Chiteiki

Chiteiki (池亭記), also known as Chitei no Ki, is one of the representative kanbun texts of the mid Heian period. Belonging to the zuihitsu genre, it was written by Yoshishige no Yasutane (ja:慶滋保胤) in 982. The text is a valuable resource for understanding social issues within the capital at the time.

Background

Yasutane drew inspiration for his text from Bai Juyi's Chi Shang Pian (池上篇) and Kane Akira's book by the same title.

The short text is contained with volume 12 of the Honchō Monzui. It is composed of two major sections. The first is a commentary on problems within the society. Noteworthy are the descriptions of the capital: the west side has gone to ruin and people live crowded on the east side. Due to these issues, in the second half Yasutane goes into seclusion. He builds a small house where he can live a free lifestyle away from worldly cares.

Influences

Chiteiki is primarily cited as having a major influence on Kamo no Chōmei's later Hōjōki (written around 1212). In Hōjōki, Chōmei mimics a number of literary devices found in Chiteiki, describes similar social problems, and eventually goes into seclusion building a small hut.

See also

• Hōjōki

References

• Kubota, Jun (2007). Iwanami Nihon Koten Bungaku Jiten [Iwanami dictionary of Japanese classical literature] (in Japanese). Iwanami Shoten. ISBN 978-4-00-080310-6.
• Nihon Koten Bungaku Daijiten: Kan'yakuban [A Comprehensive Dictionary of Classical Japanese Literature: Concise Edition]. Tōkyō: Iwanami Shoten. 1986. ISBN 4-00-080067-1.
• Ōsone, Shōsuke; Kinpara Tadashi; Gotō Akio (1992). Shin Koten Bungaku Taikei: Honchō Monzui. Iwanami Shoten. ISBN 4-00-240027-1.