Kaidouki

A travelogue from the early Kamakura period. Vol. 1. The author is said to be a 50-year-old wabibito living around Shirakawa in Kyoto, and no details are known about him. He left Kyoto in early April 1223 (Joō 2), took the Iseji route, crossed Mt. Ashigara and arrived in Kamakura, stayed there for 15 days, and then left for the capital in early May. The writing is in the style of classical Chinese, and contains many Buddhist terms, making it technically difficult to understand. In the prologue, he laments his lack of talent and ability after losing hope of social advancement, agonizes over his poor fortune, and describes the process by which he gradually becomes a monk and sets off on a journey, unable to die and hating the world. During the journey, the author learns about the warmth of the human heart, the preciousness of life, and the joy of living. During his stay in Kamakura, he describes a mother who knows that becoming a nun would be the best way to repay her kindness, but cannot turn her back on her feelings for her child, and struggles between inaction and action. This is an excellent piece of travel literature that depicts the process from despair to hope.

[Ryuzo Yuno]

"Complete Collection of Japanese Classics: Kaido-ki, Toseki-kikou, Irokuya-nikki" (1951, Asahi Shimbun) edited by Kosuke Tamai and Yoshisada Ishida

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

鎌倉初期の紀行文学。1巻。作者は京都白川(しらかわ)のあたりに住む50歳過ぎの佗(わ)び人(びと)というだけで詳しいことはわからない。1223年（貞応2）4月上旬に京都を出発して伊勢路(いせじ)をとり、足柄山(あしがらやま)を越えて鎌倉に着くまでの15日間と鎌倉に十数日間滞在し、5月の初めに帰京の途につくまでを描く。文章は漢文調で仏教用語が多く、技巧的でやや難解なところがある。序では立身出世の希望を失って自分の無芸無能を嘆き、貧乏な果報のなかで煩悶(はんもん)し、死ぬこともできず世をいとう気持ちからしだいに出家し旅に出る過程を語っている。作者は旅のなかで人間の心の温かさや生きていくことの尊さ、喜びを学び、鎌倉滞在中に出家が最上の報恩であることを知りながら母が子を思う情に背くことができず、無為(むい)と有為(うい)のはざまで苦しむようすを描いている。絶望から希望への過程を描いた紀行文学作品として優れた作品である。

［祐野隆三］

『玉井幸助・石田吉貞校註『日本古典全書　海道記・東関紀行・十六夜日記』（1951・朝日新聞社）』

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