- *This event has finished.
- Lecturer: Zhou Yue (Professor, Beijing Language and Culture University / Visiting Research Scholar, Nichibunken)
- Date: Wednesday, July 27, 2016, 6:30-8:00 pm
- Venue: Lecture Hall, International House of Japan
- Language: Japanese (without English interpretation)
- Co-organized by the International House of Japan and the International Research Center for Japanese Studies (Nichibunken)
- Admission: Free (reservations required)
Kawabata Yasunari is a Japanese novelist widely known in China, yet the study of his literature there has experienced a big shift with the changes in society and in the mentality of the Chinese people. Kawabata’s literature has been deeply studied in the context of Japanese traditional culture and Western culture, but its relevance to Chinese culture has not been examined in depth; very few know that Kawabata admired and appreciated Sung- and Yuan-Dynasty art. This lecture will introduce Kawabata’s collection of Sung and Yuan art and discuss why he became so fascinated by them. Further, it will look into the artistic and religious significance of Sung and Yuan art and explore how they influenced Kawabata’s literary works.
ZHOU Yue
Ph.D. in Literature, Peking University. Dr. Zhou is a Professor at Beijing Language and Culture University. She specializes in Comparative Literature between China and Japan, with a special focus on the relationship between Yasunari Kawabata’s literature and Chinese culture, and Sinology. She has been appointed as a Visiting Research Scholar at the International Research Center for Japanese Studies (Nichibunken) since February, 2016. Her publications include Hikakubungakushiya ni okeru nicchuu bunka kouryuu (Japan-China Cultural Exchange from the Perspective of Comparative Literature) (Fudan University Press, 2008) and Yoshimoto Banana no bungaku sekai (The Literature of Banana Yoshimoto) (Ningxia Renmin Publishing House, 2005), and her articles include “Aoki Masaru no Chugoku Tabi to Chugoku Kenkyuu” (Masaru Aoki’s Chinese Journey and China Studies) (Kangaku Kenkyuu, vol. 14, Xue Yuan Publishing House, 2012).
*I-House has started a series of forums in collaboration with Nichibunken to deepen the understanding of contemporary Japan from various perspectives.