Japanese Literary Traditions

The Tale of Genji

GUIDED READING EXPERIENCE

Described as “the supreme masterpiece of Japanese prose literature,” The Tale of Genji was written in the early 11th century by the court lady Murasaki Shikibu, and is also generally considered to be the world’s first novel. 

The story recounts the life of Hikaru Genji (the son of an emperor and a low-ranking yet beloved consort), his amorous relationships, political gains, and personal losses. 

This 54-chapter monogatari offers a vivid picture of Heian court life in the 10th and 11th centuries and has been studied by scholars both in Japan and across the world. But this multi-layered juggernaut of Japanese literary culture isn't as accessible as modern-day prose. 

In this guided reading experience I'll walk you through everything you need to know to fully immerse yourself in Heian court culture, taking you back to the height of Japanese aesthetic culture when courtly love was "blind."

Japanese Mythology

Heroes, Demons & Demigods

The Kojiki, or Record of Ancient Matters, can be considered the basis of Japanese mythology. Full of songs and stories that tell of demons, gods, and monsters (or merely men), this compendium of tales is highly referenced in modern pop culture, but little-known outside its country of origin. 

In this course, I'll take you through the story of Japan's creation, consider the "hero's" journey of some of Japan's most ruthless and revered gods and demigods, and unravel the mysteries of a so-called "homogenous" mythology.