Refining Nature in Modern Japanese Literature : the Life and Art of Shiga Naoya / Nanyan Guo.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Guo, Nanyan, author.

Series:

AsiaWorld

Nichibunken monograph series ; no. 15.

Asia world

Nichibunken monograph series ; vol. 15

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Shiga, Naoya, 1883-1971--Criticism and interpretation.

Shiga, Naoya.

Shiga, Naoya, 1883-1971.

Nature in literature.

Authors, Japanese--20th century--Biography.

Authors, Japanese.

Criticism and interpretation.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

xiv, 205 pages ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

Lanham, Maryland : Lexington Books, [2014]

Summary:

This book examines the literature of Shiga: Naoya, who is highly regarded in modern Japan for his unique style and method of describing his personal experiences and emotions. Contributing new findings to the field of scholarship on Shiga, this study focuses in particular on Shiga's nature-inspired writings and discusses how he created some vivid images of nature that became famous and still linger in Japanese people's minds. Shiga's remarkable sensitivity toward nature and the influences he received from earlier writers in Japan and abroad are examined. The complexity and depth of his understanding of nature is further revealed in his fascination with the supernatural, which also contributed to the creation of his literary style. Book jacket.

Contents:

The nurturing of Shiga's feelings for nature

The moon: early encounters with nature

The sun: in pursuit of a religiosity of art

Nature destroyed: the Ashio copper mine pollution incident

Plants: the essence of nature

Living creatures: mirrors of human nature

The supernatural and nature

Dreams: nature internalized

Lafcadio Hearn's influence on Shiga's literary style

Conclusion: nature-inspired art and artistic nature

Appendix 1: chronology of Shiga Naoya's life and art

Appendix 2: map with important places in Shiga's literature.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780739181027

0739181025

9780739181034

0739181033

OCLC:

861257504