Biography of the Eccentrics of the Early Modern Period

A piece of biographical literature from the late Edo period. The main 5 volumes were written by Bankokei and published in 1790 (Kansei 2). The sequel, 5 volumes, was written by Mikuma Katen and supplemented by Bankokei and published in 1798. It contains the biographies of around 200 eccentrics (meaning people who are unusual compared to the rest of the world but whose way of life as human beings is in line with heaven) who died from the early modern period onwards up until the time of writing. The people included are diverse, ranging from samurai, merchants, craftsmen, farmers, monks, Shinto priests, men of letters, scholars, as well as servants, maids, prostitutes and even beggars. For example, the main volume includes Nakae Toju, Kaibara Ekiken, the monk Tetsugen, the wife of Onodera Hidekazu, the prostitute Ohashi, Baisao, Yanagisawa Kien, Ike no Taiga, and Gion Kajiko, while the sequel includes Ishikawa Jozan, Sagawada Kiroku, the monk Gensei, and Honami Koetsu. The main volume is written in excellent prose, and the illustrations of flower scenes are known to be based on research into customs and customs.

[Munemasa Isoo]

"Munemasa Isoo's annotated 'Eccentrics of the Early Modern Eccentrics' and 'Continued Eccentrics of the Early Modern Eccentrics' (1972, Heibonsha, Toyo Bunko)" ▽ "Munemasa Isoo, 'The Establishment of 'Eccentrics of the Early Modern Eccentrics'" (included in 'Research on Japanese Early Modern Literature', 1977, Miraisha)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸後期の伝記文学。正編5巻は伴蒿蹊(ばんこうけい)著、1790年（寛政2）刊。続編5巻は三熊花顛(みくまかてん)著、伴蒿蹊補、1798年刊。近世初頭以後、執筆時期までに故人となった畸人（世人に比べて変わっているが人間としてのあり方が天にかなった人の意）約200人の伝記を収める。収載人物は、武士、商人、職人、農民、僧侶(そうりょ)、神職、文学者、学者、さらに下僕、婢女(はしため)、遊女から乞食(こつじき)者などに及び多彩である。たとえば、正編には中江藤樹(とうじゅ)、貝原益軒(かいばらえきけん)、僧鉄眼(てつげん)、小野寺秀和妻、遊女大橋、売茶翁(ばいさおう)、柳沢淇園(きえん)、池大雅(いけのたいが)、祇園梶子(ぎおんかじこ)、続編には石川丈山(じょうざん)、佐川田喜六(さかわだきろく)、僧元政(げんせい)、本阿弥光悦(ほんあみこうえつ)らを載せる。正編は優れた文章で記述され、花顛画の挿絵も風俗考証に基づいたものとして知られる。

［宗政五十緒］

『宗政五十緒校注『近世畸人伝・続近世畸人伝』（1972・平凡社・東洋文庫）』▽『宗政五十緒著「『近世畸人伝』の成立」（『日本近世文苑の研究』所収・1977・未来社）』

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