Matsushita Zenni

Date of birth and death unknown. Famous as a wise wife in the Kamakura period. Daughter of Akita Jonosuke Adachi Kagemori. Married to Tokiuji, son of Hojo Yasutoki, the third regent of the Kamakura shogunate, she gave birth to Tsunetoki (fourth regent), Tokiyori (fifth regent), and Tametoki. In 1224 (Gennin 1), she accompanied Tokiuji, who became Rokuhara Tandai (northern province) in place of Yasutoki, to Kyoto, and returned to Kamakura three years later. In 1230 (Kanki 2), she lost her husband. She is said to have become a nun around this time, and was called Matsushita Zenni. It is known that she lived in Amanawatei in Kamakura around 1251 (Kencho 3), and it is confirmed that she lived until 1260 (Bun'o 1). The story of how he cut up and pasted together pieces of paper screens himself and taught Tokiyori and others how to live a simple, frugal life is recorded in "Tsurezuregusa."

[Tanabe Hisako]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

生没年不詳。鎌倉時代の賢夫人として有名。秋田城介(あきたじょうのすけ)安達景盛(あだちかげもり)の女(むすめ)。鎌倉幕府3代執権北条泰時(やすとき)の子時氏(ときうじ)に嫁して、経時(つねとき)（4代執権）、時頼(ときより)（5代執権）為時(ためとき)らを産んだ。1224年（元仁1）、泰時にかわって六波羅探題(ろくはらたんだい)（北方）となった時氏に従って上京、3年にして鎌倉に帰り、30年（寛喜2）に夫を失った。このころ出家したらしく松下禅尼とよばれた。51年（建長3）ころ鎌倉の甘縄亭(あまなわてい)に住んでいたことが知られ、60年（文応1）までの生存が確認できる。自ら障子の破れを切り張りして、簡易質素な倹約の生活を時頼らに教えた話が『徒然草(つれづれぐさ)』に記されている。

［田辺久子］

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