Mi familia proviene del pueblo de Yonabaru 与那原, de la prefectura de Okinawa. Aunque yo prefiero decir “de la isla de Okinawa”, para conservar un sutil sentido de autonomía con respecto a Japón (y que en un artículo anterior, hemos visto que existen, y existieron, las condiciones para ello).
Mis abuelos hablaban el uchinaguchi 沖縄語, un idioma (aunque oficialmente es considerado un dialecto) que es muy diferente del japonés y que no se puede considerar como un dialecto más de Japón, como en el caso de los dialectos de Fukuoka, Hokkaido, Kyoto, Osaka y otros; porque no guarda ninguna similitud gramatical o fonética con el japonés, a diferencia de los que si son dialectos; aunque hay personas que sostienen lo contrario.
My family comes from the town of Yonabaru 与那原, from the prefecture of Okinawa. Although I prefer to say “from the island of Okinawa” instead, to keep a subtle sense of autonomy in relation to Japan (and as in a previous post, we have seen that there are, and also, there were, the conditions to that).
My grandparents spoke uchinaguchi 沖縄語, a language (although it is considered a dialect officially) that is very different from the Japanese language. Uchinaguchi cannot be considered only as a dialect of Japan, like in the case of the dialects of Fukuoka, Hokkaido, Kyoto, Osaka and others; because it does not have any grammatical or phonetic similarity with the Japanese, unlike those that are indeed dialects (although there are people holding the opposite point of view).
El uchinaguchi es difícil de aprender porque, básicamente, existe muy poco material disponible para ello (especialmente para los extranjeros) y no existe una escritura estándar para reproducir el uchinaguchi; porque se emplea indistintamente el hiragana o el katakana (dos de los tres alfabetos que conforman el idioma japonés) o; con la intención de mostrar las diferencias tonales (son como los acentos), se utilizan a veces apóstrofes o se alargan las vocales (y muchas veces no coinciden).
The uchinaguchi is difficult to learn, because, basically, there is very few material available for that (especially for foreigners) and also, there is no a standard writing for representing the uchinaguchi. Thus, the hiragana or the katakana (two of the three alphabets conforming the Japanese language) are used without distinction or, with the intention of showing the tonal differences (like the accents), sometimes the apostrophes are used or the vowels are pronounced longer (and often they do not match with).
Claro está que, estas formas de reproducción del uchinaguchi, es decir, a través de la escritura, se ha hecho siempre utilizando el alfabeto japonés (hiragana o katakana) o con el romaji (para representar el alfabeto occidental); pero no hay evidencia disponible que permita demostrar que el uchinaguchi tuvo un sistema propio de escritura.
Tal vez el uchinaguchi sea simplemente la evidencia de una forma de comunicación muy antigua, por lo que no tiene un sistema de escritura propio; sin embargo, no se puede descartar la ausencia de un sistema propio de escritura en Okinawa, puesto que existe evidencia de hasta tres tipos de escrituras: el kaida カイダ, el yaaban ヤーバン y el danuhan ダヌハン, y que es expuesta en el Museo Etnográfico de Yonaguni (en japonés: Yonaguni Minzoku Shiryoukan 与那国民族資料館) .
En esta misma área, en 1985 se descubrió lo que parecería ser una ciudad submarina en las aguas de las islas Yaeyama 八重山諸島, en donde se encontraron estructuras rocosas perfectamente talladas y que tienen forma de túneles, escaleras, etc. y que muchos la comparan con la legendaria ciudad de Atlántida. En estas ruinas, se encontró una tabla en donde aparecían unos jeroglíficos casi idénticos a los símbolos utilizados en la escritura Kaida. Todo esto podría hacernos pensar que el origen del Kaida es tan antigua como el hombre mismo.
Antes del siglo XIX, como no existía un sistema de escritura oficial en el Reino de Ryukyu (como así se llamaba Okinawa hasta el siglo XIX), se crearon varios símbolos que no solamente eran utilizados para las comunicaciones del reino con los pobladores, sino también en la comunicación diaria. En Okinawa, específicamente en las islas Yaeyama (al sur de Okinawa), existieron 3 formas de escritura (diferentes al japonés): el kaida, el yaaban y el danuhan; que representaban pictóricamente a los objetos, mas no el sonido con la que se les llamaba, es decir, como en el alfabeto occidental.
Existe muy poca información sobre estos sistemas de escritura (muy poco en inglés y nada en español (según Google) y quisiera compartir la información que encontré en el blog de Tom Corrao, en su blog “Okinawaology”, en donde nos cuenta sobre estos sistemas denominados Zoukei Moji (alfabeto basado en formas representativas).
El Kaida es una forma de escritura que nació en la isla de Yonaguni 与那国島 (dentro del conjunto de las islas Yaeyama) y fue utilizado hasta 1885 en toda esa área, debido a su lejanía con las demás islas de Okinawa y que, por lo tanto, provocó su aislamiento, hizo que el resto de los pobladores del reino de Ryukyu lo consideraran como un idioma difícil de entender.
En 1893, con la finalidad de investigar las islas del sur de Japón, Sasamori Gisuke 森儀助 fue enviado a Okinawa y pudo observar el uso de la escritura Kaida, registrándolo en el libro “Exploración en las Islas Minami”. Recordemos que en 1879 el Reino de Ryukyu llegó a su fin cuando fue reconocido (oficialmente pero no llevado a la práctica) como una prefectura más de Japón y a partir de esa fecha (aunque incluso fue mucho antes, desde 1609 con la invasión del clan de Satsuma al reino), se realizaron expediciones científicas o exploratorias en estas islas y se realizaron todo tipo de reformas, como el establecimiento de las escuelas oficiales (en donde se enseñaban japonés) en todo Okinawa desde 1885.
Esta escritura Kaida (también pronunciada como kaiya), consistían en símbolos que tenían un significado específico, por ejemplo, existía uno que era usado para avisar a los pobladores cuando el rey iba a recolectar los impuestos, o símbolos que representaban cantidades o pesos o también, alimentos como granos o peces. Esta escritura también era usada con el sistema de numeración china denominado Suzhou cuando se necesitaba representar números. Muchas veces, estos símbolos eran mucho más específicos que el lenguaje oral, por ejemplo, existían símbolos que representaban a la yegua y al semental o al gallo y la gallina, pero no existían términos para diferenciarlos en el lenguaje oral.
Of course, these forms of reproducing the uchinaguchi, that is, through the writing, it has always done by using the Japanese alphabet (hiragana or katakana) or with the romaji (to represent the western alphabet); however, there is no available evidence allowing to demonstrate that the uchinaguchi had its own writing system.
Perhaps the uchinaguchi is just an evidence of an ancient way of communication, which is why it does not have an own system of writing; however the absent of an own system of writing in Okinawa cannot be dismissed, since there is evidence of up to three types of writing: the kaida カイダ, the yaaban ヤーバン and the danuhan ダヌハン, and it is exposed at the Yonaguni Ethnographic Museum (in Japanese Yonaguni Minzoku Shiryoukan 与那国民族資料館).
In that same area, in 1985 what might be a submarine city was discovered in the sea of the islands of Yaeyama 八重山諸島, in where rocky structures perfectly carved out were found, resembling tunnels, stairs, etc. and many people compare it with the legendary city of Atlantis. In these ruins, a table was found, where hieroglyphs were depicted, almost identical to the symbols used in the Kaida writing. All this could make us to think that the origin of the Kaida is so old as the man himself.
Before the 19th century, as there was not an official system of writing in the kingdom of Ryukyu (as Okinawa was known until the 19th century), several symbols were created that were not only used for the communications of the Kingdom with its people, but also in the everyday communication. In Okinawa, specifically in the Yaeyama islands (at the south of Okinawa), there were 3 ways of writing (different to the Japanese): the kaida, the yaaban and the danuhan; representing the objects pictorially, but not the sound with which was called, that is, like in the western alphabet.
There is very little information about these systems of writing (very few in English and almost nothing in Spanish, according to Google) and I would like to share the information I found in the blog "Okinawaology" by Tom Corrao, where he tell us about these system called Zoukei Moji (alphabet based on representational shapes). The Kaida is a way of writing, coming from the Yonaguni island 与那国島 (inside the chain of the Yaeyama islands) and it was used until 1885 in all that area, owing to its remoteness with the other islands of Okinawa and, thus, it promoted its isolation; made that the rest of the people of the kingdom of Ryukyu considered it as a language difficult to understand.
This Kaida writing (also pronounced as kaiya), consisted of symbols with a specific meaning, for example, there was one used to notify the people when the king was going to colect taxes, or symbols representing quantities or measurements and also, food like grains and fishes.
Of course, these forms of reproducing the uchinaguchi, that is, through the writing, it has always done by using the Japanese alphabet (hiragana or katakana) or with the romaji (to represent the western alphabet); however, there is no available evidence allowing to demonstrate that the uchinaguchi had its own writing system.
Perhaps the uchinaguchi is just an evidence of an ancient way of communication, which is why it does not have an own system of writing; however the absent of an own system of writing in Okinawa cannot be dismissed, since there is evidence of up to three types of writing: the kaida カイダ, the yaaban ヤーバン and the danuhan ダヌハン, and it is exposed at the Yonaguni Ethnographic Museum (in Japanese Yonaguni Minzoku Shiryoukan 与那国民族資料館).
In that same area, in 1985 what might be a submarine city was discovered in the sea of the islands of Yaeyama 八重山諸島, in where rocky structures perfectly carved out were found, resembling tunnels, stairs, etc. and many people compare it with the legendary city of Atlantis. In these ruins, a table was found, where hieroglyphs were depicted, almost identical to the symbols used in the Kaida writing. All this could make us to think that the origin of the Kaida is so old as the man himself.
Before the 19th century, as there was not an official system of writing in the kingdom of Ryukyu (as Okinawa was known until the 19th century), several symbols were created that were not only used for the communications of the Kingdom with its people, but also in the everyday communication. In Okinawa, specifically in the Yaeyama islands (at the south of Okinawa), there were 3 ways of writing (different to the Japanese): the kaida, the yaaban and the danuhan; representing the objects pictorially, but not the sound with which was called, that is, like in the western alphabet.
There is very little information about these systems of writing (very few in English and almost nothing in Spanish, according to Google) and I would like to share the information I found in the blog "Okinawaology" by Tom Corrao, where he tell us about these system called Zoukei Moji (alphabet based on representational shapes). The Kaida is a way of writing, coming from the Yonaguni island 与那国島 (inside the chain of the Yaeyama islands) and it was used until 1885 in all that area, owing to its remoteness with the other islands of Okinawa and, thus, it promoted its isolation; made that the rest of the people of the kingdom of Ryukyu considered it as a language difficult to understand.
In 1893, with the purpose of investigating the southern islands of Japan, Sasamori Gisuke 森儀助 was sent to Okinawa and he could see the use of the Kaida writing, recording it in the book “Minami Island Exploration”. We should remember that in 1879 the kingdom of Ryukyu came to its end when it was recognized (officially but not in practice) as just a prefecture of Japan and since then (althought it was even earlier, since 1609 when the Satsuma clan invaded the kingdom), scientific or exploratory expeditions were performed in these islands and many reforms were made, like the establishment of official schools (where Japanese language was taught) in all Okinawa since 1885.
This Kaida writing (also pronounced as kaiya), consisted of symbols with a specific meaning, for example, there was one used to notify the people when the king was going to colect taxes, or symbols representing quantities or measurements and also, food like grains and fishes.
This writing system was also used with the Chinese numeral system Suzhou when was required to represent numbers. These symbols were often more specific than the oral language, for example, there was symbols depicting the stallion or mare or the hen or hooster, but there were no terms for diferenciating them in oral language.
 | Si se comparan, estos símbolos se parecen mucho a los jeroglíficos egipcios. If compared, these symbols resembles to the Egyptian hieroglyphics so much. |
Esta escritura era utilizada en los documentos oficiales del gobierno, mientras que los pobladores la utilizaban en conjunto con los otros dos sistemas de escritura, es decir, con el yaaban y el danuhan.
El yaaban, que también era pronunciado como ya no han, era utilizado para marcar las herramientas de uso diario y así evitar confundirlos, cuando, por ejemplo, se prestaba a los vecinos o parientes. Cada casa poseía su propio “yaaban”, a fin de poseer una marca única, como sucedía en el caso de los emblemas de las familias samurái.
En el caso de los danuhan, que según la zona cambiaba de pronunciación, también era llamado “yanuhan” y eran marcas utilizadas para marcar los utensilios de uso diario (como azafates, utensilios de cocina, etc.
Además de estos sistemas específicos, existía el mimiban, que eran símbolos que eran hechos en la parte trasera de la oreja de la vaca para diferenciarlos, y así saber a quien pertenecía.
Pero, poco a poco estos sistemas de escritura han caído en desuso ante la presencia de un sistema de escritura oficial, que es el japonés, y actualmente son considerados vestigios de lo que fue la cultura autóctona de Okinawa.
This writing was used in oficial documents of the Okinawan government as the commoners used them altogether with the other two systems of writing, that is, with the yaaban and the danuhan.
The yaaban, which was also pronounced as ya no han, was used to mark the everyday tools and thus avoiding to confuse them, for example, when lending them to neighbords or relatives. Each house had its own “yaaban” mark, in order to have a unique mark, as happened with the Samurai family shields.
With respect to the danuhan, which changed its pronunciation depending on the area, also was called “yanuhan” and were marks used to mark the everyday utensils (like trays, kitchen utensils, etc.)
Besides these specific systems, tehre was the mimiban, which were symbols made at the back of a cow’s ear to differentiate and thus, knowing to whom belonged to.
However, these systems of writing have become obsolete little by little, in presence of an official system of writing, that is the Japanese, and nowadays are considered relics of what was the autochtonus culture of Okinawa.
En el caso del japonés, no nació como un sistema propio de escritura, sino que tuvo su origen en los ideogramas chinos y con la natural evolución y adecuación local, se convirtieron en lo que actualmente conocemos como kanji. Sin embargo, en el caso de las escrituras kaida, yaaban o danuhan, parece ser que se quedaron estancadas en el tiempo, y ahora solamente se utilizan como simples adornos en polos en la región.
About the Japanese, it did not appear as an own system of writing, but had its origin in the Chinese ideograms and with the natural evolution and local adjustment, they became in what we know as kanji nowadays. However, about the kaida, yaaban or danuhan system, it seems that they got stuck in the time; and nowadays these systems are used as patterns in T-shirts in the region.
FUENTES / SOURCES
Okinawaology Blog by Tom Corrao
Wikipedia
The yaaban, which was also pronounced as ya no han, was used to mark the everyday tools and thus avoiding to confuse them, for example, when lending them to neighbords or relatives. Each house had its own “yaaban” mark, in order to have a unique mark, as happened with the Samurai family shields.
With respect to the danuhan, which changed its pronunciation depending on the area, also was called “yanuhan” and were marks used to mark the everyday utensils (like trays, kitchen utensils, etc.)
Besides these specific systems, tehre was the mimiban, which were symbols made at the back of a cow’s ear to differentiate and thus, knowing to whom belonged to.
However, these systems of writing have become obsolete little by little, in presence of an official system of writing, that is the Japanese, and nowadays are considered relics of what was the autochtonus culture of Okinawa.
En el caso del japonés, no nació como un sistema propio de escritura, sino que tuvo su origen en los ideogramas chinos y con la natural evolución y adecuación local, se convirtieron en lo que actualmente conocemos como kanji. Sin embargo, en el caso de las escrituras kaida, yaaban o danuhan, parece ser que se quedaron estancadas en el tiempo, y ahora solamente se utilizan como simples adornos en polos en la región.
About the Japanese, it did not appear as an own system of writing, but had its origin in the Chinese ideograms and with the natural evolution and local adjustment, they became in what we know as kanji nowadays. However, about the kaida, yaaban or danuhan system, it seems that they got stuck in the time; and nowadays these systems are used as patterns in T-shirts in the region.
FUENTES / SOURCES
Okinawaology Blog by Tom Corrao
Wikipedia
ARTÍCULOS RELACIONADOS / RELATED POSTS
- Okinawa y los Aportes Culturales y Gastronómicos a Japón (Parte I) / Okinawa and its Cultural and Gastronomic Contribution to Japan (Part I)
- Okinawa y los Aportes Culturales y Gastronómicos a Japón (Parte II) / Okinawa and its Cultural and Gastronomic Contribution to Japan (Part II)
- China, Japón y los Estados Unidos y su Interés por Okinawa / China, Japan, and the United States and their Interest for Okinawa
- ¿Los Antiguos Israelitas Llegaron a Japón (I Parte) / The Ancient Israelites Arrived in Japan? (Part I)
- ¿Los Antiguos Israelitas Llegaron a Japón (II Parte) / The Ancient Israelites Arrived in Japan? (Part II)
