A Study of Nature Explanation Legends in the Ryukyu Islands

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K02222
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Japanese literature
• Research Institution: Niimi College
• Principal Investigator: HARADA NOBUYUKI 新見公立大学, 健康科学部, 教授(移行) (60290508)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 自然説明伝説 / 南西諸島 / 奄美諸島 / 沖縄諸島 / 宮古諸島 / 八重山諸島

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this research, I investigated the nature explanation legends in the Ryukyu Islands. Investigation areas are the Kagoshima outskirts remote islands, Amami Islands, Okinawa Islands, Miyako Islands, and Yaeyama Islands. I went to these islands and investigated the nature explanation legends. This research was conducted from 2015 to 2019. The substance of the nature explanation legends of Ryukyu Islands was clarified by this research.

Free Research Field

日本文学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究成果の学術的意義および社会的意義は、南西諸島の口承文学研究においてこれまで採集も研究もあまり行われてこなかった伝説研究のうち、特に自然説明伝説に焦点を絞り、消滅の危機にある口頭伝承資料の採集・研究を行った点にある。