Tale of the Open-air Court - Tale of the Open-air Court

Japanese: 露殿物語 - つゆどのものがたり

A kana zoshi (traditional Japanese story). Author unknown. Published in the early Kan'ei period (1624-44). One manuscript volume, three picture scrolls. It is said to be the oldest courtesan reputation record from the early Edo period. It takes the form of a story, in which a 16-year-old boy named Asagao no Tsuyunosuke becomes close to a former Yoshiwara courtesan and elopes with her, but she is captured and brought back. However, she runs away again and goes missing. Tsuyunosuke travels to Kyoto in search of her, and passing through the pleasure quarters of Rokujo Misuji-cho, becomes close to the courtesan Yoshino. At this point, there are reputations of 32 Misuji-cho courtesans, and a notable feature is that each courtesan is likened to a flower or a tree.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

仮名草子。作者不明。寛永(1624‐44)初期成立。写本1巻，絵巻物3巻。江戸時代初期の遊女評判記として，もっとも古いものといえる。いちおう物語の形式をとっており，朝顔の露の介という16歳の少年が，元吉原の遊女と親しくなり駆落ちするが，女は捕らえられて連れ戻される。しかし女はまた逃げ出して行方不明になる。露の介は女を探して京へ上り，六条三筋町の遊里を通りかかって，遊女吉野と親しくなる。このところで三筋町の遊女32人の評判があるが，各遊女を花や木にたとえているのが特徴である。

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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