Chronicles of the Samurai

A history of the samurai written by Yamaga Soko. It was published in 1673 (Enpo 1) and consists of 58 volumes. It begins with the Imperial Lineage Summary, Military Lineage Summary, and Military Court Nenpu, followed by the Military Book, Military Ceremonies, Kokugunsei, Koan, Shikimoku, Geography, Military Arts, Duties, and Historical Practices, making it an encyclopedia of the samurai. He attributes the transition from court noble politics to samurai politics to the decline of the wisdom and virtue of the Imperial Court, and sees the emergence of samurai politics as inevitable, affirming the seizure of power by Minamoto no Yoritomo, Hojo Yasutoki, and Ashikaga Takauji. In order to explain the superiority of Japanese military virtue over China, the book is highly useful as a document in that it details the personal histories of various daimyo and their retainers, along with biographical anecdotes of shoguns and famous generals.

[Michio Miyazaki]

"Bukejiki" 3 volumes (1915-18, Yamaga Soko Sensei Complete Works Publishing Association)" ▽ "Yamaga Soko Sensei Complete Works Volume 13" (Abridged, 1940, Iwanami Shoten)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

山鹿素行(やまがそこう)の著した武家の歴史。1673年（延宝1）に成り、58巻。初めに皇統要略、武統要略、武朝年譜を掲げ、以下に武本、武家式、国郡制、古案、式目、地理、武芸、職掌、故実(こじつ)その他の諸篇(へん)を収めた武家の百科全書。公家(くげ)政治から武家政治への転移の原因を朝廷の知徳の衰えに求め、武家政治出現を必然とみて源頼朝(よりとも)、北条泰時(やすとき)、足利尊氏(あしかがたかうじ)らの政権奪取を肯定。中国に対し日本武徳の優位を説くため、将軍・名将の伝記逸話とあわせ、諸大名とその家臣の事歴をも詳述している点で文献的利用価値が高い。

［宮崎道生］

『『武家事紀』3冊（1915～18・山鹿素行先生全集刊行会）』▽『『山鹿素行全集　第13巻』（抄本、1940・岩波書店）』

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例