"Five Men Made by Men" - Otokodate Goningumi

...Five real-life ruffians (who were executed in August 1702), including Gankin Bunshichi, the leader of the group; Anno Heibei, Hotei Ichiuemon, Gokuin Senemon, and Kaminari Shokuro, were made into a puppet play at the Okamoto Bunya-za theater the month after their execution in "Gankin Bunshichi: Autumn Frost." Since then, the stories have been passed down as "Gankin Bunshichi's First Year of Memorial" (Yamamoto Hidajo, 1703) and "Gankin Bunshichi's Third Year of Memorial" (Uji Kagajo, 1704). However, the story of the Five Gankin Made by Men (written by Takeda Izumo, July 1742, Takemoto-za Theater, Osaka) emphasized their character as men of chivalry, which had a great influence on later generations. It was also performed as a kabuki play in 1702 (Genroku 15) at the Matsumoto Nazaemonza in Osaka, and in 1717 (Kyoho 2) as Kaido Itto Kami Soga at the Nakamuraza in Edo, and in 1726, Otokosaku Gonin Gumi was performed at the Kaneko Kichizaemonza in Osaka (the middle play), and the part in Meigetsu Gonin Otoko (1730 Nakamuraza) in which all five men recite the tune became popular. Other plays include Umewakana Futaba Soga (written by Fujimoto Tobun, March 1756 at the Edo Ichimuraza), Monzukushi Gonin Otoko (written by Tsuruya Nanboku IV, April 1825 at the Nakamuraza), and Koigoromo Karin Kinzome (written by Kawatake Mokuami, January 1852 at the Edo Kawarazakiza).

*Some of the terminology used in reference to the "Five Men's Works" is listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…雁金文七を頭とした庵（あんの）平兵衛，布袋市右衛門，極印千右衛門，神鳴庄九郎という実在した5人の無頼漢(1702年8月刑死)を，獄門の翌月に岡本文弥座で人形浄瑠璃化した《雁金文七秋の霜》以来《雁金文七一年忌》(山本飛驒掾，1703)，《雁金文七三年忌》(宇治加賀掾，1704)と語りつがれたが，《男作五雁金（おとこだていつつかりがね）》(竹田出雲作，1742年7月大坂竹本座)によって，仁俠の徒としての性格が強調され，後世に大きな影響をもたらした。歌舞伎でも1702年(元禄15)に大坂松本名左衛門座で上演，以後17年(享保2)江戸の中村座で《街道一棟上曾我》として演じられ，26年大坂の金子吉左衛門座(中の芝居)で《男作五人組》が，また《名月五人男》(1730年中村座)では五人男が勢ぞろいしてつらねを述べる個所が評判となった。ほかに《梅若菜二葉曾我》(藤本斗文作，1756年3月江戸市村座)，《紋尽（もんづくし）五人男》(4世鶴屋南北作，1825年4月中村座)，《恋衣雁金染》(河竹黙阿弥作，1852年1月江戸河原崎座)などがある。…

※「《男作五人組》」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

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