THE INFLUENCE OF MING CHINESE NOVELS ON EDO-JAPANESE LITERATURE

Abstract

The literature of a particular nation is extremely difficult to develop in a closed way without the influence of external factors. Literature is enriched in the plot and genre as a result of national exchanges, external relations and dialogue. Of course, Japanese literature is no exception. Chinese literature is undoubtedly an external factor that has a significant impact on Japanese literature. Numerous scientific, historical and artistic works were also represented through Chinese characters (letters), which penetrated into Japanese culture. In particular, under the influence of examples of Chinese literature that were included in Japanese literature, new genres also appeared in Japanese literature. The appearance of these genres can be seen in both prose and poetry.

In China, literature of the Ming period is at least as developed as literature from the time of Tang and Song. This period is especially noticeable in the history of Chinese literature, with masterpieces of prose. The development of the novel as a literary genre in Chinese literature also dates back to Ming. Along with the Ming novels written in Baihua, which arose as an oral form of the Chinese language, it also infiltrated East Asian countries, including Japan. In turn, some of the novels of this period also served as a source for learning the Baihua Chinese language.

This article is devoted to identifying the influence of Ming Chinese novels on Edo-Japanese literature, including the penetration and popularization of “Water Margin” in Japan, and the effect of this novel on Japanese literature. According to the results of the analysis, we not only get answers to a number of questions, such as when and how the Ming novel “Water Margin” entered Japan, how much Chinese literature influenced Japanese literature, but it also analyzes how often the plot of the “Water Margin” novel focuses on literary works of Japan.