In Japan, the predominant language until the beginning of the Showa period (as the reign of Emperor Hirohito Showa, which began at the end of 1925, is called) was kobun, as it is called in the modern version of the Japanese language. Previously referred to as kogo (in the old language) or bungo (in the literary language), archaic Japanese was a variation of Late Old Japanese, spoken between the Heian and Kamakura periods (between the years 794 and 1333).
Just like almost all languages, in the 20th century, Japanese was also adapted into a more modern and simplified version, especially in writing. Today, kobun exists only in the country’s historical records, through a series of documents written centuries ago. Although these archives are available to everyone, only a few specialists can decipher them completely, since modern writing differs greatly from the old one.
The fact that it is a difficult language does not make kobun impossible to study. Nowadays, seeking this learning is not limited only to historians or translators, but also to lovers of Japanese culture. It is a very complex and difficult language to master, but anyone who makes an effort and invests considerable time in studies can learn the basics, which can be useful in different ways.
Many classical texts of Japanese literature, such as The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter (also known as Princess Kaguya) and the book Genji Monogatari, were written in kobun, so it is possible to study the language through various original materials dating from the 10th century. Of course, to learn the archaic language, it is necessary for the person to be at least at an advanced level of modern Japanese, especially when it comes to writing. Thus, the warning is that this is not content for beginners.
Why learn kobun?
First of all, let’s understand some reasons that can stimulate the learning of kobun. To begin with, although it is no longer used in Japan, students there still learn its basic fundamentals in elementary school, so it is still considered an important subject in the country.
In the case of people who are studying Japanese with the intention of working in the country or immigrating at some point, it will probably be necessary to pass the famous JLPT (acronym in English for Japanese Language Proficiency Test). This is an optional test that many foreigners undergo to prove that they are capable of communicating in the language at different levels, which can increase their chances of getting good jobs in Japan.
In 2010, the JLPT underwent a revision to make it more difficult, thus giving rise to the N1 version of the test (which is used to this day). The test is not the same for everyone and the questions vary for each person, so there is a risk of kobun appearing in some cases. Those who wish to take the JLPT in the future will certainly benefit greatly from their studies on the archaic language.
For those who intend to enter a Japanese university, it is also common for admission exams to include kobun in most institutions. In academic terms, it ends up being a practically mandatory subject, so it is worth studying more both for the JLPT and for the country’s higher education exams.
Students who are studying History or Tourism at UNIFACS or at any other Brazilian university can also benefit from kobun in professional matters. The Japanese people are quite nationalist and approve when foreigners seek to learn more about their culture, so knowing the basics of their ancient language expands employment opportunities and even hospitality.
How to learn kobun?
The most difficult part of this process is finding ways to study kobun on your own. Those who live in Japan and already speak the modern language fluently will certainly have an easier time finding courses or private teachers to learn this variant. Those who live in other countries and are still studying the current language will find more difficulties.
The good news is that there are several websites and applications that can help in this process. All are available exclusively in English, so it is necessary to have a good familiarity with the language to be able to understand the material, since the translation is done directly from kobun to English. However, many also provide the direct conversion from archaic Japanese to modern Japanese, making it possible to understand in the same way.
For a more basic study, which involves only a superficial understanding of verb conjugation and grammar, there are some sites that offer a good general overview, such as Tofugu and Sengoku Daimyo. In addition to offering various visual examples, they translate some passages and even compare them with modern Japanese, all with simple and easy-to-understand language.
The variety of dictionaries dedicated to classical Japanese available on the internet is also interesting. The University of Kansas has a compilation with more than 25 thousand words of konbu, in addition to having a section dedicated exclusively to Japan in its virtual library; titled JapanKnowledge, it is possible to access various Japanese language dictionaries and all its variants. Weblio, on the other hand, provides 23 thousand words with complete conjugations and, alternatively, it is also possible to search for the archaic version of modern kanjis on kanji.jitenon, with a collection of more than 12 thousand symbols.
For a more advanced study of classical Japanese, it is possible to use the University of Kansas’s own virtual library or some sites dedicated to in-depth analyses of Japanese literature classics, such as Manabu Oshieru, which brings more than 100 ancient poems with detailed explanations about the grammar used.
In terms of smartphone apps, the variety is also high. To study ancient kanjis, the Jōyō Kanji Stroke Order Dictionary is a good option, with more than 6 thousand symbols and also helping the user with grammatical corrections. For general learning, there are apps that offer quizzes to test your knowledge and others focused on translation and understanding of archaic Japanese. All these indications are available for Android and iOS.
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