Popol Vuh

Japanese: ポポル･ブフ（英語表記）Popol Vuh

The Popol Vuh, which means "Book of the Community," is an epic poem written in the Quiché language that tells the origin myth and historical traditions of the Maya peoples of the Guatemalan highlands. It is believed to have been written by a descendant of the Quiché royal family around 1554-58 based on oral tradition, but the original is unknown. A manuscript remains that was transcribed into Latin characters by the Dominican priest Francisco Jiménez in Chichicastenango in the early 18th century and has a Spanish translation. The Popol Vuh begins with a creation myth of the universe, and then goes on to describe the creation of the four progenitors of the Quiché clan, and the migration and conquests of their descendants from the legendary land of the Seven Caves and Turán, which is believed to date back to the 7th century, intertwined with the mythological traditions of cultural heroes linked to religious rituals and beliefs such as human sacrifice.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

〈共同体の書〉という意味で，グアテマラ高地のマヤ諸族の起源神話，歴史伝承をキチェー語で書いた叙事詩。キチェー王族の末裔が1554‐58年ごろに口承などをもとに作成したと推定されるが，原本は不明。ドミニコ会士フランシスコ･ヒメネスがチチカステナンゴで18世紀初頭にラテン文字に転写し，スペイン語訳をつけた手稿本が残っている。ポポル･ブフは天地万物の創造神話に始まり，キチェー一族の4始祖創造から，7世紀にさかのぼると推定される〈七つの洞穴〉〈トゥラン〉という伝説上の地からの子孫たちの移動や征服活動などが，人身供犠など宗教儀礼や信仰と結びついた文化英雄の神話的伝承と絡みあって展開する。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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