The Samurai in Classical Japanese Literature

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

The sword-wielding samurai warrior is perhaps the most familiar icon of pre-modern Japan, one that continues to influence how Japanese think of themselves and how others think of Japan even in modern times. Who were the samurai? How did they see themselves? How did other members of Japanese society see them in the past? How did the role and the image of the samurai change over time? To answer these questions, we will explore the depiction of samurai in various kinds of texts: episodes from quasi-historical chronicles, 14th century Noh plays, 18th century Kabuki and puppet plays (many Kabuki plays (a theater of live actors), were first written for the puppet theater). While some of these texts emphasize themes loyalty, honor, and military prowess, others focus on the problems faced by samurai in their domestic lives. The last part of the course will be devoted to the most famous of all samurai stories, The Revenge of the 47 Samurai. Students will read eyewitness accounts of this vendetta, which occurred in 1703, and then explore how the well-known Kabuki/puppet play, Chushingura (A Treasury of Loyal Retainers, 1748) dramatizes the conflicting opinions surrounding it. All readings will be English translation and no previous knowledge of Japan is required.