Japanese encyclopedias
Encyclopedia
In Japanese
, encyclopedias are known as hyakka jiten , which literally means "book of a hundred subjects," and can trace their origins to the early Heian period
, in the ninth century. Encyclopedic works were published in Japan for well over a thousand years before Japan's first modern encyclopedias were published after Japan's opening to the West, during the Meiji Period
(1868-1912). Several encyclopedias have been published in Japan since World War II, including several children's encyclopedias, and two major titles are currently available: the Encyclopedia Nipponica
, published by Shogakukan
, and the Sekai Dai-Hyakka Jiten, compiled by the Heibonsha publishing company. A Japanese Wikipedia is also available.
10-scroll work, Wamyō Ruijushō
, which was written in the ancient Japanese syllabary system of man'yōgana and contained entries arranged by category. During the 13th century, an 11-scroll book appeared on the origins of things, Chiribukuro (literally, “rubbish bag”), and its innovative question-and-answer format was much imitated throughout the medieval period.
In the 17th century, the Sancai Tuhui
(literally, "illustrated book of the 'Three Powers,' i.e., heaven, earth, and man"), a 14-part, 106-scroll illustrated encyclopedia published in Ming
China in 1609, entered Japan. In 1712, emulating the Sancai Tuhui, Terajima Ryōan published the Wakan Sansai Zue
("illustrated book of the three powers in Japan and China"), the first Japanese illustrated encyclopedia. Written in classical Chinese
(the language of scholarship throughout East Asia at the time), the book reflected the outlook of its day with such fantastical entries as and . Its logical presentation, topical divisions, and discussion of alternative explanations for the same phenomena, however, anticipated the modern encyclopedia.
During Japan's at the time of the Meiji Period
, the westernizer Nishi Amane
compiled Japan's first modern encyclopedia, the Hyakugaku renwa . Beginning in 1873, the Ministry of Education
sponsored the translation of Chambers' Information for the People into Japanese under the name Hyakka Zensho , which was completed in the 1880s. Later, the Ministry of Temples and Shrines sponsored the compilation by Nishimura Shigeki and others of another encyclopedic work, the Koji ruien , which was finally completed in 1914. The publishing house Sanseido published its 10-volume encyclopedia, the Nihon Hyakka Daijiten , between 1908 and 1919, and Heibonsha published a 28-volume work, the Dai-Hyakka Jiten , between 1931 and 1934. The Dai-Hyakka Jiten was the first publication to use the characters (jiten) rather than (jiten) to represent the word "encyclopedia," starting the convention whereby is used to mean "encyclopedia" and is used to mean "dictionary."
After World War II, Heibonsha responded to Japan's new internationalization by publishing the Sekai Dai-Hyakka Jiten in 32 volumes, between 1955 and 1959. Shogakukan then published the 19-volume Encyclopedia Japonica, Japan's first full-color reference work, between 1967 and 1972. Between 1970 and 1974, Gakushu Kenkyusha published a 21-volume encyclopedia, the Gurando Gendai Hyakka Jiten . In 1974 and 1975, a 30-volume Japanese version of the Encyclopedia Britannica, the Buritanica Kokusai Hyakka Jiten , was also published in Japan. In 1984, Heibonsha returned with a 16-volume compilation, the Dai-Hyakka Jiten , and Shogakukan began publishing a 25-volume encyclopedia, the Nihon Dai-Hyakka Zensho the same year, finishing in 1989. A second edition was published in 1994. Various children's encyclopedias were also published in the 1950s and 1960s.
Heibonsha has also compiled a smaller encyclopedia called the , published in 5 formats: a single-volume book form, CDROM, electronic dictionary, memory card for PDA’s, and Internet.
and Microsoft's Encarta
both appear on CDROM in Japanese versions.
in 1983 and supplemented in 1986. An online version of this encyclopedia also exists at http://www.ency-japan.com.
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
, encyclopedias are known as hyakka jiten , which literally means "book of a hundred subjects," and can trace their origins to the early Heian period
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height...
, in the ninth century. Encyclopedic works were published in Japan for well over a thousand years before Japan's first modern encyclopedias were published after Japan's opening to the West, during the Meiji Period
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
(1868-1912). Several encyclopedias have been published in Japan since World War II, including several children's encyclopedias, and two major titles are currently available: the Encyclopedia Nipponica
Encyclopedia Nipponica
was published in 1984 from Shogakukan. The first edition of Encyclopedia Nipponica included 25 volumes and was completed in 1989. Encyclopedia Nipponica was intended to further describe Japan and Japanese in depth and at large. After 10 years of preparation, over 130,000 entries and 500,000 indexes...
, published by Shogakukan
Shogakukan
is a Japanese publisher of dictionaries, literature, manga, non-fiction, DVDs, and other media in Japan.Shogakukan founded Shueisha which founded Hakusensha. These are three separate companies, but are together called the Hitotsubashi Group, one of the largest publishing groups in Japan...
, and the Sekai Dai-Hyakka Jiten, compiled by the Heibonsha publishing company. A Japanese Wikipedia is also available.
The History of Japanese Encyclopedias
The antecedents of the modern Japanese encyclopedia date from the ancient period and the Middle Ages. Encyclopedic books were imported from China from an early date, but the first proto-encyclopedia produced in Japan was the 1000-scroll Hifuryaku , compiled in 831 upon the emperor's orders by Shigeno no Sadanushi and others, only fragments of which survive today. The first truly Japanese-style encyclopedia is said to be Minamoto no Shitagō'sMinamoto no Shitago
was a mid Heian waka poet, scholar and nobleman. He was the original compiler of the Wamyō Ruijushō, the first Japanese dictionary organized into semantic headings. He was designated as one of the Thirty-six Poetry Immortals for his distinguished poetic accomplishments. In addition to the Wamyō...
10-scroll work, Wamyō Ruijushō
Wamyo Ruijusho
The is a 938 CE Japanese dictionary of Chinese characters. The Heian Period scholar Minamoto no Shitagō began compilation in 934, at the request of Emperor Daigo's daughter...
, which was written in the ancient Japanese syllabary system of man'yōgana and contained entries arranged by category. During the 13th century, an 11-scroll book appeared on the origins of things, Chiribukuro (literally, “rubbish bag”), and its innovative question-and-answer format was much imitated throughout the medieval period.
In the 17th century, the Sancai Tuhui
Sancai Tuhui
The Sancai Tuhui, compiled by Shanghai natives Wang Qi and Wang Siyi , is a Chinese encyclopedia known at the time as a type of Book by category , completed in 1607 and published in 1609 during the Ming dynasty, featuring illustrations of subjects in the three worlds of heaven, earth, and...
(literally, "illustrated book of the 'Three Powers,' i.e., heaven, earth, and man"), a 14-part, 106-scroll illustrated encyclopedia published in Ming
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
China in 1609, entered Japan. In 1712, emulating the Sancai Tuhui, Terajima Ryōan published the Wakan Sansai Zue
Wakan Sansai Zue
The is a Japanese encyclopedia published in 1712 in the Edo period. It consists of 105 volumes in 81 books. Its compiler was Terashima or Terajima , a doctor from Osaka. It describes and illustrates various activities of daily life, such as carpentry and fishing, as well as plants and animals, and...
("illustrated book of the three powers in Japan and China"), the first Japanese illustrated encyclopedia. Written in classical Chinese
Classical Chinese
Classical Chinese or Literary Chinese is a traditional style of written Chinese based on the grammar and vocabulary of ancient Chinese, making it different from any modern spoken form of Chinese...
(the language of scholarship throughout East Asia at the time), the book reflected the outlook of its day with such fantastical entries as and . Its logical presentation, topical divisions, and discussion of alternative explanations for the same phenomena, however, anticipated the modern encyclopedia.
During Japan's at the time of the Meiji Period
Meiji period
The , also known as the Meiji era, is a Japanese era which extended from September 1868 through July 1912. This period represents the first half of the Empire of Japan.- Meiji Restoration and the emperor :...
, the westernizer Nishi Amane
Nishi Amane
was a philosopher in Meiji period Japan who helped introduce Western philosophy into mainstream Japanese education.-Early life:Nishi was born in Tsuwano Domain of Iwami Province as the son of a samurai physician who practiced Chinese medicine...
compiled Japan's first modern encyclopedia, the Hyakugaku renwa . Beginning in 1873, the Ministry of Education
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Japan)
The , also known as MEXT or Monkashō, is one of the ministries of the Japanese government.The Meiji government created the first Ministry of Education in 1871....
sponsored the translation of Chambers' Information for the People into Japanese under the name Hyakka Zensho , which was completed in the 1880s. Later, the Ministry of Temples and Shrines sponsored the compilation by Nishimura Shigeki and others of another encyclopedic work, the Koji ruien , which was finally completed in 1914. The publishing house Sanseido published its 10-volume encyclopedia, the Nihon Hyakka Daijiten , between 1908 and 1919, and Heibonsha published a 28-volume work, the Dai-Hyakka Jiten , between 1931 and 1934. The Dai-Hyakka Jiten was the first publication to use the characters (jiten) rather than (jiten) to represent the word "encyclopedia," starting the convention whereby is used to mean "encyclopedia" and is used to mean "dictionary."
After World War II, Heibonsha responded to Japan's new internationalization by publishing the Sekai Dai-Hyakka Jiten in 32 volumes, between 1955 and 1959. Shogakukan then published the 19-volume Encyclopedia Japonica, Japan's first full-color reference work, between 1967 and 1972. Between 1970 and 1974, Gakushu Kenkyusha published a 21-volume encyclopedia, the Gurando Gendai Hyakka Jiten . In 1974 and 1975, a 30-volume Japanese version of the Encyclopedia Britannica, the Buritanica Kokusai Hyakka Jiten , was also published in Japan. In 1984, Heibonsha returned with a 16-volume compilation, the Dai-Hyakka Jiten , and Shogakukan began publishing a 25-volume encyclopedia, the Nihon Dai-Hyakka Zensho the same year, finishing in 1989. A second edition was published in 1994. Various children's encyclopedias were also published in the 1950s and 1960s.
Encyclopedia Nipponica
is an encyclopedia published by Shogakukan in Japan. It is published in 5 formats: traditional book form, CDROM, e-book, Internet, and as an i-Mode service. Both the Internet and i-Mode versions require payment to use.Sekai Dai-Hyakka Jiten
The Sekai Dai–Hyakka Jiten is an encyclopedia compiled by the Japanese publisher Heibonsha. It is published in three formats: traditional book form, CDROM, and Internet. The online version is known as the .Heibonsha has also compiled a smaller encyclopedia called the , published in 5 formats: a single-volume book form, CDROM, electronic dictionary, memory card for PDA’s, and Internet.
Digital and online encyclopedias
The advent of personal computers and the Internet has brought encyclopedias into the digital age. In addition to the Japanese version of Wikipedia, Japanese Wikipedia, which has about 300,000 articles (as of December 15, 2006), the Encyclopædia BritannicaEncyclopædia Britannica
The Encyclopædia Britannica , published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., is a general knowledge English-language encyclopaedia that is available in print, as a DVD, and on the Internet. It is written and continuously updated by about 100 full-time editors and more than 4,000 expert...
and Microsoft's Encarta
Encarta
Microsoft Encarta was a digital multimedia encyclopedia published by Microsoft Corporation from 1993 to 2009. , the complete English version, Encarta Premium, consisted of more than 62,000 articles, numerous photos and illustrations, music clips, videos, interactive contents, timelines, maps and...
both appear on CDROM in Japanese versions.
Other Japan Related Encyclopedias
Though not technically a Japanese encyclopedia because it is not written in Japanese, the Kodansha Encyclopedia of Japan is an English-language encyclopedia on Japan, first published by KodanshaKodansha
, the largest Japanese publisher, produces the manga magazines Nakayoshi, Afternoon, Evening, and Weekly Shonen Magazine, as well as more literary magazines such as Gunzō, Shūkan Gendai, and the Japanese dictionary Nihongo Daijiten. The company has its headquarters in Bunkyō, Tokyo...
in 1983 and supplemented in 1986. An online version of this encyclopedia also exists at http://www.ency-japan.com.