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Modern Japan and Natsume Sōseki

Modern Japan and Natsume Sōseki. Modernity, Buddhism and Literature. Modernity, Buddhism and Literature. What constitutes “modernity” and “Modern Japan”? How are we to define “modernity”? Adoption of modern political and economic systems: capitalism, democracy

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Modern Japan and Natsume Sōseki

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  1. Modern Japan and NatsumeSōseki Modernity, Buddhism and Literature

  2. Modernity, Buddhism and Literature • What constitutes “modernity” and “Modern Japan”? • How are we to define “modernity”? • Adoption of modern political and economic systems: capitalism, democracy • Rationalization (“Disenchantment of the world” Weber), Secularism, Individualism • A “modern” attitude: “radicalized consciousness which frees itself from all specific historical ties” (Habermas) “abstract temporality of qualitative newness” (Koselleck) • Buddhism and Modern Japan: • What role did Buddhism play in the rise of Modern Japan? • What role did Buddhism play in secularism? Lafleur: Buddhist critique of symbols • Modernity and Buddhism in the Literary arts of Japan: • How did Literature both express and become the means to effect these changes? What role does Buddhism play “in” modern literature?

  3. The Coming of the West

  4. Meiji 明治: The Age of Enlightened Rule • Sonnōjōi“Revere the Emperor, Expel the Barbarians” (尊皇攘夷) • Meiji Restoration of 1868: restoration of the Imperial power, Emperor Meiji (r. 1868-1912) • All domains under Imperial control, modern nation-state • Abolish class system, samurai • Promulgation of the Meiji Constitution in 1889: constitutional monarchy, parliament

  5. Cultural Struggles during Meiji • 1868-mid 1880’s Imitating the West • Missions to the West: Iwakura Mission in 1871-3 • Bunmeikaika“Civilization and Enlightenment” 文明開化 • Introduction of Western technology, politics and economics • Introduction of Western customs: dress, meat-eating • 1880’s Reaffirming and Redefining Japan • Leadership concerned over liberalism, individualism • Conflict between public good and strong self-interests • Imperial Rescript of Education in 1890 • Invention of Japan and “Japaneseness”

  6. From Heretics to Martyrs • Critiques of Buddhism during the Tokugawa period • Nativist scholars criticized Buddhism as a “foreign religion” • Separation of Buddhism and Shinto in 1868: both redefined by their seperation • Persecution of Buddhism: Haibutsukishaku“Abolish Buddhism, Destroy Sakyamuni” 廃仏毀釈 • Disestablishment of Buddhism in 1871-2 • Refiguring of the Buddhist tradition: A tool to resist Western hegemony, Christianity; essence of pan-Asian spirituality

  7. Translation and Transformation • Translating the West: • Early translations of Political treatises • Samuel Smiles Self-help 1871; John Stuart Mill’s On Liberty 1872 • Translations and Adaptations of Western Literature • Edward Bulwer-Lytton EnnestMaltravers 1878 • New Words and Disciplines: • Neologisms: kojin “individual” 個人; shakai “society”　社会;kenri“human rights” 権利;jiyū“freedom”自由; kokumin “nation” 国民 • New disciplines: bungaku “literature” 文学; kagaku “science” 科学; tetsugaku “philosophy” 哲学 • New usages: shūkyō “religion” 宗教; shōsetsu “novel” 小説

  8. Transformations: Language and Literature • TsubouchiShōyō’sShōsetsuShinzui(“The Essence of the Novel” 1885): praises the “novel” 小説as a literary form • Criticizes didacticism, weak characterization and loosely constructed plots • Advocates analyses of personality, realistic portrayal of society • Praised Japan’s tradition of the novel: Tale of Genji, Saikaku • Genbunitchi言文一致 movement: unification of the written and spoken word, use of colloquial language • Japan’s 1st modern novel: FutabateiShimeiUkigumo “Floating Clouds” 1887 • Characteristics the Japanese novel: • Plot: Loose, episodic—serialization in literary journals • Characterization: Less defined characters—obscure outlining of the “self” • Narrative perspective: predominance of the speaker’s point of view • The rise “I-novel” 私小説shishōsetsuas a dominant form writing/reading

  9. NatsumeSōseki (1867-1916) • Born in 1867, large family, failed adoption • Entered Tokyo Imperial University in 1884: studies architecture, shifts to English literature • Met Masaoka Shiki in 1887, tutored in Haiku • Entered graduate school: English Literature Department in 1890 • Became an English teacher in the provinces: Matsuyama, Kumamoto • Sent to England to study English literature in 1901-03

  10. Sōseki: Literary Career • Early publications of haiku in the literary journal Hototogisu • “I am a Cat” WagahaiwaNeko de aru(1905) • Satirical account of Meiji society from the perspective of a Cat • Kushami Sensei: individualism • “Little Master” Botchan 1906 • Comedic first person account of a young teacher in a provincial high school • Botchan: optimism, innocence • “Grass Pillow”Kusamakura1906 • A plotless, eventless haiku shōsetsu

  11. Later Novels • Abandons his University post in 1907 for a position at Asahi Shinbun, becomes professional writer • Trilogy: Sanshiro (1908), And Then (Sore kara, 1909), The Gate (Mon, 1910). • Relation and conflict between Western and Japanese culture • Characters caught in between tradition and modernity • The Gate: Sōsuke visits Zen monastery: gate is closed, fails to solve koan • Until the Equinox (1912), The Wanderer (1913), Kokoro (1914) • More experimental: alternating narrative perspective, lack of narrative omniscience • Central themes: modern man’s isolation and alienation, egoism • The Wanderer: KeineBruckefuhrt von MenschzuMensch” (There is no bridge leading from one man to another”) • Grass on the Wayside (Michikusa, 1915): I-novel • Light and Darkness (Meian, 1916): alternating narrative voices

  12. Sōseki and Individualism • Watakushi no Kojinshugi“My Individualism” 1914 • Part One: describes his discovery in England: • “my only hope for salvation lay in fashioning for myself a conception of what literature is, working from the ground up and relying on nothing but my own efforts.” • Critical of imitation, authority of the West • Part Two: Ethical Individualism • Critical of “unrestrained self-assertion” and “cliquism” • Development of individuality entails respect of the individuality of others—liberty/duty • Loneliness of individualism: misses the comfort of allies • “We who are born into this age of freedom and independence and the self must undergo loneliness. It’s the price we have to pay for these times of ours.” (30)

  13. Questions for Kokoro • What do make of the title Kokoro? • “heart/mind” こころ“heart of things” 心 • What do you make of the relationships of the novel? • Relationships: I-Sensei, Sensei-K, father-I, Sensei-Shizu • What makes Kokoro a “Japanese” novel? A “modern” novel? • Do you find any parallels with earlier literature? • What do you make of the suicides of the novel? • General Nogi, K, Sensei • What role does Buddhism play “in” the Novel? • Ideas of karma, rebirth, attachment, non-self

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