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Kōda Rohan
178 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1977
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February 26, 2022
Koda Rohan (real name: Koda Shigeyuki; 1867-1947) was a writer of short fiction, essays and drama born in Tokyo and educated in the Japanese and Chinese classics. After graduation from a technical school, he turned to literature.
Rohan was a Renaissance man, a towering figure who combined immense learning with strong principles - he has been called the last "kunshi," Confucian scholar-gentleman. He captured the constructive idealism and vitality of the Meiji period and was a precursor of Japanese romanticism and symbolism.
His most influential stories blend traditional elements such as Buddhist miracles and No play structure to create a supernatural atmosphere. He wrote in a pithy, pseudo-classical style, modeled on that of the great 17th c. author Ihara Saikaku and full of classical allusions.
His best fiction was written early in his career; the 1890s were called "the age of Ozaki Koyo and Koda Rohan" (Ko-Ro jidai). Rohan's stories always have an idealistic, didactic intent - he was much more serious than Ozaki Koyo. Later he turned away from the novel to concentrate on essays, and historical and scholarly works, such as commentaries on the haiku from the Basho school. He was awarded the Order of Culture in 1937.
His philosophy was an interesting synthesis of Buddhist metaphysics, Daoist mysticism, Confucian activism, Western humanism and Japanese aestheticism.
See also Pagoda, Skull & Samurai for 3 of Rohan's most famous stories. Another excellent story, "Furyu Butsu" (Love Bodhisattva aka The Icon of Liberty) can be found in The Columbia Anthology of Modern Japanese Literature: Volume 1: From Restoration to Occupation, 1868-1945.
Rohan's daughter Koda Aya also had an impressive literary career.
Also see my blog: https://adblankestijn.blogspot.com/p/...
Rohan was a Renaissance man, a towering figure who combined immense learning with strong principles - he has been called the last "kunshi," Confucian scholar-gentleman. He captured the constructive idealism and vitality of the Meiji period and was a precursor of Japanese romanticism and symbolism.
His most influential stories blend traditional elements such as Buddhist miracles and No play structure to create a supernatural atmosphere. He wrote in a pithy, pseudo-classical style, modeled on that of the great 17th c. author Ihara Saikaku and full of classical allusions.
His best fiction was written early in his career; the 1890s were called "the age of Ozaki Koyo and Koda Rohan" (Ko-Ro jidai). Rohan's stories always have an idealistic, didactic intent - he was much more serious than Ozaki Koyo. Later he turned away from the novel to concentrate on essays, and historical and scholarly works, such as commentaries on the haiku from the Basho school. He was awarded the Order of Culture in 1937.
His philosophy was an interesting synthesis of Buddhist metaphysics, Daoist mysticism, Confucian activism, Western humanism and Japanese aestheticism.
See also Pagoda, Skull & Samurai for 3 of Rohan's most famous stories. Another excellent story, "Furyu Butsu" (Love Bodhisattva aka The Icon of Liberty) can be found in The Columbia Anthology of Modern Japanese Literature: Volume 1: From Restoration to Occupation, 1868-1945.
Rohan's daughter Koda Aya also had an impressive literary career.
Also see my blog: https://adblankestijn.blogspot.com/p/...
Displaying 1 of 1 review