Brain Function and Japanese Literatures.

Why we have literatures different from others? We can think many reasons. Geographic features, climate, history and others. One of the reasons I want to approach here is our Brain Function. I think the function has been characterizing our literatures.



According to resarchers, our brain function is clearly different from Americans. A brain's response research discovered an interesting fact. The researchers put Japanese examinees and American examinees to the test that they hear singing of insects.



Then, Japanese brains reacted the sound with their left brain. American brains reacted the sound with their right brain. What do these results mean? That is, Japanese sense the insect's sound as language and Americans sense the sound as noise, according to the researchers.



Then, I can assume that such brain function has a substantial influence on Japanese literatures. And I can explain Japanese literatures from this stand point. I show you two Japanese waka poems. Daringly I translate them literally.



秋風の吹くる宵は きりぎりす

草の根ごとに声乱れけり / 紀貫之



"Tonight, autumn breeze is blowing, katydids are singing through the field of grass. "



This waka poem composed by Kino Turayuki, a great waka poet. Many westerners may want to read the rest of this poem. However, the poem is completed. The sound of katydids(long-horned grasshopper) is heart of this poem. Japanese feelingly listen to what the insects say. This poem is really meaningful. Some westerners may say "what do the insects say?". However, I can't explain about it in any words, this is a rhyming literature.

(My translation is may not good)





奥山に紅葉踏み分け 鳴く鹿の

声きくときぞ、秋は悲しき / 猿丸太夫



"When I hear a cry cried by a deer walking on fallen red leaves at the deep in the mountain, I feel sadness of the autumn."



The poet is Sarumaru Dayu. This poem projects sadness and loneliness into my heart. I think the poet may lost a loved one. The voice is poet's own voice let out in his heart. The sound of footfall also express his loneliness. This is not insect's case. However, I can say the cry is also lyrical language. Now, I saw an authority's interpretations of those poet to certain the interpretations of poems, It seems it have little in it. Anyway, we can interpret them as we like.



More advanced research discovered that, roughly speaking, Japanese-American's brain reaction is same as Americans. American-Japanese's brain reaction is same as Japanese. And the researchers say such brain function's character is built up by about 6 years old, and it never change after that age.



I think westerners hear also the "language" more or less. Because American's left brain also responded in a degree from I saw the graphic. And I suppose also there is vary between individuals too. I want to add that maybe there are Americans whose reaction is similar to Japanese because the difference between Japanese and Americans caused by life environment. Even if one American perfectly live in American life environment, in some situations, his or her brain may be closely resemble Japanese brain.



In addition, When Japanese listen to Japanese traditional musics, the brains react with left brain contrast to American brains react with right brain. Whereas, when Japanese listen to western classical musics, Japanese brains react with right brain, which is the same as Americans.



In this season, every night, insects are singing through the town. I wrote this essay with me hearing the voice. The members of the orchestra give a dreamy performance every night, and it compare favorably with any musics.



I found the photo of Giouji temple on internet. It is free from copyrights.



Well,

Go Hanshin Tigers!



----note



Hanshin Tigers is a professioal baseball team in Osaka.