可视化的日本史——以插图编年记为例

A Visual History of Japan——Taking Illustrated Chronicles as an Example

从古代流传下来许多编年体史书,无论是作为国家大事来编定的六国史,还是私人撰写的史书。这样的编年体史书,到了江户时代被作为商品来出版和销售,出现了许多迎合民间需求的特点,比如增加插图。用插图来表示历史事件的“插图编年记”,可以使历史事件视觉化和表象化。《新补倭年代皇纪绘章》(早稻田大学图书馆藏)、《正德三年癸巳改正年代记新绘抄》和《新补倭年代皇纪绘章》(立命馆大学图书馆藏)就是插图编年记,记录的内容包括政治事件、事件的原委、灾害、吉祥、怪异等的事情,还有一些古代流传下来的传说。在插图编年记中,有关于吴越争霸等中国历史故事和插图。插图编年记中还特意在最后留出几页空白的纸张。这样做,是为了让读者记录此后每年发生的事情。如此,插图编年记达到了强调读者自己也是历史性的存在的目的,并且暗示和鼓励读者参与编年记的编写。

A considerable number of chronicles were handed down from ancient times,ranging from Rikkokushi which was edited as a state undertaking to historical books composed in private.As of the Edo period,such chronicles had been published and sold as commodities,and illustrations were added so as to satisfy the readers’needs.“Illustrated chronicles”that present historical events through pictures tend to visualize the past and make history more graphic.Shinpoyamatonendaikoukieshou(The Waseda University Library Collection),Shoudoku 3(1713)Nendaikishin’eshou(Amendments)and Shinpoyamatonendaikoukieshou(The Ritsumeikan University Library Collection)are all illustrated chronicles,and the contents recorded therein include political events,the underlying causes of the events in question,disasters,auspices and uncanny omens etc.There are also legends and tales passed down from long ago.In these illustrated chronicles,one may also find records and illustrations about Chinese historical stories such as the Wu-Yue rivalry for hegemony.A few blank pages are intentionally left at the end of these books.This was done to allow readers to jot down what happened annually thereafter,which reminded readers that they were also part of history,thus encouraging readers to participate in the compilation of history.