The Characteristics and Historical Changes of Japanese Ghost Stories: Until the Establishment of Kinsei Mystery Novels in early Edo Period

This dissertation analyzes ‘Yūreitan’ (ghost stories) in Japanese from Heian period to Edo period to illuminate how the image of ‘Yūrei’ (ghosts) developed through different eras.
This dissertation includes four chapters mainly.
Chapter one, “Ancient Japanese’s conception of the soul,” explores ancient Japanese view of the soul and life after death through mythologies in ‘Kojiki’ (712) and ‘Nihon shoki’ (720), or poems in ‘Man''yōshū’ (7th-8th). Ancient Japanese thought, likes the thought of ‘onryō’ (怨霊思想) or the belief of ‘goryō’ (御霊信仰), is being formed and deeply affected the ‘Yūreitan’ later. I also consider the influence of Buddhism which is involved with the image of ‘Yūrei’ and the land of dead.
Chapter two, “The Yūrei in literary works during the Heian period,” discusses the ‘Yūrei’ in ‘Nihon Ryōiki’ (787-824), ‘The Tale of Genji’ (1008), and ‘Konjaku Monogatarishū ’ (12th century) . In Heian period, the ‘Yūrei’ became visible compared with Nara period.
Chapter three, “The Yūrei in literary works during the Kamakura and Muromachi period,” discusses samurai’s ghosts in war tales, likes Kusunoki Masashige’s vengeful spirit in ‘Taiheiki’ (late 14th) etc. The born of samurai’s ghosts is a result of samurai government and many wars in this period.
Chapter four, “The Yūreitan in Kaiisyōsetsu during the early Edo period,” examines the ‘Yūrei’ in ‘Otogibōko’ (1666) and ‘Syōkokuhyakumonogatari’ (1677) which are the two representative works of ‘Kaiisyōsetsu’ (a novel category of ‘Kaidan’ collections) during the early Edo period (1603-1749). ‘Kaidan,’ a genre which talk about mysterious or bewitching things, was very popular in this period. Except for text analysis, I also analyze the illustrations in ‘Kaiisyōsetsu’ and the influence of Chinese literature.
This dissertation mainly focuses on texts analyzing, illuminating the image ‘Yūrei’s’ development in literary works through different eras. I also consider how foreign literature and thought affected Japanese thought and ‘Yūreitan’.