The Tale of Jiraiya

Japanese: 自来也説話 - じらいやものがたり

A reading book written by Kanwatei Onitake and illustrated by Teisai Hokuba. The first part, 5 volumes and 6 books, was published in 1806 (Bunka 3), and the second part, 5 volumes and 5 books, in 1807. It is a fantastical tale of a righteous thief's brave revenge, inspired by the tale of the thief Garaya, found in the Chinese "Gujin Shuohai" (Ancient History) written by Song Shen Chu, or in the section on "Theft" in Volume 21 of the "Ruisho Sanyo". The first part tells the story of a righteous thief, Jiraiya (real name Ogata Shuma Hiroyuki), who assisted Isami Tomokichirō, the orphaned son of a samurai killed by Guntayu, in killing the wicked thief Rokuyaon Guntayu, who stole and carried the elixir Seitenso and became immortal.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

読本。感和亭鬼武（かんわていおにたけ）作，蹄斎北馬画。前編5巻6冊は1806年(文化3)，後編5巻5冊は07年刊。中国の《古今説海》中の宋沈俶撰《諧史》，あるいは《類書纂要》巻二十一〈窃盗（せつとう）〉の条などに収められた盗賊我来也の説話に発想して，義賊の武勇仇討奇談に仕立てた伝奇小説。前編は霊薬西天艸（せいてんそう）を盗み携帯して不死身となった奸賊鹿野苑（ろくやおん）軍太夫を，義賊自来也(本名尾形周馬寛行)が，軍太夫に討たれた侍の遺児勇侶吉郎（いさみともきちろう）に助力して討たせる筋。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

<<: Icefish (white fish) - Icefish (English spelling)

>>: The Tale of Jiraiya the Hero