Otogi-zoshi is a collection of stories written in Japan from the medieval to the early modern period.
Otogi-zoshi are stories based on myths, legends, folktales, and other sources, with elements of fantasy and creativity added.
Otogi-zoshi served as entertainment and education for the people of the time, but their charm has not faded even in the modern era.
This article introduces the features, history, and representative works of otogi-zoshi.
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What is otogi-zoshi?
Otogi-zoshi is a term for short stories with illustrations that emerged from the late Kamakura to the Edo period, featuring novel themes that had not been seen before, as well as the form of these stories.
It is also written as otogi-soshi or otogi-zoshi.
In a broad sense, it also refers to all kinds of medieval novels centered on the Muromachi period and is also called Muromachi monogatari.
The emergence of otogi-zoshi
Narrative literature, which began in the Heian period, declined along with the decline of the aristocracy in the Kamakura period, but in the late Kamakura period, stories that belonged to the same lineage, but had completely different subjects and expressions from the previous aristocratic literature, appeared.
The stories became shorter instead of longer, and instead of describing the scenes in detail, they conveyed the events and incidents succinctly.
Also, the themes changed from the aristocratic romance to the folk tales that had been transmitted orally, and the protagonists became nameless commoners or their incarnations or children of gods and buddhas, or animals were personified, and so on, showing a variety of themes that had never been seen before.
It is said that there are more than 400 otogi-zoshi in existence.
Of these, only about 100 are known to the world, but the number is increasing as research progresses.
However, there are also cases where the same name has different contents, or the opposite, where different names have the same contents, and there are many things that are not known for sure.
Otogi-zoshi flourished mainly in the Muromachi period, and in the early Edo period, many books with the name "otogi" in them, such as "Otogi Monogatari" and "Shin Otogi", were published.
The name otogi-zoshi came to be used in the early 18th century, around the Kyoho era, when Osaka's Shibukawa Seiemon collected these and published 23 of them as "Otogi Bunko" or "Otogi-zoshi".
However, this is also a later edition based on a completely identical book with a different coloring method published in the mid-17th century.
Originally, the term "otogi-zoshi" was like a trademark of the Shibukawa edition, and initially only these 23 types were called "otogi-zoshi", but later it came to refer to stories similar to these 23 types.
The content of Otogizōshi
Many of the Otogizōshi were created as illustrated manuscripts, and they had a strong element of enjoying the pictures.
The text is relatively easy.
The plot is simple and ambiguous, as many of the tales are, and lacks complex structure or detailed description.
However, it is not appropriate to conclude that all of the Otogizōshi were for women and children, and it is thought that as a result of various complex conditions of creation and enjoyment in this era when stories became enjoyable for the common people, a group of stories in the form of Otogizōshi was born.
The allegory behind the interest reveals a glimpse of the social conditions at the time and also serves as a clue to understanding the folk beliefs of the Middle Ages.
The Otogizōshi are divided into three major categories according to their content and form.
The first is Buddhist tales, which are stories that explain the teachings of Buddhism and the law of cause and effect.
Representative works include "The Tale of Daigo Empress", "The Lotus Sutra Tales", and "The Kannon Sutra Tales".
The second is historical tales, which are stories based on historical figures and events.
Representative works include "The Rise and Fall of the Genji", "The Tale of the Heike", and "The Tale of Yoshitsune".
The third is legendary tales, which are stories based on folk legends and myths.
Representative works include "Issun-bōshi", "The Old Man Who Made the Dead Trees Blossom", and "The Crane's Gratitude".
The Otogizōshi are classified as follows according to the content of the tales.
- Court tales: A group of works that follow the court tales since the Heian period. They include stories of aristocratic romance, stepchild tales, and poet tales of Ono no Komachi and Izumi Shikibu.
- Monk and religious tales: Stories of monks who practice in temples and grass huts, tales of renunciation and enlightenment, tales that explain the origins of gods and buddhas, and temple and shrine legends.
- Warrior tales: Stories of warriors and heroes who fight monsters and show bravery. There are works based on family feuds and military tales, and especially the judge tales with Minamoto no Yoshitsune as the protagonist were popular. There are many common themes with kowaka dance and jōruri.
- Commoner tales: A group of works that feature commoners other than courtiers, warriors, and monks as the protagonists. They are closely related to the folk tales of the time. They have strong elements of humor and celebration, and there are many stories of success and courtship.
- Foreign and exotic tales: Stories that depict those who travel to foreign or exotic lands or those who come from there. The settings include not only Oriental countries such as China and India but also Western and Southern islands.
Characteristics of Otogizōshi
Otogizōshi are short stories written mainly in hiragana.
Otogizōshi is generally considered to have been written from the 12th to the 17th centuries, but the exact date and author are unknown.
Otogizōshi were transmitted orally or by manuscripts, but only a few of them survive today.
Otogizōshi has the following characteristics.
Reality and unreality are mixed
In Otogizōshi, humans, animals, plants, etc. transform freely, use magic and spells, etc.
Also, gods, buddhas, monsters, etc. appear, and they travel to foreign or otherworldly realms.
Moral and ethical lessons are included
In Otogizōshi, concepts such as good and evil, reward and punishment are emphasized.
For example, there are many developments where good people become happy and bad people receive punishment.
Also, the teachings of Buddhism, Confucianism, etc. are reflected.
The feelings and wishes of the people are reflected
In Otogizōshi, the dissatisfaction and criticism of the people's lives and society are expressed.
For example, there are many dream stories where poor people gain wealth and fame.
Also, romance and adventure are depicted.
Representative works of Otogi Zoshi
Here are some well-known works within the Otogi-zōshi tradition:
Issun-bōshi
This tale features a tiny boy named Issun-bōshi who embarks on various adventures.
He battles enemies like demons and dragons, falls in love with princesses, and ultimately finds happiness as he grows up.
Hana-saka-jijii (The Old Man Who Made Flowers Bloom)
The story revolves around an elderly man with the power to make flowers bloom.
He brings joy to kind-hearted but poor people while bringing misfortune to wealthy and stingy individuals.
In the end, he receives praise from the heavens.
Tsuru no Ongaeshi (The Grateful Crane)
In this tale, a crane rescued by a hunter transforms into a beautiful woman to repay the favor.
She marries the hunter, but their happiness depends on keeping her true identity a secret.
When the hunter discovers the truth, the crane flies away.
Impact and Evaluation of Otogi-zōshi
Otogi-zōshi holds a significant place in Japanese literary history.
It marks a shift from aristocratic-dominated literature to narratives accessible to commoners.
These stories blend oral and written traditions, reflecting a fascinating intersection of cultures.
Otogi-zōshi exhibits creativity in Japanese language expression and storytelling structure, influencing later literature.
Works like "Issun-bōshi" and "Hana-saka-jijii" have been retold as children's tales, adapted into films, and animated.
Even tales from Otogi-zōshi, such as "Genji Monogatari" and "Yoshitsune-ki," became popular themes in kabuki and puppet theater.
Otogi-zōshi's impact extends beyond its own time, as it also influenced modern authors like Osamu Dazai and Jun'ichirō Tanizaki.
Many of these stories continue to be passed down as folktales and fairy tales.
In summary, Otogi-zōshi remains a treasure trove of Japanese literature, cherished by people even today. I recommend exploring these enchanting tales! 📖✨