Literature

Japanese. In considering the literature of Japan, the first thing noticeable is the difference between the spoken and written language. In ancient times--that is, during the first centuries when a written language existed-the two were identical. But the literature of China, which was widely studied in court circles of Japan, exerted a marked influence. Chinese words were introduced and native productions were written in the Chinese language. The result was that the written language came to consist of characters borrowed from the Chinese, supplemented to a greater or less extent by a native alphabet consisting of forty-seven indivisible syllables. An effort is being made to do away with the Chinese characters and thus make the spoken and written languages again identical. The Japanese have produced all forms of literature. The classes in which they have done the most important work are those of history, geography, poetry, drama, and fiction. Up to the fourteenth century literature was confined wholly to the court circle. Kojiki, a book of historical traditions and mythology dating from the eighth century, and Nihonghi, of a little later date, are the oldest novels extant. The fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth centuries may be looked upon as Japan's dark ages. Learning was kept alive by a few priests only. The seventeenth century marks the beginning of the modern period. As a nation the Japanese are careful to make and preserve records. Of later historical works, The History of Great Japan, composed in the seventeenth century, is the standard. Japanese fiction is more imaginative and more true to nature than that of other oriental nations. It is an interesting fact that the best literary work of the best ages has been done by women. The people are fond of reading and especially of poetry. In the last century an immense number of books have been published, including many old manuscripts which have appeared in modern form. See Japan