In this blog post, we’ll explore how Dōpo’s concise writing style and detailed descriptions of scenery reveal a modern “inner world” and continue to resonate with us today. Why Dōpo? Although Doppo is often referred to as a pioneer of naturalism in the history of Japanese literature, he was in fact a leading figure in modern Japanese literature who forged his own path, unbound by any...
How did Kenzaburo Oe confront all the violence in the world after the birth of Hikari?
In this blog post, we’ll explore Kenzaburo Oe’s upbringing, his “personal experiences,” his major works, and how the figure of Hikari permeates his literature, peace activism, and social struggles. The Author’s Life Kenzaburo Oe was born in Ose Village, a mountain village in Ehime Prefecture, Japan, as the fifth of seven siblings, and from an early age, he loved telling stories to people...
How Should We Read Akutagawa’s Representative Short Stories?
In this blog post, I will examine Ryunosuke Akutagawa’s major short stories one by one to summarize the core themes of each work and offer guidance on how to approach them. Rashomon (1915) Although this work is more widely known through Akira Kurosawa’s film ‘Rashomon’, the setting of Rashomon carries strong symbolic significance in the original novel. While “In the...
What message did Lu Xun convey through ‘The True Story of Ah Q’?
In this blog post, we will examine the servile mentality of the common people, social contradictions, and the limitations of revolution through the lens of Lu Xun, a master of modern Chinese literature, and his masterpiece ‘The True Story of Ah Q’, and explore the sharp message he conveyed about his era through his work. Lu Xun (魯迅) was born on September 25, 1881, in Shaoxing...
What is Lu Xun’s identity, and how does ‘The True Story of Ah Q’ reflect the reform of the national character?
In this blog post, we will analyze Lu Xun’s complex identity and the issue of national character reform as depicted in ‘The True Story of Ah Q’, while examining the core questions raised by his literature. Introduction Research on Lu Xun (魯迅) and his literature has been consistently conducted by numerous scholars from various perspectives. In particular, efforts to define his...
Was Lu Xun a revolutionary, or a writer who loved humanity?
In this blog post, we’ll explore the life and literary world of Lu Xun, a master of modern Chinese literature, and reflect on why he is remembered as a revolutionary while also being a writer who harbored deep compassion for humanity. If Hu Shi (胡適) is compared to Korea’s Choi Nam-seon in the history of modern Chinese literature, Lu Xun (魯迅) played a pioneering role in modern poetry and...
How Did Lu Xun Seek to Awaken the Chinese People?
In this blog post, we will examine Lu Xun’s literary transformation—through which he sought to awaken the ailing spirit of the Chinese people—and the satire found in his masterpiece, ‘The True Story of Ah Q’. Lu Xun’s Transformation and the Birth of ‘A Cry’ Lu Xun (1881–1936) grew up in affluence as a child in a family of minor landowners belonging to the literati...
How does the story of Dragon Raja’s founding 300 years ago connect to the present?
In this blog post, I’ll summarize the background of Dragon Raja’s founding and how the events that stemmed from it intertwine with the protagonist’s party’s journey. Background The story’s past dates back 300 years. The legendary knight Rooterino and the archmage Hendrake liberated humanity from dragon rule and founded the nation of Vaisus. Until then, humans had been forced to submit to...
How does the story of ‘Dragon Raja’ unfold?
In this blog post, I’ll summarize and introduce the main plot and narrative structure of ‘Dragon Raja’. Background In the story of ‘Dragon Raja’, the founding myth from 300 years ago is deeply intertwined with current events. The legendary knight Rooterino and the archmage Hendrake liberated humanity from the rule of the dragons in the past and founded the nation of...
Dragon Raja: Why Has It Become the Benchmark for Korean Fantasy?
In this blog post, I’ll summarize the plot (focusing on Volume 1), main characters, unique charms, and memorable quotes from Lee Young-do’s epic fantasy novel ‘Dragon Raja’. Overview of ‘Dragon Raja’ and the Plot of Volume 1 While ‘Dragon Raja’ is set in a classic fantasy world featuring familiar races such as elves, dwarves, trolls, and goblins, it is a...