The oldest manuscript of the Tale of Genji can be found.
A new manuscript has been found in which one of the “Genji Monogatari” stories written by Murasaki Shikibu in the Heian period was copied by Kamakura-era singer, Sadae Fujiwara. It is the oldest manuscript to date, and has been attracting attention as a valuable resource that approaches the original expression of the Tale of Genji, where the original remains.
The newly discovered manuscript of “Wakapuri”, written by Seiji Fujiwara, a singer who was active 200 years after the Tale of Genji was written.
As a result of the investigation by the Izumi family, a descendant of the family, it was consistent with the handwriting of the family.
At that time, blue ink was used, which was only allowed to be used by high-ranking people, such as the family, and the cover is another manuscript of the family and is designated as an important cultural property of the country. It is the same as the 4th floor of "Yukiyuki", "Yuki", "Hayago".
The original story of the 54-year-old Genji story is lost, but instead of the many manuscripts that convey the contents to the present, "Wakapura" was originally copied in the Muromachi period about 450 years later. It has been said to be the most reliable as it is close to the expression.
Researcher Koichi Fujimoto, the researcher of the Cold Spring House Tokinei Bunko, who conducted the survey, said, “The discovery of the Genji Monogatari, which attempted to faithfully restore the contents expressed by Murasaki Shikibu after about 200 years, further advances the research of the Tale of Genji. I will say. "
"Innovative discovery"
Professor Kyoko Yamamoto of Kyoto University of Science and Technology, who is involved in the Genji Monogatari research "It's a groundbreaking discovery that will change the content of school textbooks and annotations."
As for “Waka purple”, a manuscript called “Oshimamoto”, which was written about 450 years later, and most of the Tale of Genji still remains, is said to be the most reliable. The story does n’t change much compared to ”, but there are subtle differences in the contents of the description, and research will continue further in the future.”
Professor Yamamoto said, “In the story of“ Waka purple ”, the father of Waka purple was informed by Mr. Genji after the existence of a daughter who had been missing for a while, but when he heard about the discovery of this manuscript, I felt that a young purple had appeared, and I expect other volumes that have not been found to be kept in the same way. "