🇯🇵Intro to Premodern Japanese Literature Unit 11 – Ihara Saikaku and the Floating World

Who Was Ihara Saikaku?

• Ihara Saikaku (1642-1693) was a Japanese poet and writer of the Edo period
• Born into a wealthy merchant family in Osaka, which influenced his writing
• Initially gained fame as a haikai poet, composing over 20,000 haikai stanzas
• Transitioned to writing prose fiction later in his career, focusing on the lives of urban commoners
• Known for his realistic and often humorous depictions of the merchant class and the pleasure quarters
• Considered one of the most important writers of the ukiyo-zōshi genre (books of the floating world)
• His works provide valuable insights into the social, economic, and cultural life of Edo period Japan

The Floating World: Defining Ukiyo

• Ukiyo, or "floating world," refers to the urban pleasure quarters and entertainment districts of Edo period Japan
• The term originally had Buddhist connotations, referring to the transient nature of life and the impermanence of the material world
• In the Edo period, ukiyo came to represent the hedonistic pursuit of pleasure and the escapist lifestyle of the urban commoners
• The floating world was characterized by the enjoyment of sensual pleasures, such as brothels, theaters, and teahouses
• Ukiyo culture celebrated the ephemeral beauty of the moment and the appreciation of the arts, including poetry, music, and visual arts
• The floating world served as a counterpoint to the rigid social hierarchy and moral codes of Edo period society
• Saikaku's works often depict the lives and loves of the inhabitants of the floating world, capturing the spirit of ukiyo culture

Historical Context: Edo Period Japan

• The Edo period (1603-1868) was a time of political stability and economic growth under the Tokugawa shogunate
• Japan was largely isolated from the outside world during this period, with strict controls on foreign trade and travel
• The rise of the merchant class and the growth of cities led to the development of a vibrant urban culture
• The pleasure quarters and entertainment districts of cities like Edo (modern-day Tokyo), Osaka, and Kyoto became centers of ukiyo culture
• The Edo period saw a flourishing of the arts, including literature, theater (kabuki and bunraku), and visual arts (ukiyo-e prints)
• Despite the appearance of stability, the Edo period was also marked by social tensions and economic disparities
  • The rigid class system and the concentration of wealth among the merchant class led to resentment and unrest
  • The pleasure quarters and the floating world served as an escape from these social realities for many urban commoners

Saikaku's Literary Style and Innovations

• Saikaku's prose style was characterized by its realism, humor, and attention to detail
• He often used colloquial language and dialects to capture the speech patterns of different social classes and regions
• Saikaku's works were innovative in their focus on the lives of ordinary people, particularly the merchant class and the inhabitants of the pleasure quarters
• He pioneered the use of the ukiyo-zōshi genre, which combined elements of prose fiction, poetry, and illustration
• Saikaku's stories often featured witty dialogue, clever wordplay, and satirical observations of society
• He frequently employed the technique of haikai no renga, or linked verse, in his prose, creating a unique blend of poetry and narrative
• Saikaku's works were influential in shaping the development of Japanese prose fiction and paving the way for later writers like Ueda Akinari and Kyokutei Bakin

Key Works and Themes

• Kōshoku Ichidai Otoko (The Life of an Amorous Man, 1682) - A picaresque novel following the amorous adventures of a wealthy merchant's son
• Kōshoku Gonin Onna (Five Women Who Loved Love, 1686) - A collection of five stories about the romantic lives of women from different social classes
• Nippon Eitaigura (The Japanese Family Storehouse, 1688) - A collection of stories focusing on the lives and struggles of the merchant class
• Saikaku often explored themes of love, desire, and the pursuit of pleasure in his works
  • His stories frequently depicted the romantic and sexual relationships between men and women, as well as same-sex relationships
  • He also examined the social and economic pressures that shaped these relationships, such as class differences and financial obligations
• Saikaku's works also addressed issues of morality, social status, and the tensions between individual desires and societal expectations
• His stories often featured characters who challenged or subverted social norms, such as clever merchants who outsmarted samurai or women who asserted their independence

Impact on Japanese Literature

• Saikaku's works had a significant impact on the development of Japanese prose fiction in the Edo period and beyond
• He popularized the ukiyo-zōshi genre and demonstrated the potential for prose fiction to capture the realities of urban life and the experiences of ordinary people
• Saikaku's realistic style and focus on the merchant class and the floating world influenced later writers, such as Ejima Kiseki and Tada Nanrei
• His use of colloquial language and attention to regional dialects helped to establish a more vernacular style in Japanese literature
• Saikaku's works also contributed to the development of other literary genres, such as the yomihon (reading books) and the ninjōbon (books of sentiment)
• The success of Saikaku's stories helped to elevate the status of prose fiction in Japan and paved the way for the emergence of the novel as a major literary form

The Floating World in Art and Culture

• The floating world was not only a subject of literature but also a major theme in Edo period art and culture
• Ukiyo-e, or "pictures of the floating world," was a genre of woodblock prints and paintings that depicted scenes from the pleasure quarters and entertainment districts
  • Ukiyo-e artists like Hishikawa Moronobu, Torii Kiyonaga, and Kitagawa Utamaro created iconic images of courtesans, actors, and everyday life in the floating world
  • These prints and paintings helped to spread the aesthetics and ideals of ukiyo culture throughout Japan
• The floating world also influenced other art forms, such as kabuki theater and bunraku puppet theater
  • Plays often featured stories and characters from the pleasure quarters and explored themes of love, desire, and the pursuit of pleasure
  • The stylized performances and elaborate costumes of kabuki actors became closely associated with the aesthetics of the floating world
• The floating world also had an impact on fashion, with the elaborate kimono and hairstyles of courtesans and geisha setting trends throughout Japan
• The art and culture of the floating world continue to be celebrated and studied as an important part of Japan's cultural heritage

Legacy and Modern Interpretations

• Saikaku's works and the culture of the floating world have had a lasting impact on Japanese literature and culture
• In the Meiji period (1868-1912), Saikaku's works were rediscovered and celebrated by writers and scholars who saw them as a valuable record of Edo period life and culture
• Saikaku's influence can be seen in the works of modern Japanese writers, such as Nagai Kafū and Tanizaki Jun'ichirō, who drew inspiration from the floating world and its aesthetics
• The floating world has also been a subject of fascination for Western writers and artists, such as John Updike and Vincent van Gogh
• In contemporary Japan, the legacy of the floating world can be seen in the continued popularity of geisha, kabuki theater, and other traditional arts
• The aesthetics and ideals of the floating world have also been adapted and reinterpreted in modern Japanese popular culture, such as manga, anime, and video games
• The study of Saikaku and the floating world remains an important area of academic research, with scholars continuing to explore the social, cultural, and literary significance of this period in Japanese history