Kyokaen

A full-length novel from the Qing Dynasty in China. Written by Li Ruzhen (date of birth and death unknown). Published in 1828 (the 8th year of the Daoguang era). A colloquial style novel with 100 chapters. The story is set during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian in the Tang Dynasty. A Hundred Flower Fairy, who commits a crime and is sent down to the secular world, passes the imperial examination and reunites with 100 fellow flower fairies who have become girls. Against this backdrop, Tang Ao, who has lost his ambition in the government, boards a merchant ship with his wife's brother Lin Zhiyang and travels to fictional, mysterious countries. The novel criticizes male superiority, China's feudal customs and superstitions through stories such as the "Black Tooth Country" where women love learning and the "Girls Country" where the gender roles are reversed. This point is appreciated in modern China, but there are also many passages in which the author himself shows off his vast knowledge, which makes it less interesting. Since it is a journey through fictional countries, it is also called the Chinese version of Gulliver's Travels.

[Sakurai Yukie]

"Tamori Shoji's translation of "Complete Collection of Chinese Classical Literature 30: Kyokaen" (1961, Heibonsha)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、清(しん)代の長編小説。李汝珍(りじょちん)（生没年不詳）作。1828年（道光8）刊行。全100回の口語体章回小説。物語は唐の則天武后の御世、罪を得て俗界に降ろされた百花仙子が、100人の女子となった仲間の花の精たちと科挙に及第し、一堂に会するという筋立てを背景に、官界に志を失った唐敖(とうごう)が妻の兄林之洋(りんしよう)と商船に乗り込み、架空の不思議な国々を巡っての見聞録である。学問好きな女性のいる「黒歯国」、男女逆さまな「女児国」などを通して、男尊女卑、中国の封建的風俗や迷信などを批判している。現代中国でもその点が評価されているが、作者が自ら博識を披瀝(ひれき)するような文章も多くみられ、興趣をそぐ。また架空の国巡りということで、中国版の『ガリバー旅行記』ともいわれる。

［桜井幸江］

『田森襄訳『中国古典文学全集30　鏡花縁』（1961・平凡社）』

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例