Matsuranomiya monogatari
The Matsuranomiya monogatari (松浦宮物語, Matsuranomiya Monogatari, "The Tale of the Matsura Palace") is an unfinished monogatari written by Fujiwara no Teika, the famous waka poet of the Kamakura period. It was written at the end of the 12th century or the very beginning of the 13th century.
Authorship and date
The majority of scholars accept Fujiwara no Teika as the author of the work.[1] It is the only extant work of fiction by Teika, although there were probably others at one time.[2] The Mumyōzōshi (1200 or 1201) attributes the work to him.[2]
It was probably written between 1189 and 1201.[2] This date is established by collating the Mumyōzōshi passage (which calls him shōshō or "lesser captain") with what is known about Teika from external sources (he was held the office of shōshō from 1189 to 1202).[2]
Influences
The work is thematically similar to the
Teika noticeably avoids allusion to the
It has also been suggested that the descriptions of warfare may have been influenced by either Teika's experiences of the
Content
The protagonist, Ben no Shōshō (弁少将) is a
After docking in
She reveals that she learned to play the qin from an immortal descended from
The empress, in desperation, turns to Shōshō, who is inexperienced in warfare but has no choice but to accept the empress's request.[9] Shōshō's force of fifty or sixty men faces a rebel army thirty thousand strong.[9] He prays to the buddhas and gods of Japan, and a supernatural miracle grants the Japanese victory in the battle.[9] Following the victory and the restoration of piece, the empress grants Shōshō her leave to return to Japan, even though she wishes she could hand the affairs of state over to him,[9] and the two have a brief love affair.[10]
An abbreviated passage briefly describes the journey home, Shōshō's reunion with his mother at Matsura.[11] She rushes to the Hatsuse Temple and performs the ritual ordered by Princess Hua-yang, who is reborn.[11] Their love is renewed, and while Shōshō has not forgotten the empress, he is no longer interested in Princess Kannabi, who is confused by his lack of affection for her.[11] The empress, however, reappears, arousing the jealousy of Hua-yang.[11] The conflict between the three women in Shōshō's life is not resolved, as Teika chose to end the story at this point.[11]
References
- ^ Keene 1999 : 818 (note 8), citing Hagitani 1970 : 293.
- ^ a b c d e Keene 1999 : 791.
- ^ a b c d e f Keene 1999 : 792.
- ^ Keene 1999 : 798.
- ^ a b c d e f g Keene 1999 : 795.
- ^ a b c d e f Keene 1999 : 793.
- ^ a b c d e Keene 1999 : 794.
- ^ Keene 1999 : 794–795.
- ^ a b c d Keene 1999 : 796.
- ^ Keene 1999 : 796–797.
- ^ a b c d e Keene 1999 : 797.
Sources
- Keene, Donald (1999) [1993]. A History of Japanese Literature, Vol. 1: Seeds in the Heart – Japanese Literature from Earliest Times to the Late Sixteenth Century. New York, NY: ISBN 978-0-231-11441-7.
Additional source
- Hagitani, Boku (1970). Matsuranomiya Monogatari (in Japanese). Tokyo: Kadokawa Shoten.