Ritual, Aesthetics, and Handwriting: Collaborative Poetry in Contemporary Japan

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Jörg B. Quenzer
• Subject Area: Asian Studies
• Term: from 2020 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 439377723

• Final Report Year: 2024

Final Report Abstract

The aim of the project was to describe modern or neo-classical Japanese linked verse (renga) and its development from the 1980s to the present, in particular its use of written artefacts. The project was carried out in collaboration with the "Facing New Technologies"working group, part of the „Centre for the Study of Manuscript Cultures“ (CSMC, UHH), whose central question was that of change and retention in the face of technological innovation. It turned out that the contemporary poetry circles introduced new manuscript forms as well as maintaining, albeit to a lesser extent, classical formats that had remained almost unchanged since the late 14th century. The reasons for this are, on the one hand, the connection with the religious sphere and ritual, and, on the other, the importance of traditional calligraphy both in aesthetic and religious terms. The structure of the texts has also proved to be a stable element over the centuries, with effects on the written artefacts. The Corona virus pandemic broke out during the project period. In Japan, this led to an acceleration of existing trends towards the digitalisation of renga groups. It was also interesting to observe that groups returned to face-to-face meetings after the pandemic. It is not least the interaction between the participants in these circles that still makes handwriting and the corresponding manuscript formats indispensable. However, digital processes remain important for the preservation and distribution of texts and as an additional offering. On the other hand, the social environment of the twentieth century, in particular an educational horizon that no longer focused solely on traditional arts, made adjustments to the rules and notation procedures necessary to facilitate access for the participants. Specific cultural policy measures have also been taken at various levels to preserve and disseminate linked verse as a cultural technique. Another stabilising factor was the close connection between science and the poetic practice of renga.

Publications

• The Revival of Renga Poetry in Contemporary Japan, in: Japonica Humboldtiana, 21/2019: 5–37
  Buck-Albulet, Heidi
  
• 03. Sept. 2020: Temporalität im Renga. Arbeitskreises Vormoderne japanische Literatur: Zeit in der vormodernen japanischen Literatur, Universität Zürich, 3.–5. Juli 2020
  Buck-Albulet, Heidi
  
• 04. Sept. 2021: Renga in Erzählungen – Erzählungen im Renga. Arbeitskreises Vormoderne japanische Literatur Ruhr-Universität Bochum
  Buck-Albulet, Heidi
  
• 14. April 2021: What is an Original Renga Manuscript? Arbeitsgruppe C: Creating Originals, CSMC, Universität Hamburg
  Buck-Albulet, Heidi
  
• 23. März 2021 : Renga Revival Movements in Contemporary Japan: What can they teach us about Textual Heritage? Ca’ Foscari University of Venice (online)
  Buck-Albulet, Heidi
  
• 25. August 2021: The Present and the Future of the Past: Written Artefacts in Classical and Neoclassical Renga, 16th International EAJS Conference 2021 in Ghent (online)
  Buck-Albulet, Heidi
  
• Exploring Written Artefacts. De Gruyter.
  Quenzer, Jörg B.
  
• From ‘Task’ to ‘Title’? Japanese Linked Poetry and the Fushimono. Exploring Written Artefacts, 623-646. De Gruyter.
  Buck-Albulet, Heidi
  
• Introduction: In Honour of Michael Friedrich. Exploring Written Artefacts, XIII-XXX. De Gruyter.
  Quenzer, Jörg B.
  
• Temporality in Renga. Asiatische Studien - Études Asiatiques, 75(1), 163-193.
  Buck-Albulet, Heidi
  
• ‘Technique’, ‘Technics’, ‘Technik’ ‘Technology’ ‘Technologie’, Arbeitsgruppe FNT, CSMC, Universität Hamburg, 22. Jan. 2021
  Buck-Albulet, Heidi
  
• 07. Mai 2022 Votivrenga vom Mittelalter bis in die Gegenwart: Textualität, Materialität, Performativität. Arbeitskreis Japanische Religionen in Tübingen (online)
  Buck-Albulet, Heidi
  
• 08. April 2022: Text and beyond: Renga and The concept of ‘textual heritage‘ Arbeitsgruppe FNT, CSMC, Universität Hamburg
  Buck-Albulet, Heidi
  
• 1. Dezember 2022: Rediscovering Women in Japanese Linked Verse: Evidence from Manuscripts. Arbeitsgruppe TNT, CSMC, Universität Hamburg
  Buck-Albulet, Heidi
  
• 10. Februar 2022. The Notion of Authenticity in the Realm of Renga Manuscripts Arbeitsgruppe C: Creating Originals, CSMC, Universität Hamburg
  Buck-Albulet, Heidi
  
• Tables of Contents and Titles in Japanese Esoteric Buddhist Manuscripts, in: manuscript cultures, 18, 133–158
  Buck-Albulet, Heidi
  
• 09. Juni 2023 Change and Retention in Linked Verse Manuscripts. Renga – Haikai – Renku Arbeitsgruppe FNT, CSMC, Universität Hamburg
  Buck-Albulet, Heidi
  
• 15. August 2023: Linked Verse (renga): Mediality and Performativity. International Symposium, Mediality of Premodern Japanese Narratives: A Diachronic Perspective, Univers. Zürich
  Buck-Albulet, Heidi
  
• How It All Began: Japanese Origin Legends (engi) with Special Consideration of Scriptures on Mount Kōya, in: Hisao Matsumaru and Hermann-Josef Röllicke, (Hgg.): Hōrin 22, 251–277
  Buck-Albulet, Heidi
  
• Performing Renga with Manuscripts. Manuscripts and Performances in Religions, Arts, and Sciences, 425-452. De Gruyter.
  Buck-Albulet, Heidi
  
• On the Concept of Originators, in: manuscript cultures, 21, 2–10
  Quenzer, Jörg B., Hanna Boeddeker, Janine Droese, Theresa Müller, Bruno Reudenbach & Ilona Steimann
  
• Women in Renga Poetry: (Re-)Opening a Research Field, in: Heidi Buck-Albulet, Michaela Oberwinkler and Wolfram Schaffar (Hgg.), Über Grenzen hinweg – Zeichen, Sprache und Kultur in Japan, München: Iudicium, 91–122
  Buck-Albulet, Heidi
  
• Chapter 7. Japanese Linked Verse (Renga): Textual Heritage and Beyond. Textual Heritage, 183-214. Berghahn Books.
  Buck-Albulet, Heidi