狐婚姻譚に関する一考察 -『日本霊異記』上卷第二縁-

Abstract

The second talk of "NihonRyoiki" about the marriage tale of a fox is different kinds with the form ofa "one man’s wife" as well as an old tale. This is a tale realized with the structure dividing into five,and if the contents are analyzed, it will be summarized as follows. First, the scene of encounter hasinherited the form of the ancient tale. And it is not different from it of an old tale to get married and tobear a child. However, the dog which break the true character of a fox finally is influence from chineseliterature. When divorcing, the song which the husband composed is pulled from the "Manyoshu". Thetalk of the founder of an end leads to the tale of the posterity of the second volume. Simultaneously, itmeans that this is not land’s one but a foreign element. As mentioned above, the influence of the chineseliterature in the formation process of this tale cannot be denied. Moreover, "KaraUsuya"-The house ofrice mill- and the founder's name have relation with the Inari religion and the "Hata" clan in a rice. It isbecause the "Hata" was the powerful clan of a family name and rural areas of "Atahe". The origin taleof an Inari shrine connects the "Hata" clan with a fox. The marriage tale of a fox in the first volume isa tale containing elements various in this way. Also in the function as a precedent of retribution, theauthor of "NihonRyoiki" would give it. In other words, it tried to lead and go so that people canunderstand Buddhism gradually through this tale.