【2nd Year Junior High Japanese】Welcome to the World of Classics!
Hello, everyone! When you hear the word "Koten" (Classics), you might think, "It's written in old language, it’s so difficult..." or "Does this even have anything to do with us today?" But actually, that’s not the case at all. The Classics are like a "time capsule" written by people who lived hundreds of years ago.
People back then were just like us—they felt moved by the changing seasons and were on the edge of their seats during major historical events. In this chapter, let’s go on a journey to touch the hearts of those people from the past. It might feel difficult at first, but once you get the hang of it, you'll be just fine. Let's learn and have fun together!
1. The "Magic Rules" for Reading Classics: Historical Kana Orthography
The first step to reading the Classics is learning how to convert the unique writing style into modern pronunciation. Let's review what we learned in the first year and organize the points that are easy to get wrong.
Summary of Key Rules
1. "Ha, hi, fu, he, ho" in the middle or at the end of a word are pronounced as "wa, i, u, e, o."
Example: kaha (river) → kawa, omofu (to think/feel) → omou
2. "Wi" is read as "i," "we" is read as "e," and "wo" is read as "o."
3. "Ji/Zu" (the variants 'di/du') are read as "ji/zu."
4. "Kuwa/Guwa" are read as "ka/ga."
Example: kuwashi (snack/confection) → kashi
5. "Mu" at the end of a word is often read as "n."
Example: ikamu → ikan
【Pro-tip!】
The "ha, hi, fu, he, ho" rule is especially important. Just mastering this will make the Classics look and sound much more familiar!
【Trivia】
It is said that at one time, people really did pronounce "river" as "Kaha." Even though pronunciation changed over time, only the writing style remained unchanged—that’s what we call "Historical Kana Orthography."
2. Appreciating the Beauty of the Four Seasons: "The Pillow Book" (Sei Shōnagon)
One of the most famous works you'll learn in the second year is the essay collection "The Pillow Book" (Makura no Sōshi) by Sei Shōnagon. Let’s take a look at the landscapes of the four seasons captured through her sharp, keen sense.
Key points of "Spring is the Dawn"
Sei Shōnagon chooses the "best time of day" for each season:
・Spring is "the dawn": It’s wonderful when the mountain rim slowly turns white, and purple clouds trail horizontally across the sky!
・Summer is "the night": It’s atmospheric not only when the moon is out, but also when fireflies are darting around in the dark, or even listening to the sound of rain.
・Autumn is "the evening": It’s beautiful when the sun is setting, seeing crows heading back to their nests or wild geese flying in a line.
・Winter is "early morning" (Tsutomete): It's quintessentially winter when it's snowing, or even when there is white frost, and seeing people carrying charcoal fires in the bitter cold.
Important Vocabulary: "Okashi"
If you had to summarize the aesthetic sense flowing through *The Pillow Book* in one word, it would be "okashi." Unlike the modern Japanese word "okashii" (funny/strange), here it means "charming," "delightful," "interesting," or "refined." It expresses a bright, intellectual sense of wonder.
【Common Mistake】
Don’t mistake the winter "tsutomete" for "tsutomete" (meaning "to work" or "to go to work")! In the Classics, it strictly means "early morning." I guess "the early bird gets the worm" applies here too!
【Key Takeaway!】
Sei Shōnagon is essentially saying, "Here is what is so lovely about these scenes everyone thinks are ordinary!" If you think about your own "favorite time of day," you’ll understand her feelings much better.
3. The Rise and Fall of the Taira Clan: "The Tale of the Heike"
Next, we will study the masterpiece of military epics, "The Tale of the Heike" (Heike Monogatari). This story was passed down by blind monks called *Biwa Hōshi*, who told the tale while playing the lute (biwa).
The Teaching in the Opening "Gion Shōja"
"The sound of the bell at the Gion Shōja temple echoes the impermanence of all things..."
This famous phrase contains the core theme of the story.
・Impermanence of all things (Shogyō Mujō): Everything in this world is constantly changing; nothing lasts forever.
・Inevitability of decline for the prosperous (Jōsha Hissui): Even those who are at the height of power will eventually decline.
No matter how much power the Taira clan held, they were destined to fall in the end. It depicts this "fleeting nature" and "fate" beautifully using the 7-5 rhythm.
Famous Episode: The Fan Target (Nasu no Yoichi)
In the middle of the war between the Genji and Heike clans, the expert archer Nasu no Yoichi attempts to shoot a fan off a rocking boat.
・Under immense pressure, Yoichi prays: "Oh gods, please let me hit this. If I miss, I will take my own life."
・When he hits the mark perfectly, both friends and enemies alike were so moved that they clapped their oars and bows against their boats in admiration.
【Trivia】
In the "Fan Target" scene, even the enemies, the Taira, are moved to say, "Bravo!" It shows that even amidst war, there was a "samurai spirit" and an aesthetic appreciation for the skill of an opponent.
4. Packing Meaning into Short Words: "Tsurezuregusa" and Haiku
"Essays in Idleness" (Tsurezuregusa by Kenkō Hōshi)
This is an essay collection that begins with "Tsurezure naru mama ni" (left to my own boredom...). Unlike the tales you learned in the first year like *The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter*, the author’s own philosophy shines through clearly.
The story of the "Priest at Ninna-ji Temple" is very famous. The closing line, "In all things, a guide (sentatsu) is something one should have," is a lesson relevant even today: "It is important to listen to experienced people rather than acting on your own assumptions."
"The Narrow Road to the Deep North" (Oku no Hosomichi by Matsuo Bashō)
In the second year, you will also touch upon the travelogue "The Narrow Road to the Deep North," where Matsuo Bashō travels through the Tohoku and Hokuriku regions.
・"The silence... sinking into the rocks, the sound of the cicadas."
He expresses a strange and beautiful sensation where the sound of the cicadas (which should be noisy) actually makes the silence feel even deeper. This is known as the spirit of "Wabi-Sabi."
【Let’s memorize! Haiku Basics】
1. 5-7-5 (17 syllables in total).
2. Kigo (Seasonal word): You must include one word that indicates the season.
3. Kireji (Cutting word): Words like "ya," "kana," or "keri" that express the center of the emotion.
5. Summary of the Classics: Check these before you finish!
・Historical Kana Orthography: Master the rules of conversion.
・"The Pillow Book": Sei Shōnagon’s bright, "okashi" (charming/refined) sensitivity.
・"The Tale of the Heike": Oral storytelling by Biwa Hōshi. The world view of "Impermanence."
・"Essays in Idleness": Kenkō Hōshi’s life lessons and sharp observation of human nature.
・Haiku: Capturing a scene in short words using Kigo and Kireji.
【A Message from your Teacher】
How was the world of the Classics? People around your age who lived nearly 1,000 years ago were just like you—looking at the moon and thinking it was beautiful, or making mistakes and feeling embarrassed. I hope you don't just memorize this for a test, but also feel that "people in the past were human, just like us." Start by reading them out loud to experience that rhythm (like the 5-7-5)!