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留学先で、または日本にいる外国人と話していて、日本の文化について尋ねられることはよくある。そんなとき、日本語でしっかり頭に入れることはもちろん、英語できちんと説明できるようにしよう。
（出典：英文日本絵とき事典 JTBパブリッシング発行）
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| 人物日本史編 Who's who of Japan |
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 紫式部・980-1014 |
[MURASAKI SHIKIBU] |
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The exceptionally long novel "Genji Monogatari"
written by Murasaki Shikibu is not only the
foremost literary work of the Heian period.
It is also one of the supreme glories of Japanese
literature. This classical work which describes,
in high-flown style, an amazingly eventful
life of an intelligent, handsome noble "Hikaru
Genji" is even today admired by many Japanese
readers.
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| Murasaki Shikibu was a
nyobo (court-lady) who served Shoshi, wife
of the Emperor Ichijo. She was a contemporary
of See Shonagon. In striking contrast with
Sei Shonagon who went to everything showy,
Murasaki Shikibu liked to be reserved in the
presence of others. So it seems that she disliked
Sei Shonagon. In her diary, Murasaki Shikibu
notes: "she (Sei Shonagon) is a disgusting
woman, looking big. Sooner or later, she will
give herself away. Only to learn a lesson." |
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Combination of Hiragana and
Chinese character |
The characteristic woman literature of the Heian
period was made possible partly by the invention
of hiragana, a Japanese syllabary. While Chinese
characters were officially used in those days, the
use of hiragana in combination with Chinese characters
dramatically increased the breadth and depth of
presentation. Hiragana were formerly called female
characters, and in the Heian period they were used
only by women.
Plot of Genji Monogatari
Hikaru Genji. hero of the novel. was born between
an emperor and his low-ranking wife. He is described
as a perfect man gifted with good looks, talent,
and noble character. Genji Monogatari is a story
describing extravagant, yet repentant, love affairs
of Hikaru Genji with his many lovers.
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The first lady whom Hikaru Genji
loved was Fujitsubo who had much of the image
of his mother. Fujitsubo was another wife
of his father, or a mother-in-law of Hikarti
Genji. Thus the story begins with the illicit
love of Hikaru Genji with Fujitsubo. |
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While Hikaru
Genji experiences love affairs with many noble
beauties in succession, he can never forget
his first lover Fujitsubo. Every one of the
ladies falling in love with him becomes heartbroken
and none of them, including Hikaru Genji himself,
feels happy for long. |
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Although Hikaru Genji is once
relegated to an office in a remote place,
he eventually returns to the capital of Heian
(Kyoto), where he wins speedy promotion and
lives a life full of splendor. It is the period
in which Hikaru Genji spends his happiest
days. |
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However, in
his latter years, Hikaru Genji is far from
happy. One his wives has an illicit love affair
with a young man, giving birth to a boy, who
is named Kaoru. Reflecting the illicit love
with his mother-in-law in his youth, Hikal
Genji is battered by the handness of the world
and enters the priesthood. |
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ボキャブラリー
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| Heian period |
平安時代 |
| high-flown |
大げさな、空想的な |
| court-lady |
女房、女官 |
| contemporary |
同時期の、同時代に存在した |
| mother-in-law |
義理の母 |
| illicit love |
不倫 |
| priesthood |
聖職 |
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ひらがなタイムズ Hir@gana Times
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ありのままの日本を紹介する日英バイリンガルマガジン
ひらがなタイムズは生きた日本の知識を吸収しながら、語学の学習も同時にできるユニークな雑誌。
英語と日本語が段落ごとに交互に掲載され、漢字には外国人が読みやすいようにひらがなのルビがつけてあります。このコンセプトが高く評価され、ＮＴＴ主催の全国タウン誌フェスティバルでは大賞を2度、企画賞を1度受賞。
掲載記事は大学などの英語、または日本語試験問題にしばしば採用されている、実力派雑誌です。
→詳しくはこちら！
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Page2は「NHK大河ドラマでおなじみ！ 源義経」を英語で説明しよう！
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