This abridged edition of Traditional Japanese Literature: An Anthology, Beginnings to 1600, is the companion volume to the abridged Early Modern Japanese Literature: An Anthology, 1600–1900. Like the Early Modern volume, this one was organized and written with several objectives. First was the need to select representative texts and subtexts to present a broader and more complex view of Japanese literature without sacrificing the familiar texts. Throughout the book, in the introductions to each text, in the special introductions to genres and periods, and in the notes and commentaries, I have provided sociohistorical, religious, cultural, and literary contexts.
Most of the texts here have been translated for the first time, and many of the familiar texts have been retranslated specifically for this anthology. I strongly believe in the need for multiple translators, who can bring different voices to the texts. The quality and accuracy of the translations, the notes, and commentary are, of course, my responsibility, and unless otherwise noted, the introductions and commentary were written by me.
I am indebted to the many scholars from North America and Japan who aided me in countless ways. I owe special thanks to Lewis Cook, who helped with the seemingly endless editing and corrections. I am grateful to Sonja Arntzen, Steven Carter, Wiebke Deneke, James Dobbins, Fujii Sadakazu, Mack Horton, Hyōdo Hiromi, Ii Haruki, Imai Masaharu, Kawahira Hitoshi, Donald Keene, Komine Yasuaki, Lawrence Kominz, Konoshi Takamitsu, David Lurie, Matsuoka Shinpei, Okuda Isao, Edward Seidensticker, Shinada Yoshikazu, Tomi Suzuki, Mari Takamatsu, Paul Varley, Burton Watson, Michael Watson, and Yamanaka Reiko. My special thanks to Anne Commons, Torquil Duthie, Linda Feng, Naomi Fukumori, Marco Gottardo, Satoko Naito, Jamie Newhard, Saeko Shibayama, Jack Stoneman, and Akiko Takeuchi. I want to thank the editorial director of Columbia University Press, Jennifer Crewe, who initiated the project, and Irene Pavitt, who did a great job for me at the press.