Picture book of longing for the future - Bokie Kotoba

Japanese: 慕帰絵詞 - ぼきえことば

This picture scroll from the Northern and Southern Courts period is a biography of the third abbot of Nishi Honganji, Kakunyo Shonin. It was compiled by Kakunyo's son Jishun and was named after him, expressing admiration for the monk's death. The text was written by Sanjo Kintada and several others, and the illustrations were by Fujiwara Takamasa and Takaaki. It was produced in 1351 (Shohei 6, Kan'o 2). It consists of 10 volumes, but volumes 1 and 7 were lost in later generations, and in 1482 (Bunmei 14), the text was added by Asukai Masayasu and the illustrations by Fujiwara Hisanobu. The illustrations in the first volume convey the style of traditional court paintings and are typical of Yamato paintings from the Northern and Southern Courts period. The two supplementary volumes, including the two volumes of the original, contain many depictions of daily life, making them valuable sources of information about life at the time. Owned by Nishi Honganji Temple, Kyoto. Designated an Important Cultural Property.

[Yasushi Murashige]

"Shigemi Komatsu (ed.), "Continuation of Japanese Picture Scrolls 4: The Picture Scrolls of Longing" (1985, Chuokoron-Shinsha) " "Toru Mabo (ed.), "Japanese Art 187: The Picture Scrolls of Longing" (1981, Shibundo)"

[Reference] | Kakuyo

"Illustrated Tales of Longing"
Volume 2 (copy held at the National Diet Library )

"Illustrated Tales of Longing"

The kitchen in the "Mokuki Eshi"
A kitchen from the Kamakura and Muromachi periods. The kitchen facilities included a hearth (for boiling water and cooking rice) and an irori (for cooking side dishes), the former built in the dirt floor and the latter in the wooden floor. In this picture, something resembling a sink with a straw mat can be seen next to the irori, and there is also a shelf for serving food, giving it a fairly proper kitchen form. "Moki Ekotoba" (A copy of the National Diet Library )

The kitchen in the "Mokuki Eshi"

Tokonoma alcove as seen in the "Mokie-shi"
[Top] The origin of the tokonoma is a table (maedasu) placed in front of a Buddhist painting hanging on the wall. Sangusoku (incense burner, flower vase, candlestick) were placed on the table. [Bottom] Eventually the table became a built-in tokonoma (oshiita). This can be seen in a later addition to the "Moki Ekotoba." "Moki Ekotoba" (part) Copy held by the National Diet Library ">

Tokonoma alcove as seen in the "Mokie-shi"

Stepladders in the "Mokie-shi"
The saddle rack (right ) , used to hang a removed saddle, eventually came to be used as a step stool or ladder.

Stepladders in the "Mokie-shi"

The broom in the "Mokie-shitsu"
A palm broom and dustpan, which are mainly used in the Kansai region, are hanging on the wall .

The broom in the "Mokie-shitsu"

Bonsai in the "Mokie-kotoba"
A potted tree depicted in a picture scroll from the Northern and Southern Courts period. A stand is made of green bamboo in the garden, and the pot is placed on top of it. "Boki Ekotoba" (part) Copy held at the National Diet Library ">

Bonsai in the "Mokie-kotoba"

Milk-filled toilet in the "Mokuki Eshi"
The exterior is made of bamboo poles with wooden walls, and the interior is a structure in which a board is placed over a hole dug in the ground, and excrement is stored in the hole below.

Milk-filled toilet in the "Mokuki Eshi"

Gaiters in the "Moki Eshi"
Small people wearing gaiters depicted in a picture scroll from the Muromachi period. Copy of "Mokie-e-kotoba" (National Diet Library )

Gaiters in the "Moki Eshi"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

西本願寺3世覚如上人(かくにょしょうにん)の伝記を叙した南北朝時代の絵巻。覚如の子慈俊(じしゅん)の撰(せん)になり、上人の帰寂(きじゃく)を慕う意味でこの名がつけられた。詞書(ことばがき)は三条公忠(きんただ)ら数人の執筆、絵は藤原隆昌(たかまさ)・隆章(たかあき)の筆で、1351年（正平6・観応2）の制作。10巻からなるが、第1、7巻は後世に紛失し、1482年（文明14）に飛鳥井雅康(あすかいまさやす)が詞、藤原久信が絵を補作している。初めの巻の絵は伝統的な宮廷絵所の様式を伝え、南北朝時代大和(やまと)絵の典型を示す。補作2巻を含め、画中に日常生活の描写が随所にみられ、当時の生活を知るうえの資料としても貴重である。京都・西本願寺蔵。重要文化財。

［村重　寧］

『小松茂美編『続日本絵巻大成4　慕帰絵詞』（1985・中央公論社）』▽『真保亨編『日本の美術187　慕帰絵詞』（1981・至文堂）』

[参照項目] | 覚如

『慕帰絵詞』
第2巻　写国立国会図書館所蔵">

『慕帰絵詞』

『慕帰絵詞』にみる台所
鎌倉・室町時代の台所。炊事施設としてかまど（湯を沸かし、飯を炊く）といろり（副食物を調理）があり、前者は土間に、後者は板間につくられた。この絵にはいろりのそばに簀子の流しのようなものがみられ、配膳のための棚もあって、かなり台所としての形式を備えている。『慕帰絵詞』　写国立国会図書館所蔵">

『慕帰絵詞』にみる台所

『慕帰絵詞』にみる床の間
〔上〕壁に掛けた仏画の前に置いた卓（前机）が床の間の起源である。卓の上には三具足（香炉、花瓶、燭台）を置いた。〔下〕やがて卓が造り付けの床（押板）になる。後年の『慕帰絵詞』補加部分にそれをみることができる。『慕帰絵詞』（部分）　写国立国会図書館所蔵">

『慕帰絵詞』にみる床の間

『慕帰絵詞』にみる脚立
はずした鞍を掛けておくための鞍掛（右）が、やがて踏台、脚立として利用されるようになった。『慕帰絵詞』　写国立国会図書館所蔵">

『慕帰絵詞』にみる脚立

『慕帰絵詞』にみる座敷箒
おもに関西方面で使われている棕櫚箒と塵取が壁にかけられている。『慕帰絵詞』（部分）　写国立国会図書館所蔵">

『慕帰絵詞』にみる座敷箒

『慕帰絵詞』にみる盆栽
南北朝時代の絵巻に描かれた鉢木。庭に青竹を用いて台をつくり、その上に鉢がのせられている。『慕帰絵詞(ぼきえことば)』（部分）　写国立国会図書館所蔵">

『慕帰絵詞』にみる盆栽

『慕帰絵詞』にみるくみ取り便所
竹の柱に板壁を張り付けた外観で、内部は土を掘った穴に板を架け、下の穴に糞尿を蓄える構造である。『慕帰絵詞』　写国立国会図書館所蔵">

『慕帰絵詞』にみるくみ取り便所

『慕帰絵詞』にみる脚絆
室町時代の絵巻に描かれている脚絆を着けた小者たち。『慕帰絵詞』　写国立国会図書館所蔵">