Anonymous stories - Mumyozoshi

A literary critique from the early Kamakura period. One volume. Also known by other names such as "Kenkyu Monogatari" and "Mumyo Monogatari." The author is unclear, but it is highly likely that she was the daughter of Fujiwara no Shunzei. It was probably written in 1200 (Shoji 2) or the following year. An old woman who became a nun at the age of 83 and has served Buddha for many years goes flower picking in Higashiyama, Kyoto, and listens to stories, anthologies, and views on women told by ladies-in-waiting at a cypress bark shop near Saishoko-in Temple. It is thought to have been influenced by works such as "Okagami" and "Hobutsushu." Much of the discussion is in the form of a question posed by a young lady-in-waiting and answered by other ladies-in-waiting. First, in response to the question "What is the most difficult thing in this world to give up?" he lists the moon, letters, dreams, tears, Amida Buddha, and the Lotus Sutra. He then expresses his dissatisfaction with the fact that no verses from the Lotus Sutra are quoted in The Tale of Genji, and goes on to provide a multifaceted critique of The Tale of Genji (discussion of each volume, the characters, and the most memorable passages). Next, in addition to "Sagoromo Monogatari," "Yoru no Nezame," "Hamamatsu Chunagon Monogatari," and many other stories, including lost tales that are no longer handed down, song stories such as "Ise Monogatari" and "Yamato Monogatari," poetry anthologies such as the Hachidaishu, Shisenshu, and Hyakushu, as well as discussions of ladies-in-waiting such as Ono no Komachi, Sei Shonagon, Koshikibu no Naishi, Izumi Shikibu, Ise, and Murasaki Shikibu, as well as noblewomen such as Empress Teishi, Jotomon'in, Daisaiin, and Empress Dowager Ono, and ends with a clue to begin discussing men. It can also be seen as a comprehensive critique of stories, poetry anthologies, and women in the Heian period, making it a unique book. It is also noteworthy that the names of Fujiwara Teika as the author of "The Tale of Matsuura Palace" and Fujiwara Takanobu as the author of "The Tale of Ukinami" are given, making the work a valuable resource for research into lost tales.

[Higuchi Yoshimaro]

"Mumyozoshi Commentary by Tokujiro Tomikura (1954, Yuseido Publishing)" ▽ "Mumyozoshi: Collection of Japanese Classics, Shinchosha, annotated by Hiroshi Kuwahara (1976, Shinchosha)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

鎌倉前期の文学評論書。1冊。『建久物語』『無名物語』などの別名がある。著者は明確でないが、藤原俊成(しゅんぜい)の女(むすめ)の可能性が強い。1200年（正治2）かその翌年の成立であろう。83歳で出家しその後多年仏に仕える老女が、京都東山あたりで花摘みをし、最勝光院近くの檜皮屋(ひわだや)で女房たちの語る物語、撰集(せんじゅう)、女性論を聞く構成からなっている。『大鏡』『宝物集(ほうぶつしゅう)』などの影響が考えられる。若い女房の発問に他の女房が答える形式で論は多く進められる。まず、この世において第一に捨てにくいものは何かという問いに答えて、月、文、夢、涙、阿弥陀仏(あみだぶつ)、『法華経(ほけきょう)』があげられ、『法華経』の句が『源氏物語』に引用されていない不満から、『源氏物語』についての多面的批評（巻々の論、登場人物論、感銘深い箇所の論）に転ずる。ついで、『狭衣(さごろも)物語』『夜の寝覚(ねざめ)』『浜松中納言(はままつちゅうなごん)物語』などのほか、現在は伝わっていない散佚(さんいつ)物語を含めた多くの物語、『伊勢(いせ)物語』『大和(やまと)物語』などの歌物語、八代集、私撰集、百首などの歌集、さらに、小野小町(おののこまち)、清少納言(せいしょうなごん)、小式部内侍(こしきぶのないし)、和泉(いずみ)式部、伊勢、紫式部などの女房や、皇后定子(ていし)、上東門院、大斎院(だいさいいん)、小野皇太后宮などの貴女の論が行われ、男性の論に入る糸口で終わっている。平安期の物語、歌集、女性についての総括的評論書ともみられ、ユニークである。『松浦宮(まつらのみや)物語』の著者に藤原定家(ていか)、『うきなみ物語』の著者に藤原隆信(たかのぶ)の名をあげている点も注意されるし、散佚物語研究の資料としても貴重である。

［樋口芳麻呂］

『冨倉徳次郎著『無名草子評解』（1954・有精堂出版）』▽『桑原博史校注『新潮日本古典集成　無名草子』（1976・新潮社）』

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