Translation guide
A historical account written by an individual, often unofficial, personal, or not commissioned by the state. In Japanese contexts, this can refer to privately compiled histories, memoirs, or personal chronicles.
A history written by a private individual, not an official government or institutional record.
Directly means 'private history' or 'personal chronicle', often used for unofficial historical accounts written by individuals.
彼は江戸時代の私史を研究している。
He is researching privately composed histories from the Edo period.
Descriptive phrase meaning 'a history book written by an individual's hand', emphasizing personal authorship.
これは個人の手による歴史書で、公式の記録ではない。
This is a privately composed history, not an official record.
Literally 'privately published history book', used when the work is self-published or not from an official press.
その私家版歴史書は限られた読者にしか知られていない。
That privately composed history is known only to a limited readership.
A personal account of historical events, often blending autobiography with historical narrative.
Common term for 'memoir' or 'reminiscences', often used for personal accounts of historical periods.
彼の回想録は戦時中の貴重な私的歴史だ。
His memoir is a valuable privately composed history of the wartime period.
Autobiography; can serve as a privately composed history when it covers broader historical events.
A chronological record of events compiled privately, often as a supplement or alternative to official histories.
Literally 'outside history', meaning an unofficial or privately compiled history, often contrasted with official dynastic histories.
この外史は公式の歴史書には載っていない出来事を記している。
This privately composed history records events not found in official history books.
Unofficial history or 'wild history', often containing anecdotes and less formal records.
野史には面白い逸話が多く含まれている。
The privately composed history contains many interesting anecdotes.
A historical record kept by a family or lineage, often private and passed down through generations.
Family history or chronicle, privately maintained by a household.
その家史は江戸時代から書き継がれている。
That privately composed family history has been continued since the Edo period.
Genealogical record or family tree with historical notes; a form of private history.
家譜を調べると先祖の意外な事実がわかった。
Researching the family history revealed surprising facts about our ancestors.
私史 (shishi) is a general term for privately composed history. 外史 (gaishi) often implies an alternative or supplementary history to official records. 野史 (yashi) carries a nuance of unofficial, sometimes anecdotal or less formal history. Choose based on the degree of formality and relationship to official histories.
If the exact nuance of 'privately composed' is important, use phrases like 個人の手による歴史書 (kojinnote ni yoru rekishisho) or 私家版の歴史書 (shikaban no rekishisho) to clarify that it is not an official publication.
That autobiography can be read as a privately composed history from a citizen's perspective.