The Feminine Mystique of Japanese Literature Quiz

Answer: The Tale of Genji

"The Tale of Genji" is considered to be a preeminent novel of Heian fiction written between about 1000 and 1012 AD. It tells the story of Hikaru Genji, the son of a Japanese emperor and a low-ranking concubine. He is removed from the line of succession by his father and made a commoner. He then pursues a career as an imperial officer. It may be the world's first novel, the first psychological novel (one that focuses on the inner thoughts of the characters), and is still considered a classic of Japanese literature.

Murasaki Shikibu is a descriptive name and not the author's real name. She may have been Fujiwara no Kaoriko. At the time women were excluded from learning Chinese, the language of government, but she took advantage of her father's position and learned it anyway. She also wrote "The Diary of Lady Murasaki", a volume of poetry. "The Tale of Genji" was considered a classic within a century of its publication.

This question was written originally in kanji then translated into English by Phoenix Rising member tazman6619 (he wishes).

Answer: Shimizu Shikin

"The Broken Ring" details the awakening of a young woman who manages to extricate herself from an unhappy marriage. The work is significant as it details the views held by Japanese society, at the time, of unmarried women and their duty. It shows society confused by the concept, but Shikin, despite the upset it causes, has her heroine move forward with head held high. Her protagonist challenges the social norms, knowing that continuing to do so will come at great personal cost.

Shimizu Shikin was born in 1868, fittingly, the first year of the Meiji Period (1868-1912). Blessed with a strong desire to effect societal reform, she wrote on her own terms, championing women's rights and campaigning against racial and gender discrimination. For her, writing became a way of standing up, in a time when Japanese women were prohibited from political assembly.

This question was written by Phoenix Rising's pollucci19 who takes his hat off to this author.

Answer: The Pillow Book

"The Pillow Book" was never meant for public consumption and was written purely for the eyes of the author. It got its name because Sei Shonagon accidentally left it on a cushion she put out for a visiting guest who quickly took it and shared its contents. The book is written as a collection of narratives about her life at court and the things she observed, her opinions and thoughts on various subjects, and a set of 164 lists she compiled.

The style of writing employed by Shonagon became its own genre in Japanese literature called Zuihitsu. She also employed hiragana, an exclusively Japanese writing style used by women at the time. It was far less formal and more expressive than the kanji used by men during this period.

This question was fluffed into the quiz by Phoenix Rising member tazman6619.

Answer: Morning glory

Fukuda Chiyo-ni was a Japanese poet who lived from 1703 to 1775. She was the daughter of a scroll mounter and she studied haiku under haiku master Matsuo Basho's disciples when she was young. She became a nun, adopting the suffix "ni" in her name, after her son died in infancy and her husband died young. In her later life she was able to devote herself to her poetry. Fukuda Chiyo-ni was very talented and was regarded as Matsuo Basho's successor. While she conformed to Matsuo Basho's teachings, she also developed her own style of writing that characterised her work. There are extensive written records of her works, which is an indication of their quality.

The "Morning Glory Haiku" is among her most famous verses. It reads as follows:

"asagao ya
tsurube torarete
morai mizu"

The haiku translates as:

"morning glory -
the well-bucket entangled
I ask for water"

In one interpretation, Fukuda Chiyo-ni would rather ask someone for water than to disturb the bloom entangled in the well-bucket. In another interpretation, the morning glory in the haiku symbolises females while the request for water is an allegory for the longing of a lover.

This haiku has also been captured in a painting by Toho Naito with calligraphy by Fukuda Chiyo-ni, a combination known as haiga. In the haiga, the painting depicts the essence of the verse. A long rope descends the right side of the work area down to the well-bucket, from which the morning glory sprouts. The calligraphy is loosely arranged in a gentle diagonal from right to left and the last line trails faintly in a whispered or weary request.

Haiku and translation from "Chiyo-no: Woman Haiku Master" by Patricia Donegan and Yoshie Ishibashi (1998, Tuttle Publishing).
Haiku and haiga interpretation from "Chiyo-ni and Yukinobu: History and Recognition of Japanese Women Artists" by Kara N. Medema (2018, FIU Digital Commons).

This question was composed in free form by Phoenix Rising team member purelyqing.

Answer: "Nigorie" (Troubled Waters)

"Bridge Over Troubled Water" was a hit released by Simon and Garfunkel in 1970. "Nigorie", translated as "Troubled Waters", was a short story published in 1895 about a fictional popular courtesan, Oriki, in a brothel in the red-light district of an unnamed Japanese city. The story revolves around Oriki and an obsessed customer who becomes poor using her services.

Ichiyō Higuchi was heavily influenced by the 17th century author Ihara Saikaku who found value in telling the stories of low-life characters rather than the elite or morally acceptable members of society. Unfortunately, Higuchi died young at the age of 24 from tuberculosis. Higuchi was only the third woman to be depicted on Japanese currency, gaining the honor in 2004 when her likeness was added to the 5000 yen note.

This question was erected by Phoenix Rising member tazman6619 while singing the Simon and Garfunkel song.

Answer: Kitchen

Japanese writer Mahoko Yoshimoto is the daughter of the late noted literary critic, poet, and philosopher, Takaaki Yoshimoto. Her sister, Yoiko Haruno, is a famous manga artist and novelist. Mahoko adopted the pseudonym "Banana" while studying literature at Nihon University's College of Art as an homage to her favorite banana flowers. In 1986 she published her first novella, "Moonlight Shadow". "Kitchen" was released two years later and translated into English by Megan Backus in 1993. It explores food and love (romantic and familial) against a backdrop of loss and grief. Banana's style has been described as minimalist yet deeply philosophical and full of heart. Despite her enormous popularity, she remains something of an enigma and some readers simply don't understand her appeal.

"Ten Apples Up On Top!" is a Dr. Seuss counting book. "Two for the Dough" is the second novel in the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich. "Under Milk Wood" is a radio drama from Welsh poet Dylan Thomas.

This question was brought to a simmer by Phoenix Rising's JCSon.

Answer: True

The Princess was the third daughter of Goshirakawa, who in 1155 became the 77th emperor of Japan (ah, Mikado!). She served at the Kamo Shinto Shrine as their thirty-first saiin (high priestess) from 1159, at the tender age of nine. It seems this really wasn't a hardship - she would have had lots of personal attendants and lived in luxury, in exchange for her participation in the annual rites and ceremonies. However, the role did mean separation from her family, which would have been difficult.

Shikishi was prolific writer and classical poet, credited with authorship of forty-nine poems in the important Shin-Kokin Shū collection as well as numerous entries in the later Senzai Waka Shū compilation. A total of 399 poems are attributed to her, mainly using the 'tanka' format, in which syllables are arranged in groups of 5-7-5-7-7.

Many of her works had overtones of unrequited love, possibly due to her friendship with Teika no Shunzei, son of famous poet Fujiwara no Shunzei. In 1190 Shikishi took vows to become a Buddhist nun, adopting the name Shōnyohō. She died in 1201, it is thought most likely of breast cancer.

This question was written by VegemiteKid, whose writing has a fine edge; In Phoenix Rising she dwells, amongst all the swells, and happy she is on her ledge.

Answer: Man'yoshu

The "Man'yoshu" is believed to have been compiled in the second half of the 8th century AD and is generally attributed to a poet and politician named Otomo no Yakamochi. It consists of 20 separate volumes and contains over 4,500 waka poems, which fall into three broad groups - poems (or 'songs') about love; poems about mourning and death; and miscellaneous poems about the natural world, society, and life in general.

Princess Nukata is the named author of 13 of the oldest poems in the anthology. The surviving history of the Japanese royal family from this time is not definitive and open to interpretation, so it isn't surprising that there is relatively little known about Nukata's life. However, some records describe her as a wife of the Emperor Tenmu (who reigned from 673 to 686) and the mother of Princess Tochi - who is believed to have been Empress as the consort of her father's predecessor.

This question was composed by Phoenix Rising's Fifiona81.

Answer: Breasts and Eggs

The story zeroes in on three women - the thirty-year-old Natsu who is anxious about being childless, her sister Makiko who has moved to Tokyo in an effort to find someone to perform a breast enhancement for her at an affordable price, and Midoriko, Makiko's daughter who has adopted silence as a means to cope with the strains and pressures of growing up. They each must confront their uncertainties and the age-old and oppressive customs of their society if they are to find some peace or resolution.

Today, Mieko Kawakami is one of Japan's premier young writers. She first came to public attention as a singer, releasing three albums before quitting in 2006 to concentrate on her writing. In 2008 she won the Akutagawa Prize, one of Japan's most prestigious literary awards, for her novel "Chichi to Ran". "Breasts and Eggs" was listed as one of TIME's "Best 10 Books of 2020".

This question was penned by Phoenix Rising's pollucci19 who seeks your forgiveness for trying to imply "Green Eggs and Ham" as a type of clue for this question.

Answer: Military tale

The nun, Rikei, who wrote the tale, was an inhabitant of the nunnery at which the feudal warlord Takeda Katsuyori sought refuge in 1582, after he led a failed revolt against a rival clan. Takeda Katsuyori and his entourage (consisting primarily of women) thought that the nunnery should have welcomed him with open arms. However, due to the lack of judgment he had shown previously, they were refused sanctuary. Rikei, feeling pity for them, immortalised them in a military tale, a style used to relate the deeds of battle, so they would not be forgotten.

VegemiteKid of the Phoenix Rising clan, fought for the inclusion of this question in the quiz.