I have been reading some older Japanese literature recently (early 1900s), and I tend not to have too much trouble with authors like 夏目漱石 or 芥川龍之介. However, I recently started (attempting) to read some material from the 1890s and I’m having a lot more trouble understanding the grammar points that are used (specifically, I am trying to read『義血侠血』by 泉鏡花, if that helps).
A lot of the grammar feels like 古文 to me (I know no 古文 so I may be completely wrong). However, it is fairly recent so I don’t know if studying the 古文 resources I know about will be of any help.
I have tried using Weblio’s 古文辞典 with limited success – I may just not know how to search the grammar points.
Does anybody have any ideas about how I can go about learning this kind of grammar? Online resources, book recommendations, etc. would be much appreciated.
Thank you!
Edit: I thought it might make it more clear what I am asking about if I included an example, so here is something of what I am looking at:
夜に入れば、人の来まじき処ぞ。妙の宮は、大川に添ひて、名のある橋四つさかのぼり、麻畠を横ぎりて、艮に六町行きたる、山中の社なり。こゝを妙の宮と思ふ時、うつくしき少年士官は、帽を脱して、心静に坂を上りぬ。
From 『妙の宮』by 泉鏡花
3 comments
I’m not the most avid reader in general, but for stuff that far back in history, having basic 古文 knowledge would almost certainly make things easier. On the bright side, literature from 100 years ago will sound more familiar than something from 1000 years ago.
[IMABI](https://www.imabi.net/classical.htm) has a free basic guide.
In university we tend to use McCullough’s Bungo Manual when reading kobun. Easy to use reference and pretty cheap, I’d look at a copy and see if it helps.
I also recommend Haruo Shirane’s Classical Japanese Reader and Essential Dictionary
([https://www.amazon.com/Classical-Japanese-Reader-Essential-Dictionary/dp/023113990X/ref=sr_1_2?crid=EHPWTQHCH8IH&keywords=haruo+shirane%2C+classical+japanese+a+grammar&qid=1670891747&sprefix=haruo+shirane%2Caps%2C313&sr=8-2](https://www.amazon.com/Classical-Japanese-Reader-Essential-Dictionary/dp/023113990X/ref=sr_1_2?crid=EHPWTQHCH8IH&keywords=haruo+shirane%2C+classical+japanese+a+grammar&qid=1670891747&sprefix=haruo+shirane%2Caps%2C313&sr=8-2))
It includes both grammar points and example texts (tho it is much more premodern/classical than the stuff you’re reading) but it + the Bungo Manual should provide a solid base!