The Tale of the Pigeon

This is a collection of Taoist tales by Shibata Kyūō, a late Edo period Sekimon Shingaku scholar, written down by his adopted son Yuō and is a representative work of Shingaku Taoist tales. It consists of three parts and nine volumes: the main volume (published in 1835, Tenpo 6), the sequel (published in 1836), and the sequel sequel (published in 1838). Later, two volumes of "Kyūō Taoist Tales Collection" (1929, Showa 4) were published. The book begins by saying, "If the way of the sages is incomprehensible, it will not reach the ears of maids and children. The stories of Shingaku were not written for the benefit of the wise. It was the will of my teacher to inform the peasants and townspeople, who are busy with their work and have no free time, of the existence of the way of the sages." In a simple manner, the book uses classics and familiar examples to explain the teachings of Shingaku. It also uses witty similes, sarcasm, and humor, such as "The Frog of Kyoto and the Frog of Osaka" and "The Story of the Turban Shell," to address various issues such as family, love, and religion. The book was well received by the public and went through many editions, exerting a major influence on the education of the common people.

[Jun Imai]

"Shibata Minoru (ed.), "Japanese Thought Series 42: Sekimon Shingaku" (1971, Iwanami Shoten)" ▽ "Ishikawa Ken (ed.), "Kyuo Dowa" (Iwanami Bunko)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸後期の石門心学者(せきもんしんがくしゃ)柴田(しばた)鳩翁の道話を、養子遊翁(ゆうおう)が筆録したもので、心学道話の代表的著作。正篇(へん)（1835＝天保6刊）、続篇（1836刊）、続々篇（1838刊）の3篇9巻よりなり、のちに『鳩翁道話拾遺(しゅうい)』2篇（1929＝昭和4）が公刊された。同書は冒頭に「聖人の道もチンプンカンでは、女中や子ども衆の耳に通ぜぬ。心学道話は、識者のためにまふけました事ではござりませぬ。ただ家業におはれて、隙(ひま)のない御百姓や町人衆へ、聖人の道ある事をおしらせ申したいと、先師の志でござりまする」というように、平易な語り口で古典や身近な実例を材料に心学の教えを説く。また「京の蛙(かわず)と大坂の蛙」や「サザエの話」などの軽妙なたとえや皮肉、ユーモアを交えながら、家庭や恋愛・宗教などの諸問題を取り上げている。同書は世人に歓迎されて多くの版を重ね、庶民教化に大きな影響を与えた。

［今井　淳］

『柴田実編『日本思想大系42　石門心学』（1971・岩波書店）』▽『石川謙校訂『鳩翁道話』（岩波文庫）』

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