Ōta Gyūichi. “Shinchō-kō ki”. Book VIII (part 2)

Abstract

The publication provides a commented translation into Russian of the book VIII of Shinchō ō ki chronicle. The article continues the series of translations of books of Shinchō ō ki, published by the author. Shinchō ō ki is a biography of the so called “unifier of Japan” Oda Nobunaga (1534–1582). This is one of the most important sources on the history of Japan in the end of the Middle Ages – beginning of the Early Modern period. This present redaction dates back most likely to the 16th – beginning of the 17th cent. The author of the chronicle is O̅ ta Gyu̅ ichi (1527–1613?) the vassal of Nobunaga. This part of the chronicle describes the campaign of Oda Nobunaga in 1575 in the province of Echizen, which had previously come under the control of the Ikko̅ -ikki forces. Having brutally dealt with Ikko̅ -ikki’s supporters, Nobunaga regained his power over Echizen. Scroll VIII contains the text of Nobunaga's instructions to his vassal Shibata Katsuie. Katsuie was to be guided by these instructions when governing Echizen province. In addition, in this part of his work, O:̅ta Gyu̅ iti narrates about other important events, in particular, the assignment to the “unifier of Japan” posts at the Imperial court, as well as the transfer by Nobunaga of the headship of the Oda house to his eldest son Nobutada. The first academic translation of Shinchō ō ki into Russian is accompanied by a detailed commentary. The present author offers there a comparison between the data found in the chronicle against other sources. In addition, in the commentary comprises the authors interpretation of the difficult passages from the Shinchō ō ki along the traditional views on their meaning as expressed in the modern scholarship.