noun
writing entirely in kanji
Archaic term for texts written exclusively in Chinese characters, contrasted with 仮名文 (kana writing) and 漢文 (classical Chinese). Used in historical or literary contexts.
平安時代には、真名文と仮名文が使い分けられていた。
In the Heian period, writing entirely in kanji and writing in kana were used for different purposes.
漢文 refers to classical Chinese texts or the Japanese reading of them, while 真名文 specifically emphasizes writing entirely in kanji as opposed to mixed or kana scripts.
仮名文 is writing using kana, often associated with women's literature in the Heian period, in contrast to 真名文 which uses only kanji.
From 真名 (mana, 'true characters', i.e., kanji) + 文 (fumi/bun, 'writing'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term reflects the early Japanese distinction between kanji and kana scripts.