is the first major genre of popular Japanese fiction, written between the 1680s and 1770s in Kyoto and Osaka. Ukiyo-zōshi literature developed from the broader genre of kana-zōshi, books written in the katakana vernacular for enjoyment, and was initially classified as kana-zōshi. The term "ukiyo-zōshi" first appeared in 1710 in reference to amorous or erotic works, but the term later came to refer to literature that encompassed a variety of subjects and aspects of life during the Edo period with the most common being that of the ordinary townsperson. Books of this genre included ukiyo-e illustrations often made by the most prominent artists at the time. The most prominent author of ukiyo-zōshi was Ihara Saikaku, whose works were not regarded as high literature at the time, but became popular and were key to the development and spread of the new genre. Saikaku was preceded by and worked at the same time as many other authors such as Shogetsudo Fukaku and Ejima Kiseki, all of which helped to shape ukiyo-zōshi and inspire future genres. Ukiyo-zōshi continued until the end of the eighteenth century, but its quality steadily declined. Overall, the genre lived for less than a century and died from conventionalization as well as a lack of new ideas for stories.
Characteristics By the time the ukiyo-zōshi genre first appeared, the commercial publishing industry had been fully developed. Ukiyo-zōshi books were published at a fixed size and length, and it was around this time that literature first began to be published for profit. For these reasons, prose literature, including ukiyo-zōshi, tended to be of low quality. Nevertheless, many ukiyo-zōshi works, particularly those of Saikaku, feature sophisticated literary techniques, structures, and insight into the lives and personalities of the characters.
Ukiyo-zōshi literature was considered popular literature and was written in the kana-based vernacular language. In contrast, elite literature, such as kanbun, was written in classical Chinese or classical Japanese and typically focused on traditional aristocratic topics, such as love and nature. The themes and plots of ukiyo-zōshi were opposite of popular literature in older centers in Japan, as those readers mainly consisted of ronin and samurai. The initial themes preceded Saikaku's by a year, and thus Saikaku was familiar with them before writing his own novels.
Ukiyo-zōshi covered a variety of subjects, many of which were considered vulgar or inappropriate for elite literature. A prime example is the kōshoku-mono subgenre, which consisted of erotic works centered on the pleasure quarters. The other subgenres of ukiyo-zōshi are chōnin-mono, which dealt with the lives of townspeople; setsuwa-mono, or tales of the strange or curious; and buke-mono, which focused on samurai. Most ukiyo-zōshi works fell into one of these subgenres and were aimed at a particular readership.
One important characteristic of ukiyo-zōshi is its intense realism. Since late kana-zōshi literature, a shift towards commoner literature and realism had been apparent, but it was not until ukiyo-zōshi that Japanese prose literature approached true realism. Ukiyo-zōshi is markedly less sentimental and reveals a more objective and cynical perspective. For example, many of Saikaku's stories end tragically and are written in a detached, ironic tone. Richard Lane says ukiyo-zōshi, "resembles early realistic novels in the West.”
Initial authors and Saikaku's contemporaries
Nishimura Ishiroemon Nishimura Ishiroemon was a Kyoto book publisher and one of the most prominent authors in the genres preceding ukiyo-zōshi. Over twenty novels were written and published by Ishiroemon in the 1680s. In his later works, he would copy the outline of Saikaku's works while keeping the storyline as traditional kana-zōshi. Main works include: Hana no nagori (A Remembrance of Blossoms, 1684), a known copy of Uramino-suke, a novel by Saikaku; and Koshoku sandai otoko (The Love Rogue in the Third Generation, 1686), his novel acting as a sequel to Saikaku's two books with similar titles.
Ishikawa Ryusen (Tomonobu) Under the pen name Tomonobu, Ishikawa Ryusen was the "first important novelist of Edo" and credited with writing the first ukiyo-zōshi according to Richard Lane. Ryusen gained notoriety as a famed ukiyo-e painter from the renowned Moronobu School. His most notable works are Koshoku Edo murasaki (A Love-Tale of the Purple of Edo, 1686), written in Ryusen's unique style and encompassing themes of samurai vengeance, courtesan love, and young boy love; as well as the earliest surviving ukiyo-zōshi according to Richard Lane, Shitaya katsura otoko (The Fair Young Man of Shitaya, 1684), whose story follows Edoite, Gompachi, and his elopement to Oshun. Conflict occurs with the initial refusal of marriage by Oshun's father, but the couple soon earn his respect and eventually his pardon for running off together. The plot line happens to be a rarity, as elopement usually did not have a happy end in feudal Japanese literature. This work, as well as other amorous literature, drew subject matter from the Courtesan Critiques and guides to the pleasure quarters that became popular in the 1640s and 1650s.
Shogetsudo Fukaku Considered the "most important Edo novelist of the early period," to Richard Lane, Fukaku started as a haikai poet before writing his first novel, Iro no someginu (Dyed Garments of Love), in 1687. This full-length novel was more popular in Edo, modern day Tokyo, while short stories were more popular in the older cultural regions of Kyoto and Osaka. The novel follows a boy who accidentally kills a priest, who happens to be his lover. In an unfortunate turn of events, the courtesan he falls in love with commits suicide and the protagonist turns himself in to the authorities immediately after so that he too can die. The book is well known for its illustrations which were made by the seventeen year old artist, Torri Kiyonobu, who was skilled in painting ukiyo-e themes with Fukaku's story being no exception. Fukaku only has two other surviving works, one of which is Koshoku someshitaji (Ready for Love's Dye, 1691) which follows Kinshiro, a Kyoto merchant, who falls in love with sequentially with Hanamurasaki, a courtesan, and then the young maiden, Omatsu.
Authors following Saikaku
Nishizawa Ippu Nishizawa Ippu writings appeared in the Kyoto-Osaka area after Saikaku's death. He wrote a total of twenty novels between 1698 and 1718 and quickly rose to popularity as he filled the void in literature which Saikaku left. Main works include: Shinshiki gokansho (New Tales of Love, in Five Parts, 1698), which mimicked Saikaku's novel, Five Women in Love, as it consisted of five novelettes which centered around tragic love stories; and Gozen Gikeiki (A New Gikeiki for His Lordship, 1700), which was a fictional parody of fourteenth century life of a man named Yoshitsune and his search for his mother and sister, both of which were courtesans.
Hojo Dansui Saikaku's only pupil, Hojo Dansui started his career as a haikai poet, like Saikaku, and edited and published Saikaku's works after his death. His most notable work was Nihon shin-eitaigura (Japan's New Treasury for the Ages, 1713). This fictional novel takes place in Osaka and acts as a sequel to Saikaku's work while focusing on didacticism.
Lesser writers
Aoki Rosui Originally from Kyoto, Aoki Rosui started as a haikai poet, but expanded his writing skills and focused on telling supernatural tales. His most notable work is Otogi hyaku monogatari (One Hundred Ghost Tales for Children), which is written in the kana-zōshi tradition.
Nishiki Bunryu A joruri dramatist from Osaka, Nishiki Bunryu wrote novels from 1699 to 1706. His most notable work was Karanashi daimon yashiki (The Flower-Seal on the Mansion Gate, 1705), which consists of multiple stories of townsmen, similar to some of Saikaku's works. The novel focuses on millionaire Yodoya Tatsugoro from Osaka, who lost all of his property to the government and now wanders the streets in anger.
Miyako no Nishiki Miyako no Nishiki's real name was Shishido Yoichi and he lived from 1675 to 1710. Born a samurai, Nishiki was trained in the Chinese and Japanese classics, but became disowned due to dissipation. From 1700 to 1703, he lived in Kyoto where he became a novel-writer, subsequently writing eight novels. His most quoted work is Genroku taiheiki (The Epic of Genroku, 1702), which is a collection of critiques against various groups of people. Another notable work is Okitsu shiranami (Thieves in the Offing, 1702), a collection of famous tales of robbers of past and present. To continue earning riches, he traveled to Edo. Unfortunately, he was mistaken as a ronin, arrested, and consequently banished to Satsuma Province. He was later pardoned but the banishment left his career in shambles.
Ejima Kiseki Born in 1667, Ejima Kiseki did most of the actual writing for the original books published in the Hachimonjiya bookshop. However, all of his works were taken by and labeled as Hacimonjiya Jisho's for many years. This deeply upset Kiseki and led him to spend almost the entirety of his inheritance in the gay pleasure quarters of Kyoto. At the age of thirty-two, Kiseki turned to novel writing to make a living and earn back the money he had lost in the gay quarters. In 1711, Kiseki started his own publishing shop and broke off from Hachimonjiya because of the continued robbery of proper writing credit by Jisho and in an attempt to make more money. Unfortunately for Kiseki, his business failed, forcing him to return to Jisho in 1718. In a turn of events, Jisho agreed to credit Kiseki as a co-author on future works which encouraged Kiseki to stay at Hachimonjiya.
Influenced by Saikaku and the gay quarters, Kiseki focused on writing and created a new form of the ukiyo-zōshi. However, this new style was inherently influenced by Kiseki's own shallow and flawed nature, making his new works pale in comparison to the detail of Saikaku. Despite its superficial roots, Kiseki's new style was able to capture as much interest as Saikaku's works because of its clever plotting even though it lacked style and depth. Kiseki would also often plagiarize Saikaku, but his use of the plagiarized pieces were so skillful that it was difficult to distinguish them in his work. Enjima Kiseki died in 1736 and with him, his new style of ukiyo-zōshi. By the mid-eighteenth century, Edo had become the center of literary activity, and while ukiyo-zōshi continued to be produced until around the 1770s, the genre became stagnant after Kiseki's death and slowly declined.
Notable works Include: Keisei iro-jamisen (The Courtesan's Samisen of Love, 1701), his first novel which combined techniques of Saikaku's love novels and Courtesan Critiques, a form derived from Actor Critiques, set the form for his following works. The novel takes place in five different regions with one region being discussed in each of the five novels: Kyoto, Osaka, Edo, seaports, and the lesser cities of Japan. It starts with Saiken, a chart of courtesans and houses in quarters which include their ranks, price, and other related details. Each of the five books contain four to six short stories about famous courtesans in the area. The courtesan's actual names are included, but the stories they star in are entirely fiction. Furyu kyoku-jamisen (Stylish Virtuosities on the Samisen, 1706), a story in which an elderly actor and courtesan explain their adventures together and their love story to the reader. Keisei kintanki (Courtesans Must Keep Their Tempers, 1711), revolves around a controversial debate over which is superior: the love of a woman or the love of a young boy. The novel disrespects Buddhism by making it the subject of satire in which the reader could enjoy as Buddhism at this time period was a habit instead of a serious faith.