User:GwenithV/Gesaku

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Gesaku (戯作) is a form of fiction. It is also known as "frivolous writing". As this from became popular, they created different sub genres of gesaku such as: Sharebon, Kokkeibon, Dangibon, Ninjobon, Yomihon, Ukiyo-e, Kusazoshi, and Kibyoshi, It became popular during the Edo period (1603-1867). It was created by Hiraga Gennai. This form of "playful writing" was used by samurai intellectuals before well-educated merchants became authors. It also took inspiration of some aspects of The Floating word AKA Ukiyo. Unlike predecessors in the literary field, gesaku writers did not strive for beauty and perfect form in their writings, but rather for the popular content, written only for entertainment. Gesaku writers were dependent on making a living by sale of their books. When a book was successful it was usually followed by as many sequels as the audience would tolerate.

A very popular humorous variety of gesaku fiction was Tōkaidōchū Hizakurige by Jippensha Ikku, the story of the travels and slapstick adventures of two carefree men from Edo along the Tokaido, the broad highway between Kyoto and Edo. A few popular authors are Kyokutei Bakin, and Santo Kyoden. He wrote many stories of the gesaku sub genres, including Yomihon, Sharebon and Kibyoshi. As well as Kyokutei Bakin, he wrote Kibyoshi, and Yomihon. A popular work of his is The Eight Dog Warriors of the Satomi Clan (Nanso Satomi Hakkenden).

Article body
During the Edo period, literature was at the lowest regarding popularity. Gennai was a low ranking retainer of the Sanuki Domain. As he was a samurai over the years he became a writer widely known for his Gesaku writings. When Gesaku and other sub genres of that became popular during the Edo period. Commoners did not have to be educated to understand playful writing. As more and more authors enjoyed this form of writing Japan went through several reforms such as Tenpo, Kansai, Kyoho and others. During these reforms authors were able to avoid censorship by writing the story in a style of what you're not supposed to do but, in the center of the stories the author shows the reader his/ her message. Towards the end of the story, the author loops back what you're not supposed to do. Scholars today still question if his writing was good or poor due to him learning different levels of scholarly learning. Scholars have found that this writing has a "lack of various virtues". On the other hand scholars have found an independent work and its organic relationship with the activities of the community.