Zuihitsu

Zuihitsu (Japanese随笔, dt " Miszellenliteratur; Essay " ) refers to a literary form, commonly referred miscellany literature that is specific to Japan. The Zuihitsu is a very heterogeneous form of discussion, which is characterized by subjective experience and reflection. The Zuihitsu literature is comparable to the essay in Europe and America. However, the shape criteria and themes are timeless and wider than the essay. Literally translated, it means Zuihitsu: " Following the brush ".

Demarcation

At the end of the 16th century published in Europe at the same time and independently two collections of shorter prose texts, which marked the beginning of the essay as a literary form. 1580 were published in Bordeaux the first two volumes of Montaigne's Essais de Michel. 1597 Francis Bacon published his Essayes. The essay originated as a counterweight to the scientific treatise and treatise.

In contrast to the formation of the essay Zuihitsu falls already in the outgoing 10th century. Prototypical for Zuihistu literature are the works of the "three major Japanese Zuihitsu writer " (日本 三大 随笔, Nihon Sandai Zuihitsu ): Let Shōnagons Makura no Soshi (枕 草 子, " Pillow Book " ), Kamo no Chōmeis Hojoki (方丈 记, ger "Notes from close Klause " ) and Yoshida Kenkōs Tsurezuregusa (徒然 草, "Reflections from the silence ").

The Zuihitsu and the essay in common is that they differ in the same way by the style, the method and the intention of scientific work. The intention of a scientific paper is using data and facts to persuade or instruct. It makes use of empiricism in order to achieve and demonstrate the most objective and repeatable results. In " methodically unmethodischer " way prevails in the literary forms Zuihitsu and essay, however, the "Law of loose linkage ". With stylistic brilliance and rich with rhetorical figures and tropes both forms are aimed at the hobbyist who is familiar with the subject of the narrative. It is characterized by the breaking of mental stereotypes.

Form

The Zuihitsu in particular serves to spontaneous promptings bring personal impressions, experiences and reflections sketchy on paper. The circumference of a Zuihitsu ranges from a simple word or sentence note to a longer discussion. Since the Edo period, the Zuihitsu can increasingly assume the character of a diary (日记, Nikki ).

Topic

Thematically often includes the Zuihitsu literature the experiences, the reading of the authors' knowledge, impressions and therefore speculative, in contrast to prose (散文, Sambun ), which is characterized by thought and by the careful By composing an idea. Anecdotally and narrative can be very different topics, associative as content links, more or less loose and unrelated stand with more of a continuous action side by side. During the Edo period, especially samurai and citizen wrote Zuihistsu. Thematically, the Zuihitsu is therefore very complex. It covers, for example, the nature and human life, social commentary, science, philosophy, literary theory, etc. An example is Matsudaira Sadanobus (1758-1829) Kagetsu Soshi (花 月 双 纸, notes with cherry blossoms and full moon ).

Representative examples

• Motoori Norinaga: Tamakazuma (玉 胜 间)
• Arai Hakuseki: Oritaku shiba no ki (折たく柴の記)
• Amano Sadakage (1663-1733): Shiojiri (塩 尻)