A Study on Thao Hung THAO CHUang Epic of Maekong River Basin

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K00514
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 02050:Literature in general-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Foreign Studies
• Principal Investigator: Udo Seiji 東京外国語大学, その他部局等, 名誉教授 (30185053)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: ターオ・フン。ターオ・チュアン / メコン河流域 / 英雄叙事詩 / ラオス古典文学 / 東南アジア文学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the two years since 2019, the principal investigator achieved great results through research, academic exchange, collection of materials, and database creation in Thailand and Laos. Receiving valuable information and suggestions for assistance from researchers of both countries, the future research has opened up. For three years from 2021, research progress was minimal due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which made it difficult to conduct surveys and gather information, and because the principal investigator himself became infected. Furthermore, in 2022, the principal investigator developed spinal canal stenosis and was unable to carry out research. Due to rehabilitation treatment, he was unable to conduct research or do desk work, and ultimately gave up on continuing his research. The collected materials far exceed those held by other institutions or individuals in Japan, the investigator plans to continue his research at his own expense and present the results to society.

Free Research Field

タイ語、タイ文学、タイ映画研究、東南アジア地域研究

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は研究代表者の発病によって完遂が中断された。以下では彼が将来的に研究を完遂したものと仮定した場合の学術的、社会的意義について記述する。日本ではこれまで東南アジア近現代文学の翻訳が民間基金や学術機関によって担われ、その点数は世界的に最も多い。その理由は日本と東南アジアとの地理的文化的近さ、日系企業の進出などにある。ただ、この地域の建国神話や宇宙論、古典文学の研究はようやく始まったばかりである。日本とこの地域の関係緊密化が予想される今日、ラオスで知られたTHTCの研究と翻訳という成果は両国間の相互理解と友好促進に寄与し、またそれを契機にアセアン地域の豊かな文化遺産への関心も高まるだろう。