Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IX.djvu/581

Rh attempt is made to give the etymologies of words, arranged under 23 categories. The Toga, by Arai Hakuseki (1657–1725), is an etymological and explanatory dictionary of Japanese words, in 20 books, arranged according to categories. The author has abstained from attempting to give any derivations of which he did not feel sufficiently certain. The most valuable dictionary of the Japanese language is the Wakan Shiori of Tanigawa Shisei, who flourished during the latter part of the 18th century. The first portion (45 vols.) contains about 18,000 words, among which are to be found the greater part of those which occur in the ancient literature, with examples. The second portion (30 vols.) contains about 12,000 words, many of which are of Chinese origin. A third part was promised, but has never been published. The arrangement is according to the 50 sounds, which is a great improvement on the old arrangement according to categories. The Gagen Shuran (21 vols., of which only 9 have been printed), by Ishikawa Masamochi, is a dictionary of Japanese words, with multitudinous examples, but few etymologies or explanations. In 1872 the educational department of the mikado's government commenced the publication of a gigantic dictionary, which was to contain all the words in use from the earliest periods down to the present, with examples. Only 5 volumes, containing the words beginning with A, have appeared as yet, and it is feared that the project has been abandoned. The Wakan Gorui Osetsuyoshiu, in 13 volumes, is an excellent dictionary of Japanese words with their corresponding Chinese characters, arranged first by categories, and then according to the iroha; but it contains neither definitions nor derivations. Owing to the Japanese generally writing their own language with Chinese characters, using the kana only for terminations and particles, they have as a general rule been always very ignorant of spelling. The earliest attempt at rectifying the mistakes which were committed by those who used the kana, chiefly for writing poetry, was the Kana-moji-tsukai, by Gioa, founded on the spelling of Teika Kio. A fuller edition of this was published in 1666 by Arakida Moriaki, under the title of Ruiji Kanadzukai. Neither of these works is a trustworthy guide. Keichiu (1640–1701) compiled the Waji Shoransho (5 vols.), a spelling book, with examples from the Rikkokushi, Kujiki, Kojiki, Manyoshiu, and other classical writings. The Waji Tsureisho, in 8 volumes, is an attack on the last named book, by Tachibana Narikazu. The Kogentei (1765), by Katori Nahiko, is an alphabetically arranged list of words showing the correct ancient spelling. It is considered a very good authority on the subject. The Jion-kana-dzukai, by Motoöri Norinaga, treats of the proper spelling of the pronunciation of Chinese characters, a subject about which there seems to be much difference of opinion among scholars. The Kanji Sanonko, by the same author, discusses the origin of the kan-on, go-on, and to-on. Hirata Atsutane's Koshi Honji Kio (4 vols.) is a most elaborate treatise on the sounds of the Japanese language, and the various kinds of transformation which they undergo. The Dobun Tsuko (4 vols.), by Arai Hakuseki, is a valuable work on the origin of Chinese characters and the two kana. The Watoku Yorei, by Dazai Shuntai, is a similar work. A large number of grammatical works have been the result of the great impulse given to Japanese studies by the revival of learning, chiefly produced since the beginning of the 18th century. Aston's "Grammar of the Written Language" contains a pretty complete list of the more important writings of this class. It may be observed that the efforts of native grammarians do not go beyond the accidence of the language. In the year 713 orders were despatched to the governors of all the provinces to give lucky names to the departments and villages, and to record the names of the metals, plants, trees, birds, beasts, fishes, and insects produced in each department; the quality of the land, whether fertile or otherwise; the origin of the names of mountains, rivers, plains, and moors; and the local legends. The last volume was completed in 784. It is a constant subject of regret with Japanese scholars that so much of this great work should have perished, for out of 66 volumes, only the volume on Idzumo and fragments of 44 others have survived the ravages of time and civil war. From this time up to the 16th century the subject seems to have been completely neglected. About 1580 was produced the Nihon Kokubun Ki, in 10 books, by an unknown author; it is an account of the productions of each province, with maps. Kaibara Tokushiu compiled a "History of the Province of Chikuzen" (Chikuzen no Kuni Shoku Fudoki), in 28 books, and "Travels in various Provinces" (Shoshiu Meguri, 7 vols.). Other works of this class are Yoshiu Fushi, in 10 books, by Kurokawa Doyu, a history of Yamashiro in the Chinese language (1684); Sanshiu Meisekishi, by Hakuye, a description of Yamashiro (25 vols., 1702); Yamashiro Meishoshi, compiled from 713 works, all of which are quoted literally (30 vols. and 12 maps, 1705); Yamashiroshi (9 vols.), Yamatoshi (7 vols.), Kowachishi (3 vols.), Idzumishi (2 vols.), and Setsushi (4 vols.), by Nabikawa Nagashi, early in the 18th century; Yamato Meishkoi by Hayashi Soya (15 vols., 1681); Setsuyo Gundan, a description of Setsu, by Okada Keishi (17 vols., 1698); Shinsen Kamakurashi, by order of the second prince of Mito (12 vols., 1685); Dankaishi, a description of Omi, with local legends, by an unknown author; and the Shinano Chimeiko, a history of the province of Shinano, by Yoshizawa Koken (3 vols.). Besides these more serious works, there is a large class of illustrated topographical works of a popular nature, such as the Todaido Meishodzuye, Nikkozanshi, Kiso Neishodzuye, Yedo Meisho, Kioto Meisho, Kii Meisho,