Yutaka Haniya
Encyclopedia
was a noted Japanese
author
.
, then a Japanese colony, to a Samurai family named Hannya after the Hannya Shingyo (Heart Sutra
). He had a sickly childhood and suffered from tuberculosis
in his teens. Although originally interested in anarchism
, in 1931 he joined the Japanese Communist Party
, became its Agriculture Director the following year, and was promptly arrested. While in the prison's hospital, he devoted himself to studying Immanuel Kant
's Critique of Pure Reason
.
After World War II
, Haniya founded a little magazine entitled Kindai Bungaku (Modern Literature) which became very influential. In this role he discovered and published Kōbō Abe
, who subsequently joined Haniya's avant-garde group Yoru no Kai (Night Group).
Haniya was a prolific writer; after his death, Kodansha published his complete works in a set of 19 volumes. He won the Tanizaki Prize
in 1970 for his collection Black Horses in the Darkness and other stories.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
.
Biography
Haniya was born in TaiwanTaiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, then a Japanese colony, to a Samurai family named Hannya after the Hannya Shingyo (Heart Sutra
Heart Sutra
The Heart Sūtra is a Mahāyāna Buddhist sūtra. Its Sanskrit name literally translates to "Heart of the Perfection of Transcendent Wisdom." The Heart Sūtra is often cited as the best known and most popular of all Buddhist scriptures.-Introduction:The Heart Sūtra is a member of the Perfection of...
). He had a sickly childhood and suffered from tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
in his teens. Although originally interested in anarchism
Anarchism
Anarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations...
, in 1931 he joined the Japanese Communist Party
Japanese Communist Party
The Japanese Communist Party is a left-wing political party in Japan.The JCP advocates the establishment of a society based on socialism, democracy and peace, and opposition to militarism...
, became its Agriculture Director the following year, and was promptly arrested. While in the prison's hospital, he devoted himself to studying Immanuel Kant
Immanuel Kant
Immanuel Kant was a German philosopher from Königsberg , researching, lecturing and writing on philosophy and anthropology at the end of the 18th Century Enlightenment....
's Critique of Pure Reason
Critique of Pure Reason
The Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant, first published in 1781, second edition 1787, is considered one of the most influential works in the history of philosophy. Also referred to as Kant's "first critique," it was followed by the Critique of Practical Reason and the Critique of Judgement...
.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Haniya founded a little magazine entitled Kindai Bungaku (Modern Literature) which became very influential. In this role he discovered and published Kōbō Abe
Kobo Abe
, pseudonym of was a Japanese writer, playwright, photographer and inventor. Abe has been often compared to Franz Kafka and Alberto Moravia for his surreal, often nightmarish explorations of individuals in contemporary society and his modernist sensibilities....
, who subsequently joined Haniya's avant-garde group Yoru no Kai (Night Group).
Haniya was a prolific writer; after his death, Kodansha published his complete works in a set of 19 volumes. He won the Tanizaki Prize
Tanizaki Prize
The Tanizaki Prize , named in honor of the Japanese novelist Jun'ichirō Tanizaki, is one of Japan's most sought-after literary awards. It was established in 1965 by the publishing company Chūō Kōronsha Inc. to commemorate its 80th anniversary as a publisher...
in 1970 for his collection Black Horses in the Darkness and other stories.
Selected works
- Death Spirits, (Shirei, 死靈), 1946-1996
- Black Horses in the Darkness and other stories, (Yami no naka no kuroi uma, 闇のなかの黒い馬), 1970