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Ise monogatari (Tales of Ise)

A mid-Heian period poem-tale structured as a biography thought to be of the poet Ariwara no Narihira

Ise monogatari is a poem-tale written in the middle of the Heian period (794-1185). It is structured as a biography of a man thought to be Ariwara no Narihira, one of the six immortals of poetry, or six notable Japanese poets (Rokkasen). The author is unknown. Most of the extant manuscript copies belong to the lineage that traces back to the Teikabon edition (the revision edited by Fujiwara no Teika) and consist of 125 very short chapters.

 

It is thought that Ise monogatari began as the collected poems of Ariwara no Narihira and was expanded and revised numerous times until it achieved its present form. Each short chapter consists of a short story centered around a Japanese poem (waka). The stories tell of events throughout the adult life of a man who seems to be Ariwara no Narihira. They speak of themes including love, friendship, and exile.

 

Early in the Edo period (1603-1867), Ise monogatari was transmitted via hand-written manuscripts. In fact, manuscripts of Ise monogatari were the most numerous of all works of Japanese literature. Also, it seems that early on in this period, the tale further developed along with illustrations in picture scrolls and illustrated books. Even Genji monogatari (The Tale of Genji) contained illustrations with elements borrowed from illustrations of Ise monogatari.

 

In the Keicho era (1596-1615), when Suminokura Soan and Hon'ami Koetsu began printing and publishing literary works in Japan for the first time (so-called Saga books, after the place of printing, Saga, Kyoto), they selected Ise monogatari as their first book to print. Thereafter, Ise monogatari was published in various formats including an illustrated book, an annotated book, and a parody - and became a bestseller during the Edo period.

 

Ise monogatari, second only to Genji monogatari, exerted considerable influence on later Japanese literature. Moreover, the tale was enjoyed in many formats including paintings, performances, and crafts. 

Related People, Things and Events

Books

Related Works

Ise Monogatari depicted in paintings

Nara-ehon (illustrated manuscripts), woodblock print version (Edo period (1603-1868))

Old manuscripts

Performance art works that feature references to Ise Monogatari

Ise Monogatari drawings on craft works

Videos

Past Exhibitions

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Institutions Holding Related Materials

  • 伊勢斎宮に関係する古典文学として『伊勢物語』の資料を多数所蔵。常設展示の『伊勢物語絵巻』展示コーナーでは、ディスプレイ画面をタッチ操作することで、物語の内容や背景を楽しく知ることができる。

  • Nara National Museum collects, preserves, displays, researches and provides educational programs about cultural properties with a focus on Buddhist art.

  • As Japan’s representative museum, Tokyo National Museum collects, preserves, displays, and researches the cultural properties of Asia with a focus on Japan, and also provides educational programs.

  • Kyoto National Museum collects, preserves, displays, researches and provides educational programs focusing on cultural properties from Heian- through to Edo- period Japan, when the capital was located there.

  • The National Diet Library (NDL), founded in 1948, is the library which belongs to the Diet. The NDL assists the activities of the National Diet. The Library collects and conserves materials and information both from Japan and abroad, serving as a foundation of knowledge and culture and providing library services to administrative and judicial entities and Japanese citizens.

External Links

  • 国文学研究資料館が所蔵する、「伊勢物語絵図屏風」「伊勢物語絵巻」「伊勢物語かるた」などを公開。

  • 斎宮歴史博物館が所蔵する、『伊勢物語』関連資料の一覧。

  • 関西大学図書館が所蔵する、『伊勢物語』絵入り版本の初期と後期を代表する2点を公開。

  • 京都大学附属図書館が所蔵する、奈良絵本を公開。

  • 広島大学が所蔵する、奈良絵本をデジタル化して公開。

  • 奈良女子大学が所蔵する、『伊勢物語』の絵本や注釈書をデジタル化し公開。

References

  1. 小学館
  2. 片桐洋一 著,明治書院
  3. 片桐洋一 著,明治書院
  4. 津島佑子 [著],講談社
  5. 片桐洋一 監修,明尾圭造, 西村美香 編,芦屋市立美術博物館
  6. 人間文化研究機構国文学研究資料館普及・連携活動事業部 編,人間文化研究機構国文学研究資料館
  7. 秋山虔, 三好行雄 編著,文英堂