B. H. Chamberlainの『古事記』の翻訳
1983 年 1984 巻 16 号 p. 117-131
詳細
1983 年 1984 巻 16 号 p. 117-131
The paper describes the brief history of translating Kojiki into English. B. H. Chamberlain published his translation of the Kojiki in 1883. The Kojiki is the earliest source book in Japanese literature and history. His translations are accurate and it has detailed notes. He referred to forty-eight Japanese writings on Kojiki for the translation. His introduction to the book is full of new ideas which surprised Japanese scholars, even Kojiki specialists.
On the method of translation he said : “So-called equivalent terms in two languages rarely quite cover each other.” He cites the chief examples, the names of titles. For example Yamato-Take-no-Mikoto, His Augustness Yamato-Take. Post Wheeler is opposed to this way of translating. He believes it is unnecessarily burdensome. In 1968 Donald Philippi published the complete translation of Kojiki again. He criticized Chamberlain for not interpreting the etymology of Proper Names such as the names of personage, Gods and places. Regardless of any criticism, his honor of being the 1 st translator has never been overlooked.
