Dateline: 09/11/98
As an introduction to this weeks lesson on Kanji, I have prepared a brief history of Kanji in Japan.
Mana
Japan has two type of mana characters: kanji, which are derived from Chinese
characters which made their way to Japan via the Korean peninsula in the 5Th.
century, and kana the phonetic simplifications combined in the written language.
Japan, lacking a writing system prior to the arrival of kanji, has no historical
records earlier than the 5Th. century. The development of kana was not instantaneous;
it took quite awhile before kanji was modified, thus leaving all early Japanese
literature written in kanji. Two of the oldest written works in Japan are the
Tennouki and the Teiki, which are thought to have been genealogical records
of the extended Imperial family.
Kojiki
The oldest historical work existing in Japan is the Kojiki. The Kojiki is a three volume set with the first volume dedicated to Japanese mythology, the second to the dynasties of emperors Jinmu through Oujin, and the third marks the reigns of emperors Nintoku through Suiko. The books were arranged by Hieda no Are and Oo no Yasumaro in 712 for the emperor Tenmu. Eight years later, in 720, Oo no Yasumaro and Toneri Shinnou finished a thirty volume work called Nihon Shoki. This book, through its chronology of emperors from memorable history, was an attempt to vindicate the role of the emperor as the political authority. Nihon Shoki has been edited and reissued many times. Here are a few of the titles: Shoku Nihongi (797), Kogo Shuui (c. 807), Nihon Kouki (840), and Shoku Nihon Kouki (869).
Fudoki
Local records began to be recorded in the year 713, as commanded by the then Emperor, Genmei. The Fudoki became Japan’s first comprehensive local record. Out of the original records only one remains fully intact today, the Izumo no Kuni. It covered what is now the Shimane prefecture. Lost are records from Hitachi (Ibaraki prefecture), Harima (Hyougo prefecture), Hizen (Nagasaki prefecture), and Bungo, (Ooita prefecture). The Fudoki are invaluable to local anthropologists as they detail a region’s mythology, religious practices, farming and industry, and general lifestyle.
Man’youshuu
The twenty volume Man’youshuu is the oldest anthology of poems in Japan. It was compiled by Ootomo no Yakamochi and others over an extended period until its completion in the mid- 8Th. century. It includes approximately 4500 poems from a plethora of people including an exalted emperor, and an unknown peasant. The style of writing is predominately Man’you-gana (a phonetic form of writing), unlike the 751 anthology of poems, Kaifuusou, which is written in the more continental form of kanji.
Government
In the latter portion of the eighth century, the capital of Japan was changed from Heijoukyou (what is now Nara) to Heiankyou (what is now Kyoto). Kyoto maintained Japan's imperial court and political power until the rise of military Governments late in the twelfth century. Throughout this period, kanji was the writing style of choice for official documents and kana was used for personal communication. Also during this period waka poetry and narrative literature flourished. The story that really codifies this age is Taketori Monogatori (Tale of the Bamboo Cutter) written in the 9-10Th. century about the beautiful Kaguyahime (Princess Kayuga) of the moon.
