Kanji was introduced to Japan from ancient China in about the third century in B.C.
Introduction of Kanji
Kanji was introduced until Japan from ancient China in the age when Japan did not have the language.
It is said that it is about the 5-6th century at B.C..
But, it has not been clarified yet whether the language existed in Japan of the 5-6th century at B.C..
The 5-6th century at B.C; Kanji was introduced by ancient China ; Japan at that time is an age that was called "Jomon and Yayoi".
"Jomon period" and "Yayoi period" are the primitive ages of Japan.
"The bronze bells of Yayoi" and "Jomon pottery" is a simple picture or symbol, was painted like a coat of arms.
At present, the theory "At that time, the character did not exist" is strong.
And as for "漢字[kanji]" and "漢文(kan-bun[Chinese writing])" "論語(Rongo)" and "千字文(Senji-mon[1000-kanji character sentence ])" were introduced to Japanese "応神天皇(oujin-tennou[Emperor Oujin]) from Chinese "百済(kudara)" in A.D.285.
About kanji having been introduced to Japan in front of about 2000 years, "the thing with which kanji was written" was discovered and proved it in the Kyushu district in Japan.
The age when an ancient Japanese people began to use kanji.
Japanese people began to use kanji for the Japanese notation.
The first book to which the Japanese wrote the history of Japan with kanji is "天皇記[Tennou-ki: Emperor record]" and "国記[kokki: Country record] ".
These books were edited for 620 years by "聖徳太子[Shoutoku-Taishi: Prince Shotoku]" and "蘇我馬子[Soga-no-Umako]".
Unfortunately, as for these, the details are unclear because neither exists.
Afterward, "万葉仮名[manyo-gana]" was devised.
This is a thing used to writing kanji with Japanese sound.
Manyou-gana was mainly used by the woman.
Before long, the hiragana that the "草書体（SOUSHOTAI[cursive]）" of kanji becomes an origin was devised at the Heian era, and it was designed based on a part of kanji.
Well, ancient Japanese felt fear to these characters [=kanji].
Ancient Japanese were believing in the god named "八百万(Yaoyorozu)."
"Precept of Yaoyorozu" is the idea "Words is numen".
--"If the word is written, it becomes a reality."--
This is exactly thought of Yaoyorozu.
kanji which can record the dead's name and words" was a character of fear to the Yamato race which believes this idea.
[Note -- Japanese people of those days is called the "大和民族(Yamato minzoku)."]
Their idea for softening fear was the wisdom that only the sound of kanji is used, and the meaning of kanji is disregarded.
Their idea for softening fear was the wisdom that only the sound of kanji is used, and the meaning of kanji is disregarded.
That method is called "当て字(ate-ji)" now.
For such a reason, many "words in which one word has some kanji" exists.
Incidentally, "God of Yaoyorozu" appears in the Miyazaki animation of Japan "千と千尋の神隠し[Sento chihirono Kamikakush]."
CHIHIRO who is the heroine of this movie was stolen her own name and her parents.
She went to the mysterious world to get back them.
There is a public bath for gods of Yaoyorozu in that world.
She learns a lot of things while working there.
Look at the video of this movie, please.
My talk has wandered from the movie from kanji.
However, "the deep wonder of Japan" is expressed on this movie.
By Hararie
Tokyo Time
