Old woman - Komochiyamamba

Joruri Gidayubushi. Historical piece. Five acts. Written by Chikamatsu Monzaemon. First performed in 1712 (Shotoku 2) at the Takemotoza Theater in Osaka. The story of Minamoto no Yorimitsu, who acquires the bravest retainers known as the Four Heavenly Kings and defeats his political enemy, Kiyohara no Takafuji, is woven with the Noh play "Yamauba." Only the second act, "Kanefuyuyakata," remains popular today in both Bunraku and Kabuki. Sakata Kurando Tokiyuki married the courtesan Oginoya Yaegiri, but left her to avenge his father's enemy, Mononobe Heita. He became a wandering tobacco merchant, Genshichi, and stayed at the residence of Dainagon Kanefuyu to curry favor with Princess Omodaka, who was engaged to Yorimitsu. However, when they met again, Yaegiri told him that her younger sister Itohagi had already killed the enemy, and he committed seppuku in disgrace. With Yaegiri's soul residing in his womb, Yaegiri gained spiritual powers and drove away the Takafuji forces who had broken in to steal the princess, and flew off to Mount Ashigara. The play was inspired by the famous female actor Ogino Yaegiri of the time, and a real tobacco merchant. The story is centered on the long story of Yaegiri telling Genshichi in front of the princess about their first encounter in the brothel, so it is commonly known as "Yaegi Kuruwa Banashi" (Yaegi Kuruwa Banashi), or more commonly known as "Shaberi" (talk). Other main parts of the original story include the story of Usui Sadamitsu coming to Itohagi's aid (first act), the story of Nakakuni, the judge of Mino who hides Yorimitsu, using Kanjamaru as a substitute (third act), and the story of Kaidomaru, born from Yaegiri who has become a mountain witch, who takes the name Sakata no Kintoki and serves Yorimitsu (fourth act). The fourth act is considered to be the original form of the dance drama "Yamaubamono."

[Toshiaki Matsui]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

浄瑠璃義太夫節(じょうるりぎだゆうぶし)。時代物。5段。近松門左衛門作。1712年（正徳2）大坂・竹本座初演。源頼光(よりみつ)が四天王とよばれる勇臣を得て政敵清原高藤(きよはらのたかふじ)を討つまでの話に、謡曲『山姥』を織り込んだ作。二段目「兼冬館(かねふゆやかた)」だけが文楽(ぶんらく)でも歌舞伎(かぶき)でも今日に流行している。坂田蔵人時行(さかたのくらんどときゆき)は遊女荻野屋八重桐(おぎのややえぎり)と夫婦になったが、父の仇(あだ)、物部平太(もののべへいた)を討つため妻と別れ、煙草屋(たばこや)源七となって流浪し、大納言(だいなごん)兼冬の館で頼光の許婚(いいなずけ)である沢瀉(おもだか)姫の機嫌をとるが、再会した八重桐から敵(かたき)はすでに妹糸萩(いとはぎ)が討ったと聞き、面目なさに切腹。その魂を胎内に宿らせた八重桐は通力を得て、姫を奪いに乱入した高藤勢を追い払い、足柄(あしがら)山へ飛び去る。当時の名女方荻野八重桐や実在の名物煙草屋を当て込んだもの。八重桐が源七への面当てに、姫の面前で廓(くるわ)における馴初(なれそ)めをしゃべる長話が眼目なので、通称を「八重桐廓噺(ばなし)」、俗に「しゃべり」という。原作はほかに、碓井貞光(うすいさだみつ)が糸萩の助太刀をする話（初段）、頼光をかくまう美濃(みの)の判官(はんがん)仲国(なかくに)が冠者丸(かんじゃまる)を身替りにたてる話（三段目）、山姥となった八重桐から生まれた快童丸(かいどうまる)が坂田公時(さかたのきんとき)と名のって頼光に仕える話（四段目）などがおもな内容。四段目は舞踊劇「山姥物」の原形とみられる。

［松井俊諭］

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