Ramayana - Rāmāyaa

A great Sanskrit epic poem from ancient India. It is a long work consisting of seven parts and 24,000 verses, and is said to have been written by the poet Balmiki, who is probably also the editor. Ramayana means "The Adventures of King Rama," and the legend of the ancient hero King Rama was apparently already in shape several centuries before Christ, but it is said that it took on its current form at the end of the 2nd century. The current first and seventh parts were added around the 2nd century, and the original form is thought to have been from the second to sixth parts. The story is based on the heroic tales of Rama, the prince of Kosala, and includes the perils of his faithful wife Sita, the filial piety of his brother Bharata, the exploits of the monkey Hanumat, and the violent acts of the demon king Ravana. However, in the first and seventh volumes, Rama as a historical figure is portrayed as an incarnation of the god Vishnu, and many episodes are added, which gave this historical poem religious significance and made the worship of Rama popular in later generations, and it had an enormous influence on literature, religion, and thought in later generations.

The writing style is skillful and refined, and it is called the "first Kabya" as it is the origin of beautiful literary works that were developed in later generations. Many works in classical Sanskrit literature imitate this text or use its contents as material, and it has influenced Buddhist and Jain literature. Its influence is also widely recognized in modern Indian dialect literature. The Ramayana spread in the south as Indian culture spread abroad, reaching Java, Malay, Thailand, Annam, Cambodia, and Laos, and was adapted into drama, dance, and shadow puppets, and excellent works of art and sculpture remain. It can also be found in the north in Tibet and Khotan, and in China it is included in Chinese translations of Buddhist scriptures such as the "Collection of Six Times" and the "Miscellaneous Treasure Canon" and takes the form of a Buddhist tale. This story was introduced to Japan through these Chinese translations of Buddhist scriptures, and is included in the Kamakura period anthology of Buddhist tales, "Hobutsushu." In addition, the Nara period Bugaku (a form of dance and music) Doragaku is thought to have been introduced from the south, and the four dances that make it up are based on scenes that appear to have been taken from the "Ramayana," both in name and content.

[Tanaka Otoya]

"Tanaka Otsuya's translation of "World Literature Series 4: Indian Collection: Ramayana (Excerpts)" (1959, Chikuma Shobo)" ▽ "Iwamoto Yutaka's translation of "Ramayana (1)" (Heibonsha, Toyo Bunko)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

古代インドのサンスクリット大叙事詩。7編、2万4000頌(しょう)の詩句からなる長編で、作者は詩人バールミーキといわれるが、おそらく彼は編者であろう。『ラーマーヤナ』とは「ラーマ王行伝」という意味で、古代の英雄ラーマ王に関する伝説は、紀元前数世紀のころすでに形を整えたらしいが、現存の形になったのは2世紀末であろうといわれる。現存の第1編と第7編は2世紀ごろに付加されたもので、原形は第二編から第六編までであったと考えられる。コーサラ国の王子ラーマの武勇譚(たん)を主題とし、貞節な妃シーターの危難、弟バラタの孝悌(こうてい)、猿(えん)族ハヌマットの活躍、魔王ラーバナの暴戻を配したものであるが、第一編と第七編で、史的人物たるラーマをビシュヌ神の権化とし、多くの挿話を加えていることは、この史詩に宗教的意義を与えて後世ラーマ崇拝を流行させる因をなし、後世の文学、宗教、思想上に多大の影響を与えている。

　文体は技巧的で洗練され、後世発達した美文体作品の起源をなすものとして、「最初のカービヤ」とよばれている。古典サンスクリット文学のなかには、この文章を模し、あるいはその内容をとって題材としたものが多く、仏教やジャイナ教の文学にも影響を与えている。近代インド諸方言文学にも、その影響は広く認められる。『ラーマーヤナ』の普及は、インド文化の国外への伝播(でんぱ)に伴い、南方では、ジャワ、マレー、タイ、安南、カンボジア、ラオスの諸国に及び、劇化、舞踊化あるいは影絵芝居に仕組まれ、美術、彫刻などの優れた作品も残っている。北方では、チベット、ホータンにもあるが、中国では『六度集経(ろくどじっきょう)』や『雑宝蔵経(ぞうほうぞうきょう)』などの漢訳仏典に含まれ、仏教説話の形をとっている。これらの漢訳仏典を通して日本にも伝わり、鎌倉時代の仏教説話集『宝物集(ほうぶつしゅう)』には、この物語が含まれている。また、奈良朝の舞楽である度羅楽(どらがく)は南方伝来と考えられるが、構成する4種の舞は、名称も内容も『ラーマーヤナ』からとったと思われる場面からなっている。

［田中於莵弥］

『田中於莵弥訳『世界文学大系4　インド集　ラーマーヤナ（抄）』（1959・筑摩書房）』▽『岩本裕訳『ラーマーヤナ（1）』（平凡社・東洋文庫）』

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