『源氏物語』における触穢と謹慎 -「穢れ」「忌」「つつしみ」という表現に注目して-

Abstract

This study, in observation of the expressions ‘Kegare,’ ‘Tsutsusimi’ and ‘Imi’appearing in Genji Monogatari, investigated how ‘pollution’ and ‘isolation,’ whichhad taken root in everyday life of the nobility in the Heian period of Japan, wasdescribed in the work and how they are related to its internal development as a meansto forming the work through the analysis of their examples. Definition of pollution in the Heian period can be verified in the text of Engisiki,which says the object of pollution is the impurity of death, childbirth, removal ofa grave to another place and miscarriage, plus a fire and woman’s menstruation. Genji Monogatari contains 15 examples of the expression ‘Kegare’ in direct referenceto pollution, of which, remarkably eleven is the impurity of death in relation toYugao’s and Ukihune’s. One reason for the two persons’ death being considered‘Kegarai’ must be that these women’s death was an unnatural death. Since even anatural death was the object of impurity, however, only the death of these two beingdescribed as the object of impurity in Genji Monogatari means that the existenceas a rootless and wandering woman for case of Yugao and Ukihune carried througheven to the scene of death. Furthermore, there are 19 examples of ‘Imi’ used toget rid of the impurity of death in Genji Monogatari, while death and ‘Imi’ aredescribed from the perspective of the remaining central characters seemingly as anopportunity in close connection to the development of work thereafter. Next, in Genji Monogatari, for ‘Monoimi,’ twelve examples out of nineteen, andfor ‘Tsutsusimi,’ five examples out of twenty two are used for ‘an excuse ofsomething,’ not a practical one. Through these examples, it is found that ‘Monoimi’is cited by man as ‘an excuse for rendezvous’ with a new woman. Considering thebasic composition of Genji Monogatari with a big axis on men such as Hikarugenji and Kaoru·Niounomiya and women in relations to them, setting of ‘Monoimi,’ or‘making a place of love’ to serve as an opportunity for love, can be understoodas a method of forming the work because it is related to its fundamental part. Lastly,in Genji Monogatari, there are three examples of the expression ‘Tsutsusimi,’ whichis a prayer for an easy delivery in relation to pregnancy and childbirth. Childbirthin the Heian period was an act of impurity that had taken root in everyday life ofthe nobility. However, in Genji Monogatari, for case of Crown Prince born toHikarugenji, Yugiri and Akasinohimegimi, or Kaoru that portrays the birth of thecentral character to form an axis of work, childbirth does not accompany impuritybut attaches a greater importance to the later development of work that the childis to bring on. In conclusion, we can say that the pollution and isolation described in GenjiMonogatari as ‘Kegare,’ ‘Imi,’ and ‘Tsutsusimi’ in close contact with the everydaylife of the nobility in the Heian period have been set as a method to form a storyupon facilitating the development of work.