Atsumori
2
ATSUMORI A Study Sheet We are using the classic tale of “Atsumori” to begin to build an understanding of samurai culture. Again – find materials at http://www.glopac.org/Jparc/Atsumori/atsumori.htm on the main page, locate and read these materials: Texts of Translations Translation of Kakuichi Heike by Helen Craig McCullough Interactive Text of the Noh Play Atsumori The story comes originally from The Tale of the Heike (Heike monogatari ; this is the McCullough translation), written in the 1200s about the famous wars of the 1180s that broke out between two groups of provincial samurai, the Heike (or Taira, in pure Japanese) and the Genji (or Minamoto). In the end, the Minamoto prevailed, and founded Japan’s first shogunate, the Kamakura. Ca. 1400 it was turned into a play of the Nō (or Noh) tradition by the great playwright Zeami. This would have been performed in the households of samurai lords. Traditionally, Nō was staged in cycles of 5: plays about gods, warriors, women, miscellany, and demons. “Atsumori” is of the warrior category. How does the Nō drama differ from the original story (in the McCullough translation)? How do both of them end?
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Transcript of Atsumori
ATSUMORIA Study Sheet
We are using the classic tale of “Atsumori” to begin to build an understanding of samurai culture.
Again – find materials at
http://www.glopac.org/Jparc/Atsumori/atsumori.htm
on the main page, locate and read these materials:
Texts of Translations Translation of Kakuichi Heike by Helen Craig McCullough Interactive Text of the Noh Play Atsumori
The story comes originally from The Tale of the Heike (Heike monogatari; this is the McCullough translation), written in the 1200s about the famous wars of the 1180s that broke out between two groups of provincial samurai, the Heike (or Taira, in pure Japanese) and the Genji (or Minamoto). In the end, the Minamoto prevailed, and founded Japan’s first shogunate, the Kamakura.
Ca. 1400 it was turned into a play of the Nō (or Noh) tradition by the great playwright Zeami. This would have been performed in the households of samurai lords.
Traditionally, Nō was staged in cycles of 5: plays about gods, warriors, women, miscellany, and demons. “Atsumori” is of the warrior category.
How does the Nō drama differ from the original story (in the McCullough translation)?
How do both of them end?
Describe the characterization of Atsumori and Kumagae (or Kumagai) no Jirō Naozane.
Put together a list of 3 or 4 key symbols (objects or events).
How is the samurai represented in these stories?
What role is played by feeling and what role by duty?
What is the role of Buddhism?
