...Spirit Possession in the Tale of Genji ASH 3930 The Japanese international classic, The Tale of Genji, is highly esteemed because it is an authentic narrative of Heian imperial court life. The novel also contains highly dramatic scenes of spirit possession. It is a book of, pain, love, and spirituality. Historians’ continuously researching ancient civilizations with polygynous societies, have shown that it was very common for a female to suffer from spirit possession. Some believe that these women were showing extreme courage rather than being disgraced by the male species. It is supposed that the possessed women knowingly became absorbed in a trance in order to manipulate their authoritarians into giving them their full consideration and reverence. This in turn changed traditional gender roles, and contradicted the usual code of character so that women could briefly have jurisdiction over their men. Japan’s present society still recognizes these possessions today. You should also conclude that in a classical civilization, vices such as spirit possession were repeatedly used as a way to articulate any extreme issues amongst men. Specifically, in the culture of the Genji, spirit possession was the only way women could confidently express their true feelings regardless of the adversity they faced as a result of femininity. Unfortunately, women are expected to be gentle wives. “It is very foolish for a woman to let a little dalliance upset her so much that she shows her resentment...
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...Written just after the year 1000 A.D. by an aristocratic lady known today as Murasaki Shikibu, The Tale of Genji was immensely popular among the author's contemporaries in Heian Japan. With the sound of flute and koto music over the pond and dragon boats under the harvest moon, this yearly festival at Daikaku-ji is as close as it gets to the courtly pastimes of Genji's day. Murasaki wrote the Tale in 54 separate books which were avidly read by well-bred ladies of the time, as we know from the memoir As I Crossed a Bridge of Dreams (Sarashina Nikki), written by Lady Sarashina. There had never been anything like it. Up to that point, Japanese literature had consisted mostly of collections of poetry written in the borrowed Kanji script of China. Prose was limited to fairy tales and a couple of memoirs written in the new phonetic syllabary known as kana. No one had ever written a novel, let alone a novel with character development and a complex plot. The Heian period lasted from A.D. 794-1185. The emperor had moved the capital to Nagaoka from its previous location at Nara (then known as Heijo-kyo), to escape the overbearing influence of the Kegon sect of Buddhism. Ten years later, in 794, it was shifted again to Kyoto (Heian-kyo). It was a peaceful era with the emperor acting largely as a figurehead and centre of ceremonial activities while the real political power lay in the hands of the Fujiwara clan, the power behind the throne for 500 years. Heian Society The...
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...and write did not really become acceptable until a woman was widowed, particularly if she was of the royal or noble class (Bittle, 2002). This almost obsessive desire to chronicle their lives has made the works created by Heian woman vital resources in the preservation of Japanese early history. Calligraphy, music and poetry comprised much of the Heian woman’s education and with these she was considered able to hold her own with men and other women alike (Morris, 1994). “First you must study penmanship. Next you must learn to play the seven-string zither better than anyone else. And also you must memorize all the poems in the twenty books of the Kokin Shū” (Kaneko, 1927, pg. 95) During the time that Murasaki Shikibu was writing The Tale of Genji, almost all of the works being published were written by women. This was true for most of the Heian Era. Men did write diaries, poetry and other works, however they were not published in period to the extent of the writings of the women. In part this could have been because women had the use of kana (Japanese) and as it was a phonetic depiction of the spoken language they were more able to express things poetically through words. Written Chinese remained the official language of the Heian imperial courts, used exclusively by men for everything except poetry and communication with women. “Letters are commonplace enough, yet what splendid things they are! When someone is in a distant province and one is worried about him, and then a letter...
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...A knight, cowboy, and a samurai were not just fighters, but also warriors that followed an unwritten code of conduct. A Japanese warrior who follows a code of chivalry is a Samurai. The origin of “The Tales of the Heike” was believed to be written down by priests as a collection of stories. The text is a reflection of the conflict between two clans the Genji and the Heike. The Heike clan holds all the power at the beginning, but by the final blow the Genji clan defeats the Heike clan. The story not only shows the struggle between the two clans, but also represents the code of Bushido that a Samurai followed in life. The text “The Tales of the Heike” gives examples of a Samurai that abides to “The Bushido Code: The Eight Virtues of the Samurai.” Four of those virtues practiced in the text are rectitude, benevolence, loyalty, courage....
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...is described in many tales their code of chivalry. The origin of the “The Tales of the Heike” was believed to be written down by priests as a collection of stories. The text is a reflection of the conflict between two clans the Genji and the Heike. The Heike clan holds all the power at the beginning but by the final blow the Genji clan defeats the Heike clan. The story not only show the struggle between the two clans, but also represents the code of Bushido that samurai’s followed in life. The text “The Tales of the Heike” gives examples of Samurai that abides to “The Bushido Code: The Eight Virtues of the Samurai.” Four of those virtues practiced in the text are rectitude, benevolence, loyalty, courage. Rectitude deciding one’s way of conduct without wavering like choosing to fight or dying. A...
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...very prominent in Japanese culture and exists in all kinds of traditional and modern Japanese literary works. In this class, all of the readings seem to have something in common: Death is inevitable. Although all of the readings seem to deal with the topic of death in many different ways, I believe that the different representations of death are subsumed under a single point of view. In The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu and The Mother of Captain Shigemoto by Tanizaki Junichirō, Buddhism is a key element in the understanding of the Japanese view on death. In The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu, there are many instances in which the relationships between death and Buddhism are evident. This traditional novel, written in the 10th century, describes an aristocratic worldview in the Heian period, therefore allowing for a closer look at the religious and spiritual understanding of the Japanese during this time. While Shinto influence is mentioned in the novel, Buddhism, a popular religion in Japan, plays a part in the every day lives of the characters in The Tale of Genji. In this novel, a lot of Buddhist monks are regularly working for the imperial court to perform ceremonies in order to make sure that the people in the palace receive spiritual support. It can be assumed that Buddhist monks are very influential at court by being involved in the personal concerns of the nobility, but the institutions of...
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...The old Chinese folktale “Jiraiya the Gallant” was the inspiration for Masashi Kishimoto when creating the three legendary Sannin. “Jiraiya the Gallant” was first published in 1839 and took 10 years to complete. In 1868 the tale became a popular series of 43 illustrated novels completed by 4 different authors. In this novel, a demon snake spirit caused a big problem in the Tsukikage, Ogata, and Matsuura clans. The demon snake spirit had the desire to gain all power over Japan. The demon snake first took over the Tsukikage clan by attacking Lord Tsukikage Miyukinosuke, during the attack, a boy named Orochimaru noticed the attack and saved Lord Tsukikage Miyukinosuke. In debt of Orochimaru’s bravery, Lord Tsukikage Miyukinosuke adopted the boy,...
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...• Question 1 4 out of 4 points Which of the following differentiates the Hebrews from other Near Eastern cultures? Correct Answer: They worshipped a single god • Question 2 4 out of 4 points Why did the arts develop in Mesopotamia? Correct Answer: As celebrations of the priest-kings' power • Question 3 4 out of 4 points As noted in the chapter's "Continuity and Change' section, what most distinguishes Mesopotamia from Egypt? Correct Answer: The Egyptians were united by a more stable succession of rulers • Question 4 4 out of 4 points Why is the Epic of Gilgamesh a first in known literary works? Correct Answer: It is the first to confront the idea of death • Question 5 4 out of 4 points What about the Royal Standard of Ur illustrates social perspective or hierarchy of scale? Correct Answer: The most important figures are represented as larger than others • Question 6 4 out of 4 points The Egyptian word for sculpture is the same as the word for what other act? Correct Answer: Giving birth • Question 7 4 out of 4 points Why did Egyptian artists paint human's faces, arms, legs, and feet in profile? Correct Answer: They believed it was the most characteristic view • Question 8 4 out of 4 points Why were Egyptians buried with Books of Going Forth by Day (Books of the Dead)? Correct Answer:...
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...with him. Though the encounter is short, she is in love. Similarly, this situation happened to Genji from the chapter “Lavender” in The Tale of Genji by Muraski Shikibu. This paper will focus on the chapter “Lavender” and Genji’s relationship between Murasaki. Before we...
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...Narrative Conventions in My Girragundji The novella My Girragundji, based on true experiences, tells a heart-warming story about a boy, who, in times of stress, turns to a little green tree frog for support. Narrative conventions are used to display the changes Girragundji, the frog, makes on the protagonist’s life and identity. The language, plot, and characters all have a big influence on the main protagonist’s life. The writers Meme Mcdonald and Boori Pryor use the narrative convention of language to show change in the boy’s life. At the beginning of the story, the boy’s language is pessimistic and scared. Quotes from the book confirm this statement. ‘I’m too scared a hand will come through and grab me in my sleep’ (Page 10) suggests that the boy is too scared to sleep with his head near the window as he thinks a quinkin (Referred to in the book as a ‘hairyman’) will grab him in his sleep. Another quote states ‘I wonder what’s the point of living’ tells the reader the main character is negative and possibly thinking suicidal thoughts. However, when Girragundji enters his life, all traces of negative thoughts are gone, and he is much more positive. ‘The bullies don’t seem so big anymore’ is a quote from when after the frog enters his life. This tells the readers that he has more courage and resilience. ‘I never used to lie with my head up this end. I sleep with my head up the louvre end all the time’. This statement suggests that he is no longer scared of quinkins, all because...
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...Artistic evolutions occur throughout the Kamakura and Muromachi eras, altogether spanning from 1185 to 1550. Both eras demonstrate interests regarding the past, Buddhist principles, and tradition but have different influences. Beginning the Kamakura period, the war between the Taira and the Minamoto families concludes in 1185, resulting in the significant work Tale of the Heike (Varley, 91). The Tale of the Heike reflects the developing value towards documenting and reflecting on the past, as well as ongoing nationalism (Varley, 91). It continues acting as a guideline for further historical documentation (Varley, 108). Buddhism also continues holding significance to society, with new medieval aesthetics and Kamo no Chomei's publication Hōjōki (Varley, 92; 93). The Buddhist path towards Amida Pure Land expresses light pessimism about negative life events and "deprived beauty" (Varley, 92; 93). One major negativity Buddhism expresses is impermanence, or mūjo (Varley, 95). The "deprived beauty" concept sources the minimalist approach requirements for achieving nirvana Amida Pure Land Buddhism (Varley, 92). Chomei's important work Hōjōki further emphasizes these concepts with descriptions about various natural disasters and negative events (Varley, 92; 93). Buddhism influences Kamakura art through separating it into secular forms and incorporating realism, starting with portraits (Varley, 94). Poetry continues possessing significance to higher society in waka form, and becomes...
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... 1.Tale Of Gengi - was made by Murasaki Shikibu; was created in the 11th century; has most of the elements of a modern story; was intended; names consisted primarily of the roles or jobs the person did; the story focuses on Genji’s romantic life and describes the customs of the aristocratic society of the time 2.Sea of Japan - the body of water lying between Korea and Japan; before 18th century it had many names: “East Sea”, “Sea of Korea”, “Sea of Japan” and “Oriental Sea”; official names were Sea of Japan and East Sea; climate consistent with warm waters and monsoons; over 800 species of aquatic life and 3,500 animal species; fishing is taken place at the continental shelves and focuses on herring, sardines, bluefin tuna, squids and seaweed; the continental region made of granite, rhyolite, andesite and basalt 3.Mount Fuji - located on Honshu Island; highest mountain in Japan at 12,389 feet; is a stratovolcano; last erupted 1707-08; is one of the 3 holy mountains; is popular with tourists and artists; lowest recorded temperature is -38.0 Degrees Celsius; highest temperature was 17.8 degrees Celsius; forest at the North West base of the mountain is names Aokigaharaa; this forest forest is the second highest place of suicide 4.Shinto - was created in 660 BC; is also known as Kami-no-michi; the word Kami originates from China and translates to spirits, essences, or deities; Shinto teaches that everything has a Kami, or spiritual essence; Kami also describes an inanimate...
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...a culture too heavily inveigled by Chinese ideologies to one that excluded foreign persuasions and was strictly "Japanese". His main focus was that of mono no aware; in addition, he heavily promoted the ideas of aestheticism, spontaneous virtue, and naturalism, which are still fundamental parts of Japanese culture. In Norinaga's attempt to distill the Japanese culture, he made an undeniable impact on the popular interpretation of Japan. Norinaga's most notable works were his annotations on the Kojiki and the Tale of Genji. Rather than take these works as teachings of morality, he focused on their artistic value and their cathartic properties. The Tale of Genji was primarily viewed as a story of good and evil, thought to be riddled with Buddhist and Confucian ideals. Included in this was the character's sukuse, or implications of their previous lives on their current life, which brought an appreciation for history and cause and effect. In reading the Tale of Genji, Norinaga subordinated and even criticized these foreign elements, but rather he emphasized the sensitivity that it brought to life reader's life, what he called "mono no aware". He extolled the virtues of expressing emotion and feelings, often of sadness and pity, drawn out by life and nature. This total disregard of the foreign is actually incomplete and contradictory, though, as the sukuse and the mono no aware actually compliment each other in bringing about a complete awareness of all that affects life. Motoori...
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...I.A. The text, “Fujiwara and Murakami Genji as Assistants to Emperors” was written by Chikafusa, a couple of years after the Period Kamakura Japan (1180 to 1133) and went into the Kenmu Restoration period. This period was marked by the rise of militarism that attempted to make Japan a centralized government. During this time the imperial line remained unchallenged and exercised a vast amount of power. In 1333, the Kamakura shogunate was overthrown by warrior forces and Go-Daigo became the emperor . Go-Daigo belonged to a branch of the Fuijiwara house. He believed that the overthrow of the shogunate was a sign to revive what he believed was the most efficient form of government, the direct imperial rule. This period marked by imperial restoration was called “Kenmu Restoration” and lasted until 1336. As competition for power and land rose, the government was unable to stabilize the country. Two key figures Nitta Yoshida and Ashikaga Takauji were the faces to the struggle for power. Since they could not reach consensus Japan was split in two and the “War Between the Northern (Kyoto) and the Southern (Yoshino) Court,” began. Chikafusa did not play a major role in the Kenmu Restoration but did rally for support for the Southern Court among the eastern warriors. Coming from a high-ranking noble family and prominent minister at court, Chikafusa wrote was the author of Jinnō Shōtōki. This work, also known as “Chronicle of the Legitimate Succession of Divines Sovereigns...
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...* Formats Fusuma(襖)： Fusuma are vertical rectangle panels which can slide from side to side to redefine spaces within a room, or act as doors Byobu (屏风)：Byobu are Japanese folding screen made from several joined panels, bearing decorative painting and calligraphy, used to separate interiors and enclose priate spaces, among other uses. Kakejiku(掛軸) Kakemono((掛物): They are hanging scrolls that Japanese painting or ccalligraphy mounted on, usually with silk fabric edges on a flexible backing. When not on display, both of them are kept rolled up in a box Emakimono(绘卷)：It is usually called emaki, it is a horizontal, illustrated narrative form created during 11th to 16th japan, which both countain text and pictures * ID in chronical order Lecture 1 (1) Jomon- Yayoi- Kofun period (绳文时代，弥生时代，古坟时代) 1. The three imperial regalias：three sacred treasures(三神器) Consist the sword kusanagi (草雉剑， susano-o-no-mikoto须佐之男斩蛇之剑)， the mirror yata no kagami (八尺镜, the mirror god used to entice amaterasu out.)and the jewel yasakani no magatama (八尺优勾玉)，which represented the three primary virtues: Valor, wisdom and benevolence, as well as the legitimacy of Japanese imperial heritage Jomon period(绳文时代)： The time in prehistoric japan from about 12000 bc to 200 bc, during this period, japan experienced the agricultural revolution and developed a highly organized sophisticated social organization. It also give birth to Kaenodoki(火焰土器)， Dogu（土偶） Kaenodoki: flame wares, inpractical vessel...
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