Japanese Basic Course 1732 Studios

Japanese · Lesson 106

Lesson 108

Reading Japan

111 lines

Planning the ancient capital · Dialogue 1 of 5

A capital built to a plan

*あなた は 先ほど 奈良 は 日本で 最初の 永久的な 都として、造られたと おっしゃいましたね*, "You have said that Nara was constructed as Japan's first permanent capital, haven't you?"

The reply says that Nara copied China's Chang An Cheng. Nine avenues ran in each direction, and the palace stood at the northern edge.

The very first capital

In *最初の 永久的な 都*, *最初* means "the very first".

The prefix *SAI* joins an I-adjective stem or a noun. It forms a noun meaning "the most" or "the -est".

Kanji: 永, 久, 造

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

  1. 1

    あなたはさきほどならはにほんでさいしょのえいきゅうてきなみやことして、つくられたとおっしゃいましたね。

    You have said a while ago that Nara had been constructed as the first permanent capital in Japan, haven’t you?

    あなたyou
    はtopic
    先ほどa while ago
    奈良Nara
    はtopic
    日本Japan
    でin
    最初first
    のof
    永久permanent
    的permanent
    なpermanent
    都capital
    とas
    しas
    て、as
    造らwas constructed
    れwas constructed
    たwas constructed
    とquote
    おっしゃいhave said
    ましhave said
    たhave said
    ね。right?
  2. 2

    はい、これはちゅうごくのちょうあんじょうをまねてけいかくされたのです。

    Yes. This was planned by copying the “CHOOANJOO” of China.

  3. 3

    けいかくとしですね。

    It is a planned city, isn’t it?

  4. 4

    そうです。しのおおきさはなんぼくよん・ななキロ、とうざいよん・にキロで、それをたてよこかくきゅうほんのおおどおりがごばんのめのようにはしっていました。

    Yes, it is. The size of the city if 4.7 kilometers from north to south and 4.2 kilometers from east to west. On it nine streets each both horizontally and vertically, run like crosses on the GO board.

  5. 5

    きゅうじょうはまんなかにあったのですか。

    Was the Imperial Palace in the center?

  6. 6

    いいえ、いちばんきたのはしにありました。

    No, it was on the extreme northern tip.

--- GA DOOKI TO NATTE
Following nouns, pronouns, and verbs (both past and non-past) plus KOTO, GA DOOKI TO NATTE expresses the meaning of “motivated by ---” or “prompted by ---.”

KARE WA NIHON E RYOKOO SHITA NO GA DOOKI TO NATTE, NIHON GA TAIHEN SUKI NI NARIMASHITA. “Prompted by his travel to Japan, he became very fond of Japan.”

HAIEN NI KAKATTA NO GA DOOKI TO NATTE, TABAKO O YAMEMASHITA. “I got pneumonia and prompted by it I quit smoking.”

KARE WA ICHIDO EIGA NI DETA NO GA DOOKI TO NATTE; HAIYUU NI NARIMASHITA. “Motivated by his appearance once in a movie, he became an actor.”

DAITOORYOO NO ANSATSU GA DOOKI TO NATTE SENSOO GA OKOTTA. “Prompted by the assassination of the President, war broke out.”
SAI (prefix)
The prefix SAI is used with the stem of i-adjectives or nouns and forms new nouns meaning “the most ---”, “ultra ---”, or “ ---est.”

SAIDAI “largest”

SAISHOO “smallest”

SAISHIN “newest; latest”

SAIKO “oldest”

SAIKIN “latest”

SAIKYOO “strongest”

SAISHO “very first”

SAIGO “very last”
NARA KOOEN
Nara Park, popularly called “Deer Park” by foreigners on account of its numerous deer, is the largest of its kind in Japan, covering an area of about 1,250 acres. It is finely wooded with various species of trees including huge Japanese cedars, oaks, and wistarias under which tame deer roam about by twos and threes, presenting a picturesque sight. The front entrance to the park, marked by a large TORII gate painted in cinnabar, is reached by passing through busy Sanjoo Street which runs from the railway station. On the right-hand side, just before reaching the gate, the visitor will see the famous Sarusawa Pond.
KASUGA SHRINE
Kasuga Shrine is a very distinguished shrine which is situated in the midst of verdant woods. Few shrines are found in a location which imparts a greater atmosphere of peace and sanctity. What is known as the Kasuga Shrine actually consists of four small shrines

painted in vermilion and built in the Kasuga style of architecture. These four shrines are respectively dedicated to Takemikazuchi-no-Mikoto and Futsunushi-no-Mikoto, two brave generals in the age of the Gods, to Amenokoyane-no-Mikoto, the remotest ancestor of the Fujiwara family and his consort, Hime-Okami. Kasuga Shrine was founded in 768 by Fujiwara-no-Nagate as the tutelary shrine of the Fujiwara family, and it used to be regularly reconstructed every twenty years.
HOORYUUJI Temple
Hooryuuji, the oldest existing temple in Japan and perhaps the most antique wooden structure in the world, was founded in 607 by Prince Shootoku. The Hooryuuji Temple, one of the Seven Great Temples of Nara, is regarded as the fountainhead of Japanese art and culture.
は
leaves
先ほど
a while ago
奈良
P.N.
で
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
の
See Grammar Notes
な
I wish, I hope, huh
都
capital
と
and (See Gram. Notes)
し
city
ね。
isn't it (See Grammar Notes)
中国
China
を
particle denoting direct object (See Pattern Drill)
です。
to be (See Gram. Notes)
都市
city
そう
numerical counter for ships
南北
north and south
四・
four
七
seven
キロ、
kilometer
東西
east and west
二
two
九
nine
本
numerical counter for counting long slender objects (See Notes)
が
but (See Gram. Notes)
ごばん
GO playing board
に
on (See Gram. Notes)
い
stomach
宮城
Imperial Palace in Tokyo
まん中
center, middle
か。
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
一番
number one (See Grammar Notes)
北
north
はし
chopsticks

Old streets, parks and shrines · Dialogue 2 of 5

Nara Park

*奈良公園は 日本 最大の 公園です*, "Nara Park is the largest park in Japan." The *最大* uses the *SAI* prefix.

Foreign visitors call it Deer Park because many tame deer live there. The wooded park covers about 1,250 acres.

Kasuga Shrine

*春日神社へは ぜひ 行って 御覧なさいよ*, "Be sure to go to see Kasuga Shrine." It stands in green woods.

Four small vermilion shrines form Kasuga Shrine. They honor two generals, a Fujiwara ancestor, and his consort.

Fujiwara-no-Nagate founded it in 768 as the Fujiwara family shrine. It used to be rebuilt every twenty years.

Kanji: 残

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

Kanji: 当

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

  1. 7

    いまもそのみやこがならしとしてのこっているのですか。

    Is that capital still remaining as the city of Nara even now?

  2. 8

    いいえ、げんざいのしのあるところは、むかしいっぱんのひとがすんでいたところで、とうじ、げきょうといっていました。

    No, the place where the present city is located was the place where the common run of people lived in the past and it was called the outer capital at that time.

  3. 9

    それではむかしのとおりはないのですね。

    Then, there are no streets of the olden days, are there?

  4. 10

    ほとんどありません。でも、しのちゅうしんはやはりとおりがむかしのおもかげをのこして、せいぜんとならんでいるところがあります。いちじょうどおり、さんじょうどおりはむかしのとおりだそうです。

    There are practically none--yet, in the center of the city, the streets still have the traces of the olden days and there are places where the streets are formed in line in an orderly way. The ICHIJOO street and the SANJOO street are the original streets of the olden days, I understand.

  5. 11

    ならにはだいぶつでんのほかにどんなところがありますか。

    Besides Daibutsuden, what kind of places are there in Nara?

  6. 12

    こうえんがあります。ならこうえんはにほんさいだいのこうえんです。わかくさやまもいいですが、かすがじんじゃへはぜひいってごらんなさいよ。

    There are parks. Nara Park is the largest park in Japan. WAKAKUSA Mountain is also good, but be sure to go to see Kasuga Shrine.

も
as much as, as many as (See Grammar Notes
いる
to need (See Gram. Notes)
です
to be (See Gram. Notes)
現在
present; at present
ある
certain, some
所
address, place
は、
leaves
一
one
人
people
当時、
at that time; then
外京
outer capital
通り
street
ほとんど
almost (See Gram. Notes)
やはり
as it should be expected
おもかげ
feature; form; vestige; look; traces
ところ
place (See Gram. Notes)
ます。
trout
三
three
だ
to be (informal equivalent of DESU. See Grammar Notes)
大仏
Great Buddha
どんな
what kind of; what sort of
最大
the largest (See Gram. Notes)
山
mountain
いい
good (See Gram. Notes)
へ
to (See Gram. Notes)
ぜひ
by all means

Deer stealing visitors’ lunches · Dialogue 3 of 5

Lunch among the deer

*奈良公園と 近くの 山に 住んでいる しかは 人に よく 慣れています*, "The deer in Nara Park and the nearby mountain are well tamed."

The deer may approach visitors while they eat and take their lunches.

One speaker recalls losing a lunch while viewing the distant scenery from the top of Wakakusa Mountain.

Kanji: 景, 色

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

  1. 13

    ええ、いってみます。しかがおおいそうですね。

    Yes, I’ll go there and see. I understand there are a lot of deer, is that right?

  2. 14

    ええ、ならこうえんとちかくのやまにすんでいるしかはひとによくなれています。

    Yes. The deer that live in the Nara park and in the nearby mountain are well tamed.

  3. 15

    あるひとのはなしでは、しかがおおくてこまるそうですね。

    According to some people, there are so many deer that you are annoyed, is that right?

  4. 16

    そうですね、こまるといっても、たべているおべんとうをぬすまれるていどのものです。

    Well, even though you say annoyed, it is about to the extent of stealing a lunch that you are eating.

  5. 17

    しかし、なんびきもやってくるとこまりますね。

    But if many of them come, then you will be in trouble, isn’t that right?

  6. 18

    そうなんです。わたくしはわかくさやまのちょうじょうから、とおくのけしきをながめながらおべんとうをたべているときにおべんとうをとられたことがあります。

    That’s right. Once I had my lunch stolen when I was eating it while viewing the far-away scene from the top of WAKAKUSA Mountain.

ええ、
Yes
か
either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
近く
vicinity
よく
well, skillfully
話
story, talk
しか
deer
多く
many of them
も、
as much as, as many as (See Grammar Notes
べんとう
box lunch
れる
to be able to -- (See Grammar Notes)
程度
degree, standard
もの
things (tangible)
しかし、
however, but
ちょう上
summit
から、
from (See Gram. Notes)
遠く
distant (place)
ながめ
view (n)
ながら
while (See Grammar Notes)
時
time

Deer and an ancient temple · Dialogue 4 of 5

An ancient wooden temple

*それは 奈良の 南方 約七マイルの いかるが と言う所に あります*, "It is in Ikaruga, about seven miles south of Nara."

Horyuji is Japan's oldest existing temple and perhaps the world's oldest wooden structure. Prince Shootoku founded it in 607.

It is one of Nara's Seven Great Temples and is regarded as the source of Japanese art and culture.

Kanji: 観

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

Kanji: 隆

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

  1. 19

    しかし、このしかはかわいいそうですね。

    But as I understand it, these deer are very cute.

  2. 20

    かわいいですよ。かんこうきゃくからたべものをもらうと、おじぎをするんですよ。

    Yes, they are cute. When they get food from the tourists, they bow.

  3. 21

    ときにほうりゅうじはどこにあるのですか。

    By the way, where is the Hooryuuji Temple?

  4. 22

    それはならのなんぽうやくななマイルのいかるがというところにあります。

    It is located in a place called Ikaruga about 7 miles south of Nara.

  5. 23

    ほうりゅうじはずいぶんふるいおてらだとききましたが。

    I heard that the Hooryuuji Temple is a very old temple, but is that true?

  6. 24

    ええ、せかいさいこのもくぞうけんちくぶつといわれています。

    Yes, it is said to be the oldest wooden structure in the world.

かわいい
dear, lovely, charming
から
from (See Gram. Notes)
食べ物
food
もらう
to receive (tangible things)
と、
and (See Gram. Notes)
寺
Buddhist temple
南方
in the southern direction; south
マイル
mile
言う
to say
ずい分
very much
古い
old, antique
最古
the oldest
けんちく
architecture; construction

Fire prompting preservation laws · Dialogue 5 of 5

Fire after the war

Horyuji was first built in 607, burned in 670, and was rebuilt in 708. That rebuilt structure still stands.

*終戦後、火事で 金堂内の へき画の 一部が しょうしつしました*, "After the war, part of the murals in the main hall burned in a fire."

The event that prompted a law

*それが 動機となって 古い物を 保護する 新しい 法律が 出来たのです*, "Prompted by that, a new law was made to protect old objects."

*が 動機となって* marks the fire as the event that prompted the law.

Kanji: 律

New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.

  1. 25

    いつごろたてられたものですか。

    About when was it built?

  2. 26

    さいしょにたてたのがろっぴゃくななねんで、そのごろっぴゃくななじゅうねんにいちどしょうしつしました。そして、さいけんされたのがななひゃくはちねんです。

    It was first built in the year 607 and after that it was burned down once in 670 A.D. It was 708 A.D. when it was rebuilt.

  3. 27

    それがいまにたっているのですか。

    And is that still standing even now?

  4. 28

    そうです。しゅうせんご、かじでこんどうないのへきがのいちぶがしょうしつしました。ざんねんなことをしたものです。

    That’s right. After the second World War part of the murals in the main hall of the temple burned down. It was really regrettable.

  5. 29

    せんさいをこうむらなかったものが、せんごやけたのですか。

    Things that did not suffer war damage burned after the war, is that right?

  6. 30

    そうです。それで、それがどうきとなってふるいものをほごするあたらしいほうりつができたのです。

    That’s right. And prompted by this, a new law was made in order to protect antique objects.

たて
vertical
六百
600
年
year (See Grammar Notes)
で、
--is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
七十
70
七百
700
八
eight
火事
conflagration; fire
金堂
the main hall of a Buddhist temple
き
counter for airplanes (See Gram. Notes)
一部
a copy
残ねん
regret; mortification
戦後
after a war
法律
law

Changes prompted by events · Perception drill

An illness prompts a change

*重い 病気 に なったのが 動機となって たばこ を やめたらしいです*, "It seems serious illness prompted him to quit smoking."

The illness comes before *が 動機となって*. The action it prompted comes after it.

The motive comes first

*それが 動機となって 新しい 法律 が 出来ました*, "Prompted by it, a new law was made."

*が 動機となって* means "prompted by" or "motivated by". It follows the event or circumstance that produces a change.

It can follow a noun or pronoun. A verb can be past or non-past, with *KOTO* or *NO* after it.

  1. 31

    それがどうきとなってあたらしいほうりつができました。

    Motivated by it, a new law was made.

  2. 32

    おおきさんはどうしてたばこをやめたのでしょうか。

    I wonder why Mr. Ooki quit smoking?

  3. 33

    おもいびょうきになったのがどうきとなってたばこをやめたらしいです。

    It seems he became seriously ill and prompted by that he quit smoking.

  4. 34

    きみのおくさんはまえにはさけをのまなかったんだろう。

    Your wife didn’t drink before, did she?

  5. 35

    うん、それがね。このあいだのカクテールパーティでハイボールをはじめてのんだのがどうきとなって、このごろはのむようになったんだよ。

    No, but you see, she drank highballs at a cocktail party for the first time the other day, and prompted by it she turned to drinking these days.

  6. 36

    ジョンズさんはさいしょみたにほんえいががとてもきにいったらしいね。

    It seems that the first Japanese movie that Mr. Jones saw pleased him very much, doesn’t it?

  7. 37

    ええ、それで、それがどうきとなって、このごろはまいしゅうかならずいちど、にほんえいがをみにいくらしいです。

    Yes, it does. And prompted by it, it seems he goes to see a Japanese movie once every week without fail these days.

  8. 38

    パーカーふじんはにほんのことをよくしっていらっしゃるね。

    Mrs. Parker knows about Japan very well, doesn’t she?

  9. 39

    しごねんまえににほんへあそびにいったのがどうきとなって、にほんについてひじょうなきょうみをもつようになられたのです。

    She went to visit Japan four or five years ago and prompted by it she became to have very much of an interest concerning Japan.

  10. 40

    おおたさんはさけをやめられたのですか。

    Did Mr. Oota quit drinking?

  11. 41

    いちどのみすぎてびょうきになったのがどうきとなってやめられたそうです。

    He overdrank once and became ill and prompted by it he quit drinking, as I understand it.

大木
big tree
たばこ
tobacco, cigarette
でしょう
probably (See Gram. Notes)
君
suffix to a name, Mr. (See cult. notes)
前
before, front
酒
Sake, rice wine
うん、
Yes, all right.
間
between
映画
movie
とても
very, indeed
いらっしゃる
to come, go (honorific verb)
つい
just; only
きょうみ
interest
よう
get intoxicated; get drunk; get seasick (v.i.)
なら
if it is (See Gram. Notes)
すぎ
past, after

Explaining motives for life changes · Pattern 1 1 of 3

From motive to result

*重い 病気をしたのが 動機となって たばこも 酒も やめました*, "A serious illness prompted me to give up both smoking and drinking."

The event before *が 動機となって* names the motive. The action or change after it names the result.

*何が 動機となって たばこを やめたのですか*, "What prompted you to give up smoking?" asks for the motive.

  1. 42

    おもいびょうきをしたのがどうきとなってたばこもさけもやめました。

    A serious illness prompted me to give up both smoking and drinking.

  2. 43

    ともだちににほんのきってをもらったのがどうきとなって、このごろではにほんのきってをあつめています。

    Receiving some Japanese stamps from a friend prompted me to start collecting Japanese stamps, as I do now.

  3. 44

    にほんへあそびにいったのがどうきとなって、このごろはいっしょうけんめいににほんごをべんきょうしています。

    A pleasure trip to Japan prompted me to begin studying Japanese very hard, as I do now.

  4. 45

    あのふたりはカクテールパーティであったのがどうきとなっていいともだちになり、とうとうけっこんしてしまいました。

    Meeting at a cocktail party brought those two together as good friends, and eventually they got married.

  5. 46

    それがどうきとなってせんそうになりました。

    That led to war.

  6. 47

    それがどうきとなってしごとをやめました。

    That prompted me to quit my job.

  7. 48

    なにがどうきとなってたばこをやめたのですか。

    What prompted you to give up smoking?

切手
postage stamp
二人
2 people
とうとう
at last, finally

Causes behind personal decisions · Pattern 1 2 of 3

A situation prompts a decision

*兄が はいがんで 死んだのです。それで それが 動機となって 私も たばこを やめる事にしたのです*, "My older brother died of lung cancer. That prompted me to decide to give up smoking too."

Here *それ* refers to the death. The result is a personal decision.

The same pattern links increasing traffic deaths to a new law and a school shortage to a new school.

  1. 49

    あにがはいがんでしんだのです。それでそれがどうきとなってわたくしもたばこをやめることにしたのです。

    My older brother died of lung cancer. That prompted me to decide to give up smoking too.

  2. 50

    なにがどうきとなってにほんごをべんきょうすることにしたのかね。

    What prompted you to decide to study Japanese?

  3. 51

    しごとのかんけいでにさんねんにほんにいくことになったんだ。それでにほんごをならうことにしたんだ。

    Because of my work, it was decided that I would go to Japan for two or three years. So I decided to learn Japanese.

  4. 52

    こうつうにかんするあたらしいほうりつができたそうですね。

    I hear that a new law concerning traffic has been enacted.

  5. 53

    ええ、こうつうじこでしぬひとがふえるいっぽうです。それでそれがどうきとなってこうつうにかんするあたらしいほうりつができたのです。

    Yes, the number of people killed in traffic accidents keeps increasing. That prompted the enactment of a new law concerning traffic.

  6. 54

    あたらしいがっこうができるそうですね。

    I hear that a new school is going to be built.

  7. 55

    いまがっこうがたりないので、せいとはごぜんのくみとごごのくみとにわけられているのです。それでそれがどうきとなって、あたらしいがっこうがたつようになりました。

    There are not enough schools now, so the students are divided into morning and afternoon groups. That situation led to a new school being built.

兄
older brother
がん
cancer (See Cult. Notes)
やめる
to quit
関係
relationship
交通
traffic, transportation
じこ
accident
ふえる
to increase (v.i.)
出来る
to be manufactured; to be produced (v.i.)
午前
a.m., morning
組
class
午後
p.m., afternoon
たつ
to pass (time), elapse

Matching changes to causes · Pattern 1 3 of 3

Information as a motive

*あれが 動機となって たばこを やめたのです*, "That prompted her to give up smoking."

*あれ* points back to a newspaper article saying that smoking causes lung cancer.

The remaining lines give results that can be matched with their motivating events.

  1. 56

    あなたのおくさんはいつからたばこをやめられたのですか。

    When did your wife give up smoking?

  2. 57

    たばこがはいがんのげんいんだというきじがいつかしんぶんにでましたね。あれがどうきとなってたばこをやめたのです。

    An article saying that smoking causes lung cancer appeared in the newspaper some time ago, didn't it? That prompted her to give up smoking.

  3. 58

    さけもたばこもやめました。

    I gave up both drinking and smoking.

  4. 59

    さしみをたべるようになりました。

    I came to eat sashimi.

  5. 60

    こうつうにかんするあたらしいほうりつができました。

    A new law concerning traffic was enacted.

  6. 61

    にほんごをべんきょうするようになった。

    I came to study Japanese.

  7. 62

    まいしゅうにほんえいがをみにいくようになった。

    I came to go see a Japanese movie every week.

いつ
when?
原因
cause
記事
newspaper article; news; reading matter
さしみ
thinly sliced raw fish dish

Questions about city history · Questions 1 of 2

Nara from capital to modern city

The passage traces Nara from a planned capital to its modern streets, park, deer, Kasuga Shrine, and Horyuji Temple.

*奈良の 都は 何を まねて 計画されたものですか*, "What was the capital of Nara modeled after when it was planned?"

An answer names China's Chang An Cheng. Other answers give measurements, places, features, dates, or the event that prompted the preservation law.

  1. 63

    ならはにほんさいしょのえいきゅうてきなみやことしてつくられたもので、ちゅうごくのちょうあんじょうをまねてけいかくされたものです。しのおおきさはなんぼくよん・ななキロ、とうざいよん・にキロで、それをたてよこかくきゅうほんのおおどおりが、ごばんのめのようにはしっていたのです。こんにちのならしはむかしげきょうといっていたところで、あるとおりはむかしのおもかげをのこして、せいぜんとならんでいます。ならにはだいぶつでんのほかに、ゆうめいなところがにさんあります。そのひとつはにほんさいだいのこうえんといわれているならこうえんです。ならこうえんはしかでゆうめいです。ここのしかは

    Nara was built as Japan's first permanent capital and was planned after the model of Chang'an, China. The city measured 4.7 kilometers from north to south and 4.2 kilometers from east to west, and nine broad streets ran in each direction like the lines of a Go board. The present-day city of Nara occupies what was once called the outer capital, and some of its streets remain neatly laid out, preserving the appearance of olden times. Besides the Great Buddha Hall, Nara has two or three famous places. One of them is Nara Park, which is said to be Japan's largest park. Nara Park is famous for its deer. The deer there

  2. 64

    よくひとになれていて、たくさんのかんこうきゃくからたべものをもらってたべます。しかし、ようじんしないと、じぶんのおべんとうまでとられてしまうことがあります。ならこうえんにあるかすがじんじゃもゆうめいです。もうひとつのゆうめいなところはほうりゅうじです。ほうりゅうじはならのなんぽうやくななマイル、いかるがというところにあり、せかいさいこのもくぞうけんちくぶつといわれています。これはせいれきろっぴゃくしちねんにたてられたものですが、いちどしょうしつしたので、げんざいたっているのはななひゃくはちねんにさいけんされたものです。しゅうせんごかじでこんどうないのへきがのいちぶがしょうしつしたそうです。それがどうきとなってこんにちではふるいものをほごするあたらしいほうりつまでできています。

    are very accustomed to people and eat food given to them by the many tourists. But if you are not careful, they may even take your own lunch. Kasuga Shrine in Nara Park is also famous. Another famous place is Horyuji Temple. Horyuji is in a place called Ikaruga, about seven miles south of Nara, and is said to be the oldest wooden structure in the world. It was built in A.D. 607, but because it burned down once, the present structure was rebuilt in 708. After the war, part of the murals inside the Golden Hall reportedly burned in a fire. That incident prompted the enactment of a new law to protect old things.

  3. 65

    ならはにほんでさいしょのえいきゅうてきなみやことしてつくられたものですか。

    Was Nara built as Japan's first permanent capital?

  4. 66

    ならのみやこはなにをまねてけいかくされたものですか。

    What was the capital of Nara modeled after when it was planned?

  5. 67

    しのおおきさはどのぐらいありましたか。

    How large was the city?

  6. 68

    こんにちのならしはどうですか。

    What is the present-day city of Nara like?

  7. 69

    あるとおりはむかしのおもかげをのこしていますか。

    Do some of the streets preserve the appearance of olden times?

  8. 70

    ならにはだいぶつでんのほかにどんなゆうめいなところがありますか。

    Besides the Great Buddha Hall, what famous places are there in Nara?

が、
but (See Gram. Notes)
今日
today
ここ
here
自分
self
まで
as far as, to (See Gram. Notes)
しまう
to put away
もう
already (See Gram. Notes)
マイル、
mile
西れき
Christian era: A.D.
けん
numerical counter for houses (See Gram. Notes)
どの
which (pre-substantive) (See Notes)
ぐらい
about

Questions about parks and temples · Questions 2 of 2

Places, features, and dates

The questions ask where Nara's landmarks stand, what distinguishes them, and when Horyuji was built.

*法隆寺は 何で 有名ですか*, "What is Horyuji Temple famous for?" An answer states that it is said to be the world's oldest wooden structure.

Other answers describe Nara Park and its deer, locate Kasuga Shrine and Horyuji, and explain the temple's rebuilding and damaged murals.

  1. 71

    ならこうえんはどんなこうえんですか。

    What kind of park is Nara Park?

  2. 72

    ならこうえんのしかはどうですか。

    What are the deer in Nara Park like?

  3. 73

    かすがじんじゃはどこにありますか。

    Where is Kasuga Shrine?

  4. 74

    ほうりゅうじはどこにありますか。

    Where is Horyuji Temple?

  5. 75

    ほうりゅうじはなんでゆうめいですか。

    What is Horyuji Temple famous for?

  6. 76

    このてらはいつごろたてられたものですか。

    About when was this temple built?

  7. 77

    げんざいたっているほうりゅうじはむかしのままのこっていますか。

    Has the present Horyuji Temple remained just as it was in the past?

  8. 78

    ほうりゅうじのこんどうないのへきがはしょうしつしましたか。

    Did the murals inside Horyuji Temple's Golden Hall burn?

ます
trout

Cities, directions and planning · Word list 1 of 3

A city built on a grid

*計画都市* is "planned city", while *外京* is "outer capital". These words describe Nara's plan and history.

*南北* names north and south, and *東西* names east and west. *ごばんの目* describes squares or crosses on a GO board.

  1. 79

    さきほど

    a while ago

  2. 80

    ちょうあんじょう

    Chang An Cheng (a place in China)

  3. 81

    まねる

    imitate; mimic; copy (v.t.)

  4. 82

    とし

    city

  5. 83

    けいかくとし

    planned city

  6. 84

    なんぼく

    north and south

  7. 85

    とうざい

    east and west

  8. 86

    ごばん

    GO playing board

  9. 87

    ごばんのめ

    square or crosses on the GO board

  10. 88

    とうじ

    at that time; then

  11. 89

    げきょう

    outer capital

長安城
Chang An Cheng (a place in China)
まねる
imitate; mimic; copy (v.t.)
計画都市
planned city
ごばんの目
square or crosses on the GO board
当時
at that time; then

Streets, visitors and deer · Word list 2 of 3

Streets, visitors, and deer

*おもかげ* means "traces", *観光客* means "tourist", and *しか* means "deer". These words cover old streets and Nara's visitors.

*最大* is "the largest", and *最古* is "the oldest". Both begin with the *SAI* prefix.

*南方* means "south" or "in the southern direction".

  1. 90

    おもかげ

    feature; form; vestige; look; traces

  2. 91

    のこす

    leave behind (v.t.)

  3. 92

    せいぜん（と）

    order(ly); regular(ly)

  4. 93

    いちじょうどおり

    the Ichijoo Street

  5. 94

    さんじょうどおり

    the Sanjoo Street

  6. 95

    さいだい

    the largest (See Gram. Notes)

  7. 96

    しか

    deer

  8. 97

    かんこうきゃく

    tourist; visitor; sightseer

  9. 98

    おじぎをする

    bow (v.i.)

  10. 99

    なんぽう

    in the southern direction; south

  11. 100

    さいこ

    the oldest

残す
leave behind (v.t.)
せいぜん（と）
order(ly); regular(ly)
一じょう通
the Ichijoo Street
三じょう通
the Sanjoo Street
観光客
tourist; visitor; sightseer
おじぎをする
bow (v.i.)

Fire, rebuilding and preservation · Word list 3 of 3

From damage to preservation

*しょうしつ（する）* is "burning", while *さいけん（する）* is "rebuilding". These words describe the temple's damage and preservation.

*へき画* means "mural", *金堂* means "the main hall of a Buddhist temple", and *戦さい* means "war damage".

*法律* is "law". *---が 動機と なって* links a motive to the action or change it produces.

  1. 101

    もくぞうけんちくぶつ

    wooden structure

  2. 102

    しょうしつ（する）

    burning; conflagration (burn) (v.i.)

  3. 103

    さいけん（する）

    rebuilding; reconstruction (rebuild; reconstruct) (v.t.)

  4. 104

    へきが

    mural; wall painting

  5. 105

    ざんねんなことをしました

    It was really regrettable

  6. 106

    ざんねん

    regret; mortification

  7. 107

    こんどう

    the main hall of a Buddhist temple

  8. 108

    せんさい

    war damage

  9. 109

    こうむる

    suffer (loss; damage) (v.t.)

  10. 110

    ほうりつ

    law

  11. 111

    ---がどうきとなって

    prompted by ---, motivated by ---. (See Gram. Notes)

Guide for Free Conversation

1 Topic titles:

a Talk about the places of interest in Nara by one person asking the questions and the other answering them.

a(1) The city of Nara (present and old)

a(2) The Nara park

a(3) The deer in Nara Park

a(4) The Hooryuuji Temple

2 Visual cues:

a Look at the map on Page 165 and 166, and also the pictures on Page 167 to 169 and talk about them.

b Look at the map on Page 166 and point out some of the famous spots.
Homework

1 Memorize the Dialogue and the vocabulary.

2 Study the Grammar Perception Drill.

3 Study the Pattern Practice and do the exercise given

4 Learn to read and write new Kanji.

5 Read the Explanatory Notes.

6 Read the Guide for Free Conversation and do the exercise given.
木造けんちく物
wooden structure
しょうしつ（する）
burning; conflagration (burn) (v.i.)
さいけん（する）
rebuilding; reconstruction (rebuild; reconstruct) (v.t.)
へき画
mural; wall painting
残ねんな事をしました
It was really regrettable
戦さい
war damage
こうむる
suffer (loss; damage) (v.t.)
---が動機となって
prompted by ---, motivated by ---. (See Gram. Notes)

The particulars

The course
Defense Language Institute, Japanese Basic Course, 1967 to 1971. Public domain. The teaching pages and the narration are ours.
Reading aloud
Digital narration, directed by 1732 Studios.
The book
Botchan, the work this course leads to, free to read here.
Data
JSON · Markdown · A guide for agents
Two whoopie pies and a pine. An inside joke.