Japanese Historical Text Initiative

Japanese Historical Text Initiative (JHTI) is a searchable online database of Japanese historical documents and English translations. It is part of the Center for Japanese Studies at the University of California at Berkeley.[1]

History

Delmer M. Brown started the process of establishing JHTI in 1998.[2] The development of JHTI involved negotiations with the University of Tokyo Press and the National Institute of Japanese Literature.[3]

Select list

JHTI is an expanding online collection of historical texts. The original version of every paragraph is cross-linked with an English translation. The original words in Japanese and English translation are on the same screen.[4] There are seven categories of writings,[2] including

Ancient chronicles

These works were compiled by officials of the Imperial Court at the command of the emperors.[2]

• Kojiki (completed in 712 CE) with translation by Donald L. Philippi[5]
• Nihon Shoki (completed in 720) with translation by W. G. Aston[6]
• Shoku Nihongi (covering 697 to 791) with translation by J. B. Snellen[7]
• Kogo Shūi (completed in 807) with translation by Genchi Katō and Hikoshirō Hoshino[8]

Ancient gazetteers

These records, Fudoki, were compiled by provincial officials according to imperial edicts during the first half of the 8th century.[2]

• Izumo no Kuni Fudoki (出雲国風土記) (submitted in 733) with translation by Michiko Aoki[9]
• Harima no Kuni Fudoki (播磨国風土記) with translation by Michiko Aoki[10]
• Bungo no Kuni Fudoki (豊後国風土記) with translation by Michiko Aoki[11]
• Hizen no Kuni Fudoki (肥前国風土記) with translation by Michiko Aoki[12]
• Hitachi no Kuni Fudoki (常陸国風土記) with translation by Michiko Aoki[13]

Ancient kami-civil code

This was a compilation of religious law and civil law.[2]

• Engishiki (927) with translation by Felicia Gressitt Bock[14]

Medieval stories

These historical tales (monogatari) were about what was said and done by the prominent historical figures in aristocratic and military clans in feudal Japan[2]

• Okagami (covering the years 866 to 1027) with translation by Helen Craig McCullough[15]
• Yamato Monogatari (completed around 951) with translation by Mildred Tahara translation[16]
• Eiga Monogatari (covering the years 794 to 1185) with translation by William H. McCullough & Helen Craig McCullough[17]
• Taiheiki (completed around 1371) with translation by Helen Craig McCullough[18]
• Azuma Kagami (completed around 1300) with partial translation by Minoru Shinoda[19]

Medieval and early-modern histories

These three histories were written in ways that mirror the religious and political interests of their authors.[2]

• Gukanshō (completed in 1219) with translation by Delmer M. Brown and Ichiro Ishida[20]
• Jinnō Shōtōki (completed in 1339) with translation by H. Paul Varley[21]
• Tokushi Yoron (completed in 1712) with translation by Joyce Ackroyd[22]

State and Imperial Shinto

These works are about State Shinto and the Empire of Japan.[2]

• Meiji Ikô Jinja Kankei Hôrei Shiryô (明治以降神社関係法令史料, Governmental Orders Concerning Shinto Shrines After the First Year of Meiji)[23]
• Kokutai no Hongi (Cardinal Principles of Nation Polity, 1937) with translation by John Owen Gauntlett[24]

Late-Edo period and Meiji period texts

This category is for miscellaneous writings which are from Japan's pre-modern and early-modern periods.[2]

See also

• Aozora Bunko
• JSTOR

References

1. Institute of East Asian Studies (IEAS) at University of California at Berkeley, "Japanese Historical Text Initiative (JHTI)"; retrieved 2013-2-1.
2. {{cite web |title=Workshop on Japanese Historical Text Initiative (JHTI) |url=http://ceas.stanford.edu/events/event_detail.php?id=1553 |website=Center for East Asian Studies (CEAS) |publisher=Stanford University |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611071323/http://ceas.stanford.edu/events/event_detail.php?id=1553 |archivedate=2016-06-11}
3. IEAS, "In Memoriam: Delmer Myers Brown"; retrieved 2013-2-1.
4. Japanese Historical Text Initiative (JHTI), "About JHTI"; retrieved 2013-2-1.
5. JHTI, Kojiki; retrieved 2013-02-01.
6. JHTI, Nihon Shoki; retrieved 2013-02-01.
7. JHTI, Shoku Nihongi; retrieved 2013-02-01.
8. JHTI, Kogoshui; retrieved 2013-02-01.
9. JHTI, Izumo Fudoki; retrieved 2013-2-1.
10. JHTI, Harima Fudoki; retrieved 2013-2-1.
11. JHTI, Bungo Fudoki; retrieved 2013-2-1.
12. JHTI, Hizen Fudoki; retrieved 2013-2-1.
13. JHTI, Hitachi Fudoki; retrieved 2013-2-1.
14. JHTI, Engi Shiki; retrieved 2013-02-01.
15. JHTI, Okagami; retrieved 2013-2-1.
16. JHTI, Yamato Monagatari; retrieved 2013-2-1.
17. JHTI, Eiga Monogatari; retrieved 2013-2-1.
18. JHTI, Taiheiki; retrieved 2013-2-1.
19. JHTI, Azuma Kagami; retrieved 2013-2-1.
20. JHTI, Gukansho; retrieved 2013-2-1.
21. JHTI, Jinno Shotoki; retrieved 2013-2-1.
22. JHTI, Tokushi Yoron; retrieved 2013-2-1.
23. JHTI, Meiji Horei; retrieved 2013-2-1.
24. JHTI, Kokutai no Hongi; retrieved 2013-2-1.

External links

• Japanese Historical Text Initiative
• National Institute of Japanese Literature
• Historiographical Institute, University of Tokyo
• Japanese Text Initiative, University of Virginia and University of Pittsburgh