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B. Theoretical Concepts
As mentioned earlier that in applying hermeneutics, the readers need to be equipped with relevant background information.
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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.
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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
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Marra, Essays on Japan: Between Aesthetics and Literature 277.
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Lawn and Niall Keane 51.
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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.
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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.
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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
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Keene, Modern Japanese Novels and the West 10.
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ibid., p. 14.
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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.
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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
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ibid., p. 21.
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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 .
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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