Kanbunmyaku: The Literary Sinitic Context and the Birth of Modern Japanese Language and Literature

Published in 2021 by Brill, this scholarly work by Mareshi Saito explores the deep historical influence of Literary Sinitic on the evolution of Japanese language and literature. Saito, a professor at the University of Tokyo, focuses on the phenomenon of 'Kanbunmyaku,' or the Sino-Japanese reading style, arguing that this classical practice was not merely a linguistic bridge but a foundational element in the formation of modern Japanese consciousness and intellectual identity.

The book serves as a significant contribution to Sinology and Japanese studies, meticulously detailing how the adaptation of Chinese characters and syntax shaped Japanese literary discourse from the medieval period through the Meiji era. Saito’s analytical approach has been noted for its rigorous historiography, providing a critical framework for understanding the complex interplay between traditional textual culture and the modernization of Japan.