabus will be shown and discussed during classes. The list will be provided during the course. 
In addition to class lectures, a series of conferences held by national as well as international scholars will be organized, whose active involvement is very much encouraged and will positively influence the final grade.
   
The Powerpoint files used during the course will be available for students on the AMS Campus website.

Office hours

See the website of Paola Scrolavezza