kanazōshi; early Edo-period kana literature
Historical term for a genre of popular fiction from the early Edo period, written primarily in kana or mixed kana-kanji, often aimed at women and children.
Kanazōshi were popular reading materials in the early Edo period.
"Chikusai" is considered one of the representative works of kanazōshi.
浮世草子 is a later Edo-period genre that evolved from 仮名草子, focusing more on the pleasure quarters and everyday life of townspeople.
Standard kanji spelling for this historical literary genre.
Variant spelling using 紙 instead of 子; both are seen in historical contexts.
From 仮名 (kana) + 草子 (sōshi, 'bound volume' or 'storybook'), referring to books written in the kana script.