Meisho
Encyclopedia
are sites in Japan
which are famous for their associations with specific poetic or literary references. Used in conjunction with utamakura
, meisho add layers of allusion to poetry and literary and dramatic works which would not otherwise be present.
Many of the most famous meisho derive from references in the Genji Monogatari, Heike Monogatari, and Ise Monogatari. In addition to being referenced in poetry and literature, meisho very often make appearances in Noh
, kabuki
, and jōruri
theatre, and in ukiyo-e
and other visual art forms.
One example is that of the miyakodori, or "birds of the capital", originally referenced in the Ise monogatari. As most meisho derive from Heian era source, this is among the very few which related to the Edo
/Tokyo
area. The protagonist of the monogatari, having been exiled from Kyoto
, finds his way to the Sumidagawa
in what is today Tokyo; at a particular point in the river, he spots a particular type of plover
s which he has not seen before. Asking the boatman what kind of bird they are, he receives the reply that they are miyakodori, "capital birds," which makes him long for the capital and weep, asking the birds what they know of events in Kyoto.
This episode was later referenced in the Noh play Sumidagawa, in which a woman journeys to the region seeking her kidnapped son. Her boatman does not know the name of the birds, and she reprimands him for not being more cultured and knowing that they are miyakodori. Once the Tokugawa shogunate
was established at Edo in 1603, this spot on the river where the birds were said to be found became a very popular site for restaurants and other forms of entertainment. Many people would stop here and ponder the poetic resonances, or just enjoy seeing a famous site, while on their way upriver to the Yoshiwara
. The spot also appeared frequently in ukiyo-e representations of famous sites or famous restaurants in the capital.
Another keen example is that of Suma shore
, a beach near modern-day Kobe
, where one episode of the Tale of Genji took place. The battle of Ichi-no-Tani
, related in the Tale of the Heike, also took place there, and thus many of the Noh, jōruri and kabuki plays which involve that battle, such as Atsumori and Ichi-no-tani Futaba Gunki, make reference, either outright or silently implied, to the poetic associations of Genji
's episode there.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
which are famous for their associations with specific poetic or literary references. Used in conjunction with utamakura
Utamakura
is a rhetorical concept in Japanese poetry.-Definition:Utamakura is a category of poetic words, often involving place names, that allow for greater allusions and intertextuality across Japanese poems....
, meisho add layers of allusion to poetry and literary and dramatic works which would not otherwise be present.
Many of the most famous meisho derive from references in the Genji Monogatari, Heike Monogatari, and Ise Monogatari. In addition to being referenced in poetry and literature, meisho very often make appearances in Noh
Noh
, or - derived from the Sino-Japanese word for "skill" or "talent" - is a major form of classical Japanese musical drama that has been performed since the 14th century. Many characters are masked, with men playing male and female roles. Traditionally, a Noh "performance day" lasts all day and...
, kabuki
Kabuki
is classical Japanese dance-drama. Kabuki theatre is known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers.The individual kanji characters, from left to right, mean sing , dance , and skill...
, and jōruri
Joruri
can refer to:*Jōruri , a type of sung narrative with shamisen accompaniment, typically found in Bunraku, a traditional Japanese puppet theatre.*Jōruri , an opera by Japanese composer Miki Minoru.*Jōruri-ji , a Buddhist temple near Nara....
theatre, and in ukiyo-e
Ukiyo-e
' is a genre of Japanese woodblock prints and paintings produced between the 17th and the 20th centuries, featuring motifs of landscapes, tales from history, the theatre, and pleasure quarters...
and other visual art forms.
One example is that of the miyakodori, or "birds of the capital", originally referenced in the Ise monogatari. As most meisho derive from Heian era source, this is among the very few which related to the Edo
Edo
, also romanized as Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of the Japanese capital Tokyo, and was the seat of power for the Tokugawa shogunate which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868...
/Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
area. The protagonist of the monogatari, having been exiled from Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
, finds his way to the Sumidagawa
Sumida River
The is a river which flows through Tokyo, Japan. It branches from the Arakawa River at Iwabuchi and flows into Tokyo Bay. Its tributaries include the Kanda and Shakujii rivers....
in what is today Tokyo; at a particular point in the river, he spots a particular type of plover
Plover
Plovers are a widely distributed group of wading birds belonging to the subfamily Charadriinae. There are about 40 species in the subfamily, most of them called "plover" or "dotterel". The closely related lapwing subfamily, Vanellinae, comprises another 20-odd species.Plovers are found throughout...
s which he has not seen before. Asking the boatman what kind of bird they are, he receives the reply that they are miyakodori, "capital birds," which makes him long for the capital and weep, asking the birds what they know of events in Kyoto.
This episode was later referenced in the Noh play Sumidagawa, in which a woman journeys to the region seeking her kidnapped son. Her boatman does not know the name of the birds, and she reprimands him for not being more cultured and knowing that they are miyakodori. Once the Tokugawa shogunate
Tokugawa shogunate
The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the and the , was a feudal regime of Japan established by Tokugawa Ieyasu and ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family. This period is known as the Edo period and gets its name from the capital city, Edo, which is now called Tokyo, after the name was...
was established at Edo in 1603, this spot on the river where the birds were said to be found became a very popular site for restaurants and other forms of entertainment. Many people would stop here and ponder the poetic resonances, or just enjoy seeing a famous site, while on their way upriver to the Yoshiwara
Yoshiwara
Yoshiwara was a famous Akasen district in Edo, present-day Tōkyō, Japan.In the early 17th century, there was widespread male and female prostitution throughout the cities of Kyoto, Edo, and Osaka. To counter this, an order of Tokugawa Hidetada of the Tokugawa shogunate restricted prostitution to...
. The spot also appeared frequently in ukiyo-e representations of famous sites or famous restaurants in the capital.
Another keen example is that of Suma shore
Suma-ku, Kobe
is one of 9 wards of Kobe City in Japan. It has an area of 30.0 km², and a population of 168,400 .There is a white sandy beach in this ward, which attracts tourists to the Kansai region for sun bathing and popular events during the summer season. The same beach has appeared in the classic...
, a beach near modern-day Kobe
Kobe
, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
, where one episode of the Tale of Genji took place. The battle of Ichi-no-Tani
Battle of Ichi-no-Tani
' was a Taira fortress at Suma, to the west of present-day Kobe. It sat on a very narrow strip of shore, between mountains on the north, and the sea to the south. This made it quite defensible, but also made it difficult to maneuver troops inside the fortress. Minamoto no Yoshitsune split his force...
, related in the Tale of the Heike, also took place there, and thus many of the Noh, jōruri and kabuki plays which involve that battle, such as Atsumori and Ichi-no-tani Futaba Gunki, make reference, either outright or silently implied, to the poetic associations of Genji
Hikaru Genji
is the protagonist of Murasaki Shikibu's The Tale of Genji. In the story, he is described as the most handsome man in the world and he attracts all women. Genji is the second son of Emperor Kiritsubo , but he is delegated to civilian life for political reasons and begins a career as an imperial...
's episode there.