EALC 275: Masterpieces of East Asian Literature Lecture #15: The Tale of Heike, 2 Oct. 14, 2013• Head of the Genji: Yoritomo, “Exile of Izu,” filial, kind, devoted to Buddhism, having the mandate of people; becomes the first Shogun (Kamakura Lord) • Yoritomo is helped by Mongaku, a legendary monk who proved himself by enduring great austerities (p. 317, “he went to the base of the famous waterfall…”) The Genji Clan, 1Portrait of Yoritomo7.5 Mongaku’s Subscription List• In his zeal to restore a Buddhist temple through donations (subscription list), Mongaku breaks into a musical performance at the home of the retired emperor (pp.318-320). Burning house metaphor (p.321). Where have we seen this before? • This somewhat comic scene ends up with Mongaku sent into exile at Izu, where he meets Yoritomo. • Mongaku wears a skull; whose skull is it? (p.323) The skull persuades Yoritomo to rebel against the Heike in the name of restoring the emperor. • Mongaku gets a pardon for Yoritomo from the retired emperor. The Genji Clan, 2• Yoshinaka (Yoritomo’s cousin, one of the two leaders of the Genji) • Yoritomo and Yoshinaka turned into enemies; the latter was eventually killed by the former’s two half-brothers: Noriyori and Yoshitune. The Genji Clan, 3• Main Character: Yoshinaka, cousin of Yoritomo (Kamakura Lord), controller of the capital for a brief period of time before being killed by Yoritomo’s army; “Lord of Kiso” • Why does Yoshinaka think that he is being visited by a “cat” when a minister pays him a visit? • That minister’s name is “nekoma,” partially homophonous with neko, “cat.” • What does this chapter tell us about Yoshinaka? What’s the implication of this chapter? • That Yoshinaka is a country bumpkin, incompatible with the refinement of the capital’s noblemen; that Yoshinaka is a great worrier, but not a good courtier; that Yoshinaka is rude and inconsiderate. This chapter’s motif is consistent with the entire book, which focuses on the fall of the aristocratic and the disappearing of Heian cultural refinement. 8.6 NekomaMiyazaki: My Neighbor Totoro Cat Bus (Neko bus)9.3 The Battle at the Riverbed; 9.4 The Death of Kiso • Why does one of Yoshinaka’s retainers, Chuta Iemitsu, commit suicide? How does he kill himself? • Simply to urge Yoshinaka forward to take on the enemy; ritual suicide; “bushido” • How does the retired emperor react to Yoshitsune’s (the younger brother of Yoritomo) entry into the capital and into the retired emperor’s palace? • He welcomes Yoshitsune wholeheartedly, for he has been apparently fed up with Yoshinaka. • Who is Tomoe? • One of Yoshinaka’s female attendants; beautiful yet powerful; a great warrior, no inferior in strength or battle skills to any man• Tomoe Gozen as portrayed by Kikuchi Yōsai. • Memorial to Tomoe at Gichū-ji, Ōtsu,Shiga PrefectureTomoe • “Tomoe was the more beautiful of the two, with white skin, long hair, and charming features. She was also a remarkably strong archer, and with a sword she was a warrior equal to a thousand, ready to confront demon or god on horseback or on foot.” • “As she sat there, thirty horsemen came into view, led by Onda Moroshige, a man famous in Musashi Province for his prodigious strength. Tomoe galloped in among them. She rode up alongside Moroshige, seized him in a powerful grip, and pulled him down against the pommel of her saddle. Holding him motionless, she twisted off his head and threw it away. Then she abandoned her armor and helmet and fled toward the eastern provinces.” • Jessica Amanda Solmanson, “The Tomoe Gozen Saga: A Trilogy” (aka The Disfavored Hero)The Death of Atsumori (9.16.) • One of the most famous episodes in Heike • Characters: Atsumori, a court noble of the Taira clan; Naozane, a middle-aged no-name warrior of the Genji clan • How does Naozane recognize that his youthful opponent is a court noble? • Fair appearance, powdered face, blackened teeth and all. • Why is Naozane unwilling to kill Atsumori?Atsumori in Japanese Painting• Because this young man reminds Naozane of his son, and because Atsumori is too beautiful to be destroyed. • Why does Naozane change his mind and decide to behead Atsumori? • So that Atsumori won’t be killed by other vulgar Genji warriors; he at least can pray for Atsumori’s salvation after the battle. • What object does Naozane find from among Atsumori belongings? And what’s the significance of this object? • A flute; how incompatible of the flute with the violent battle scene? The death of arts and of the love of all things beautiful and refined. • Remember Atsumori for his later depiction in Noh Drama.Atsumori in Noh DramaChapter 12 On Rokudai and Mongaku • Who is Rokudai? Why does Tokimasa, Yoritomo’s commander, want to hunt him down? • Son of Koremori, grandson of Shigehira, great-grandson of Kiyomori (Taira’s chieftain). Most legitimate heir to the Taira clanThe End of Heian • Nostalgic of the Heian aristocratic culture • The emphasis is on the fall of the culture, of the capital, and of aristocratic individuals: • Mongaku (the militant monk), Tadanori (brother of Kiyomori; the god of poetry), Yoshinaka, Yoshitsune, Sanemori (the old Heike warrior)From oral literature to written literature • biwa hoshi: traveling blind monks • Many versions • The religious aspect and the military aspect • Six worlds correspond to six sections of the novel: gods, fighting demons, humans, animals, hungry ghosts, hell • bushito (the way of warrior)Mid-term Examination Format • Both Midterm and Final consist of three parts --- • Part I (30%) identifications of authors, titles, and terms: TRUE/FALSE, MULTIPLE CHOICE, SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS. • Part II (30%) identification of a passage from the reading with contextualization and commentary of its significance • Part III (40%) interpretive essay on a particular work, a specific cultural-historical background, or certain aesthetic and stylistic aspects of East Asian literatures • Use the study guide to review key terms and possible essay topics.Friday: Discussion and Response Paper #2 Weds. (Oct.16): 1. Nôh drama. Zeami Motokiyo (1364-1443), “Atsumori” & “Haku Rakuten” (Bo Ju-yi). (Packet 155-164) Friday (Oct.18): Midterm Exam: Students sit in ever other seat, CLOSED BOOK: no notes, textbooks, electronic devices, or