18 Jul 2006

Japanese Historical Text Initiative (JHTI)
University of California, Berkeley, CA, US
Supplied note: "The Japanese Historical Text Initiative (JHTI) is a rapidly expanding database made up of historical texts written during the last 1292 years. The original version of every paragraph in every text is cross-tagged with its English translation, making it possible for any researcher to see, on the same screen, both the original and English translation of any word or phrase appearing in any JHTI text.
The texts now included are of the following types:
* Ancient chronicles. These were compiled by officials of the Imperial Court in compliance with edicts handed down by occupants of the throne. The three oldest chronicles have been placed on JHTI: (1) the Kojiki (completed in 712 CE) and cross-tagged with its English translation by Donald L. Philippi, (2) the Nihon Shoki (completed in 720) with its translation by W. G. Aston, and (3) the Shoku Nihongi (covering 697 to 791) with its translation by J. B. Snellen.
* Ancient gazetteers. These texts were submitted by provincial officials in compliance with an Imperial edict handed down during the first half of the 8th century. Only a few remain. We are inserting on JHTI the original of the most complete extant gazetteer, the Izumo no Kuni Fudoki (submitted in 733), and linking it with Michiko Aoki's translation. Remaining portions of other gazetteers will be added and linked to translations by Professor Aoki.
* Ancient religo-civil code. In 927, at the close of the Great Reform period that began in 645, a comprehensive compilation of religious and civil law (the Engi Shiki) was submitted to the Imperial court. The first 10 books are made up of religious (Kami) law. All other books are devoted to civil law. The originals of the 10 Kami books have been placed on JHTI and cross-tagged with Felicia Gressitt Bock's translation.
* Medieval stories. After the Great Reform period, and during early years of the emerging feudal age, the most valuable historical texts were stories written about what was said and done by powerful leaders of aristocratic and military clans. Three are being placed on JHTI: (1) the Okagami (covering the years 866 to 1027) with the translation by Helen Craig McCullough; (2) the Eiga Monogatari (covering the years 794 to 1185) with the translation by William H. & Helen Craig McCullough; and (3) the Taiheiki (completed around 1371) with the Helen Craig McCullough translation. Other translated texts of this type will be added later.
* Medieval and early-modern interpretive histories. Between 1219 and 1712, three great interpretive histories were written, mirroring the religious and political interests of their authors. The originals and translations of two are being placed on JHTI: (1) the Gukansho (completed in 1219) has been linked with the Delmer M. Brown and Ichiro Ishida translation, and (2) the Jinno Shotoki (completed in 1339) with the H. Paul Varley translation. The third history of this type, the Tokushi Yoron (completed in 1712), will soon be cross-tagged and inserted with the Joyce Ackroyd translation.
* The Japanese state and Imperial Shinto. After the Meiji Restoration of 1868, and in response to increasing pressure from Western powers, the Japanese state adopted reforms in all areas of public life, including religious life. After World War II the government collected and published important religious orders issued between 1868 and 1945. This is entitled Meiji Igo Shukyo Kankei Horei Ruisan (Collection of Religious Orders Issued since the Beginning of Meiji) and it is being placed on JHTI, and is being linked with translations by Brown and Okubo. In 1937, the Japanese government published and distributed its official interpretation of Imperial Shinto. Entitled Kokutai no Hongi (Principles of Nation-Body) this has been placed on JHTI and cross-tagged with the English translation by John Owen Gauntlett.
* Scriptures of Japan's New Religions. [...T]eachings [...] rooted in the Lotus Sutra (Hokke-kyo) and this Sutra, thought to be the earliest of the Mahayana scriptures, will be placed on JHTI and cross-tagged with the English translation by Banno Kato et al and revised by W. L. Soothill and William Schiffer et al. The Ofudesaki written by the founder of Tenri-kyo will also be added, and linked with the translation by Iwao P. Hino. [...]
Since the Initiative is ongoing and collaborative, we appreciate receiving recommendations for the addition of other texts, suggestions for the improvement or the addition of translations and references, and offers to publish Japanese historical studies electronically. These should be addressed to Yuko Okubo, JHTI Coordinator, East Asian Library, UC Berkeley, at: (yokubo--at--library.berkeley.edu). - yo."

Additional contents: * Tools for analysis of the Japanese historical texts (Frequency of Appearance of Vocabulary, Log Analyze System); * Research Aids (Basic Terms of Shinto, Shinto Shrine Atlas, Bibliographic Guide); * Electronic Publications (Purification rituals, Himatsuri); * Linked Electronic Publications (Four books on Japanese religion [Matsuri, New Religions, Folk Beliefs in Modern Japan, Kami] from the Institute for Japanese Culture and Classics at Kokugakuin University) * Linked Sites; * Japanese Fonts.
[A bi-lingual (JP, EN) site - ed.]
URL http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/jhti
Internet Archive (www.archive.org) [the site was not archived at the time of this abstract]
Link reported by: Yuko Okubo (yokubo--at--library.berkeley.edu), forwarded by H-Net list for Asian History and Culture (h-asia--at--h-net.msu.edu)
* Resource type [news - documents - study - corporate info. - online guide]: Documents/Study
* Publisher [academic - business - government - library - NGO - other]: Academic
* Scholarly usefulness [essential - v.useful - useful - interesting - marginal]: Essential
* External links to the resource [over 3,000 - under 3,000 - under 1,000 - under 300 - under 100 - under 30]: under 30