Kichiji the Gold Seller

Japanese: 金売吉次 - かねうり・きちじ

A legendary figure known for the Yoshitsune legend. He is also known by other names such as Yoshitsune Nobutaka (from the Yoshitsune-ki) and Tachibana Nobutsunaharu (from the Genpei Seisuiki). In the Heiji Monogatari (old printed book), he is a gold merchant from Oshu, and on a pilgrimage to Kurama, he is asked by Ushiwakamaru to guide him to Fujiwara Hidehira in Hiraizumi, Oshu (Hiraizumi Town, Iwate Prefecture). In another legend, a charcoal burner who married the daughter of a wealthy man was taught the value of gold by his wife, and he dug up gold nearby and became very rich. There are old stories throughout the Tohoku region in which the son of this wealthy charcoal burner is said to have become Yoshitsune. From these legends, connections have been pointed out to gold miners, blacksmiths, and foundries. <References> Yanagita Kunio, "The Story of Charcoal Burner Kogoro" (The Complete Yanagita Kunio Collection, Volume 1)

(Kazuhiko Komatsu)

Source: Asahi Japanese Historical Biography: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. About Asahi Japanese Historical Biography

Japanese:

義経伝説で知られる伝説上の人物。吉次信高(『義経記』),橘次末春(『源平盛衰記』)などの別名がある。『平治物語』(古活字本)では,奥州の金商人であり,鞍馬参詣の際,牛若丸に請われて彼を奥州平泉(岩手県平泉町)の藤原秀衡のもとへ案内している。これとは別の伝承として,長者の娘と結婚した炭焼きが黄金の価値を妻に教えられ,近くにあった黄金を掘り出して大金持ちになる。この炭焼き長者の息子がのちの吉次であるという昔話が東北地方各地に残っている。これらの伝承から,金山師・鍛冶屋・鋳物師との関係が指摘されている。<参考文献>柳田国男「炭焼小五郎が事」(『定本柳田国男集』1巻)

(小松和彦)

出典　朝日日本歴史人物事典：（株）朝日新聞出版朝日日本歴史人物事典について　情報

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