Mirror lion

Kabuki dance. Nagauta. Original title: "Shunkyo Kagamijishi." Written by Fukuchi Ochi and composed by Kineya Shojiro III. First performed by Ichikawa Danjūrō ​​IX at the Kabukiza in Tokyo in March 1893 (Meiji 26). The lyrics of the classic "lion piece" "Makurajishi" were revised to fit the sophisticated tastes of the Meiji period, with the first shite changed from a courtesan to a female page from the inner palace, and the second shite changed to a lion spirit in Noh costume. Choreography was a collaboration between Fujima Kan'emon II and Danjūrō. The story is about a female page named Yayoi who is dancing as an entertainment for the Ooku mirror pulling ceremony, and is possessed by the spirit of a lion while dancing. There is a dance by two butterfly spirits dressed as young girls in overalls. The first half is centered on the story of Ishibashi, and includes the Kawasaki Ondo, Hida Dance, and Two Fan Dance, followed by a retreat down the runway, pulled by a lion's head in his hand, while the second half includes the dynamic "Kurui" and "Kamiarai" dances, in which the butterfly spirits shake their long hair. It is one of the 18 major new kabuki plays, but after the Taisho era, it became one of the most popular dances thanks to the brilliant performance of Onoe Kikugoro VI, and has been performed by many people since then.

[Toshiaki Matsui]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

歌舞伎(かぶき)舞踊。長唄(ながうた)。本名題(ほんなだい)『春興(しゅんきょう)鏡獅子』。福地桜痴(おうち)作・3世杵屋(きねや)正次郎作曲。1893年（明治26）3月、東京・歌舞伎座で9世市川団十郎が初演。「獅子物」の古典『枕(まくら)獅子』の歌詞を明治の高尚趣味に即して改訂、前シテを傾城(けいせい)から大奥の女小姓に、後シテを能仕立ての獅子の精に改めたもの。振付けは2世藤間勘右衞門(かんえもん)と団十郎の合作。大奥のお鏡曳(ひ)きの余興に女小姓弥生(やよい)が舞ううち獅子の精がのりうつるという内容で、前後のツナギに女童(めわらべ)姿の胡蝶(こちょう)の精2人の踊りがある。前半では、石橋(しゃっきょう)の物語を中心に川崎音頭(おんど)、飛騨(ひんだ)踊、二本扇の踊りを経て、手に持った獅子頭(がしら)に引かれて花道の引っ込みなど、後半では胡蝶の精をあしらって長い毛を振る豪快な「狂い」「髪洗い」などが見どころ。新歌舞伎十八番の一つだが、大正以後は6世尾上(おのえ)菊五郎の名演技によって屈指の人気舞踊になり、その後も多くの人によって演じられている。

［松井俊諭］

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