2019 Volume 101 Pages 49-64
This paper examines the source of “Mami oyobi tengu” (Demons and Long-nosed Goblins), one section of Syozusii (or Syukutosii), a six-part collection of handwritten ghost stories Akutagawa Ryūnosuke made as a high school student. I begin by pointing out that in making this collection, Akutagawa may have received guidance from Yanagita Kunio's article “Yumeidan” (Tales of the Netherworld). In addition, I show that the “Mami oyobi tengu” section relies heavily on Hirata Atsutane's Kokon Yōmi Kō (On Ancient and Modern Demons), which contains many Buddhist tales. It is possible that this book of Atsutane's played an important role in Akutagawa's reception of other folktales rooted in the oral tradition, such as the Heian Era collection Konjaku monogatarishū (Tales of Times Now Past). Finally, as a source showing Akutagawa's acceptance of Hirata Atsutane's National Learning (Hirata Kokugaku) I introduce Hirata Atsutane no Tetsugaku (Hirata Atsutane's Philosophy), a volume from Akutagawa's personal library now in the collection of The Museum of Modern Japanese Literature.
