八の宮から薫への姫君の後見依頼 - 人物造型と時代背景からの影響を中心に -

Abstract

In this article, we analyze the process and the meaning of the request which Hachinomiya made to Kaoru about the future of his daughters, and examine the method of creating a story used to describe this request. The request serves as an important driving force of the substantial development of the love romance between Oigimi and Kaoru. Hachinomiya, a person involved in this request, meets Kaoru for the first time in the volume of Hashihime. They foster their love as “Nori-no tomo (friends of Buddhist enlightenment),” possessing similarities in the way characters are formed; namely, they are represented as those who seek for the sense of morals as a means of solving anti-worldly things as well as the agony of the present world. On the other hand, Hachinomiya, who comes to start to be worried about the future of his daughters, asks Kaoru to take care of them after his death. While Hachinomiya and Kaoru have distinct views as to this request, they pay special attention to their “Nori-no tomo” relationship; finally, Hachinomiya uses a quite vague expression to insinuate his intention, whereas Kaoru, who construes Hachinomiya’s request as the one concerning material cares, promises to take care of the daughters. The process of this request and Hachinomiya’s speculation depicted in this process reflect the social situation of the Heian period. In particular, the scene where Hachinomiya meets Kaoru for the last time is depicted in such a way that it is reminiscent of the scene where Suzakuin and Hikaru Genji choose their son-in-law, which adds a rich flavor to the story.