My main area of study is Chinese art history, and I’m studying Japanese in order to read the secondary literature in the field. Japanese scholars have studied Chinese history, paintings, and sculptures for centuries, and learning Japanese will allow me to access a rich source of research. I’m excited to eventually read Japanese texts, and in the more immediate future, to able to hold a conversation in a new language and to be exposed to contemporary Japanese culture. I’m also excited to examine the linguistic overlaps and distinctions between Chinese and Japanese. For me, the most challenging aspect of class so far has been reading and writing in hiragana. Let’s hope what they say is true: practice makes perfect!

p.s. Gold leaf and pine trees are most often what come to mind when I think of traditional Japanese art. I love the juxtaposition of a shimmering backdrop against the austerity of an old tree, just as I hope that the arduous work of language study will bring with it some glimmers of insight.