Oriental Languages and Cultures

DARIO MINGUZZI

General objectives: The course aims to deepen the knowledge of the morphology and written praxes of the Japanese language, particularly in the premodern period, with the
specific goal of enabling the learner to read, interpret, and translate archival sources and documents written according to the stylistic convention of sinitic literacy and clerical
writings. The course also involves a reasoned study of the major evolutions of the Japanese notation and writing conventions through the centuries, with advanced notions of
paleography and diplomatics useful for conducting an analytical examination of original specimens of significant literary, documentary, and archival value.
Specific objectives: By the end of the course, the learner will be able to read and interpret premodern texts of different categories and genres; will have a thorough knowledge of the
history of Japanese archival science and will be able to identify, transcribe, classify, and interpret documents written in cursive or semi-cursive script, types of manuscripts, and
historical printed editions.

By the end of the course, students will have gained greater familiarity with a wide range of textual genres and linguistic and writing practices of premodern Japan. They will also have acquired the skills necessary to read and critically analyse prose and poetry texts independently and to undertake an initial philological, historical, and literary study of those texts.

A basic knowledge of Classical Japanese grammar is required for this course.

The course is designed to provide students with the skills necessary to engage independently with the complex linguistic and writing ecology of premodern Japan through seminar-style guided readings of textual sources from the early Edo period, with a particular focus on the late seventeenth century.

More specifically, the course will examine the following texts and linguistic/writing traditions:

- Historiographical chronicles, prose, and poetry in Literary Sinitic: Kokushikan nichiroku 國史館日錄 (Daily Record of the Office for the Compilation of the History of the Realm) by Hayashi Gahō 林鵞峰 (1618–1680); Shinkeiki 深閏記 (Chronicle of the Inner Chambers) by Inoue Tsūjo 井上通女 (1660–1738).
- Non-bureaucratic texts in sōrōbun (epistolary style) and logographic Japanese: Mitsugo yori no oboe 三子より之覚 (Memoirs of My Life Since the Age of Three) by Enomoto Yazaemon 榎本弥左衛門 (1625–1686); Yamato no kuni musokunin nikki 大和国無足人日記 (Diary of a musokunin from Yamato Province) by Yamamoto Heizaemon 山本平左衛門 (1641–1720).
- Travel diary written in classical Japanese prose and poetry: Edo nikki 江戸日記 (Diary of a Journey to Edo) by Inoue Tsūjo 井上通女 (1660–1738).
- Narrative prose/record in classical Japanese: Musashi Abumi むさしあぶみ by Asai Ryōi 浅井了意 (1612–1691).

In addition, the course introduces students to the critical reading of historical and literary sources through the discussion of a selection of secondary scholarship on the period and on the texts studied during the course.

Texts and handouts provided in class by the instructor on Classroom.

The course will be held in person and will consist of lectures and seminar-style sessions.

Attendance is not mandatory but highly encouraged.

The final assessment consists of a written assignment completed independently by students and to be submitted by a deadline set prior to the examination date, followed by an oral discussion on the day of the examination.

- Identify the elements of the text that warrant further philological, historical, or literary investigation, briefly explaining why they are significant and what kinds of sources or methodological approaches would be required to explore them further.
- Critically discuss the text in light of the secondary scholarship examined during the course.

• 1st week: course introduction


• 2nd-4th week: texts Literary Sinitic
  • Books: Kokushikan nichiroku by Hayashi Gahō; Shinkeiki by Inoue Tsūjo


• 5th-7th week: texts in sōrōbun/hentai kanbun 
  • Books: Mitsugo yori no oboe by Enomoto Yazaemon; Yamato no kuni musokunin nikki by Yamamoto Heizaemon


• 8th-9th week: poetry and prose in Classical Japanese
  • Books: Edo nikki by Inoue Tsūjo


• 10-11th week: Musashi abumi
  • Books: Musashi abumi by Asai Ryōi