Fugen

A novella by Ishikawa Jun. Published in Sakuhin in 1936 (Showa 11). Has been included in various collections of works since then. Winner of the Akutagawa Prize. The protagonist, "I," secretly desires to connect with Fugen-gyo, and because of this ideal he holds dear in his heart, he falls behind in the race with reality and is brought to the point of losing his own life. Then, an incident occurs that causes this ideal to no longer be an ideal. Thus, from the extreme despair that he had grasped with the disappearance of his ideal, he takes a new step toward rebirth into Fugen-gyo. The theme of this work is rebirth from despair, which can be seen in the author's earlier works and is also a theme throughout his life. The intimate world of the work, the drama it encompasses, and the grand scale of its concept make this an early masterpiece and one of his best.

[Yoshio Izawa]

"Fugen" (Shueisha Bunko)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

石川淳(じゅん)の中編小説。1936年（昭和11）『作品』に発表。以後諸種の作品集に収録。芥川賞受賞作。普賢行につながりたいという念願を秘めた主人公「わたし」は、心裡(しんり)に把持するこの理想のために、現実との競り合いにおいて後れをとり、自己の生活喪失にまで立ち至らされる。ところで、この理想がもはや理想でなくなるという事件が起こる。かくて、理想の消失とともにつかみあてた絶望という極から、改めて普賢行への新生を踏み出す。この作者の初期の諸作品にみられ、またその生涯の主題でもある、絶望よりの転生が主題である。作品世界の緊密さ、包含する劇、構想の大きさなどにおいて、初期の大作であり代表作である。

［井沢義雄］

『『普賢』（集英社文庫）』

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