Japanese Poetry

3 units

This course is a comprehensive survey of Japanese poetry from the 8th century to the present day. Topics include the development of the great tradition of court poetry in the Heian period (ca. 800-1200) and its full flowering during the medieval period (ca. 1200-1600), the influence of the Zen aesthetic, the emergence of linked verse and haiku, and the transformation of the classical tradition with the advent of the modern era. All works will be read in English translation, although knowledge of Japanese will be useful. Graduate students will be expected to read original materials extensively. Undergraduates enroll in the 400-level section; 500-level section is for graduate students only.