Miyako no Yoshika

Japanese: 都良香 - みやこのよしか

Year of death: 25th February 879 (21st March 879)
Year of birth: Jowa 1 (834)
A scholar and Chinese poet of the early Heian period. Son of Sadatsugu. His real name was Gendo, and in 872 he changed his name to Ryoka. In 853 he entered Daigakuryo (Great University) and studied, passing the test in 854 and entering the government as a junior naiki the following year. In 855 he became a Dainaiki with the rank of Junior Fifth Rank, and in 856 he became a Doctor of Literature. He participated in the compilation of the Montoku Jitsuroku, which began in 856, and played a central role, but died just before it was completed. His collection of poetry and prose, the Miyakoji Bunshu, remains. Originally consisting of six volumes, only three remain, containing 72 pieces of writing in 14 different genres, including fu, esoteric, and commentary. His other works are also found in Honcho Bunsui, Fusoshu, Wakan Roeishu, and other works. One of the characteristics of Ryoka's works is that they are based on mysterious legends, such as "Dojo-Hoshi-den," a story about a boy with superhuman strength, "Fujisan-ki," which records the legends surrounding Mt. Fuji, and "Yoshino-san-ki," which describes the legend of En no Gyoja. Ryoka himself is also a divine being and appears in "Honsho Shinsen-den." He left his government position midway through his career and entered Mt. Omine, and it is said that 100 years after his death, someone saw him looking the same as he did in the past. There are also anecdotes about his excellent poems, such as "I am so exhausted that the wind combs the hair of the new willows" that impressed the demon of the Suzaku Gate, and "The three thousand worlds are finished before my eyes, and the twelve causal factors are empty in my heart" that were taught to him by Benzaiten of Chikubushima, which are recorded in the collection of stories, and show how much Ryoka's poetry was loved by people. <References> Hisao Kawaguchi, "Study on the History of Japanese Chinese Literature in the Heian Period," Junko Nakajo, "A Study on the Life of Miyako" ("Literary Essays in Commemoration of the Retirement of Professor Gen'ei Imai")

(Akio Goto)

Source: Asahi Japanese Historical Biography: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. About Asahi Japanese Historical Biography

Japanese:

没年：元慶3.2.25(879.3.21)
生年：承和1(834)
平安前期の学者,漢詩人。貞継の子。本名言道,貞観14(872)年良香と改める。仁寿3(853)年大学寮に入学して学び,貞観11年対策に及第,翌年少内記として官途に就く。同15年従五位下大内記,17年文章博士となる。13年に開始された『文徳実録』の編纂に参加し,中心的役割を担っていたが,完成を目前にして没した。詩文集『都氏文集』が残る。本来6巻であるが,3巻が現存し,賦,論,賛など14種の文章72篇を収める。作品はほかに『本朝文粋』『扶桑集』『和漢朗詠集』などに残されている。良香の作品には,怪力の童子の話「道場法師伝」,富士山にまつわる伝承を記した「富士山記」,役行者の伝説を書いた「吉野山記」など,世間の不可思議な伝承にもとづいた作のあることがひとつの特徴であるが,彼自身も神仙的人物として『本朝神仙伝』中の人となる。中途で官職をすてて大峯山に入り,死後100年ののち,昔と変わらぬ姿を人が見たという。またその秀句をめぐって「気霽れて風は新柳の髪を梳り」の句は朱雀門の鬼を感心させたとか,「三千世界は眼前に尽き,十二因縁は心裏に空し」の下句は竹生島の弁才天が教えたなどの逸話が説話集に記されており,良香の詩が人びとに愛好されたことを物語っている。<参考文献>川口久雄『平安朝日本漢文学史の研究』,中条順子「都良香伝考」(『今井源衛教授退官記念文学論叢』)

(後藤昭雄)

出典　朝日日本歴史人物事典：（株）朝日新聞出版朝日日本歴史人物事典について　情報

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