Kanbun, Histories Japanese Literature, of and
Japanologists
Timothy John Wixted
University State Arizona
size, quality, its of often importance certainly In its and its both the time it terms
at
cumulatively •. written • and tradition, in the cultural arguably biggest kanbun is the
was
important and literary study Japanese of
ignored that has been times, in most
recent area
properly the and least
represented
of the
part one as canon.
like would distinction
English maintained I referring
in when kanbun. to
to
see
a
speaking
When of kanbun by works language Japanese, they that the I
suggest
use,
one
language based the classical China, of "Sino-Japanese." be called only And when
referring
Chinese by traditional written
they Chinese that would
written to
texts
say
we
are
in '°Chinese." "Sino-Japanese" the by I for kanbun Japanese, written repeat: the term
term
"Chinese" for kanbun by misleading written is Chinese. conflate It the texts
to two.
exceptions this, There
but
will them deal with here. to
not
are
we
is Sino-Japanese about
by It written in Japanese that focus will initial I texts
my
remarks. Sino-Japanese Of the by written Japanese, like by the Latin written late-
course,
medieval, Renaissance, practitioners, and later ot•en influence the shows the. of
even
hence, writer's
vernacular: being insistence the Sino-Japanese. its called corollary
As
on
a
this, it wrong-headed
Sino-Japanese judge that would to kanbun
seems some
compositions
the basis they whether
of
the
criteria
those
not meet
on or
same as
composed by precisely Chinese. •--rather Jin'ichi/J\ • That is what Konishi frequently
does• and occasionally 2 Donald Keene also cites such estimations.
By
the token, misleading
it is best for
foreign call kanbun
at
to same anyone
a
language premodern in Again,
Japan. look let the tradition of classical studies in the
at
us
West. of L/re James In BoswelFs The Johnson, Samuel nothing it is staggering short of to
only
how much Latin and Johnson Greek and his classmates not had crammed into see
by their heads the of but also composition how they much work ten, did in those age
languages.
Johnson and his probably
schoolmates home
in Latin
at
were
more
composition
than today writing Americans English--or,
for that most
young
matter, are
than Japanese writing
language. in
their keep
And let most fact in
mind:
young
are
one us
classical foreign if
Chinese language
for
Japanese, foreign
it also
for
was a was a one
Jin'ichi,
Konishi History of
Japanese A (see below): Literature 2, Vol. 51-52, 8, 6 54,
pp. n.
166, 186; 5-6, 3,
Vol. 12, 13, 17, 23, 14, 181;
the references also of
in below.
2 pp.
see one n.
2
Keene, Donald Seeds
below), (see the Heart 7 98, (citing
1065 in 215 Konishi Jin'ichi
pp. n. n. a
article),
(cf. 24), 1069 1085 1077-78. n. 23
(albeit dynasty certainly degree), Sung arguably the Chinese the
from and to not
on, same
early Dynasties the Six earlier.
as or as
diaries, treatises, prefaces, The fact Japanese that able all in write etc.,
to at were
Sino-Japanese familiarity reflects considerable with the idiom. Of better there
course, are
composition examples by and of there kanbun
better and Japanese.
But
worse
worse are
examples polished. composition by Chinese, ofkanbun semi-literate, others far from
some
Certainly,
criterion, the should that of look earlier-mentioned whether
not to not
one a or
by composition by composition Chinese, kanbun Japanese would
muster
pass as a a as a
judged by Sino-Japanese compositions its Rather, index of merit. be different
must an a
3
Devising standards. of criteria such is of the tasks before set
us. one
training Sino-Japanese reading integral writing Skill in of the and became part
an
in, kana, and education Japanese of Japanese. educated other idiom that The most wrote
Sino-Japanese "Japanese" (in quotation marks), here be will called it and both because
quotation (without marks) Japanese make literature.
up
Imagine Sino-Japanese--a
Japanese literature without Japanese literature--
a
•j•-• • • 7• • Kojiki [] without shoki and the the Nihon the
7)f, •gfJ 7•, •-; • • without the of Kfikai the Honch6
monzui
prose or
7• -•g • • ry6iki [] G6dansh6 without the tales Nihon the of the
•J2, • •; }Z • • Shint6shf• and the
•j • •g Sh6monki without the
•Z., • • • []
Fujiwara Michinaga diaries without the of Ennin
no
(•gai
•-; •J-•ig•, :•, Fujiwara Teika Mori
or
-• •, • prefaces important Shin without Kokinsh• the the
to
•--• •v • • •. •
Kanginshf• kokinshfi and the
@6 •z • •, • writing y6shf• without Buddhist like the
Tokugawa writings Neboke bunshfi without comic such sensei as
• •,
•_ • Sugawara without much of the of Michizane
no
•
• • [• • [•, LJ_l San'y6 S6seki Rai and Natsume --not to
I-[-I :•. poets! mention the Gozan
writings What, of Japanese cultural tradition that sometimes taken in the too,
are
from, quintessentially likely largely Japanese, be which fact either translated in to
are or
starting kanbun, Sino-Japanese with the "Seventeen-Article Constitution" based
on,
• •
•. --• attributed Sh6toku Taishi this the finds Taketori ?
In
category
to
one
•'))j
•i •5.•, qq • •, • • •. ]•2 H6j6ki Soga the and the This monogatari monogatari
•
(Variant Chinese), Rabinoviteh, Introduction regard, Kambun this "An Hentai Judith N. In to
see
Japan," qf Hybrid Sino-Japanese by the Male Elite Premodem in Journal Chinese Used A
following Linguistics the the Kodansha (Jan. 1996), entries 98-127. Note also in 24:1
pp.
vols.): Kodansha, (Tokyo: Encyclopedia of Japanese 1983; "Chinese Japan Literature and 10
"Poetry (by (by Chinese" Sat6 1, 292-96; Yoshio), in Literature" vol. and Prose Imamura
pp.
(by Backus), 123-24; and "Hentai Tamotsu), 4, "Karnbun" vol. Robert 6, 193-97; vol. L. pp. pp.
(by Rabinoviteh), 3, vol. Kambun" Judith 126-27. N. pp. 24
nothing is
of based works
to Chinese kanbun
such
say sizable portions texts,
of the
on as
.4
Konjaku :• t• Ax • monogatari
w
How understand
anything development
the of
of style can in one Japan
prose
without
familiarity
close with classical Chinese, and
with "Japanese" earlier
a Sino- and
Japanese instance, prose?
For how
describe
the
admixture of Chinese compounds
can one
in
the literature, medieval
tale
great if does
know both earlier Heian tales
in not one
"Japanese"
kanbun, and earlier
the of Chinese Sino-Japanese
well
varieties?
What of
as as
influence the Sino-Japanese
of
kanbun
diaries •
•'• and -•1[ records the Jikkinsh6 ? And
on
regarding kanbun, Chinese
what of
the influence
Chinese of poetic
Fujiwara themes
on
Teika,
Sung of • • Kyrgoku the
poetry Ming of Ch'ing
and
fiction poets, Ueda
on
on
•, •)( __•
Akinari
[] I• • and •-• of
Chia-i Po everyone?
just people Do
other
repeat on
scholars' opinions
about this, they
develop do familiarity
intimate
of their
with or an own
these presumed models/sources/influences?
regard, this
In would people I
uncritically
other
scholars' not to
accept warn
estimations.
Jin'ichi, Konishi example, for although certainly
far better acquainted
with
both Chinese literature Sino-Japanese
and
kanbun frustrating--creatively than be
most,
can
suggestive
in of generalizations, his but in much qualification need many of (or
better
very
specificity)
in others. copies
In the of three
literary volumes of history, his
there my
are
penciled dozens
of question in points marks about he either
makes about of
aspects
literature,
Chinese comparisons
he makes between it literature, Japanese and about his
or
reasoning • in reference both. to
Yet, the standard histories of
Japanese literature
English--the in
by volumes
6
Jin'ichi, Konishi 7 )• Keene, Donald s •
and •j Shfiichi Kat6
truly admirable in
--are
4
Donald Keene,
Seeds the
Heart (see
below): in 7
435 and (re
467
9 the Taketori
pp. n
n
]/I],• monogatari), citing •z(1806-1857) Kan6 Morohira j• •(•i:•m and Yfikichi
Takeda []
pp.
347-48 and 762-63 (re
HrjrkO, the citing
•-• •
•
Chitei the
(Record la
&the Pavilion) Pond
no
by Yoshishige
]• •//•
•gL Yasutane
and 888 (re Soga 912 the 70
citing monogatari), no
pp.
n.
Nobuyuki Takahashi
(for
reference, fuller
66); 911 and
573-74
and (re 596 29 the p.
see pp. n.
n.
0sone
Konjaku citing monogatari), Shrsuke
al. et
•
Similarly,
his Dynasties
Six
should comments accepted be uncritically: poetry
Konishi on not
Jin'ichi,
"The
Genesis &the Style," Kolanshft McCullough, Helen C. Harvard
of Journal trans.,
Asiatic (June Studies 1978), 38.1 61-170.
pp.
6
Jin'ichi,
Konishi History of A Japanese Literature: One, Volume The Archaic and Ancient
Ages, Aileen Gatten and Nicholas Teele, Miner, (Princeton: Ear ed.
trans., University Princeton
Press,
1984); Two,
Volume Early The Ages,
Middle Aileen Gatten, Miner, Earl
trans., ed.
(Princeton:
University Princeton Press, 1986); Volume Three, High
The Ages, Middle
Aileen
Gatten Harbison, and Mark Miner,
Ear (Princeton: ed. trans., University Princeton Press, 1991).
7
Donald
Keene,
Seeds the
Japanese Heart: from in Literature Earliest
Times the
Late
to
Century Sixteenth (New York: Henry Co., Holt and 1993); World within Japanese Walls:
of Literature the Pre-Modern Era, 1600-1867 (New Holt, York: Rinehart Winston, and
1976);
and Dawn the Japanese West: Fiction the to Modern (New Era
Holt, in York: Rinehart
and
Winston, 1984), Vols.: [Vol. 2 1] Fiction [Vol. 2] and Poetry, Drama, Criticism. 25
of Japan. There literary tradition
integral
being of the they kanbun
that part
are
treat as an
each treatment--certainly, with the
might disagree their with where
way
one areas
language9--but
appropriately
is
their foreign
Sino-Japanese being describes
scope
a as
broad.
Sino-Japanese
of studies translations histories, literary Apart what from such
or
translation of the Hrrail's
is Francine languages?
There works do in have Western
we
,10 •_ • • waki • • • McCullough's kanpaku of the Mutsu Helen ki Mid6
Philippi 12 and Chamberlain both the Shrmonki. have of and Judith Rabinovitch's the We
Years, David Thousand One, The of Japanese Volume Shfiichi, First Kat6 History Literature: A
Tokyo: International Kodansha Ltd., 1979; Chibbett, (London: Macmillan The Press rpt. trans.
(London: The Macmillan Sanderson, of Isolation, Ltd., 1981); Two, The Don Volume Years trans.
Three, The Modern Ltd., 1983); Volume Tokyo: Intemational Ltd., Kodansha 1983; Press rpt.
Tokyo: Kodansha Ltd., 1983; Macmillan Sanderson, (London: The Press rpt. Years, Don trans.
Ltd., 1983). Intemational
Keene, Donald 3, 9 vol. 23. 4; of Literature, 1, History Japanese Vol. Jin'ichi, Konishi A
p.
p.
of Shfiichi, History Kat6 note); A (cited below in this 189, 581, Heart, the 1083 Seeds in
pp.
locution, slips into this also 4, 17, and Burton Watson Literature, 1, Japanese Vol. 32. pp.
below), 1, Vol. (see
6. Japanese Chinese 18 Literature in
p.
n
Seeds following Keene, Donald reasoning from circularity citations the in the in in Note
especially ability, his skill "Unfortunately, Ennin's diary Concerning of Ennin: the the Heart. at
diary reading which he kept the in Japanese from Chinese, writing difficult classical has
most
major Sugwawara "Michizane ranks (p.
Michizane: 361) travels." About narrated his
as a
no
expression
had the unforeseeable though preference of Chinese medium Japanese his for
poet,
as a
extend generations education did estranging whose future of readers of from him
not
consequence
• •J• • Meigetsuki Fujiwara prosody." Teika's 205-6) (pp. About the subtleties of Chinese to
"IT]his adverse diary covering Bright (Chronicle 1180 Moon), 1235:
the of the to
years
a
important
explains why
[kanbun] [politics] such language doubt and
combination of content an
no
written "Their 828-29) because (p. authors: studied." About Gozan work has been little poetry,
so
increasingly Japanese difficult for foreign language, the last in has become in century to
a
(p. periphery Japanese literature." accordingly studies of remained the of understand, has and
on
1083)
kanbun--certainly perhaps Japanese others should learn and
Given treasures,
many
so
expertise Japanese in literature. those who claim
('995-1018) 1o Michinaga, ?t de journaliOres Fufiwara la Heian de
Notes ministre
cour no
1987). (Geneva Droz, Librairie & Paris:
of Mutsu," (1964- 1t Studies McCullough, of Harvard Journal Asiatic 25 Craig Tale "A Helen
65), 178-211. pp.
(Tokyo: 12 Story of Masakado's Rebellion Shrmonki: Rabinovitch, Monumenta The Judith
Monkey Study "Wasp and Tails: A Nipponica, Sophia University, also her Waists 1986). Note
Kaky6 of (The 772), Shiki Poetry, Code Also Known
and Translation of Hamanari's Uta
as
no
of Poetry)," Journal Hyrshiki of Asiatic Formulary for the Canons Harvard Based (A Verse on
1991), Studies (Dec. 51.2 471-560. pp. 26
13 Kojiki,
versions TM of the shot•J, Aston's renderings the of Nihon diary of Ennin's and the
Oj6
by yrsh• 1S Reischauers, of the the Michiko Aoki Kyoko and Y. two Motomochi
(respectively) Nakamura
)•_-]2 renditions • 16 of the Fudoki ryriki, the and Nihon
well
as
•q]
• •,• • • translation of the Wa-Kan
by
sh•t rrei Thomas Rimer J. and Jonathan
as a
17 Chaves.
Watson, only Burton of published has the volumes of his
not two course,
Japanese TM Chinese, Literature but also the in work Poetry of entitled Kanshi: The
Ishikawa 19 JOzan and Edo-Period Other Responsible • • Poets. for kanshi the
jointly-authored translations in his anthology, Country 2° of Eight Islands, the From
published has Watson also Sino-Japanese translations j•,
of •; the of
Gensei
verse
J• •, Ryrkan 21
and Srseki. Natsume Robert Borgen by treated Sugawara several kanshi
13 Chamberlain, Basil Hall Kofiki: The of (2nd Records Ancient ed., Thomson, Matters Kobe: J.L.
1932; Rutland, Tokyo, & Vt. Japan: rpt. Charles Co., 1982); E. Turtle
Philippi, Kofiki Donald
L.
(Tokyo: University Tokyo of Press, 1969).
14
Aston, Nihongi: W.G. of Chronicles from Japan the Earliest Times A.D. (London: 697
to
Kegan Paul,
1896; Rutland, Tokyo, & Japan: Vt. Charles Co., rpt. E. 1972). Turtle
1•
Reischauer, O. Edwin
Diary. Ennin's of The Pilgimage
Record China of Search the in
to
a
(New Law York: The Co., Ronald Press 1955); idem, cf. T'ang Ennin's Travels China (New
in
Ojryrshft:
The York: Co., Ronald Press 1955). Reischauer, A. K. "Genshin's Essays Collected
in
Birth Paradise," into of
Transactions Society the of Asiatic Japan, series, 2nd (Dec. 1930),
7
pp.
(partial translation); 16-97
partial also the by Andrews, translation Allan A. Teachings note The
Ojryrsh•
for Essential Study Rebirth. of A Genshin's (Tokyo: Nipponica, Sophia Monumenta
University, 1973).
16
Michiko Aoki, of Y. Records Wind and of Earth: Fudola, Translation A with Introduction
and
Commentaries (Ann Arbor: The Association Studies, for Asian 1997); Kyoko Motomochi
Nakamura, Miraculous from Stories Japanese the Buddhist ryriki
Tradition: The of Nihon
the
Kyrkai
(Cambridge, Monk University Mass.: Harvard Press, 1973).
17
Thomas j. Rimer Chaves,
Jonathan and Japanese and Sing: Chinese Poems
Wakan The
rOei
to
(New sh• York: University Columbia Press, 1997).
1•
Watson, Burton
Japanese Literature Chinese: Volume 1, Poetry
and in Prose Chinese
by
in
Japanese of Early Writers the (New Period York: University Columbia Press, 1975);
Volume 2,
Poetry and by Chinese Prose Japanese of Writers in the (New Later Period
York: Columbia
University Press, 1976).
19
(San Francisco: North Press, Point 1990).
•0
Hiroaki Sato Watson, and Burton Country From of the Eight Islands:
Anthology
of
An
Japanese
Poetry (Seattle: University Washington of Press, 1981).
11
Watson, Burton Grass Hill: by and Poems Prose Japanese the Gensei Monk (New
York:
University Columbia Press, 1983); Ry6kan: of Zen Japan Monk-Poet (New
York: Columbia
University Press, 1977); and
"Sixteen by
S6seki," Poems Natsume Essays in
Natsume S6seki's
on
Works, Japanese
National Commission Unesco, for (Tokyo: Society Japan
for
the eomp.
Prom6tion
&Science, 1972), 119-24. pp. 27
22
book-length study figure. translations of Gozan of in his There
that Michizane
are no
z• 26 25 Recently 14 Sonja Arntzen, others. Pollack, by Marian Ury, and David poetry
Rabinovitz, by Timothy appearing An volume the Bradstock and Judith N. H.
are
(1603- of by of (Chinese Edo Period Japanese Verse) Anthology Kanshi the Poets
•7
late-Tokugawa kanshi 1868), and Hiroaki of the the of
Sato's poet,
treatment
woman
.28
•] • t-I-,• and interaction with Finally, Japanese studies Saik6 there the of Ema
are
31 29 3° myself. Geddes, by Pollack, transformation Ward and of David Chinese models
Poetry Ry6kan, Bowl, Robe: The Stevens, One One Zen additional studies of John For
see
Ry6kan of Ry6kan Nobuyuki of Weatherhill, Yuasa, Tokyo: The (New 1977); Zen Poems & York
Masters, below. (Princeton: Stevens, University Three Zen Press, 1981); 26 Princeton and John
n.
22 (Cambridge, Sugawara Early Borgen, Court Mass.: the Robert Michizane and Heian
no
University, Studies, 1986). Council Asian Harvard East
on
23 of of the Ury, the Zen Marian An Introduction Literature the Poems Mountains: Five to
Studies, Japanese (Tokyo: Mushinsha, 2nd, ed., Center for 1977; Ann Arbor: Monasteries
rev.
University Michigan, 1992). of
Co.; 24 Publishing (New of Crossland Pollack, York: The David Zen Poems the Five Mountains
1985). Decatur, Press, Ga.: Scholars
25 (Tokyo: of Japan Anthology: Ikkyfi Sonja Crazy Medieval Cloud A Zen Poet Arntzen: and the
Tokyo University 1986). Press, of
26 Intemational, Ikkyfi, Ry6kan (Tokyo: Kodansha Hakuin, Stevens, John Three Zen Masters:
bibliography, figures, W.S.
1993); 159-61. these three the for additional studies
pp. see on
(San by Midnight: Sosela Shigematsu, S6ikru and Sermons Mus6 Merwin and Sun Poems at
Press, 1989). North Point Francisco:
27 Press, 1997). (Lewiston, The Edwin Mellen N.Y.:
28 of Through Saik6 Columbia (New York: Sato, Bamboo: Selected Kanshi Ema Hiroaki Breeze
University Press, 1997).
from Eighth through Synthesis 29 of of Japan's Meamng: China the Pollack, The David Fracture
1986). University (Princeton: Press, Eighteenth Princeton Centuries the
30 of Studies, (Tempe: Arizona Center Tales for Asian Geddes, China Ward Kara monogatari:
University, 1984). State
Perspective" of 31 Timothy Wixted, Harvard Journal Kokinshft Prefaces: Another "The John
Abridged "Chinese 1983), Influences version: the (June
215-238. Studies 43.1 Asiatic
pp.
on
Rasplica Modern, of Prefaces," Laurel and Kokinshfi: Collection Ancient Kokinsha in A Poems
University (Princeton: Henkenius, Princeton Mary Catherine Rodd, collaboration of with the trans.
Company, abridged The 1996), Cheng Tsui
387-400. and Press, 1984; Boston: rpt. pp.
same
Kokinshft," Sato, Amalia Tokonoma: Prefacios de "Influencias Chinas los version: trans.,
en
(Spring Aires) (Buenos 1994), 2 23-35. Traducci6n Literatura pp. y 28
Notwithstanding
contributions, such
students of Japanese,
whether most Japanese
non-Japanese,
begin do
have grounding the not or in to classical Chinese that
would
enable
them
understand kanbun to well. the U.S., required the In
training texts
in
Chinese
graduate
of
students
Japanese
in is,
of language the modern most, at
two and
years
one
of classical--which,
the
of
scarcely is year
is What the
upshot
course, this? of start.
A a
vicious
circle: people shy
from they what
know, do
permanently ignorant away
stay not of
it,
its non-importance and
of
is thereby often confirmed, especially because course of
reluctance natural draw attention one's weaknesses. to
to
citing
When
Chinese Japanologists
generally
rely
Japanese the
sources,
editions
on
of the
they
works
studying,
which
considerably
quality. looking is are like It vary to as
through
glass darldy--and
glass, secondhand
that--one a sometimes made at further a
inadequate by
familiarity
with opaque Chinese
cultural history.
Without
strong
a
grounding in classical Chinese,
is forever hobbled
being in
able study
Japanese one
to
literature.
is That
virtually
for
anything true the twentieth arguably and to
for
century, up
much
that is recent. more
Of what
Japanese literary in studies course, needs is everyone several study
years'
Chinese,
including of
least of Chinese, classical at two
and special then readings
years
in
Sino-Japanese,
well
training real
literary in Chinese history. and cultural as Instead, as
Westerners fraction
of
that most
get native-speaker and
Japanese
exposed a most
to
are
a
smattering
kanbun,
of both of the Chinese Sino-Japanese and varieties,
in the standard
secondary-school
curriculum. Not much given attention is kanbun
in the Japanese
literature curriculum in Japanese universities.
institutions Research
in Japanese
studies, they wherever be,
should consider
may
having
position
in kanbun help studies: reflect
the breadth a real to of
Japanese literature,
insure graduate that
students to
training,
and get
for proper
others to
serve as resource a
32 the institution. at
slighting The
of kanbun
hand glove in
with phenomena.
The goes
has two
one
already
been
alluded
the
general
need
of to, Japanologists be able most read classical
to
to
Chinese
Sino-Japanese and
better. The
other has
do with might what
be to called
a
"narrowing"
in the definition of what
is considered Japanese literature
culture.
or
Certainly,
the
of Japanese literature,
regards kanbun,
scope is far
than it
as
narrower
was
6gai's in Mori day.
the In wake
of World II, War with the promotion
of Japanese cultural studies
outside Japan, of
there
have
been emphasis
topics to
that unquestionably
seems
an
on
are
"Japanese."
That this coincides in Japan
both
turning with from China
and
a away
continental Asia
and
with reduction in learning the
of
Chinese-based kanfi, a makes
nineteenth-century
literature
"Japanese"
in
difficult
of nothing
of the
to it
access,
say
way
things makes
written
in kanbun foreign
language.
The effect
is
kind of seem a net
a
"Japanism"
that,
along
Nihonjin-ron with • • J• N
discussions like, the and is really
32
In this
it is encouraging
respect, inauguration the
of to annual workshop
see in an
summer
kanbun Comell University. at 29
of
bluntly, 33 kind have
it
To of the put racism Japanese the heir a we
pre-war. worst to
studies. "Japanism" Japanese in ethnically
pure
the in Foundation recently, Japan the Until different in manifested This is
ways.
anything funded seldom counterpart), for decades (unlike European example its U.S.,
for
having books experience
with And
China. of
smacked two much that
my
own
the
titles) Sinology-related illustrates also (but
with beating Japan considerable on
studies. of Japanese
narrowness
Hundred translated, •1• 7• a_•
Five •:• that )I1 Krjir6 I by
Yoshikawa volume
In
a
34 author Dynasties, the Ming and Chin, Yuan, The Poetry, of 1150-1650: Chinese Years
post-Sung Chinese in developments
and late-Edo waka comparisons
between draws
• • • • and Ogyfi Sorai by
Ming
models
background of the the in fills
poetry, to
use
book writes
the stylist Yet, of Japanese. superb
followers, and his
never
was
prose
as a
of
Journal The Nipponica, journal
such Japanese-studies Monumenta by reviewed
as
a
•
of
Japanese. of Teachers of
the Association Journal Studies, the Japanese
or
Bibliographical
of A China." Scholars compiled, Japanese
that volume I
In
a
of scholars Japanese twentieth-century
36 1,500 than for entries Handbook,
there
more are
•7 handbook,
this
secondarily
with primarily Japan. Yet deal of China, whom a
or
many
by of the reviewed Japan, tradition in
academic arguably guide the not any greatest
to was
journals. Japanese-studies above-mentioned
for the Krjir6 volume submitting Yoshikawa experience the had when The I
Literature" of Japanese Translation the Friendship Prize for Commission "Japan-U.S.
literature. considered
Japanese is of what example the provides of
further
narrowness
a
interesting
work "is saying volume
the returned, that letter with submission
The
an
a was
qualify
studies," it did
that literary
but
Chinese important contribution not and a as to
an
than ''38 finest feature--more the book's mind that translation. in Never "of literature work
writing
this expository
39 Japanese be better scholarship--is there
its its may prose; no
1989), (Dec. Sino-Japanese Orientalism," Studies 2.1 33 Timothy Wixted, "Reverse John Cf. pp.
1992), Signpost (January 30-35. reprinted Hiroshima in 17-27; pp.
1989). 34 University Press, (Princeton: Princeton
of Japanese, of Teachers of the Association 3• Journal of the book-review editor fact, the In
thing."
of that personally: is interested in Ury, "No
told Marian sort one me
1992). 36 Press, Edwin (Lewiston, Mellen The N.Y.:
fl• •
• Yoshiho example, Yonezawa information, for about 37 bibliographical
includes
work
The
•'• •)
:• ELl Buddhism, • • Shinsh6 in •_• history, Hanayama [] history, Katsumi in Mori
in art
"Japan"
subject-heading in for main accessible under literature--all made scholars in various and
a
History," "Japanese Literature," sub-headings "Japanese for various index, etc. subject with the
Director, Program Lyon-Bester, "Victoria 1990, from 30, 38 Wixted," November "John Letter
to
University." Studies, Columbia Japanese of Center Donald Administrator, Keene Prize
Krjir6
Yoshikawa
by
Gen Itasaka included 39
and Hibbett Howard their credit that is It essay to an 3O
intent--as
The
century.
made clear with
the submission--was
for
the
translation
be
to
judged
in of how it well terms
created
analogue
English
in
the outstanding an to of
prose original. the
By
the
Commission's
standards,
classic
English of writing
like
Thomas a
Macaulay's
History
of
England
would qualifiy
English
literature. not
And
Edward
as
Gibbon's
Decline and of Fall
the
Roman Empire
would simply
be
contribution
to
a
history. 4° Roman
Compare
this attitude with that the of
editors
of the wonderful
"Library
of
America"
series. Classic
works
in it
include
only what
would not
expect--
one
Hawthorne,
Melville,
Wharton,
Whitman,
and the like--but
also
others
of both cultural
and
literary
importance:
Francis
Parkman's
eight-volume
history, England
and France
in
North ,4merica;
and
the Personal
Memoirs of Grant, U.
S.
whose
Edmund
Wilson
prose
highly
praised
in
his study
of Civil writing, so War 41 Patriotic Gore.
chapter The
by
John
Ellis,
M.
"The Definition Literature" of (in Theory The
of Literary Criticism...4
Logical
"4nalysis),
42
is
in
this regard, for its apropos discussion
of cogent what constitutes
literature.
is unfortunate
It
that
Japanese
today
many
in the they think
of are
so narrow
way
Japanese culture,
Japanese literature, 0gai
etc.--far
than Mori his and
generation narrower
is
It
disappointing
were.
even Westerners adopting more to
the
many see
stance.
same
What
needs changed
be
is attitude, the to mind-set, the that
lies behind it.
The of Japanese
studies
needs scope be
widened. The
to parochial
view
narrow,
of Japan
be
countered.
must As of the task,
part kanbun should
given be
greater
attention. long
As the kanbun traditions
Sino-Japanese of
as and
Chinese ignored,
are
understanding
of Japanese
literature--and
Japanese culture--will
remain both distorted and
impoverished.
in their
textbook illustrate
Japanese to style:
Modern Japanese:
prose A Basic
Reader (2nd
ed.,
Cambridge,
Mass.:
Harvard University Press,
1967), vols., 2 Lesson 50.
40
The
kind
of
contradiction
explicit is
following
the in same by Donald
statement
Keene regarding
Miyoshi
Kiyoyuki •-•
,•ff:
---"
"His
composition no Hrji Jfiniky6 'Iken
(Opinions
in Sealed
a
Document
in
Articles) Twelve
has been
praised [by Kawaguchi Hisao]
the
finest
example
of as
Heian kambun.
The Twelve Articles
recommendations
the
are
to concerning
government
prayers
agriculture, aid
dangers
the to
of
the extravagance, necessity increasing of
the
food allowance
to
students university,
the
and at
Not
the all
articles important,
so and on. the work
whole
are
as a
literary
lacks
significance [emphasis
added],
but
the document
admired
[by Kawaguchi],for is
its
of
balanced
mastery clarity
of
its prose, objecave expression, and
its
of
presenting
manner
historical
facts
[emphasis
added]."
Seeds Heart, the m 206.
p.
41
Edmund Wilson,
PatrJot•c
Gore:
Studies the Literature
of in
the
American Civil War (New
York: Oxford University
Press,
1962),
131-73,
143. pp. esp. p.
42 (Berkeley:
University of California
Press, 1974, 24-53). pp. 31