Mumyōzōshi

Mumyōzōshi (無名草子^?, literally "nameless book") is an early 13th century Japanese text. One volume in length, it is the oldest existing Japanese text on literary criticism.^[1] The author is unknown.

Composition

The title means "Nameless Book". One manuscript gives the title as Kenkyū Monogatari (建久物語^?),^[1] a reference to the era in which it was written. Composition occurred between 1200 and 1202.^[2]

The author is unknown. Hypotheses include Fujiwara no Shunzei (c.1114 -1204); his granddaughter, often called "Shunzei's Daughter" (c. 1171 - 1252); Jōkaku (1147-1226); and Shikishi Naishinnō (1149-1201); but strongest support is for Shunzei's daughter.^[1][2]

Contents

The volume is composed of four distinct sections: a preface, literary criticism, poetic criticism, and a discussion on prominent literary women.

The preface introduces an 83 year old woman on a trip. She stops to rest at a house where she writes down the conversation of a group of women talking about literature, creating a frame tale excuse to write the volume. The frame tale itself has many elements from monogatari of the time.^[3]

The literary criticism covers 28 stories including Genji Monogatari, Sagoromo Monogatari, Yoru no Nezame, Hamamatsu Chūnagon Monogatari, and Torikaebaya Monogatari. The others mostly do not exist anymore.^[1][2][4]

For poetic criticism, it covers Ise Monogatari, Yamato Monogatari, Man'yōshū, and private and imperial collections. The editor laments at the lack of women compilers in the collections.^[1][2][4]

It then goes on to discuss the ability and upbringing of a number of prominent women: Ono no Komachi, Sei Shōnagon, Izumi Shikibu, Akazome Emon, Murasaki Shikibu and others.^[1][2][4]

The text is particularly valuable as a resource since it includes descriptions of a number of either completely or partially lost texts.^[1]

See also

• Fūyō Wakashū, a collection of poetry from various literary sources, many of which are no longer extant

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Nihon Koten Bungaku Daijiten (1986:1798-1799)
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} Kubota (2007:341-342)
3. ^ Rohlich, Thomas H. (1997). "In search of critical space : The path to Monogatari criticism in the Mumyozoshi". Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies 57 (1): 179–204. doi:10.2307/2719364. JSTOR 2719364. 
4. ^ ^{a b c} Hayashiya (1973)

References

• Hayashiya, Tatsusaburō (1973) (in Japanese). Nihon Shisō Taikei 23: Kodai Chūsei Geijutsuron. Iwanami Shoten. ISBN 4-00-070023-5. 
• Kubota, Jun (2007) (in Japanese). Iwanami Nihon Koten Bungaku Jiten. Iwanami Shoten. ISBN 978-4-00-080310-6. 
• Nihon Koten Bungaku Daijiten: Kan'yakuban. Tōkyō: Iwanami Shoten. 1986. ISBN 4-00-080067-1. 

Further reading

• Marra, Michele (translator) (Summer 1984). "Mumyozoshi. Introduction and Translation". Monumenta Nipponica (Sophia University) 39 (2): 115–145. doi:10.2307/2385013. JSTOR 2385013. 
• Marra, Michele (translator) (Autumn 1984). "Mumyozoshi, Part 2". Monumenta Nipponica (Sophia University) 39 (3): 281–305. doi:10.2307/2384595. JSTOR 2384595. 
• Marra, Michele (translator) (Winter 1984). "Mumyozoshi, Part 3". Monumenta Nipponica (Sophia University) 39 (4): 409–434. doi:10.2307/2384574. JSTOR 2384574.