In Japan, the predominant language until the beginning of the Showa period (as the reign of Emperor Hirohito Showa is called, which began at the end of 1925) was kobun, as it is called in the modern version of the Japanese language. Previously referred to as kogo (in the ancient language) or bungo (in literary language), archaic Japanese was a variation of the late ancient language, spoken between the Heian period and the Kamakura period (between the years 794 and 1333).
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 historical records of the country, through a series of documents written several centuries ago. Although these files are available to everyone, only a few specialists can decipher them in their entirety, as modern writing is very different from the ancient.
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 a considerable amount of time in studies can learn the basics, something that can be useful in different ways.
Many classic 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 back to 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 regarding writing. Therefore, it is important to note that this is not content for beginners.
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Why learn kobun?
First of all, let’s understand some reasons that may encourage 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 studying Japanese with the intention of working in the country or immigrating at some point, it will probably be necessary to go through the famous JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test). This is an optional exam that many foreigners take 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 version N1 of the test (which is still used today). 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 from their studies on the archaic language.
For those who intend to enter a Japanese university, it is also common for admission tests to include kobun in most institutions. In academic terms, it ends up being a practically mandatory subject, so it is worth studying more for both 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 nationalistic and appreciate when foreigners seek to learn more about their culture, so knowing the basics of their ancient language expands job opportunities and even hospitality.
How to learn kobun?
The hardest part of this process is finding ways to study kobun on your own. Those living in Japan and already speaking modern Japanese fluently will certainly have an easier time finding courses or private teachers to learn this variant. Those living in other countries and still studying the current language will find more difficulties.
The good news is that there are several websites and apps 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 understand the material, as the translation is done directly from kobun to English. However, many also provide direct conversion from archaic Japanese to modern, 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 websites that offer a good general overview, such as Tofugu and Sengoku Daimyo. In addition to providing various visual examples, they translate some excerpts 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 of over 25,000 words from konbu, in addition to having a section dedicated exclusively to Japan in its virtual library; titled JapanKnowledge, it provides access to various dictionaries of the Japanese language and all its variations. Meanwhile, weblio offers 23,000 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 over 12,000 symbols.
For a more advanced study of classical Japanese, it is possible to use the virtual library of the University of Kansas itself or some websites dedicated to in-depth analyses of classics of Japanese literature, such as Manabu Oshieru, which features over 100 ancient poems with detailed explanations regarding 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, featuring over 6,000 symbols and also assisting 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 recommendations are available for Android and iOS.
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