Why was both katakana and hiragana created?


Nowadays, katakana tends to be used for gairaigo and onomatopoeia, while
hiragana tends to be used for native Japanese words. This is a slight
simplification - more information is available
[here](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/a/3987/91).

However, English loanwords weren't a major concern when they were originally
created. What were the main motivations for creating the two kana (or possibly
more?) rather than just one?




It isn't 100 percent clear, but the following is the “well-established”
theory:

# Hiragana (平仮名)

As noted in your [other
question](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/4958/were-women-unable-
to-learn-kanji-during-the-heian-era), hiragana was originally called 女手{おんなで}.
In the late Nara, early Heian periods,
[万葉仮名{まんようがな}](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man%27y%C5%8Dgana) written in 草書体
(sosho style) was used for “unofficial” texts such as Japanese poems (和歌{わか}),
etc. From this 万葉仮名, women in the imperial courts (宮中の女官達) developed the
simplified writing style (女手 or what is now called “hiragana”). Originally, it
was mainly used by women (hence the name 女手), but because of its ease of use
compared to Chinese characters, men also began using it when writing. However,
“official” writing still used Chinese characters and hiragana was used mainly
among commoners (non-governmental people) and in poems and short stories, etc.
Also, the 平 of 平仮名 also comes from its “simplicity” and “general use”. You can
see it in words like 平易、平凡、平素, etc.

# Katakana (片仮名)

Now, katakana also originates from 万葉仮名, however it came into use first by
Buddhist monks. Also, unlike hiragana, it was not used as a separate writing
system from Chinese characters, but rather together with Chinese characters.
In order to read those difficult Buddhist scriptures (お経), Buddhist monks
would use katakana as a form of shorthand or annotation (called
[訓点](http://www.aozora.gr.jp/annotation/kunten.html)) as a supplement to the
Chinese characters. In this way, katakana became used in official documents
and for scholars, as Buddhism, 学問 and government was very closely related.
Since it mainly was used by men, some people referred to Chinese characters
and katakana as 男手 in contrast with hiragana (女手). Also, the 片 of 片仮名 comes
from the fact that “pieces” of Chinese characters were taken to develop the
writing system (and also there is implication that katakana is “temporary” in
the sense that it is only to supplement the Chinese characters).

So to answer your question, the reason that the two exist is because they were
created separately out of need at the time and they were originally used for
two different purposes ― hiragana for a common language separate from the
official writings (which used Chinese characters) and katakana as a supplement
to official writing (and other text that used Chinese characters).

# References

  * [日本語の起源](http://www.snap-tck.com/room04/c01/nihon/nihon04.html) << This site explains it way better than I do, so if someone took the time to translate this...
  * [なぜひらがなとカタカナと漢字が存在するのでしょうか](http://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q139479478)
  * [Wikipedia-Man'yōgana](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man%27y%C5%8Dgana)
  * [Wikipedia-Hiragana](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiragana)
  * [Wikipedia-Katakana](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katakana)




It isn't 100 percent clear, but the following is the “well-established”
theory:

# Hiragana (平仮名)

As noted in your [other
question](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/4958/were-women-unable-
to-learn-kanji-during-the-heian-era), hiragana was originally called 女手{おんなで}.
In the late Nara, early Heian periods,
[万葉仮名{まんようがな}](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man%27y%C5%8Dgana) written in 草書体
(sosho style) was used for “unofficial” texts such as Japanese poems (和歌{わか}),
etc. From this 万葉仮名, women in the imperial courts (宮中の女官達) developed the
simplified writing style (女手 or what is now called “hiragana”). Originally, it
was mainly used by women (hence the name 女手), but because of its ease of use
compared to Chinese characters, men also began using it when writing. However,
“official” writing still used Chinese characters and hiragana was used mainly
among commoners (non-governmental people) and in poems and short stories, etc.
Also, the 平 of 平仮名 also comes from its “simplicity” and “general use”. You can
see it in words like 平易、平凡、平素, etc.

# Katakana (片仮名)

Now, katakana also originates from 万葉仮名, however it came into use first by
Buddhist monks. Also, unlike hiragana, it was not used as a separate writing
system from Chinese characters, but rather together with Chinese characters.
In order to read those difficult Buddhist scriptures (お経), Buddhist monks
would use katakana as a form of shorthand or annotation (called
[訓点](http://www.aozora.gr.jp/annotation/kunten.html)) as a supplement to the
Chinese characters. In this way, katakana became used in official documents
and for scholars, as Buddhism, 学問 and government was very closely related.
Since it mainly was used by men, some people referred to Chinese characters
and katakana as 男手 in contrast with hiragana (女手). Also, the 片 of 片仮名 comes
from the fact that “pieces” of Chinese characters were taken to develop the
writing system (and also there is implication that katakana is “temporary” in
the sense that it is only to supplement the Chinese characters).

So to answer your question, the reason that the two exist is because they were
created separately out of need at the time and they were originally used for
two different purposes ― hiragana for a common language separate from the
official writings (which used Chinese characters) and katakana as a supplement
to official writing (and other text that used Chinese characters).

# References

  * [日本語の起源](http://www.snap-tck.com/room04/c01/nihon/nihon04.html) << This site explains it way better than I do, so if someone took the time to translate this...
  * [なぜひらがなとカタカナと漢字が存在するのでしょうか](http://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q139479478)
  * [Wikipedia-Man'yōgana](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man%27y%C5%8Dgana)
  * [Wikipedia-Hiragana](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiragana)
  * [Wikipedia-Katakana](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katakana)

