Classes started up again today, so I actually have obligations that demand to be met. Japanese language class was first. I have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, when I compare the work in this class to what I did over the summer, I laugh a heart laugh. "Only 4 chapters in 10 weeks, but 50 kanji to learn and a mere hour of class a day? This is nothing," I proclaim in a stentorian voice, like that of the Mighty Thor. "Fie! What of the days when classes lasted 5 hours, when 9 chapters were the subject of 9 weeks' time and when 200 kanji or more had to be met and mastered? Offer unto me a challenge befitting my might!"
On the other hand, the class is conducted entirely in Japanese. We get, basically, no participation credit for the day if we use English in class. Honestly, it shouldn't be that bad; it's just responding to questions I already know the answers to, right? I should be able to manage. But, still: Eep. And my grade actually matters, now. I've got to get, at minimum, a 2.5 in Japanese to get credit for the course and get my degree. Hopefully I'll still have the aid of my (cute) tutor; just waiting on her to call me back.
(Update: spoke with (cute) tutor. Tuting will continue apace, twice-weekly and still at no cost.)
My other class (yes, I'm only taking two. I'm lazy; you all know this.) is about Civil Society in Japan. While I do like the non-profits, I'm finding in a little hard to get excited. I mean, if it's not Freaky Japanese Cults then, really, what's the point?
I wanted to take the class on the Samurai Tradition and Noh Theatre. Sounded cool. I mean, samurai. Rock on. Noh Theatre? Also cool. If I had to guess, I'd say that the entire class is probably about the Tale of the 47 Ronin or something. Sadly, they're only offering the class through the experimental college, which means I don't get credit if I take it. Also it's only offered from 7 to 10 at night on Tuesdays. That's just dumb.
Last, Mike did something cool and got me the first two volumes of the Journey to the West at a garage sale. It's one of the classic novels of ancient China, in a similar category as the Romance of the Three Kingdoms and the Outlaws of the Marsh. It's a lot more magical than the other two; the main characters are, aside from a Buddhist monk, the monkey king, a pig monster, a half demon and a dragon prince.
I've said before that the Three Kingdoms holds the same place in the Chinese mind as the Illiad or Arthurian Legends do in the West, and that the Outlaws of the Marsh holds the same place as the Robin Hood story; I'm not sure, if we're making equivalencies, what I should compare Journey to the West to. I'm open to suggestions. Anyway, I'm eager to read it.
Comments (11)
Isn't the original Dragon Ball very loosely based on Journey to the West?
Posted by Lukas | September 28, 2005 8:31 PM
Posted on September 28, 2005 20:31
It's been a long, long while since I've seen the original Dragon Ball and I'm not 100% sure I've seen all of it, at that, so I couldn't really say.
The idea of it, though, both fascinates and terrifies me.
Eric? They were your tapes; have any insight to add? Or possibly any input you've gained from Adam, who's really the biggest Dragon Ball fiend I know?
Posted by Jason | September 29, 2005 12:44 AM
Posted on September 29, 2005 00:44
Have you had a chance to read SUICIDE YAKUZA #1 yet, Jason? Then I can tell you about the fact that I finally figured out names for the next two books to come after it. Heh. Email me. We'll AIM. haven't spoken to ya in a long, long time.
Posted by Bard | September 29, 2005 10:53 PM
Posted on September 29, 2005 22:53
Hmmm, I don't think I can be of much help, Jason. Mr. Lindberg owned the tape that resided in The Swamp, and although I did purchase the five-volume set for Adam, it's been so long since I watched them that I wouldn't be able to draw any meaningful conclusions for you.
The theme song was cool, though.
Posted by Eric | September 30, 2005 6:54 AM
Posted on September 30, 2005 06:54
I love the 47 ronin... They need to be mentioned more often.
As for Journey to the West.... Animal Farm? :P I don't know. And don't laugh, because in JttW, there is a freaking monkey ARMS RACE.
Posted by The Last Oni | September 30, 2005 7:53 AM
Posted on September 30, 2005 07:53
The tape I have is the first US rendition of DB I think. It's a severely edited TV movie encompassing the first few story arcs of the original series. I guess some of the main characters fit the Journey to the West - Goku as the Monkey King, the pig guy, the weird rabbity thing. Not knowing anything about JtW, I couldn't tell you. I assume it didn't have hovercraft and spaceships and aliens and stuff.
Posted by Erik | September 30, 2005 8:55 AM
Posted on September 30, 2005 08:55
The best wisdom I can give is that DB was created first as a way to poke fun at literature of the time. Ha. One of the characters is a communist pig (and there is a communist owl somewhere too) for crying out loud. Since I have not had the pleasure of reading JttW, I can't draw any connections...however, there are a lot of parallels in the media that weren't meant to be there. Akira Toriyama started off just having some filler fun and ended up with a series.
Ack. My knowledge is waning. I'll see if I can scrounge up anything else between classes. :)
Posted by Adam | September 30, 2005 10:27 AM
Posted on September 30, 2005 10:27
I checked, and according to both Wikipedia and several dozen sites that show up in a google search, DB and its characters were originally "inspired by" JttW.
Posted by Lukas | September 30, 2005 11:06 AM
Posted on September 30, 2005 11:06
That JttW/DB thing is weird. Now I feel the need to read/watch them concurrently and figure out all the parellels. Though that may well destroy me.
Ogre - you should totally become a ronin, and then find 46 other people to join up with you in your ronin lifestyle.
Bard - I have, yes, read Suicide Yakuza. I like it. Specific comments will follow, next time I get on AIM. Things have been weird, working my way back into a non-crazy schedule. Sorry. :(
Posted by Jason | September 30, 2005 11:47 AM
Posted on September 30, 2005 11:47
That JttW/DB thing is weird. Now I feel the need to read/watch them concurrently and figure out all the parellels. Though that may well destroy me.
Yeah, uh, don't do that.
Posted by Erik | September 30, 2005 1:44 PM
Posted on September 30, 2005 13:44
S'cool, Jason. Still, your knowledge of Japan is better than mine. Thus I DO value your advice.
Take your time.
Posted by Bard | September 30, 2005 8:58 PM
Posted on September 30, 2005 20:58