Translation Errors Involving Nihonga (Japanese Painting): An Argument to Correct the Record

The word Nihonga (Japanese painting) carries such a weight of cultural importance in the Japanese painting community as to make the translation of words describing Nihonga problematic. This paper explores reasons this has happened making use of standard texts on the materials and techniques of pai...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Jim Hathaway
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Lasting Impressions Press 2020-10-01
Series:International Journal of English Language and Translation Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.eltsjournal.org/archive/value8%20issue3/2-8-3-20.pdf
Description
Summary:The word Nihonga (Japanese painting) carries such a weight of cultural importance in the Japanese painting community as to make the translation of words describing Nihonga problematic. This paper explores reasons this has happened making use of standard texts on the materials and techniques of painting and investigating modern Japanese painting history, concluding that because Japanese art was under such great pressure from the popularity enjoyed by Western styled painting being newly imported in the Meiji Era (1868- 1912) that at its conception the modern school of Nihonga attempted to distinguish itself from this foreign invasion, creating problems that remain with translation of Nihonga terms to the present day.
ISSN:2308-5460
2308-5460