The Background of the Production of the "Nara-ehon" Illustrated Books(<Special Issue>The Backgrounds of the Production of Medieval Literature)

Abstract

A series of illustrated books called "Nara-ehon" or "Nara-emaki" appeared between the late Muromachi Period and the mid-Edo Period. The historical background of the genre has come to be to a large degree uncovered, but there still remain some ambiguities in it that must be addressed. For example, the way it was related to medieval literature in general is almost unknown. The aim of this article is thus to shed light on the historical as well as literary role of the genre.