Abstract
Sumiyaki-Tota (炭焼藤太) legend is a type of Sumiyaki-Chojya (炭焼長者) legend which has a nationwide
distribution. Sumiyaki-Tota legend has been told in the Tohoku district. The legend has been connected with the history of the temples or the shrines in many cases. Sumiyaki means a charcoal burner.
Oshu Sendai Kuriharagun Hatamura Engi (奥州仙台栗原郡畑村縁記) is a text recording Sumiyaki-Tota legend which has been handed down in the Kannari Town, Miyagi prefecture. Former Hatamura village is a part of the Kannari Town at present. The text was written by Umonbo (右門坊) in 1789. Umonbo was a priest belonged to
Haguro Shugen (羽黒修験) sect.
The content in the first half of the text is concerned with the history of Jyofukuji (常福寺) temple. Umonbo
explained that Jyofukuji was built by Sumiyaki-Tota and his wife called Okoyonomae (おこよの前) in the later Heian period, and that Tota and Okoyonomae were parents of Kaneuri-Kichiji (金売吉次) who was a legendary hero in the Tohoku district. In 1686, Jyofukuji published Sumuyaki-Tota-shi (炭焼藤太史) which recorded a brief outline of Sumiyaki-Tota legend. By comparing the text with Sumuyaki-Tota-shi, we can know that the text has the specific characteristics of going into the details about how Tota and Okoyonomae became a husband and wife.
The content in the second half of the text is concerned with the history and the geography of Hatamura village.
Most of the description was based on Honai Fudoki (封内風土記) and Anei Fudoki (安永風土記). Honai and Anei Fudoki were compiled by the Sendai Clan.
Oshu Sendai Kuriharagun Hatamura Engi is an important material for the legend research, which had not been known until this time. In this paper, the writer has given a bibliographical introduction to the text and reprinted it.
