Japanese History - Nihon Gaishi

A history book from the late Edo period. 22 volumes. Written by Rai Sanyo. Completed in 1827 (Bunsei 10), it was dedicated to Matsudaira Sadanobu. Published around 1836-37 (Tenpo 7-8). It describes in classical Chinese the rise and fall of the samurai families from the Genpei clan to the Tokugawa clan, focusing on each family and individual. It was Sanyo's life's work, which he poured his heart and soul into over 20 years, and was circulated as a copy during his lifetime, and was published posthumously, becoming an unprecedented bestseller. Since the Meiji period, reprints and translations have been published in various foreign countries. However, from an academic standpoint, it is concerning that the book contains many historical errors. The historical analysis in this book is divided into two viewpoints: (1) a justification viewpoint that emphasizes the continuation of the Imperial Family throughout Japanese history and makes the Emperor's authority absolute, and (2) a viewpoint that focuses on the fact that political power has changed hands frequently throughout history, finds a moral law of "heaven" in this, and sees the change in political power in the historical world as an inevitable "momentum." There are also descriptions that suggest that (2) may allude to the decline of the Tokugawa Shogunate. This historical analysis, combined with the passionate and beautiful prose, had a major impact on the Revere the Emperor movement at the end of the Edo period.

[Tadashi Ishige]

"Japanese Masterpieces 28: Rai Sanyo" edited and translated by Rai Ikin (1972, Chuokoron-Shinsha)" "Japanese History: The History of Japan, translated by Rai Seiichi and Rai Ikin (revised edition, Iwanami Bunko)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸後期の歴史書。22巻。頼山陽(らいさんよう)著。1827年（文政10）に完成し、松平定信(さだのぶ)に献呈された。1836～37年（天保7～8）ごろ刊行。源平二氏から徳川氏に至る武家の興亡が家別・人物中心に漢文で記述されている。20余年の歳月を費やし心血を注いでなった山陽のライフワークであり、生前から写本として流布し、死後刊行されて未曽有(みぞう)の大ベストセラーとなった。明治以後、諸外国においても復刻本や翻訳本が刊行された。ただし本書を学問的立場からみると、史実に誤謬(ごびゅう)の多いことが気になる。本書の史論には、(1)日本史上における皇室の存続を重視し、天皇の権威を絶対化する大義名分論の観点と、(2)歴史上政治的実権が次々と交替してきたという事実に注目し、そこに「天」の道徳的理法をみいだすとともに、歴史的世界における政権の変動を不可避の「勢」とみる観点が認められる。また(2)によって徳川幕府の衰亡を暗示したのではないかと推察される叙述もある。こうした史論が、情熱的な名文と相まって幕末の尊王運動に大きな影響を与えた。

［石毛　忠］

『頼惟勤編・訳『日本の名著 28　頼山陽』（1972・中央公論社）』▽『頼成一・頼惟勤訳『日本外史』全3巻（改訳版・岩波文庫）』

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