The Clear Mirror: A Chronicle of the Japanese Court During the Kamakura Period (1185-1333)The Clear Mirror (Masukagami) is an account of Japanese history from 1185 to 1333 by an anonymous author, almost certainly a court noble writing around the third quarter of the fourteenth century. During this time, the military government at Kamakura controlled the country, maintaining the emperor with his court at Kyoto as symbolic head of state. Though the imperial court had little real power, it attempted to maintain as much of its former dignity and prestige as it could. The Clear Mirror is at least semi-fictionalized, promoting a picture of a court healthier and more powerful than it really was. Moreover, the work sees the court as guardian of its own traditional arts and lifestyle, and thus provides not only a history of imperial succession and other events but also copious examples of poetic expressions and descriptions of courtly traditions and ceremonies. Because of its attempt to exemplify the best in the courtly prose tradition (it is noted for its imitation of the style of the masterpiece The Tale of Genji), the work has long been valued in Japan as much for its artistic literary contribution as for its historical significance. The present translation makes available to English readers the last significant work belonging to the genre of "historical tales" (rekishi monogatari), another example of which is A Tale of Flowering Fortunes (translated by William and Helen Craig McCullough, Stanford, 1980). The introduction provides a brief summary of the significant historical and political events of the period, together with a discussion of the significance of The Clear Mirror within the "historical tales" tradition, and comments on the literary strengths and weaknesses of the work. A glossary identifies people and places mentioned in the text, and an appendix discusses details concerning the work's authorship, possible dates of initial publication, and other matters relating to the original manuscript. |
Contents
1 | |
27 | |
31 | |
46 | |
Mourning Attire | 59 |
Three Sacred Mountains | 67 |
Snow on the Central Plain | 72 |
Descending Clouds | 82 |
IO Waves of Longevity | 118 |
Ornamental Combs | 136 |
Plovers by the Bay | 156 |
The Hills of Autumn | 162 |
A Farewell to Spring | 174 |
Wintry Showers | 183 |
Sarayama in Kume | 197 |
The Dayflower | 214 |
Snow on the Northern Plain | 89 |
Asuka River | 97 |
Pillow of Grass | 110 |
Title Authorship Date Sources and Texts | 223 |
Glossary | 267 |
Bibliography | 319 |
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The Clear Mirror: A Chronicle of the Japanese Court During the Kamakura ... No preview available - 1998 |
Common terms and phrases
autumn brother capital carriage ceremony Chancellor Chapter Chinese Clear Mirror consort court courtiers crown prince Daikakuji daughter Emperor Fushimi Emperor Go Emperor Go-Daigo Emperor Go-Fukakusa Emperor Go-Fushimi Emperor Go-Saga Emperor Go-Toba Emperor Go-Uda Emperor Kameyama Emperor Kōgon Emperor Tsuchimikado exile father Fujiwara Genji Go-Fushimi Go-Nijō grandson Higashinijō-in Hōjō Honorary Empress Ichijō imperial palace Inoue Juntoku Kamakura shogun Kazan-in Kintsune Kishi kokoro Konoe koto Kujō Kyoto Lady lady-in-waiting Madenokōji Majesty Mansion Masukagami McCullough 1980 McCullough and McCullough Michiie Middle Captain Minamoto monk monogatari mother Nijō Oki Province Ömiya-in Palace Minister peror poem poet poetry Prefecture present Priestly Imperial Prince Prince Munetaka prince's Princess Province provisional major counselor Provisional middle counselor regent reign Reizei Retired Emperor Go-Fukakusa Retired Emperor Go-Saga Retired Emperor Go-Toba Retired Emperor Kameyama Rokuhara Saionji Sanekane Saneo Saneuji Sanjō senior nobles Shijō Shōshi Shrine Taira Tameyo Temple throne Took Buddhist vows Tsuchimikado warriors Yoritomo