565:320 “The Samurai Tradition in Japanese Literature and Film”
Rutgers University, Spring 2016
Syllabus
Instructor
Professor Paul Schalow schalow@rutgers.edu
Office Hours: Scott Hall Rm. 325, MThu 11:30 am-12:30 pm, or by app’t.
Class: MW5 2:50-4:10 pm, Murray 113 CAC
Course Description
The course explores the literary and philosophical traditions of the samurai warrior in
Japanese history and the ongoing meaning of those traditions in contemporary Japanese
culture. Coursework consists of analysis and discussion of visual media such as
documentary and feature-length films and readings on warriors and swordsmanship. The
course is divided into two units: Unit 1: Legendary Warriors, and Unit 2: The Akō
Vendetta & the Ethical Use of the Sword. All readings are in English translation.
Grading & Requirements
Your semester grade is based on 16 Response Sheets & 4 Discussion Forums (total 40%),
two Unit Papers (25% each; total 50%), and class participation (10%).
One-page, single-spaced Response Sheet (2 pts.) must be uploaded before class to Sakai
“Assignments”; late assignments automatically lose a point and will be accepted in hard
copy only. To participate in Discussion Forums (2 pts.), you must post a question and
answer a question under Sakai “Forums.” A 5-page, double-spaced Unit Paper (25 pts.)
is due at the end of each unit. See the syllabus for a description of the assigned topic for
each unit paper.
Required Texts (available for purchase at Rutgers Bookstore or Jersey Books)
• Hiroaki Sato, Legends of the Samurai (Overlook Press, 1995)
• Donald Keene, Chūshingura: The Treasury of Loyal Retainers (Columbia, 1971)
• Miyamoto Musashi, tr. by Thomas Cleary, The Book of Five Rings (Shambhala
Classics, 2000)
Learning Goals
See full statement of Asian Languages and Cultures Departmental Learning Goals at
http://sas.rutgers.edu/component/docman/doc_download/532-sas-learning-goals)
Academic Integrity Policy
See full statement of current Academic Integrity Policy at
http://academicintegrity.rutgers.edu/files/documents/AI_Policy_9_01_2011.pdf)
Attendance and Assignments Policy
Students are expected to attend all classes; if you must miss a class, please use the
absence reporting website https://sims.rutgers.edu/ssra/ to alert me to the reason for your
absence.
Class Schedule
Unit 1—Legendary Warriors
20 Jan. Introduction to the course.
Film clip: “Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire” (PBS, 2004)
(Parts 1 & 2: The Way of the Samurai & He Cut His Belly) 20 mins.
25 Reading: Sato, Legends of the Samurai, “Yamato Takeru: Loser as Hero”-
“Sakanoue no Haruzumi: Warrior’s Shame” pp. 3-60. Due: Response #1
27 Reading: Sato, Legends of the Samurai, “Minamoto no Raikō: Alert and
Penetrating”-“Minamoto no Yoshiie: The Samurai of the Greatest Bravery
under Heaven” pp. 61-109. Due: Response #2
1 Feb. Reading: Sato, Legends of the Samurai, “Minamoto no Yoshitsune: A
Hero Hounded” pp. 110-156. Due: Response #3
Film: “Men Who Tread On the Tiger’s Tail” (Tora no o wo fumu otoko,
1945) dir. Kurosawa (60 mins.) Due after class: Forum #1
8 Reading: Tale of the Heike, chaps. 1-4, pp. 265-312. Due: Response #4
10 Reading: Tale of the Heike, chaps. 5-8, pp. 313-369. Due: Response #5
15 Reading: Tale of the Heike, chaps. 9-12, pp. 370-445. Due: Response #6
17 Performance: Yoko Hiraoka performs Tale of the Heike accompanying
herself on the lute (biwa). Due after class: Forum #2
22 Reading: Sato, Legends of the Samurai, “Kusunoki Masashige: A
Guerrilla of Unflinching Loyalty” pp. 157-187. Due: Response #7
24 Reading: Sato, Legends of the Samurai, “Takeda Shingen and Uesugi
Kenshin: Two Warlords” pp. 204-231. Due: Response #8
29 Film clip: “Samurai Banners” (Fūrin kazan, 1969) dir. Inagaki.
2 Mar. Reading: Miyamoto Musashi, The Book of Five Rings, pp. 3-62. Due:
Response #9
Film clip: “Duel at Ganryū Island” (Samurai Trilogy III, 1956) dir.
Inagaki.
7 Yagyū Munenori, The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War, pp.
65-111 (in The Book of Five Rings). Due: Response #10
9 Class cancelled: First 5-page paper due. Topic: Choose one of the
legendary warriors from Unit 1 and describe how he is depicted in
literature and/or film. Discuss what deeds or accomplishments made him a
legend and what aspects of his character or thought contributed to his fame.
Address the ways that literary or cinematic depictions may differ from the
historical facts. Give specific examples from readings and/or films to
support your discussion.
[12-20 Mar. Spring Break]
Unit 2—The Akō Vendetta and the Ethical Use of the Sword
21 Reading: Sato, Legends of the Samurai “Yamamoto Tsunetomo:
Hagakure (Hidden in Leaves)” pp. 287-303. Due: Response #11
23 Reading: Sato, Legends of the Samurai, “The Forty-Seven Samurai: An
Eyewitness Account” pp. 304-321. Due: Response #12
28 Film clip: The sword wound—Asano’s attack on Kira in the shōgun’s
court. “Chushingura: The Loyal 47 Retainers” (Chūshingura, 1962) dir.
Inagaki; and “The 47 Rōnin” (Genroku Chūshingura, 1941) dir.
Mizoguchi.
30 Reading: Sato, Legends of the Samurai, “The Forty-Seven Samurai:
Arguments” pp. 322-338. Due: Response #13
4 Apr. Film clip: The raid—the night assault on Kira’s mansion and the taking of
the head. “Chushingura” dir. Inagaki; and “The 47 Rōnin” dir. Mizoguchi.
6 Reading: Sato, Legends of the Samurai, “Kō no Moronao: When a Warrior
Falls in Love,” pp. 188-203. Due: Response #14
11 Reading: Keene, Chūshingura: Treasury of Loyal Retainers Acts 1-6, pp.
29-103. Due: Response #15
Film clip: Chūshingura Act 5, “Two Shots Fired” (NHK, 2010) 19 mins.
13 Reading: Keene, Chūshingura: Treasury of Loyal Retainers Acts 7-11,
pp.104-180. Due: Response #16
Film clip: Chūshingura, Act 7, “The Ichiriki Teahouse” (NHK, 2010) 15
mins.
18 False honor and the inhumane use of the sword.
Film: “Harakiri” (Seppuku, 1962) dir. Kobayashi (134 mins.)
20 “Harakiri” cont. Due after class: Forum #3
25 Nonviolence in the face of violence.
Film: “Samurai Fiction” (1998) dir. Nakano (111 mins.)
27 “Samurai Fiction” cont. Due after class: Forum #4
1 May Class cancelled. Final 5-page paper due. Topic: Discuss the Akō
Vendetta in terms of the samurai concept of the ethical use of the sword.
Explain how competing allegiances made it difficult to determine if the
actions of the 47 Ronin were righteous or not. Discuss how the vendetta
was dramatized in the puppet theater (1748) and in modern film. How do
post-war films address the ethical use of the sword differently? Give
specific examples from readings and films to support your discussion