2018 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
The Diaspora of Classical Japanese Literature: Early Japanese Books in America
| Project/Area Number |
18K12282
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| Research Institution | Nagoya University |
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Principal Investigator |
Kuhn Michelle 名古屋大学, 国際機構(情科), 特任講師 (90752832)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2018-04-01 – 2022-03-31
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| Keywords | Art Institute of Chicago / Kosode Hinagatabon / 小袖雛形本 / Kimono Pattern Books / Early Japanese Books / 米国所在和古書 |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
The purpose of this research is to discover how classical Japanese literature has been spread throughout the world with a focus on the United States of America. The texts of classical Japanese literature were transmitted both through the translation of texts as well as the purchase of premodern books depicting classical Japanese literature. This research has two main goals, to grasp both the current status and history of collecting premodern Japanese books in the United States of America and to bring the contents of those collections to international awareness.
The 2018 year’s activities mainly consisted of transcribing the five volumes of the Seattle Asian Art Museum’s Genji emaki (picture scroll). Initial research comparing this picture scroll to contemporary works was presented at the 2019 Association for Asian Studies Conference. The preliminary research points out that there is a divergent strategy in relating the Genji monogatari content through the pictures and the calligraphic passages (text).
During the March 2019 survey trip, the author also viewed the comprehensive exhibition of Genji artwork in the Metropolitan Museum (New York) identifying further evidence of the collection of classical Japanese literature in United States collections. Also during this survey trip at the Art Institute of Chicago, one Narae-hon of Genji monogatari and four kosode hinagatabon were fully photographed. Moreover, the images of the Sumiyoshi scroll in the AIC collection, which were previously uncategorized and disordered, were put in order and will be the basis of further research.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
As the transcription of the Seattle Asian Art Museum Genji emaki has been completed, research on its contents and themes may now progress. The initial results were already presented on at the Association for Asian Studies Conference in March 2019 and will be published in academic journals over the next year. The survey data from the March 2019 survey trip to the Art Institute of Chicago will be analyzed over the next year and include a survey of classical themes illustrated in hinagatabon in the Art Institute Collection.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
Over the next year, the research on the Seattle Asian Art Museum scroll presented on during the 2018 year will be published in academic journals and the research will broaden to include a general study of early 17th century (early Edo period) Genji scrolls. It is imperative to continue research on the narrative methods employed by the images and text of the Seattle scroll. The kosode hinagatabon in the AIC will be the focus of preliminary research on the trends of classical literary allusions in Edo period kimono patterns. Further participation in academic conferences and workshops are planned including participation in a workshop on a forthcoming volume on the Sagoromo monogatari commentary Sagoromo shitahimo. In the 2019 year, one survey trip to the Art Institute of Chicago is planned to continue collaborative research on premodern books as well as a trip to Seattle to continue research on the Genji emaki.
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| Causes of Carryover |
The 2019 research fund will be spent in the following ways. 1) Two study trips to America, one to the Art Institute of Chicago and one to the Seattle Asian Art Museum. 2) Participation in conferences in Japan (Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima) and abroad (US and Europe). 3) Professional photography of items in American collections. 4) Preparation for publication (journal articles and book chapter): editing and proofreading as well as image rights.
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Research Products
(2 results)
