Traditional Japanese Literature: An Anthology, Beginnings to 1600, Abridged Edition

by Haruo Shirane

Overview

Haruo Shirane's critically acclaimed Traditional Japanese Literature: An Anthology, Beginnings to 1600, contains key examples of both high and low styles of poetry, drama, prose fiction, and essays. For this abridged edition, Shirane retains substantial excerpts from such masterworks as The Tale of Genji, The Tales of the Heike, The Pillow Book, the Man'yoshu, and the Kokinshu. He preserves his comprehensive survey of secular and religious anecdotes (setsuwa) as well as classical poems with extensive commentary. He features no drama; selections from influential war epics; and notable essays on poetry, fiction, history, and religion. Texts are interwoven to bring into focus common themes, styles, and allusions while inviting comparison and debate. The result is a rich encounter with ancient and medieval Japanese culture and history. Each text and genre is enhanced by extensive introductions that provide sociopolitical and cultural context. The anthology is organized by period, genre, and topic—an instructor-friendly structure—and a comprehensive bibliography guides readers toward further study.

Praise for Traditional Japanese Literature: An Anthology, Beginnings to 1600

"Haruo Shirane has done a splendid job at this herculean task."—Joshua Mostow, University of British Columbia

"A comprehensive and innovative anthology.... All of the introductions are excellent."—Journal of Asian Studies

"One of those impressive, erudite, must-have titles for anyone interested in Asian literature."—Bloomsbury Review

"An anthology that comprises superb translations of an exceptionally wide range of texts.... Highly recommended."—Choice

"A wealth of material."—Monumenta Nipponica

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780231157315
Publisher:	Columbia University Press
Publication date:	09/25/2012
Series:	Translations from the Asian Classics
Edition description:	Abridged Edition
Pages:	600
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.20(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Haruo Shirane, Shincho Professor of Japanese Literature and Culture at Columbia University, is the author and editor of numerous books, including, Japan and the Culture of the Four Seasons: Nature, Literature, and the Arts; Envisioning The Tale of Genji: Media, Gender, and Cultural Production; Traditional Japanese Literature: An Anthology, Beginnings to 1600; Early Modern Japanese Literature: An Anthology, 1600—1900; Classical Japanese: A Grammar; Traces of Dreams: Landscape, Cultural Memory, and the Poetry of Basho; and Bridge of Dreams: Poetics of the Tale of Genji.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Historical Periods, Major Texts and Authors, and Terms
Introduction
1. The Ancient Period
2. The Heian Period
3. The Kamakura Period
4. The Muromachi Period
English-Language Bibliography
Index

What People are Saying About This

Joshua Mostow

The editor has done a splendid job at this herculean task. What is particularly notable in this anthology is the variety of texts included -- ancient gazetteers, prayers, sermons, works originally written in Chinese, etc. Many of the works here have not previously been translated, and the included bibliographies are also excellent.

— Joshua Mostow, University of British Columbia

Sonja Arntzen

The field has been waiting for a comprehensive anthology like this. It provides not only a representative but a generous sampling of the best of Japanese prose and poetry.

— Sonja Arntzen, Professor of Japanese literature, University of Toronto

Editorial Reviews

Thanks to the skillful translations and erudite but clear and concise introductory essays, this volume will undoubtedly displace earlier anthologies.... It is suitable for carrying to class.... Recommended.

Choice

An invaluable compilation of and guide to pre-modern Japanese literature.

Times Literary Supplement - Alexander Jacoby

This volume provides a wealth of material.

Monumenta Nipponica - Robert Huey

It's one of those impressive, erudite must-have titles for anyone interested in Asian literature

The Bloomsbury Review - Terry Hong

This volume provides a wealth of material.

— Robert Huey

Monumenta Nipponica

It's one of those impressive, erudite must-have titles for anyone interested in Asian literature

— Terry Hong

The Bloomsbury Review

An anthology that comprises superb translations of an exceptionally wide range of texts, each with a pithy introduction... Highly recommended.

CHOICE