The Tale of Matsuura Palace

A Giko Monogatari from the very end of the Heian period. Three volumes. The author is Fujiwara Teika. While there have been many imitations of The Tale of Genji since then, this is an ambitious work that is set before the Nara period, expands the setting to Japan and China, and includes battle scenes. It depicts a passionate and seductive love that is in keeping with Teika's waka aesthetics. During the Fujiwara-kyo period (694-710), Benno Shosho Tachibana Ujitada is appointed as a deputy envoy to Tang China without his first love for Princess Kannabi coming to fruition, and his mother waits for him to return to Japan at a temporary palace in Matsuura, Kyushu. The Shosho learns the koto from Emperor Wen's sister, Princess Kayo, and they make a promise, but the fairy princess dies promising to meet again in Japan. When Emperor Wen falls and civil war breaks out, the Shosho follows the young emperor and the Empress Mother, and defeats the enemy general with the protection of Sumiyoshi Shrine. Later, in a mountain village filled with the scent of plum blossoms, he makes a promise to a mysterious beauty, but soon learns that the Empress Mother is the mysterious woman, and that the two have been sent by the Heavenly Emperor to defeat a rebel. After returning to Japan, he is reunited with the Princess and fondles her as a keepsake mirror, but the shrewd Princess becomes jealous. This is a Shosho who is never done thinking about love.

[Yoichi Misumi]

"The Tale of Matsuura Palace, translated and annotated by Hagiya Park (Kadokawa Bunko)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

平安時代最末期の擬古(ぎこ)物語。三巻。作者は藤原定家(ていか)か。『源氏物語』以後その模倣作が多いなかで、時代を奈良時代以前に設定し、舞台を日本と中国とに広げ、合戦場面を取り入れた野心作。定家の和歌美学に通う余情妖艶(ようえん)の恋を描く。藤原京の時代（694～710）、弁(べんの)少将橘(たちばな)氏忠は神奈備皇女(かんなびのみこ)への初恋が実らぬまま遣唐副使に任命されて渡唐し、母宮は九州松浦の仮宮(かりみや)で帰朝を待つ。少将は文皇帝の妹華陽公主に琴(きん)を学び契りを結ぶが、仙女の公主は日本での再会を約して死ぬ。文皇帝が崩じ内乱が起こると、少将は幼帝と母后に従い、住吉(すみよし)明神の加護で敵将を倒す。のち梅薫る山里で謎(なぞ)の美女と契りを結ぶが、やがて母后こそ謎の女で、2人は逆賊を討つため天帝より遣わされたことを知らされる。帰朝後公主と再会し、母后を形見の鏡にしのぶが、心聡(さと)い公主から嫉妬(しっと)される。恋の物思いが尽きない少将である。

［三角洋一］

『萩谷朴訳注『松浦宮物語』（角川文庫）』

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