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Daigaku Hanaoka

はなおか だいがく

Hanaoka Daigaku

Pen Names: Yukiyoshi（Legal name）, Daigaku (monastic name)（Monastic name）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1909-02-06 （Osaka, Japan）
Died
1988-01-29 age 78
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Religion
Jōdo Shinshū
Residence History
Osaka → Gojo, Nara Prefecture → Kyoto

Career

Occupations
children's fiction writer, novelist, children's literature author, Buddhist monk, teacher, university professor
Active Years
1920-1988
Affiliations
Jogeiji Temple (head priest), Kyoto Women's University (Professor Emeritus), Nara Bunka Women's Junior College (Professor)
Influenced By
Kenji Miyazawa, Mimei Ogawa
Influenced
Takashi Kawamura, Kosho Shimizu, Ryotaro Shiba (colleague/mentioned him in essays)

Education

Central Buddhist Academy
Period: 1920s
Country: Japan
Completed secondary education here
Ryukoku University
Department of History / History
Period: 1927-1934
Year of Graduation: 1934
Country: Japan
Entered preparatory course in 1927; graduated from Department of History in 1934

Awards

Ogawa Mimei Literary Encouragement Prize
1960
Work: The Full Moon in the Corner
Result: winner
Shogakukan Literary Prize
1961
Work: Yuuyake School
Organization: Shogakukan
Result: winner
Masutarō Shoriki Prize (Buddhist)
1977
Result: winner
Sankei Children's Publishing Culture Award
1977
Work: The Face of the Moon
Organization: Sankei Shimbun
Result: winner
Buddhist Propagation and Culture Award
1980
Result: winner
Nishi Hongan-ji Monshu Prize
Organization: Nishi Hongan-ji
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Full Moon in the Corner

1960 Children's tales / short story collection

A collection of children's short stories including tales inspired by Buddhist scriptures and moral lessons.

Buddhist moral lessonsethicschildren and growing up

Yuuyake School

1961 Children's literature

A children's literature work depicting school life and children, portraying youthful scenes of the 1950s–60s.

school lifefriendshipcoming of age

The Face of the Moon

1977 Children's tale

A collection of tales using the moon as a motif, notable for religious and humanistic depictions.

moonreligious allegorycompassion

Children of Seiganji (radio serial)

1948 radio serial

A radio serial broadcast on NHK, modeled on the author's large family and their life.

familyeveryday lifechildren
Adaptations
  • [radio] Children of Seiganji (1948)

Bibliography

  • On the Songs of Holy War
  • The Lamp of a Small Village
  • The Green Lamp
  • The Full Moon in the Corner
  • Yuuyake School
  • The Face of the Moon
  • Daigaku Hanaoka Complete Collection of Fairy Tales (6 vols.)
  • Daigaku Hanaoka Buddhist Tales Collection (8 vols.)

Adaptations

  • Children of Seiganji (NHK radio serial)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
allegorical storytelling based on Buddhist scripturessimple, accessible language for childrendidactic and anecdotal structure
Recurring Motifs
Buddhist moral lessonsthe moonanimalschildren and family

Legacy

Daigaku Hanaoka is recognized as an important postwar children's writer who incorporated Buddhist elements into his tales. He left an impact as an educator and Buddhist monk as well.

Museums

  • Daigaku Hanaoka Children's Tales Monument Ono Shinden-cho, Gojo, Nara Prefecture, Japan Opened in 1986

Academic Societies

  • Yoshino Historical Society
  • Kinki Children's Culture Association

Archives

  • Ryukoku University Library (related materials)

In Popular Culture

  • NHK radio serial 'Children of Seiganji'

Trivia

  • Legal name was Yukiyoshi.
  • Monastic name was Daigaku (Daigaku as monk name / Daigaku-related name).
  • Graduated from Ryukoku University and served as a professor at Kyoto Women's University (honorary).