CULTURA E LETTERATURA GIAPPONESE I

The course will cover the key productions of Japanese literature, starting from its origins up to early modern period. It will focus on the development of classical Japanese literature by exploring the most notable works. The course will address the three main areas of production, namely poetry, prose, and theatre, and will highlight parallels and comparisons with the history of art, religion, and society. This multidisciplinary approach will enable students to develop a comprehensive understanding of classical, medieval, and premodern literature.

Lectures in classroom

There is no essential prerequisite for joining the Japanese Culture and Literature I course.

The course in Japanese Culture and Literature aims to present Japanese literary history from its earliest testimonies, written in Chinese, to the second half of the nineteenth century. The course will dwell on a very long period, more than one thousand years, from Nara (710-784) to the Edo period (1603-1867) and present some of each period's most representative productions. The course consists of three main sections: the first concerning ancient Japan – Nara and Heian periods –, the second will be on the medieval literary productions – from the Kamakura to Muromachi periods – and the third and last on the Edo period. The course will provide a view of Japan's literature, religion, art, and history.