Activity Reports

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"The Journey of BOTAN DOUROU, How the Story was Adapted from China to Japan and Vietnam" - Report

The research conference, "The Journey of BOTAN DOUROU, How the Story was Adapted from China to Japan and Vietnam", co-hosted by the Comparative Japanese Culture Division and International Cooperation Division was held on Nov 12 in the Medium Conference Room, Administration offices.

The presenters were:
Professor Matilde Mastrangelo, "Sapienza" University of Rome,
Professor Doan Le Giang, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ho Chi Minh City
Professor Hsu Li Fang, Changhua University, Taiwan
Professor Asuka Senno of Hosei University facilitated the session.

In her talk, "The Journey of BOTAN DOUROU, The Journey to the West", Professor Mastrangelo explained that it was Lafcadio Hearn who, after hearing about Encho's reputation, and watching Kikugoro's "BOTAN DOUROU", planned the adaptation of this story. She ended by saying that thanks to the interpretation of the two master story-tellers, Encho and Hearn, "BOTAN DOUROU" could make it to the Western shores.

Professor Doan's talk, "Chuyện cây gạo (in "Truyền kỳ mạn lục" by Nguyễn Dữ") and "BOTAN TOUKI" (in "The New Discussions of Jiandeng" by Qu You) - A Comparative Analysis", explained that "Truyền kỳ mạn lục", written by Nguyễn Dữ (late 15th century - early 16th century?) was an adaptation of Qu You's "The New Discussions of Jiandeng". Comparing the corresponding relationship between the original and Vietnamese versions, and the differences in "BOTAN TOUKI" and Nguyễn Dữ's adaptation, "Chuyện cây gạo", she pointed out that while the former took on a moralistic tone, in the latter it changed into a romantic love story between a human being and a spirit. Lastly, Professor Hsu introduced the voluminous research on "The New Discussions of Jiandeng" that has taken place in Taiwan for thirty years since 1980, and made comparisons to adaptations of romantic literature by Ryoui Asai and Akinari Ueda in her talk, 'Conforming to the Narrative Style and Value Consciousness - An Analysis of the Transmission and Changes in "BOTAN TOUKI"'.

With approx. 40 participants, there were lively discussions among students and participants from both inside and outside of the University.