Eiga Monogatari

Eiga Monogatari (栄花物語) is a Japanese monogatari, or epic, which relates events in the life of courtier Fujiwara no Michinaga. It is believed to have been written by a number of authors, over the course of roughly a century, from 1028 to 1107.

It is notable for giving high credits to the Fujiwara family especially Michinaga.

The monogatari serves as a sequel to the Rikkokushi, and discusses the life and exploits of Michinaga and his family. The first part, thirty volumes detailing the period from the reign of Emperor Uda until Michinaga's death, is believed to have been written between 1028 and 1034 by Akazome Emon and/or Fujiwara no Tamenari. The second portion, ten volumes covering the reign of Emperor Horikawa, is generally attributed to Dewa no Ben who would have written between 1092 and 1107. The forty scrolls which comprise the text are written entirely in kana, and include many excerpts from diaries and notes of court ladies. Twenty-eight of these scrolls are devoted to Michinaga's governance, while the remaining twelve concern related topics, including other aspects of his life and the lives of his family.

The work was translated into English by William H. and Helen Craig McCullough in 1980.

References

• Frederic, Louis (2002). "Eiga monogatari." Japan Encyclopedia. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.
• McCullough, William H.; McCullough, Helen Craig (1980), A Tale of Flowering Fortunes — Annals of Japanese Aristocratic Life in the Heian Period, Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, ISBN 0-8047-1039-2
• Sansom, George (1958). 'A History of Japan to 1334'. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.

External links

• Manuscript scans at Waseda University Library: 10-volumes (unknown date), 9 volumes (unknown date)