The Tale of Genji (Penguin Classics) Paperback – Abridged, February 28, 2006

This is a must-read for anyone interested in Classical literature, and Japanese history and traditional culture. Great shipping quality, sent right on time!

ロイヤル・タイラーによる源氏物語の新訳。その書き出しを既存のサイデンステッカー訳、ウェイリー訳と比べてみよう。(タイラー訳) In a certain reign (whose can it have been) someone of no great rank among the Emperor's Consorts and Intimates enjoyed exceptional favor.(サイデンステッカー訳) In a certain reign there was a lady not of the first rank whom the emperor loved more than any of the others.(ウェイリー訳) At the Court of an Emperor (he lived it matters not when) there was among the many gentlewomen of the Wardrobe and Chamber one, who though she was not of very high rank was favoured far beyond all the rest...サイデンステッカー訳は、女御も更衣も lady で一括しているが、タイラーは女御を consort と訳し、更衣には intimate の訳語をあてるなど、自由闊達なサイデンステッカーに比べ、逐語的忠実性を重視している。ウェイリーは源氏物語を世界に紹介した最大の功労者だが、今となっては文体がいささか古めかしい。タイラー訳は、ウェイリーと比べると、構文が簡単でわかりやすい。本書はabridged 版にすぎないが、逐語的忠実性と読みやすさを兼ね備えた学術的翻訳と言えるだろう。

This is the world's first novel written by a Japanese court lady a thousand years ago. The original version consists of 54 chapters and this version picks up 12 of them from the first half. It was a time when aristocrats still hold control of politics and the rise of samurai warriors is yet to come. The scenes of appreciating poems and paintings in a court conveyed me that it was a very peaceful time. This story is centered on one nobleman named 'Genji' who is handsome and excels both literary and military arts. Of course he had romantic relationships with several beautiful court ladies. But at that time, just to meet the lady he loves, even he has to exchange a letter of a fine poem several times with her. He cares much about the quality and the scent of the letter paper, which amused me very much. This is one of the best for learning the ancient pacific era in Japan.

他のレビューに全部red lineが引かれていて読めないとあったのでリスクを感じながら９９円に惹かれて購入しましたが、Kindleのペーパーホワイト版およびアンドロイドのKindle app版では普通に読めます。しかも、版はサイデンステッカー訳版で、目次からのリンクも利用でき、これがこの値段で読めるのはサイコーです！

ウェブ購入の弱みですかね。「全訳」が欲しかったんですけど。今後、もう少し分かりやすい表示を希望します。