へうげもの - Hyouge Mono?


There's this manga that is called へうげもの. However, this name is romanized as
Hyouge Mono. Although I know little Japanese, I think the kana there spell
something like Heuge Mono.

![Cover for Hyouge Mono](https://i.stack.imgur.com/NEuwy.jpg)

Why does this happen, and what does it mean?




This is a difference between historical kana use
([歴史的仮名遣](http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%AD%B4%E5%8F%B2%E7%9A%84%E4%BB%AE%E5%90%8D%E9%81%A3%E3%81%84))
and modern kana use
([現代仮名遣い](http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%8F%BE%E4%BB%A3%E4%BB%AE%E5%90%8D%E9%81%A3%E3%81%84)).

The kana orthography has been changed over time to reflect newer
pronunciations. In this case, the title is written using an older spelling.
Take a look at this [official cabinet
announcement](http://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/hakusho/nc/k19860701001/k19860701001.html)
(from 1986) and scroll down to the bottom half. It contains a rather large
chart, and in this chart you can find へう under historic spellings. According
to the chart, this spelling corresponds with the modern spelling ひょう and the
modern pronunciation ヒョー.

I suppose spelling it the old way gives it a more authentic historical feel,
but I don't think it changes the meaning. It's still the same word.




This is a difference between historical kana use
([歴史的仮名遣](http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%AD%B4%E5%8F%B2%E7%9A%84%E4%BB%AE%E5%90%8D%E9%81%A3%E3%81%84))
and modern kana use
([現代仮名遣い](http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%8F%BE%E4%BB%A3%E4%BB%AE%E5%90%8D%E9%81%A3%E3%81%84)).

The kana orthography has been changed over time to reflect newer
pronunciations. In this case, the title is written using an older spelling.
Take a look at this [official cabinet
announcement](http://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/hakusho/nc/k19860701001/k19860701001.html)
(from 1986) and scroll down to the bottom half. It contains a rather large
chart, and in this chart you can find へう under historic spellings. According
to the chart, this spelling corresponds with the modern spelling ひょう and the
modern pronunciation ヒョー.

I suppose spelling it the old way gives it a more authentic historical feel,
but I don't think it changes the meaning. It's still the same word.

