Traditional Japanese Literature: An Anthology, Beginnings to 1600 (Translations from the Asian Classics)

Stretching from ancient times to the late medieval period, Traditional Japanese Literature spans both high and popular styles and contains key examples of poetry, drama, prose fiction, and essays. Its depth and breadth have made the anthology an indispensable resource for classroom and individual study.

For this abridged edition, Shirane retains substantial excerpts from such masterworks as The Tale of Genji, The Tales of the Heike, The Pillow Book, Man’yoshu, and Kokinshu. He preserves his comprehensive survey of secular and religious anecdotes (setsuwa) as well as classical poems with extensive commentary. He features classic no drama; selections from influential war epics; and notable essays on poetry, fiction, history, and religion. Texts are interwoven, bringing common themes, styles, and allusions into sharp relief while inviting comparison and debate. The conscientious incorporation of well-known classics and lesser-known popular texts enables a rich encounter with classical and medieval Japanese culture and history, and each text and genre benefits from extensive introductions offering sociopolitical and cultural context. The anthology is divided by period, genre, and topic—an instructor friendly structure—and a comprehensive bibliography guides readers toward further study.

Praise for Traditional Japanese Literature: An Anthology, Beginnings to 1600
Abridged Edition:

“The field has been waiting for a comprehensive anthology like this. It provides not only a representative but a generous sampling of the best of Japanese prose and poetry.”—Sonja Arntzen, University of Toronto

Praise for Traditional Japanese Literature: An Anthology, Beginnings to 1600:

“Haruo Shirane has done a splendid job at this herculean task. What is particularly notable is the variety of texts included—ancient gazetteers, prayers, sermons, works originally written in Chinese, etc. Many of these works have not been translated previously, and the bibliographies are also excellent.”—Joshua Mostow, University of British Columbia

“A comprehensive and innovative anthology. . . . All of the introductions are excellent.”—The Journal of Asian Studies

“One of those impressive, erudite, must-have titles for anyone interested in Asian literature.”—The Bloomsbury Review

“An anthology that comprises superb translations of an exceptionally wide range of texts, each with a pithy introduction. . . . Highly recommended.”—Choice

“A wealth of material.”—Monumenta Nipponica