Japanese Historical Text Initiative


Japanese Historical Text Initiative is a searchable online database of Japanese historical documents and English translations. It is part of the Center for Japanese Studies at the University of California at Berkeley.

History

started the process of establishing JHTI in 1998. The development of JHTI involved negotiations with the University of Tokyo Press and the National Institute of Japanese Literature.

Select list

JHTI is an expanding online collection of historical texts. The original version of every paragraph is cross-linked with an English translation. The original words in Japanese and English translation are on the same screen. There are seven categories of writings, including

Ancient chronicles

These works were compiled by officials of the Imperial Court at the command of the emperors.

Ancient gazetteers

These records, Fudoki, were compiled by provincial officials according to imperial edicts during the first half of the 8th century.

Ancient kami-civil code

This was a compilation of religious law and civil law.

Medieval stories

These historical tales were about what was said and done by the prominent historical figures in aristocratic and military clans in feudal Japan

Medieval and early-modern histories

These three histories were written in ways that mirror the religious and political interests of their authors.

State and Imperial Shinto

These works are about State Shinto and the Empire of Japan.

Late-Edo period and Meiji period texts

This category is for miscellaneous writings which are from Japan's pre-modern and early-modern periods.