Classical Japanese language

The Classical Japanese language (文語 bungo) is the literary form of the Japanese language that was the standard until the early Shōwa period (1926–89). It is based on Early Middle Japanese, the language as spoken during the Heian period (794–1185), but exhibits some later influences. Its use started to decline during the late Meiji period (1868–1912) when novelists started writing their works in the spoken form. Eventually, the spoken style came into widespread use, including in major newspapers, but many official documents were still written in the old style. After the end of World War II because of the Surrender of Japan, most documents switched to the spoken style, although the classical style continues to be used in traditional genres, such as haiku and waka. Old laws are also left in the classical style unless fully revised.

Orthography

Grammar

灯（とう）台（だい）下（もと）暗（くら）し

Tōdai moto kurashi

The particle は is omitted more often than in the spoken style.

女（おんな）は三界（さんがい）に家（いへ）なし

Onna wa sangai-ni ie-nashi

See also

• Literary language

External links

• Bungo Nyūmon: A Brief Introduction to Classical Japanese
• Classical-Japanese.net
• Bibliography of premodern Japanese texts and translations
• Bart. "Book Review: A Grammar of Classical Japanese by Akira Komai," Monumenta Nipponica, Vol. 34, No. 4 (Winter, 1979), pp. 501-504.
• Dictionaries for Classical Japanese