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Japanese culture abstract
Japanese Culture: Its Development and Characteristics
Japanese society and culture
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Japanese Traditional Literature Annotated Bibliography
Davis, F. Hadland. “The Mirror of Matsuyama.” Folktales from Japan. 2015. Web. 1 November 2016.
The Mirror of Matsuyama is focused around a little girl who loses her mother and has to face hard times dealing with a new stepmother. The mother was given a mirror from the little girl’s father when he got back from his journey. She was amazed by the mirror and kept it, until she died. Not only does the little girl have to deal with her mother’s death, but her new stepmother despises her. To cope, she keeps the mirror and looks into it to see her mother’s sweet face again. Her stepmother caught her and accused her of witchcraft. Her father was told of it and he confronted his daughter. She
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There is a greedy king who goes around seeking beautiful items. He finds a drake and keeps it, but Shozo, a guard, does not agree with the king confining it. The drake becomes sad, loses his color, and is put where no one can see it. Shozo is blamed, when Yasuko, another servant, says she will take the blame, but he declines. Two main characters who soon fall in love with each other, are excluded for saving the drake and releasing him. Further on, the drake and his mate take human form with magic and help Yasuko and Shozo live a happy life. This story conveys a message to care for others out there, and then you will get kindness back. The theme of the story is a very sweet one for children growing up. The reading level does not require too much vocabulary to be learned. Really, the story is aimed toward young children to teach them life lessons when they’ve already mastered basic …show more content…
Out of all of the books, a well known one is Japanese Children’s Favorite Stories. Peach Boy is one of the stories in this collection. Momotaro is given to his foster parents as a gift from the gods because they were claimed to be lonely. He told his parents he would venture out to get take back the stolen treasures that the ogres have hidden. On the way, he was encountered by 3 animals who all asked for a dumpling. In return, they would help him defeat the ogres and get back the treasure. Later on, they took down the ogres and his family kept the treasure. If you are kind to others and make them happy, then they will help you in return. This was enjoyable and kids would love to read about a hero who got back treasure with the help of
Inquiry Question: Why were the passengers on the Komagata Maru rejected to stay in Canada?
year old, is a boy who most can relate to. The book explores most aspects of
Fairy tales have been engraved into human culture since the beginning of time. They are passed orally or sometimes written down in books and poems. Childrens fairy tales can be used to inspire ideas and dream while as serving as fear factor to keep the youth in line. Adults look at fairy tales more as a far away fantasy that they will never be able to reach, because of the constraints of the real world. Fairy tales will be around forever because they provide a staple in society for the lessons they teach and the entertainment they bring. “The Bold Knight, the Apples of Youth , and the Water of Life” is a tale of the youngest of three sons completing a quest for his elder blind father.
In one, a specimen-creating brute robs a pelican child’s life and her guardian trying to bring her back to life. In the other, a prince learns the value of his frog-turned-princess and sets out on a quest to find her. Joy Williams’s Baba Iaga and the Pelican Child and Alexander Afanasev’s The Frog Princess are both critical facets of the fairy tale genre. While initially it may seem that Williams preserved no elements from Afanasev’s tale, upon a closer glance, it is evident that the two tales’ similarities outnumber their differences. By incorporating a generous portion of the original story into his, Williams’s version brings forth an innovative arrangement of classic and new. As a result, William’s tale introduces features to the tale that mirror everyday life lessons while simultaneously maintaining qualities that are reflective of the definitional aspects of the fairy tale genre.
The Tale of Murasaki, by Liza Dalby, is about Murasaki, a young woman who lived in the Heian period (794-1185) of Japan. She writes a story called The Tale of Genji, and earns so much recognition for it that she is invited to court to attend the empress. Not only was she known for her writing, but she drew attention by learning Chinese. In the story, a Chinese education is essential for a man hoping to be a high-ranked member of society. Because the Japanese considered Chinese culture as superior, waka, a popular form of Japanese poetry, carries less cultural value in the novel. Therefore, both high-class women and men have to learn about wakas and use them daily. A woman who can compose good wakas and is beautiful would have the best chances of going to court, which is the best way to guarantee a comfortable life. Liza Dalby’s The Tale of Murasaki accurately portrays the abilities of each sex, the importance of Chinese learning, and the role of Japanese poetry in the Heian period of Japan.
Brazell, Karen. Traditional Japanese Theater: An Anthology of Plays. New York: Columbia UP, 1998. Print.
A Different Mirror is the first chapter of the book “A Different Mirror” by Ronald Takaki. The chapter begins with the author, Ronald Takaki, describing an interaction with a cab driver. Takaki, an Asian-American, was asked by his cab driver what country he was from implying that because of his appearance there was little chance that Takaki was originally from America. This sets the tone for chapter indicating that some people do not share physical characteristics that are deemed “American,” but they very much are Americans.
In the “Three Brother’s Who Become Wealthy Wandering the World” and “The Three Brothers” the focus remained on finding the individual’s worth. While in “The Four Skillful Brothers” the focus remained on the brothers who display their equal worth by being strong, courageous, and knowledgeable. Enforcing the idea that when a group of strong individuals come together, there is a unity and brotherhood that serves to make them an invincible force. Reading fairytales is one of the best ways readers can learn about values, morals, and concepts of loyalty and worth. These stories have stood the test against time because of their enduring popularity with readers and will remain a significant part in the realm of literary
For centuries, children stories have been a valuable tool in teaching lessons and morals. Like most stories that one was read as a child, there lies a life lesson that the author is trying to portray. Whether it was told orally like the story Beowulf or written by an author like Chaucer who wrote The Canterbury Tales, there are life lessons that are being taught through the characters and their challenges that they endure.
Shirane Haruo. et al. Early Modern Japanese Literature: An Anthology 1600-1900. New York: Colombia University Press, 2002. Print.
Fairy tales portray wonderful, elaborate, and colorful worlds as well as chilling, frightening, dark worlds in which ugly beasts are transformed into princes and evil persons are turned to stones and good persons back to flesh (Guroian). Fairytales have long been a part of our world and have taken several forms ranging from simple bedtime stories to intricate plays, musicals, and movies. However, these seemingly simple stories are about much more than pixie dust and poisoned apples. One could compare fairytales to the new Chef Boyardee; Chef Boyardee hides vegetables in its ravioli while fairytales hide society’s morals and many life lessons in these outwardly simple children stories. Because of this fairytales have long been instruments used to instruct children on the morals of their culture. They use stories to teach children that the rude and cruel do not succeed in life in the long run. They teach children that they should strive to be kind, caring, and giving like the longsuffering protagonists of the fairytale stories. Also, they teach that good does ultimately defeat evil. Fairy tales are not just simple bedtime stories; they have long been introducing cultural moral values into young children.
At first glance, what makes a fairy tale a fairy tale may seem obvious—some kind of magic, hidden symbols, repetition, and of course it’s evident it’s fiction—but fables are more than that. As Arthur Schelesinger puts it, it’s about “[expanding] imagination” and gaining understanding of mysterious places (618). While doing this, it also helps children to escape this world, yet teach a lesson that the reader may not be conscious of. A wonderful story that achieves all of this is Cinderella, but not the traditional tale many American’s have heard. Oochigeaskw, or The Rough-Faced Girl, and Ashputtle would be fitting for a seven-year-old because they get the gears of the mind turning, allowing for an escape on the surface, with an underlying enlightenment for children of the ways of the world.
I am writing this paper because I was assigned to write it as a class project. Along the way I realized the importance of sharing the real meanings of all these stories. Stories are important because in the society we live in things are constantly changing. Fairytales change but the base of the story always remain the same no matter how many times it has been retold. It’s important to reveal the true meanings of these stories, even with its dark characteristics, because the world is dark .Children need to know that there are people that have told stories relatable to what they are going through. Fairytales help the development of children; it helps their maturity as they confront someone else’s tough situations, instilling hope of a more positive ou...
Bottigheimer Ruth B. Fairytales Folk Narrative Research and History “Social History” JSTOR 14, 3 (1989). 343-357, Taylor & Francis, Ltd.
Aesop’s fables have always been an important part of society because Aesop’s fables take complicated ideas and, using simple characters and plots, explain them in easy to understand ways. Aesop’s fables are very effective tools in teaching children important life lessons. When I was a child, I remember hearing the story of the “Lion and the Mouse.” This story taught me that even though people may be little, they can still be great. Reading and listening to Aesop’s fables can help improve a person’s character. These stories help shape a person’s morals, whether they know it or not.