The Peeping Machine - The Peeping Machine

A Kabuki play. A domestic drama. Eight acts. Commonly known as "Murai Choan." Written by Kawatake Mokuami. First performed in leap August 1862 (Bunkyu 2) at the Moritaza in Edo by Ichikawa Kodanji IV and others. It is said that Murai Choan was executed by the judgement of Ooka Echizen no Kami in 1717, and is adapted from a story told in the book "Ooka's Injunjiroku." The wicked doctor Murai Choan kills his younger sister Osoyo's husband Jubei on Akabane Bridge and steals his money, pins the blame on the ronin Fujikake Dojuro and has him die in prison, and then teams up with his subordinate Hayanori Sanji to blackmail the pawnbroker Iseya and get Sanji to kill Osoyo. He commits many other crimes, but is finally arrested and sentenced by the magistrate Odate Samanosuke (Ooka Echizen no Kami). Woven into this story are stories of the troubles faced by Iseya's clerk Kyuhachi as he helps his master's son Sentaro and Fujikake's wife Oryo, and a love story between Sentaro and Fujikake's daughter, Sayoginu, a prostitute in Yoshiwara. It is a unique piece with a character who is completely evil as the main character, and is said to be a masterpiece by the author. Since its premiere, it has become a tradition to have one actor play the two contrasting roles of Choan and the loyal Kyūhachi.

[Toshiaki Matsui]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

歌舞伎(かぶき)脚本。世話物。8幕。通称「村井長庵(むらいちょうあん)」。河竹黙阿弥(もくあみ)作。1862年（文久2）閏(うるう)8月、江戸・森田座で4世市川小団次(こだんじ)らにより初演。享保(きょうほう)2年（1717）大岡越前守(えちぜんのかみ)の裁きで処刑されたといわれ、実録本『大岡仁政録』に収められた村井長庵の話を講談をもとに脚色。極悪非道の医者村井長庵は妹おそよの亭主重兵衛を赤羽根橋で殺して金を奪い、罪を浪人藤掛道十郎(ふじかけどうじゅうろう)になすりつけて獄死させ、手下の早乗三次(はやのりさんじ)と組んで質屋伊勢屋(いせや)をゆすったり、三次におそよを殺させたりするなど、さまざまな悪事を重ねるが、ついに召し捕られ、名奉行(ぶぎょう)大館左馬之助(おおだてさまのすけ)（大岡越前守）の裁きで服罪する。これに伊勢屋の手代久八(きゅうはち)が主家の倅(せがれ)千太郎や藤掛の妻おりよを助けて苦労する話、藤掛の娘で吉原の遊女小夜衣(さよぎぬ)と千太郎の情話などを織り込んでいる。悪に徹した人物を主役にした異色作で、じみながら作者会心の作という。初演以来、長庵と忠義いちずな久八という対照的な二役を1人で演じ分けるのが一つの趣向になっている。

［松井俊諭］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例