Wayne P. Lammers, Japanese-English Translator
The Tale of Matsura
Fujiwara Teika's Experiment in Fiction
University of Michigan Center for Japanese Studies, 1992.
ISBN 0-939512-48-3 (hardcover).
Around the turn of the 8th century, the young Japanese courtier Ujitada travels to China as deputy ambassador to the Chinese court. His superior accomplishements quickly win him the favor of the Chinese emperor, who on his deathbed asks Ujitada to look after his son, heir to the throne. A succession struggle ensues... The author of this late 12th-century court romance, Fujiwara Teika, is known among students of Japanese literature as the premier poet and literary scholar of his time and perhaps the most important influence in all of classical poetry, but it is less widely known that he also tried his hand at fiction in his youth.
Fujiwara Teika's Experiment in Fiction
University of Michigan Center for Japanese Studies, 1992.
ISBN 0-939512-48-3 (hardcover).
Around the turn of the 8th century, the young Japanese courtier Ujitada travels to China as deputy ambassador to the Chinese court. His superior accomplishements quickly win him the favor of the Chinese emperor, who on his deathbed asks Ujitada to look after his son, heir to the throne. A succession struggle ensues... The author of this late 12th-century court romance, Fujiwara Teika, is known among students of Japanese literature as the premier poet and literary scholar of his time and perhaps the most important influence in all of classical poetry, but it is less widely known that he also tried his hand at fiction in his youth.
Reviews
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Journal of the Association of Teachers of Japanese
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"Lammers has produced an exemplar of the academic genre 'translation with introduction and notes.' It is a model of both literary style and scholarship. The writing is elegant and clear, not only in the translation but also in the introduction and appendices. The scholarship is informed by care and honesty throughout."
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Journal of Japanese Studies
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"Given the importance of Fujiwara Teika to both the [classical] waka and monogatari traditions, it is not surprising that a tale attributed to him would be of great interest . . . Wayne Lammers' study and translation makes this intriguing text available to English-reading audiences for the first time . . . [It is] a very fine translation."
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Monumenta Nipponica
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"The three books of the translation are adroitly handled, piquing the interest of readers to follow events in the tale with anticipation. . . . The story manages to hold our interest despite, or perhaps because of, the informative notes [Lammers] provides to bolster the translation. . . . [He] presents a convincing case for establishing Teika as author. . . . A contribution worthy of serious consideration."
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Journal of Asian Studies
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"[The translation] manages the difficult balancing act of maintaining a style appropriate to the original while skillfully using language appealing to the English-speaking reader. . . . Enjoyable to read."
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Choice
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"This first translation of a prose fiction tale ascribed to [Teika] is welcome indeed. The translation itself is extremely readable and satisfying. . . .[It] should appeal to readers and scholars interested in both a charming tale and the development of prose fiction in world literature."
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