Lseeley Capstone Project

Reflections on Cultural Norms in China and J apan from 1850 -1950 Zhang Her Life Ailing Her Life

Zhang Ailing (Zhang Ailing) was a popular novelist and short story writer with well-known works such as ?Love in a Fallen City? and ?Red Rose, White Rose?. She was largely apolitical in her life and works with many of them being bitter love stories. She was and still is a beloved figure who has a devoted following around the world and her works have been hailed as literary classics by critics.

EARLY LIFE Zhang Ailing was born on September 9, 1920, in Shanghai, China. Her grandfather was linked through marriage to an important Qing dynasty official by the name of Li Hongzhang. Her mother left when she was a girl to study in England and when she returned separated from Ailing?s father in 1930 when Zhang Ailing was 10. At age nine, Zhang Ailing?s mother had a Western-style education prepared for her daughter. Her father was a Chinese traditionalist and was known to be an opium addict. He would later take a concubine after the divorce with Ailing?s mother. After a disagreement with her stepmother and her father, Ailing?s father confined her to his house which she would escape from. Ailing never returns to her father's home again. LOVE W RITING CAREER Zhang Ailing's first She enrolled at the University of Hong Kong in 1939 as an marriage was to Hu Lan English literature student; however, her education was Cheng, who had stopped by the Japanese invasion in 1941. So Zhang returned collaborated with the to Shanghai and started writing. She gained popularity with Japanese and participated her novella ?Jinsuoji? (?The Golden Cangue?). After the war, in the puppet government Zhang Ailing moved to Hong Kong in 1952 and then to the after the Japanese invasion United States three years later. During this period, her two in 1941. Later, he would best works, Naked Earth and The Rice Sprout Song, were betray her with another published. Both of these works critiqued the communist woman. Due to her society. Both of these works are said to have been husband?s involvement commissioned by the United States Information Services for with the Japanese, her propaganda purposes. Zhang Ailing became increasingly reputation would get reclusive as time went on, and near the end of her life, her damaged after World War editor in Taiwan had to communicate with her via fax. Zhang II. Her second marriage Ailing died on September 8, 1995, at the age of 74 in LA. was to American writer Ferdinand Reyher, a friend of Bertold Brecht's, whom she met at the MacDowell Colony in New Hampshire. After Reyher's death in 1967, she will never remarry. Her Stories and Cultural Connection

by saying he can divorce of Nanjing in 1842. The war Al oesw ood was fought due to the illicit her once she stops making In cen se: The opium trade by mainly enough money to pay the Fi r st Br azi er British merchants. The bills. George and Weilong Imperial Commissioner to Plot Summary: marry. Weilong works hard Canton, Lin Zexu, was sent In the beginning, Ge to get connections for in 1839 to stop these Weilong visits her Madame Liang and money merchants from selling the estranged aunt, Madame for George with a drugs that had been badly affecting the populace. In Liang, in order to get fluctuating happiness. The the end, Commissioner Lin money to continue her story ends with Weilong had 20,183 chests of education in Hong Kong, as and George going to opium owned by the it?s become too expensive Wanchai for Chinese New foreign merchants was for her family to live there. Year?s Eve where they see a destroyed. This was used Her aunt agrees, and Ge group of young girls, as the reason for the declaration of war by Weilong is introduced to supposedly prostitutes, as Britain on China. The the upper crust of society it is remarked that the Treaty of Nanjing included as her aunt uses her to pride of the place they?re in a stipulation that ?gave? the attract people to help her is the ?human goods." island of Hong Kong to for her own purposes. One Weilong remarks that the Britain for its ships and day, Ge Weilong meets only difference between cargo. The British George Qiao, a pleasure her and those girls is that transformed Hong Kong from a barren island into a seeking bachelor, during she does it willingly. prosperous town as it one of her aunt's tea invested copious amounts parties. Ge Weilong quickly of money into its Cultural Connections: falls in love with George. development. The British However, George is not at Perhaps one of the most control of Hong Kong all interested in marriage notable things in this lasted until 1997. The story piece by Zhang Ailing is and says he can only mentions British military the cultural differences officers living in Hong Kong promise Weilong between mainland China numerous times displaying ?happiness." Eventually, and Hong Kong. To explain Britain's tight control over Madame Liang convinces this difference, one must the island. This heavy George to marry Weilong look back at the outcome Western control affected of the first Opium War the culture of Hong Kong, that ended with the Treaty which can be seen in Zhang?s piece. Zhang forced to marry the her own children hate her mentions how Hong Kong Second Master of the and that she has chopped society copies English Chiang family for wealth. many people down. Ts?ao custom in every respect, The Second Master is Ch?i-ch?iao wonders what but adds to it until the crippled, which is why he would have happened if original concept in lost. doesn?t marry someone she had married someone For example, Madame with a higher background. else and thinks she would Liang throws a garden As a wife, Ts?ao Ch?i-ch?iao have found happiness party with touches of must serve her husband and love eventually with Western culture like beach faithfully. The rest of the someone else. umbrellas stuck Chiang family looks down Cultural Connections: everywhere. At the garden on Ts?ao Ch?i-ch?iao due to party, Catholic nuns her low-born background, One of the things attend as the party is for and she lives an unhappy mentioned in this section the choir Ge Weilong is a life. The story starts at the is foot binding. Ts?ao part of, showing another beginning of Ts?ao Ch?i-ch?iao had her foot Western feature of Hong Ch?i-ch?iao's marriage with bound and she binds her Kong society. In the her lacking the freedom daughter?s feet for a year beginning, Ge Weilong and happiness she craves. before she finally wears a uniform in the However, this changes convinced to let them be Qing style, with Zhang once her mother-in-law unbound. Foot binding is remarking that it was to and husband die. Ts?ao a tradition that has please American and Ch?i-ch?iao had been spanned centuries in European tourists of Hong falling in love with Chi-tse, Chinese histories and had Kong. Ge Weilong?s her brother in law, but he been interwoven with education, from the brief stays away from her to Chinese culture. It glimpses the reader gets, not ruin her image as she involved bending the girl?s seems Western-style, as was married to his toes underneath the sole it?s mentioned that she is brother. Ts?ao Ch?i-ch?iao of her foot and using large learning French-and that slowly allows a desire for ribbons to wrap their feet would have been wealth overtake her life all the way up to their commonplace during the which destroys her life as ankles. Girls begin this time, especially among well as others. Her son process between the ages the middle and upper becomes an opium of 4 to 6 which was class of society. smoker and brothel visitor considered ideal due to due to her and Ts?ao the girls being able to take The Gol den Ch?i-ch?iao destroys her the pain better, but still Can gu e daughter?s chances of not having their feet too ever finding someone to large. As the foot Plot Summary: love as Ts?ao Ch?i-ch?iao continues to grow, the The main protagonist crushes her daughters foot is rebroken and of the story is Ts?ao chances with her first and rewrapped into Ch?i-ch?iao, who is the last love. In the end, Ts?ao adolescence. The first daughter of a sesame oil Ch?i-ch?iao acknowledges appearance of foot shopkeeper that is that many people even binding comes around the 10th where the emperor?s concubine bound her feet Translation and danced on a gilded The translation that I in a way that modern lotus shaped stage and read for ?Aloeswood audiences would have had become the emperor?s Incense: The First Brazier found easy to read and favorite concubine. Other was done by Karen S. want to read for the concubines tried to imitate Kingsbury while ?The purpose of her translation her to gain favor and the Golden Cangue? was was ultimately to sell practice spread from the translated by Zhang Ailing copies if she has shown royal court to the rest of herself. Kingsbury?s that she has great respect China. By the 12th century Colombia doctoral for Zhang?s work. Also, foot binding became much dissertation was on Zhang Kingsbury is not from a more widespread and by Ailing, showing the in Chinese background so, the early Qing dynasty a depth knowledge of her. what idioms she deems to Han girl must have her feet Kingsbury admits to keep instead of replace bound in order to be pushing to find into Westernize forms is considered marriage commonplace idioms and vastly different than material. During the early metaphors to make it Zhang?s. Before she had to 1900?s, Empress Dowager easier for a modern end her education, Zhang Cixi proclaimed an edict audience to understand. was a student of English that ordered the unbinding This is very different to literature. Because of this of women?s feet. The Zhang?s translation in ?The she could of used English practice of foot binding Golden Cangue? where idioms and metaphors was officially banned in Zhang chose to use a more similar to that of the 1912 after the Nationalist straightforward style of Chinese ones she uses, but Revolution in 1911. translating, using footnotes she made the However, the practice far more than Kingsbury conscientious choice to use didn't end until the did. One of the reasons footnotes instead. One creation of the People's that Kingsbury theorizes theory for why footnotes Republic of China in 1949. that Zhang translated into are used more frequently Foot binding had a lasting plain, understated English is that Zhang was hold in the rural areas and was due to translation not appealing to an audience there are woman today being her favorite mode of of Chinese in America that who had their feet bound. writing. Zhang?s audience is spoke English as their first different compared to language, but would still Kingsbury perhaps another understand the metaphors reason for her simple style and turns of phrase she of translation. Zhang uses. Zhang did immigrant would have been to America herself later on translating to an audience in her life which may have that would have led her to want to expand understood the idioms she her audience to that of choose to put in. Kingsbury Chinese Americans. had to update Zhang?s text Qiu Jin HER LIFE It was not her family. With her older brother domestic life literary accomplishments that and younger sister, Qiu Jin which was reflected in her solidified Qiu Jin as a symbolic spent her youth at Xiamen poems at the time. After historical figure in China. It and her family?s ancestral seven years of marriage, Qiu was her work as a pioneering home of Shaoxing which is and her husband had two feminist and revolutionary located in Zhejiang Province. children together and moved which ultimately caused her While she had a comfortable to Beijing. Qiu found the death, leading to her childhood, Qiu's family imperial capital to be dull and becoming a martyr for the continued the traditional dissatisfaction with her revolutionary cause. customs of foot binding and marriage took a deep toll on Childhood arranging marriages. As a girl, her mind as she found her she seemed to yearn for husband's lack of interest in Born on November 8, 1875 more as she wrote poetry and academics unsettling. (some say 1877) in the port studied Chinese martial city of Xiamen Qiu Jin had a Makings of a heroines like Hua Mulan who comfortable childhood. Qiu inspired the Disney film of Revolutionary Jin was born Qiu Guijin into a today called Mulan. respected declining gentry In 1904, Qiu sold all her family. Her father was a Her father arranged for Qiu jewelry and sailed for Japan. government official and her to marry Wang Tingjun, the She had already shown mother came from a son of a wealthy merchant. interest in political and social distinguished literati- official Qiu was dissatisfied with her affairs in Beijing as she met with like minded sexes. In 1907, Qiu woman and breaking was running the Her Works and traditional gender Datong School as a roles taking to front to train and crossdressing and recruit Their Cultural sword fighting. In revolutionaries in Tokyo, she entered Shaoxing. There she the Shimoda Utako?s found out her friend Connections Women?s Practical Xu Xilin had been "?A Poem Writ t en at Mr. School and executed for shortened her name assassinating his Ishii?s Request and Using to Qiu Jin. Outside of Manchu superior. t he Sam e Rhym es as His the classroom, she She was warned that met with reform the Qing government Poem s? minded Chinese were coming to find Poem: students, attempting the woman they to create revolution considered his Don?t tell me that women can?t make heroes, back in China. She co-conspirator; I rode ocean wind alone eastward for ten joined influential however, she refused thousand li. anti-Manchu secret to leave. Qiu My poetic thoughts chased sails between sea societies like the attempted to fight and heaven. Restoration Society back, but ultimately and Sun Yat-sen?s was captured, My dreaming soul lingered with a crystal moon Revolutionary tortured. Later, she in the three Alliance. In 1906, Qiu was beheaded on July islands of Japan. returned to China 15, 1907. I grieve to think of China?s brass guardian with the goal to camels sunk in thorns. advance women?s I?m ashamed-I have no real victories. I?ve just causes and topple made my horses the Qing government. She sweat. wrote essays So much national enmity hurts my heart. promoting feminism How can I spend my days as a traveler here and nationalism as enjoying spring wind? well as ran the newspaper Chinese Summary: Women, which sought This poem is most likely in reference to when equality between the Qiu Jin fled to Japan, leaving her children and husband behind. The poem shows her want for and tearing down the Manchu government. China to embody the republican ideas she While this was due to political power, this supports. The last line of the poem shows her showed the Republicans that it would be easy guilt over having an easy life in Japan as she to formulate plans in Japan and Japan might believes that people are suffering in China. support their efforts. This is evidenced by Qiu Cultural Connection: Jin?s own experience in Japan as she met Chinese interested in reform. Near the end of the reign of Empress Dowager ?Letter to Xu Jichen? Cixi, more insurgents and rebellions arise as the Republican Movement starts to take hold in the Poem: country. This can be seen in Qiu?s poem as she mentions that ?so much national enmity? hurts Who talked passionately with me about fighting her heart perhaps in reference to either the common enemies? government?s hostility to the Republican Who idolized the traveling swordsman Guo Jie? movement or in general the hostility brewing Now things have gotten so dangerous, among the people against the Manchu government. During the time of Qiu's writing, please change your girl?s garments for a Wu Cixi clung to the notion that the throne must be sword. occupied by a Manchu, making parliamentary Summary: monarchy less desirable. This hostility against the Republican Movement from the This poem was sent by Qiu Jin as a letter to her government was very prevalent during the time. friend Xu Jichen. After Qiu Jin?s death, Xu Jichen In 1895, there had been attempt by Sun Yat-sen, risked her life in order to have a tomb built for loosely the leader of the movement, to organize her. This letter was probably related to the an armed uprising and he had been active in Republican Movement and it may well have creating a series of insurrections. Cixi took been Qiu Jin urging her friend to prepare herself these insurrections seriously and urged to help overthrow the government with her. Qiu provincial chiefs to extinguish them before they Jin had been training young revolutionaries and spread. Assassination was a popular tool it wouldn?t have been far fetched to believe that among the Republicans which continued to she had or was planning on causing insurgents create this atmosphere of hostility. Qiu might in her area in the name of her cause. This might be referencing lack of support for the also be why Qiu Jin decided to put her letter in beheading of Republican assassins. On two poetic verse in order to keep it vague enough occasions, assassins' hearts were ripped out as that there wouldn?t be much suspicion if the a sacrificial offering to symbolize the ultimate letter was intercepted. revenge. Due to Japan'es desire to increase their Cultural Connection power in the region, they had a vested interest in the assassination of Empress Dowager Cixi This poem showcases the rising involvement of women in the public sector and the liberties that they were striving to gain for themselves T ranslation during this time. Qiu Jin calls her female friend I read the translations of Qiu Jin's poems as part to help the Republican cause showcasing how of an anthology. One key things to note in this women were taking an active part in politics anthology is that while it has mainly been and striving for autonomy. Due to foundational translated by Tony Barnstone and Chou Ping it beliefs such as Confucianism, China was a does use translations from a number of largely patriarchal society. Men tended to have different translators and this team of two dominate roles in government and women worked with many individuals in order to create would not gain suffrage in China until the mid this anthology. This anthology attempted to do 1900?s. However, Empress Dowager Cixi shine a spotlight on poets often overlooked, showcases both the attempt to keep a especially female poets. This may be in part why patriarchal society and the increasing rights of Qiu Jin was included in the selection. The overall women. There is only one other female in the goal mentioned by the translators was to history of China to take on the role of a introduce this authors to the readers and they dominant regent. Empress Dowager Cixi was chose pieces that would not have a hard time and still is painted as a ruler that led to the Qing being translated. One can see this attempt in dynasty's downfall. However, if one looks the simplicity of Qiu Jin's poems that while was closely into historical records one would find her style would have perhaps been exaggerated that Empress Dowager Cixi did much to pave in order for an audience unfamiliar with the way for a modern China and attempted to Chinese culture and history to understand and consolidate China?s power. Incredibly, she had appreciate. However, the translators make an support from many government officials and obvious attempt to keep the authenticity of the many admired her leadership which led her to piece. This translation was meant as a way for consolidate her power as she tried to stay on others to enjoy the authors the translators the throne. Also, during this time feminist loved as they mention they chose authors they groups were popping up and Qiu Jin was one of admired for the anthology. Overall, the many women to join them in an attempt to gain translations attempts to find a balance between liberties and to end the practice of foot binding reader comprehension and authentic to the Qiu which had been attempted by Cixi. Jin's true meaning.

Jun'ichir? Tanizaki HIS LIFE

Jun'ichir? Tanizaki was born to the First Metropolitan proclaimed he did so for into a merchant class family Middle School and the First financial stability and not for on June 24, 1886 in Tokyo, Higher School, which were love. In 1921, he moved his Japan. They resided in some of the best schools in family into the port city of shitamachi, the merchants' the country. He was only able Yokohama, which was the and artisans' quarter of the to continue his education by place for all things Western. city for years. As a member of being a houseboy for a He immersed himself in the this class, he grew up loving wealthy family. Later, he Western culture before the urban pleasures of going would go on to major in having to flee to the Kansai to Kabuki. During the early Japanese literature at Tokyo region due to the Kanto years of his childhood, his Imperial University. However, earthquake. In a series of family had been very he was expelled from the essays, we see the impact of prosperous, but this university for failing to pay his this assimilation by the way prosperity declined over the fees. These economic he focused on Japan's need to years. troubles continued after his absorb western technology schooling, he would accrue a and knowledge. In 1930, Education serious of debts in different Tanizaki divorced Chiyo and During his primary school inns and boarding houses. quickly married Furukawa Tomiko afterwards, but this years, he attended private Relationships academies where he learned marriage will quickly end in to study English and classical He married Ishikawa Chiyo in divorce. Tanizaki meets the Chinese. He won admission 1915 and he himself woman who becomes his greatest muse: Matsuko, whom he marries in 1935. HIS WORKS AND Tanizaki died on July 30 1965 due to kidney failure. Writing Career THEIR CULTURAL During his university years, CONNECTIONS he started to write fiction and he joined like minded "The Tattooer" pleasure in the pain he students to create a magazine causes his clients. The young named Shinshich? (New In the beginning, the reader girl says that her fears have gone away and that Seikichi Currents). Here is where he is introduced to a tattooer named Seikichi who is is her first victim. This could kick-started his writing career exceptionally skillful. It?s point to how while Seikichi by publishing his story ?The mentioned that he formerly was the one that made her Tattooer? in 1910. His work made a living as an ukiyoye realize her true self she is was very different from the painter before becoming a independent of him and fully writing traditions prevalent tattooer. Soon, the readers takes on this new persona during this time. He refused learn that Seikichi takes while Seikichi is left to look pleasure in his clients pain at his identity physically to write autobiographical as he tattoos them and he imprinted on her skin. ruminations or be a part of yearns for a beautiful the personal fiction writers woman to create a Cultural movement that was popular masterpiece on. One day an Connection: at the time. The foundation of apprentice geisha comes to A key element of this story is his work lies on the principle deliver him a parcel from her the process of tattooing and that fiction is founded on mistress. Seikichi shows her two scrolls depicting women the tattoo that the young girl invention. However, his work triumphing over men and receives. Currently, tattooing also reflects the cultural she admits that this is is not something approved currents of his time as he something she truly desires. in Japanese culture as it is mirrors the culture of his Seikichi had become associated with the criminal society in his body of work. obsessed with this girl since class, specifically the yakuza seeing her foot one summer class who Westerns would evening and sees her as the consider gangsters. perfect medium to put his However, tattooing has a work on. So, Seikichi tattoos long and contradictory a giant spider on her back. history in Japan. Tattooing The tattoo itself could was an instrument of symbolize the inside of punishment that resulted in Seikichi himself as the victims being ostracized by readers know he takes their communities. On the other hand, in the seventeenth and eighteenth young girl. he says that he is their friend century, the elaborate irezumi and since they are a different tattoos were a way to rebel species they don?t understand against the status quo. "The Thief" him. In the end, the narrator During the Edo period, continues to be a thief and merchants were regarded as Plot Summary: members of the lowest class, The thief begins with four admits that he has often been even below farmers. This friends, Hirata, the narrator, put behind bars. rising merchant class was not Nakamura, and Higuchi, permitted to showcase their having a study session in wealth as the nobility did Cultural through fine silks or gold their dorm at Tokyo Imperial ornaments. However, University. They discuss a Connection: merchants often used rash of robberies that have In ?The Thief?, the narrator expensive and intricate been occurring on campus says that a thief belongs to a tattoos typically on their arm and we find out that the thief or thigh to display their different species and the had a wisteria crest on his wealth. Another aspect of the worst possible thing is to be a coat which is identical to the tattoo was the hark back to thief. This ideology can be narrator?s. After hearing this, ukiyo-e. Ukiyo-e were the linked to the developing idea Hirata is suspicious of the ?pictures of the floating of Japanese nationalism at world? of Edo Japan. It?s narrator and it gives the the time. During the Meiji mentioned that Seikichi was narrator a guilty feeling. Restoration, Japanese formerly in ukiyo-e artist Hirata and the narrator have before switching to tattooing. nationalism was being never been on good terms Ukiyo-e was mainly for the redefined and its principles and the narrator admits to urban middle class which promoted the cultural unity feeling a little lonely due to would have consisted mostly of Japan. This nationalism Hirata?s contempt for him. of merchants. Ukiyo-e spans stems from the idea that no from the Edo period all the Nakamura and Higuchi stay one, but the emperor is way to the Meiji era and had by the narrator?s side evolved from the traditional deemed of having worth and believing that he is not the Japanese schools of genre everyone strives to be of use thief and supporting him painting. Wood block printing to the emperor. Now, if we while their relationship with played a big role in Ukiyo-e art link Japanese nationalism Hirata sours. One day, Hirata and artists would overlap back to the book one can see woodblocks to create a catches the narrator stealing the connection between precise painting. This art money orders from his desk vileness of thievery and genre focused on fashionable and Hirata outs him to things and paid attention to nationalism. Thievery disrupts Nakamura, Higuchi and the beautiful women and gallant the community, increasing other boys. The narrator men, which may have been suspicion of one?s peers, and admits that he is the thief and the reason Seikichi wanted does nothing to benefit the his tattoo on the beautiful that he stole from them, but country or the emperor. Thievery is seen as even more vile than murder as murder TRANSLATION could be justified as a means The translation I read was piece that drew English to rid society of bad people or done by Howard Hibbett. readers to Tanizaki's work. to help the country in war He completed his By keeping the style postdoctoral studies at simplified, Hibbett was time. Traditionally, an both Tokyo University and able to appeal to a individual's duty is to serve Kyoto University. He is a broader audience and not the community in order to well known translator of on a subset of people serve the emperor. Therefore, Japanese literature and who would have been theft was considered has received numerous familiar with Tanizaki. horrendous in Japanese awards for his scholarship Tanizaki's writing appeals on the translation of Edo to a wider audience and culture due to the crime and modern Japanese doesn't require footnotes benefiting the individual and literature. Hibbett was the in order to get his disrupting the unity that major push factor in message across or for his Japanese nationalism of the bringing Tanizaki's works audience to follow along time attempted to support. to the English speaking with the plot. world. His translation do not included footnotes, but focus on a simplified form of translation. His translation style might be explained by several circumstance that transpired. The reason for this is at the time Hibbett was translating, Tanizaki's works had recently been published, some within the last 5 years. Since they may have familiarity with the time period, many readers would not have needed extensive explanations of references. Another reason for Hibbett's style choice involves Hibbett's intended purpose and audience. The Seven Japanese Tales was the DAZAI OSAMU HIS LIFE Dazai Osamu is considered Early Life school in Kanagi before going one of the most important to Aomori City for his middle novelists of postwar Japan Dazai was the youngest of ten school education. In 1927, and one of the major literary children of a wealthy family in Dazai entered high school in voices to come out after the Kanagi, a town in northern Hirosaki, attending until 1930. end of World War II. Outside Japan. His family?s wealth In April of 1930, Dazai decides of Japan, Shayo (The Setting stemmed from their land to study French literature at Sun) and Ningen shikkaku (No holdings, which were worked Tokyo University. However, by tenant farmers, and this Longer Human) are the work during this time his brother, wealth helped Dazai live a he is most well known. While also living in Tokyo, fell ill and comfortable life during his he is most known for his died. This loss caused led childhood. Dazai was postwar works, which Dazai to quit the university unimpressed by his family?s focused on cultural during the second semester of wealth even as a child and this disenchantment, Dazai had a his first year. wealth was a source of varied body of work dating Mental Health embarrassment and future back to the early 1930s. Many shame for Dazai. Dazai saw During his childhood, Dazai attribute the attraction to his how there was no exertion by struggled with mental health. work to be because of the his family to achieve their As a young child, he autobiographical elements wealth and they were merely experienced loneliness very however he has distinguished living on the income of the early and as a teen felt himself as an adept land they owned. As a child, different anxieties and storyteller in his own right. Dazai attended elementary premonitions. In both survived the trends, such as the psychological November 1930, ordeal and went back I-novel, which he upheavals in his Dazai?s first attempt to Tokyo. In total, used quite a lot in his novels parallel with to take his own life Dazai survived three work. He didn?t follow the works being occurred with a attempts to take his the traditional written out of Europe hostess from a Ginza own life. Throughout pattern of the I-novel and America at the bar after a half a his life, he dealt with which relied on a time. In some of his year?s residence in alcoholism, drug truth-telling nature works, he highlights Tokyo. Dazai and the addiction, and for in most of his gender norms and hostess journeyed to personal trauma and books he treats his class struggles. the beach at demons. On June 13, fictional selves Ultimately, Dazai?s Kamakura and both 1948, he and his ironically such as in work is still relevant attempted to drown mistress Yamazaki Doke no hana. to today's readers themselves in the Tomie drowned Outside of Japan, and he has become a sea. The woman died, themselves and were Dazai is most well beloved and but Dazai survived found on the day he known for his post well-read figure in and was seized by would have turned war works. Shayo (The Japanese literature. the police as an 39. Setting Sun) and accomplice in a Writing Career Ningen shikkaku (No suicide. However, his Longer Human) are family intervened He started his literary his best known before charges were career young with novels and they are pressed. Later in novels being written considered his best 1935, he would while in high school. written novels as attempt to take his Student Comrades well. According to own life again at describes a rebellion critics, Dazai?s intent Kamakura, but done by Communist when writing was to survived. After an students and it is fictionally recreate appendicitis inspired by a and dissect the crises operation, Dazai was disturbance that happening in his life. prescribed drugs to happened in his high Bannen was his first alleviate his pain and school. Even during publication consisting fell into drug this time, Dazai did of short stories and addiction. In 1937, he not fit into the the success of this and his lover, literary schools of allowed him to Hatsuyo attempted thought, doctrine or continue to pursue a to take their own a style. Yet he did literary career. The lives in Minakami, but follow certain literary social and His Works and Their Cultural Connections "Memories" and he reveals secrets about part of the culture for years, himself that have caused him this was a new type of Shinto, Plot Summary: to feel shame and State Shinto. State Shinto embarrassment. mandated the emperor as a ?Memories? is a story about divine being and stressed Dazai?s infancy and childhood Cultural nationalism. The government and adolescence. ?Memories? ordered a separation from starts off with Dazai Connection: Buddhism, which had remembering standing in the In ?Memories?, the previously been used by the gateway with his aunt and conglomeration of various government to control this seems to be one of his religions that have had and citizens. However, State earliest memories. continue to have a major Shinto replaced it to Throughout the story, the influence on Japan is legitimize the new ruling reader sees that Dazai was accurately displayed. In the structure. This separation closer with the women in his beginning, when Dazai talks resulted in strict regulation of life such as his sisters, aunt, to his aunt they talk about a all religions. While there is and his maid, Take. Dazai ?He? and that their ?Lord has this strict regulation, new mentions his insecurities and hidden Himself?. Dazai jokes religions were forming in his anxieties as his idyllic with his aunt, saying Japan which were a mix of childhood is slowly broken something disrespectful Buddhism, Shinto, and even apart as his aunt and maid during the ?Our Lord? Christianity. This syncretism leave. After this, he begins to conversation. His aunt can be seen in "Memories" feel inferior to his brothers, admonished him for it which where he mentions the Bon due to his looks. He talks would have made sense Festival, which is a traditional about the distance he feels during the time because to Buddhist festival for honoring from his parents, as he feels disrespect the religion was to the dead and is a time to nothing when his father dies disrespect the state and the clean up gravestones, while instead excited at the emperor. These also focusing on worshiping sensation it causes. He conversations are likely the emperor. Another mentions how he has no referencing the emperor. In example of syncretism, Dazai affection for his mother, 1868, at the start of the Meiji and his maid go to a temple having grown up in the care Restoration, Shinto is where his maid tells him if he of his aunt. In ?Memories?, declared the state religion. tells a lie he would go to Hell. the readers see Dazai mature While Shintoism had been This is an obvious connection to the Christian ideology of while he?s sick and has inner world of the writer, sin with connections to reached a low point he meets forming the core of the Heaven and Hell. In 1549, a policeman who is married modern novel. This idea Christianity had been to O-kei. The police officer rapidly spreads among Meiji introduced by St. Francis tells the narrator that O-kei intellectuals. In the West, Xavier and was generally always talks about him and literary thought was focused accepted until 1615. In 1615, that it?s all thanks to the on realism, naturalism, and the missionaries are pushed narrator that O-kei learned symbolism. Naturalism was of out by the Tokugawa manners. Three days later, particular interest to East Shogunate and persecution the family of O-kei comes to Asian writers and Japan was of Christians intensifies. see him, but the narrator one of the first to explore However, the ideology of runs off before they can say naturalism and the idea of Christianity still persisted. In anything to each other. At the self in novels. Yet naturalism order to maintain a hierarchy end, the narrator overhears was different in Japan, it of control, State Shinto was a O-kei tell her husband that combined the pursuit of the means to an end. the narrator is kind and modern self with the basic "A Golden considerate and always has ideas of naturalism while in been. The narrator weeps at the West this was explored in Picture" that and thinks that he has Romanticism. Out of this Plot Summary: lost which is a good thing in Japanese naturalism came his mind. the I-novel. The I-novel has In ?A Golden Picture?, there Cultural been defined as a work that are autobiographical honestly records an author?s elements similar to Connection: own private life and reveals ?Memories?. The narrator in ?A Golden Picture? is an the true image of self. the story talks about how he example of a type of I-novel, However, others argue that did not have a good nature as which is a key signature of the narrator, protagonist, and a child and would torture the Dazai?s style. During the late the author does not have to family maids. In particular, he 19th century and 20th overlap and its rather the tormented slow maids such century, East Asian writers reader's belief that the as O-kei. He speaks of one encountered the ideas of the overlap occurs that makes an particular instance where he individual and the self from I-novel. This can be seen in ?A kicks O-kei and she falls down the West and faced the task Golden Picture?. The reader crying. After that brief of creating a modern self. The assumes that Dazai is the flashback, the narrator idea emerges that the novel narrator, but they do not discusses how he was kicked was the most prominent know for sure as it is left out by his family and had to ambiguous. One critique of medium that could directly fend for himself. One day, reveal the truth of life and the the I-novel was that it does not address social reality. Traditional Japanese Translation of His naturalist writers narrow down their interest to themselves and their Works personal lives, portraying themselves as problematic individuals. However, Dazai does not follow this pattern of focusing on just himself. Dazai?s piece they can see He has been aware all his life The translation I read was how ?Memories? would be a done by Lane Dunlop in his of wealth inequality and his more appropriate title. Dazai collection of Japanese short family?s wealth not coming admits that this work was in stories called A Late out of hard work. ?A Golden Chrysanthemum. This affect a suicide note and the Picture? showcases the gap collection contains 21 stories confession of a dirty child. between rich and poor and from 7 different authors When one thinks of the word how the morality of the poor dating from 1883 to around memories they think of is ultimately higher than the the 1960?s. He graduated something cherished. This is rich as O-kei still respects the from Yale in 1957 and he opposite of Dazai?s narrator even though he originally was translating experience as his ?memories? French Literature. Then, he tormented her. In another causes him embarrassment transitioned to a focus on one of his short stories, ?The and shame. The translator translating Japanese literature Garden Lantern?, he from prior to the 1960?s. may have chosen this questions the patriarchal During this period, he studied translation of the title to norm of marriage equaling under Ivan Morris and highlight that fact and create happiness. Also in this I-novel, Donald Keene at Columbia a juxtaposition. One can see the ?I? in the story is a female University who are seen as in Dunlop?s translations that leading experts for their which again broke from he?s not as concerned about study of Japan. In 1997, the reader understanding the traditional Japanese Dunlop received an Academy cultural context of the work, naturalism. While Dazai was Award in Literature for his but the themes and message influenced by the I-novel, he anthologies of Japanese of Dazai works as a whole. did not avoid speaking about authors. One interesting Dunlop seems to take the social reality unlike his translation choice done by Lane Dunlop was the meaning he believes Dazai is associates. translation of the title trying to convey and uses his ?Memories?. Some translators translation as a means to have translated the title to amplify his interpretation. mean ?Remembrances?, but if one looks at the context of Works Cited Ronis, Devin. ?Entrance to Qiu Jin?s Residence Which Is Now a Museum,? Wikipedia, 2012,

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