Satsuma Jōun - Satsuma Jōun

Japanese: 薩摩浄雲 - さつま・じょううん

Year of death: Unknown (Year of death unknown)
Year of birth: Bunroku 2 (1593)
A Tayu of old Joruri in the early Edo period. Originally from Kamigata, he studied under Sawazumi Kengyo (also known as Kyo no Jirobei) and called himself Toraya Jiroemon (or Kumamura Koheita). He is said to have traveled to Edo in the early years of the Kanei period, where he performed the puppet theater style that had developed in Kamigata, and gained popularity. He took the name Satsuma Tayu under the patronage of Lord Shimazu, the lord of the Satsuma domain, and excelled in stories of heroism with his dynamic storytelling style. His style of music is called Satsuma-bushi or Satsuma Joruri, and he is considered the founder of Edo Joruri along with Sugiyama Tangonojo. In his later years, he shaved his head and took the name Joun. His original works include "Hanaya" published in Kanei 11 (1634), and "Kosode Soga" published around the end of the Kanei period. His disciples included Toraya Gendayu, Sakurai Tanba Shojo, and Ise Daijo. The Osatsuma-bushi, which emerged from his school around the time of the Kyoho era (1716-1736), remains in today's Kabuki as theater music. His year of death is unknown, but the entry for February 1667 in the Matsudaira Yamatonokami Diary states that he "turned 75 that year." His grave is generally believed to still exist at Eisho-in Temple in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo, but this is a memorial tower for Satsuma Gaiki, who is said to have been a disciple of his.

(Torii Fumiko)

Source: Asahi Japanese Historical Biography: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. About Asahi Japanese Historical Biography

Japanese:

没年：没年不詳(没年不詳)
生年：文禄2(1593)
江戸初期の古浄瑠璃の太夫。上方の出身で,沢住検校(京の次郎兵衛とも)に学んで虎屋次郎右衛門(あるいは熊村小平太)と称し,寛永初年に江戸に下り,上方で発展してきた人形浄瑠璃を興行し,人気を博したと伝えられる。薩摩藩主島津侯の愛顧を受けて薩摩太夫と名乗り,豪快な語り方で武勇物を得意とし,その曲風は薩摩節あるいは薩摩浄瑠璃と呼ばれて,杉山丹後掾と共に江戸浄瑠璃の開祖とされる。晩年に剃髪して浄雲と号した。正本に寛永11(1634)年刊の「はなや」,寛永末年ごろ刊行の「小袖そが」がある。門弟に虎屋源太夫,桜井丹波少掾,伊勢大掾らがいる。享保(1716～36)のころにその門流から出た大薩摩節は,劇場音楽として今日の歌舞伎に残っている。没年は不詳だが『松平大和守日記』寛文7(1667)年2月の条に「当年七十五に成よし」とある。なお,一般に東京都文京区の栄松院に墓が現存するとされているが,これは門下と伝えられる薩摩外記の供養塔である。

(鳥居フミ子)

出典　朝日日本歴史人物事典：（株）朝日新聞出版朝日日本歴史人物事典について　情報

<<: Satsuma soup - Satsumajiru

>>: Satsuma Geki - Satsuma Geki