Publication details
Tracing the Development of the Harakiri Stereotype in Czech Archive Media
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2023 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | During the late 19th century, the first Japanese, a group of acrobats and magicians, visited the Czech lands, prompting a famous Czech publicist to write a feuilleton about their performance. Intriguingly, he claimed to be relieved that the performers did not demonstrate any of the supposedly well-known Japanese traditions, such as bathing or harakiri. These two things were probably among the few, if not the only, knowledge he had about Japan at that time. At that time, the word "harakiri" and the notion of it being a Japanese national custom practiced daily were primarily disseminated through newspaper articles and geographical publications. The first travelogue on Japan in the Czech language did not appear until the 1880s. The term "harakiri" got more and more prevalent over time, contributing to the formation of the harakiri stereotype. My presentation aims to explore the historical usage and development of the term "harakiri" in Czech archive media, shedding light on the formation of the harakiri stereotype and its penetration into the general consciousness. Through an analysis of Czech archive media, I will identify certain waves in their occurrences and discuss their causes within the broader context of intercultural contacts and the formation of the general image of Japan. |