Readings in Premodern Japanese Literature

Catalog description

In this seminar we will read primary texts in varieties of premodern Japanese as well as recent secondary scholarship in English and Japanese. Our purpose is to discover sources and avenues to enliven our research on premodern Japan (900 to 1900, depending on your interests; core work will span 1200-1700). Our themes may include genre, trauma, gender, reading, performance, and material text. If you do not already have Classical Japanese reading ability, please consult the instructor for help in preparing. We will also work with reference materials. Class meetings will use a modular approach. Joint meetings to discuss readings will be two hours. Novices in Classical Japanese will have a separate hour meeting weekly focused on the acquisition of basic grammar. There will be a separate hour meeting weekly to practice reading pre-Edo kuzushiji and hentaigana. You will choose from a menu of assignments those that will best promote the development of your scholarly skills and portfolio.