31 延喜、天暦
右大臣菅原道真、誠忠実直の人物であり、学問は和漢に通じており、博くもあり、深
くもあったのに、他の人々の讒言によって大宰府へ流されてしまった事は、かえすがえ
すも遺憾でありました。然し当時は、醍醐天皇まだ御年若くましまして、重臣たちの進
言に迷わせ給うた事、是非も無い事でありました。
この事一つを除けば、醍醐天皇の御代は、一代飛んで次の村上天皇の御代と共に、我
が国の中で理想的な時代、黄金時代として、長く後世から慕われました。醍醐天皇の御
代三十四年、年号は昌泰が三年、延喜が二十二年、延長が八年、その最も長い延喜を取
って、天皇を延喜の帝と云い、御代を延喜の聖代（せいだい）と云います。次には醍醐
天皇の皇子朱雀天皇がお立ちになりましたが、十六年たって、御弟村上天皇に御ゆずり
になりました。村上天皇の御代二十一年、その代表的な年号を取って、天暦の帝、天暦
の御代と云います。
（中略）
いかにも延喜･天暦の御代は、平安時代の中でも、一段と花やかな時代でした。延喜に
作られたもの、古今集あり、延喜格あり、延喜式あり、その外に今一つ重要なものとし
て三代実録があります。我が国の歴史、朝廷で正式に編修せられたものを、正史と云い
ます。日本書紀がその最初です。その次に続日本紀、日本後紀、続日本後紀、文徳実録
と、段々作られてきたのを受けて、清和･陽成･光孝三天皇の御代の歴史を、五十巻にま
とめたものが、即ち三代実録です。それは宇多天皇の御代のうちに仕事が始められ、菅
原道真もこれに参加しましたが、いよいよ出来上がったのは、延喜元年の八月でした。
かように歴史が編修せられる事は、国家が意識せられている事を示すものです。平安時
代も中頃までは、国家意識が強く、日本書紀の研究も盛んで、朝廷では三十年に一度ほ
どの割合で、日本書紀の講義が行われました。延喜の御代には、延喜四年にその講義が
ありました。ところが、あとから整理してみると、
（一）正史編修は、延喜元年の三代実録が最後で、その後は作られていません。
（二）法令の編修は、延喜元年の延喜格、延長五年の延喜式を以て終わり、その後は作
られていません。
（三）日本書紀の講義は、村上天皇の康保二年を最後として、それ以後は行われてい
ません。
康保二年は、西暦九六五年ですから、今から凡そ一千年前に当たります。その頃まで
は、国家意識が強く、歴史も研究せられ、更に新たに歴史が編修せられ、法令も整備せ
られていたのでした。これが今後は弛んでしまって、国を考えるよりは、自分の一身一
家の生活を考えるようになり、国は衰えもし、乱れもする事になりました。そこで後世
からふりかえって見ると、延喜･天暦の御代は、光り輝くところの黄金時代、理想の時代
として、人々の目にうつったのでした。
延喜の御代に、今一つ注意すべき事があります。それは、荘園を禁止する勅令が延喜
二年の春、出された事です。土地をすべて国有地とし、それを公平に国民に分与して耕
作させ、自分の生活も立てさせ、国への納税もさせると云う大化改新以来の制度は、荘
園によって崩れてゆくのです。大きな功績のある人に、特別に土地の私有を許し、その
土地を国司の管轄からはずしてしまえば、その土地からの租税は、荘園の領主にこそ入
れ、国家へは納入されないでしょう。延喜二年に、皇族や貴族の荘園を禁ずると云う勅
令が出た事は、次の二つの事実を示すものです。
第一、当時すでに荘園の弊害が目立っていた事。
第二、当時の朝廷には、その弊害を取り除こうとする気魄があった事。
（中略）
その光輝く時代が、どうしてやがて崩れていったか。それは朝廷高級の官吏、優雅風
流の生活を楽しんでいるばかりで、国の為、世の為、刻苦奮励する気象が欠けてきたか
らです。源氏物語に出てくる人物が、そうでしょう。（中略）
このような状態であれば、延喜･天暦の聖代も、次第にくずれてゆく事、やむを得ます
まい。つまるところ、男らしい男がいなかったのです。国を憂い、道を守り、邪悪を排
除して、風紀を正そうとする人物が欠けていたのです。
TOP
31 The Engi (901-923) and Tenryaku (947-957) Eras
Sugawara no Michizane, Minister of the Right, was a man of integrity and
honesty, widely and deeply versed in Japanese and Chinese scholarship. It was
most regrettable that he was banished to Government Headquarters in Kyuushuu by
his enemy's slanderous words. However, at that time Emperor Daigo was still
young, so he cannot be judged for being led astray by his senior subjects.
Aside from this single incident, the reign of Emperor Daigo was considered one
of the ideal, golden eras of ancient Japanese history, along with the reign of
Emperor Murakami, who ascended after the intervening reign of Emperor Suzaku.
People of later times longed for these tho eras.
Emperor Daigo reigned for thirty-four years. The first three years were called the
Shoutai era (897-901), the next twenty-two years were the Engi era (901-923),
and the last eight years were called the Enchou era (923-931). Taking the name
of the longest of the eras, the Emperor was called "The Emperor of the Engi
Era," and his reign, "The Great Era of Engi."
Next came Emperor Suzaki, the son of Emperor Daigo. This Emperor retied after
sixteen years, to pass the imperial throne to his younger brother Emperor
Murakami (r. 946-967). His reign lasted for twenty-one years, and again taking
the name of the representative era, he came to be called "The Emperor of the
Tenryaku Era" and his time, "The Reign of Tenryaku."
(an omission)
These two eras were the most splendid of the entire Heian Period. Collection
of Ancient and Modern Poems (Kokinshuu), Regulations of the Engi Era (Engi
Kyaku), and Procedures of the Engi Era (Engi Shiki) were collected at that
time. In addition another important record was compiled: Veritable Record of
Three Reigns of Japan (Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku).
State histories were those authoritatively compiled by the government. First
was Chronicles of Japan (Nihon Shoki). Then came: Chronicles of Japan Continued
(Shoku Nihongi), Later Chronicles of Japan (Nihon Kouki), Later Chronicles of
Japan Continued (Shoku Nihon Kouki), Veritable Records of Emperor Montoku of
Japan (Nihon Montoku Tennou Jitsuroku). In continuation, the history of the
reigns of Emperors Seiwa, Youzei and Koukou was compiled into the fifty-vlume V
eritable Recored of Three Reigns of Japan (Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku). The project
was started during the reign of Emperor Uda, with Sugawara no Michizane taking
part. It is completed in the 8th month of the first year of Engi era (901).
These compilation projects of history demonstrate the national consciousness
of the time. Until the middle of the Heian Period, national consciousness was
so strong that lecture series on Chronicles of Japan (Nihon Shoki) were held
roughly every thirty tears. During the Engi era, the lectures were held in the
4th year (904). However, reviewing the situation we find:
(1) Veritable Records of Three Reigns of Japan (Nihon Sandai Jitsuroku),
completed in the first year of Engi era (901), was the last of the national
histories. None followed thereafter.
(2) Compilation of laws and regulations terminated with Regulations of the
Engi Era (Engi Kyaku) in the first year of Engi era (901) and Procedures of the
Engi Era (Engi Shiki) in the 5th year of Enchou (927). None followed
thereafter.
(3) The last lecture series on Chronicles of Japan (Nihon Shiki) was held in
the second year of Kouho (or Kouhou) era (965). None were held thereafter.
The second year of Kouho era (965) was almost 1000 years ago. Until that time,
national consciousness flourished, history was studied and records compiled,
and laws and regulations were well-maintained.
But after this time, the national consciousness weakened, and personal welfare
became more important than the destiny of the nation. Consequently the nation
declined and went into disarray. In retrospect, the Engi and Tenryaku eras
seemed the golden age of splendor, setting the ideals for all ages.
Another important aspect of the Engi era appeared in the spring of the second
year of Engi era (902), when a desree prohibiting private land ownership was
disseminated. Private land ownership was destroying the system established by
the Taika Reform (645). In 645 it had been formulated that land was owned by
the government, to be divided equitably among the people so that they could
both make a living and pay taxes. In cases where private ownership was
specially permitte for meritorious deeds, that land was placed outside the
jurisdiction of the local governor; the land tax was paid to the owner of the
land, and not the government.
Two facts indicating the problems with this system are seen in the 902 decree
prohiditing the imperial and aristocratic families from owning private land.
First, the detrimental effects of private land ownership were already evident;
second, the government had sufficient force to try to terminate this evil
practice.
(an omission)
Why then had such eras of glory vanished ? Because the coutiers merely enjoyed
a life of elegance and art. They gradually lost the spirit commitment and hard
work, which was necessary to dedicate themselves to the nation and the
society. Such are the characters in The Tale of Genji (Genji Monogatari).
(an omission)
In such conditions, the greatness of the Engi and Tenryaku eras gradually
declined. In the end, there was no one with a manly spilit. No one was
concerned about the fate of the nation, dedicated to keeping moral principles,
eradicating crime, and maintaining the soundness of public life.
TOP
少年日本史 (平泉澄)
The story of Japan （Hiraizumi Kiyoshi)
|