著者

宮崎 靖士

出版者

現代民俗学会

雑誌

現代民俗学研究 (ISSN:18839134)

巻号頁・発行日

no.7, pp.43-58, 2015

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In this study, I demonstrate, by analysis of its form of description, that the character of Santo Mintan Shu Volume 1 was, with respect to the transition of legends, formed as the result of combining several pieces of folklore and religious beliefs. This is based on my belief that the association of these two elements happened contingently, and was developed under circumstances that included intermediation by shaman or mages magicians. I compare the character of the text of Santo Mintan Shu with the author's project of gathering legends based on the background of social request for fostering love for home and nation following the Japanese-Russo War; and studies of legend by Yaichi Haga that aimed to determine the Japanese national character. Consequently, I found that such descriptions do not assure a continuous essence through the past, present and future of a legend. For example, understanding a legend by casting the light of a present standpoint and viewpoint makes it difficult to find a continuous essence between past 'Japanese' and present 'Japanese.' Such a description is understood as being an attempt to open a new field of study regarding cultural history in a wide meaning, not a shortsighted one focusing on fostering love for home and nation based on an assumption of the homogeneity of past and present by treating historical events in 'Japan' as objects of study.