Monkey young - Saruwaka

A role in early Kabuki and the name of a Kyogen play.

(1) A clown role that appeared in early female Kabuki. He wore a simple blue-hued single layer robe, black leggings, white tabi socks, a cloth like a hand towel covering his cheeks, and a Chinese fan. On stage, he appeared as a servant of the Kabuki actor played by the leading actor, and performed a variety of tricks, including leading the woodcutter, lion dancing, oratory, and humorous impersonations. When the female tayu (called a priest) appeared, he sometimes carried a stool or other belongings. This role was inherited by the "Doukegata" during the Yaro Kabuki period. In addition, it is known that there were clowns and impersonation performers named Saruwaka in folk performing arts and street performances.

(2) The Saruwaka-za (later Nakamura-za), founded by Saruwaka Kanzaburo in 1624 (Kan'ei 1), handed down a kyogen play called "Saruwaka" as the venerable "Kotobuki-ya Kyogen." This is a simple kyogen story about a servant who makes a pilgrimage to Ise Shrine in secret from his master, telling a story along the way interspersed with popular songs in an attempt to avoid being scolded by his master, the feudal lord. It incorporates the arts that Saruwaka was good at in the early days, such as kiyari ondo (wooden singing) and lion dancing.

[Yukio Hattori]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

初期歌舞伎(かぶき)の役柄および狂言の名。

(1)初期の女歌舞伎に登場した道化役。粗末な青色系統の単衣(ひとえ)を着け、黒の脚絆(きゃはん)・白足袋(しろたび)を履き、手拭(てぬぐい)のような布で頬(ほお)かむりするといった独特な扮装(ふんそう)をし、唐団扇(とううちわ)を持った。舞台では、主役が扮する歌舞伎者の下人の役どころで登場し、木遣(きやり)の音頭取り、獅子(しし)踊り、雄弁術、滑稽(こっけい)な物真似(ものまね)芸など雑多な芸をこなした。女太夫(たゆう)（和尚(おしょう)といった）の登場について、床几(しょうぎ)や持ち物を運ぶこともあった。この役柄が野郎歌舞伎時代の「道外方(どうけがた)」に受け継がれた。なお、民俗芸能や大道芸にも、猿若と名づける道化役や物真似芸を見せる芸人がいたことが知られる。

(2)1624年（寛永1）に猿若勘三郎が創始した猿若座（後の中村座）に、由緒のある「寿(ことぶき)家の狂言」として「猿若」という狂言を伝承していた。これは、主人に隠れて伊勢(いせ)参りをした下人が、主人の大名の叱責(しっせき)を逃れようと流行唄(はやりうた)まじりで道中話をする筋の単純な狂言で、そのなかに木遣音頭や獅子踊りなど、初期の猿若が得意にした芸が取り入れてある。

［服部幸雄］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例