Transcript Document
古代日本語
A “Brief” Lesson
By:
Ding Ding Zheng
Adam Solomon
Daniel Bruner
William Smith
奈良時代
Began in 710
Capital moved about 20 km north to 平城京(へい
じょうきょう) from 藤原京(ふじわらきょう)
Ended in 794
Temporary move to 長岡京(ながおかきょう) in
modern day 京都府(きょうとふ) in 784
Capital moved to 平安京(へいあんきょう) in 794,
beginning the 平安時代
奈良時代
Politics
Struggle for power between 藤原氏(ふじわらうじ)
and others
Characterized by familial infighting and disease
induced deaths
Beset by tragedies, Emperor Shomu turns to
Buddhism, placing strain on peasants
Construction of 大仏(だいぶつ) and 東大寺(とう
だいじ)
奈良時代
Society and Economy
Social structure based on Chinese system
Not suited for Japan’s agricultural reality
Vast majority of peasants in poverty
Failure allowed for private land ownership
Diplomacy
Tension with Korea
General harmony with China
奈良時代
Culture
Major influence from China
Proliferation of Buddhism
Flowering of Japanese fine arts
Literature
Temple and treasure construction by foreign artisans
平安時代
Began in 794
Unfortunate events of 長岡京(ながおかきょう)
Capital moved to 平安京(へいあんきょう), modern day 京
都
Assassination, etc.
To escape Buddhist influence in 奈良
Fear of spirits of assassinated Crown Prince Osabe
Desire to be close to
Ended in 1185
Defeat of 平氏(たいらうじ) establishing 鎌倉幕府(かまく
らばくふ)
平安時代
Politics
Phase 1: Attempts to revive 律令制度(りつりょう
せいど)
Hierarchy established based on Chinese system
Purpose of bureaucracy was to control populace
Universal taxation of peasants
Phase 2: Political and financial problems
Attempt to regulate private land ownership as solution
Failure to control proliferation of land ownership
平安時代
Politics
Phase 3: Firm establishment of 藤原摂関政治(ふ
じわらせっかんしじ) (Fujiwara regency politics)
Phase 4: Emperor not born of a 藤原 mother
Successful use of private base of power not founded on
Chinese style of administration
律令制度(りつりょうせいど)
Nearly phased out by the end of the 平安時代
平安時代
Culture
Buddhism flourished
天台宗(てんだいしゅう) Buddhism established at 延暦
寺(えんりゃくじ) on 比叡山(ひえいざん)
真言宗(しんごんしゅう)Buddhism founded by 空海(く
うかい) at 高野山(こうやさん) in the 紀伊(きい)
province, modern day 和歌山県(わかやまけん)
Temple was believed to protect capital from evil spirits
Popular with court officials
Source of comfort
Impetus for artistic development
Establishment of new sects outside of capital allowed
for separation
平安時代
Culture
Pure Land Buddhism popular
Warrior monks to defend private land ownership
Disputes between temples
Influence on nobility
Art
Move to wood sculpture form bronze
Images of Amida Buddha became popular
Lead to Pure Land
Secular paintings of landscapes and court life
源氏物語絵巻(げんじものがたりえまき)
12th Century illustration of famous tale
Important Works of the 奈良時代
古事記(こじき) 712
“Record of Ancient Matters”
Compiled by 太安万侶(おおの やすまろ)
Written in 変体漢文(へんたいかんぶん)
Japan’s oldest extant chronicle
Covers age of gods to the reign of Empress Suiko
(593–628)
日本書紀(にほんしょき) 720
“Chronicle of Japan”
Written in 漢文(かんぶん)
Oldest official history of Japan
Covers age of gods to the reign of Empress Jito
(686–697)
Important Works of the 奈良時代
万葉集(まんようしゅう) ca. 770
“Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves”
Believed to be compiled primarily by大伴家持(お
おとものやかもち)
Earliest extant 和歌(わか) collection
4,516 total poems
Written in 万葉仮名(まんようがな)
Important Works of the 平安時代
竹取物語(たけとりものがたり) end of 9th century
“The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter”
Oldest known Japanese narrative
Fable about the “Shining Princess” that was found in a
stand of bamboo
古今和歌集(こきんわかしゅう) 905
“Collection of Japanese Poems from Ancient and Modern
Times”
Main compiler was 紀貫之(きのつれゆき)
Wrote Japanese preface
Collection of 1111 和歌(わか) poems
More than 450 poems written anonymously
Important Works of the 平安時代
伊勢物語(いせものがたり) early 10th century
“Tales of Ise”
Authorship unknown
Collection of about 125 brief episodes
Oldest example of 歌物語(うたものがたり)
Possibly based on a collection by 在原業平(ありわらのなりひら)
Short stories centered on one or more poems
土佐日記(とさにっき) circa 935
“The Tosa Diary”
First significant work of 日記文学(にっきぶんがく)
Written by 紀貫之(きのつれゆき)
Written by a male posing as a woman
Written in kana, the language of women
Important Works of the 平安時代
宇津保物語(うつほものがたり) 967-984
“Tale of the Hollow Tree”
Author is unknown
Believed to be the worlds oldest still existing novel
Shipwrecked on the way to China
Taught to play 琴(こと)
落窪物語(おちくぼものがたり) late 10th century
“The Tale of the Lady Ochikubo”
Traditionally attributed to 源順(みなもとのしたがう)
Authorship disputed
Oldest fictional example on the “stepchild persecution”
theme
Important Works of the 平安時代
蜻蛉日記(かげろうにっき) 974 – 995
“The Gossamer Diary”
Lament of an unhappy wife
Likely influenced later works such as Genji
枕草子(まくらのそうし) 1000 – 1017
“The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon”
First example of 随筆(ずいひつ)
Spur of the moment collection of thoughts
Detailed description of events and customs of Heian court
Important Works of the 平安時代
源氏物語(げんじものがたり) early 11th century
“The Tale of Genji”
Believed to have been written by 紫式部(むらさきしきぶ)
World’s first ‘great novel’
Details life of the members of the Heian court
大鏡(おおかがみ) early 11th century
“The Great Mirror”
Author Unknown
Language close to spoken language of the time
Focuses on the lives of the Fujiwara from 850 to 1025
Important Works of the 平安時代
栄華物語(栄花物語)
“A Tale of Flowering Fortunes”
40 Chapters total
First 30 credited to 赤染衛門(あかぞめえもん)
Last 10 to Idewa no Ben
First history written in 仮名(かな)
First example of 歴史物語(れきしものがたり)
更級日記(さらしなにっき) circa 1060
“As I Crossed a Bridge of Dreams”
Anonymous
Details the life of a Tales obsessed woman
Important Works of the 平安時代
今昔物語集(こんじゃくものがたりしゅう) early 12th
century
“Tales of Times Now Past”
Collection of more than 1,000 short tales
Compiled by Minamoto no Takakuni in 宇治(うじ)
Said to have been collected from passerby
方丈記(ほうじょうき) 1212
“An Account of My Hut”
Written by鴨長明(かものちょうめい)
Short example of 随筆(ずいひつ)
The Six Inflected Forms of verbs, adjectives, adjectival verbs,
and auxiliary verbs
未然形(みぜんけい)MZ - The MZ is the
imperfective form (literally, “not-yet-realized” form), and
generally signifies an action(s) that has not yet taken place.
Depending upon what auxiliary verbs or particles follow it, the
MZ can express many things:
negation
intention, conjecture, or desire
hypothetical situation
desire or request
potential, passive, spontaneous, honorific, and causative
The MZ is sometimes referred to as the negative form because
the negative ず often follows the MZ form.
The Six Inflected Forms cont.
連用形(れんようけい)RY - The RY is the
continuative form and signifies that an action or process
expressed by the verb is either taking place or has already
taken place. Again, depending upon what follows it, the RY
can indicate:
ongoing action,
action that has already taken place
consecutive or simultaneous action
prohibition, hypothetical concession
nominalization
The RY is also referred to as the conjunctive form.
The Six Inflected Forms cont.
終止形(しゅうしけい)SS - The SS is the final form.
It indicates the end of the sentence as well as current action
[unless it also has a temporal marker, such as 昔(むかし)].
The SS can also express:
speculation
doubt/rhetorical questioning
prohibition
hypothetical concession.
The Six Inflected Forms cont.
連体形(れんたいけい)RT - The RT is known as the
attributive form, and it directly modifies a noun/pronoun, even
an implied noun/pronoun. Depending upon what follows OR
precedes it, the RT can also express:
end of a sentence
exclamation
speculation
nominalization
The Six Inflected Forms cont.
已然形(いぜんけい)IZ - The IZ is the perfective
(literally “already-realized”) form and expresses action that
has already occurred. IZ can indicate:
logical connection
the resultative/continuative/perfective form
concession
emphasis
命令形(めいれいけい)MR - The MR form expresses
a command.
There are 9 verb conjugations: 5 are regular and 4 are
irregular
Regular conjugations
四段(よだん)
Four-grade conjugation
上一段(かみいちだん)
Upper one-grade conjugation
下一段(しもいちだん)
Lower one-grade conjugation
上二段(かみにだん)
Upper two grade conjugation
下二段(しもにだん)
Lower two-grade conjugation
Irregular conjugations
カ行変格(かぎょうへんかく)
k-row irregular conjugation
サ行変格(さぎょうへんかく)
s-row irregular conjugation
ラ行変格(らぎょうへんかく)
r-row irregular conjugation
ナ行変格(なぎょうへんかく)
n-row irregular conjugation
四段(よだん)verbs are the most common of the verb
conjugations
思ふ(おもふ)
聞く(きく)
MZ
おもは
MZ
きか
RY
おもひ
RY
きき
SS
おもふ
SS
きく
RT
おもふ
RT
きく
IZ
おもへ
IZ
きけ
MR
おもへ
MR
きけ
Adjectives and Adjectival Verbs
ク活(かつよ)- usually expresses
physical characteristics.
清し(きよし)
ク
カリ
MZ
〇
きよから
RY
きよく
SS
シク活(かつよ)- usually expresses
emotional characteristics.
楽し(たのし)
シク
シカリ
MZ
〇
たのしから
きよかり
RY
たのしく
たのしかり
きよし
〇
SS
たのし
〇
RT
きよき
きよかる
RT
たのしき
たのしかる
IZ
きよけれ
〇
IZ
たのしけれ
〇
MR
〇
きよかれ
MR
〇
たのしかれ
クare usually forms used mostly with
aux. Verbs while カリ are usually forms
mainly used with adverbs, or in
modifying a noun, etc.
Negative Auxiliary Verb ず
Always follows the MZ
MZ
(な)
〇
ざら
RY
(に)
ず
ざり
SS
〇
ず
〇
RT
ぬ
〇
ざる
IZ
ね
〇
ざれ
MR
〇
〇
ざれ
ず example sentences
京には見えぬ鳥なれば、みな人見知らず。(みやこには
みえぬとりなればみなひとみしらず。)
“Since it was a bird (tori) that does not appear (mie-nu) in
the capital (miyako), no one (mina) recognized it (mi-shirazu). (Ise Monogatari, sec. 9, NKBT 9:117)” (65).
月なく、雪も降らず。(つきなく、ゆきもふらず。)
“There is no (naku) moon (tsuki), and the snow (yuki) does
not fall (fura-zu). (Sarashina Nikki, NKBT 20:515)” (24).
魚は水に飽かず。(いをはみずにあかず。)
“As for fish (io), they never tire (aka-zu) of the water
(mizu). (Houjouki, NKBT 30:43)” (65).
Recollective Auxiliary Verbs き and けり
Both follow the RY and are relate with the past tense or recollection
き - personal past, recollection
MZ
RY
SS
RT
IZ
MR
(せ)
〇
き
し
しか
〇
けり – hearsay past, exclamatory
recognition, and direct,
impersonal past
MZ
(けら)
RY
〇
SS
けり
RT
ける
IZ
けれ
MR
〇
き and けり examples
京より下りし時に、みな人、子どもなかりき。(きやうよりくだりしとき
に、みなひと、こどもなかりき。)
“When we left (kudari-shi) the capital, no one had (nakari-ki) children
(kodomo). (Tosa Nikki, NKBT 20:55)” (69).
鬼のやうなるもの出で来て殺さんとしき。(おにのやうなるものいできて
ころさんとしき。)
“Something (mono) that looked like (you naru) a demon (oni) came out (idekite) and tried to kill us (korosa-n to shi-ki). (Taketori Monogatari, NKBT 9:37)”
(428).
行かずなりにけり。(いかずなりにけり。)
“I ended up (nari-ni-keri) not going (ika-zu). (Ise Monogatari, sec. 23, NKBT
9:127)” (429).
今夜は十五夜なりけり。(こよひはじゅうごやなりけり。)
“Tonight (koyoi) is the fifteenth night (juugoya nari-keri)! (Genji Monogatari,
Suma, NKBT 15:41)” (430).
Copula なり and たり
なり- follows noun or the RT
たり – follows nominals
MZ
なら
MZ
たら
RY
なり・に
RY
たり・と
SS
なり
SS
たり
RT
なる
RT
たる
IZ
なれ
IZ
たれ
MR
なれ
MR
たれ
Perfective and Continuative Auxiliary Verbs
Instead of tense, these aux. verbs have to do with aspect
ぬ – follows the RY; nahen
conjugation. Indicates the
perfective, or certainty/emphasis
MZ
な
つ – follows the RY; shimo-nidan
conjugation. Indicates the perfective
and certainty
MZ
て
RY
に
RY
て
SS
ぬ
SS
つ
RT
ぬる
RT
つる
IZ
ぬれ
IZ
つれ
MR
ね
MR
てよ
Perfective and Continuative Auxiliary Verbs cont.
たり- follows the RY; rahen
conjugation. Indicates resultative,
continuative/durative, perfective,
parallel, future realization
り- follows the IZ of yodan verbs and
the MZ of sahen verbs; has a rahen
conjugation. Indicates resulatative,
continuative, and perfective
MZ
たら
MZ
ら
RY
たり
RY
り
SS
たり
SS
り
RT
たる
RT
る
IZ
たれ
IZ
れ
MR
たれ
MR
れ
ぬ、つ、たり & り examples
舟こぞりて泣きにけり。(ふねこぞりてなきにけり。)
“In the boat (fune) everyone at once (kozori-te) ended up weeping (naki-nikeri). (Ise Monogatari, sec. 9, NKBT 9:117)” (77).
なよ竹のかぐや姫とつけつ。(なよたけのかぐやひめとつけつ。)
“(He) ended up naming (to tsuke-tsu) her Shining Princess (Kaguyahime) of the
Supple Bamboo (nayotake). (Taketori Monogatari, NKBT 9:30)” (79).
筒の中光りたり。(つつのなかひかりたり。)
“It was shining (hikari-tari) in the middle (naka) of (bamboo) stalk. (Taketori
Monogatari, NKBT 9:29)” (435).
いと思ひの外なる人の言へれば、人々あやしがる。(いとおもひのほかな
るひとのいへれば、ひとびとあやしがる。)
“Since a very (ito) unexpected (omoi no hoka naru) person recited (ie-re-ba)
(the poem), everyone (hitobito) thought it was strange (ayashigaru). (Tosa
Nikki, NKBT 20:53)” (436).
Rhetorical Techniques of Japanese Poetry: Nara period
枕詞(まくらことば)- literally means “pillow-word.” Generally five syllables in length, the makura-kotoba is
a fixed expression that people used in poetry to elevate the tone and rhythm of the poem. Arose during the Nara
period, and most of the original meanings of makura-kotoba are already lost.
Ex. 久方のひかりのどけき春の日にしづ心なく花のちるらむ。(ひさかたのひかりのどけきはるの
ひにしづごころなくはなのちるらむ。)
“Why (ramu) do the cherry blossoms (hana) scatter (chiru) with unsettled hearts (shizu-gokoro naku)
on a spring day (haru no hi) of gentle (nodokeki) light (hikari)? (Kokinwakashuu, no. 84, NKBT
8:120)” (364).
The 久方の is the makura-kotoba, and while the original meaning has been lost, it generally means “from a
distant (hisa) direction (kata),” and modifies words that are related to the sky and other celestial objects.
序詞(じょことば)- a poetic preface-phrase that began in the Nara period. Usually over seven syllables in
length, the jokotoba modifies a particular word, and possesses unfixed wording and content, unlike the makurakotoba. It is generally “linked to the main body by a repetition of or a similarity in sound and often functions as a
metaphor for or a description of the main body of the poem” (365).
Ex. 葦引の山鳥の尾のしだり尾のながながし夜をひとりかも寝む。(あしひきのやまどりのおのし
だりおのながながしよをひとりかもねむ。)
“I will sleep (nemu) by myself (hitori) this long (naganagashi) night (yo), long as the (long) drooping
tail (shidari-o) of the tail (o) of the copper pheasant (yamadori). (Hitomaro, Shuuishuu, Love 3, no.
778, SNKBT 7:226)” (366).
“The entire underlined sentence is the jokotoba, which is linked to the main body by the adjective
naganagashi, ‘long, long,’ which modifies both ‘night’ (yo) and the drooping tail (shidari-o) of the copper
pheasant (yamadori…). Here, the jokotoba functions as a metaphor… for the main body of the poem” (366).
Rhetorical Techniques of Japanese Poetry: Heian period
掛詞(かけことば)- a pivot word that arose in the Heian period; It is a pun that involves one word being
used in two senses.
Ex. あきののに人まつ虫の声すなり我かとゆきていざとぶらはん。(あきののにひとまつむ
しのこえすなりわれかとゆきていざとぶらはん。)
“I hear (nari) the voice (koe) of the pine cricket (matsu-mushi) waiting (matsu) for someone
(hito) in the autumn (aki) field (no). Is it me (the matsu-mushi is waiting for)? Well (iza), let me
go (yuki-te) and visit (toburawa-n). (Kokinwakashuu, Autumn 1, no. 202, NKBT 8:142)” (366).
The pine cricket (matsu-mushi) is crying as if it is waiting (matsu) for someone to visit.
縁語(えんご)- coming into existence in the Heian period, engo are associated words. That is, words
that “are not linked grammatically but are associated by meaning and by close cultural and poetic
associations” (367). Engo give “deeper connotations and added interest” to the poem (367).
Ex. 浅緑糸よりかけて白露を珠にもぬける春の柳か。(あさみどりいとよりかけてしらつゆ
おたまにもぬけるはるのやなぎか。)
“Twining (yorikakete) the light green (asa-midori) (branches) into threads (ito) and passing
them (nuke-ru) through the white dew (shira-tsuyu) to make beads (tama) – the spring (haru)
willow (yanagi)! (Kokinwakashuu, Spring 1, no. 27, NKBT 8:109)” (368).
The speaker of this poem “treats the branches of the budding willow tree (yanagi) as light green
threads (ito), which are passed through beads of white dew (shira tsuyu). The words yorikaku (to
twist together) and nukeru (to pass through) are engo of the word ito (thread), adding a rich layer of
associations that complement the images of willows and dew.
What Is古代日本語?
古代日本語was the language as spoken and
written during the Nara and Heian eras of
Japan, circa 710–1185 CE.
Nara Japan is characterized by an enormous
influx of Chinese vocabulary and widespread
changes in the phonology.
Contrasts Between Old and
Classical
Whereas early old Japanese had 88 different possible
syllables, the native vocabulary of classical had 66.
Kana as a script emerged at the beginning of the
Heian period, and fairly accurately reflects the
contemporary system.
Imported Chinese Words
The first round of this linguistic import took
place between the years 222-589AD. Buddhist
terms were mainly chosen.
The second round was between the years 618907AD. The terms used for administrative
purposes were targeted.
The third round occurred between the years
960-1279AD, when the Chinese developed
about 33,000 hanzi at that time. The targeted
terms were linked with Zen terminology.
上代 (じょうだい) 日本語
Shortly after the Kojiki, the distinction between mo1
and mo2 is quickly lost reducing the total syllable
count to 87.
Many hypotheses have been proposed to explain the
syllable doublets, including:
an eight-vowel system
palatalization of the previous constant
a six-vowel system
*This issue is still strongly argued, and there is no
general consensus.
中古 (ちゅうこ) 日本語
The change of the prenasalized consonants to voiced
consonants.
The addition of long vowels and closed syllables to
syllable inventory.
The elision of certain consonants in certain
environments.
The lenition of [p] to the bilabial fricative [Ф].
The change in timing from syllable-timing to moratiming.
This table of 50 sounds is the historical kana system established
in the Heian period
a-vowel
i-vowel
u-vowel
e-vowel
o-vowel
a-row
あ
い
う
え
お
k-row
か
s-row
さ
t-row
た
n-row
な
h-row
は
m-row
ま
y-row
や
r-row
ら
w-row
わ
ゐ
う
ゑ
を
Today, the two kana, ゐ (wi or i) and ゑ (we or
e) are no longer used.
Voiced sounds existed as early as the Nara
period, but the voiced s-row じ and the t-row
ぢ, as well as the s-row ず and the t-row づ,
respectively, were pronounced differently from
one another. In modern Japanese, however,
such distinction in pronunciation is dropped.
The nasalized ん also emerged during the
Heian period.
万葉仮名 (まんようがな)
Created in the 奈良時代 (ならじだい 710-794)
Was the predecessor to ひらがな andカタカナ
ひらがな was developed using the sosho, or
grass style of writing.
Modern Uses of Kobun
れんぱならず – does not win two consecutive
championships
かはんすうにとどかず - does not reach the majority
Aru and Suru
The Shuushikei of ari, “to be,” became aru,
which is what it is today in modern Japanese.
The Rentaikei form of the verb su, suru, began
to be used as the Shuushikei at the end of the
Heian era, which is the same way it is used in
modern times.
The “na” adjective in modern Japanese derived
from the Kobun adjectival verb “nari.” ex. し
ずかなリ→しずかな
The modern “行ったっけ” which means ”Did I
go there?” comes from the classical
combination たりける
Uses of Kobun today
Modern Tanka (31 syllable equivilent of
classical Waka)
Modern Haiku
Literature
Classical Japanese fell into decline during the
Meiji restoration.
However, it was still used in many official
documents.
Vocabulary
Modern Japanese
Word
Classical
Japanese Word
Meaning
a, ano
ka, kano
That (Over
there)
sore
sa
That
aruku
ariku
To walk
muzukashii
katashi
Difficult
tegami
fumi
Document
Word
Vocabulary Issues
tameshi
Sunawachi
utsukushi
mezamashi
ashita
mutsukashi
Classical
Meaning
Modern
Meaning
Example
Soon/
Immediately
Test/Attempt
Beloved/
Attractive
Amazing/
Interesting
Morning
Unpleasant,
Eerie
nonoshiru
To shout/Call
ari
To be
“In other
words…”
Beautiful
Waking-up
Tomorrow
Difficult
To revile
To be(Things
only).
Vocabulary
Classical Japanese
Meaning
yamugotonashi
exalted; unable to be
ignored
ito
Very
ikade
In what manner?
saranari
Of course
atenari
First Rate
imiji
Great/Impressive
kokoroushi
Difficult
ashi
Evil/Wrong
Itsuku
Revere/Worship
Disappearance of Conjugation Types
Classical Japanese
Conjugations
Modern Japanese
Conjugations
Yodan
Nahen
Rahen
Shimo-Ichidan
Godan
Kami-Ichidan
Kami-Nidan
Kami-Ichidan
Shimo-Nidan
Shimo-Ichidan
Sahen
Sahen
Kahen
Kahen
Works Referenced
“Heian Literature.” The Kodansha Encyclopedia of
Japan. <http://www.ency-japan.com>
“Heian Period.” The Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan.
<http://www.ency-japan.com>
“Heian Period.” Wikipedia.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heian_period>
“Late Old Japanese.” Wikipedia.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Japanese>
Works Referenced
“Nara Period.” The Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan.
<http://www.ency-japan.com>
“Nara Period.” Wikipedia.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nara_Period>
Oshima, David Y. JPN494/598 History of the Japanese Language.
<http://www.public.asu.edu/~dyoshima/494-598.htm>
“Old Japanese.” Wikipedia.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Japanese>
Works Referenced
“Ritsuryo System.” The Kodansha Encyclopedia of
Japan. <http://www.ency-japan.com>
Shirane, Haruo. Classical Japanese. New York:
Columbia University Press, 2005.
Tsujimura, Natsuko. Japanese Linguistics. Malden,
Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 1996.
山口 仲美 (2006) 『日本語の歴史』 岩波書店.