Paper short abstract:

This paper re-examines an early Jesuit text in Japan, a saint story named "Tattoqi Confessores S. Barlan to, S. Iosaphat no Gosagueo", and contributes to our understanding of how the story was Japanized, by considering a Chinese version of the same story alongside the two extant Japanese versions.

Paper long abstract:

This paper re-examines an early Jesuit text in Japan, "Tattoqi Confessores S. Barlan to, S. Iosaphat no Gosagueo" (The Life of the Blessed Confessors Saint Barlaam and Saint Josaphat, below referred as B&J) and contributes to our understanding of how the story was Japanized.

B&J is one of the saint stories included in Sanctos no Gosagveono Vchinvqigaqi (Compedium of the Acts of Saints), which was published in the Roman alphabet by Jesuit missionaries in 1591 as one of the so-called Kirishitan-ban (Christian Editions). As one of the earliest examples of Christian literature, and one that originated from the life of Buddha, B&J has received much scholarly attention from a variety of approaches. One example is Keiko Ikegami's Barlaam and Josaphat: a trancription of MS Egerton 876 with notes, glossary, and comparative study of the Middle English and Japanese versions, which compared it to middle English, Greek, and Latin versions. However, this work was unable to identify the original text of the Japanese version, and has not definitively elucidated the adaptations made for Japanese culture.

By considering a Chinese version of the same story alongside the two extant Japanese versions—a print version in the Sanctos and a manuscript by Jesuit missionary Manuel Barreto (1564-1620)—this paper re-examines the structure and content of B&J and suggests new possibilities regarding the original of the Japanese version.

The Chinese version of 1602 was published only 21 years after the Japanese version; also published by Jesuit missionaries, it has not been examined, though it is a better comparison to the Japanese version than any of the versions used in previous studies. After clarifying some questions related to the original text, this paper will then analyze the particular features of the Japanese version. B&J was believed to be somewhat naturalized to the social and cultural background of Japan in the period. By comparing with the Chinese version, this paper will show that some of the so-called Japanese adaptations are actually shared with the Chinese version, and argue that non-overlapping changes were adaptations made to suit Japan.

Paper short abstract:

The presentation aims at explaining the significance of the 14th century setsuwa collection Shintōshū for the literary history of medieval Japan by focusing on its narrative techniques and comparing them to those of later versions of its tales transmitted in historical as well as literary contexts.

Paper long abstract:

Usually classified as a setsuwa collection, the 'Shintōshū' 神道集 compiled by monks of the Agui tradition 安居院流 in the middle of the 14th century is believed to be a precursor of the late medieval and early modern honji-mono, which are transmitted in otogizōshi and kojōruri texts. My presentation attempts to explain its significance for the literary history of Japan by focusing on its narrative structure.

A narratological analysis of the tale of Hachirō-no-daimyōjin 八郎大明神 allows to divide the story into three parts. The middle part contains much more psycho-narration, speech and thought representation as well as focalized passages ‒ aspects pertaining to Gérard Genette's 'modes' of narration ‒, but also greatly differs concerning its temporal and spatial dimensions. While time is represented on a more microscopic level, the order of places follows the conventions set in previous tales. It is thus possible to distinguish between a setsuwa style of narration, which recounts events in a historical or anecdotal fashion, and a monogatari style of narration, which is much more fictional and allows for a higher degree of experientiality.

It will be argued that this fictional monogatari style accounts for the popularity of the 'Shintōshū' in later centuries. To prove this point, the development of two tales will be traced regarding later manifestations of its stories in Edo period engi and historical records on the one hand, and in a kojōruri text on the other. The presentation aims at showing how the increase of fictionality in late medieval Japanese literature can be traced back to the 14th century 'Shintōshū'. Furthermore, this diachronic approach will be complemented by a comparison of the narrative devices employed by the 'Shintōshū' with those that can be found in other setsuwa collections such as the 'Konjaku monogatari shū'.

Paper short abstract:

The aim of the paper is to discuss descriptions of journeys from Kyoto to Kamakura along the Seacoast Road in the medieval Japanese travel diaries (kikō) from the geopoetic perspective, and to show how the accounts can be (re)interpreted in the light of the new research orientation.

Paper long abstract:

"During the Heian period, few among the upper levels of Kyoto society aspired to travel into the provinces, and such travel was usually undertaken only when unavoidable. But with the coming of the medieval age there was a reaction against the overly urban-centered culture of Heian times, and poets and other man […], not content with just imaging what the famous sites looked like, set off on journeys to see them with their own eyes" (P. Varley, Japanese Culture, p. 87). The inhabitants of Kyoto, intrigued by reports about the splendid shogun's capital, usually were in hurry to reach Kamakura, but rarely failed to mention, for instance, the Eight Bridges or Mount Fuji. The travelers inspired by magnificence of the places composed poetry and prose in emulation of their predecessors (cf. D. Keene, Travelers of a Hundred Ages, p. 114). The most noticeable results of such journeys were numerous travel diaries that provide unusually interesting, but also important material for analysis.

The aim of the paper is to discuss descriptions of journeys to Kamakura along the Seacoast Road in the medieval Japanese travel accounts (kikō) from the geopoetic perspective. The author will also attempt to show, how the accounts (especially Kaidōki and Tōkan kikō) can be (re)interpreted in the light of the new research orientation. Since the subject and the methods applied in geopoetics used as an approach enable to explain interactions between literary work and geography - as discussed in the work Geopoetics. Space and place in contemporary theories and literary practices (2014) by Elżbieta Rybicka - they seem to be especially useful in analysis of texts on spaces and places (and Rybicka distinguishes four fundamental aspects within the geopoetical realm: 1. poetological - involves traditional poetics issues which are examined with geographical factor, 2. geographical - deals with categories e.g. the map, the place, 3. anthropological - applies to relations between subject and geographical space, 4. performative - touches upon the problem on performativity of literature with regard to geographic space).