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講義概要/Course description
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In this class, we will conduct a close reading of Kojiki, or the Account of Ancient Matters. Known as Japan's oldest surviving narrative, the eighth-century Kojiki illustrates the mythical origins of the Japanese archipelago, deities who created the land, sovereigns believed to be the descendants of these deities, and aristocratic families that served the dynasty with a diverse array of genealogies. The lectures will 1) shed lights on the historical context of its compilation, 2) introduce how the mythical narratives are annotated and interpreted in previous scholarship, and 3) compare the variants of narratives found in Nihon shoki with those of Kojiki.
Due to the of Covid-19 pandemic, the college has decided to shut down the campas and cancel all class meetings for the first semester of 2020 academic year. Given the challenging situation, we switch the class to a remote on-line instruction style via Aogaku's "Course Power". Since there are fifteen weeks scheduled on the new academic calendar, hopefully we can still cover all the contents according to my original plan. The class will be carried on with on-demand videos and homework submissions as followed:
1. PLEASE FINISH YOUR READING ASSIGNMENT based on the syllabus before every class meeting. Since the campus bookstore is closed, please try to find a hard copy or an electronic version of the assigned textbook on the internet. Due to the copy right issues, unfortunately I am not allowed to upload the PDF files of the textbooks.
2. WATCH ON-DEMAND VIDEOS: I will upload videos before every class. Since it is not a real-time online meeting, you will have a whole week to watch the videos anytime at your best convivence. In these videos, I will introduce the context behind the readings and answer the questions you asked in your essays.
3. SUBMIT A SHORT ESSAY: After the class, please submit a short passage no longer than a double-spaced one page (200 words approximately) on any issue that you care from the reading assignment or the contents of the class. I will not give you a “prompt” on what to write. It can be a question, an opinion or a comment on the readings. You can either email it to me or post it on the coursework website as you wish. It will be considered as part of your grade on participation and attendance.
4. FINAL PAPER: Please write a 10-15 double-spaced pages of final paper for this class. We will talk about how to do this in the final week of the instruction.
Stay home and be safe! Hopefully I will be able to meet you in person next semester.
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達成目標/Course objectives
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1. To familiarize oneself with the well-known stories of Japanese mythology and their variants found in texts other than Kojiki
2. To acquire the basic skills of close reading, text analysis and critical thinking
3. To understand the historical context and backgrounds behind the text and how the narratives are interpreted
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履修条件（事前に履修しておくことが望ましい科目など）/Prerequisite
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Japanese proficiency (including Kanji Chinese-character literacy) as well as skills to read pre-modern texts are not required but highly recommended.
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授業計画/Lecture plan
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1
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| 授業計画/Class |
Introduction to Kojiki and Kiki mythology |
| 事前学習/Preparation |
Reading assignment: Textbook Introduction andPreface to Kojiki |
| 事後学習/Reviewing |
Review the lecture contents and reading assignment
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2
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| 授業計画/Class |
Creation mythology |
| 事前学習/Preparation |
Reading assignment: The first generations of spirits, Izanagi and Izanami |
| 事後学習/Reviewing |
Review the lecture contents and reading assignment |
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3
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| 授業計画/Class |
Heavenly deities |
| 事前学習/Preparation |
Reading assignment: Amaterasu and Susa-no-o |
| 事後学習/Reviewing |
Review the lecture contents and reading assignment |
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4
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| 授業計画/Class |
The Great Expectation: Ōkuni-nushi |
| 事前学習/Preparation |
Reading assignment: Ōkuni-nushi |
| 事後学習/Reviewing |
Review the lecture contents and reading assignment |
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5
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| 授業計画/Class |
The Heavenly descendants |
| 事前学習/Preparation |
Reading assignment: Hiko-ho-no-ninigi; Ho-deri and hoho-demi |
| 事後学習/Reviewing |
Review the lecture contents and reading assignment |
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6
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| 授業計画/Class |
Jinmu going eastward: the foundation of YamatoKingship |
| 事前学習/Preparation |
Reading assignment: Sovereign Jinmu |
| 事後学習/Reviewing |
Review the lecture contents and reading assignment |
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7
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| 授業計画/Class |
A genealogy of succession to the throne |
| 事前学習/Preparation |
Reading assignment: Sovereign Suisei; Sovereign Annei; Sovereign Itoku; Sovereign Kōshō; Sovereign Kōan; Sovereign Kōrei; Sovereign Kōgen; Sovereign Kaika. Pay attention to the age of these sovereigns and critical historic events during their reigns (if any) |
| 事後学習/Reviewing |
Review the lecture contents and reading assignment |
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8
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| 授業計画/Class |
Sovereign who “first ruled the Land” |
| 事前学習/Preparation |
Reading assignment: Sovereign Sujin; Sovereign Suinin |
| 事後学習/Reviewing |
Review the lecture contents and reading assignment |
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9
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| 授業計画/Class |
Yamato Takeru: the demigod hero |
| 事前学習/Preparation |
Reading assignment: Sovereign Keikō; Sovereign Seimu |
| 事後学習/Reviewing |
Review the lecture contents and reading assignment |
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10
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| 授業計画/Class |
The conquest of Silla: Empress Jingu |
| 事前学習/Preparation |
Reading assignment: Sovereign Chūai; Sovereign Ōjin |
| 事後学習/Reviewing |
Review the lecture contents and reading assignment |
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11
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| 授業計画/Class |
The Sage king: Emperor Nintoku |
| 事前学習/Preparation |
Reading assignment: Sovereign Nintoku |
| 事後学習/Reviewing |
Review the lecture contents and reading assignment |
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12
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| 授業計画/Class |
Faithfulness and Betrayal |
| 事前学習/Preparation |
Reading assignment: Sovereign Richū; Sovereign Hanzei; Sovereign Ingyō; Sovereign Ankō |
| 事後学習/Reviewing |
Review the lecture contents and reading assignment |
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13
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| 授業計画/Class |
The resource of legends and literary tradition: Yūryaku |
| 事前学習/Preparation |
Reading assignment: Sovereign Yūryaku |
| 事後学習/Reviewing |
Review the lecture contents and reading assignment |
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14
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| 授業計画/Class |
The old reigns and the new dynasty |
| 事前学習/Preparation |
Reading assignment: Sovereign Buretsu; Sovereign Keitai; Sovereign Kinmei; Sovereign Bidatsu; Sovereign Yōmei; Sovereign Sushun; Sovereign Suiko |
| 事後学習/Reviewing |
Review the lecture contents and reading assignment |
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15
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| 授業計画/Class |
Review session, guidance to final paper anddiscussion |
| 事前学習/Preparation |
Review the course material. Think about what topicdo you want to work on for the final paper. |
| 事後学習/Reviewing |
Final paper submission |
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授業方法/Method of instruction
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| Lectures / discussion sessions when time allowed /Questions, opinions and comments in class and active participation are highly evaluated. |
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成績評価方法/Evaluation
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| 1 |
レポート Report
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60%
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| 2 |
平常点 In-class Points
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40%
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Attendance andparticipation
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教科書/Textbooks
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| | 著者名
Author | タイトル
Title | 出版社
Publisher | 出版年
Published year | ISBN | 価格
Price |
| 1 |
Ō no Yasumaro; translated by Gustav Heldt
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The Kojiki: an account of ancient matters
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Columbia University Press
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2014
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0231163894
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￥3685
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参考書/Reference books
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| | 著者名
Author | タイトル
Title | 出版社
Publisher | 出版年
Published year | ISBN | 価格
Price | |
| 1 |
W.G. Aston
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Nihongi: Chronicles of Japan from the Earliest Times to A.D. 697
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Cosimo Inc
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2008
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1605201448
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￥2030
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メッセージ/Message
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The Kojiki has helped to shape the modern nation's views of Japan’s ancient past. However, the importance of the text was not always equally valued, and interpretations varied in different time periods. A flexible approach and an open-minded attitude from a variety of points of views are required for one who wishes to further fathom the depth of the mythology and the messages behind the stories.
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その他/Others
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N/A
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キーワード/Keywords
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Kojiki
Nihon shoki
Nihongi
Japanese mythology
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