Comparing Aston's Nihongi and Bentley's Nihon Shoki

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Ross Bender

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Oct 12, 2025, 7:52:16 PM (3 days ago) Oct 12
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It is a pleasure to read John Bentley's new translation of Nihon Shoki (2025) and from time to time compare it with Aston's Nihongi.(1896). In the 23rd year of Great King Kinmei, we find the following anecdote:

(from Bentley) "The Silla commander drew his sword, ready to slay Ikina, and then forced Ikina to pull down his pants and face his buttocks in the direction of Yamato. He ordered Ikina to scream 'Generals of Yamato, kiss my ***'!' However, as Ikina pulled down his pants, he yelled 'King of Silla, kiss my ***! (p.440)'

(from Aston) "The Silla commander drew his sword, and making as if to kill him, compelled him with threats to to take off his trousers, and then told him to present his hinder parts toward Japan, and call out in a loud voice 'Let the Japanese Generals bite ---- ----!' But he cried out saying: 'Let the King of Silla bite ---- ----!' (p.85)

This caused Aston some consternation, because he appended a lengthy footnote beginning "We should expect to find here the word 'kiss' instead of 'bite'. But the fact is that neither the Chinese nor the Japanese have the thing or the word, at least in our sense." He goes on to quote from a letter from Hideyoshi to his son, Hideyori, then five years of age. He also quotes Dr. Schlegel, of the University of Leiden who informs him that "a Chinese boy never kisses his mother -- they rub their respective noses over the cheeks." Finally he tells us to "See Darwin's 'Expression of the Emotions,' p.255."

Attached is a scan of the entire footnote. I don't happen to have my copy of Darwin at hand, but if someone can find the citation I would be grateful.

Ross Bender
Aston Nihongi 2, p 85.jpg

Cynthea Bogel

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Oct 12, 2025, 8:43:48 PM (3 days ago) Oct 12
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Dear Ross, all,

I am enjoying reading John Bentley’s remarkable translation now as well.  Having become more familiar recently with John’s linguistic expertise, and the care and time that has gone into this volume, I hope it will reach many hands. 
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<Aston Nihongi 2, p 85.jpg>

William Bodiford

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Oct 12, 2025, 10:53:04 PM (2 days ago) Oct 12
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Dear List:

Here is another link, which does not require use of Chrome.

... William Bodiford


https://darwin-online.org.uk/content/frameset?viewtype=text&itemID=F1142&pageseq=1

Darwin Online

Darwin, C. R. 1872. The expression of the emotions in man and animals.
London: John Murray. 1st edition.

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed for John van Wyhe 2002, corrections 2003,
8.2006. Proofread and corrected by Sue Asscher, 2.2008, corrections by
John van Wyhe 10.2022. RN8


[page] 255

Scorn and disdain, as well as sneering and defiance, may be displayed by
a slight uncovering of the canine tooth on one side of the face; and
this movement appears to graduate into one closely like a smile. Or the
smile or laugh may be real, although one of derision; and this implies
that the offender is so insignificant that he excites only amusement;
but the amusement is generally a pretence. Gaika in his answers to my
queries remarks, that contempt is commonly shown by his countrymen, the
Kafirs, by smiling; and the Rajah Brooke makes the same observation with
respect to the Dyaks of Borneo. As laughter is primarily the expression
of simple joy, very young children do not, I believe, ever laugh in
derision.

--- end ---



On 2025-10-12 5:39 PM, Cynthea Bogel wrote:
> Dear Ross, all,
>
> I am enjoying reading John Bentley’s remarkable translation now as
> well.  Having become more familiar recently with John’s linguistic
> expertise, and the care and time that has gone into this volume, I
> hope it will reach many hands.
>
> PDF p. 280 in the google open access book linked below for pp. 254, an
> images page, then 255, the chapter on “Contempt”—not sure why it is
> /especially/ relevant but no need to enlighten me.
>
> chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://books.googleusercontent.com/books/content?req=AKW5Qaf9Nl6VngY2Dc0Z-yTUyPf56keT7ld0kC5jUlPPIC1NlaagYwiDYQkQbsRBKReM7v_NNnOZoYdvcSckTOzx0zni7r2axNawn0enm6nCP3lhcB7xdNtOvekc9ev8-aI71h4EDpriTiNst4S23uJWmcnsJV7UyZTkjVd_iTuPc3uxeF1fyP2wbDif8qXl6WX0Ba6FWW4gDN90nb6MzsKDDhPTFQ4zIUsU9PAw5dI2eRRxhDVi4NvG5nt2yE4B4Qo-V_BRnuN3hBqYGJMUYRi-Rqs9kcAnqf8-WOp_b5oBk5PlVj2cRlo
>
> Regards, Cynthea
>
>
>> On Oct 12, 2025, at 6:15 PM, Ross Bender <rosslyn...@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> It is a pleasure to read John Bentley's new translation of /Nihon
>> Shoki/ (2025) and from time to time compare it with
>> Aston's/Nihongi/.(1896). In the 23rd year of Great King Kinmei, we
>> <https://www.amazon.com/Imperial-Rule-Essays-Ancient-Japan/dp/B0BPGPMY3W?crid=1XM8VWWXGJE5J&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.LvAXWbX_SSS8zxopittNcovbN0zqcIpANlTg5c9vyZA.JtYJdhES3R1bVAErtttPdk7jDtcpKfPPyAvpF7cgY-E&dib_tag=se&keywords=ross+bender+imperial+rule&qid=1760307208&sprefix=Ross+Bender+imperi%2Caps%2C91&sr=8-2>
>>
>> --
>> PMJS is a forum dedicated to the study of premodern Japan.
>> To post to the list, email pm...@googlegroups.com
>> For the PMJS Terms of Use and more resources, please visit www.pmjs.org.
>> Contact the moderation team at mod...@pmjs.org
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>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pmjs/CAMEQgpF-TjaMbKw08vRSw2gDTYEp6E8Z_x_Ex7Cdc78VV79NDw%40mail.gmail.com
>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pmjs/CAMEQgpF-TjaMbKw08vRSw2gDTYEp6E8Z_x_Ex7Cdc78VV79NDw%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.
>> <Aston Nihongi 2, p 85.jpg>
>
> --
> PMJS is a forum dedicated to the study of premodern Japan.
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--

William M. Bodiford
UCLA Asian Lang & Cultures
BOX 951540; 290 Royce Hall
Los Angeles CA 90095-1540

Professor Emeritus
https://www.alc.ucla.edu/person/william-m-bodiford/



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