Bibliographical Introduction to Medieval Literature (2)

Abstract

This paper is a continuation of “Bibliographical Introduction to Medieval Literature (1)”, which was published in Kitanomaru No. 52 (2019). Among the materials in the national archives’ collection exist literary works from the Kamakura to Muromachi periods (medieval literature), as well as annotated bibliographies established for posterity. This paper provides a commentary on these works, with the aim to make them widely available to the general public. The materials examined were extracted from items under the kokubun (National literature) section in the classified catalogue of Japanese books at the Cabinet Library. Previous custodians of this literature include Momijiyama Bunko , Shoheizaka Gakumonjo and Wagakukōdansho (Institute of lectures of Japanese classics); however, many annotated bibliographies published in the early modern era are also included. The paper provides insight into how the appreciation of medieval literature developed. “Bibliography of Pictorial Books of National Archives of Japan”,(1)-(6) published in Kitanomaru No.45 (2013) through No.50 (2018) should be referred to for materials with accompanying pictures.