Japanese Literature

Chinese Literature

What did japanese literature mostly imitate?

Katakana

Japan’s basic alphabet

47

How many characters in katakana

Circulating Libraries

This is what you call when men carried books at their back and traveled from house to hosue as reading became a popular pastime

The Kojiki

About the creation of the world and describes the gods and goddesses of the mythological period; contains facts about the earliest history of Japan

Record of Ancient Matters

Name for The Kojiki

Nihongi

tells the early history of Japanese poetry

Chronicles of Japan

Name for Nihongi

Drama

favorite form of entertainment about history and tradition or lives oand adventuresw of gods and heroes; lengthy play

Noh, Joruri, Kabuki

What are the three types of Japanese Drama?

Noh Play

National theatre of Japan which is a play focused on the all important Sun goddess that hid herself in the rock cave of heaven, causing universal darkness

Jojuri

A play where puppets are beautifully made and are lifelike in size, and the strings are manipulated expertly and the dialogue realistically interpreted

Kabuki Play

Play for the masses which are less intellectual and more realistic; low classes

Man’yoshu

The oldest collection of poetry compiled in 800 AD

Haiku

The shortest form of Japanese poetry

Seventeen

The syllable poem divided in three lines of 5-7-5

Matsuo Basho

Known for his verses philosophical