Mumyōzōshi
Mumyōzōshi (無名草子, literally "nameless book") is an early 13th century Japanese text. One volume in length, it is the oldest existing Japanese text on literary criticism.[1] The author is unknown.
Composition
The title means "Nameless Book". One manuscript gives the title as Kenkyū Monogatari (建久物語),[1] a reference to the era in which it was written. Composition occurred between 1200 and 1202.[2]
The author is unknown. Hypotheses include Fujiwara no Shunzei (c.1114 -1204); his granddaughter, often called "Shunzei's Daughter" (c. 1171 - 1252); Jōkaku (1147-1226); and Shikishi Naishinnō (1149-1201); but strongest support is for Shunzei's daughter.[1][2]
Contents
The volume is composed of four distinct sections: a preface, literary criticism, poetic criticism, and a discussion on prominent literary women.
The preface introduces an 83 year old woman on a trip. She stops to rest at a house where she writes down the conversation of a group of women talking about literature, creating a frame tale excuse to write the volume. The frame tale itself has many elements from monogatari of the time.[3]
The literary criticism covers 28 stories including Genji Monogatari, Sagoromo Monogatari, Yoru no Nezame, Hamamatsu Chūnagon Monogatari, and Torikaebaya Monogatari. The others mostly do not exist anymore.[1][2][4]
For poetic criticism, it covers Ise Monogatari, Yamato Monogatari, Man'yōshū, and private and imperial collections. The editor laments at the lack of women compilers in the collections.[1][2][4]
It then goes on to discuss the ability and upbringing of a number of prominent women: Ono no Komachi, Sei Shōnagon, Izumi Shikibu, Akazome Emon, Murasaki Shikibu and others.[1][2][4]
The text is particularly valuable as a resource since it includes descriptions of a number of either completely or partially lost texts.[1]
See also
- Fūyō Wakashū, a collection of poetry from various literary sources, many of which are no longer extant
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g Nihon Koten Bungaku Daijiten (1986:1798-1799)
- ^ a b c d e Kubota (2007:341-342)
- ^ Rohlich, Thomas H. (1997). "In search of critical space : The path to Monogatari criticism in the Mumyozoshi". Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies. 57 (1): 179–204. doi:10.2307/2719364. JSTOR 2719364.
- ^ a b c Hayashiya (1973)
References
- Hayashiya, Tatsusaburō (1973). Nihon Shisō Taikei 23: Kodai Chūsei Geijutsuron (in Japanese). Iwanami Shoten. ISBN 4-00-070023-5.
- Kubota, Jun (2007). Iwanami Nihon Koten Bungaku Jiten [Iwanami dictionary of Japanese classical literature] (in Japanese). Iwanami Shoten. ISBN 978-4-00-080310-6.
- Nihon Koten Bungaku Daijiten: Kan'yakuban [A Comprehensive Dictionary of Classical Japanese Literature: Concise Edition]. Tōkyō: Iwanami Shoten. 1986. ISBN 4-00-080067-1.
Further reading
- Marra, Michele (translator) (Summer 1984). "Mumyozoshi. Introduction and Translation". Monumenta Nipponica. 39 (2). Sophia University: 115–145. doi:10.2307/2385013. JSTOR 2385013.
{{cite journal}}:|first=has generic name (help) - Marra, Michele (translator) (Autumn 1984). "Mumyozoshi, Part 2". Monumenta Nipponica. 39 (3). Sophia University: 281–305. doi:10.2307/2384595. JSTOR 2384595.
{{cite journal}}:|first=has generic name (help) - Marra, Michele (translator) (Winter 1984). "Mumyozoshi, Part 3". Monumenta Nipponica. 39 (4). Sophia University: 409–434. doi:10.2307/2384574. JSTOR 2384574.
{{cite journal}}:|first=has generic name (help)