- Honchō Monzui
is Japanese book of Chinese prose and poetry. It was compiled around the middle of the 11th century during the
Heian period byFujiwara no Akihira .Composition
"Honchō Monzui" is 14 volumes in length and contains 432 entries from 69 people over a period of approximately 240 years. The purpose of the work was to create a model and reference for writers. Entries are divided into 39 sections. Divisions are based on Chinese
Wén Xuǎn (文選) in which the two share 12 sections. During compilation, Akihira referenced many works, including "Fusōshū ", nihongo|Toshi Bunshū |都氏文集|, and nihongo|Ryō no Gige |令義解|.Title
The word "honchō" means
Japan and is used in opposition toChina . When prefixed before a title, it expresses that something is a Japanese version based on a Chinese original. "Honchō Monzui" is modeled afterYáo Xuàn 's (姚鉉)Táng Wén Cuì (唐文粋). (The Japanese reading of this title is "Tō Monzui".)The oldest reference to this book is found in an entry in nihongo|"
Taiki "|台記| (1150 ) in which it is referred to as "Monzui". While this shorter title can be found in several other works, it appears in nihongo|Honchō Shojaku Mokuroku' |本朝書籍目録| as "Honchō Monzui" which is believed to have been the official title.In place of "monzui", the reading "bunsui" is found in nihongo|
Genchū Saihishō |原中最秘抄| and nihongo|Ikyōshū |伊京集|. However, the commonly accepted reading is "monzui".Influence
"Honchō Monzui" had wide range of influence on later literature. The classification system is seen works such as nihongo|
Honchō Zoku Monzui |本朝続文粋|. It is often quoted in composition references such as nihongo|Sakumon Daitai |作文大体| and used as a model for writing.References
* cite book
last = Kubota
first = Jun
title = Iwanami Nihon Koten Bungaku Jiten
publisher = Iwanami Shoten
date = 2007
language = Japanese
id = ISBN 978-4-00-080310-6
* cite book
last = Nihon Koten Bungaku Daijiten Henshū Iinkai
title = Nihon Koten Bungaku Daijiten
publisher = Iwanami Shoten
date = 1986
language = Japanese
id = ISBN 4-00-080067-1
* cite book
last = Ōsone
first = Shōsuke
coauthors = Kinpara Tadashi, Gotō Akio
title = Shin Koten Bungaku Taikei: Honchō Monzui
publisher = Iwanami Shoten
date = 1992
id = ISBN 4-00-240027-1
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