A long story of an autumn night

A medieval children's story. It was created before the Northern and Southern Courts period. It was written by a monk from Enryakuji Temple. There is also a legend that it was written by Gen'e Hoin, the author of "Taiheiki." It is a story of homosexuality, based on the tale of the awakening of the high priest Sensei Shonin, and of the conflict between Mount Hiei and Mii-dera. Enryakuji monk Keikai makes a promise with Umewaka, the son of the Minister of the Left Hanazono, at Mii-dera Temple, but Umewaka is kidnapped by a tengu. The monks of Mii-dera Temple searching for the child Umewaka fight against Enryakuji Temple, and the temple is burned down. Keikai fights hard, but when Umewaka returns, he is saddened by what has happened and commits suicide by drowning. Katsuraumi mourned the remains, and took this opportunity to practice asceticism and come to be revered as Sansei Shonin. Umewaka was actually Ishiyama Kannon. It was influenced by "Taiheiki" and is based on historical facts and materials. As a children's story, it is in the same category as "Ashibiki", "Genmu Monogatari" and "Toribeyama Monogatari".

[Osamu Akitani]

"Otogi-zoshi, Volume 38 of the Japanese Classical Literature Series, edited by Teitoku Ichiko (1958, Iwanami Shoten)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中世の児(ちご)物語。南北朝時代以前の成立。延暦寺(えんりゃくじ)僧の作。『太平記』の作者玄恵法印(げんえほういん)の作との伝もある。高僧瞻西上人(せんせいしょうにん)の発心譚(ほっしんたん)に仮構した男色と、比叡山(ひえいざん)対三井(みい)寺抗争の物語。延暦寺の僧桂海(けいかい)は三井寺で花園(はなぞの)左大臣の子梅若(うめわか)と契りを交わすが、梅若は天狗(てんぐ)にさらわれる。児梅若探索の三井寺衆徒は延暦寺と戦い、寺を焼かれる。桂海も奮闘したが、戻ってきた梅若は事態を悲しみ、入水(じゅすい)してしまう。桂海は遺骸(いがい)を弔い、これを機に修行して瞻西上人と仰がれるようになった。梅若は実は石山観音であった。『太平記』の影響下になり、史実や歴史的素材によった作。児物語として『葦引(あしびき)』『幻夢物語』『鳥部山(とりべやま)物語』などと一類をなす。

［秋谷　治］

『市古貞次校注『日本古典文学大系38　御伽草子』（1958・岩波書店）』

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