HISTORY AND FICTION: DISCURSIVE THINKING IN THE WORK “A PORTRAIT OF SHUNKIN” BY TANIZAKI JUN’ICHIRO

Abstract

Through the refined and intelligent storytelling, Tanizaki Jun’ichirō transforms the imaginary world of literature into a vivid reality, allowing that reality to transcend the descriptive limits of fixed conceptual frameworks. This article analyzes discursive thinking in relation to historicity and fictionality in “A Portrait of Shunkin” – a novella first published in the journal Chūōkōron in 1933. Approached from the perspectives of discourse theory, narratology, and interpretive semiotics; employing both analytical and structural methods, this study demonstrates how Tanizaki constructs a multi-layered narrator, an unreliable narrative voice, and a search for trustworthy representations. The findings reveal that the act of textual production invites the readers to question any universalized portrayal. At the same time, the embodied history of multisensory narration encourages the reader to engage with diverse fictional stories. These interpretive possibilities elucidate how Tanizaki guides the reader beyond the boundaries of conventional narrative frameworks and into a dialogical space of discourse on Japan, situated within the historical context of the early twentieth century.