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The Tale of the bamboo cutter: a study in contextualization : an annotated translation and critical examination of the Taketori monogatari with special attention to Tanaka Ōhide’s Monogatari kai commentary Behr, Maiko R.
Abstract
Inspired by Joshua Mostow's recent work in reception history and the historicized translation of classical Japanese literature, this thesis focuses on a translation of the tenth century Taketori Monogatari, or Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. In contrast to previous English-language translations of the Taketori Monogatari, the present work offers a reading of the tale as it was understood at a particular historical moment, in the commentary of Tanaka Ohide, an early nineteenth century National Learning scholar. The first chapter of the thesis examines the historical reception of the Taketori Monogatari and its place among other Heian period narratives, showing that the tale was neglected by scholars for a considerable period between its mention in the Tale ofGenji in the eleventh century and the appearance of the first written commentaries on the tale at the end of the eighteenth century. Chapter Two discusses the actual process of translation and the sources for variant interpretation in such a text, revealing the potential for a complexity of meaning that is denied by translations claiming to present a single "correct" version of the tale. The third chapter then contextualizes the particular commentary used as the basis for this translation. Here, a study of the author's education and training as a National Learning scholar serves to clarify further the motivations behind his interpretation. This also discloses the historical significance of his interpretation to the study of the Taketori Monogatari through an analysis of its role in canon-formation. Chapter Four consists of a summary translation of the introductory sections of Tanaka Ohide's commentary, the Taketori no Okina no Monogatari Kai, including his personal analysis of textual issues, as well as longer passages cited from related sources, both Japanese and Chinese. The final chapter constitutes the body of my translation of the Taketori Monogatari, with extensive endnotes indicating problematic portions of the text and citing alternative interpretations proposed by other scholars. It is the overall aim of this thesis to emphasize the fluid and evolving nature of the literary text resulting from the various contexts in which it is read.
Item Metadata
Title |
The Tale of the bamboo cutter: a study in contextualization : an annotated translation and critical examination of the Taketori monogatari with special attention to Tanaka Ōhide’s Monogatari kai commentary
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Creator | |
Publisher |
University of British Columbia
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Date Issued |
1998
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Description |
Inspired by Joshua Mostow's recent work in reception history and the historicized
translation of classical Japanese literature, this thesis focuses on a translation of the tenth century
Taketori Monogatari, or Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. In contrast to previous English-language
translations of the Taketori Monogatari, the present work offers a reading of the tale as it was
understood at a particular historical moment, in the commentary of Tanaka Ohide, an early
nineteenth century National Learning scholar.
The first chapter of the thesis examines the historical reception of the Taketori Monogatari
and its place among other Heian period narratives, showing that the tale was neglected by scholars
for a considerable period between its mention in the Tale ofGenji in the eleventh century and the
appearance of the first written commentaries on the tale at the end of the eighteenth century.
Chapter Two discusses the actual process of translation and the sources for variant interpretation in
such a text, revealing the potential for a complexity of meaning that is denied by translations
claiming to present a single "correct" version of the tale. The third chapter then contextualizes the
particular commentary used as the basis for this translation. Here, a study of the author's
education and training as a National Learning scholar serves to clarify further the motivations
behind his interpretation. This also discloses the historical significance of his interpretation to the
study of the Taketori Monogatari through an analysis of its role in canon-formation.
Chapter Four consists of a summary translation of the introductory sections of Tanaka
Ohide's commentary, the Taketori no Okina no Monogatari Kai, including his personal analysis of
textual issues, as well as longer passages cited from related sources, both Japanese and Chinese.
The final chapter constitutes the body of my translation of the Taketori Monogatari, with extensive
endnotes indicating problematic portions of the text and citing alternative interpretations proposed
by other scholars.
It is the overall aim of this thesis to emphasize the fluid and evolving nature of the literary
text resulting from the various contexts in which it is read.
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Extent |
18617076 bytes
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Genre | |
Type | |
File Format |
application/pdf
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Language |
eng
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Date Available |
2009-05-04
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Provider |
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
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Rights |
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.
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DOI |
10.14288/1.0099246
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URI | |
Degree | |
Program | |
Affiliation | |
Degree Grantor |
University of British Columbia
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Graduation Date |
1998-05
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Campus | |
Scholarly Level |
Graduate
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Aggregated Source Repository |
DSpace
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Item Media
Item Citations and Data
Rights
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.