Asai Ryōi facts for kids

Asai Ryōi (浅井 了意, c. 1612 – January 29, 1691) was an important Japanese writer. He lived during the early Edo period, a time when Japan was peaceful and growing. Asai Ryōi was also a Shin Buddhist priest. He even led a temple in Kyoto.

He is known as one of the best writers of a type of popular literature called Kanazōshi. These books were easy to read because they used simple Japanese writing (kana) instead of difficult Chinese characters (kanji). This meant many people could enjoy them. Kanazōshi stories often celebrated city life and new ideas. Asai Ryōi's stories sometimes even changed traditional Buddhist ideas to fit the exciting city world.

Asai Ryōi's Famous Works

Ukiyo Monogatari (Tales of the Floating World)

Tales of the Floating World (浮世物語, Ukiyo Monogatari, 1666) is a very famous book by Asai Ryōi. It was one of the first stories to show a new way of thinking about ukiyo.

In Buddhism, ukiyo meant that life is short and nothing in the world lasts forever. Traditional Buddhist teachings said you should focus on spiritual things. These would help you in your next life.

But in the Edo period, people in cities started to think differently. They believed that since life is short, you should enjoy every day. This new idea of ukiyo meant enjoying the fun parts of life.

The main character in Ukiyo Monogatari is a Buddhist priest named Ukiyobō. He spends time enjoying life's pleasures. Through these experiences, he eventually gains wisdom. The book makes fun of serious samurai warriors. It praises the lively spirit of the townspeople.

Otogi Bōko (Hand Puppets)

Hand Puppets (御伽婢子, Otogi Bōko, 1666) is another popular book by Asai Ryōi. He took exciting stories from a Chinese book called Jiandeng Xinhua. Then, he changed them to fit Japanese city life.

These stories often had supernatural elements, like ghosts. They explored the struggle between what society expected people to do (called giri) and what people truly felt inside. For example, in one story, a character chooses to die with a ghostly lover. This shows that real human feelings were important.

See also

In Spanish: Asai Ryōi para niños

• Kanazōshi
• Botan Dōrō
• Ukiyo
• Chōnin
• Augustine of Hippo