You can find the short paper assignment here: the first, on Murasaki Shikibu’s diary, is due February 2nd.
What lovely timing: a short overview of the history of the Takarazuka Revue, with reference to some of the works about it.
A quick tour of the website:
- The main course page is here, or you can find it above in the header. This is mostly a schedule of readings and assignments, to which I will add links for resources, full assignment handouts and other material as necessary.
- You can find the full syllabus, with course policies, etc., here, or through the “Past Syllabi” page in the header or from the link on the main course page. The Grad Student Addendum may be found here, and through the other routes as well.
- As the header says, there’s a page of Japanese historical resources, including links to some of my powerpoint slide sets and picture collections, teaching resources, etc. The most important link on that page at the moment is the Student Information Form, which you are required to copy, fill out, and email back to me before Thursday.
- Your other homework for Thursday is to find 5 interest sites on the web relating to Japanese women in history. “Interesting” does not necessarily mean good, but it should mean interesting. Avoid wikipedia and other obvious reference sources. Email me what you find, with comments on each one, before 9am Thursday, so I have time to put together a page for everyone to see.
Here is the list of books for purchase for Hist 532 (700-07) for Spring 2012
- Murasaki Shikibu, Diary of Lady Murasaki, trans. Richard Bowring, Penguin, 1999.
- Karen Brazell, ed. and trans., The Confessions of Lady Nijo, Stanford UP, 1973.
- Yamakawa Kikue, Kate Wildman Nakai (Translator), Women of the Mito Domain: Recollections of Samurai Family Life, 1997, Stanford UP
- Robert John Smith, Ella L. Wiswell, Women of Suye Mura, 1982, Chicago UP.
- Mikiso Hane, ed. and trans., Reflections on the Way to the Gallows: Rebel Women in Prewar Japan. University of California Press, 1993.
- Kumiko Fujimura-Fanselow and Atsuko Kameda, eds., Japanese Women: New Feminist Perspectives on the Past, Present and Future, The Feminist Press at CUNY, 1994. ISBN-13: 978-1558610941
- Kaori Okano, Young Women in Japan: Transitions to Adulthood, Routledge, 2009. ISBN-13: 978-0415590518
This is more or less the order we’ll be reading them, so if you have to prioritize, start at the top! Feel free to buy these from the bookstore, which has them on order, or from any other source. We will be reading all of them.
The final exam essays have been posted here. As always, it can also be found through the course page, linked above.
The Final Exam Essay questions for Hist 524: Early Japan, have been posted. They are due Friday, December 16th, at noon, in my office.
A brief film interview with a traditional — very traditional — sword maker of today.
My Early Japan class did a renga exercise today. This was the result. “JD” is me; I served as scribe and poet master, but didn’t try to maintain full-bore traditional limits or styles. It was a 50-minute class period, with only 5 students.
| Where squirrels once dug Under the spreading pine tree Now only gravel |
JD |
| As the winter comes quickly the rodent finds no more food |
JA |
| brown, dead oak, cold harsh the pickup rumbles past it now oblivious |
GD |
| motor rumbles on the path mighty oak falls in the road |
JW |
| No one hears the tree but everyone hears the sound of chainsaws roar |
JD |
| The lumberjack has found work to live another season |
KB |
| tiny sprigs of soft grass pushing through the hard earth crust carpeting the ground |
GD |
| the newborn pig starts to grow bouncing sausage on my plate |
JA |
| summer heat burns me big breakfast upsets my gut fever running high |
JW |
| small hens pecking at the ground feathers ruffling in the wind |
GD |
| they have no idea how much trouble their children will cause them today |
JD |
| they do as they wish despite big sticks and loving guidance |
LA/GD |
| Buford’s mighty club moonshine and copper pipe fly fleeing through the woods |
GD/JD |
| bathtub still makes sweet nectar keeps a man warm in autumn |
JA |
| red, yellow, bronze leaves rocky top will always be home, sweet home, to me |
GD |
| college kids dancing freely great music helping movement |
JW |
| The sixties live on sound soothing the troubled creek and the beat rolls on |
GD |
| leaves drift lazily downstream where they go, nobody knows |
JA |
| Dangerous waters the world is all connected but I like this place |
JD |
Read this before class Wednesday, along with the distributed handouts:
Konishi Jin’Ichi, Karen Brazell and Lewis Cook, “The Art of Renga” Journal of Japanese Studies, Vol. 2, No. 1 (Autumn, 1975), pp. 29-31+33-61 http://www.jstor.org/stable/132038
The following is in Japanese, from NHK, but shows a scene from the Tale of Genji in which his wife Aoi is possessed by the jealous spirit of the Rokujo Lady.
This continues with part 2 and part 3, both of which have some fascinating elements of the story: the battle between Rokujo and the priest in part 3 is the liveliest bit
Here is a Kyogen, “The Melon Thief” (Untranslated, I’m afraid)
