Tales of the Floating World - Ukiyo Monogatari

A kana zoshi (Japanese folktale). Five volumes, five books. Written by Azai Ryoi. Published in 1665 (Kanbun 5). Based on the concept of a life story of the protagonist Ukiyobou, the work seeks to enlighten and criticize various aspects of real society through his travels through the world. The protagonist, Hyotaro, initially aspires to become a servant to a samurai family and is well liked by his lord, but fails due to his arrogance and runs away, becoming a monk and becoming Ukiyobou. After traveling around the country, he becomes a storyteller in the service of a certain feudal lord, enlightening people about various aspects of the world and teaching them lessons, and then, like a cicada disappearing, he becomes a hermit and disappears. The author's willingness to begin the story by preaching about ephemeral hedonism and to use the witty protagonist Ukiyobo to enlighten and teach a lesson through comedy is commendable, but the content, which is influenced by "Kasho-ki" (written by Nyorai-shi) and which criticizes reality and promotes Confucian thought, lacks some sharpness in some areas.

[Masahi Taniwaki]

"Japanese Classical Literature Series 90: Kana Zoushishu (1965, Iwanami Shoten), edited by Maeda Kingoro" ▽ "Japanese Classical Literature Collection 37: Kana Zoushishu and Ukiyo Zoushishu (1971, Shogakukan), edited and translated by Taniwaki Masashi and others"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

仮名草子。5巻5冊。浅井了意(りょうい)作。1665年（寛文5）刊か。主人公浮世房の一代記という構想のもとに、その浮世遍歴を通して、現実社会の諸相を啓蒙(けいもう)、批判しようとした作品。主人公瓢太郎(ひょうたろう)は初め武家奉公を志し、主君の気に入られるが、傲慢(ごうまん)さのために失敗して逃げ出し、出家して浮世房となる。諸国遍歴ののち、さる大名に仕えて御咄衆(おはなししゅう)となり、世相の諸事を啓蒙、教訓したのち、蝉(せみ)がもぬけるようにして仙人となり行方知れずになる、という筋。冒頭に刹那(せつな)的享楽主義を説き、剽軽(ひょうきん)な主人公浮世房を活躍させて笑いのなかで啓蒙、教訓しようとする作者の意欲は評価できるが、『可笑記(かしょうき)』（如儡子(にょらいし)作）の影響下にある現実批判や儒教思想を啓蒙する内容は、やや鋭さに欠ける点がある。

［谷脇理史］

『前田金五郎校注『日本古典文学大系90　仮名草子集』（1965・岩波書店）』▽『谷脇理史他校注・訳『日本古典文学全集37　仮名草子集・浮世草子集』（1971・小学館）』

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