[ 13 Lords of Kamakura broadcast in 2022 ] Is Hojo Yoshitoki , who established its position as an authority during the Kamakura period. It is an NHK Taiga drama with the main character.
To know the events of the Kamakura period from the latter half of the Heian period, [ Azuma Kagami ] It seems that they often refer to history books called. So, this time, I would like to introduce what kind of history book is Azuma Kagami.
Origin and characteristics of Azuma Kagami
Azuma Kagami is 1180-1266 It is a history book that describes the events that occurred in the past 87 years.
Beginning before and after the establishment of the Kamakura Shogunate, which would be drawn by the 13 people of Kamakura, the 6th Shogun [ Prince Munetaka ] The era up to is written.
The editor of Azuma Kagami was a person around 1300 at the end of the Kamakura period, who was in control as an authority [ Hojo . ] And deeply involved [ Mr. Kanazawa ] And is said to have been written by the Gokenin of the Shogunate.
The number of volumes is said to be 52, and the most famous one is [ Hojo book . ] Is a manuscript called.
The beginning of Azuma Kagami is April 9, 1180 [ Prince Mochihito ] Started from the place where the Taira clan was raised and raised, July 20, 1266 The sixth shogun, Prince Munetaka, was falsely accused of rebellion and was dismissed from the shogunate, and the events were recorded in chronological order until he returned to Kyoto.
What attracts many people's attention in the contents of Azuma Kagami is the detailed history of the samurai society in the eastern country. History books written before that [Kojiki] [Nihon Shoki] Etc. were written mainly in the imperial court, while Azuma Kagami was the successive shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate [ Kamakura-dono . ], And is evaluated as the first record of the samurai government in Japan.
Origin and anecdotes of Azuma Kagami
Azuma Kagami is [ Tokan ], Sometimes written as Azuma and Higashi Both [ Togoku ] Has the meaning. Its origin is Yamato Takeru Nomikoto before the Kamakura period. It goes back to the mythical era of.
Yamato Takeru is a hero who appears in Kojiki, and the fact that eastern Japan came to be called Azuma is related to anecdotes related to Yamato Takeru.
The anecdote was when Yamato Takeru went on an expedition to the eastern country, and he was hit by a sudden storm during his voyage and was unable to advance the ship. At that time, it is said that there was a woman named his younger brother Tachibana Hime and younger brother Tachibana Hisei next to Takeru Nihon.
Oto Tachibana is the princess of Yamato Takeru, and [ I will sacrifice instead of the prince to calm this storm . ], I just jumped into the sea. Then, the storm stopped immediately, and Yamato Takeru arrived safely at the shore.
Takeru Nihon successfully achieved the peace of the eastern country, overlooked the eastern country from the top of the mountain, and thought of his sacrificed younger brother Tachibana Hime [Azuma Haya] (my wife) It is said that this triggered the call of eastern Japan as Azuma (East).
Contents of Azuma Kagami
As mentioned earlier, the contents of Azuma Kagami are mainly recorded by the Kamakura Shogunate.
On the other hand, there are not many descriptions of events that occurred outside Kamakura, samurai and public houses that are not gokenins, in areas such as the imperial court and western countries including the Kinki region, which are not so related to the shogunate.
Speaking of the chief executive officer of the shogunate in the samurai government in Japanese history, [ Shogun ], But that common sense does not apply in the Kamakura Shogunate. Because, it was not the shogun who had the real power of the Kamakura Shogunate, but the authority . ] Is Hojo Tokusou It is.
The first shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate, Minamoto no Yoritomo, gained support from many gokenins for his excellent political sense and charisma. The gokenin of the shogunate ran the shogunate.
Among them, influential gokenins such as "Kajiwara Kagetoki" and "Hiki Yoshikazu" vowed their passionate loyalty to enliven the young shogun. However, other influential gokenins representing Mr. Hojo seemed to think that the shogun was only a puppet.
And it was Mr. Hojo who made a leap to deprive the shogun of his real power.
Mr. Hojo destroyed the influential gokenin with that skill and gained the real power of the shogunate. Then, he took charge of political affairs on behalf of the young shogun and continued to support the administration of the shogunate.
In Azuma Kagami, strict evaluations are written for the 2nd generation, Minamoto no Yoriie, 3rd generation, and Sanetomo, and it seems that the 1st generation, Minamoto no Yoritomo are also evaluated fairly, but it seems to be the current image. Na [ Yoricho Yami ] Is described in various places.
On the other hand, Mr. Hojo who took the real power and the second generation Hojo Yoshitoki and Goseibai Shikimoku The evaluation of the Hojo Tokusou family, such as the third generation authority, Yasutoki Hojo, who established the above, is written very high.
[ Shogun Genji, who had a dictatorial politics, the Hojo Tokusou family, who became the ruler of the past, sought to be close to the gokenin. ] And is written in a slightly biased manner toward Mr. Hojo.
Many of Azuma Kagami are manuscript versions
The original Azuma Kagami has not been found, so the existing one is a manuscript.
The types are [Hojo book] [Yoshikawa book] [Shimadzu book] There are three.
Hojo book
The most famous book in Azuma Kagami, based in Odawara Castle during the Warring States period [ Mr. Gohojo ] Because it was owned by [ Hojo book ] Was named.
The Hojo book was published after the death of Mr. Gohojo, [ Kuroda Kanbei . ], And it is said that it was presented to the shogunate in the Edo period. Also, it seems uncertain whether all 52 volumes have passed to the Tokugawa family.
Yoshikawamoto
A manuscript of Azuma Kagami, a vassal of the guardian daimyo Ouchi of the Muromachi period and collected by Hiroshi Umeda, remains as Yoshikawamoto.
Hiroshi Umeda Is also known as a literary person, Sogi and Kensai Inawashiro It is said that he had a close friendship with a leading renga singer. Hiroshi has an excellent history book called Azuma Kagami from such cultural figures. ], And collect manuscripts of Azuma Kagami from 1501. He collected 42 tatami mats and had the craftsmen copy them and kept them in his treasury.
However, due to some 20 years of missing parts, Hiroshi decided to go around the country and collect the missing parts. Then, when I got the missing part, I immediately completed a copy of 1 tatami mat and 47 tatami mats, totaling 48 tatami mats.
Yoshikawamoto was later presented to Aki Province, Motonari Motonari during the Warring States period, and after his death, his second son, Kikkawa Motoharu . Is inherited and then passed on to his descendants. The name Yoshikawa comes from the fact that it passed to Mr. Yoshikawa.
Shimazumoto
Shimazumoto is the book of Azuma Kagami completed by Mr. Shimazu of Satsuma Province.
It is said that Azuma Kagami, the original of Shimazumoto, was owned by [Mr. Nikaido] who ruled Nasukawa, Iwase-gun, Mutsu Province at the end of the 15th century. The manuscripts owned by Mr. Nikaido passed to Mr. Shimazu, and were collected and revised under Shimazu.
It consists of a total of 52 volumes, one catalog at the beginning and 51 volumes of the main text.
Azuma Kagami after that
Azuma Kagami is 1605 It was published as the first printed and published book in.
Ieyasu Tokugawa is said to have read various books of Azuma Kagami, and later published a book based on Azuma Kagami of Hojo to make it a lesson book for samurai.
In addition, 1626 A phonetic book was also published in the book, and it was modified many times so that it could be read by more people.
The current Azuma Kagami is published in various forms such as modern translations and manga, and is widely used as a book that can be easily read by a wide range of age groups.
I would like to take this opportunity to read it, so I would like to add the impressions I have read to this article.