#( verse - main; fushi )

[talesofours]

¦ ₪ ¦  FUSHI HAD BEEN wandering for a while now, travelling as a wolf, it being the easiest to move from town to town. they knew that a wolf would more than likely frighten others, but he was still willing to take the risk. as a wolf, he didn’t get as tired when travelling long distances on foot. 

eventually, he did make it to a small town, venturing in it when he didn’t see many people out and about. perhaps it was getting late and everyone was growing tired. they did spot one person still out and about, however. someone with hair that looked snowy white.

just like the boy they had met so long ago.

they were quiet as they approached the other, seemingly resting on a park bench. their cold nose brushed the person’s hand, giving a small sniff. it wasn’t the scent that they remembered, but it was a different smell than any other human they could remember...

@musetory also gets a starter for Fushi and Asel

[trulyafrasian]

LITERARY TIMELINE

Shining a Spotlight on Japanese Literature

Nara Period (710 CE – 794 CE)

Oral traditions were recorded in written form.

712 CE: Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters)

713 CE: Fudoki (Records of Wind and Earth)

720 CE: Nihon shoki (Chronicle of Japan)

759 CE: Man'yoshu (Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves), anthology of 4,500 poems

Tanka: Verse form comprising 31 syllables (5-7-5-7-7)

Heian Period (794 CE – 1185 CE)

Court ladies played the central role in developing literature.

905 CE: Kokin wakashu or Kokinshu (Collection of Poems from Ancient and Modern Times), first poetry anthology commissioned by an emperor

996 CE: Sei Shonagon wrote Makura no soshi (The Pillow Book)

Early 11th century CE: Murasaki Shikibu wrote Genji monogatari (Tale of Genji)

1120 CE: Konjaku monogatari (Tales of a Time That Is Now Past)

Kamakura-Muromachi Period (1185 CE – 1573 CE):

First half of the 13th century CE: Heike mono-gatari (The Tale of the Heike

1205 CE: Shin kokin wakashu (New Collection of Poems from Ancient and Modern Times), commissioned by retired Emperor Go-Toba

1212 CE: Kamo no Chomei wrote Hojoki (An Account of My Hut)

1330 CE: Yoshida Kenko wrote Tsurezuregusa (Essays in Idleness)

13th century CE: Eihei Dogen, Japanese Buddhist monk, wrote Shobogenzo (Treasury of the True Dharma Eye)

Late 14th century CE: Taiheiki (Chronicle of the Great Peace)

Noh plays perfected by Kan'ami and his son Zeami

1400 CE: Zeami wrote Fushi kaden (The Transmission of the Flower of Acting Style)

Edo Period (1603 CE – 1868 CE)

Literature as a means of social intercourse.

Renga: Successive linked verses by several people forming a long poem

16th century CE: Haikai, a sort of jocular renga

17th century CE: Haiku, condensed poetic form of 17 syllables (5-7-5); perfected by renowned poet, Matsuo Basho

Genroku Era (1688 CE – 1704 CE)

City-dwelling artisans and merchants became the main supporters of literature, and professional artists began to appear.

Ihara Saikaku: Portrayed the life of Osaka merchants

Chikamatsu Monzaemon: Wrote joruri, a form of storytelling involving chanted lines, and kabuki plays.

Yosa Buson: Composed superb haiku depicting nature

o 1776 CE 

Ueda Akinari: produced a collection of gothic stories called

Ugetsu monogatari (Tales of Moonlight and Rain)

Meiji Period (1868 – 1912) to Present

Unification of written and spoken language.

1887: Futabatei Shimei 's Ukigumo (Drifting Clouds), praised as new form of novel

Influence of translated foreign poems led to a "new style" poetry movement

Rapid modernization, a major theme of modern Japanese literature

Naturalism as advocated by Emile Zola dominated Japan's literary world

Shimazaki Toson: Represented naturalism; is noted for the "I novel," a style of novel typical of Japan

Proletarian literature and neo-sensualism

1968: Kawabata Yasunari, first Japanese to win the Nobel Prize for literature

1994: Oe Kenzaburo won the Nobel Prize for literature