The Forms of Family in Shunshoku-ume-goyomi

Abstract

The “ninjō-bon” genre of the Edo Period has a sort of narrative pattern in which a merchant's family life is depicted in the form of love romance. Shunshoku-ume-goyomi by Tamenaga-Shunsui also follows this pattern; a poor merchant tries to establish a family-like ties with others because of his unfortunate family relations and finally succeeds in making his own home. Through the representation of the merchant's family, together with those of three other merchants' families of different backgrounds, the author seems to suggest a possibility of diverse family forms free from marital or biological bonds.