An Introduction and a Reprint of Ikaho-Engi

Abstract

Ikaho-Engi (伊香保縁起) is a story which narrates the legendary origin of Ikahojinjya (伊香保神社) shrine and Ikaho-Onsen(伊香 保温泉). Its’ contents relate closely to Ikahodaimyōjinnokoto(伊香保大明神の事) in Shitōsyū (神道集). It has been confirmed that there are the following three manuscripts of the story.
Manuscript 1 (M1) Untitled manuscript Possessor: Mr. Kazuo TOKUDA
A manuscript book copied by hand in 1740
Manuscript 2 (M2) Title: Ikahoengi Former possessor＊: Mr.Rinpei KIMURA
A manuscript book copied by hand in 1742
＊The whereabouts of original is unknown, and an electronic copy of it has survived.
Manuscript 3 (M3) Title: Ikahoengi Possessor: Tokutomi Roka Kinen Bungakukan(徳冨蘆花記念文学館)
A manuscript book copied by hand in 1769
M1 was introduced and reprinted by Yukio OSHIMA in Denshōbungakukenkyū(伝承文学研究) vol.71 in 2022. M2 was introduced by Yuko AOKI in Denshōbungakukenkyū vol.67 in 2018. In this paper, I have reprinted the text of M3 and given a bibliographical introduction to it.