Paper short abstract:

In the genre “early yomihon” in the Edo period, there were several works with characters displaying their academic knowledge. In some of them the author has characters discuss waka poems from the viewpoint of literary geography. I will consider the aim and the historical background of these works.

Paper long abstract:

Among the “early yomihon” (zenki yomihon) of the mid-18th century, there were several works in which the authors’ knowledge and theories were discussed by the characters.

In this presentation, I will introduce some of these works in which the characters discuss waka poems from the viewpoint of literary geography. I will also consider the authors’ aim in each work, the reasons for having the characters talk about such topics, and their historical background.

The following three stories are the subject of my presentation:

• Hanabusa-zōshi, story 1, "Emperor Go-Daigo ignoring Fujifusa’s advice three times”

• B Ugetsu Monogatari , story 5, "Buppōsō"

• C Kakine-gusa, episode 4, "Ariwara no Narihira entrusts his claim of innocence to Bunkai"

In story A, Emperor Godaigo and Madenokōji Fujifusa discuss the waka poem about Nigemizu which is said to be on the road to the eastern provinces (Azuma-ji). Later, Fujifusa went to Musashino and learned the true identity of the "run-away water”.

In story B, a samurai and Jōha discuss a waka poem about Tama River in the depth of Mt.Kōya attributed to Kōbō Daishi. Jōha argues that the introduction (kotobagaki) to this waka poem in the Fūgawakashū was erroneous.

In C, the spirit of Ariwara no Narihira explains the true meaning of his own waka poem about Tatsutagawa, which differs from the conventional interpretation of the poem.