Part of the CJR Lunchtime Lecture Series Abstract: In medieval Japan, popular arts often took advantage of a blending of religious ideology and entertainment in order to educate, attract audiences, and solicit donations. Enter otogizōshi—a genre of short stories from the Muromachi period (1392–1573). Originating in popular performance and “picture explaining” (etoki), otogizōshifrequently delivered didactic messages through […]
Enlightenment for Plants and Trees: Sōmoku jōbutsu in Medieval Japanese Short Stories