일본 초기 개신교의 신 용어 ‘神(かみ)’번역사에 대한 고찰 ― 중국 초기 개신교의 용어 논쟁과 관련하여 ― (Study on the Translation of ‘神(かみ)’ in Early Japanese Protestantism in Relation to the ‘Term Question’ Debate in Early Chinese Protestantism)

서지정보

· 발행기관 : (재)대한성서공회 성경번역연구소
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· 저자명 : 황예렘

초록

Strictly speaking, there exists in Japan no term for God as a monotheistic deity. The term for God in the Japanese Bible is ‘神’(かみ-Kami), a word that has been applied traditionally to the deities worshipped by the Shinto(神道). The Christian population in Japan is just around 1%, and it is not likely that a non-Christian would hear the word, ‘Kami’ and think of the Creator or the Absolute Being.
This paper pursues the reasons why 19th Century’s Japanese Protestant adopted ‘Kami’ for God. The origin of Kami as a Japanese Christian term, is deeply related to 19th Century’s Chinese Bible translation, especially ‘term question’ for the Christian deity in Chinese language. British missionaries of London Missionary Society insisted on the use of ‘上帝’(ShangTi) for God, while American missionaries preferred to use ‘神’(Shen). As the result, two translations appeared: the Delegate version(上帝 version, 1854) and the Bridgman-Culbertson’s 神 version(1863).
This paper clarifies how the British and American missionaries’ ‘Term Question’ controversy affected the translation of the word for ‘God’ in the early Japanese Protestant Bible. The following three circumstances are validated in detail. ① Japan opened her door to America first when the ‘term controversy’ in China was at around its peak. ② 神-favoring American missionaries took hegemony in the Japanese Bible translation. ③ The Bridgman-Culbertson’s version (神 version) was the most important source for Japanese Bible translation. These three points demonstrate how the 19th Century’s term controversy between British and American protestant missionaries accounts for the use of the term ‘Kami’ in the early Japanese Protestant Bible.

영어초록

Strictly speaking, there exists in Japan no term for God as a monotheistic deity. The term for God in the Japanese Bible is ‘神’(かみ-Kami), a word that has been applied traditionally to the deities worshipped by the Shinto(神道). The Christian population in Japan is just around 1%, and it is not likely that a non-Christian would hear the word, ‘Kami’ and think of the Creator or the Absolute Being.
This paper pursues the reasons why 19th Century’s Japanese Protestant adopted ‘Kami’ for God. The origin of Kami as a Japanese Christian term, is deeply related to 19th Century’s Chinese Bible translation, especially ‘term question’ for the Christian deity in Chinese language. British missionaries of London Missionary Society insisted on the use of ‘上帝’(ShangTi) for God, while American missionaries preferred to use ‘神’(Shen). As the result, two translations appeared: the Delegate version(上帝 version, 1854) and the Bridgman-Culbertson’s 神 version(1863).
This paper clarifies how the British and American missionaries’ ‘Term Question’ controversy affected the translation of the word for ‘God’ in the early Japanese Protestant Bible. The following three circumstances are validated in detail. ① Japan opened her door to America first when the ‘term controversy’ in China was at around its peak. ② 神-favoring American missionaries took hegemony in the Japanese Bible translation. ③ The Bridgman-Culbertson’s version (神 version) was the most important source for Japanese Bible translation. These three points demonstrate how the 19th Century’s term controversy between British and American protestant missionaries accounts for the use of the term ‘Kami’ in the early Japanese Protestant Bible.

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