Literature

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Literature

Literature

This page acts to compile a list of all aspects of historical Japanese Literature currently on our website.

See also: Japanese Folktales.

See also: Proverbs and Idioms

Anthologies/Encyclopedias

NameComments
Konjaku Monogatari-shu今昔物語集 - Anthology of Tales from the Past.
Collection of tales.
Otogi Bōko御伽ばうこ – Hand Puppet Tales.
Collection of scary stories.
Shin Otogi Bōko新御伽婢子.
1683 collection of stories.
Shokoku Rijin Dan諸国里人談
1743 collection of well known tales. Some of which relate to Yōkai.
Wakan Sansai Zue和漢三才図会 - Illustrated Sino-Japanese Encyclopedia of the Three Realms.
1712, created by Terajima Ryōan.
Toriyama Sekien was greatly inspired by this book for his Yōkai.
Wamyō Ruijushō倭名類聚抄
The oldest Chinese-Japanese dictionary we have.
Compiled compiled around 934 by Minamoto no Shitagō.
Yamato Monogatari大和物語 - Tales of Yamato.
10th Century.

Art

NameComments
Chōjū-jinbutsu-giga鳥獣人物戯画
Scrolls of Frolicking Animals
Scrolls showing varying animal and human depictions, many of the animals having human characteristics.
One Hundred Famous Views of Edo名所江戸百景
Edo Period
Publication of Ukiyo-e prints created by Utagawa Hiroshige.
Toriyamabiko鳥山彦 - Sekien’s Echoes.
Art Book published in the Spring of 1774 by Toriyama Sekien.

Chronicles

NameComments
Azuma Kagami吾妻鏡/東鑑
Imporant source of information on the Kamakura Shogunate.
Kanke Godenki菅家御伝記
Document created by Sugawara no Tsuratsune in 1106 in which he rectifies their family tree.
Kana NihongiThought to have existed prior to the Nihongi and may have been used to aid in its creation.
Kogo Shūi古語拾遺
AD807.
Book published by Imbe no Hironari detailing the achievements of the Imbe Clan as well as Chronicles about the myth and legends before Emperor Jimmu.
Kojiki古事記 - An Account of Ancient Matters.
AD712.
Compiled by Ō no Yasumaro detailing Japanese history from its mythological creation to Empress Suiko.
Kujiki旧事紀 - Chronicles of Old Matters of Former Ages.
AD620.
Entrusted to the Soga Clan but mostly lost when the clan was destroyed.
Kyūji旧辞
6th Century AD.
Documents myths and legends of Japan and is thought to have aided in the creation of the Kojiki and Nihongi.
Nihongi日本紀 - Chronicles of Japan.
AD720.
Compiled by Ō no Yasumaro detailing Japanese history from its mythological creation to Emperor Buretsu.
Nihon Kiryaku日本紀略
Heian Period.
Unknown authorship. 34 chapters, covering the times up to the reign of Emperor Go-Ichijō.
Taiheiki太平記
Chronicle of Great Peace
14th Century.
Contains many things including tales relating to the Yokai Tesso and Itsumade.

Commentaries

NameComments
Bōsō Manroku茅窓漫録 - The Musings of Bōsō.
1833.
Book written by Chihara Kyosai under the pen name of Bōsō.
Shaku Nihongi釈日本紀
13th Century.
Contains commentaries about the Nihongi which were written soon after its completion.
Kojidan古事談
AD1212-15
Historical anecdotes written by Minamoto no Akikane.
Kōnin ShikiAD810-824.
Commentaries upon the Nihongi detailing it as selected afresh showing the work was a composition of older texts.
Engi ShikiAdmnistrative/Ceremonial Procedures and Penal Codes
Legal documents made to implement the laws of the late 7th and early 8th centuries

Diaries

NameComments
Gonki権記
Diary of Fujiwara no Yukinari covering the years 991-1011AD.
Tosa Nikki土佐日記
935AD by Ki no Tsurayuki.
An account (punctuated by poems throughout) of his journey home to Kyoto.

Fudoki

NameComments
Harima Fudoki播磨国風土記
Includes, among other things some details concerning Nomi no Sukune.
Hitachi Fudoki常陸 風土記
8th Century.
Includes, among other things, exploits of the life of Yamato Takeru.
Izumo Fudoki出雲国風土記
733AD
Accounts of the Province of Izumo, as well as myths not found in other works.
Tango Fudoki丹後国風土記
8th Century
Includes, among other things, the tale of Urashima Taro.

Geneologies

NameComments
Shinsen Shōjiroku新撰姓氏録
Literature listing the geneologies of many noble families from the Heian Period. 1177 families are listed.

Law/Reforms

NameComments
Asuka no Kyomihara Ritsuryo681AD.
Collection of Law Codes created through an edict by Emperor Tenmu.
Jinkaishū1563.
Domainal Law Code written by Date Tanemune.
Taika Reforms大化の改新
Instigation for the organisation of a census as well land survey and other things.

Poetry

NameComments
Fukuro-sōshi1159.
Collection by Fujiwara no Kiyosuke.
KintōshūCollection by Fujiwara no Kintō.
Man’yōshū万葉集
The largest and most important compilation of japanese poetry.
Ryōunshū凌雲集
Poetry anthology compiled by Ono no Minemori and Sugawara no Kiyogimi in 814 on the behest of Emperor Saga.
Wakan rōeishū1013
和漢朗詠集
Compilation edited solely by Kintō containing 216 Japanese poems and 587 Chinese couplets,

Records

NameComments
Jōgū Shōtoku Hōōtei setsu上宮聖徳法王帝説 – Traditions concerning His Holiness, Prince Shōtoku,
One volume piece of literature of unknown authorship concerning Shōtoku Taisha.
Kawachi Kagami Meishoki河内鉴名所记 - A Record of Famous Places in Kawachi.
17th Century.
Koro ChawaTea Talk of Old
Piece of literature where we can find mention of Kashin Koji.

Religious

NameComments
Shasekishū沙石集
1283. Buddhist Parables which also make mention of the Nozuchi.

Stories

NameComments
Sagoromo Monogatari狭衣物語
c.1069-1081
Story of the protagonist Sagoromo, a man who has a desire and love for his cousin and adopted sister Genji no Miya.
Utsubo Monogatariうつほ 物語
Tale of the Hollow Tree
10th Century.
Adventure story following Kiyowara no Toshikage and his descendants.

Supernatural

NameComments
Bakemonozukushie化物之繪 – Illustrations of Bakemono
17th century picture scroll depciting 35 different Yokai. Several of which are seldom seen and depicted.
Hyakkai Zukan百怪図巻 - Illustrated Creeps
1737 Yokai compendium by Sawaki Sushi.
Gazu Hyakki Yagyo画図百鬼夜行 - The Illustrated Demon Horde’s Night Parade.
1776 Yokai compendium by Toriyama Sekien.
Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki今昔画図続百鬼 – The Illustrated Demon Horde from Past and Present.
1779 Yokai compendium by Toriyama Sekien.
Konjaku Hyakki Shūi今昔百鬼拾遺 - More of the Demon Horde from Past and Present.
1780/81 Yokai compendium by Toriyama Sekien.
Nihon Ryōiki日本霊異記.
A Record of Strange Ghostly Happenings in Japan detailing many supernatural tales from around the country.
WamiōshoOld text detailing an alternative name for the 'Eight Ugly Females of Yomi.'

Travel Diaries

NameComments
Ryokō yōjinshū旅行用心集 - Travel guide from 1810 by Yasumi Roan.

Unclassified

NameComments
Hōjōki方丈記
Makes mention of Priest Manzei.
Tōkan Kikō 東関紀行
Dating to around 1242, it makes mention of Priest Manzei.

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