Japanese Legends

MomotaroPeach Boy

Momotaro is discovered inside the peach

Momotaro & Friends

Momotaro & friends set off for the island

Momotaro & friends fight the demons

Momotaro & friends return home victorious

Kaguya-himeBamboo Princess

Critical ApproachesFormalist CriticismBiographical CriticismHistorical CriticismPsychological CriticismMythological Criticism

Sociological CriticismGender CriticismReader-Response CriticismDeconstructionist CriticismCultural Studies Criticism

Samurai

Bushidos Seven VirtuesGi Rectitude Yu Courage Jin Benevolence Rei Respect Makoto Honesty Meiyo Honor Chuugi Loyalty

Gi Rectitude The power of resolution:Rectitude is the power of deciding upon a certain course of conduct in accordance with reason, without wavering to die when it is right to die, to strike when to strike is right.Rectitude is the bone that gives firmness and stature. As without bones the head cannot rest on the top of the spine, nor hands move nor feet stand, so without rectitude neither talent nor learning can make of a human frame a samurai. With it the lack of accomplishments is as nothing.Duty

Yu CourageCourage must be exercised in the cause of Righteousness or it is unworthy to be counted amongst the virtues.

Perceiving what is right and doing it not, argues lack of courage. ~Confucius~

Jin Benevolence In a ruler, a paternal government:

Through one perspective, an amalgamation of democracy and absolutism

When the prince loves what the people love and hates what the people hate, then is he what is called the parent of the people. ~Confucius~

Bushido as an Ethical SystemVery loosely translated as a form of chivalryChivalry from ME chivalrie, from FR chevalerie from FR chevalier from L caballarius meaning horsemanBu-shi-do means Military-Knight-WaysCode of moral principles, which the knights were required to observeNot a written code, but organic growth of centuries of military history

Sources of BushidoBuddhism (Zen): represents human effort to reach through meditation zones of thought beyond the range of verbal expression. ~Lafcadio Hearn~

To put oneself in harmony with the Absolute

Sources of BushidoShintoism

Believes in innate goodness and purity of the human soul

Brought about awareness of national consciousness in the individual rather than moral

The country is itself a sacred place of the gods and forebears.

Ancestor-worship made the Imperial family the fountainhead of the whole nation the incarnation of heaven on earth.

Focuses on Patriotism and Loyalty, but not so much as doctrines as impulses

Confucius

Five moral relations: (the governing and the governed)Master and servantFather and sonHusband and wifeOlder and younger brotherBetween friend and friend

Rei Respect

Different from outward appearances of propriety that lack empathy for the sensibilities of others

Rei expresses the spiritual significance of social graces and decorum; a graceful expression of sympathy

Rei Respect (continued)Cultural differences West vs. East Gift giving:

West: This is a nice gift; if it werent nice, I wouldnt give it to you for it would be an insult to give you anything less. Attention to the material aspect of the gift

East: You are a nice person and no gift is nice enough for you. Accept my gift as a token of my good will. Attention to the spirit of the gift

Makoto Honesty

The difference between truth (makoto) and fact (honto)

Meiyo HonourConsciousness of personal dignity and worth

Fear of disgrace

Intense sense of shame countered by preaching magnamity and patience

Chuugi LoyaltyThe interest of the family and of the member is one and inseparable. There is no individual interest for father, son, husband, or wife

The state antedates the individual

If subject and master differed (subject following bushido principles) loyalty was demonstrated by subject using every available means to show his master the true path; often, the samurai made his final appeal by shedding his own blood (seppuku) as a demonstration of his sincerity

Chushingura

ChushinguraChushingura is an all-encompassing term for the entire body of cultural production that ultimately stems from the Ak Incident of 1701-03.

~Henry D Smith II, Columbia University~Rethinking the Story of the 47 Ronin.

Lord Asano is restrained after cutting Lord Kira.

Lord Asano prepares to commit seppuku.

Lord Oishi and 47 loyal retainers at Lord Kiras mansion

The discovery and capture of Lord Kira in a woodshed

Lord Kiras head after washing it in the well.

The AftermathThe attack was the most exciting incident to occur in recent memoryIt brought immediate acclaim and admirationMore than 60 years had passed since the last armed conflict; the incident seemed like a great battleOishi and the Ronin took on the aspects of a victorious general and his army

The Shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, wished to reward Oishi and his men, despite the way he had treated Asano two years earlierHe made of show of bowing to the will of the people in doing soLeading scholars of the day believed that the Ronin should have been held up as examples and rewardedSome criticized Kira's son for not assisting his father and also for not committing seppuku after the raid

The Ronin were legally wrong, however, their actions were in accord with the official moral code

As the weeks passed, the case was increasingly considered on its legal aspectsThe Dilemma

The Legal PointsThey were trained soldiers

Formed a secret army

Waged a brief campaign

The Legal Points (continued)They had fought a small civil war, not a personal cause

It was planned:Battle plansStructured commandIntelligence operationsSupply linesBases of operation

The Legal PointsThey used weapons and tools from a supply depot in EdoWar drumsWhistlesCode languageLaddersBattering malletsUniformsArmor, swords, spears, and bows

The Long ViewTheir actions could not be condoned regardless of the nobility of their motiveIf the Ronin were released, the relatives of Kira would be honor-bound to seek revengeAll the relatives of the late Asano would be obligated to protect the RoninThe ensuing feud could precipitate a civil war that would threaten the Tokugawa Shogunate

The Lord Abbot Weighs InAdvice sought from the Lord Abbot of Kwanei Temple at Ueno

His opinion was that it was best to let them die as martyrs

If they were allowed to live, some may become tempted by the adulation and compromise their character through dishonorable acts

The Final ChapterOn the 4 February 1703, the Ronin were informed that they would be permitted to die by their own hand

The presiding daimyos stalled until dusk in the hopes of receiving a pardon

Within two weeks, the first Kabuki play, Chushingura was staged

Critical ApproachesFormalist CriticismBiographical CriticismHistorical CriticismPsychological CriticismMythological Criticism

Sociological CriticismGender CriticismReader-Response CriticismDeconstructionist CriticismCultural Studies Criticism

Hell Screen(Jigoku hen)

Considered by many to be Japans greatest short story writerHeavily influenced by Western writers such as Poe, Strindberg, Dostoevsky, and FlaubertPart of a literary movement that centered on the magazine Shin Shicho (New Current of Thought)Intent on undermining the influence of the romanticists and aesthetes of early 20th centuryAkutagawa Ryunosuke(1892 1927)

Akutagawa Ryunosuke1892 - 1927Philosophy: the writer should not be overly influenced by either beauty or idealism

Mission: replace emotion with reason. Writings often tended toward the surreal, the grotesque, and the fantastic

Mixes the mythology of Japan with the style of modern Western writers

The Hell Screen (1918)(Jigoku hen)Medieval in spiritFeudalism within living memory; rule of might vs. rule of lawOriginal language is a language of understatement, unlike EnglishEmbodies simultaneous qualities of horror and elegance Extravagance and horror are in his work but never in his style, which is always crystal clear. ~Jorge Luis Borges~

The Hell Screen (1918)(Jigoku hen)Complex story in two major sections with an unreliable narrator, a court flunky of the Great Lord of HorikawaAt the time of the narration, he has been with the Great Lord for over twenty yearsNarrator praises his lord, yet it becomes evident through anecdotes that the Great Lord is immoralThe reader suspects that the narrator knows more than he is saying

The Hell Screen (1918)(Jigoku hen)Dramatis personaeNarratorGreat Lord of HorikawaYoshihide, the painterYuzuki, his daughterThe Abbot of YokawaPet MonkeyYoshihides apprentices

Great Lord of HorikawaGoes beyond ordinary expectations; tends to be over-the-top

Mansion is of greatest grandeur and boldness of design

Anecdotes:Passed unhurt through mysterious scene of pandemonium in front of the Imperial palaceGift of 30 white horses at an Imperial banquetPropitiated the wrath of a god during bridge construction

In possession of the Hell Screen

YoshihidePerfectionist; art is more important to him than anything else, with one exception. Nothing takes precedence over his art.All agree that his work is startlingly brilliant, but there is always a sense of the grotesque and melancholy about it: The Five Phases of the Transmigration of Souls makes one hear the sighs and sobbing of spirits and smell the stench of rotting corpses.Arrogant; also stingy, harsh, shameless, lazy, & avariciousUgly: with his crouching stance he is nicknamed Saruhide (monkey hide)

YuzukiFifteen years oldBeautiful and compassionateDeeply loved by her father

Abbot of YokawaAbhors Yoshihide

ApprenticesDespite fears, obey their master unquestioningly

Yoshihide dotes on Yuzuki; Gives her money and lavish gifts

His affection for his daughter is the only true sign that there is some humanity in him.

He is devastated when she is called to serve at the Great Lords mansion as a ladys maid.

Her intelligence and depth of character makes her a favorite of the Lady of the mansion

The Lords son is given a present of a monkeyHe names the monkey YoshihideThe monkey is a thief and a trouble maker

One day, Yuzuki comes upon the young Lord beating the monkey with a switch for its most recent theftThe monkey runs to her for helpShe implores the young Lord not to beat the creature

The monkey is her constant companion

Yuzuki is noticed by the Great Lord presumably because of the change that she has wrought in the monkeys personality

For her good work, he gives her a silk scarlet robe

Regarding this gift, the narrator says . . .

It should be recalled that the Lord took the girl into his good graces because he had been impressed with her filial piety and not because he was an admirer of the gentle sex, as rumor had it.

Soon after, the Lord summons the painter to his court

Commissions Yoshihide to paint a portrait of a cherub

Yoshihide creates such a spectacular painting that the Lord tells him he will grant any request the painter has

Yoshihide asks for his daughters release from the Great Lords service

The Great Lord denies this requestThe narrator informs us that . . .

It seems in our eyes that his Lordship did not allow the girl to be dismissed from his service, because he took pity on her family circumstances . . .

. . . and had graciously considered to keep her in his mansion and let her live in ease and comfort rather than to send her back to her cross, obstinate father . . .

. . . However, it is a farfetched distortion of the fact to attribute all this to the amorous motives of his Lordship. No, I dare say that it is an entirely unfounded lie.

More rumors swirl about the Lords obsession with Yuzuki

Yoshihide asks for Yuzukis release repeatedly

Many believe the commission of the hell screen was the result of Yuzuki spurning the Lords advances

The narrator informs the reader that Yoshihide completes the screen in horrific and terrifying detail but with great originality of style

The story ends with a general description of the completion of the screen

But then, the narrator begins anew . . .

The Tale Begins Again . . .

The painter approaches his work on the Hell Screen with total concentration:

There follows a series of encounters with his apprentices, in which he demands them to pose in dangerous situations

One is bound with heavy chains and his body contorted

One has a great owl set upon him

Prior to the above two incidents is a chilling in which one of the assistants goes into Yoshihides room while he is in a trance like state and hears him muttering,

Come to the burning Hell. Come to the burning Hell. Whoever is this?... Who could it be but? . . . Hm, its you. I expected it might be you . . . Have you come to meet me?

After five or six months, Yoshihide completes the painting of the screen with the exception of one image

He has envisioned it but cannot paint it unless he sees it in actuality

This is the image of a royal carriage pulled by oxen, burning as it falls into Hell

An Encounter with the MonkeyMonkey draws the attention of the narrator one evening by behaving oddly and pulling at the narrators hem

Almost stumbles into Yuzuki, who has been accosted

Two Weeks Later . . .Yoshihide is granted an audience with the Great Lord

Yoshihide is greatly disturbed

Reports on the status of the Hell Screen

The Screens CenterpieceI am anxious to paint a noblemans magnificent carriage falling in mid-air in the very center of the screen . . . Allow me to describe the carriage.

In this vehicle, an elegant court lady, amidst raging flames, writhes in the agony of pain, with her black hair hanging loose about her shoulders . . . .

. . . Choked with heavy black smoke, her face is turned up toward the roof of the carriage, with her brow tightly drawn. Around the carriage a score or more of ominous birds fly about, clicking their beaks . . .

Please, my Lord, burn a noblemans carriage before my eyes, and if possible, . . .

. . . The Grand Lord darkened his face for an instant but suddenly burst into a peal of laughter . . .

All your wishes shall be granted. Dont take the trouble to inquire about the possibility.

. . . Something black bounded like a ball without either touching the ground or flying through the air, and plunged straight from the roof of the mansion into the furiously burning carriage . . .

Amidst the burned crimson-lacquered lattice which was crumbling in pieces, it put its hands on the warped shoulders of the girl, and gave, out of the screens of black smoke, a long and piercing shriek of intense grief like the tearing of silk, then again two or three successive screams.

. . . The instant the sparks shot up like thousands of shooting stars into the night air, the girl together with the monkey sank to the bottom of the whirling black smoke.

The Lord Abbot:Believed that no matter how accomplished one might be in any branch of learning or art, one would have to be condemned to hell, if one were not endowed with the five cardinal virtues of Confucius benevolence, justice, courtesy, wisdom, and fidelity.

The Lord Abbots Reaction:As the screen was unrolled, he was struck by the painting:

Wonderful! the Abbot exclaimed in spite of himself, giving an involuntary tap on his knee.

From that time on . . .. . . Hardly any one . . . spoke ill of the painter because . . . no one . . . could see the picture on the screen without being struck with its mysterious solemnity or being vividly impressed with its ghastly reality of the exquisite tortures in a burning hell.

However, by this time . . .Yoshihide had already departed this life.

On the night of the day following the completion of his painting of the screen, he hanged himself by putting a rope over the beam of his room.

Critical ApproachesFormalist CriticismBiographical CriticismHistorical CriticismPsychological CriticismMythological Criticism

Sociological CriticismGender CriticismReader-Response CriticismDeconstructionist CriticismCultural Studies Criticism

*********************************************************************************