Tetsugaku-jii
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Tetsugaku Jii (Japanese: 哲学字彙, Hepburn: Tetsugakujii; lit. 'Philosophical Dictionary') was a Japanese glossary of academic terminology first published and compiled by Inoue Tetsujirō in 1881.[1] Revised and expanded editions were later published under the titles Kaitei Zōho Tetsugaku Jii (改訂増補 哲学字彙, Kaiteizōho Tetsugakujii; lit. 'Revised and Expanded Philosophical Dictionary') and Ei-Doku-Futsu-Wa Tetsugaku Jii (英独仏和 哲学字彙, Eidokufutsuwa Tetsugakujii; lit. 'English-German-French-Japanese Philosophical Dictionary').
The work is regarded as an important historical source not only for the history of Japanese philosophy, but also for the broader history of modern Japanese and Sino-Japanese translated terminology. The book contributed to the widespread adoption of such terms as philosophy (哲学, tetsugaku)[2], science (科学, kagaku)[3], metaphysics (形而上学, keijijōgaku)[4], religion (宗教, shūkyō)[5], universal (普遍, fuhen), will (意志, ishi)[6], absolute (絶対, zettai)[7], and contract (契約, keiyaku)[8]. Its influence extended beyond Japanese to other languages, including Chinese.[9][10]
History
[edit]Tetsugaku Jii was compiled in order to standardize the various Sino-Japanese translated terms that had proliferated during the early Meiji period.[11] The editors of Tetsugaku Jii insclude Inoue Tetsujirō, Wadagaki Kenzō, Kōdera Shinsaku, and Nagao Ariga, along with several unnamed collaborators.[12] The central figure in the project was Inoue.[12] The foundation of the work was the list of headwords in Vocabulary of Philosophy, Mental, Moral, and Metaphysical by the 19th-century British philosopher William Fleming. The first edition of Fleming’s work was published in 1857, although the specific edition used as the basis for Tetsugaku Jii is unknown. Additional headwords not found in Fleming’s dictionary were also included.[11] The first edition of Tetsugaku Jii was published in 1881 by University of Tokyo. After the remaining copies of the first edition were exhausted, a revised and expanded edition, Kaitei Zōho Tetsugaku Jii, was published in 1884 by the Tokyo National Museum.[13] In January 1912, Ei-Doku-Futsu-Wa Tetsugaku Jii was published by Maruzen, edited by Inoue together with Nakashima Rikizō and Motora Yūjirō.[14] This edition was reprinted in 1921.[15]
Contents
[edit]For each headword, one or more translated terms are listed. Definitions are not provided.[16]
The headwords are not limited to philosophy, but encompass terminology from the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences as a whole. [17] The total number of entries reached 1,952 in the first edition and 2,723 in the English-German-French-Japanese edition. [18] The headwords are primarily in English, although Latin phrases and terms from other languages occasionally appear. As its title indicates, the English-German-French-Japanese Philosophical Vocabulary edition also includes equivalents in German and French. Some translated terms had already been coined by earlier scholars, while others were newly created in the work itself. [19] In the latter case, the source or rationale for the translation was usually indicated in a note introduced by the phrase ango (“editorial note”), [20] following the style of the classical Chinese expression “按…”. In some cases, the field of study was also indicated in parentheses after the translation. [21]
The first edition and the revised and expanded edition included as an appendix Seikoku Onpu (“Qing Chinese Phonetic Glosses”), based on J. G. Bridgman’s Chinese Chrestomathy in the Canton Dialect.[22][23] It is presumed that this appendix was used in the Meiji period to decipher transliterated proper names rendered according to Chinese pronunciation.[22][23]
The revised and expanded edition also included as an appendix Bonkan Taiyaku Buppōgosū, based on E. J. Eitel’s A Sanskrit-Chinese Dictionary.[24]
Notable Translations from the First Edition
[edit]| Headword | Translation(s) in Tetsugaku Jii | Current Main Translation(s) | Notes / References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aesthetics | 美妙学 | 美学 | |
| Absolute | 絶対、純全、専制 | 絶対 | An editorial note is attached to 「絶対」. |
| Abstract | 抽象、虚形、形而上 | 抽象 | An editorial note is attached to 「形而上」. |
| A priori | 先天 | アプリオリ | Includes an editorial note. |
| A posteriori | 後天 | アポステリオリ | Includes an editorial note. |
| Atom | 微分子 | 原子 | |
| Category | 範疇 | 範疇、カテゴリー | Includes an editorial note. |
| Cognition | 認識 | 認識 | |
| Common sense | 常識 | 常識、コモン・センス | |
| Concept | 概念 | 概念 | |
| Constitution | 憲法 | 憲法 | |
| Contract | 契約 | 契約 | [8] |
| Contradiction | 乖角、背戻、矛盾、背馳、忤逆、枘鑿、反言対 | 矛盾 | |
| Cosmos | 世界 | コスモス、宇宙 | |
| Criticism | 批評 | 批評 | |
| Deduction | 演繹法 | 演繹法 | Includes an editorial note. |
| Definition | 定義 | 定義 | |
| Economic | 家政、理財学 | 経済学 | |
| Epistemology | 致知学 | 認識論 | |
| Ethics | 倫理学 | 倫理学 | Includes an editorial note. |
| Fallacy | 虚偽 | 虚偽、誤謬 | |
| Hallucination | 幻想 | 幻覚 | |
| Human nature | 性、本性 | 人間の本性 | An editorial note is attached to 「性」. |
| Idea | 観念 | 観念 | |
| Ideal | 理想 | 理想 | |
| Idealism | 唯心論 | 唯心論 | Includes an editorial note. |
| Identity | 同一 | 同一性 | |
| Induction | 帰納法 | 帰納法 | Includes an editorial note. |
| Jurisprudence | 法理学 | 法学 | |
| Logic | 論法 | 論法、論理, etc. | |
| Materialism | 唯物論 | 唯物論 | Includes an editorial note. |
| Metaphysics | 形而上学 | 形而上学 | Includes an editorial note. |
| Miracle | 霊恠、神跡 | 奇跡 | 「奇跡」 first appeared in English-German-French-Japanese Philosophical Dictionary. |
| Nature | 本性、資質、天理、造化、宇宙、洪鈞、万有 | 本性、自然, etc. | |
| Natural philosophy | 物理学 | 自然哲学 | |
| Nirvana | 涅槃 | 涅槃 | Sanskrit term. |
| Objective | 客観的 | 客観的 | |
| Paradox | 逆説 | 逆説、パラドックス | [25] |
| Petitio principii | 匿証佯争 | 論点先取 | |
| Phenomenon | 現象 | 現象 | |
| Philosophy | 哲学 | 哲学 | In other headwords, it is also translated as 「理学」. [26][27] |
| Physics | 物理学 | 物理学 | |
| Political philosophy | 政理学 | 政治哲学 | |
| Political science | 政理学 | 政治学 | |
| Premise | 前提 | 前提 | |
| Proposition | 命題 | 命題 | |
| Religion | 宗教 | 宗教 | |
| Reason | 道理、理性 | 道理、理性, etc. | |
| Reasoning | 推論 | 推論 | |
| Revolution | 革命、顚覆 | 革命 | Includes an editorial note. |
| Rhetoric | 修辞 | 修辞 | |
| Science | 理学、科学 | 科学 | |
| Society | 社会 | 社会 | |
| Sociology | 世態学 | 社会学 | |
| Subjective | 主観的 | 主観的 | |
| Substance | 本質、太極 | 実体 | An editorial note is attached to 「太極」. 「実体」 was also assigned to several other headwords. [28] |
| Trinity | 三位一体 | 三位一体 | Includes an editorial note. |
| Truth | 真理、真実 | 真理、真実、真 | |
| Universal | 一統、普遍、全称 | 普遍、全称 | |
| Universe | 宇宙 | 宇宙 | |
| Utilitarianism | 功利学 | 功利主義 | |
| Vernunft | 理性 | 理性 | German term. |
| Verstand | 悟性 | 悟性 | German term. |
| Virtue | 徳 | 徳 | |
| Will | 意志 | 意志 | |
| World | 世界、人間、寰宇、乾坤 | 世界 |
See Also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ 日本国語大辞典,世界大百科事典内言及, 精選版. "哲学字彙(てつがくじい)とは？ 意味や使い方". コトバンク (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-05-26.
- ^ Sang 2013, p. 148.
- ^ 田野村, 忠温 (2016-03-31). "「科学」の語史 : 漸次的・段階的変貌と普及の様相". 大阪大学大学院文学研究科紀要. 56: 123–181. doi:10.18910/56924.
- ^ 小項目事典,日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ),改訂新版 世界大百科事典,百科事典マイペディア,世界大百科事典内言及, デジタル大辞泉,精選版 日本国語大辞典,ブリタニカ国際大百科事典. "形而上学(ケイジジョウガク)とは？ 意味や使い方". コトバンク (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-05-26.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ 裕人, 土井 (2020-03-28). "日本における新プラトン主義受容の創始期をめぐって : 哲学と宗教の狭間で". 哲学・思想論集 (in Japanese). 45: 150(101)–136(115). doi:10.15068/00159945.
- ^ 小項目事典,世界大百科事典内言及, デジタル大辞泉,精選版 日本国語大辞典,最新 心理学事典,改訂新版 世界大百科事典,日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ),普及版 字通,百科事典マイペディア,ブリタニカ国際大百科事典. "意志(イシ)とは？ 意味や使い方". コトバンク (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-05-26.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ 字通,世界大百科事典内言及, デジタル大辞泉,精選版 日本国語大辞典,ブリタニカ国際大百科事典 小項目事典,普及版. "絶対(ゼッタイ)とは？ 意味や使い方". コトバンク (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-05-26.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Hazama 2013, p. 15.
- ^ Sang 2013.
- ^ ライナ, シュルツァ (2013). "世界哲学の交差点―井上円了における理論哲学と実践哲学―". 国際井上円了研究 (in Japanese) (1): 130–136. ISSN 2187-7459.
- ^ a b Tobita 1979, p. 226.
- ^ a b Tobita 1979, p. 224.
- ^ Tobita 1979, p. 229.
- ^ Tobita 1979, p. 230.
- ^ Tobita 1979, p. 231;234.
- ^ Zhu 2002, p. 101.
- ^ Sanada 2007, p. 7.
- ^ Zhu 2001, p. 80.
- ^ Tobita 1979, p. 227.
- ^ Miura 1995, p. 193.
- ^ Tobita 1979, p. 228.
- ^ a b Miura 1995, p. 184.
- ^ a b Hazama 2013, p. 25.
- ^ J. Eitel, Ernest (1888). A Sanskrit-Chinese Dictionary. London: Trübner & Co. ISBN 9788170201540.
{{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help) - ^ "逆説". Kotobank. Seisenban Nihon Kokugo Daijiten.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|url=(help) - ^ Miura 1995, p. 196.
- ^ Takano 2009, p. 45.
- ^ Nakahata, Masashi (2015), "Transplantation, Grafting, Hybridization: Into the Labyrinth of "Substance"", in Murakami Katsuzō and the International Center for Philosophy, Toyo University (ed.), Philosophy Across Borders: Seeking Systems and Methods, Shumpūsha, pp. 223–228, ISBN 9784861104787
Works Referenced
[edit]Books
[edit]- Chen, Liwei (2001), The Formation and Development of Japanese-Created Sino-Japanese Vocabulary, Tokyo: Kyūko Shoin
- Tobita, Yoshifumi (1979), Comprehensive Index of Translated Terms in Tetsugaku Jii, Tokyo: Kasama Shoin, p. “About Tetsugaku Jii”, retrieved 2026-05-26
Articles
[edit]- Hazama, Naoki (2013), On the Historical Significance of Nakae Chōmin’s Min’yaku Yakukai: A History of the Formation of the “Modern East Asian Civilizational Sphere” — Intellectual History Section, Institute for Research in Humanities, Kyoto University, Center for Contemporary Chinese Studies, retrieved 2026-05-26
- Endō, Tomoo (1995), A Study of the Degree of Correspondence among Translation Terms in the English-Japanese Pocket Dictionary, Hyakkugaku Renkan, and Tetsugaku Jii, Japan Society for the History of English Studies, retrieved 2026-05-26
- Sanada, Haruko (2007), Inoue Tetsujirō’s Study in Europe and the Multilingual Notation in the Third Edition of Tetsugaku Jii, Saitama Gakuen University, retrieved 2026-05-26
- Zhu, Jingwei (2001), On the Additional Translated Terms in the Second and Third Editions of Tetsugaku Jii, Kokusho Kankōkai, retrieved 2026-05-26
- Zhu, Jingwei (2002), The Formation of Modern Philosophical Terminology in the Meiji Period: An Examination through Philosophical Dictionaries, National Institute for Japanese Language and Linguistics, retrieved 2026-05-26
- Sang, Bing (2013), The Origins of Modern “Chinese Philosophy”, Institute for Research in Humanities, Kyoto University, Center for Contemporary Chinese Studies, retrieved 2026-05-26
- Takano, Shigeo (2004), Japanese-Created Sino-Japanese Vocabulary in Tetsugaku Jii: Methods of Morpheme Formation and Word Coinage, retrieved 2026-05-26
- Miura, Kunio (1995), Translation Terms and Chinese Thought: Reading Tetsugaku Jii, Osaka City University, retrieved 2026-05-26
Bibliography
[edit]Tetsugaku Jii: With Qing Chinese Phonetic Glosses (Japanese: 哲学字彙 附清国音符). Published by the Three Faculties of University of Tokyo, 1881 (Meiji 14). ndldm:752942
- Tetsugaku Jii. Meicho Fukyūkai, 1980.
- Tetsugaku Jii. Heibonsha, “Reprint Series of Modern Japanese Literature (On-Demand Edition),” vol. 241, 2015. ISBN 9784256902417
- "Tetsugaku Jii". National Institute for Japanese Language and Linguistics; transcription by the laboratory of Okajima Akihiro, Graduate School of Letters, Osaka University. 2016. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
Revised and Expanded Tetsugaku Jii (Japanese: 改訂増補 哲学字彙). Published by Tōyōkan, 1884 (Meiji 17). ndldm:994560
- Revised and Expanded Tetsugaku Jii. Meicho Fukyūkai, 1980.
- Revised and Expanded Tetsugaku Jii. Heibonsha, “Reprint Series of Modern Japanese Literature (On-Demand Edition),” vol. 242, 2015. ISBN 9784256902424
English-German-French-Japanese Philosophical Vocabulary (Japanese: 英独仏和 哲学字彙). Published by Maruzen, 1912 (Meiji 45). ndldm:752943
- English-German-French-Japanese Philosophical Vocabulary. Meicho Fukyūkai, 1980.
- English-German-French-Japanese Philosophical Vocabulary. Heibonsha, “Reprint Series of Modern Japanese Literature (On-Demand Edition),” vol. 243, 2015. ISBN 9784256902431
Tobita Yoshifumi, Comprehensive Index of Translated Terms in Tetsugaku Jii. Kasama Shoin, “Kasama Index Series,” 1979. ISBN 9784305200723 Tobita Yoshifumi and Kotoya Sayaka, Comprehensive Index of Translated Terms in the Revised and Expanded Tetsugaku Jii. Minato no Hito, 2005. ISBN 9784896291339
