Japanese · Lesson 141
Lesson 143
Narration and the written language
Schools for warriors and commoners · Narration 1 of 2
From aristocratic schools to warrior rule
*大和 朝廷 が 出来て* places the beginning around the end of the third century, when the Yamato court was established.
Writing and scholarship came from the continent. Aristocrats then considered schools necessary.
*中世 に なる と、武家 が 勢力 を 持ち 戦乱 が 起った* means "The warrior class gained power and warfare broke out in the Middle Ages."
The aristocrats' schools then died out.
Temple schools for townspeople
Commerce made reading, writing, and calculation necessary for townspeople. Simple schools taught these skills to their children.
*これ が 寺小屋 と 言われる もの で、ここ で 初めて 学校 は 庶民 の ため に 開放 された* means "These were called temple schools."
For the first time, schools opened to commoners.
Kanji: 簡
New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.
Kanji: 単
New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.
Kanji: 学
New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.
- 1
にほんではさんせいきのすえごろ、やまとちょうていができて、たいりくからもんじをまなび、がくもんがつたえられると、そのころせいじじょうのしはいしゃであったきぞくのあいだにがっこうがひつようとされるようになった。
In Japan, around the end of the third century, the Yamato court was established, and when writing was learned from the continent and scholarship was introduced, schools came to be considered necessary among the aristocrats, who were the political rulers at that time.
日本Japanでinはtopic三third century世紀third centuryのof末ごろ、around the end大和Yamato朝廷courtがsubject出来was establishedて、and大陸continentからfrom文字writingをobject学び、learned学問scholarshipがsubject伝えwas introducedられるwas introducedと、whenそのthatころtime政治political上politicalのof支配ruler者rulerでwasあっwasたpast貴族aristocratsのof間midstにamong学校schoolsがsubject必要necessaryとasさwere consideredれるwere considered様came to beにtoなっbecameた。past - 2
ちゅうせいになると、ぶけがせいりょくをもちせんらんがおこったので、きぞくのがっこうはほろびてしまった。
When the Middle Ages began, the warrior class gained power and warfare broke out, so the aristocrats' schools died out.
中世Middle Agesにintoなるbecameと、when武家warrior classがsubject勢力powerをobject持ちgained戦乱warfareがsubject起っbroke outたpastのbecauseで、because貴族aristocratsの's学校schoolsはtopicほろびdied outてandしまっcompletelyた。past - 3
そしてぶけたちのがっこうとならんでしょみんのがっこうがうまれた。
Then, alongside the schools of the warrior class, schools for commoners arose.
そしてthen武家warrior classたちmembersの's学校schoolsとwithならんalongsideでalongside庶民commonersの's学校schoolsがsubjectうまれaroseた。past - 4
じゅうごせいきごろになってしょうぎょうがはったつしてくると、それにじゅうじするちょうにんたちはもんじやけいさんをまなぶことがひつようになった。
As commerce developed around the fifteenth century, the townspeople engaged in it needed to learn reading, writing, and arithmetic.
十fifteen五fifteen世紀centuryごろaroundにinなっbecameてand商業commerceがsubject発達developしdoてand来るcameと、whenそれitにin従事engagedするengaged町人townspeopleたちmembersはtopic文字writingやand計算arithmeticをobject学ぶlearn事actがsubject必要necessaryにtoなっbecameた。past - 5
そこでちょうにんのこどものためによみかき、そろばんをおしえるかんたんながっこうがつくられた。
So simple schools that taught reading, writing, and the abacus were established for the children of townspeople.
そこsoでso町人townspeopleの's子供childrenのofためbenefitにfor読みreading書き、writingそろばんabacusをobject教えるtaught簡単simpleなis学校schoolsがsubject作らwere establishedれwere establishedた。past - 6
これがてらこやといわれるもので、ここではじめてがっこうはしょみんのためにかいほうされた。
These were known as temple schools, and for the first time schools were opened to commoners.
これtheseがsubject寺temple school小屋temple schoolとas言わwere calledれるwere calledものonesで、andここhereでat初めてfor the first time学校schoolsはtopic庶民commonersのofためbenefitにfor開放openedさwere openedれwere openedた。past
Historical Development of Education
Writing was introduced in the form of Chinese characters.
The sons of nobility began to be educated and by 608 A. D. a Buddhist Temple of Learning was established at Nara.
1 In the year 701, the Taihoo-ritsuryoo was completed.
Under it each clan had its own school, operated on a tutorial basis and ordinarily restricted to the children of the ruling families.
During the period 1185-1603, marked by the rise of feudalism, almost continuous civil war, and economic decline, scholarship was subordinated to warlike pursuits, and military qualities were exalted above all else.
Almost all clan schools were destroyed in the endless wars, and only the Buddhist priests preserved anything of intellectual education.
With the pacification of the country by the Tokugawa shooguns (1603-1868) came a revived interest in scholarship.
For children of warriors who constituted the ruling class there was a special institution where all manner of military arts were taught.
1 These institutions for warriors' children were set up in main cities and towns.
The children of merchants, on the other hand, were taught at Terakoya (temple schools) which were founded in the latter part of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
In place of the old education system, according to which the children of warriors and merchants were educated separately, was replaced by a modern system.
The Government order on Education established a system of elementary schools, middle schools, and colleges and universities.
The first school for lesser nobles was established in Kyoto in 827.
Under the shoogun, education for children took two different forms.
The Meiji Restoration in 1868 was the beginning of a new Japan.
With no social distinction, the schools were open to all.- で
- --is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
- は
- leaves
- 三
- three
- の
- See Grammar Notes
- 朝廷
- Imperial court
- が
- but (See Gram. Notes)
- 大陸
- continent
- から
- from (See Gram. Notes)
- 文字
- character; ideograph
- を
- particle denoting direct object (See Pattern Drill)
- 学問
- learning; education
- と、
- and (See Gram. Notes)
- ころ
- season
- 政治
- government; adminis-tration; politics
- 者
- person
- 貴族
- nobility
- 間
- between
- に
- on (See Gram. Notes)
- れる
- to be able to -- (See Grammar Notes)
- 中世
- the Middle Ages
- 武家
- military family; warrior
- 勢力
- power; influence; strength
- 戦乱
- wars, disturbances
- 庶民
- common people; populace
- 十
- ten
- 五
- five
- し
- city
- 町人
- tradesman; merchant
- や
- and---among others (See Gram. Notes)
- 計算
- calculation; computation
- 学ぶ
- learn (v.i.)
- そこ
- there
- そろばん
- abacus
- な
- I wish, I hope, huh
- 寺
- Buddhist temple
- もの
- things (tangible)
- ここ
- here
Compulsory education and school reform · Narration 2 of 2
One system for the country
*一八七二年 に 学制 が しかれ、統一的 な 学校 制度 として、全国 に 小学、中学、大学 が 出来た* says a unified national school system was established in 1872.
Elementary schools, middle schools, and universities opened throughout the country.
At the same time, temple schools were abolished. All citizens received compulsory elementary education equally, without distinction among the former social classes.
At first, *就学率* was very low. By the end of the Taisho era, the school enrollment rate exceeded ninety-nine percent.
Kanji: 就
New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.
Kanji: 率
New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.
Kanji: 等
New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.
Kanji: 限
New kanji in these lines. Read down: the kanji, its reading, then the words it makes.
- 7
しかし、まだすべてのこどもがにゅうがくできたのではなかったので、ほんとうのみんしゅうきょういくをじつげんさせるためのぎむきょういくのせいどがかんがえられるようになった。
However, not all children could yet enroll, so a system of compulsory education began to be considered in order to achieve true public education.
しかし、howeverまだyetすべてallのof子供childrenがsubject入学enroll出来couldたpastのnot allでnot allはnot allなかっwas notたpastのbecauseで、because本当trueのof民衆public教育educationをobject実現achieveさmakeせるachieveためpurposeのof義務compulsory education教育compulsory educationのof制度systemがsubject考えwas consideredられるwas considered様came to beにtoなっbecameた。past - 8
せんはっぴゃくななじゅうにねんにがくせいがしかれ、とういつてきながっこうせいどとして、ぜんこくにしょうがく、ちゅうがく、だいがくができた。
In 1872, a national education system was established, and elementary schools, middle schools, and universities were created throughout the country as a unified school system.
一1872八1872七1872二1872年yearにin学制education systemがsubjectしかwas establishedれ、was established統一unified的unifiedなis学校school制度systemとasしdoて、as全国nationwideにthroughout小学、elementary schools中学、middle schools大学universitiesがsubject出来were createdた。past - 9
それとどうじにてらこやがはいしされ、しのうこうしょうのくべつなく、すべてのこくみんがひとしくしょうがっこうのぎむきょういくをうけることになった。
At the same time, the temple schools were abolished, and all citizens, without distinction among warriors, farmers, artisans, and merchants, came to receive compulsory elementary education equally.
それthatとwith同時same timeにat寺temple school小屋temple schoolがsubject廃止abolishedさwere abolishedれ、were abolished士four social classes農工four social classes商four social classesのof区別distinctionなく、withoutすべてallのof国民citizensがsubject等しくequally小elementary school学校elementary schoolのof義務compulsory education教育compulsory educationをobject受けるreceive事actにtoなっbecameた。past - 10
さいしょはしゅうがくりつはひじょうにひくかったが、たいしょうのすえにはついにきゅうじゅうきゅうパーセントをこえて、にほんのぎむきょういくはめざましいはったつをとげた。
At first, the school enrollment rate was very low, but by the end of the Taisho era it had finally exceeded ninety-nine percent, and compulsory education in Japan had made remarkable progress.
最初at firstはtopic就学enrollment rate率enrollment rateはtopic非常veryにvery低かっwas lowたpastが、but大正Taisho eraのof末endにbyはtopicついにfinally九十ninety-nine九ninety-nineパーセントpercentをobjectこえexceededて、and日本Japanの's義務compulsory education教育compulsory educationはtopicめざましいremarkable発達progressをobjectとげachievedた。past - 11
ぎむきょういくねんげんがしょうがっこうろくねんに、さだめられたのはせんきゅうひゃくななねんであった。
It was in 1907 that the period of compulsory education was set at six years of elementary school.
義務compulsory education教育compulsory education年限periodがsubject小elementary school学校elementary school六six年yearsに、at定めwas setられwas setたpastのfactはtopic一1907九1907〇1907七1907年yearでwasあっwasた。past
- しかし、
- however, but
- まだ
- yet, still
- 民衆
- the masses; people
- 一
- one
- 八
- eight
- 七
- seven
- 二
- two
- 年
- year (See Grammar Notes)
- 学制
- school system
- しか
- deer
- 統一
- unity; uniformity
- と
- and (See Gram. Notes)
- 全国
- entire country
- 小学、
- grammar school
- 中学、
- middle school (old); junior high (new)
- 廃止
- abolition
- 区別
- distinction
- 等しく
- equally
- 九十
- 90
- 九
- nine
- パーセント
- percent
- 年限
- length of time; term
- 六
- six
Early schools and temple schools · Questions 1 of 2
Reasons and results
The questions follow education from the Yamato court through schools for commoners.
*なぜ 貴族 の 学校 が ほろびて しまいましたか* means "Why did the aristocrats' schools die out?" An answer gives warfare as the reason.
*この 町人 の ため の 学校 を 何 と 言って いましたか* means "What were these schools for townspeople called?" An answer names the temple schools.
- 12
がっこうきょういく（に）ーはってん
School Education (2)—Development
学校school教育education（二）twoーlong dash発展development - 13
やまとちょうていができたのはいつごろですか。
About when was the Yamato court established?
大和Yamato朝廷courtがsubject出来was establishedたpastのfactはtopicいつごろabout whenですisか。question - 14
そのころせいじじょうのしはいしゃはだれでしたか。
Who were the political rulers at that time?
そのthatころtime政治political上politicalのof支配ruler者rulerはtopicだれwhoでしwereたpastか。question - 15
なぜきぞくのあいだにがっこうがひつようとされるようになりましたか。
Why did schools come to be considered necessary among the aristocrats?
なぜwhy貴族aristocratsのof間midstにamong学校schoolsがsubject必要necessaryとasさwere consideredれるwere considered様came to beにtoなりbecameましpoliteたpastか。question - 16
ちゅうせいになるとだれがせいりょくをもつようになりましたか。
Who came to hold power when the Middle Ages began?
中世Middle Agesにintoなるbecameとwhenだれwhoがsubject勢力powerをobjectもつhold様came toにtoなりbecameましpoliteたpastか。question - 17
なぜきぞくのがっこうがほろびてしまいましたか。
Why did the aristocrats' schools die out?
なぜwhy貴族aristocratsの's学校schoolsがsubjectほろびdied outてandしまいcompletelyましpoliteたpastか。question - 18
ぶけたちのがっこうとならんで、どんながっこうがうまれましたか。
What kind of schools arose alongside the schools of the warrior class?
武家warrior classたちmembersの's学校schoolsとwithならんalongsideで、alongsideどんなwhat kind of学校schoolsがsubjectうまれaroseましpoliteたpastか。question - 19
じゅうごせいきになってしょうぎょうがはったつしてくると、どうなりましたか。
What happened when commerce began to develop in the fifteenth century?
十fifteen五fifteen世紀centuryにinなっbecameてand商業commerceがsubject発達developしdoてand来るcameと、whenどうwhatなりhappenedましpoliteたpastか。question - 20
ちょうにんのためにがっこうができて、そこでなにをおしえましたか。
Schools were established for townspeople; what did they teach there?
町人townspeopleのofためbenefitにfor学校schoolsがsubject出来were establishedて、andそこthereでat何whatをobject教えtaughtましpoliteたpastか。question - 21
このちょうにんのためのがっこうをなんといっていましたか。
What were these schools for townspeople called?
このthese町人townspeopleのofためbenefitのof学校schoolsをobject何whatとas言っcalledてcalledいcalledましpoliteたpastか。question
- （二）
- two
- です
- to be (See Gram. Notes)
- か。
- either--or-- (See Gram. Notes)
- だれ
- who?
- なぜ
- why?
- で、
- --is and -- (See Grammar Notes)
- どんな
- what kind of; what sort of
- 教え
- teaching
- い
- stomach
Compulsory education and enrolment · Questions 2 of 2
Dates, changes, and duration
The questions ask when the national system began, what changed, and how compulsory education expanded.
*学制 が しかれた のは 何年 ですか* means "In what year was the national education system established?" An answer gives 1872.
*義務教育 年限 が 何年間 に 定められましたか* means "How many years was the period of compulsory education set at?" An answer gives six years.
- 22
ほんとうのみんしゅうきょういくをじつげんさせるために、どんなせいどがかんがえられましたか。
What kind of system was considered in order to achieve true public education?
本当trueのof民衆public教育educationをobject実現achieveさmakeせるachieveためpurposeに、forどんなwhat kind of制度systemがsubject考えwas consideredられwas consideredましpoliteたpastか。question - 23
がくせいがしかれたのはなんねんですか。
In what year was the national education system established?
学制education systemがsubjectしかwas establishedれwas establishedたpastのfactはtopic何what年yearですisか。question - 24
ぜんこくにとういつてきながっこうせいどとしてなにができましたか。
What was established throughout the country as a unified school system?
全国nationwideにthroughout統一unified的unifiedなis学校school制度systemとasしdoてas何whatがsubject出来was establishedましpoliteたpastか。question - 25
それとどうじにてらこやはどうなりましたか。
What happened to the temple schools at the same time?
それthatとwith同時same timeにat寺temple school小屋temple schoolはtopicどうwhatなりhappenedましpoliteたpastか。question - 26
こくみんがひとしくしょうがっこうのぎむきょういくをうけるようになったのはなんねんごろですか。
About what year did all citizens come to receive compulsory elementary education equally?
国民citizensがsubject等しくequally小elementary school学校elementary schoolのof義務compulsory education教育compulsory educationをobject受けるreceive様came toにtoなっbecameたpastのfactはtopic何what年yearごろaroundですisか。question - 27
さいしょはしゅうがくりつはどうでしたか。
What was the school enrollment rate like at first?
最初at firstはtopic就学enrollment rate率enrollment rateはtopicどうhowでしwasたpastか。question - 28
ぎむきょういくがめざましいはったつをとげたのはいつごろですか。
About when did compulsory education make remarkable progress?
義務compulsory education教育compulsory educationがsubject目ざましいremarkable発達progressをobjectとげachievedたpastのfactはtopicいつごろabout whenですisか。question - 29
ぎむきょういくねんげんがなんねんかんにさだめられましたか。
How many years was the period of compulsory education set at?
義務compulsory education教育compulsory education年限periodがsubject何how many年間yearsにat定めwas setられwas setましpoliteたpastか。question - 30
それはなんねんでしたか。
What year was that?
それthatはtopic何what年yearでしwasたpastか。question
- に、
- on (See Gram. Notes)
- 目ざましい
- eye-popping; remarkable
Rulers, merchants and written characters · Word list 1 of 3
People, power, and written skills
These words cover rulers, social groups, warfare, merchants, writing, and calculation.
*支配者* means "ruler" or "master." *町人* means "tradesman" or "merchant."
*文字* means "character" or "ideograph." The group connects social history with written skills.
- 31
ちょうてい
Imperial court
朝廷Imperial court - 32
しはいしゃ
ruler; master
支配者ruler - 33
ちゅうせい
the Middle Ages
中世Middle Ages - 34
せいりょく
power; influence; might
勢力power - 35
せんらん
wars, disturbances
戦乱wars and disturbances - 36
ほろびる
perish; be ruined; (v.i.)
ほろびるperish - 37
ーーとならんで
ranked with; standing side by side
ーーとならんでranked with - 38
しょみん
common people; populace
庶民common people - 39
ちょうにん
tradesman; merchant
町人merchant - 40
もんじ
character; ideograph
文字written character - 41
けいさん
calculation; computation
計算calculation
- 支配者
- ruler; master
- ほろびる
- perish; be ruined; (v.i.)
- ーーとならんで
- ranked with; standing side by side
Literacy, temple schools and education · Word list 2 of 3
Learning and access to school
These words cover literacy, temple schools, enrollment, and compulsory education.
*読み 書き* means "reading and writing." *寺小屋* means "temple school."
*義務教育* means "compulsory education." The group links literacy in temple schools with compulsory education.
- 42
まなぶ
learn (v.i.)
学ぶlearn - 43
そろばん
abacus
そろばんabacus - 44
よみかき
reading and writing
読み書きreading and writing - 45
てらこや
temple school
寺小屋temple school - 46
かいほうする
throw open; open (v.t.)
開放するopen - 47
にゅうがくする
enter school (v.i.)
入学するenter school - 48
みんしゅう
the masses; people
民衆the people - 49
じつげんさせる
make-?-come true (v.t.)
実現させるmake come true - 50
ぎむきょういく
compulsory education
義務教育compulsory education - 51
がくせい
school system
学制school system - 52
しょうがっこう
grade school; grammar school
小学校elementary school
- 読み書き
- reading and writing
- 寺小屋
- temple school
- 開放する
- throw open; open (v.t.)
- 入学する
- enter school (v.i.)
- 実現させる
- make-?-come true (v.t.)
- 義務教育
- compulsory education
- 小学校
- grade school; grammar school
School levels, equality and attendance · Word list 3 of 3
School levels and attendance
These words cover school levels, equality, attendance rates, and duration.
*中学* means "middle school" in the old system and "junior high" in the new system.
*等しく* means "equally." *就学率* means "percentage of school attendance." These words connect equal access with school attendance.
- 53
とういつてきな
unified
統一的なunified - 54
しょうがく
grammar school
小学elementary school - 55
ちゅうがく
middle school (old); junior high (new)
中学junior high school - 56
しのうこうしょう
classes of warriors, farmers, artisans and tradesmen
士農工商four social classes - 57
くべつ
distinction
区別distinction - 58
ひとしく
equally
等しくequally - 59
しゅうがくりつ
precentage of school attendance
就学率school attendance rate - 60
ねんげん
length of time; term
年限term - 61
さだめる
prescribe; stipulate (v.t.)
定めるstipulate
Guide for Free Conversation and Exercise
1 Topics:
a Talk about the following topics in Japanese with your classmates.
(1) The historical development of education in Japan.
(2) The development of the compulsory education system.
(3) Compare the compulsory education system of Japan and that of the U. S.
2 Exercise:
a Interpretation Exercise:
(1) In the early history of Japan, education was given only to whom?
(1) 学問 は 貴族 の ため に だけ 行なわれて いました。
(2) When the military clans became very powerful, what happened to the nobles' schools?
(2) 貴族 の 学校 は ほろびて、武家 たち の 学校 と ならんで 庶民 の 学校 が 出来ました。
(3) When commerce developed around the 15th century, what happened?
(3) 商業 に 従事 する 町人 たちは、文字 や 計算 を 学ぶ 事 が 必要 と なりました。
(4) What did the children of merchants learn?
(4) 読み 書き や そろばん の 使い方 を 習いました。
(5) For what reason was the compulsory education system set up?
(5) 本当 の 民衆 教育 を 実現 させる ため に、義務教育 の 制度 が 考えられる 様 に なった のです。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,- 統一的な
- unified
- 小学
- grammar school
- 中学
- middle school (old); junior high (new)
- 士農工商
- classes of warriors, farmers, artisans and tradesmen
- 就学率
- precentage of school attendance
- 定める
- stipulate; provide; lay down (v.i.)
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