The Ideology of Kokugo: Nationalizing Language in Modern Japan

Chronology

217 Chronology Major Events and Publications Cited in the Book (provided by translator) 1855 (Ansei 2) Kikai kanran kōgi (Outlook of Nature), by Kawamoto Kōmin. 1866 (Keiō 2) “Kanji on-haishi no gi” (Proposal for the Abolition of Chinese Characters ), by Maejima Hisoka. ———Sōyaku Igirisu bunten, translation of Igirisu bunten (English Dictionary, published by Kaiseijo). 1867 (Keiō 3) Wa-ei gorin shūsei (Japanese-English Dictionary), by Hepburn. 1868 (Meiji 1) Kunmō kyūri zukai (Introductory Theories with Illustrations), by Fukuzawa Yukichi. ———Institute of Imperial Learning (Kōgaku-sho) established in Kyoto together with the Institute of Chinese Studies (Kangaku-sho). 1869 (Meiji 2) “Kokubun kyōiku no gi ni tsuki kengi” (Proposal for Teaching the Japanese Language), by Mejima Hisoka. ———Daigakkō, the Grand School, founded in Tokyo. ———Shōhei gakkō e no tasshi (Advice to Shōhei School). 1870 (Meiji 3) Taikyō senpu no mikotonori (Imperial Rescript for the Propagation of the Great Doctrine). 1872 (Meiji 5) Promulgation of the Educational System. ———May: Mori Arinori writes a letter to Whitney about his views of the Japanese language. ———Wa-ei gorin shūsei (Japanese-English Dictionary), 2nd ed., by Hepburn. 1873 (Meiji 6) “Kō kokubun hai kanji no gi” (The Enforcement of Japanese and the Abolishment of Kanji), by Maejima Hisoka (not officially submitted). ———Meirokusha (Meiji 6 Society) formed (–1875). ———Moji no oshie (Teaching of Script), by Fukuzawa Yukichi. ———Fuon sōzu eiwa jii (English-Japanese Dictionary with Pronunciation and Illustrations), the first full-scale English-Japanese dictionary in Japan, edited by Shibata Shōkichi and Koyasu Takashi. ———Education in Japan, by Mori Arinori. ———An Elementary Grammar of the Japanese Language (Nihongo bunten), by Baba Tatsui. 218 Chronology 1874 (Meiji 7) February–May: Mainichi hirakana shinbun-shi (Daily Hirakana Newspaper), by Maejima. ———Meiroku zasshi (Meiji 6 Magazine), first issue. ———“Yōji o motte kokugo o shosuru no ron” (Writing Japanese in the Western Script), by Nishi Amane. ———Hyaku ichi shin ron (101 New Theories), by Nishi Amane. ———Monowari no hashigo (Steps to the Principles of Things), by Shimizu Usaburō. ———“Hiragana no setsu” (Suggestions for Hiragana Script), by Shimizu Usaburō. ———Kokutai shinron (New Theory of National Polity), by Katō Hiroyuki. ———Bunshōron (Theory of Writing), by Nishimura Shigeki. 1875 (Meiji 8) “Bunshōron o yomu” (Rereading Theory of Writing), by Kanda Takahira. 1877 (Meiji 10) Kyū han jō (Matters of Old Domains), by Fukuzawa Yukichi. 1879 (Meiji 12) “Hōgo o motte kyōju suru daigakkō wo setchi subeki setsu” (Need for Instituting Grand Schools for Teaching in Japanese), by Kanda Takahira. ———“Kyōgaku taishi” (Essential Points for Teaching), by Motoda Nagazane. 1880 (Meiji 13) “Hakugengaku ni kansuru gian” (Bill of Linguistics), by Katō Hiroyuki. 1881 (Meiji 14) Katō Hiroyuki announces discontinuation of the publication of his New Theory of National Polity (Kokutai shin ron). 1882 (Meiji 15) Fuon sōzu eiwa jii (English-Japanese Dictionary with Pronunciation and Illustrations), rev. and supplemented edition. ———(Meiji 15) “Rōmaji o motte Nihongo o tsuzuru no setsu” (Proposal for Writing the Japanese Language in Rōmaji), by Yatabe Ryōkichi. ———Shintaishi shō (New-style Poetry), by Yatabe Ryōkichi, Inoue Tetsujirō, and Toyama Masakazu. 1883 (Meiji 16) Kana no Kai (Association of Kana) formed. 1884 (Meiji 17) “Kanji o haishi eigo o sakan ni okosu wa konnichi no kyūmu nari” (Urgent Task Today: Abolition of Kanji and Promotion of English), by Toyama Masakazu. ———“Kuniguni no namari kotoba ni tsukite” (About Local Dialects), by Miyake Yonekichi. ———“Honsho hensan no taii” (The Objective of This Edition). Preface for Genkai, by Ōtsuki Fumihiko. ———Lecture “Shintai kanji yaburi” (Dump Kanji for a New Style), by Toyama Masakazu. 1885 (Meiji 18) Rōmaji Kai (Rōmaji Association) formed. ———Ken’yūsha formed. ———“Tōkyōgo no tsūyō” (Common Use of Tokyo Language), by Asanebō, in Jiyū tō. 1885–1886 (Meiji 18–19) “Zokugo o iyashimu na” (Don’t Look Down on Vernacular Language) by Miyake Yonekichi. Chronology 219 1886 (Meiji 19) Department of hakugengaku (later gengogaku, linguistics) implemented . ———Nihon bunshōron (Theory of Japanese Writing), by Suematsu Kenchō. ———Genbun itchi, by Mozume Takami. ———Promulgation of School Ordinance (Gakkōrei) for elementary and middle schools, teacher schools, and imperial universities. ———Tsūzoku Kyomutō keiki, translation of Turgenev’s Fathers and Sons, by Futabatei Shimei. ———Wa-ei gorin shūsei (Japanese-English Dictionary), by Hepburn, 3rd ed. 1887 (Meiji 20) “GEM-BUN ITCHI,” by B. H. Chamberlain. ———“Baku genbun itchi ron” (Refuting Genbun...