Chat collection - Elephant chat

A collection of Buddhist tales from the Kamakura period. Ten volumes. Written by Muju. Completed in 1305 (Kagen 3). Like Shasekishu (Collection of Stones) by the same author, it uses tales as metaphors and examples to guide the reader to a correct understanding of Buddhism. It contains many rigid descriptions of the teachings, but has the feel of fragments of individual theories arranged in no particular order, and is not systematic. There are many tales that are similar to those in other collections of tales, but there are also many that are difficult to discard as contemporary tales based on the author's own experiences. Unusually for a collection of tales, there are some parts where the author himself is mentioned, giving a glimpse into the inner workings of the editor of the collection of tales.

[Takayuki Kojima]

"Medieval Literature 3: Collection of Chats" edited by Akihiro Yamada and Norito Miki (1973, Miyai Shoten)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

鎌倉時代の仏教説話集。10巻。無住(むじゅう)の著。1305年（嘉元3）成立。同じ著者の手になる『沙石集(しゃせきしゅう)』と同様に、説話を比喩(ひゆ)・例証として、読者を正しい仏教理解へと導こうとするもの。硬質の教理解説的な記述が多いが、各論の断片を順不同に並べた趣(おもむき)があり、体系的ではない。他の説話集と類似の説話も少なくないが、著者の見聞に基づく同時代の説話には捨てがたい味わいのあるものも多い。説話集としては珍しく著者自身を話題にするところがあり、説話集編者の内面をのぞかせている。

［小島孝之］

『山田昭全・三木紀人校注『中世の文学3　雑談集』（1973・三弥井書店）』

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