October 14 - Miyake - Japanese Literature

[Anonymous]

Wow...I'm super late...thought I'd posted on this lecture already.

I, too, loved the session on Japanese literature, and have solidly not only incorporated the poetry into my World Literature lessons, but the idea of a Pillow Book as well. I also use an online journal (much the same as this one) and initially had my students post their own responses to lists: Things that should be smaller; things that should be larger; things that have lost their power, etc. The students did very well at this, but many merely made a regular list, without any explanation. We also studied the tanka and haiku poetry, and they had to post original compositions. Then, we read portions of Sei Shonogon's (sp?) Pillow Book, which amazingly were in our text! Since she also included an observation, I required them to do the same in their final versions. Some students were a bit confused, but most enjoyed the opportunity to express themselves in such an unusual, but effective manner. I just received the final Pillow Books from my students and will be eagerly reading them over the Thanksgiving break.

Thanks to this lecture, and the materials supplied, I have come to a better understanding of the forms of poetry I teach, and I think the students enjoy it more as well.

[Anonymous]

POSTING 11/29/08

RE: cell phone etiquette during our seminar sessions with acclaimed
professors

Preface: “If the shoe fits, tie the laces” -- my adaptation of an aphorism to make a point--

At the lecture by Toni Morrison, which was by the Japanese Cultural Center in Little Tokyo, on Nov. 18, the first remark was “Please turn off your cell phones“ [and put them away--they are distracting. . . ].

At the Kirk Douglas Theater, where I saw one of the greatest quartet performances of my theater-going life in The Little Dog Laughed last night [funny and beautifully written], the first remark was “Please turn off your cell phones“ [and put them away].

This is what we in the Midwest call having manners.

[Anonymous]

POSTING 12/1/08 S. Rae

My assignment is to evaluate all our professors, so I am doing that in this posting. Every professor has been excellent in his/her own way. I mean, we know we are getting the top-notch teachers otherwise they wouldn’t be at their respective prestigious universities. I have my chauvinistic leanings, but that is mere opinion.

I feel blessed and appreciative for the opportunity to have learned from their erudition.

[Anonymous]

POSTING 12.22.08 I’ve been studying Buddhism, since I may write about it in my final essay, since it is of supreme importance to my life.

FYI

WWHAT ALL RELIGIONS HAVE IN COMMON:

1. A moral / ethical code
2. Rituals
3. Devotion to its participants’ -- its community
4. A holy book or literature
5. Metaphysical and epistemological doctrine: What is Real? What do we
Know?
6. Explanations of the doctrine
7. A prophet / visionary / shaman[s]
8. Creation story / stories
9. Deacons / boddhistavas / roshis / elders

[Anonymous]

POSTING 11/30/08

RE: SESSION WITH JENNIFER JUNG-KIM, Ph.D

I had asked her which sect of Buddhism wore “Yellow Hats.” I went to my old philosophy of religions text -- Theodore M.. Ludwig’s The Sacred Paths: Understanding the Religions of the World for clarification:

“An important reform movement beginning in the fifth century was called the Gelukpa [partisan of virtue)] sect, also know as the Yellow Hats, named after their hats in contrast to the red hats of the Bon priests. Tsopnbg-kha-pa . . . advocated a return to the traditional monastic life and also a modification of one of the Tantric magical practices" (318).

[Anonymous]

Did anyone catch the full title for was it - "The Girl Who Like Caterpillars" by Little ??? and other Japanese Children's Stories? My notes are scrambled on this page and don't make sense.

Anyway, I'm interested in getting this for my class after reading from the "Anthology of Japanese Literature" pg. 171 - "The Lady Who Loved Insects" - I love the story and I know I can get my sixth graders to love it too.

I enjoyed Professor Miyake, it was nice to hear from her. She helped us understand the origin and pronunciation of Japanese words which I will use with my students when I study China, (compare / contrast) because I do not teach Japan's full history.[Edit by="pcroft on Dec 30, 6:34:23 PM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

I have so little knowledge and exposure to Japanese literature that i found Prof. Miyake's presentation really interesting. I have several students who are really interested in manga and Japanese characters. I loved learning a little about the history of the development of this form of literature. I also think that this a great way to introduce Japanese literature to all of my students. In particular, I have several students who are artists and who are drawn to this form of literature because of the artistic component. I just loved this paort of the lecture...
Also, I was especially intrigued by the role of women in the Heian period . Professor Miyake had some really interesting information on the role of women and literature and the culture of women in Japan during this era. Overall, i found Prof. Miyake's presentation really informative and interesting.

[Anonymous]

Similar to my reaction to the lesson on Japanese poetry with Prof. Schlaberg, I generally did not find this session about literature from Japan's classical and warrior period to be as engaging for me as other sessions were. Again, this is because I'm simply not as interested in literature as I am interested in history.

However, Prof. Miyake did make some points that I found worthwhile. I liked Prof. Miyake's method of organizing literature by Japanese dynasty. That made the presentation a little more interesting for me because it helped me connect the literature to the evolution of Japanese nationhood.

I was intrigued by one of the reasons that literature was so important during early Japanese history: courting between men and women did not involve fact-to-face contact. Although this is strange to my 20th and 21st century American sensibilities, I appreciated instantly that people during Japan's first millenium had to become extremely creative in order to date. In fact, I would venture to say that they were probably more creative and expressive than many other persons in other places and other centuries have been.

Also, Prof. Miyake did call attention to examples of Japanese literature that reflected Japan's history, such as works that reflected the importance of Samurai and their role in protecting Japanese society from invading outsiders; the demise of the Kamakura Period that followed the Mogol invasion; civil war during the Muromachi Period; and the resurgence of cultural elitism (e.g., tea ceremonies) during the Momoyama Period. As a result, my preference for history was satisfied even though Prof. Miyake's focus was on literature.

[Anonymous]

Prof. Miyake provided us with one amazing resource idea that I know I will use in the future. Believe it or not it is the Tale of Genji comic. In AP World History, we do cover the importance of literature in various places and eras, and the Tale of Genji is definitely covered. Due to the fact that some of my students elect not to read, I feel that changing things up by using a comic of the story might actually be interesting and engaging. Along with this I found her lecture very informative in the various items she mentioned such as:

1. Court life through the examples of Lady Murasaki Shikubi & Sei Shonagon

2. The role of women at this time -- from what they wore, being a good wife, and walking on their knees. OUCH!

3. The role of poetry in courtship -- no face to face contact meant that you better be good at writing poetry both male and female. Not only that, but your handwriting was important. Quite interesting if that was done today.

4. The importance of the wife being learned in order to help out the cause of her offspring (sons).

5. The difference in language at this time -- 2 tier language system. Living in Japan, but most males used a classical Chinese, whereas women were only able to learn the vernacular Japanese, which ultimately resulted in the writings of Lady Murasaki & Sei Shonagon.

A truly wonderful evening of learning!

Manuel 😀

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone,

You may be interested in the following New York Times Travel article about the 1,000th anniversary celebration of "The Tale of Genji" in Japan. It's a fun read.

http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/travel/04footsteps.html?em

-Miranda

[Anonymous]

I suppose it's the equivalent of a historical re-enactment of Gettysburg, or something, but it sounds far more entertaining--perhaps because Genji was written by a woman? The 12-layer robe sounds somewhat threatening, however...

My friends Brian and Kristen were invited by very nice, not entirely Americanized, Japanese neighbors to a dinner. Brian and Kristen were moving out of an apartment, if memory serves, into a house. The neighbors did a wonderful job of commemorating this big step with a formal dinner, at which the hostess wore a lovely kimono. Kristen commented on the kimono, and how beautiful the hostess looked in it, prompting the hostess to offer to dress her (Kristen) in one of her extra kimonos. This was very sweet, but the hostess was a tiny lady, and Kristen (who is not fat) is nonetheless built like a healthy American. Apparently the wrapping in the kimono, obi, etc, was difficult, and as the neighbor wrapped and tucked, she patted Kristen's tummy and thighs, muttering repeatedly, with increasing concern, 'so big, so BIG'.

When Kirsten related the story, I laughed until I cried, but I don't think anything would induce me to be allowed to be dressed up in a kimono!

[Anonymous]

Miyake has an extensive amount of knowledge of Japanese history and I could sense his love for Japan through his passionate presentation of his seminar. When he said that you can't understand the rise of great states in Japan like the Nara state, unless you understand the rise of great states in Korea, I felt a deep connection to that statement. Much of Korea's history is tied into Japan's history and vice versa. There are two sides to every story, however, I believe that the fact that Miyake had heard of the "Comfort Women" who were abused by Japanese soldiers, was impressive because from what I've heard, Japan's government has not allowed that history to be written into their history books and taught in their schools, despite them giving restitution to the comfort women in Korea who have been outcast from society.

It was an eventful seminar! 😀

[Author]

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