MANUSCRIPT AND XYLOGRAPHIC SPURCES OF JAPAN

This course is part of the curriculum Japan of the master course "Languages and Civilizations of Asia and Northern Africa".
This course contributes to the achievement of the teaching objectives of the master course in the area of language skills and also includes more specific objectives in the fields of cultural and human sciences.
The course aims to provide an understanding of the middle-advanced structures of the historical-literary texts of Premodern Japan, both in wabun (classical Japanese) or kanbun (sinitic or classical Chinese) and the various style of Sino-Japanese, through the analysis of primary sources (manuscript or print). A basic introduction to Japanese paleography with the study of a number of variant characters (hentaigana) will be also given. This will deepen the knowledge of Japanese literature and of the changes occurred to the Japanese language after its encounter with the Chinese language.

Knowledge and understanding:
- to know and understand the syntactics, logical, and grammatical structures of various writing systems of premodern Japan.
- to know useful tools for conducting independently bibliographical and philological research.
- to know and understand the deep relationship between Chinese (Sinitic) and Japanese language and writing.
- to memorize and recognize the principal cursive graphs (kuzushiji) of the phonetic syllabaries.

Apply knowledge and learning:
- analyze and interpret historical and literary documents using concepts and tools that students acquire during the course.
- use bibliographical references in several languages (including Japanese).
- use dictionaries, databases and other resources to do research about the proposed texts.

Make judgments:
- provide critical reviews of the textual and historical-literary phenomena covered by the programme
- subject different types of resources (academic and creative texts) to critical analysis

Communication:
- express opinions effectively.
- effectively reworking and expressing the views of third parties.

Long-term learning skills
- know how to conduct bibliographic research.
- know how to critically integrate the study of different materials (notes, slides, manuals, creation texts, academic articles).
- be able to read and synthesise materials written in different languages.

Intermediate to advanced proficiency in modern Japanese language is required. Basic knowledge of classical Japanese grammar and kanbun kundoku is desirable but not essential. N.B.: For students of LICAAM, it is recommended to take this course after completing "Classical Japanese Language" [LM007N].

How were historical and literary texts written in pre-modern Japan? How is it possible to read primary sources produced in Japan until the early twentieth century?
What elements of Chinese writing contributed to the formation of Japanese language and writing? And how were Chinese models reinterpreted and reused by the Japanese? How "original" is Japanese writing, which is strongly based on the logographic and phonographic use of sinograms (kanji)?
In this course we will study the conditions that led to the development of various styles of writing in Japan, from the ancient period to the modern, through the direct reading of historical and literary texts fundamental to the formation of Japanese culture. Through access to Japanese and international databases, we will read pages of works such as Kojiki, Genji Monogatari, Nihon Ryōiki, Chinese and Japanese poetry, gunki monogatari of medieval period and ōraimono of Edo period in their "original" editions, manuscript or printed. The aim of the course is to deepen the understanding of Japanese written culture, providing the basic knowledge and skills necessary for independent reading of texts in both Kanbun and wabun.

Choose one of the following dictionary of Sino-Japanese (kanwa jiten 漢和辞典):
角川新字源（角川）
全訳漢辞海（三省堂）
It is strongly reccomended to buy the digital version for smartphone/tablet.

Other texts and resources will be uploaded on Moodle.

Oral test to verify the ability to read and understand texts in Kanbun and Classical Japanese, usage of dictionaries, understanding of the historical punctuation systems, rudiments of paleography (kuzushiji).
During the test the knowledge of sinitic writing in Japan and of the texts explained during the course will be verified.

During the course the students will read and analyze various types of text, historical and literary, reflecting about their place within the history of Japanese premodern literature and tought.
We will learn methodologies of textual analysis and how to use secondary sources.
We will make extensive use of online resources such as online databases and dictionaries,
Discussion in class and exercises to be carried out at home will be the main teaching method.

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The course can also be attended by students who have not taken the Classical Japanese Language exam, provided they have a good knowledge of modern Japanese. In this case, please inform the instructor of your situation at the beginning of the course.

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