ipl-logo

Heike Monogatari Comparison

1707 Words7 Pages

Genji Monogatari and Heike monogatari are literal masterpieces during Japan’s eleventh and twelve century. I argue that Genji Monogatari is very different from Heike Monogatari because of their different historic periods and themes, I see very few similarities between the two tales. Genji Monogatari written by Murasaki Shikibu, she displays a romantic poetic narrative of Aristocratic life in Japan’s Heian period. This is the period when culture, art, love, and politics are of courtly sophisticated and most civilians approach activities in pursuit of aesthetic refinement. Thus leading to new developments in art, literature, and poetry. This period is also the rise of imperial court and famous poets, and romantic affairs compared to Heike Monogatari. …show more content…

The Original Heike monogatari was compiled in 1240 by an unknown author (Michael Watson 2014). Many rumors say that Heike monogatari was compiled by a bind monk named Kakuichi. Soon later Heike Monogatari was retold by Eiji Yoshikawa and soon translated by several historians and scholars. This tale is displayed in “Gunki monogatari” a Military sense of writing. The Tale illustrates Japan’s military values, loyalty, and bravery. The tale written to also glorifies military leaders, and Japan’s medieval period. This period produced medieval Japanese literature that allowed people to read on politics, war, love and hate. The main themes of the story are Mujo, a buddhist law of impermanence. The Taira clan shows examples of Mujo with their rise and fall of their clan at war. The Taira clan was a powerful samurai clan who fought and defeated Minamoto clan around 1161. The Taira clan started the first military government in Japan. An exmaple of Mujo is in the opening passage of Heike monogatari, “The sound of the Gion Shōja bells echoes the impermanence of all things; the color of the sāla flowers reveals the truth that the prosperous must decline. The proud do not endure, they are like a dream on a spring night; the mighty fall at last, they are as dust before the wind.” (The Tale of the Heike). Another theme in Heike monogatari is Bushido (way of the warrior), it was the code of conduct of the samurai warrior. Bushido were to make samurais focus and loyal, it was influence by buddhism and confucian (Pletcher 2016) Samurai warriors also started to become important political figures, they become war dictators and political and government leaders that lead Japan through deadly

Show More
Related
1325 Words | 6 Pages

- The sengoku jidai was a time of growing culture and strong economics - The shoguns used their wealth to patronise the arts, build large palaces and temples, and sponsoring large presentations - Poetry and painting flourished because it was influenced by Zen Buddhism - As did landscaping and the tea

Read More
283 Words | 2 Pages

‘’The life of samurai was not his own but belonged entirely to his

Read More
947 Words | 4 Pages

Groups of Samurai came together to finally overthrow the shogun, and restore Meiji to power. As stated in Document 2, the Charter Oagth states that all classes, no matter their rankings would unite, “carrying out the administration of affairs of state.” This was a massive change to the past 250 years when class systems were extremely separated with no way to move up or down the social

Read More
961 Words | 4 Pages

Toyotomi Hideyoshi impacted Japanese government in many ways. He acknowledged that an unstable peace and constant uncertainly had led to the practice of samurai farming and peasants to take up arms. To combat this, he issued decrees that defined the social status and duties of all Japanese. He banned everyone from having weapons besides samurai. Samurai were ordered back to towns.

Read More
791 Words | 4 Pages

As the narrative shifts to memories of a young child, the accounts of the Japanese culture are more vividly detailed. The narrator can recollect the very specific details of her life; for example, she can remember how she was wearing “a wine-colored dirndl skirt with straps that criss cross at the back” during this one specific account. Throughout this journey, the narrator is surrounded by complete strangers; however, their fates are all the same, as “not [one] on this journey returns home again.” Despite such a depressing time period in the lives of many of the Japanese, the Japanese mannerism of respect still remains, as the narrator refers to strangers as “ojisan” or “obasan”. This honorary title for even strangers shows the respect that the Japanese have for one another and even the pride they still withhold for their culture, even in a time of

Read More
532 Words | 3 Pages

All of this leads to an impact on military, feudalistic society and Japan’s history. To commence, Samurai’s are important in Japanese history because they helped start feudalism and the Shogun’s rule. It all started when the central government had no authority over the large landowners. The Daimyo refused to pay their taxes, so when the Jurisdiction came to collect, the daimyo had this huge army of Samurais.

Read More
1403 Words | 6 Pages

Japan’s rich history of power, wealth, and influence had many remarkable eras. One of the more notable periods in Japanese history was that of the Tokugawa Period (1600-1868). The Tokugawa Period was talked about in Musui’s Story, an autobiographical book, written by Kokichi Katsu. (Katsu ix) Katsu wrote Musui’s Story for three main reasons: to share how he had transformed from a low-ranking samurai to a well-known hero, to show his sense of self, and to serve as a cautionary tale for his descendants.

Read More
912 Words | 4 Pages

These concurrent relationships show the duality that existed in Japanese society at the time with separate roles for both men and women. These separate spheres were explicit in a traditional view in the old man and O-Hisa’s

Read More
562 Words | 3 Pages

In 794 Emperor Kammu moved Japan’s capital to Kyoto starting the Heian period. During this time, the Fujiwara family had control over the country because the emperor was either dealing with affairs or indulging in his personal life. But, because the Japanese believed the emperor was a descendant from Amaterasu, the sun goddess the Fujiwara could not challenge to overthrow the power. Murasaki Shikibu the novelist was a lady in waiting for the Imperial court because her mother and father were from the Fujiwara family who married into the emperor’s family.

Read More
932 Words | 4 Pages

The Kamakura period, which saw the emergence of samurai as a specific class, began the practices and code of samurai. Seppuku, a form of ritual suicide and one of the more widely known samurai practices, also developed during this time (Pletcher). The Kamakura period brought the concept of feudalism to Japan and established the rank of shogun: the military leader of Japan. The shift to a military government was reasoning behind the samurai class and evident through the loyal and honorable, yet stoic and disciplined, culture of this time (“Kamakura Period”). The bushido code faced much outside influence, but core emphasis was placed on living frugally, upholding honor, and honing athletic and mental strength in order to remain fearless during battle.

Read More
445 Words | 2 Pages

Sensei’s eventual suicide in the “spirit of the Meiji era” shows the impossible task of reconciling traditional and modern ways. With the Meiji era’s death, the hope of existing and holding to traditional values shattered. Overall, Sensei was a physical representation of the spiritual conflict of the Meiji era. When the Meiji era died, so did

Read More
1835 Words | 8 Pages

Both Fujii and Mori reflect on history, specifically in Japan. Martin’s idea development seems to be less factual and more subjective. If Martin really saw and heard things that other people did not, then that would take away some of the common connection of humans. In Fujii’s and Mori’s work, people of all histories and cultures can find value and connection in the artwork. While Fujii bases his work off of war, disaster, and social events, Mori bases her work off of religion, technology and societal values.

Read More
1430 Words | 6 Pages

Yoshitsune was a general of the Minamoto clan in Japan in the Heian period to the Kamakura period. Basho wrote a poem about the

Read More
995 Words | 4 Pages

Today we can still see the values of Bushido in some parts of modern Japan. The Japanese have the tons of respect and loyalty to their country and families. They would do nothing to shame or dishonor them. In World War 2 kamikaze suicide pilots look to the samurai and Bushido as inspiration. Today the two largest religions in Japan are Buddhism and Shintoism, and both influenced Bushido dramatically.

Read More
604 Words | 3 Pages

Solving the mystery of the circumstances of the samurai 's death requires the ability to command and piece together multiple narratives. Despite one point of view being more factual than the others, all perspectives build upon each other to great a greater picture. The individual parts work together to weave a larger view of the events. Each perspective is important, and help connect the pieces of the puzzle in order to create a clearer understanding. Differing perspectives, while sometimes difficult to relate to each other, are beneficial in finding the

Read More

More about Heike Monogatari Comparison

Related Topics

Open Document