Farge, William J. S.J.

About the author: William J. Farge, S. J., received his PhD in Japanese Language and Literature from Indiana University. He is Assistant Professor of Japanese at Loyola University, New Orleans. He has published both translations and articles.

Japanese Translations of the Jesuit Mission Press, 1590-1614

2002 0-7734-6918-4
Through examples, the methods of translation and editing used by the mission press in its attempt to produce a native Christian literature for Japan is explored. Part One examines two translations of De Imitatio Christi - Contemptus mundi jenbu and the Kontemutsusu munji, a later version. Part Two examines Guia de Pecadores - Giya do pekadoru. The study details their background, structure and style, with a textual analysis and comparison. The author identifies the translations' Buddhist terminology, the only religious language available to the Jesuits in Japan, and explains how Buddhist terms were used to convey Christian ideas.