『平家物語』に見られる死の美学－「灌頂巻」をめぐって－

Abstract

日本中世盛行的軍記物語中，最負盛名的可謂「平家物語」。「平家物語」為何能夠成為中世最具代表性的文學作品？這部作品中最感人且最美之處為何？本文探討「平家物語」末卷「灌頂卷」中主角建禮門院的死亡，自當時盛行的佛教作品「往生要集」中，深究這部作品死亡思想之形成，並以淨土思想的往生概念，說明這部作品如何將死亡美化。期盼藉此研究，對中世日本人的死生觀有進一步理解，並對日本文化中所蘊含之死亡美學，從另一途徑做更深層之認識。 Heikemonogatari is regarded as the most renowned work of war literature flourished in Middle Age Japan. What makes Heikemonogatari the most representative literary piece in the Middle Age? What is the most touching and beautiful in this work? This paper aims to study the death of Kenreimonin, the protagonist of Kanchiomaki—the last volume of Heikemonogarari. By applying the popular Buddhist thoughts in Oujyoyosyu at that time, the writer analyzes the formation of ideas evolving death in Heikemonogatari; by using the concept of passing away in jyodo Buddhist philosophy, the writer explicates how death is aestheticized in Heikemonogatari. It is hoped that this study will first promote more understanding of the Japanese concept of death and life in the Middle Age, and second, offer another approach to the aesthetics of death in Japanese culture.