Japan, the land of experience and practice

By Prof. A.J. Ruhunuhewa

The history of Japanese literature and education spans almost two millennia. Shotokutaishi, a leading politician and scholar, introduced Japanese archipelago as “The Land of the Rising Sun” (Nihon), for the first time in the history. Linguists believe that “Japan” in English or “Japon” in French derived from the Chinese word “Cipangu”, recorded by Marco Polo.

The oldest literary works are known as Tennouki (“Imperial Task”) and Teiki (“Genealogy of Emperors”). The Japanese history of literature first began as oral traditions, and later recorded them in written form in the early eighth century.

Accordingly, Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters) and Nihon shoki (Chronicles of Japan) were written, respectively, in 712 and 720, and completed as government projects.

The former recorded ancient stories, while the second witnessed history. The greatest literary creation of this epoch was the Man’yoshu (Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves), a compilation of 4500 poems.

Nara and Heian periods possessed the brilliant specialists in Chinese classics, calligraphy, engineering and architecture, and also professionals in administration and international affairs. According to Nihonshoki, the Japanese Mahavamsa, Prince Shotoku submitted the Seventeen-article constitution ( Jushichijo kenpo), a rich document by which the state was to be governed. His commentary composed on Vimalkirti-Sutra, a teaching of the Bodhisattva concept and non-duality, attests his profound knowledge in relevant theory and terminology.

Permission

Saicho and Kukai, the two brilliant students request the Emporer Kammu for permission to travel abroad and were sent to China with the diplomatic team headed by Fujiwara Kadonomaro. After a successful completion of studies the both students returned home and Saicho, later known as Dengyodaishi, launched the Institution of Tendai tradition of Mahayana, at Mount Hiei.

He received the generous attention and support of the court and Mount Hiei soon turned into the main Tendai Buddhist centre. His doctrine based on the Lotus-sutra(Saddharma Pundarika)was the foundation of later schools such as Nichiren and Sokagakkai.

Kukai, posthumously known as Kobodaishi, built the School of Arts and Crafts and the Institute of Mount Koya, was also the founder of Shingon tradition. He is considered as one of greatest calligraphers (Sanpitsu). According to his study report and the covering letter titled as “Memorial Presenting a List of Newly Imported Sutras and Other Items” (Shoraimokuroku) Kukai introduced many Indian and Chinese classical resources to his country. The most important work of Kukai, the “Ten Stages of Mind”(Jujushin-ron) is another style of analysis worth to be compared with “Ways of Thinking of Eastern Peoples” written by Hajime Nakamura, in 1964.

Achievement

The contribution of lady writers was also a remarkable achievement in ancient Japan and Ono no Komachi (9th century) was one of the best poets of Heian period. She was also known as a rare beauty and became the symbol of beauté féminine in Japan. Her literary contribution was highly recognized among the contemporary compilers of poems and Komochi was the only poet referred to in the introduction of Kokin Wakashu. Among other court poets, such as Lady Ise, Ariwara no Narihara, Ki no Tomonori and Ki no Tsurayuki are well known. The latter was a compiler of poetry and the author of Tosa Diary. Lady Murasaki Shikibu (973-1014) was a novelist, a poet and was also served the Imperial court.

She was also skilled in drafting administrative documents and the author of the long fiction “The Tale of Genji” (Genji Monogatari) and “The Diary of Lady Murasaki”. The mid of 12th century was dominated by a military government and the literature emerged was a story of battles such as Heike Monogatari , about the rise and fall of regional administration. Hojoki (“The Ten Foot Square Hut”) written by Kamo no Chomei describes the earthquakes, famine and fire at Kyoto making an impression on impermanence (mujo). The Shakespeare of Japan, Chikamatsu Monzaemon, who contributed immensely to the Joruri, a form of puppet theater, developed Bunraku, and Kabuki theater. His reputation hit the highest point with his domestic plays of love-suicides, “The Love Suicide at Sonezaki” and “The Love Suicides at Amijima”. More than 130 plays were authenticated as authored by him.

Western model

After the Restoration of Emperor Meiji in 1868, the methods and structures of Western model was studied and professionals with high-ranking government officials were sent abroad. Natsume Soseki and Mori Ogai went to England and Germany and Iwakura Mission, a well-known diplomatic task and the vital event for the modernization of Japan to West. In addition to the professional staff there were sixty students accompanied and including five women.

Japan produced 19 Nobel laureates: eight in Chemistry, seven in Physics, two in literature, one in Medicine and one in Peace. Among them Kenzaburo Oe and Yasunari Kawabata are famous for their narrative mastery. There are also 6 Japanese literary awards: Akutagawa Prize, Edogawa Award, Light Novel Award, Mystery Writers of Japan Award, Noma Prize and Mishima Award and accordingly more than128 persons were already esteemed.

Murakami Haruki is one of world’s greatest living novelists in postmodern literature. His novels “Kaze no uta o kike” (“Hear the Wind Sing”) and “Noruwei no mori” (“Norwegian Wood”) achieved the highest national and international recognition.

Nowadays three universities and fifty three schools are offering Japanese language and literature courses, in Sri Lanka. A number of associations is active in cultural and academic exchange with Japan, i.e. Japanese Language Education Association (JLEASL), Japanese Language Teachers Association (JALTAS), JICA Alumni Association (JICA-AA), Japan Sri Lanka Technical Cultural Association (JASTECA), Japanese Graduate Alumni Association (JAGAAS) and Lanka Japan Friendship Society (LJFS).

The Japanese are hard-workers but a few knows that the origin of the Japanese mind and culture goes back to many centuries of experiences and practices in sharing values, but not a sudden emergence after the Second World War. The year 2012 is an important landmark regarding the cultural and economic relation of Sri Lanka and Japan and accordingly celebrates 60th Anniversary of bilateral relations.

The writer holds a PhD in Asia Pacific Studies. He is the Director, Alliance Française/ Matara and Former Senior Lecturer, University of Paris.