Leisurely friends - Kankyo no tomo

A collection of Buddhist tales from the early Kamakura period. Two volumes. Contains 32 stories (21 in volume 1, 11 in volume 2). Completed in 1222 (Jokyu 4). The author is unknown, but the most likely author is the eldest son of Kujo Yoshitsune, Keisei Shonin (1189-1268), who had traveled to Song China. As the author himself states, the stories included in this collection were collected with the intention of correcting the editorial shortcomings of the Hosshinshu and inheriting and enriching its spirit, and are stories that were not included in previous collections of tales. Except for the story at the end of the volume, the first volume is dominated by stories with male protagonists such as Prince Shinnyo and Genpin, while the second volume is dominated by stories with female protagonists such as the woman who became a demon because of jealousy and the sad story of Kenreimon'in. The arrangement of these stories shows careful consideration. This book was compiled to teach an aristocratic woman how to awaken to the truth, how to escape the world, and how to practice, but at the same time, it also serves as a guide to the author's own religious aspirations. In terms of philosophy, it is strongly influenced by Tendai teachings such as "Makashikan." In addition, the comments at the end of the lengthy tales show the beginnings of essay literature.

[Kinoshita Suichi]

"New Japanese Classical Literature Series: Treasure Collection, Leisure Friends, and Oracles of the Ancients of Mt. Hira" (1993, Iwanami Shoten)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

鎌倉初期の仏教説話集。上下2巻。32話（上巻21、下巻11）を収載。1222年（承久4）成立。著者不明だが、九条良経(よしつね)の長男で入宋(にっそう)経験をもつ慶政上人(けいせいしょうにん)（1189―1268）説が有力。所載説話は、著者自身述べるように、『発心集(ほっしんしゅう)』の編纂(へんさん)上の欠点を訂し、その精神の継承、充実を図る意図をもって、先行説話集にない話材ばかりが集められている。上巻は巻末話を除き、真如(しんにょ)親王や玄賓(げんぴん)ら男性主人公の話、下巻は嫉妬(しっと)のあまり鬼になった女や建礼門院哀話など女性主人公の話で占められる。それらの説話配列には周到な配慮がみられる。本書は、一貴婦人に、発心、遁世(とんせい)、修行のあるべき姿を諭すために編まれたものであるが、同時に、著者自身の道心の指標を示すものでもあった。思想的には『摩訶止観(まかしかん)』など天台教学の影響が強い。また、長大化した説話末評語には随筆文学への萌芽(ほうが)も指摘される。

［木下資一］

『新日本古典文学大系『宝物集・閑居友・比良山古人霊託』（1993・岩波書店）』

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