Ahodara Sutra - Ahodarakyo

A type of folk song. It became popular in the late Edo period and continued into modern times. It is a playful verse based on social conditions, customs, and current events, sung as if reciting a sutra. It begins with "Buddha preaches on the Ahodara Sutra..." and is characterized by the fast singing with the addition of hands to the rhythm, struck on a small mokugyo. It was often sung by monks and performers dressed as monks. It is said to have originated around the An'ei and Tenmei periods (1772-1789). Around the Bunka period (1804-1818), a preacher named Donryu was well-known for his oral recitations of the Ahodara Sutra in Osaka and Nagoya, as can be seen in "Setsuyo Kikan" and "Misemono Zasshi." In the Meiji period, "tsukushimono" was also very popular. Along with saimon (festival song) and chobokure (chongare), it was one step towards the establishment of Naniwabushi.

[Kazuo Sekiyama]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

俗謡の一種。江戸時代後期に流行し、近代に及んだ。世態、風俗、時事などから取材した戯(ざ)れ文句を、経を読むように歌った。「仏説あほだら経……」で始まり、小さな木魚をたたいて拍子をとり合の手を入れながら早口に歌うところに特色がある。願人坊主や僧形の芸人がよく歌った。安永(あんえい)・天明(てんめい)（1772～1789）ごろの発生という。文化（1804～1818）のころ呑龍(どんりゅう)という説教坊主が大坂や名古屋で阿呆陀羅経を口演して評判だったことが『摂陽奇観』『見世物雑志』などにみえる。明治時代にも「尽し物」が大いに受けていた。祭文(さいもん)、ちょぼくれ（ちょんがれ）などとともに浪花節(なにわぶし)成立への一過程をなす。

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