Chohan Kumasaka

Date of birth and death unknown. A great thief from the end of the Heian period. It is difficult to prove that he was a real person, but his name appears in many old books, and he is considered to be synonymous with great thieves, along with Ishikawa Goemon. There are various theories about his birthplace, including Kumasakayama in Shinshu, Kumasaka in Kaga Province, and Sekigawa on the border of Shinetsu. According to an anecdote, at the age of seven, he stole treasure from a temple storehouse and became addicted to it. As he grew older, he lived a life of thieving, lurking in the mountains and attacking travelers. It is said that in the spring of 1174 (Shoan 4), he ambushed the wealthy merchant Kinbai Yoshitsugu, who was on his way to Mutsu, at night at his lodgings in Aohaka, Mino, and was killed by Ushiwakamaru, who was traveling with him. This tale of defeating thieves is one of the motifs of Yoshitsune, but it is nothing more than a popular myth. The Noh plays "Eboshiori" and "Kumasaka," the Noh and Kyogen play "Old Musha," and the Kabuki and Kyogen play "Kumasaka Chohan's Watching Pine Tree" are famous for featuring Chohan.

[Fumio Inagaki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

生没年不詳。平安末期の大盗賊。実在の人物として証拠だてるのは困難であるが、多数の古書に散見し、石川五右衛門と並び大泥棒の代名詞の観がある。出身地は信州熊坂山、加賀国の熊坂、信越の境(さかい)関川など諸説ある。逸話に、7歳にして寺の蔵から財宝を盗み、それが病みつきになったという。長じて、山間に出没しては旅人を襲い、泥棒人生を送った。1174年（承安4）の春、陸奥(むつ)に下る豪商金売吉次を美濃青墓(みのあおはか)の宿に夜討ちし、同道の牛若丸に討たれたとも伝わる。この盗賊撃退譚(たん)は、義経(よしつね)モチーフの一つではあるが、俗説の域を出ない。謡曲『烏帽子折(えぼしおり)』『熊坂』、能狂言『老武者』、歌舞伎(かぶき)狂言『熊坂長範物見松(ものみのまつ)』は長範を扱って有名。

［稲垣史生］

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