Japanese Kanshisyū in Nara and Heian Times: A Bridge in Japan while Absorption and Adaptation of Chinese Literature and Culture

Centered on the Pine Image

Abstract

During the Nara and Heian period, Japan was deeply influenced by Chinese culture, which was especially evident in literature. Japanese Kanshi, as a special kind of Japanese literature, most directly reflected the literary implication from China, and also served as a bridge to further spread the influence to Japanese native literary styles such as Waka. This paper focuses on the two Wakasyū of Manyōsyū and Kokinwakasyū, four Kanshisyū of Kaifūsō and Tyokusensansyū, sorting out and classifying the ‘pine’ images in both Waka and Kanshi, so as to explore the the complete path of absorption and adaptation of Chinese literary culture carried by the images of pine in Japanese literature.