賀茂真淵の『伊勢物語古意』解釈の一考察　 - 「情」とは -

Abstract

In this article, we analyze the concept of “Jo”(情) manifested by the people during the Heian period with special reference to the explanatory notes of “Isemonogatari” (伊勢物語) provided in “Koi” (古意). What Mabuchi emphasizes in “Koi” is the importance of studying the classic literature, especially the emotive expressions denoting “Jo” (情) and “Makoto” (まこと) of those who lived during the Heian period. For this purpose, Mabuchi stresses that we need to understand the poems and passages of the time, from the academic perspective of examining the dignity of Japan. The praise of the Japan-inherent concept of “Jo” reflects Mabuchi’s view of putting a high value on the classics. According to Mabuchi, it is essential to enhance our understanding of the concept of “Jo” found in the poems of the old time and to ascribe our basis to such pure emotions. We contend that the interpretation of “Isemonogatari” provided in “Koi” is distinctive in that it arouses “Jo” internal to the people of the time through the use of emotion-evoking expressions such as “Jitsujo” and “Makoto.” This constitutes the major characteristic of Mabuchi’s interpretation of “Isemonogatari” in “Koi” which emphasizes the ambitious attitude towards the Japanese classics, a passion overlooked in “Ketsugisho” (闕疑抄). The present article thus confirms that “Koi” sheds light on some new aspects of “Isemonogatari” which have been neglected in the other explanatory works on “Isemonogatari.”