Monkey show - Saru Shibai

A type of entertainment show in which monkeys are trained to perform tricks. It belongs to the family of monkey training. Already from around the Kanbun era (1661-73), monkeys were made to perform with dogs, mice, and cats. Around the Jōkyō era (1684-88), a man named Mizuemon in front of Yushima Tenjin Shrine in Edo was famous as a master of training all kinds of animals. Later, monkeys were dressed in wigs and costumes and made to dance lively to the accompaniment of shamisen and drums, or even perform a line from kabuki. The head tayumoto of Edo was Ogawa Mondayū, who continued for nine generations until the Meiji era. Popular plays of the time, such as Sanbasō, Ichinotani no kumiuchi, and the fifth act of Chushingura, were performed in a small tent or on the street. Even after the Meiji period, there were plays such as Konjiki Yasha, Tsukigata Hanpeita, Nikudan Sanyushi, Mamako Ijime, and other plays that were adapted from Shinpa and film, or current affairs, but these have long since disappeared. In general, the word is used to ridicule poorly conceived schemes and foolish plans.

[Oda Koji]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

見せ物芸能の一種で、猿に芸を仕込んで芝居をさせるもの。猿回しの系統に属する。すでに寛文(かんぶん)（1661～73）ごろから、猿と犬や鼠(ねずみ)、猫などとをいっしょに芝居させることが行われていた。貞享(じょうきょう)（1684～88）のころ、江戸・湯島天神前の水右衛門という者があらゆる動物を仕込む名人として有名であったという。のちには、猿にかつらをつけ、衣装を着せて、三味線、太鼓もにぎやかに踊りをさせたり、歌舞伎(かぶき)の一くだりを演じたりもした。江戸の太夫元(たゆうもと)は小川門太夫といって明治まで9代続いた。三番叟(さんばそう)、一の谷の組打ち、忠臣蔵の五段目など、時々の流行演目を小屋掛けの見せ物か大道で演じさせた。明治以降も、金色夜叉(こんじきやしゃ)、月形半平太、肉弾三勇士、継子(ままこ)いじめなどといった新派や映画からの取込み物や時局物を臨機応変に猿芝居化していたが、見られなくなって久しい。なお一般には、下手(へた)なたくらみ、あさはかな企てをあざ笑っていうことばとして用いられる。

［織田紘二］

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