The Tale of Matsura: Fujiwara Teikas Experiment in Fiction (Volume 9) (Michigan Monograph Series in Japanese Studies)

\_Matsura no Miya Monogatari\_ (“The Tale of Matsura,” ca. 1190) is a classical Japanese tale or romance that belongs to the same category of courtly fiction as Murasaki Shikibu’s unsurpassed masterpiece, \_Genji Monogatari\_ (“The Tale of Genji,” ca. 1010). When compared with most of the best-known works of its genre, however, \_Matsura no Miya Monogatari\_ stands out in striking contrast: Whereas the typical monogamri is set in the Heian period (794—1185) and in the Japanese capital of that time, \_Matsura no Miya Monogatari\_ is set in the period before Japan’s first “permanent” capital was established at present-day Nara in 710, and most of its action takes place in China. Whereas the typical monogatari centers almost entirely on affairs of the heart between men and women, nearly half of \_Matsura no Miya Monogatari\_ is devoted to politics and government, including a violent succession struggle with armies marching halfway across China and back. And whereas the typical monogatari is fundamentally realistic, with only minor intrusions of the supernatural, the progress of \_Matsura no Miya Monogatari\_ depends on supernatural interventions almost from beginning to end. "Fujiwara Teika is known among students of Japanese literature as the premier poet and literary scholar of the early thirteenth century. It is not so widely known that he also tried his hand at fiction: Mumyozoshi ("Untitled Leaves"; ca. 1201) refers to "several works" by Teika and then names Matsura no miya monogatari ("The Tale of Matsura"; ca. 1190) as the only one that can be considered successful. The work is here translated in full, with annotation."--BOOK JACKET. "Set in the pre-Nara period, "The Tale of Matsura" is the story of a young Japanese courtier, Ujitada, who is sent to China with an embassy and has a number of supernatural experiences while there. In the first part of his sojourn, he learns the secrets of the zither from a princess with mystical powers. In the next part, he quells a violent rebellion against the Chinese throne with the help of the god of Sumiyoshi, who appears out of nowhere in the form of eight phantom warriors. In the final part of his stay, Ujitada has a dreamlike love affair with a mysterious lady who, among other things, vanishes into thin air even while he is holding her tightly in his embrace. The mysterious lady eventually reveals herself to be the empress dowager, de facto ruler of China since the end of the rebellion. The story ends with Ujitada's return to Japan."--BOOK JACKET. "Affairs of the heart dominate "The Tale of Matsura," as is standard for courtly tales. Several of its other features break the usual mold, however: its time and setting; the military episode that would seem to belong instead in a war tale; scenes depicting the sovereign's daily audiences, in which formal court business is conducted; a substantial degree of specificity in referring to things Chinese; a heavy reliance on fantastic and supernatural elements; an obvious effort to avoid imitating The Tale of Genji as other late-Heian tales had done; and a most inventive ending. The discussion in the introduction briefly touches upon each of these features, and then focuses at some length on how characteristics associated with the poetic ideal of yoen inform the tale. Evidence relating to the date and authorship of the tale is explored in two appendixes."--BOOK JACKET Fujiwara Teika is known as the premier poet and literary scholar ofthe early 13th century. It is not so widely known that he alsotried his hand at fiction: Mumyozoshi (UntitledLeaves; ca. 1201) refers to "several works" by Teika and thennames Matsura no miya monogatari (The Tale ofMatsura; ca. 1190) as the only one that can be consideredsuccessful. The work is here translated in full, with annotation.Set in the pre-Nara period, The Tale of Matsura is thestory of a young Japanese courtier, Ujitada, who is sent to Chinawith an embassy and has a number of supernatural experiences whilethere. Affairs of the heart dominate The Tale of Matsura,as is standard for courtly tales. Several of its other featuresbreak the usual mold, however: its time and setting; the militaryepisode that would seem to belong instead in a war tale; scenesdepicting the sovereign's daily audiences, in which formal courtbusiness is conducted; a substantial degree of specificity inreferring to things Chinese; a heavy reliance on fantastic andsupernatural elements; an obvious effort to avoid imitating TheTale of Genji as other late-Heian tales had done; and a mostinventive ending. The discussion in the introduction brieflytouches upon each of these features, and then focuses at somelength on how characteristics associated with the poetic ideal ofyoen inform the tale. Evidence relating to the date andauthorship of the tale is explored in two appendixes Fujiwara Teika is known as the premier poet and literary scholar of the early 13th century. It is not so widely known that he also tried his hand at fiction: Mumyzshi ( Untitled Leaves ; ca. 1201) refers to several works by Teika and then names Matsura no miya monogatari ( The Tale of Matsura ; ca. 1190) as the only one that can be considered successful. The work is here translated in full, with annotation. Set in the pre-Nara period, The Tale of Matsura is the story of a young Japanese courtier, Ujitada, who is sent to China with an embassy and has a number of supernatural experiences while there. Affairs of the heart dominate The Tale of Matsura , as is standard for courtly tales. Several of its other features break the usual mold, however: its time and setting; the military episode that would seem to belong instead in a war tale; scenes depicting the sovereigns daily audiences, in which formal court business is conducted; a substantial degree of specificity in referring to things Chinese; a heavy reliance on fantastic and supernatural elements; an obvious effort to avoid imitating The Tale of Genji as other late-Heian tales had done; and a most inventive ending. The discussion in the introduction briefly touches upon each of these features, and then focuses at some length on how characteristics associated with the poetic ideal of yen inform the tale. Evidence relating to the date and authorship of the tale is explored in two appendixes. Fujiwara Teika is known as the premier poet and literary scholar of the early 13th century. It is not so widely known that he also tried his hand at fiction: Mumyōzōshi (Untitled Leaves; ca. 1201) refers to “several works” by Teika and then names Matsura no miya monogatari (The Tale of Matsura; ca. 1190) as the only one that can be considered successful. The work is here translated in full, with annotation. Set in the pre-Nara period, The Tale of Matsura is the story of a young Japanese courtier, Ujitada, who is sent to China with an embassy and has a number of supernatural experiences while there. Affairs of the heart dominate The Tale of Matsura, as is standard for courtly tales. Several of its other features break the usual mold, however: its time and setting; the military episode that would seem to belong instead in a war tale; scenes depicting the sovereign's daily audiences, in which formal court business is conducted; a substantial degree of specificity in referring to things Chinese; a heavy reliance on fantastic and supernatural elements; an obvious effort to avoid imitating The Tale of Genji as other late-Heian tales had done; and a most inventive ending. The discussion in the introduction briefly touches upon each of these features, and then focuses at some length on how characteristics associated with the poetic ideal of yōen inform the tale. Evidence relating to the date and authorship of the tale is explored in two appendixes. - List of Charts - Preface - _Matsura no Miya Monogatari_: A Critical Introduction - Chapter One: Fujiwara Teika and _Matsura no Miya Monogatari_ - Chapter Two: The Aesthetic of _Yoen_ in a Narrative Context - Chapter Three: The Manuscripts and Texts - _The Tale of Matsura_: A Translation of _Matsura no Miya Monogatari_ - Book One - Book Two - Book Three - Appendix A: Evidence on Dating _Matsura no Miya Monogatari_ - Appendix B: The Authorship of _Matsura no Miya Monogatari_ - Bibliography - Indexes - List of Charts: -- Chart 1: External Evidence for Dating -- Chart II: Internal Evidence for Dating -- Chart III: The Possible Existence of Different Versions Translated With An Introduction And Notes By Wayne P. Lammers. Translation Of: Matsura No Miya Monogatari. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 193-200) And Indexes.