平安王朝の香り - 『枕草子』と「香」 -

Abstract

This article is an attempt to examine the incense culture of the Heian period captured by Sei Shonagon from the perspective of “Heian dynasty” and “Ko” and explore various aspects of the fragrance that appears in Makuranosousi. First of all, Makuranosousi focuses on drawing various scenes and atmosphere in which the scent is produced without mentioning the specific name of the scent of each season. In any case, the type of smoked food that appears in Makuranosousi and “Kinokimono” are presumed to be “Kayo” or “Kurobo.” Due to the fragrance, the incense of Lieutenant General Tsai Shin must have given off a more wonderful scent in the long rain. In addition to the air freshener, the delicate sense unique to Sei Shonagon stands out in the scent of “clothes” and the scent soaked in “paper.” In the section “If it’s only July, it’s very hot,” people praise the fragrant paper. The post-morning text sent by a man to a woman was written on “Ko no kami” (paper of incense), and it was a love text with the “scent of choko.” Along with the color beauty of the letter, she paid close attention to the accompanying “scent” and depicted the subtle scent of the choko soaked in the paper.