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Jin'ichi Konishi

こにし じんいち

Konishi Jin'ichi

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1915-08-22 （Funae, Ujiyamada (now Ise), Mie Prefecture, Japan）
Died
2007-05-26 （Nishitokyo, Tokyo, Japan (hospital)） age 91
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese, English, Chinese, German, French, Korean
Residence History
Ujiyamada (now Ise), Mie, Japan → Tokyo, Japan → United States (long-term residence) → Nishitokyo, Tokyo, Japan (later years)

Career

Occupations
literary scholar, Japanese literature scholar, university professor, researcher, editor, translator
Active Years
1936-2007
Affiliations
Tokyo University of Education (Faculty of Letters), University of Tsukuba (Faculty of Arts and Letters / Literature & Linguistics), Stanford University (Visiting Professor), University of Hawaii (Senior Researcher), Princeton University (Researcher), Library of Congress (permanent academic advisor)
Influenced By
Earl Miner, Robert H. Brower, American analytic literary criticism
Influenced
Scholars of Japanese literature and Japanese language educators, His students and subsequent generations of scholars

Education

Tokyo Higher Normal School
Japanese Language and Literature (department)
Country: Japan
Tokyo Bunrika University (old system)
Department of Japanese Language and Literature
Degree: 文学士
Period: 〜1936
Year of Graduation: 1936
Country: Japan
Tokyo Bunrika University Graduate School (Research Course)
Graduate School / Department of Japanese Language and Literature
Degree: 文学博士（論文博士）
Period: 研究科修了（1940）・博士取得（1954）
Year of Graduation: 1954
Country: Japan
Doctoral thesis: "Bunkyō Hifuron Kō" (文鏡秘府論考)

Awards

Japan Academy Prize
1951
Work: Study on Bunkyō Hifuron (文鏡秘府論考)
Organization: The Japan Academy
Result: winner
Osaragi Jirō Prize
1992
Work: A History of Japanese Literature
Organization: Osaragi Jirō Prize Committee
Result: winner
Order of the Sacred Treasure, Second Class
1987
Category: 勲章
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: honor
Person of Cultural Merit
1999
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: honor

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

A History of Japanese Literature

1985 literary history

A comprehensive five-volume scholarly history of Japanese literature. It systematizes the development of Japanese letters; volumes 1–3 were translated into English and published by Princeton University Press (vols.4–5 remained unpublished at the time).

history of Japanese literaturemedieval literaturemodern literaturepoetics
Translations
  • A History of Japanese Literature, vols.1–3 (translated by Aileen Gatten and Nicholas Teele; Princeton University Press, 1984–1991)

Kobun Kenkyūhō (Methods for Classical Japanese Studies)

1955 textbook / research introduction

A practical guide to reading and researching classical Japanese literature. Written as an accessible textbook and study aid, it became a long-selling introductory work widely used in exam preparation.

classical literaturereading methodologyJapanese language education

Bunkyo Hifuron Kō (Study on Bunkyō Hifuron)

1948 classical studies

A scholarly study on classical waka and literary style; this work was the basis for his receiving the Japan Academy Prize.

waka poetryclassical styletextual commentary

Ryōjin Hishō Kō (Study on Ryōjin Hishō)

1941 classical studies

An annotated study of the medieval song anthology Ryōjin Hishō, representing early work in his medieval literature scholarship.

medieval literaturesong anthologytextual commentary

Studies in Noh Drama

1961 theatre studies / noh research

Theoretical and historical studies on Zeami and Noh theatre, discussing the art and classical status of Noh.

NohZeamitheory of drama

Basic Dictionary of Classical Japanese

1966 dictionary / study aid

A compact dictionary of classical Japanese used widely by learners; later revised and retitled as a standard study dictionary.

classical vocabularydictionaryeducational support

Bibliography

  • Ryōjin Hishō Kō (1941)
  • Bunkyo Hifuron Kō (Research Vol. I, 1948)
  • Bunkyo Hifuron Kō Vol.2 (Research Vol. II, 1951)
  • Tosa Nikki: Commentary (1951)
  • Haiku (1952)
  • New Interpretation of The Pillow Book (1953)
  • A History of Japanese Literature (1953)
  • Kobun Kenkyūhō (1955)
  • Shortcut to Japanese Grammar (1959)
  • Studies in Noh Drama (1961)
  • Reading Classical Japanese (1962)
  • Basic Dictionary of Classical Japanese (1966)
  • Selected Japanese Poets 16: Sōgi (1971)
  • 'Michi' — Medieval Ideals (1975)
  • New Edited 600 Poem Match (1976)
  • The World of Haiku (1981)
  • A History of Japanese Literature (1985–1992)
  • Poetics of Japanese Literature (1998)
  • Supplement to A History of Japanese Literature: Principles of Japanese Literary Theory (2009, posthumous)

Translations by Author

  • Zeami: Noh Theory Collection (edited and translated)
  • Selections from Fūshi Kaden and Kakyō (edited/translated)

Translations of Works

  • A History of Japanese Literature, vols.1–3 (translated by Aileen Gatten and Nicholas Teele; Princeton University Press, 1984–1991)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
clear, analytical scholarly prosecomparative and multi-perspective approachempirical textual commentary and lexical analysis
Recurring Motifs
focus on medieval literature, renga, noh, and haikuanalysis of style and expressioninternationalization of Japanese literature and translation/annotation

Health

  • pneumonia
    2007-05
    Hospitalized with pneumonia; cause of death

Legacy

Konishi made major contributions to medieval Japanese literature and comparative literary studies, influenced university and language education through widely used textbooks, and helped internationalize Japanese literary studies through English translations. He influenced many students and subsequent scholars.

Academic Societies

  • Japanese Literature Association
  • The Japan Academy

Archives

  • University of Tsukuba Library (holdings)
  • National Diet Library (holdings)

Quotes

  • Books that young people, who will bear Japan's future, spend their precious youth reading are very important. Scholars writing study guides should be considered to have weight equal to writing doctoral dissertations. It is highly desirable for distinguished scholars to produce many good study books for the sake of Japan's future.
    Source: Kobun Kenkyūhō (Preface) (1955)

Trivia

  • Held a 4-dan rank in shogi
  • Performed on stage in Noh and Kyogen
  • Was linguistically skilled: worked with English, Chinese, German, French and Korean
  • Served as a lecturer for university entrance exam radio courses
  • Kobun Kenkyūhō became a long-selling textbook