The Japanese literature extends over one period from almost twenty centuries from writings. The first works are very strongly influenced by the Chinese Littérature but the policy of insulation of the Japan allowed the development of single literary forms. When Japan rather suddenly had to open at the XIXe century, the shock had a certain influence on the Japanese literature which developed interesting modern characteristics.

The general characteristics of the Japanese Littérature are a certain direction of the detachment, insulation, the distance, and, in much of case the hero or central figure fails in his efforts.

History

The Japanese literature is generally divided into three principal periods: the old period, the medieval period and the modern period.

The old Japanese literature (former to the 12th century) includes/understands inter alia following works: Kojiki , Nihonshoki , Notes of bedside (“Makura No soshi”), the Known as one of Genji (“Genji Monogatari”), Man' yôshû (collection of ten miles sheets), Kokin waka-shû (collection of waka of the Man' yôshû until today). The topics of these writings are the life, the love and the pastimes of noble at the court of the Emperor.

The medieval Japanese literature (XII {{E}} - 19th centuries) is marked by a strong influence of the zen Buddhism, the characters are there ascetic priests, travellers or poets. During this period, Japan suffers from many civil wars which involve the development of a class of warriors and Samurai S, surrounded by tales, stories and legends.

The modern Japanese literature (end of the 19th century until our days) corresponds to the opening of Japan and its exposure to the western world. Only one literary form tends to develop during this time: the Shi-shôsetsu (or " watakushi-shôsetsu" , novel with the first nobody). These short stories have as a main character the writer himself and take a rather denominational form in their way of transmitting the meaning experiments of the life of the author. The modern literature combines the existentialists influences of the old writings Zen and realities of the current world while placing them in a modern context where fast progress is only used to exacerbate the feeling of alienation felt by the author. In parallel, there exists also a literature which tries to capture the feelings and stories of the Anime S, Manga S and video games in writing. It is an exchange with double direction and certain writings are taken again to be put in images and transformed into manga for example. Although this type of literature is badly seen by the traditional literary authorities, they have a positive effect however, encouraging young people to read more.

Literary forms

The various existing forms are:

• the account, the novel, or Monogatari
• the epopee or monogatari
• the anecdote, or Setsuwa
• the newspaper of bedside, memories, or nikki
• the poetry of court, or Waka and Tanka
• songs, or ATU
• accounts of voyage
• the Haïku
• the Watakushi shōsetsu , Shishōsetsu or Zuihitsu (account “with the wire of the brush”)
• it modern novel, or Shōsetsu

Some important works

There also exists of many tales and legends like:

• The Great Mirror
• Urashima Taro
• One-inch servant boy

See too

• List of Japanese writers by chronological order
• Aozora Bunko, publisher of Japanese literature

External bonds

• Shunkin.net
• Lejapon.org - Japanese Literature: a forum dedicated
• Theyrani.com Bibliographies set of themes on the literature of the mystery and the enigma. Japanese whodunnits
• Blog of an amateur of Japanese and Asian literature
• Presentation of about fifty Japanese and critical writers of books