The Tenno and the King in the Three-Country-World : Focusing on Konjaku Monogatari-Shu("The Antagonist" Found in Japanese Literature-The Issues on the "Tenno System"-,The Part of Literature,<Feature Articles>The Reports From the Forty-third Conference of Japanese Literature Association)

Abstract

In order to ensure royal authority and unity of nation, the nation herself must be conscious about the order; however, relationships with other countries can be of greater help to accomplish this inner unity. From this standpoint, Konjaku Monogatari-Shu is an important source which tells a number of things about nation and Tenno. Konjaku Monogatari-Shu is written based on the three-country-world concept which meant the whole world for contemporary people. Tenno, as the chief of the nation with royal authority, and the manner of his appearance in these three countries are pursued from four points of view: 1. the omnipresent "Tenno"; 2. the King and Tenno; 3. Tenno and the consciousness of his own country; 4. "official matters" and Tenno.