題だい辞じ

noun

prefatory words; epigraph

Literary term for a short quotation or phrase placed at the beginning of a book or chapter, often to suggest its theme.

• 小しょう説せつの冒ぼう頭とうに掲かかげられた題だい辞じが、作さく品ひん全ぜん体たいの雰ふん囲い気きを暗あん示じしている。

  The epigraph at the beginning of the novel hints at the atmosphere of the entire work.