Japanese Literature Midterm Exam

Nara Period

Answer explanation

710-794 Earliest historical period where we have written history; Nat'l Identity - Creation myth; Heavily influenced by China & Korea; Fall of the Soga Clan - est. of the legitimacy of the Emperor; Buddhism - foreign religion; "Uta" - song, poetry

Kojiki

Answer explanation

Record of Ancient Matters ("Ko"- old "Ji"-work "Ki"-record) written in 712 (Nara Period); Oldest extant Japanese book; Official documents; Imperially comissioned; Names/Dates/Facts/Mythology; Signed by officials; written in Chinese with elements of Japanese; Has a Preface - prose, and poetry (what the deities said); Less focused on facts, more on mythology (Opens with the Japanese Creation Story); Lineage, History, Legitimacy of Emperors 1-33; compiled by O-no-Yasumaro.

Nihon Shoki/Nihongi

Answer explanation

Chronicles of Japan - written in 720 (Nara Period); Imperially comissioned by Emperor Gensho; Compiled by Prince Toneri; Names/Dates/Facts/Mythology; Signed by officials; Written in Chinese; No Preface; More focused on Facts; Lineage, History, Legitimacy; 3 books - creation/Emperor stories - to compete w/China

Kami

Answer explanation

Shinto gods

Amaterasu

Answer explanation

Shinto Sun goddess; Legend where Izanagi and Izanami gave birth to Japan and Amaterasu, a Sun goddess. Her descendant came to earth and founded the Japanese nation. Emperor is still believed to be a descendant of Amaterasu; creation story in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki; Ise Shrine is for the worship of Amaterasu.

Ise Shrine

Answer explanation

Shinto shrine for the worship of Amaterasu - the Sun goddess; Emporer still takes an annual pilgrimage there

"Uta"

Answer explanation

poetry; also means song

Three Imperial Regalia

Answer explanation

Refers to the mirror, the sword, and the curved jewel, all of which have mythological origin; Amaterasu gave them to her first grandson and he gave them to the first emperor to rule; they are enshrined at the Ise Shrine.

Mt. Fuji

Answer explanation

one of the sacred places of the Shinto gods located in Japan

Japanese Creation Story

Answer explanation

Izanagi - ("He who invites") - First Male; Izanami - ("She who invites") - First Female; woman spoke first; tried it again and the male spoke first and the islands of Japan were created; Patriarchical society in Japan; Izanami died and went to the Underworld