Unique or universal. Japan and its Contribution to World Civilization. Volume 1
Unique or universal. Japan and its Contribution to World Civilization. Volume 1
100 Years of Japanese Studies at the University of Warsaw
Contributor(s): Beata Kubiak Ho-Chi (Editor), Jędrzej Greń (Editor)
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies, Studies of Literature, Other Language Literature, Philology
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: Japan; Japanese culture; Japanese literature
Summary/Abstract: The first volume of texts resulting from the international conference celebrating 100 years of Japanese Studies at the University of Warsaw opens with two texts paying homage to the history and tradition of researching Japan in Poland. In the subsequent chapters researchers specializing in the field of Japanese studies discuss the uniqueness or universality of Japanese philosophy, history, aesthetics, and visual arts, reflecting on Japan’s contribution to world civilization in relation to the globalizing world of blurred boundaries.
- E-ISBN-13: 978-83-235-6224-5
- Print-ISBN-13: 978-83-235-6216-0
- Page Count: 243
- Publication Year: 2023
- Language: English
100 Years of Japanese Studies at the University of Warsaw
100 Years of Japanese Studies at the University of Warsaw
(100 Years of Japanese Studies at the University of Warsaw)
- Author(s):Ewa Pałasz-Rutkowska
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Studies of Literature, Other Language Literature, Philology
- Page Range:23-50
- No. of Pages:18
- Keywords:Japanese Studies at the University of Warsaw; Wiesław Kotański; Japanese culture; cooperation with Japan; University of Tokyo; Polish researchers; Japanese lecturers
- Summary/Abstract:This paper was written to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Japanese Studies at the University of Warsaw. The author presents the history of the academic program and the people who created it. The beginnings date back to 1919, when, after Poland had regained its independence, Bogdan Richter, a graduate of Oriental Studies in Leipzig, launched Japanese language classes as a part of a language course at the University of Warsaw. Thanks to a donation from Baron Mitsui Takaharu, the Seminar on Chinese Studies was created in 1934. Its formation offered a possibility to conduct lectures on Japanese culture, and over the years those classes expanded into a proper university program. Formally, Japanese Studies were established after WWII by Professor Wiesław Kotański. He was the first Japanologist in Poland – a linguist, religious studies scholar, translator of Japanese literature and, above all, a tireless researcher of sources of Japanese culture. The development of Japanese Studies at the University of Warsaw was also greatly aided by all the subsequent employees – both researchers and teachers of the Japanese language. The most important among them is Sensei Okazaki Tsuneo, who has been teaching at the University of W arsaw for fifty years.
History of Japanese Studies at the University of Warsaw
History of Japanese Studies at the University of Warsaw
(History of Japanese Studies at the University of Warsaw)
- Author(s):Iwona Kordzińska-Nawrocka
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Studies of Literature, Other Language Literature, Philology
- Page Range:52-59
- No. of Pages:8
- Keywords:Japan; Japanese culture; Japanese literature
- Summary/Abstract:The first volume of texts resulting from the international conference celebrating 100 years of Japanese Studies at the University of Warsaw opens with two texts paying homage to the history and tradition of researching Japan in Poland.
The History of Developing Japanese Language Education
The History of Developing Japanese Language Education
(The History of Developing Japanese Language Education)
- Author(s):Okazaki Tsuneo
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Studies of Literature, Other Language Literature, Philology
- Page Range:61-68
- No. of Pages:8
- Keywords:Japanese Studies at the University of Warsaw; Japanese language education; transformation in Poland
- Summary/Abstract:In my article, I give an overview of how attempts towards developing Japanese language education have changed over the years. For that purpose, I describe the last fifty years of teaching Japanese at the University of Warsaw from the perspective of my own, personal experience. I also try to demonstrate that the teaching environment has changed significantly after the 1989 transformation in Poland. Among others, I describe two examples of activities that let our students be continually exposed to the Japanese language and people and help them improve both their language skills and knowledge of Japanese culture: the Language Camps and the exchange program with Japanese residents in Warsaw that has been taking place for over twenty years. Finally, comparing the times before and after the 1989 transformation, I point out the crucial differences between the learning environment and available opportunities in the past and nowadays.
How to Measure “Unique” or “Universal”?
How to Measure “Unique” or “Universal”?
(How to Measure “Unique” or “Universal”?)
- Author(s):Inaga Shigemi
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Studies of Literature, Other Language Literature, Philology
- Page Range:71-92
- No. of Pages:22
- Keywords:linear perspective; Red Cross; Sino-Japanese War; kenosis; Yihetuan Incident; Boxer Rebellion; agape; Christianity; nothingness; Zen Buddhism
- Summary/Abstract:Is Japan contributing to world civilization? If yes, then to what extent? Is this contribution beneficial or negative? In order to examine these questions, the paper addresses three cases of cross-cultural transfers analyzed from a comparative perspective. First, we will examine the adoption of Western linear perspective as an example of a technological transfer in the Far East. Second, we will look at a legal issue in the field of international diplomatic negotiations. Finally, the third case discussed will deal with the intricacies of inter-religious understanding. The first case dates back to the second half of the eighteenth century, the second – to the end of the nineteenth century, while the last one became a topic of conversation in the mid-twentieth century. We hope that these three examples will help to elucidate the worldwide geopolitical circumstances as well as historical vicissitudes in which Japan’s contribution to worldwide civilization can be measured. Applying a comparative approach and analyzing both the positive and the negative sides of the issues discussed will help us make a critical assessment of Japanese studies in the international dimension.
Nishida Kitarō on the Uniqueness of Japanese Culture – the Problem of Logic and Scientific Spirit
Nishida Kitarō on the Uniqueness of Japanese Culture – the Problem of Logic and Scientific Spirit
(Nishida Kitarō on the Uniqueness of Japanese Culture – the Problem of Logic and Scientific Spirit)
- Author(s):Agnieszka Kozyra
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Studies of Literature, Other Language Literature, Philology
- Page Range:93-114
- No. of Pages:22
- Keywords:Nishida Kitarō; absolutely contradictory self-identity; scientific spirit; logic; Nakamura Hajime; Japanese culture
- Summary/Abstract:The purpose of this text is to provide an analysis of Nishida Kitarō’s (1870–1945) views on logic and ‘scientific spirit’ in Japanese culture. Many researchers, including Nakamura Hajime, claim that the emotional, intuitive aspect prevails in Japanese culture, and the scientific and logical approach is marginal, therefore Nishida’s approach should be considered original and innovative. I introduce the vision of reality as an absolutely contradictory self-identity in Nishida’s philosophy and link it to the problem of distinguishing features of Western and Eastern cultures (India, China, and Japan). Nishida’s view on logic and the spirit of science in Japanese culture is confronted with Nakamura Hajime’s opinions. The theories of Nishida and Nakamura are good examples, since their comparison proves that national cultural identity is a rather fluid construct, often presented and interpreted in various ways.
‘Binal-Relationship’ and ‘Mono no Aware’ in Mori Arimasa
‘Binal-Relationship’ and ‘Mono no Aware’ in Mori Arimasa
(‘Binal-Relationship’ and ‘Mono no Aware’ in Mori Arimasa)
- Author(s):Wakui Yōko
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Studies of Literature, Other Language Literature, Philology
- Page Range:115-132
- No. of Pages:18
- Keywords:binal-relationship; mono no aware; Mori Arimasa
- Summary/Abstract:Mori Arimasa (1911–1976) was a Japanese philosopher who has not been discussed much in Japan in recent times. However, he seems to hold a unique and important position among modern Japanese intellectuals. He intended to go to Paris for one year in 1950 to complete his study of Pascal and Descartes, but he was so greatly impacted upon experiencing the real Europe that he decided to extend his stay. After leaving his family in Japan, he ended up continuing his in-depth studies of the European civilization until his death in 1976. In his last years, he focused on a unique feature of the Japanese people – their so-called ‘binal-relationship’ to other humans and nature, a concept which he developed through comparing the structure of French and Japanese languages. Moreover, he suggested that the category of ‘mono no aware’, as defined by Motoori Norinaga, was a feeling of isolation resulting from the loss of one of the sides in the ‘binal-relationship’. Thus, the only way the Japanese can keep themselves stable is by being in an intimate ‘binal-relationship’. Among many books and treatises written on the subject of ‘mono no aware’, it seems that Mori’s work is the only one to look at its essence through a philosophical approach. It is believed that the ‘binal-relationship’ is the very keyword for non-Japanese people to consider and understand not only the way of thinking of the Japanese, but also their society and language. In addition, the ‘binal-relationship’ concept offers a way to elucidate some aspects of European culture.
Unique Customs of Universal Meaning – Japanese Etiquette and the English East India Company (1613–1623)
Unique Customs of Universal Meaning – Japanese Etiquette and the English East India Company (1613–1623)
(Unique Customs of Universal Meaning – Japanese Etiquette and the English East India Company (1613–1623))
- Author(s):Jędrzej Greń
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Studies of Literature, Other Language Literature, Philology
- Page Range:133-150
- No. of Pages:18
- Keywords:gift; English East India Company; John Saris; Richard Cocks; Samuel Pepys; merchants; Japanese customs
- Summary/Abstract:The mission of the English East India Company arrived in Japan in 1613, and their factory there operated until 1622. During this time, the personnel of the factory usually competed with other Europeans for the favors of the local Japanese officials who could influence their trading revenues. In order to facilitate their communication with the locals, the English merchants adopted significant parts of Japanese social etiquette. The local customs which were included in the daily routine of the factory were mostly related to gift-giving practices, which were used to strengthen the factory’s relations. In this paper, I use both Japanese and English historical sources to investigate whether the intentional adoption of Japanese customs gave the English a better chance to fulfill their goals and try to determine whether those customs, from the point of view of the English merchants, really were unique tools of communication.
The Universal Appeal of the Japanese Concept of Ma
The Universal Appeal of the Japanese Concept of Ma
(The Universal Appeal of the Japanese Concept of Ma)
- Author(s):Yamanashi Makiko
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Studies of Literature, Other Language Literature, Philology
- Page Range:153-173
- No. of Pages:21
- Keywords:ma; civilization; modernity; Japonisme; transculturality; Japanese art and theater
- Summary/Abstract:The Japanese concept of ma is an abstract and complex notion which constitutes an essential aesthetic attitude present in the Japanese society and culture. It has been well-developed as an aesthetic notion in the Japanese visual and performing arts tradition. It has played an important role in Japanese modernization since the bunmei kaika, which is when many Western influences started to take hold in Japan and impact the everyday lives of the Japanese people. While the West adopted ma as a Japanese artistic sensitivity within the trend of Japonisme, Japanese culture also sought out a new equilibrium in ma and used it as a means of balancing foreign and domestic factors. These processes led to the simultaneous creation of a sense of modernity on both sides of the globe. This paper investigates the Japanese notion of ma that overcomes the dichotomy between opposing components and helps to connect the differences by crossing borders of conflicting cultural codes instead of separating them. Furthermore, analyzing modernity by using the concept of ma enables us to connect Japanese culture of the past and present, and to generate through this process a unique ‘Japaneseness’ which at the same time has a certain universal validity. If the civilization of our times becomes focused on increasing the unity and balance of transculturality, the idea of ma might still contribute to world civilization.
Ōshima and Ogasawara of the 1920s in Works of Ukrainian Artists
Ōshima and Ogasawara of the 1920s in Works of Ukrainian Artists
(Ōshima and Ogasawara of the 1920s in Works of Ukrainian Artists)
- Author(s):Svitlana Rybalko, Nomura Chieko
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Studies of Literature, Other Language Literature, Philology
- Page Range:174-206
- No. of Pages:33
- Keywords:dialogue of cultures; Japan of the Taishō period; Ukrainian artists in Japan; Ukrainian avant-garde; Futurism; Impressionism
- Summary/Abstract:Addressed in the article are the literary, pictorial, and graphic works of Ukrainian artists inspired by their impressions from trips to the islands of Ōshima and Ogasawara in the early 1920s. The motivation and results of these journeys are the least studied aspect in the research of the Ukrainian avant-garde. We describe the differences in perception of the islands between Ukrainian and Japanese artists. We also highlight the Ukrainian ‘versions’ of Ōshima in the context of political and socio-cultural processes taking place in Japan at the time. We address selected issues of artistic communication and dialogue of cultures. The paper is based on a summary of the results of research work conducted by Japanese, Ukrainian, and Russian experts, as well as on an analysis of paintings, graphics, and literary works, archival materials, and other materials collected during the expeditions to Ōshima and Ogasawara islands in 2008.
Yokohama-e, or Prints from Yokohama, as Images of the Westernizing World
Yokohama-e, or Prints from Yokohama, as Images of the Westernizing World
(Yokohama-e, or Prints from Yokohama, as Images of the Westernizing World)
- Author(s):Aleksandra Görlich
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Studies of Literature, Other Language Literature, Philology
- Page Range:207-232
- No. of Pages:26
- Keywords:Japanese woodblock prints; Nagasaki-e; Yokohama-e; prints from Yokohama; prints from Nagasaki; illustrations of foreigners
- Summary/Abstract:The year 1853, when Commodore Perry’s ‘black ships’ arrived in Uraga Harbor, was a time of great changes with respect to the relationship between Japan and the so-called Western world. It is safe to assume that Western countries were not expecting anything other than the establishment of typical trade relations and that ‘local’ culture and cuisine would have very little impact on the colonizing countries. However, Japanese culture and art turned out to be far more interesting and intriguing than anyone had anticipated. It proved to be extremely unique in the context of Asia and accessible enough for Western artists to become a part of their universal cultural heritage. Within the following twenty years, its impact on European and American art, fashion design as well as on various other aspects of culture was enormous. Westerners were purchasing, collecting, and even smuggling items out of Japan in order to display them in their foreign homes. This article presents examples of Japanese woodblock prints depicting Western people in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. It focuses especially on the mixing of Japanese and foreign elements in these illustrations and on the way in which they were used. Based on these examples, it is demonstrated how external elements were incorporated into Japanese traditions, resulting in a unique artistic style.