Kagekiyo Shusse - Shusse Kagekiyo

Joruri Gidayubushi. Historical piece. 5 acts. Written by Chikamatsu Monzaemon. First performed in February 1685 (Jokyo 2) at the Takemotoza Theater in Osaka. Based on the Noh play "Daibutsu Kuyo" (Great Buddha Memorial Service), the Kowaka Dance, and the old Joruri "Kagekiyo", this piece depicts the deeds of Akushichibei Kagekiyo, a surviving retainer of the Heike clan after their downfall. Kagekiyo, who continued to endure hardships in his quest for revenge against Minamoto no Yoritomo, was finally captured and beheaded, but was brought back to life by Kiyomizu Kannon Bodhisattva. Yoritomo, impressed by the miracle, pardoned him, and after that, to rid himself of his worldly desires, he gouged out both his eyes to become blind, and went down to Hyuga Island. During this time, the story includes events such as Kagekiyo disguising himself as a laborer for the reconstruction of Todaiji Temple, only to be discovered by Hatakeyama Shigetada, his lover Akoya being persuaded by her brother Juzo to sue out of jealousy, Kagekiyo's wife Onohime, the daughter of Atsuta Daigūji, being tortured, Akoya having repented and taking her own life, and Kagekiyo, who is imprisoned, breaking out of prison and killing Juzo. This was the first work that Chikamatsu did in collaboration with Takemoto Gidayū I, and it was a groundbreaking work that marked the beginning of a dramatic new style of Joruri that distinguished it from the narrative-based old Joruri. It is the basis of many "Kagekiyo-mono" (Kagekiyo's Tale), and includes the original forms of "Kagekiyo's Prison Break" and "Akoya's Koto Torture."

[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。1685年（貞享2）2月、大坂・竹本座初演。謡曲『大仏供養(だいぶつくよう)』や幸若(こうわか)舞曲・古浄瑠璃の『景清』をもとに、平家滅亡後の遺臣悪七兵衛景清の事跡を描いたもの。源頼朝(よりとも)への復讐(ふくしゅう)に辛苦を続けた景清が、ついに捕らえられて首を討たれるが、清水観世音(きよみずかんぜおん)の身替りで生き返り、その霊験に感じた頼朝から赦免されたあと、煩悩(ぼんのう)を払うべく自ら両眼をえぐって盲目になり、日向(ひゅうが)島へ下るまで。この間、景清が東大寺再建の人夫となって入り込み畠山重忠(はたけやましげただ)に見破られること、愛人阿古屋(あこや)が兄十蔵にそそのかされ嫉妬(しっと)のために訴人すること、景清の妻である熱田(あつた)大宮司の娘小野姫が拷問されること、改悟した阿古屋が自害し、入牢(じゅろう)した景清が牢を破って十蔵を殺すことなどを織り込んでいる。近松が初世竹本義太夫と提携した第一作で、説話的な古浄瑠璃と一線を画する劇的な新浄瑠璃の端緒になった画期的な作品。数多い「景清物」の基本で、「牢破りの景清」「阿古屋の琴責め」などの原型も含む。

［松井俊諭］

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