Iki

An aesthetic sense that was popular mainly in the late early modern period. It is thought to have originated from "iki" (spirit), but in the early modern period it came to be used as an aesthetic sense in the world of recreation among townspeople. In the early early modern period, "ikiyoshi" was used to express a refreshing state of mind, but in the world of recreation centered around Kamigata in the early early modern period, "sui" was the main aesthetic sense. In the late early modern period, when the center of culture shifted to Edo, "tsuu" and "iki" came to replace "sui." While "tsuu" is an aesthetic sense for men's recreation, "iki" is widely used as a word to express refined beauty, such as "ikina hito " (a person who is active in nature), "ikina nari" (a person who is active in nature), and "ikina hakarai" (a person who is active in nature). In terms of literature, it is used more in the human interest books aimed at women that emerged later than in the humorous stories that are the literature of "tsuu," so some see it as an aesthetic sense centered on women. Signs of "iki" include what Kuki Shuzo calls "coquetry, courage, and resignation," and it is this subtle tension that seems likely to collapse but nevertheless remains constant that forms "iki."

[Muto Motoaki]

"The Structure of 'iki' by Kuki Shuzo (Iwanami Bunko)" ▽ "Edo Selection 1: Edokko by Nishiyama Matsunosuke (1980, Yoshikawa Kobunkan)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

おもに近世後期に流行した美意識。「意気」からきた語と考えられるが、近世に町人の遊びの世界での美意識として用いられるようになる。近世初期に、心持ちのさっぱりしているのを「いきよし」と表現しているが、近世前期の上方(かみがた)を中心とする遊びの世界では「すい」がおもな美意識であった。江戸に文化の中心が移る近世後期に、「すい」にかわって「通(つう)」「いき」が育つ。「通」が男性の遊びの美意識であるのに対して、「いき」は「いきな人」「いきななり」「いきなはからい」など、洗練された美を表す語として広く用いられる。文学の面でいえば、「通」の文学である洒落本(しゃれぼん)よりも、その後発生した女性向きの人情本に多く用いられているので、女性中心の美意識であるという見方もある。「いき」の徴表としては、九鬼(くき)周造のいう「媚態(びたい)・意気地(いきじ)・諦(あきら)め」をあげることができ、崩れそうで崩れない微妙な緊張感が「いき」を形成するものである。

［武藤元昭］

『九鬼周造著『「いき」の構造』（岩波文庫）』▽『西山松之助著『江戸選書 1　江戸ッ子』（1980・吉川弘文館）』

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