Exploring Japanese Literature

Flashcards covering key periods, authors, and works of Japanese literature.

What writing system did Japan have before the introduction of kanji from China?

Japan had no writing system before the introduction of kanji from China.

What is man'yōgana?

The earliest form of kana, or Japanese syllabic writing, created by adapting Chinese characters.

Name three early literary works created in the Nara period.

Kojiki (712), Nihon Shoki (720), and Manyōshū (759).

What is the Tale of Genji (Genji Monogatari)?

A significant literary work from the Heian period.

Who wrote The Pillow Book (Makura no Sōshi)?

Sei Shōnagon

What is Konjaku Monogatarishū?

A collection of over a thousand stories in 31 volumes from India, China, and Japan.

What is Taketori Monogatari?

The 10th-century Japanese narrative, The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter which is an early example of proto-science fiction.

Who wrote I Am a Cat (Wagahai wa neko de aru)?

Natsume Sōseki

Name three values declared by Fukuzawa Yukichi.

Freedom, independence, and equality

What is Osamu Dazai's most famous work?

No Longer Human (人間失格)

Who wrote Snow Country (Yukiguni)?

Kawabata Yasunari

What is Kawabata Yasunari's greatest masterpiece?

Snow Country

Why did Kenzaburo Oe decline Japan’s highest artistic honor?

Because of its ties to his country’s emperor-worshipping past.

What is Kazuo Ishiguro known as?

One of the most critically acclaimed and praised contemporary fiction authors writing in English.

Who wrote Rashomon?

Ryūnosuke Akutagawa

What does Rashomon explore?

The boundaries between good and evil and moral dilemmas.

What is Banana Yoshimoto's notable work?

Kitchen

What is Haruki Murakami known for?

His novels, essays, and short stories have been bestsellers in Japan and internationally.