An Empirical Study of the Coining and Expression of Compound Verbs in "The Tale of Genji" through Comparison with the Ancient Japanese Kun in "Nihon Shoki"

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K00268
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 02010:Japanese literature-related
• Research Institution: Sophia University
• Principal Investigator: MOTOHIRO YOKO 上智大学, 文学部, 教授 (40608931)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 瀬間 正之 上智大学, 文学部, 教授 (00187866) ; 葛西 太一 筑波大学, 人文社会系, 准教授 (20869200) ; 宮川 優 上智大学, 基盤教育センター, 助教 (20880941)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 源氏物語 / 日本書紀 / 複合動詞 / 訓読語 / 文章表現

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study achieved the following three main results. First, we compiled data on all examples of compound verbs in “The Tale of Genji” so that we could grasp the overall usage. Second, it was pointed out that there are different usages of compound verbs in “Nihon shoki” from those in the regular Chinese text. In addition, we clarified some of the acceptance of Chinese words and the transformation of Japanese words in the literature of the ancient period. Third, in the compound verbs of “The Tale of Genji”, we pointed out not only the words that were influenced by the Chinese language but also those that acquired their own expressiveness, and clarified their aspects.

Free Research Field

日本文学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

『日本書紀』をはじめとする上代の漢語漢文と、『源氏物語』の和文を、複合動詞に着目して比較、研究することにより、漢語漢文における和語的要素と、『源氏物語』の中に見られる漢語要素の双方を個々の事例に従って検討することで、その近似性の輪郭を掴むことができた。また、『源氏物語』において複合動詞が独自に発展した過程とその表現上の効果を明らかにすることができた。