Shingaku Hayasomegusa - Shingaku Hayasomegusa

Japanese: 心学早染草 - しんがくはやそめぐさ

Yellow cover. Written by Santo Kyoden. Illustrated by Kitao Masayoshi. Published in 1790 (Kansei 2). 3 volumes. The intention of the work is to show through the life of Mozenya Ritaro, the son of a merchant, that all human actions are the work of the good and evil spirits within. He was disowned for his debauchery due to the work of the evil spirits and became a thief, but was reformed when the good spirits regained power. Although it is a rather logical work for a yellow cover, it was well received for its interesting dual screen depiction of the struggle between the good and evil spirits and Ritaro's actions.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

黄表紙。山東京伝作。北尾政美（まさよし）画。1790年(寛政2)刊。3冊。人間の行為はすべて内にある善魂（ぜんだましい）と悪魂（あくだましい）のなすわざであることを，商家の息子目前屋理太郎の身持ちの上にあらわすという作意。悪魂のしわざによって放蕩したことから勘当され，盗賊にまで落ちたが，善魂の勢力挽回によって教化されるという，黄表紙としては理屈くさい作品であるが，善悪の魂の争闘と，理太郎の行動とを二重の画面にあらわしたおもしろさで好評を博した。

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

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