What Japanese is this?

Rinilex

先輩

20 Feb 2013

198

6

• 29 Mar 2014

• #1

I came across a Japanese version of Murasaki Shikibu's diary on Amazon, but while it's apparently in an older version of Japanese, I don't know how old. Is this the Japanese of her time, or possibly a more modern (and easier to read?) version of the language?
I ask because I'm not sure how understandable Heian Period Japanese would be to natives now, and if it would need changing or not.

 

Grandpa Frank

Sempai

Admin

Twenty-year veteran

21 May 2003

14,310

4,404

• 29 Mar 2014

• #2

Google says it was written around the year 1012. I guess a lot would depend on if the book shows the original Japanese or updated style Japanese. Hopefully one of our members can look at the link and open the book to see which type it is.

Uncle Frank

 

Toritoribe

松葉解禁

Moderator

Fifteen-year veteran

22 Feb 2008

18,266

4,926

• 29 Mar 2014

• #3

It's original one, i.e., written in Japanese a millennium ago, as Frank-san wrote. Most of all Japanese people(including me) can't understand it without dictionary or commentary.
The following book includes both original and modern Japanese translation, plus explanations about the background.

Amazon.co.jp： 紫式部日記 ビギナーズ・クラシックス 日本の古典 (角川ソフィア文庫―ビギナーズ・クラシックス 日本の古典): 紫式部, 山本 淳子: 本

 

Rinilex

先輩

20 Feb 2013

198

6

• 30 Mar 2014

• Thread starter
• #4

I see. It's quite strange that a stand alone original version is being sold on an English site...

Thank you!