2.  Kakinomoto no Hitomaro. 662 – 710) was a
Japanese poet and aristocrat of the late Asuka
period.

3.  Kanō Tan'yū Hitomaru,- is famed for his long
poems, such as "In the sea of ivy clothed Iwami"The
Bay of Tsunu", and "I loved her like the leaves."

4. Japanese Literature
can be divided into four
main periods:

5. 1. Ancient literature (until 794)-Before the
introduction of kanji from China, Japanese
had no writing system.
2. Classical Japanese literature-generally
refers to literature produced during the
Heian period, referred to as the golden era
of art and literature

6. 3. Medieval literature (1185–1603)-During this
period, Japan experienced many civil wars which
led to the development of a warrior class, and
subsequent war tales, histories, and related stories.

7.  . Early-modern literature (1603–1868)-
Literature during this time was written
during the largely peaceful Tokugawa Period
(commonly referred to as the Edo Period).

8.  Much of the literary record of Japanese
poetry begins when Japanese poets
encountered Chinese poetry during the Tang
Dynasty (although the Shijing was well
known by the literati of Japan by the 6th
century). Under the influence of the Chinese
poets of this era Japanese began to compose
poetry in Chinese (kanshi).

9.  World War II, and Japan's defeat, deeply influenced
Japanese literature. Many authors wrote stories of
disaffection, loss of purpose, and the coping with
defeat. Osamu Dazai's novel The Setting Sun tells of a
soldier returning from Manchukuo. Shōhei Ōoka won the
Yomiuri Prize for his novel Fires on the Plain about a
Japanese deserter going mad in the Philippine jungle.
Yukio Mishima, well known for both his nihilistic writing
and his controversial suicide by seppuku, began writing
in the post-war period. Nobuo Kojima's short story "The
American School" portrays a group of Japanese teachers
of English who, in the immediate aftermath of the
war, deal with the American occupation in varying ways.

16. End..
 Prepared by: Rolyn H. Agbas