Go-on

Japanese: 呉音 - ごおん

〘Noun〙① A reading phonetic system used in the Wu and Yue regions of southern China. ※Siddhamzang (880), Vol. 5 "At the end of the Jowa period, Shohoshi came (omitted). At the beginning of the Genkei period, Sohoshi came (omitted). Both monks explained _the Go-on and Kan-on _{as one} , and as such, _the Mo-, Na-, Do-, Jao-, Xuan-, and Ma-i- characters were _one . The Go-on was like _one Wa- _on , and the Han-on was like _one Sei-on. The Han scholars _{_{_{could not pronounce}}} the Go- _on , and the Wu scholars _{_{_{could not pronounce}}} the Kan-on." [Commentary on the Lotus Sutra]② The phonetic system of Chinese characters introduced to ancient Japan from Korea. Until the mid-Heian period, it was called Wa-on, but from the mid-Heian period, it also came to be called Go-on. It is used in contrast to the Kan-on, Song-on, and Tang-on. ※Kitayamasho (around 1012-21), 3: “The words in the conclusion are quite different _{from those} in history. The historians are of the same genre as Echizen and Bingo. The Minister _{is not surprised} . We only use _{the Go-} _on pronunciation.” ※Kakkehon・Ukiyodoko (1813-23), 1: “ Ka is the Kan-on pronunciation. In Go-on it is pronounced as Ke . <omitted> Kokugaku is pronounced as Go-on, but Buddhist scholars also pronounce it as Go- on .” [Etymology] (1) The first evidence that the pronunciation of Chinese characters introduced to ancient Japan was called Go-on was after Fujiwara no Kinto in the mid-Heian period (example in “Kitayamasho” in ②). Before that, it was called Wan-on (example in “Siddhamzo” in ①).
(2) In China, from the Sui and Tang dynasties onwards, Kan'on was regarded as the correct pronunciation, while the Southern pronunciation was called "Go'on" because it was considered "old and sloppy". In imitation of this, in Japan, from the mid-Heian period, Kan'on was called Sei'on while Wa'on was called Go'on. Attracted by the name Go, a theory arose that Go'on came from Southern China. This theory was continued by scholars of Chinese classics and Japanese classics in the Edo period and is still held today, but there is also a theory that the origin of Go'on can be traced back further from the Korean Peninsula to the ancient pronunciation of the Han and Wei periods.

Source: The Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary About the Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary Information

Japanese:

〘名〙① 中国の華南の呉、越(えつ)地方に行なわれた読書音。※悉曇蔵（880）五「承和之末、正法師来〈略〉元慶之初、聰法師来〈略〉此両法師共説_二呉音・漢音_一、且如_二摩字・那字・泥字・若字・玄字・廻字等類_一、呉似_二和音_一、漢如_二正音_一、漢士不_レ能_レ呼_レ呉、呉士不_レ能_レ呼_レ漢」〔法華経釈文〕② 古代日本へ朝鮮から渡来した漢字音。平安中期までは和音と呼ばれていたが、平安中期以後、呉音とも呼ばれるようになった。漢音・宋音・唐音などに対していう。※北山抄（1012‐21頃）三「結申之詞頗与_レ史異。史者、越前備後等之類也。大臣不_レ然。只用_二呉音_一」※滑稽本・浮世床（1813‐23）初「家(か)は漢音だ。呉音では家(け)とよむてな。〈略〉国学は呉音でよむが、又仏氏(ぼうず)の方なども呉音でよむ」[語誌](1)古代日本に伝わった漢字音を呉音と呼ぶ確証は、平安中期の藤原公任（②の「北山抄」の例）以後である。それ以前には和音と呼んだ（①の「悉曇蔵」の例）。
(2)中国で隋唐代以後漢音を正しい音とするのに対し、南方音を、「古くてなまった音」という気持から「呉音」といったのにまねて、日本でも平安中期から、漢音を正音と呼ぶのに対し、和音を呉音というようになったらしい。それが呉という名前に引かれて、呉音は南方中国から渡来したという説が発生した。この説が江戸時代の漢学者、国学者に引きつがれて、現代でも行なわれているが、呉音の源流を朝鮮半島からさらにさかのぼって漢魏時代の古音に求める説もある。

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