A basic study on the relationship between images and the formation of legends

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24520229
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Japanese literature
• Research Institution: Tomakomai Komazawa University
• Principal Investigator: HAYASHI Kohei 苫小牧駒澤大学, 国際文化学部, 教授 (70156438)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: イメージ / 伝説 / 亀趺 / 竜宮門

Outline of Final Research Achievements

I compiled a list of major kihu and ryugu-mon in Japan.The study revealed the rough number of Japanese kihu and ryugu-mon and their locations.I then wrote two articles on kihu in which I discussed the original spread of the turtle-shaped pedestals during the 17th century and compared the shapes of them with those from neighboring nations. In consequence, the original characteristics of Japanese pedestals were found.As for the relationship between literature and images,I found that the kihu pedestals had given birth to similar legends in many parts of Japan.In this regard, the kihu in the precincts in Gesshoji temple in Matsue, Shimane prefecture is noteworthy because it helped the birth of the legend of a ferocious turtle that was believed to eat people.
From above, as for the ryugu-mon tower gates,their general architectural images and the passage of oral legends were more concrete.On the other hand, regarding kihu,it was more obvious that images triggered the birth of local literature

Free Research Field

文学