# Japanese Basic Course, Lesson 131

Narration and the written language

Source: https://1732studios.com/courses/ja/129. Data: https://1732studios.com/courses/ja/129.json.

## 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** 日本の 歴史は 神代に かえると ずい分 古いが、  
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

**2** 建国 初代の 天皇である 神武天皇の 即位の 年、すなわち 紀元一年から 数えると、今年で（1966）丁度 二千六百二十六年に なる。  
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.

**3** 神武天皇は 九州の 南から、本州の 大和（奈良）地方まで 来られ、そこに 大和国家を 建てられた。  
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.

**4** それ以来 日本国は 万世一系の 天皇を いただいて 今日に 至って いる。  
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.

**5** 今上天皇は 第百二十四代目の 天皇である。  
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.

**6** 最初は 政権は 天皇に あって、天皇が 自分で 国を 治められたのであるが、奈良時代（710頃）からは、藤原氏の ような 有力な 貴族が 政府の 高官に 任じられ、天皇に 代って 政治を とる 様になった。  
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.

```
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.
```

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| 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** 又 藤原氏は 皇室と 婚姻を 結び、大いに 権力を ふるった。  
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.

**8** その 勢力は 平安時代（800頃）には、天皇の 権力以上に なって、不法、混乱に 落ち入り、堕落してしまった、  
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.

**9** 菅原道実は その 悪政を 抑制しようとしたが、かえって 罰せられて 九州へ 流された。  
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.

**10** （901年）  
（きゅうひゃくいちねん）  
901.

**11** 貴族の 官僚政治は 百年間も 続いたが、遂に 武家によって 亡ぼされ、廃止された。  
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.

**12** 農民の 事情に よく 通じた 陸の 勇士、源頼朝は 関東から 兵を 起し、弟 義経の 支援を 受けて、海の 力で 有名だった 平家を 亡ぼし、武力で 全国を 統一し、西暦 千百九十二年 鎌倉に 最初の 幕府を 設けた。  
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.

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| 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** 日本歴史（一）  
にほんれきし（いち）  
(660 B.C.-1200 A.D.)

**14** 日本 建国 初代の 天皇は だれですか。  
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?

**15** 日本の 歴史は 何年ぐらい 昔に かえりますか。  
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?

**16** 大和と 言うのは 今日の どの地方ですか。  
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?

**17** 大和国家を 建てられたのは だれですか。  
やまとこっかをたてられたのはだれですか。  
Who established the Yamato state?

**18** 今上天皇は 何代目の 天皇ですか。  
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?

**19** 日本は 万世一系の 天皇を いただいていますか。  
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?

**20** 最初は 政権は だれに あったのですか。  
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?

**21** 奈良時代から どうなりましたか。  
ならじだいからどうなりましたか。  
What happened from the Nara period onward?

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| （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** 藤原氏は なぜ 皇室と 婚姻を 結びました。  
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?

**23** 藤原氏の 勢力は 平安時代には どんなでしたか。  
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?

**24** 菅原道実は どんな 事を しましたか。  
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?

**25** 貴族の 官僚政治は どのぐらい 続きましたか。  
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?

**26** そのころ 農民の 事情に よく 通じていた 陸の 勇士は だれですか。  
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?

**27** そのころ 海の 力で 有名だったのは だれですか。  
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?

**28** 鎌倉に 最初の 幕府を 設けたのは だれですか。  
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?

**29** それは いつでしたか。  
それはいつでしたか。  
When was that?

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| 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** 神代  
かみよ  
the age of the gods; a mythological age

**31** 建国  
けんこく  
founding of a nation

**32** 初代  
しょだい  
the first generation; the first

**33** 即位  
そくい  
accession to the throne

**34** 紀元  
きげん  
an era; epoch

**35** 国家  
こっか  
country, nation; a state

**36** 万世一系  
ばんせいいっけい  
unbroken for ages eternal

**37** いただく  
いただく  
live under

**38** 今日に至った  
こんにちにいたった  
got to the present

**39** 今上天皇  
きんじょうてんのお  
present emperor

**40** 政権  
せいけん  
political power; administrative power

**41** 国を治める  
くにをおさめる  
administer the affairs of the state

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| 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** 有力な  
ゆうりょくな  
powerful

**43** 貴族  
きぞく  
nobility

**44** 高官  
こおかん  
high official

**45** 任じる  
にんじる  
appoint

**46** それ以来  
それいらい  
ever since then

**47** --に代って  
--にかわって  
in place of; in lieu of

**48** 政治を とる  
せいじをとる  
carry on a government

**49** 皇室  
こおしつ  
an Imperial Household

**50** 婚姻  
こんいん  
marriage

**51** 婚姻を 結ぶ  
こんいんをむすぶ  
marry

**52** 権力を ふるう  
けんりょくをふるう  
exercise one’s authority

**53** 勢力  
せいりょく  
power; influence; strength

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| 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** 不法  
ふほお  
unlawfulness

**55** 混乱  
こんらん  
chaos; confusion

**56** 落ち入る  
おちいる  
fall into; slide into

**57** 堕落する  
だらくする  
degrade; be morally ruined

**58** 悪政  
あくせい  
misgovernment; mal administration

**59** 抑制する  
よくせいする  
control; suppress

**60** 罰する  
ばっする  
punish

**61** 流す  
ながす  
exile; banish; let flow

**62** 官僚政治  
かんりょうせいじ  
bureaucratic government

**63** 遂に  
ついに  
finally

**64** 武家  
ぶけ  
military family; warrior

**65** 亡ぼす  
ほろぼす  
overthrow; destroy

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| 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** 廃止する  
はいしする  
abolish

**67** 農民  
のうみん  
farming people

**68** 事情  
じじょう  
condition; situation

**69** --に通じる  
--につうじる  
well versed in; know well

**70** 勇士  
ゆうし  
warrior; hero

**71** 陸  
りく  
land

**72** 兵を 起す  
へいをおこす  
rise in arms

**73** 支援  
しえん  
support

**74** 武力  
ぶりょく  
military force; armed force

**75** 幕府  
ばくふ  
Shoogunate; military government

**76** 平家  
へいけ  
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.
```

| word | gloss |
|---|---|
| 廃止する | abolish |
| --に通じる | well versed in; know well |
| 兵を起す | rise in arms |