News
2023.08.23
On July 15, 2023 (Saturday), at the Global Lounge in Building 9 of our university, the Research Center for Textual Scholarship hosted the symposium titled “Friedrich H?lderlin, the History of Scholarly Editing of His Works: Considering How to Edit a Translatable Text”. The event was attended by students and researchers from Seijo and various institutions. This symposium provided an in-depth discussion of the editorial history of H?lderlin’s works, especially his later poetry, and debated the future of new editing and translation methods.
The symposium began with an introduction by Professor Kiyoko Myojo (Professor in Faculty of Arts and Literature, Seijo University, & Director of the Center) who gave an overview of the center and the purpose of the symposium.
During the symposium, five speakers presented the characteristics of prominent versions in the editorial history of H?lderlin, focusing on historical-critical editions. Professor Takashi Yahaba (Faculty of Foreign Language at Dokkyo University & Special Visiting Scholar of the Center) introduced the concept of scholarly edition (in German: Edition) in Germany and outlined the main types of editions, and overview of the symposium.
Professor Kenichi Onodera (Associate Professor at Faculty of Foreign Languages at Daito Bunka University) discussed the editorial policy of the Hellingrath edition, highlighting the challenges of sequencing works and the influence of the George Circle.
Next, Professor Hideya Hayashi (Special Associate Professor of Faculty of Humanities at Mie University) examined the Zinkernagel edition, which was then in competition with the Hellingrath edition. He discussed the features and limitations of Zinkernagel’s reproduction of H?lderlin’s manuscripts.
Professor Koji Ota (Professor of Faculty of Language Studies at Teikyo University) elaborated on the criticism of the preceding two editions by Bei?ner, and his editorial policy represented by the step model. He also highlighted the influence of Goethe’s morphology and the criticisms raised against it.
Professor Toshiro Eki (Associate Professor at Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Kumamoto University) delved into the political nature of the Frankfurt edition, which was developed in opposition to the Stuttgart edition. He discussed its unique editorial method (the “Sigma System).
Finally, Professor Yahaba returned to discuss the potential of a scholarly edition, focusing on the textual editing of the Reitani edition, a German-Italian bilingual edition.
In the Q&A session, cross-disciplinary exchanges took place about text editing in non-German-speaking regions, differences in editing philosophical and literary texts, and the primary versions researchers rely upon. Additionally, discussions revolved around previous Japanese translations of H?lderlin, and what is expected in new translations, particularly regarding annotations and textual variances.
The Research Center for Textual Scholarship will continue to regularly host events related to textual scholarship. Announcements will be made on the university’s website, and we invite those interested to join us.
