EARLY JAPANESE HISTORY

Instructor: Antonia Levi, Cramer Hall: 441S

Office Hours: 4:00-6:00, Tuesday, Wednesday, and by appointment

Phone: Office: 725-3991; Home: 246-4765 [call before 10:00 a.m. and you die!]

E-mail: levi@ch2.ch.pdx.edu; levi@digiconn.com

Textbooks:

Hane, Premodern Japan

Aston, Nihongi [on reserve]

Chamberlain, Kojiki [on reserve]

Sakai, Usagi Yojimbo: Grasscutter, Vols. 13+14

McCullough, Genji and Heike

Grading:

Assignments

Microthemes: Undergraduates are responsible for writing 3 microtheme papers. These papers should be approximately 4-5 pages, typed and double-spaced, with a 1" margin on all sides. All sources should be cited using an accepted footnote or endnote format. No citations in parentheses, please. Neatness, grammar and spelling are not more important than content, but they do count.

One third of a grade will be deducted for every day a paper is late.

MICROTHEME TOPICS

Prehistory Microtheme: Due: Oct. 20.

Discuss how Stan Sakai's version of the story of Izanami and Izanagi compares with the versions found in Nihongi and Kojiki. What do you think of his interpretation of this myth? Which aspect[s] of it has he emphasized? Which has he ignored? Do you think his interpretation is valid?

or

Discuss how Stan Sakai's version of the story of Susano-o and the dragon compares with the versions found in Nihongi and Kojiki. What do you think of his interpretation of this myth? Which aspect[s] of it has he emphasized? Which has he ignored? Do you think his interpretation is valid?

or

Discuss how Stan Sakai's version of the story of Yamato Dake [or Takeru] compares with the versions found in Nihongi and Kojiki. What do you think of his interpretation of this myth? Which aspect[s] of it has he emphasized? Which has he ignored? Do you think his interpretation is valid?

or

Write your own short story, one-act play, or comic based on a story in Nihongi and/or Kojiki.

Aristocratic Japan Microtheme: Due Nov. 10.

Compare and contrast at least two scenes from the animated version of Tale of Genji [available from Soho Video, Trilogy Video and from me] with the original version by Lady Murasaki. How effectively does the animated version bring this ancient story to life? Are there any significant differences, and if so, how do you account for them?

or

Discuss how Stan Sakai's version of the battle of the Heike and the Kwaidan version compare with the excerpts in McCullough. How effectively do these modern portrayals of the Heike reflect what you see in the original warrior saga? Are there any significant differences, and if so, how do you account for them?

or

Select what you see as an important value [or values, but you probably shouldn't try to deal with more than 2] reflected in Tale of Genji, then compare and contrast how it is reflected in Heike Monogatari. To what degree did aristocrats and warriors share a common culture? In what way[s] were they different?

Kamakura Japan Microtheme: Due Dec. 8.

Using at least 3 additional resources, write a research paper on how some aspect[s] of the culture of the Kamakura samurai differed from that of the Heian aristocracy. How important do you think this is and why?

or

Using at least 3 additional resources, write a research paper on how some aspect[s] of the culture of the Kamakura samurai remained the same or similar to that of the Heian aristocracy. How important do you think this is and why?

or

Using at least 3 additional resources, write a research paper on the spread of Buddhism during the Kamakura era. You may narrow this one down any way you like.

Research Papers: Graduate students are responsible for writing a research paper on a topic which spans at least two of the three major eras covered in the course: prehistory, aristocratic Japan, and the Kamakura era. Research papers are due Dec. 8.

Like the microthemes, research papers should be typed and double-spaced with a 1" margin on all sides. All sources should be cited using an accepted footnote or endnote format. No citations in parentheses, please. Neatness, grammar and spelling are not more important than content, but they do count.

One whole grade will be deducted for every day the research paper is late, and I reserve the right to refuse a paper if it is delivered so late that I cannot get my grades in on schedule.

Group Presentations: Undergraduates will participate in one group presentation focused on a particular topic. These can be conventional panel discussions or you can get creative. Which group you wind up on is random. If you wish to change groups for any reason, you may do so, but it is your responsibility to find another student who is willing to change with you and to present me with a written notification of the change.

Individual Presentations: Graduate students will make a 30-40 minute presentation of their research topics to the class and field questions. While it is understood that the work may not be completely finished at the time of the presentations [Dec. 3], the student should be able to identify the main themes and offer some support for whatever position s/he has taken.

CLASS SCHEDULE

Sept. 29: Introduction

Prehistoric Japan

Read: Hane, pp. 1-35; Aston, pp. 1-63, 200-214; Chamberlain, pp. 15-75; Sakai, Vol. 13

Oct. 1: Mythology, Archeology and History

Oct. 6: Heroes, Matriarchs and Emperors

Oct. 8: Games You can Play with Your Gods

Oct. 13: Koreans, Chinese and Other Illegal Aliens

Oct. 15: Group Presentation #1

Aristocratic Japan

Read: Hane, pp. 35-60; McCullough, all; Sakai, Vol. 14.

Oct. 20: Asuka, Nara, and the Religious War that Didn't Happen

Oct. 22: The Romance of Heian

Oct. 27: Heian Down and Dirty

Oct. 29: Meanwhile, Out in the Provinces

Nov. 3: The Romance of the Heike

Nov. 5: Group Presentation #2

Kamakura Japan

Read: Hane, pp. 61-85

Nov. 10: The First Shogun and his Wife

Nov. 12: The Legend of Yoshitsune

Nov. 17: Bushido and the Art of Suing

Nov. 19: Spreading the Word: Buddhist Monks, Nuns and Peasants

Nov. 24: The Mongols and the first Kamikaze

Dec. 1: Group Presentation #3

Dec. 3: Individual Presentations

Dec. 8: Preview of Coming Attractions