Classical Japanese Poetry: "Highways and Byways in Premodern Japanese Literature" 130

The course will cover nearly one thousand years of Japanese travel poetry and poetic prose, from the verses of envoys to Silla in 736 CE to the late 17th c. haibun of Bashô.  It will also introduce the travel poetry in the major imperial waka anthologies and travel poetry and prose in The Tosa Diary.  All works will be read in classical Japanese. Supplementary discussions on literary and cultural background will be included. Prerequisites: Japanese 120 or consent of instructor.