1-0 Kojiki, Forward
A new month and a new attempt at pushing my Japanese along. Daily effort is what is called for. Thus I shall begin by posting a fresh translation of one of my Japanese books as often as I may.
I shall start with a book from the series "Boys' & Girls' World Defining Literature" "Japan-1".
The first story is the Kojiki, Record of Ancient Matters. I will let the translation of it's intro introduce it.
Forward
What sort of world existed before the world of today began; the very beginning before people, dogs, cats, grasses, and trees existed? Also, in what way were we humans born into this world?
Concerning this, people from all around the world have continued to think of various explanations.
One country's people tell this story:
"Long long ago, in a land beyond the heights of the sky, there lived a little girl. One day, the little girl, along with a banana tree, fell to the ocean below. However, from out of the ocean a great turtle floated up and supported the girl and the banana tree on its back. Then the turtle became an island, the banana tree grew lush and spread, and the girl, eating the bananas, became the ancestor of humanity."
Alternatively, another country's people have this to say:
"This world was made by God. And as His final act He hardened clay to create the first humans."
Anyways, what do modern savants have to say?
"Before this planet became firm it was a muddy ball of fire. It gradually cooled and became the world we know today," they think.
"Then what about before it was a ball of fire?" one asks.
"It was probably a ball of gas like a cloud before that," they respond.
"And before that?" one asks.
"Well, even before that, we still really don't know," they say.
So you see, even the learned ones of today don't really know the answers. Still less is there reason for ancient people of tens of thousands of years ago to know. So, the people of this world continue to choose to believe, "This is the true way the world and humanity began."
So, how did the ancestors of us Japanese think the world and Japan came about?
Won't you come to an understanding of the thinking of our ancient ancestors through reading Japan's oldest tale, the Kojiki?
I shall start with a book from the series "Boys' & Girls' World Defining Literature" "Japan-1".
The first story is the Kojiki, Record of Ancient Matters. I will let the translation of it's intro introduce it.
Forward
What sort of world existed before the world of today began; the very beginning before people, dogs, cats, grasses, and trees existed? Also, in what way were we humans born into this world?
Concerning this, people from all around the world have continued to think of various explanations.
One country's people tell this story:
"Long long ago, in a land beyond the heights of the sky, there lived a little girl. One day, the little girl, along with a banana tree, fell to the ocean below. However, from out of the ocean a great turtle floated up and supported the girl and the banana tree on its back. Then the turtle became an island, the banana tree grew lush and spread, and the girl, eating the bananas, became the ancestor of humanity."
Alternatively, another country's people have this to say:
"This world was made by God. And as His final act He hardened clay to create the first humans."
Anyways, what do modern savants have to say?
"Before this planet became firm it was a muddy ball of fire. It gradually cooled and became the world we know today," they think.
"Then what about before it was a ball of fire?" one asks.
"It was probably a ball of gas like a cloud before that," they respond.
"And before that?" one asks.
"Well, even before that, we still really don't know," they say.
So you see, even the learned ones of today don't really know the answers. Still less is there reason for ancient people of tens of thousands of years ago to know. So, the people of this world continue to choose to believe, "This is the true way the world and humanity began."
So, how did the ancestors of us Japanese think the world and Japan came about?
Won't you come to an understanding of the thinking of our ancient ancestors through reading Japan's oldest tale, the Kojiki?