87351 - Literary Civilisation of Ancient and Modern Japan (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will have acquired a thorough knowledge of Japanese civilization in its different historical, cultural and literary expressions. They will be able to approach critically the related literature and its problems, to identify and classify literary works and to develop analytical investigations of the written sources.

Course contents

The aim of course is to outline the most significant cultural aspects of Japan through a selection of literary works.

Origin of the Japanese language and writing (Lessons 1-3)

Myths (shinwa) and folktales (mukashibanashi) (Lessons 4-7)

Classic Literature: Poetry (Lesson 8) and Monogatari, nikki, zuihitsu… (Lessons 9-11)

Theatre and chōnin culture (Lesson 12)

Introduction to Modern Literature and the origin of children's literature (Lessons 13-15)

The syllabus will be provided at the first lecture and will be included among the material available on the 'Teaching resources on Virtuale' platform.

Students who wish to deepen the linguistic aspects are invited to ask for programs suited to their linguistic knowledge.

Lessons are held exclusively in presence and are not registered.

Lessons start February 10, 2025.

Readings/Bibliography

Bibliography for students attending class

Compulsory readings (introductions included):

Villani, P. (a cura di), Kojiki. Un racconto di antichi eventi, , Marsilio, Venezia, 2006.

Boscaro, A. ( a cura di), Storia di un tagliabambù, Marsilio, Venezia, 2002.

Negri, C. (a cura di), Le memorie della dama di Sarashina, Marsilio, Venezia, 2005. Oppure Negri, C. (a cura di), Diario di Murasaki Shikibu, Marsilio, Venezia, 2015; oppure Negri, C. (a cura di), Diario di Izumi Shikibu, Marsilio, Venezia, 2008.

Sei Shonagon, Note del guanciale, Origlia, L. (a cura di), SE, Milano, 1988.

Ueda Akinari, Racconti di pioggia e di luna, a cura di Maria Teresa Orsi, Marsilio, Venezia, 2007.

Miyazawa, K., Una notte sul treno della Via Lattea e altri racconti, Amitrano, G. (a cura di), Marsilio, Venezia, 1994; oppure Miyazawa, Kenji Le stelle gemelle e altri racconti, Atmosphere, Roma, 2018.

Akutagawa, R., Rashōmon e altri racconti, Einaudi, Torino, 2016; oppure Akutagawa, R., Racconti fantastici, Cristiana Ceci (a cura di). Marsilio, Venezia, 1995.

Tanizaki, J., Libro d’ombra, Bompiani, Milano, 2000.

Orsi, M. T., Fiabe giapponesi, Einaudi, Torino, 1998.(Fiabe alle pagine: 8, 13, 52, 60, 65, 96, 98, 102, 113, 138, 140, 164, 191, 208, 229, 240, 263, 268, 281, 327 e 339)

Compulsory essays and articles:

Banfi, E., ‘Caratteri “originali” e partizioni storico-linguistiche della diacronia giapponese’, in: Maurizi, A. (a cura di), Introduzione allo studio della lingua giapponese, Carocci, Roma, 2012, pp. 16- 41.

Follaco, Gala Maria (a cura di) Cultura letteraria giapponese : le mille forme della scrittura dal 7. al 21. secolo, Milano, Hoepli, 2023. Capitolo 1, Capitolo 2 (escluse pp 131-153) e Capitolo 3 (pp 187-217).

Reference:

Bienati, L.[et al.], Letterario, troppo letterario : antologia della critica giapponese moderna, Marsilio, Venezia, 2016. (capitoli 1 e 15 )

Boscaro, A. (a cura di), Dalle origini alle soglie dell'età moderna, G. Einaudi, Torino, 2005.(Kabuki: pp.51- 58; Ningyōjōruri: pp. 96-100; Nō: pp.100-106)

Zanotti, P., Introduzione alla storia della poesia giapponese. Vol. 1, Marsilio, Venezia, 2012. (capitoli 1, 2, 4 e 5)

Bibliography for attending students will be provided at the beginning of the course

Bibliography for students NOT attending class

Compulsory readings (introduction included):

Villani, P. (a cura di), Kojiki. Un racconto di antichi eventi, , Marsilio, Venezia, 2006.

Boscaro, A. ( a cura di), Storia di un tagliabambù, Marsilio, Venezia, 2002.

Negri, C. (a cura di), Le memorie della dama di Sarashina, Marsilio, Venezia, 2005. Oppure Negri, C. (a cura di), Diario di Murasaki Shikibu, Marsilio, Venezia, 2015; oppure Negri, C. (a cura di), Diario di Izumi Shikibu, Marsilio, Venezia, 2008.

Sei Shonagon, Note del guanciale, Origlia, L. (a cura di), SE, Milano, 1988.

Ueda Akinari, Racconti di pioggia e di luna, a cura di Maria Teresa Orsi, Marsilio, Venezia, 2007.

Miyazawa, K., Una notte sul treno della Via Lattea e altri racconti, Amitrano, G. (a cura di), Marsilio, Venezia, 1994; oppure Miyazawa, Kenji Le stelle gemelle e altri racconti, Atmosphere, Roma, 2018.

Akutagawa, R., Rashōmon e altri racconti, Einaudi, Torino, 2016; oppure Akutagawa, R., Racconti fantastici, Cristiana Ceci (a cura di). Marsilio, Venezia, 1995.

Tanizaki, J., Libro d’ombra, Bompiani, Milano, 2000.

Orsi, M. T., Fiabe giapponesi, Einaudi, Torino, 1998.(Fiabe alle pagine: 8, 13, 52, 60, 65, 96, 98, 102, 113, 138, 140, 164, 191, 208, 229, 240, 263, 268, 281, 327 e 339)

Compulsory articles and essays:

Banfi, E., ‘Caratteri “originali” e partizioni storico-linguistiche della diacronia giapponese’, in: Maurizi, A. (a cura di), Introduzione allo studio della lingua giapponese, Carocci, Roma, 2012, pp. 16- 41.

Bienati, L.[et al.], Letterario, troppo letterario : antologia della critica giapponese moderna, Marsilio, Venezia, 2016. (capitoli 1 e 15 )

Maurizi, A. (a cura di), Spiritualità ed etica nella letteratura del Giappone premoderno, UTET università, Torino, 2012. (capitoli: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15 e 16)

Ruperti, B., Storia del teatro giapponese : dalle origini all'Ottocento, Marsilio, Venezia, 2015. (capitoli 4, 7 e 8)

Zanotti, P., Introduzione alla storia della poesia giapponese. Vol. 1, Marsilio, Venezia, 2012. (capitoli 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 11 e 12)

Reference:

Boscaro, A. (a cura di), Dalle origini alle soglie dell'età moderna, G. Einaudi, Torino, 2005.

Follaco, Gala Maria (a cura di) Cultura letteraria giapponese : le mille forme della scrittura dal 7. al 21. secolo, Milano, Hoepli, 2023. Capitolo 1, Capitolo 2 (escluse pp 131-153) e Capitolo 3 (pp 187-217).

All the texts are available at DISCI library.

Teaching methods

Frontal lesson: presentation, reading and analysis of selected works.

Assessment methods

Students who attend at least 75% of the lessons are considered to be attending.

Not attending students are requested to contact me by the end of March 2025.

The present course (6CFU) is a module of 87350 - JAPANESE LITERARY CIVILIZATION (CI) (LM). If the student has the Integrated Course (12CFU) in the study plan, the final grade will be the arithmetic average of the marks obtained in the two modules (87351 - ANCIENT AND MODERN JAPANESE LITERARY CIVILIZATION (1) (LM) and 87352 - CONTEMPORARY JAPANESE LITERARY CIVILIZATION (1) (LM)). Oral examination of the two parts has to be on the same date.

The exam will be conducted orally and will assess the student's command of the material studied in the course.

Top marks will be awarded to a student displaying an overall understanding of the topics discussed during the lectures, combined with a critical approach to the material and a confident and effective use of the appropriate terminology. → 29-30

Good marks will be awarded to a student who has memorized the main points of the material and is able to summarize them satisfactorily and provide an effective critical commentary, while failing to display a complete command of the appropriate terminology. →25-28

Preparation on a limited number of topics covered in the course, albeit expressed in correct language and limited autonomous analysis skills, will lead to average evaluations →21-24 Training gaps and/or inappropriate language – albeit in a context of minimal knowledge of the exam material – will lead to grades that will not exceed the sufficiency →18-20

A student will be deemed to have failed the exam if he displays significant errors in his understanding and failure to grasp the overall outlines of the subject, together with a poor command of the appropriate terminology.

Exam sessions are scheduled for the following months of the academic year:

-1 June for all students

-1 July for all students

-1 October for all students

-1 November for all students

-1 January for all students

-1 February for all students

 

Teaching tools

Power point. Visual and audiovisual materials.

Students who require specific services and adaptations to teaching activities due to a disability or specific learning disorders (SLD), must first contact the appropriate office: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students.

Office hours

See the website of Maria Elena Tisi