ハーンの浦島伝説に対する認識

―ワシントン・アーヴィングの作品を基軸に―

抄録

　There are significant similarities in the versions of the Urashima legend as told by Lafcadio Hearn and by Washington Irving. As a matter of fact, Hearn was so taken by Chamberlain’s version of “Urashima” that when he wrote “The Dream of a Summer Day” he attempted his own analysis of the Urashima legend.

　Irving’s “Rip Van Winkle” is often described as an American “Urashima” story by several scholars, including Mori Ogai. Hearn felt the same way but indicates Irving’s “The Adalantado of the Seven Cities” has more similarities than that of “Rip Van Winkle.” Hearn suggests, “There is another, much more like the story of 'Urashima' than 'Rip Van Winkle' is... I am sure that... you will agree with me... that it bears a very strong resemblance to the story of 'Urashima.'”This commentary is crucial if we intend to understand Hearn’s ideas concerning the Urashima legend, as well as one of the main motifs of his own stories.

　Hearn’s greatest interest in “Adalantado” was its theme of betrayal, which is also true of “Urashima.” However，there is no such element in “Rip.” This is why Hearn indicates an association with “Adalantado” to the Urashima legend rather than “Rip.” Specifically, the betrayal between men and women is a key aspect to consider in the analysis of Hearn in works such as Yukionna and his interpretation of the Urashima legend.