Treasure Collection

A collection of Buddhist tales from the early Kamakura period. It is widely believed to have been written by Taira Yasuyori. It is divided into one-volume, two-volume, three-volume, and seven-volume versions, but the one-volume version is estimated to have been created around 1179 (Jishō 3), and the seven-volume version, which is thought to have been expanded and revised, was created around 1183 (Juei 2). It is written in the form of a conversation held at a wake at Saga Seiryō-ji Temple in Kyoto, and uses examples and waka poetry to tell the story of how Buddhism is the greatest treasure for humans. The format of the conversation is the same as in "Ōkagura" and "Mumyōzōshi," and the content is modeled after Genshin's "Ojoyoshū," but there is a strong intention to systematically outline the doctrine, making it somewhat lacking in appeal as a collection of tales. However, it is believed that its content and lyrics were incorporated into Buddhist tale collections such as Kamo no Chomei's "Hosshinshu," and its influence on other works such as "The Tale of the Hogen Dynasty," "The Tale of the Heike," "The Tale of the Soga Dynasty," and "Nichiren Ibun" has also been noted, making it a noteworthy presence in literary history.

[Kazuhiko Asami]

"Koshohon Treasure Collection" edited by Hiroshi Koizumi (1973, Kadokawa Shoten)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

鎌倉初期の仏教説話集。平康頼(やすより)作説が有力。一巻本、二巻本、三巻本、七巻本の各系統に分かれるが、一巻本は1179年（治承3）ごろ、それを増補・改編したと思われる七巻本は1183年（寿永2）ごろの成立かと推定される。京都の嵯峨清凉(さがせいりょう)寺の通夜のおりの座談の聞き書きという形をとっており、仏法こそが人間にとって第一の宝であるということが、例話や和歌を引きながら物語られる。座談の形式は『大鏡』や『無名草子(むみょうぞうし)』などと同じくし、内容的には源信(げんしん)の『往生要集』に倣ったところがあるが、教理を体系的に概説しようとする意図が強く、説話集としての魅力にはやや欠ける。しかし、鴨長明(かものちょうめい)の『発心(ほっしん)集』などの仏教説話集にその内容、詞章の面で受容されていったと考えられるほか、『保元(ほうげん)物語』『平家物語』『曽我(そが)物語』『日蓮遺文(にちれんいぶん)』などの諸作品への影響も指摘されており、文学史上、注目される存在である。

［浅見和彦］

『小泉弘編『古鈔本　宝物集』（1973・角川書店）』

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