1. The document provides an overview of Japanese literature across different historical periods from ancient to modern times. It describes how Chinese influences introduced writing and Buddhism to early Japanese works. 2. Major literary periods discussed include the Nara period known for poetry anthologies, the Heian era which saw the first novel, and the Edo period when genres like haiku emerged. Excerpts from works like The Tale of Heike are analyzed. 3. Students are assigned tasks like writing their own haiku poem, analyzing passages, and adapting a Japanese story to Filipino culture to demonstrate understanding of Japanese literary traditions and influences.

1. Lesson 2
Japanese Literature

2. Learning
Competencies
Explain the texts in terms of
literary elements, genres, and
traditions (EN12Lit-IIb-32);
1
Situate the texts in the
context of the region, nation,
and the world (EN12Lit-IIc-29);
2
Appreciate the cultural and
aesthetic diversity of
literature of the world
(EN12Lit-IIc-33).
3

3. Objectives
• describe Japanese literature; and
• explain the text in terms of literary elements, genres,
and traditions peculiar to Japan.

4. Essential Question
How did Japanese history influence its literature
over the years?

5. Warm Up!
1. On a piece of paper, write down five impressions you have
about Japan and Japanese culture.
2. Give a short explanation of each of your impressions.
3. Discuss your answers with your group mates.
4. Share your answers with the class.

6. Vocabulary Words
impermanence (noun) - the quality of not lasting for a long time
The impermanence of the workers’ jobs is the cause of their clamor.
1
gallop (verb) - to run fast like a horse
The award-winning equestrienne made her horse gallop gracefully.
2
stagger (verb) - to move in an unsteady manner
Drinking beyond his limit, Johnny staggered on his way home.
3

7. Vocabulary Words
intercept (verb) - to stop something that is moving from one place to another
Spyware intercepted his emails to his boss.
4
brocade (noun) - a cloth made out of silver or gold thread
The brocade she brought to the auction was sold for 200 US Dollars.
5

8. Chinese elements are regarded as an integral part of
Japanese literature. The literary forms of China, as well as
Chinese ideographic forms, are at the root of Japanese
literature.
The Japanese have an extensive literature spanning more
than twelve centuries, which are divided into different
periods.

9. Learn about It!
Archaic Period
● Introduction of the art of writing (kanji) from China
- Chinese characters were adopted to write Japanese,
creating what is known as the man'yōgana, the earliest
form of Japanese writing, was introduced
● First propagation of the Buddhist religion
- Literature was mostly a series of songs and poems
about war and historical incidents.

10. Learn about It!
Nara Period
● considered as the Golden Age of Poetry (710–794 AD)
● produced two important literary works:
- Kojiki or Records of Ancient Matters - contains early
traditions of the Japanese race, mythology, and
legendary history
- Man'yōshū or Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves - oldest
extant anthology of Japanese poetry

11. Learn about It!
Nara Period
● Man'yōshū or Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves - oldest extant
anthology of Japanese poetry
- kan - twenty-chapter division
- contains 4,500 poems
- two principal poetic forms used:
- tanka - short poem with 31 syllables arranged in five lines or
units
- choka - long poem with 31 syllables and undefined length with
an extra seven-syllable line

12. Learn about It!
Nara Period
Representative prose works:
● Shoku-Nihongi - history text
● Izumo Fudoki - ancient record of Izumo
● Nihon Shoki - Chronicles of Japan, the second oldest book of
classical Japanese history

13. Learn about It!
Heian Period
● considered the classical age of Japanese literature
● literature reflected the pleasure-loving and effeminate but cultured
and refined character of the class of Japanese who produced it
● largely the work of women
Popular works:
● Kokinshū (Collection of Ancient and Modern Poems) - anthology of the
best poems
● The Tale of Genji (Murasaki Shikibu) - referred to as the first
modern Japanese novel

14. Learn about It!
Kamakura-Muromachi Period
● characterized by a constant state of warfare and turmoil and
the decline of learning
Important works:
● Shin Kokinshū (New Collection of Ancient and Modern
Poems) - reflects the gloom and solitude of the period
● Heike Monogatari (Tale of the Heike) - tells the defeat of the
Taira by the Minamoto Clan

15. Learn about It!
Kamakura-Muromachi Period
Important works:
● Gempei Seisuki - history of the rise and fall of Gen and Hei
● Tsurezuregusa (Essays in Idleness) - collection of essays on
various subjects

16. Learn about It!
Kamakura-Muromachi Period
Other highlights
● Buddhist monks were the chief maintainers of learning.
● development of renga or linked verse
● evolution of Noh drama, a one-act dance performed by
male dancers with extremely slow movement while
chanting prose passages
● Zeami Motokiyo - developed the Noh drama

17. Learn about It!
Edo Period
● Literature was more voluminous.
● Writings were produced by merchant class and were
considered bawdy and worldly.
● Popular drama evolved to kabuki, a popular Japanese theater
consisting of colorful background, lively and emotional music,
dancing, and exaggerated acting.
● Haiku, a poem of 17 syllables in three lines of five, seven, five
syllables, was perfected.

18. Learn about It!
Edo Period
Other important works
● Koshoku ichidai otoko
● Tōkaidōchū Hizakurige
● Oku no Hosomichi
● reflect philosophical meditations toward existence
● highlight Japanese sensibilities in daily or mundane experiences

19. Learn about It!
Meiji Era
● reopening of Japan to the West and period of rapid industrialization
● Fukuzawa Yukichi and Nakae Chōmin - wrote enlightenment
literature
● Haibun - combines prose and poetry
● Ichiyō Higuchi - a woman writer who wrote short stories of
powerless women of this age
● Izumi Kyōka - wrote early novels that made use of supernatural
elements

20. Learn about It!
Modern Period
● characterized by the denial of worth of traditional writings
● themes focus on disaffection, loss of purpose, and coping with defeat
as a result of World War II
Prominent writers:
● Kenzaburō Ōe - A Personal Matter (1964) second winner of the Nobel
Prize for Literature
● Kōbō Abe - (Women in the Dunes) won the 1962 Yumiuri Prize for
Literature

21. Learn about It!
Modern Period
Prominent writers:
● Shizuko Todo - won the Naoki Prize (1988) for Ripening
Summer
● Haruki Murakami - one of the most popular and
controversial Japanese authors

22. Learn about It!
The Tale of the Heike
(Excerpts)

23. Learn about It!
Guide Questions
1. What do the opening lines say about the Japanese outlook
on life?
2. What stopped Kumagai from killing Atsumori?
3. Why did Yorimasa ask Tonau to kill him?
4. What does the poem that Yarimasa recited before his
death mean?
5. What particular aspects of Japanese culture are reflected in
these excerpts?

24. Analysis
Read the given text, then answer the questions that
follow. Make sure to cite textual evidence to back up
your answers.
Tsurezuregusa (Chapter 150)
Kenko Yoshida

25. Analysis
1. What is the writer’s advice to someone who is learning an
art? Do you agree with the advice? Explain your answer.
2. What does the diligent learner of art have as an advantage
against those with natural talent?
3. How does a master of art reach his or her status?
4. What lesson does the text aim to teach its reader?
5. What aspects of Japanese culture are portrayed in the
text?

26. Analysis
Criteria Score
Content
(The question is answered well; textual evidence is given, and
opinions are clearly explained.) 5 pts.
Organization
(There is a logical progression of details/events; clear
transitions between ideas are evident.) 3 pts.
Language
(There are fewer than three errors in spelling, mechanics,
grammar, and word choice.) 2 pts.
Score: /10

27. Values Integration
How can the Japanese’s high regard for their culture, as
seen in their literature, encourage us to value our own
culture more?

28. Synthesis
1. Form five groups.
2. Think of a concept that would serve as your main topic in writing
your own individual haiku.
3. Draw a symbol that would represent your chosen topic. Draw your
symbols on a white cartolina and design it based on your chosen
topic.
4. Write your haiku inside the symbol you drew.
5. Choose one member who will present the work in class.
6. After the activity, answer the following questions:
○ What were the challenges you faced in writing your own haiku?
○ What did you consider in choosing the words for your haiku?

29. Assignment
1. Write a creative ending to The Tale of the Heike.
2. Convert the Japanese culture embedded in the text into
Filipino culture.
3. Your story should answer the question:
“If the characters were Filipinos, how would the story
end?”
4. Share your work in class.

30. Criteria Score
Content
(The alternative ending is plausible. It takes Filipino culture into
account.) 5 pts.
Organization
(Logical progression of details/events; clear transitions between
ideas) 3 pts.
Language
(Use of proper spelling, mechanics, grammar, and word choice)
2 pts.
Score: /10