Wakakusa Genji monogatari 若草源氏物語　

FSC-GR-780.491.1-6

Commentary by Mutō Junko

Posted January 7, 2017

Original unedited text in Japanese follows

Wakakusa Genji monogatari (A Tale of Genji for young shoots) is a popularized, illustrated version of the eleventh-century Genji monogatari 源氏物語 (Tale of Genji). It was released as a sequel to Fūryū Genji monogatari 風流源氏物語 (A fashionable Tale of Genji), a six-volume work issued in New Year 1704 (Genroku 16) by Miyako no Nishiki (都の錦). Miyako no Nishiki had completed the first half from the chapters “Kiritsubo” (The paulownia pavilion) to “Hahakigi” (Broom tree), and Wakakusa Genji monogatari took on the remainder of the text. It includes the second half of the “Hahakigi” chapter in volume 1, the “Utsusemi” (The cicada shell) chapter in volume 2, and the “Yūgao” (The twilight beauty) chapter in volumes 3 to 6.

The illustrations by Okumura Masanobu comprise two and a half to three folios in each of the six volumes, and the proportion of illustrations for this type of book is comparatively large. The author Bai-ō 梅翁 (Old man plum) is thought to be Okumura Masanobu, thereby making him responsible for both the primary text and the illustrations. Although the text of this work respects the original source text, at the same time it is tinged with erotic overtones. Moreover, while the illustrations are in keeping with other earlier illustrated Genji books, they nonetheless express a contemporaneity in style. The signature, “Yamato-e-shi Okumura Shinmyō Masanobu zu” 奥村親妙政信 (Picture by the Yamato-e master Okumura Shinmyō Masanobu), suggests a posturing on the part of the artist Masanobu to brand himself as a Yamato-e master. The publisher Yamaguchiya (山口屋) also released single-sheet pictures by Masanobu at this time, and we can therefore surmise that the publisher was active in promoting Masanobu’s work.

Following the publication of this work, Masanobu designed the Hinatsuru Genji monogatari 雛鶴源氏物語 (1708), which featured the Genji chapters “Wakamurasaki” (Young Murasaki) and “Suetsumuhana” (The safflower); Kōhaku Genji monogatari 紅白源氏物語 (1709), which featured the Genji chapters “Momiji no ga” (Beneath the autumn leaves) and “Hana no en” (Under the cherry blossoms); and Zokuge Genji monogatari 俗解源氏物語 (1710), which focused on the first part of the Genji tale, in particular, the “Kiritsubo” and “Hahakigi” chapters.

Selected readings:

Emoto Hiroshi 江本裕, Kōza Genji monogatari kenkyū 『講座源氏物語研究』, vol. 5, Edo jidai no Genji monogatari 『講座源氏物語研究第五巻江戸時代の源氏物語』(Tokyo: Ōfū, 2007).

Copies in other collections:

Keiō University, Tokyo

National Diet Library, Tokyo

Nishio City Library (Iwase Bunko), Aichi Prefecture
Ryūkoku University, Kyoto

Tōkai University, Tokyo
Tokyo National Museum

University of Tokyo

書名若草源氏物語

執筆者北川博子

本書は俗解の絵入源氏物語で、1704年（元禄16年）正月に刊行された都の錦作『風流源氏物語』（６巻）の後継作として出版された。都の錦は「桐壺」「帚木」前半まで記したので、本作ではその後を受けて、巻一が「帚木」後半、巻二が「空蝉」、巻三～巻六が「夕顔」を扱っている。挿絵は各巻に二丁半～三丁分入り、挿絵が占める割合が大きい。作者梅翁は奥村政信と考えられ、本文挿絵ともに政信が手掛けたことになる。文章は原文尊重の姿勢を守りながらも好色性を加味し、挿絵は先行する絵入源氏物語を踏襲しながらも当世風を強調している。署名の「大和絵師奥村親妙政信図」からは大和絵師であることを標榜する姿勢が見て取れる。版元山口屋は政信の一枚絵を同時期に出版していて、政信の売り出しに関わっていたと推察できる。本作以降、政信は1708年（宝永5年）『雛鶴源氏物語』（「若紫」「末摘花」）、1709年『紅白源氏物語』(「紅葉賀」「花の宴」)、1710年『俗解源氏物語』(「桐壺」「帚木」の前半)を手掛ける。

Wakakusa genji monogatari