『栄花物語』における中宮定子描写の考察

Analysis of Chugu Teishi in Eiga Monogatari - Construction of a Fictional World in Comparison with Historical Evidence -

Chugu Teishi lived a life of ups and downs at the peak of the aristocratic culture during the Heian period. Teishi is described as a person who is a member of the Nakano Kanpaku family and who is beloved by the emperor, Ichijo. In the first half of her life, Teishi attained supremacy as a daughter of a man of power at the time, and had peaceful days with his husband. In the latter half, however, Teishi lost her guardian due to the death of her father, and after having days of sorrow, she passed away in childbirth. The way in which Teishi is described seems to be related to the post-Genji Monogatari tradition of describing the life of a woman who loses her guardian and who falls from grace. Furthermore, whilst Eiga Monogatari is primarily based on historical facts, the author intentionally adds some fictional stories different from historical evidence in order to describe her sorrow more vividly. Another notable point is the poem left by Teishi, from which the readers deeply perceive her complex feelings. She feels regret for leaving behind the emperor Ichijo, who earnestly loved her, feels sorrow since she departs from the world alone, and feels concerned about the complete erasure of her as a result of cremation, despite her craving of burial.