Paper short abstract:

In my presentation I shall examine Murasaki Shikibu nikki shaku, a commentary by the Kokugakusha Shimizu Noriaki, focusing on the texts he quotes in order to highlight the distinctive features of his vernacular translation and the importance of research on tales and diaries by Kokugakusha.

Paper long abstract:

During the eighteenth century, many vernacular translations of The Tale of Genji were published, and by the nineteenth century, commentaries on Murasaki Shikibu nikki (ca. 1008-1010) that included vernacular translation had begun to appear. Murasaki Shikibu nikki shaku, a commentary by Shimizu Noriaki (1793-1868), a Kokugakusha from the Owari-Tokugawa domain, was first published in 1834, and subsequently was held in such high regard that it was reprinted numerous times down through the Showa era. Of particular note was its inclusion of numerous translated passages, and that the author quotes from a wide variety of works, carefully evaluating each one. I should like to draw attention to the fact that the Edo-period glossary Gago yakkai (Translations and Interpretations of Classical Japanese, 1821) and the late twelfth-century tale Torikaebaya are among the texts the author cites. Torikaebaya was copied and annotated by many Kokugakusha nativists, but so far no attention has been paid to Shimizu Noriaki’s interest in the work.

In my presentation, I shall first look at the distinctive features of the vernacular translation included in Murasaki Shikibu nikki shaku. Then, I shall use evidence provided by the texts the author quotes to examine the cultural world into which Murasaki Shikibu nikki shaku emerged, and to illuminate aspects of the research on tales and diaries done by Kokugakusha. Hitherto, research has tended to focus on the commentarial traditions and reception of individual works. I would suggest, however, that by treating several works together, we can bring into clearer focus the commentary on and reception of those works.