The History of Modern Japanese Literature

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B. Theoretical Concepts

As mentioned earlier that in applying hermeneutics, the readers need to be equipped with relevant background information. 73 The information is needed in creating the horizon of expectation which will evoke the readers’ sense of openness of having a particular experience in dealing with Kawabata’s writings. 74 Hence, there are some concepts which need to be discussed at the outset in order to avoid the misconception of some particular terms that are used in this study. The first concept that needs to be discussed is the history of Modern Japanese Literature. It is related to the significance in putting Kawabata’s works in particular era that will determine the spirit of the age and the art conventions adopted by Kawabata in his writings. The second concept is related to Yasunari Kawabata’s life and writings which involves his position in Modern Japanese Literature. The third concept deals with the development of Zen Buddhism and its influence in Japanese Literature, particularly in Kawabata’s writings. This concept needs to be discussed due to the belief that Zen Buddhism is considered as an important aspect which influences Kawabata in writing his works. Last, the fourth concept is related to the concept of death, particularly Japanese notion of death that is also influenced by Zen Buddhism teachings.

1. The History of Modern Japanese Literature

At first, the world recognized the existence of Japanese novels mainly through American translation. Japan began to open the door for the world since 73 Marra, Essays on Japan: Between Aesthetics and Literature 277. 74 Lawn and Niall Keane 51. 32 the arrival of Commodore Perry in 1853 and Meiji Restoration in 1868. Since the arrival of Commodore Perry, European literature had entered Japan and created a sudden shock among the Japanese due to the complexity of its literary works. The spirit of European literature which was quite different with the heart of Japanese literature had raised curiosity of its convention and created an eagerness among the Japanese to translate these European literary works into their mother tongue in 1870’s and 1880’s. However, it was not easy for the Japanese writers in that era to change their chosen topics for writing and also their writing style into European convention. As an impact, these writers only casually mentioned the topics that were related to Western lifestyle, such as the invention of railroad and steamboat in writing their works. Donald Keene mentions this notion in his book entitled Modern Japanese Novels and the West 1961. He writes: Novelist and playwrights were not able to alter their styles and subjects as easily as other Japanese turned from hand crafts to machines or from native drinks to whiskey and beer. For the most part they contented themselves with lending a certain topicality to their otherwise stale accounts of the doings of rakes and courtesans by mentioning peculiarities of Western dress or joking about the recently introduced steamship and railroad. 75 Further, according to Keene, these European literary pieces have increased literary knowledge among Japanese writers and also influence the writers to make their writings more serious in tone and content. 76 Hence, it cannot be denied that there are many Japanese literary pieces that written under the influence of European literature. However, the true beginning of Modern Japanese novel began in 1885, when the critical study of Tsubouchi Shōyō entitled The Essence of the Novel published. In this book, Shōyō writes about the definitions of the functions in a 75 Keene, Modern Japanese Novels and the West 10. 76 ibid., p. 14. 33 novel and also the suggestions for the improvement of Japanese novels. Shōyō divides Japanese novels into two types; didactic and artistic. Didactic novels are included all Japanese novels of recent years in any genres that lacked of genuine moral characters. Yet, artistic novels are European-literature-like novels which are read by many people around the world due to the pleasure that they offered to the readers through their social criticism. Based on his findings, Shōyō then proposes some changes that can be done by Japanese writers in writing their novels in order to achieve the same level of European literature. First, the use of Realism which describes life as the way it is-will affect the plots and characters of the novels. Second, Shōyō also adds that the use of language in a novel also influences the readers in reading and accepting the novel. In that case, he suggests that the writers need to use colloquial language in the dialogue, but leave the description in classical language. The use of colloquial language itself in Japanese literary works is meant to show Japanese sincerity, honesty and spontaneity in bringing back the true essence of literary production that comes from Japanese tradition and its unique ‘nature-based’ culture which are described perfectly in the beauty of Japanese classical language in order to build an intense communication between human beings and all entities of life. Due to the publication of Shōyō’s The Essence of the Novel, many translations of European novels appeared in the 1880’s and 1890’s. 77 It is said that those novels are chosen more systematically than before and are executed in a high level of accuracy compared to the originals. In the awakening of the translated European novels, many Japanese literary works are written under those translated European novels’ influence. As a result, it seems that the Japanese 77 ibid., p. 21. 34 novels writing trend points to a new direction. However, this massive influence of European novels could not change the individuality of most Japanese writers in preserving their long and persistent Japanese literary tradition. One of them is Yasunari Kawabata 1899-1972, known for his The Izu Dancer 1926, Snow Country 1937, Thousands Cranes 1952, Sound of the Mountain 1957, and Old Capital 1962. Later, his Snow Country, Thousand Cranes and Old Capital have become his masterpieces and are proven captured many hearts successfully due to his brilliant achievement in winning the Nobel Prize of Literature in 1968 . 78 Later, Kawabata’s victory has evoked the eagerness of other Japanese writers to write and publish their literary works in English. As the result, Japanese literature becomes another branch of literary works that has splashed different colors on the canvas of modern World of Literature.

2. Yasunari Kawabat a’s Life and Works 1899-1972