Japanese · Lesson 129
Lesson 131
Narration and the written language
Founding emperors and noble rule · Narration 1 of 2
Founding the Yamato state
*神武天皇は 九州の 南から* says that Emperor Jimmu came from southern Kyushu.
*大和国家を 建てられた* says that he established the Yamato state in Yamato, present-day Nara.
Family groups called *Uji* gradually unified into a state centered on the *Yamato* Court.
Later Japanese called the court's first leader *Jimmu Tennoo*, or "Emperor Jimmu".
The imperial line and noble rule
*建国 初代の 天皇である 神武天皇* identifies Emperor Jimmu as the first emperor and founder of the country.
The passage presents *万世一系* as an unbroken imperial line from that point onward.
At first, the Emperor ruled directly. From the Nara period, powerful nobles governed in the Emperor's place.
Kanji: 氏
New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.
Kanji: 貴
New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.
Kanji: 官
New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.
Kanji: 権
New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.
Kanji: 代
New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.
Kanji: 皇
New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.
- 1
にほんのれきしはかみよにかえるとずいぶんふるいが、
Japanese history goes back a very long way if we return to the age of the gods, but
日本Japanのof歴史historyはtopic神代age of the godsにtoかえるreturnとifずい分very古いoldが、but - 2
けんこくしょだいのてんのおであるじんむてんのおのそくいのとし、すなわちきげんいちねんからかぞえると、ことしで（せんきゅうひゃくろくじゅうろく）ちょうどにせんろっぴゃくにじゅうろくねんになる。
Counting from the year Emperor Jimmu, the first emperor and founder of the country, ascended the throne—that is, from the first year of the imperial era—this year (1966) marks exactly 2,626 years.
建国founding the country初代firstのof天皇emperorでwasあるwas神武Emperor Jimmu天皇Emperor Jimmuの's即位accessionのof年、yearすなわちthat is紀元imperial era一one年yearからfrom数えるcountと、when今年this yearでin（1966）1966丁度exactly二千two thousand六百six hundred二十twenty六six年yearsにtoなる。marks - 3
じんむてんのおはきゅうしゅうのみなみから、ほんしゅうのやまと（なら）ちほおまでこられ、そこにやまとこっかをたてられた。
Emperor Jimmu came from southern Kyushu to the Yamato (Nara) region of Honshu and established the Yamato state there.
神武Emperor Jimmu天皇Emperor Jimmuはtopic九州Kyushuのof南southから、from本州Honshuのof大和Yamato（奈良）Nara地方regionまでto来cameられ、cameそこthereにin大和Yamato国家stateをobject建てestablishedられestablishedた。past - 4
それいらいにほんこくはばんせいいっけいのてんのおをいただいてこんにちにいたっている。
Since then, Japan has had an unbroken imperial line down to the present day.
それthat以来since日本Japan国countryはtopic万世unbroken imperial line一系unbroken imperial lineのof天皇emperorsをobjectいただいhas hadてhas had今日present dayにto至っhas continuedてhas continuedいる。has continued - 5
きんじょうてんのおはだいひゃくにじゅうよんだいめのてんのおである。
The present Emperor is the 124th emperor.
今上present Emperor天皇present Emperorはtopic第ordinal百hundred二十twenty四four代generation目numberのof天皇emperorでisある。is - 6
さいしょはせいけんはてんのおにあって、てんのおがじぶんでくにをおさめられたのであるが、ならじだい（ななひゃくじゅうごろ）からは、ふじわらしのようなゆうりょくなきぞくがせいふのこおかんににんじられ、てんのおにかわってせいじをとるようになった。
At first political power rested with the Emperor, who ruled the country himself, but from the Nara period (around 710), powerful nobles such as the Fujiwara clan were appointed to high government office and came to govern in the Emperor’s place.
最初at firstはtopic政権political powerはtopic天皇Emperorにwithあっrestedて、rested天皇Emperorがsubject自分himselfでby国countryをobject治めruledられruledたpastのthe factでwasあるwasが、but奈良Nara period時代Nara period（710710頃）aroundからfromは、topic藤原Fujiwara氏clanのofようsuch asなsuch as有力powerfulなpowerful貴族noblesがsubject政府governmentの's高官high officeにto任じappointedられ、appointed天皇Emperorにin代っin placeてin place政治governmentをobjectとるgovern様came toにtoなっcame toた。past
Founding of the Country
It is generally believed that the Japanese archipelago was first inhabited by man in the later Stone Age, called the Neolithic.
No archeological findings thus far discovered indicate that man lived in this part of the world in the earlier stage of the Stone Age.
The clay vessels used in that remote antiquity are of two types--the joomon-type and the yayoi-type.
Joomon-type clay vessels, so called from the wavy, straw-rope markings (joomon) around them, have been found throughout most of the country.
It appears that this type of earthenware was used for several thousand years.
About a century before Christ a new phase of primitive culture made its appearance in north Kyuushuu and in the area which we now call Nara Prefecture, and it gradually spread to other regions.
The clay vessels used by the people under the influence of this phase of culture were of the Yayoi-type, so named because specimens were unearthed at a place called Yayoi in the present Tokyo.
About this time bronze and iron were introduced from the continent,
but the bronze culture was apparently short lived, and the Bronze and Stone Ages gradually merged into the Iron Age.
Chief among the representative bronze articles found among the excavations are swords and spears, found mostly in western Japan, and bells, found in central Japan.
It is not difficult to imagine, then, that the tribes who used these articles must have been the ancestors of the present Japanese race.
But expert opinions are divided as to the origins of the Japanese race.
In all probability, several races of northeastern Asia and of southern Asia gradually merged into one race to form the ancestors of the Japanese.
Ancient Japanese lived in small communities each made of a group of Uji or family groups.
These family groups became gradually unified, until the whole country was so unified as to form a state about the beginning of the 4th century.
The center of this state was the Yamato Court in the present Nara Prefecture.
The first leader of the Yamato Court was named Hatsukunishirasu Sumeraraikoto whom the Japanese of later days, from their traditional belief, came to call Jimmu Tennoo or Emperor Jimmu.- の
- See Grammar Notes
- は
- leaves
- 神代
- the age of the gods; a mythological age
- に
- on (See Gram. Notes)
- かえる
- to hatch
- と
- and (See Gram. Notes)
- ずい分
- very much
- 古い
- old, antique
- が、
- but (See Gram. Notes)
- 建国
- founding of a nation
- 初代
- the first generation; the first
- 天皇
- emperor
- で
- --is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
- ある
- certain, some
- 即位
- accession to the throne
- 年、
- year (See Grammar Notes)
- すなわち
- that is to say; in other words
- 紀元
- an era; epoch
- 一
- one
- から
- from (See Gram. Notes)
- 数える
- to count; calculate
- 今年
- this year
- 二千
- 2,000
- 六百
- 600
- 二十
- 20
- 六
- six
- 南
- south
- （奈良）
- P.N.
- 地方
- country, region
- まで
- as far as, to (See Gram. Notes)
- そこ
- there
- 国家
- country, nation; a state
- を
- particle denoting direct object (See Pattern Drill)
- 国
- country, nation
- 今日
- today
- いる。
- to need (See Gram. Notes)
- 百
- 100
- 四
- four
- 政権
- political power; administrative power
- 自分
- self
- 時代
- era, period
- 頃）
- approximate point of time (See Gram. Notes)
- よう
- get intoxicated; get drunk; get seasick (v.i.)
- な
- I wish, I hope, huh
- 貴族
- nobility
- 高官
- high official
- 政治
- government; adminis-tration; politics
- とる
- to take (v.t.)
Noble corruption and warrior government · Narration 2 of 2
The end of noble government
*貴族の 官僚政治は 百年間も 続いた* says that government by the aristocratic bureaucracy continued for a hundred years.
The Fujiwara formed imperial marriage ties and exercised great power. By the Heian period, they fell into lawlessness, disorder, and corruption.
The warrior class finally overthrew and abolished this government.
The first Kamakura shogunate
*源頼朝は 関東から 兵を 起し* says that Minamoto no Yoritomo raised an army in the Kanto region.
With Yoshitsune's support, he destroyed the Taira, unified the country by military force, and established the first Kamakura shogunate in 1192.
Kanji: 落
New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.
Kanji: 悪
New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.
Kanji: 起
New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.
- 7
またふじわらしはこうしつとこんいんをむすび、おおいにけんりょくをふるった。
The Fujiwara clan also formed marriage ties with the Imperial Family and exercised great power.
又also藤原Fujiwara氏clanはtopic皇室Imperial Familyとwith婚姻marriage tiesをobject結び、formed大いにgreatly権力powerをobjectふるっexercisedた。past - 8
そのせいりょくはへいあんじだい（はっぴゃくごろ）には、てんのおのけんりょくいじょうになって、ふほお、こんらんにおちいり、だらくしてしまった、
By the Heian period (around 800), their influence had grown greater than the Emperor’s power, and they fell into lawlessness, disorder, and corruption.
そのtheir勢力influenceはtopic平安Heian period時代Heian period（800800頃）aroundにbyは、topic天皇Emperorの's権力power以上beyondにtoなっbecameて、became不法、lawlessness混乱disorderにinto落ち入り、fell堕落corruptionしbecameてandしまっcompletelyた、past - 9
すがわらみちざねはそのあくせいをよくせいしようとしたが、かえってばっせられてきゅうしゅうへながされた。
Sugawara Michijitsu tried to curb this bad government, but instead he was punished and exiled to Kyushu.
菅原Sugawara Michijitsu道Sugawara Michijitsu実Sugawara Michijitsuはtopicそのthis悪政bad governmentをobject抑制curbしようtried toとquoteしdidたpastが、butかえってinstead罰せpunishedられpunishedてand九州Kyushuへtoward流さexiledれexiledた。past - 10
（きゅうひゃくいちねん）
901.
（901901年）year - 11
きぞくのかんりょうせいじはひゃくねんかんもつづいたが、ついにぶけによってほろぼされ、はいしされた。
Government by the aristocratic bureaucracy continued for as long as a hundred years, but it was finally overthrown and abolished by the warrior class.
貴族aristocratsの's官僚bureaucratic政治governmentはtopic百hundred年間yearsもas long as続いcontinuedたpastが、but遂にfinally武家warrior classにbyよっbyてby亡ぼさoverthrownれ、overthrown廃止abolitionさabolishedれabolishedた。past - 12
のうみんのじじょおによくつうじたりくのゆうし、みなもとのよりともはかんとおからへいをおこし、おとうとよしつねのしえんをうけて、うみのちからでゆうめいだったへいけをほろぼし、ぶりょくでぜんこくをとういつし、せいれきせんひゃくきゅうじゅうにねんかまくらにさいしょのばくふをもうけた。
Minamoto no Yoritomo, a warrior of the land who knew the circumstances of the farmers well, raised an army in the Kanto region, received the support of his younger brother Yoshitsune, destroyed the Taira clan, which was famous for its power at sea, unified the whole country by military force, and established the first shogunate at Kamakura in A.D. 1192.
農民farmersの's事情circumstancesにinよくwell通じknewたpast陸landのof勇士、warrior源Minamoto Yoritomo頼朝Minamoto Yoritomoはtopic関東Kanto regionからfrom兵armyをobject起し、raised弟younger brother義経Yoshitsuneの's支援supportをobject受けreceivedて、and海seaのof力powerでfor有名famousだっwasたpast平家Taira clanをobject亡ぼし、destroyed武力military forceでby全国whole countryをobject統一unifiedし、unified西暦A.D.千thousand百hundred九十ninety二two年year鎌倉Kamakuraにat最初firstのof幕府shogunateをobject設けestablishedた。past
- 皇室
- an Imperial Household
- 婚姻
- marriage
- 大いに
- greatly
- 勢力
- power; influence; strength
- 不法、
- unlawfulness
- 混乱
- chaos; confusion
- し
- city
- 道
- road, street
- 悪政
- misgovernment; mal administration
- かえって
- on the contrary, rather (See Grammar Notes)
- へ
- to (See Gram. Notes)
- 年）
- year (See Grammar Notes)
- も
- as much as, as many as (See Grammar Notes
- 遂に
- finally
- 武家
- military family; warrior
- 農民
- farming people
- 事情
- condition; situation
- よく
- well, skillfully
- 陸
- land
- 勇士、
- warrior; hero
- 関東
- Tokyo-Yokohama area (See Cult Notes)
- 弟
- younger brother
- 支援
- support
- 海
- sea, ocean
- 平家
- HEIKE family
- 武力
- military force; armed force
- 全国
- entire country
- 統一
- unity; uniformity
- 千
- 1,000
- 九十
- 90
- 二
- two
- 幕府
- Shoogunate; military government
Imperial origins and early government · Questions 1 of 2
Origins and early rule
The questions ask who founded Japan and Yamato, how old Japanese history is, and who first held political power.
*日本 建国 初代の 天皇は だれですか* means "Who was the first emperor and founder of Japan?"
An answer names Emperor Jimmu. Other answers give a place, a number, or the change from imperial to noble rule.
- 13
にほんれきし（いち）
(660 B.C.-1200 A.D.)
日本Japanese歴史history（一）part one - 14
にほんけんこくしょだいのてんのおはだれですか。
Who was the first emperor and founder of Japan?
日本Japan建国founding the country初代firstのof天皇emperorはtopicだれwhoですisか。question - 15
にほんのれきしはなんねんぐらいむかしにかえりますか。
How many years into the past does Japanese history go?
日本Japanの's歴史historyはtopic何how many年yearsぐらいabout昔pastにintoかえりgoes backますpoliteか。question - 16
やまとというのはこんにちのどのちほおですか。
What region today is the area called Yamato?
大和Yamatoとquote言うcalledのoneはtopic今日todayの'sどのwhich地方regionですisか。question - 17
やまとこっかをたてられたのはだれですか。
Who established the Yamato state?
大和Yamato国家stateをobject建てestablishedられestablishedたpastのoneはtopicだれwhoですisか。question - 18
きんじょうてんのおはなんだいめのてんのおですか。
What number emperor is the present Emperor?
今上present Emperor天皇present Emperorはtopic何what代generation目numberのof天皇emperorですisか。question - 19
にほんはばんせいいっけいのてんのおをいただいていますか。
Does Japan have an unbroken imperial line?
日本Japanはtopic万世unbroken imperial line一系unbroken imperial lineのof天皇emperorsをobjectいただいhas hadてhas hadいhas hadますhas hadか。question - 20
さいしょはせいけんはだれにあったのですか。
Who held political power at first?
最初at firstはtopic政権political powerはtopicだれwhoにwithあっrestedたpastのthe factですisか。question - 21
ならじだいからどうなりましたか。
What happened from the Nara period onward?
奈良Nara period時代Nara periodからfromどうwhatなりhappenedましpoliteたpastか。question
- （一）
- one
- だれ
- who?
- です
- to be (See Gram. Notes)
- か。
- either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
- 年
- year (See Grammar Notes)
- ぐらい
- about
- ます
- trout
- 言う
- to say
- どの
- which (pre-substantive) (See Notes)
- い
- stomach
- 奈良
- P.N.
Aristocrats, warriors and military government · Questions 2 of 2
From Fujiwara power to Kamakura
The questions ask about Fujiwara power, its decline, the warrior clans, and the founding of the Kamakura shogunate.
*鎌倉に 最初の 幕府を 設けたのは だれですか* means "Who established the first shogunate at Kamakura?"
An answer names Minamoto no Yoritomo. Other answers state a reason, an action, a length of time, or the year 1192.
- 22
ふじわらしはなぜこうしつとこんいんをむすびました。
Why did the Fujiwara clan form marriage ties with the Imperial Family?
藤原Fujiwara氏clanはtopicなぜwhy皇室Imperial Familyとwith婚姻marriage tiesをobject結びformedましpoliteた。past - 23
ふじわらしのせいりょくはへいあんじだいにはどんなでしたか。
What was the influence of the Fujiwara clan like during the Heian period?
藤原Fujiwara氏clanの's勢力influenceはtopic平安Heian period時代Heian periodにinはtopicどんなwhat was it likeでしwasたpastか。question - 24
すがはらみちざねはどんなことをしましたか。
What did Sugawara Michijitsu do?
菅原Sugawara Michijitsu道Sugawara Michijitsu実Sugawara Michijitsuはtopicどんなwhat kind of事thingをobjectしdidましpoliteたpastか。question - 25
きぞくのかんりょうせいじはどのぐらいつづきましたか。
How long did government by the aristocratic bureaucracy continue?
貴族aristocratsの's官僚bureaucratic政治governmentはtopicどのhowぐらいlong続きcontinuedましpoliteたpastか。question - 26
そのころのうみんのじじょおによくつうじていたりくのゆうしはだれですか。
Who was the warrior of the land at that time who knew the circumstances of the farmers well?
そのthatころtime農民farmersの's事情circumstancesにinよくwell通じknewてknewいknewたpast陸landのof勇士warriorはtopicだれwhoですisか。question - 27
そのころうみのちからでゆうめいだったのはだれですか。
Who was famous at that time for power at sea?
そのthatころtime海seaのof力powerでfor有名famousだっwasたpastのoneはtopicだれwhoですisか。question - 28
かまくらにさいしょのばくふをもうけたのはだれですか。
Who established the first shogunate at Kamakura?
鎌倉Kamakuraにat最初firstのof幕府shogunateをobject設けestablishedたpastのoneはtopicだれwhoですisか。question - 29
それはいつでしたか。
When was that?
それthatはtopicいつwhenでしwasたpastか。question
- なぜ
- why?
- どんな
- what kind of; what sort of
- ころ
- season
- 勇士
- warrior; hero
- いつ
- when?
Imperial history and succession words · Word list 1 of 4
From national origins to political rule
These words cover the founding of a nation, the imperial line, and government.
*建国* means "founding of a nation", and *即位* means "accession to the throne".
*政権* means "political power" or "administrative power".
- 30
かみよ
the age of the gods; a mythological age
神代age of the gods - 31
けんこく
founding of a nation
建国founding a nation - 32
しょだい
the first generation; the first
初代the first - 33
そくい
accession to the throne
即位accession to the throne - 34
きげん
an era; epoch
紀元era - 35
こっか
country, nation; a state
国家state - 36
ばんせいいっけい
unbroken for ages eternal
万世一系unbroken eternal imperial line - 37
いただく
live under
いただくlive under - 38
こんにちにいたった
got to the present
今日に至ったreached the present - 39
きんじょうてんのお
present emperor
今上天皇present emperor - 40
せいけん
political power; administrative power
政権political power - 41
くにをおさめる
administer the affairs of the state
国を治めるgovern the country
- 万世一系
- unbroken for ages eternal
- いただく
- to receive
- 今日に至った
- got to the present
- 今上天皇
- present emperor
- 国を治める
- administer the affairs of the state
Nobility, appointments and marriage words · Word list 2 of 4
Nobles and imperial marriage ties
These words cover nobles, official appointments, imperial marriage ties, and political authority.
*貴族* means "nobility", and *高官* means "high official".
*婚姻を 結ぶ* means "marry", and *権力を ふるう* means "exercise one's authority".
- 42
ゆうりょくな
powerful
有力なpowerful - 43
きぞく
nobility
貴族nobility - 44
こおかん
high official
高官high official - 45
にんじる
appoint
任じるappoint - 46
それいらい
ever since then
それ以来ever since then - 47
--にかわって
in place of; in lieu of
--に代ってin place of - 48
せいじをとる
carry on a government
政治をとるcarry on government - 49
こおしつ
an Imperial Household
皇室Imperial Household - 50
こんいん
marriage
婚姻marriage - 51
こんいんをむすぶ
marry
婚姻を結ぶmarry - 52
けんりょくをふるう
exercise one’s authority
権力をふるうexercise authority - 53
せいりょく
power; influence; strength
勢力power
- 有力な
- powerful
- 任じる
- appoint
- それ以来
- ever since then
- --に代って
- in place of; in lieu of
- 政治をとる
- carry on a government
- 婚姻を結ぶ
- marry
- 権力をふるう
- exercise one’s authority
Corruption, punishment and exile words · Word list 3 of 4
From bad government to overthrow
These words cover corrupt government, attempts to control it, punishment, exile, and its end.
*悪政* means "misgovernment", and *罰する* means "punish".
*流す* means "exile" or "banish", and *亡ぼす* means "overthrow" or "destroy".
- 54
ふほお
unlawfulness
不法unlawfulness - 55
こんらん
chaos; confusion
混乱chaos - 56
おちいる
fall into; slide into
落ち入るfall into - 57
だらくする
degrade; be morally ruined
堕落するbe morally ruined - 58
あくせい
misgovernment; mal administration
悪政misgovernment - 59
よくせいする
control; suppress
抑制するsuppress - 60
ばっする
punish
罰するpunish - 61
ながす
exile; banish; let flow
流すbanish - 62
かんりょうせいじ
bureaucratic government
官僚政治bureaucratic government - 63
ついに
finally
遂にfinally - 64
ぶけ
military family; warrior
武家warrior family - 65
ほろぼす
overthrow; destroy
亡ぼすoverthrow
- 不法
- unlawfulness
- 落ち入る
- fall into; slide into
- 堕落する
- degrade; be morally ruined
- 抑制する
- control; suppress
- 罰する
- punish
- 流す
- exile; banish; let flow
- 官僚政治
- bureaucratic government
- 亡ぼす
- overthrow; destroy
Farmers, armed forces and government · Word list 4 of 4
People, force, and military government
These words cover farmers, armed action, support, military force, and the shogunate.
*農民* means "farming people", and *兵を 起す* means "rise in arms".
*支援* means "support", and *幕府* means "Shogunate" or "military government".
- 66
はいしする
abolish
廃止するabolish - 67
のうみん
farming people
農民farmers - 68
じじょう
condition; situation
事情situation - 69
--につうじる
well versed in; know well
--に通じるbe well versed in - 70
ゆうし
warrior; hero
勇士warrior - 71
りく
land
陸land - 72
へいをおこす
rise in arms
兵を起すrise in arms - 73
しえん
support
支援support - 74
ぶりょく
military force; armed force
武力military force - 75
ばくふ
Shoogunate; military government
幕府shogunate - 76
へいけ
HEIKE family
平家Heike family
Guide for Free Conversation and Exercise
1 Topics:
(a) Talk about the following topics with your classmates or with your instructor.
(1) The first emperor in Japan.
(2) Bureaucratic government by nobility in Japan.
(3) The first military government in Japan.
2 Exercise:
(a) 次の 文章を 日本語に 訳してください。
(1) Japan is blessed with an unbroken line of emperors for ages eternal.
(2) At the beginning, political power was vested in the emperor.
(3) He tried to suppress misgovernment, but instead he was punished.
(4) Powerful nobility was appointed to a high position of government and came to administer the affairs of state in place of the emperor.Homework
1 Study the Narration thoroughly and memorize the vocabulary,
2 Read the Guide for Free Conversation and do the exercises given.
3 Learn to read and write the new Kanji.
4 Read the Cultural Notes.- 廃止する
- abolish
- --に通じる
- well versed in; know well
- 兵を起す
- rise in arms
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