The Love Suicides at Sonezaki

Japanese: 曾根崎心中 - そねざきしんじゅう

Joruri. Sewamono. 3 volumes, 1 act. Written by Chikamatsu Monzaemon. First performed at the Takemotoza in Osaka in 1703 (Genroku 16). It is an adaptation of the double suicide of Ohatsu and Tokubei that occurred in the same year. Tokubei, a clerk at the Hiranoya soy sauce shop in Honmachi, Osaka, fell deeply in love with Ohatsu, a prostitute in Dojima Shinchi, and refused to marry his master's niece, incurring his master's wrath. He was then tricked by his friend Kuheiji out of the money he was supposed to return to his master, and he committed double suicide with Ohatsu in the forest at Sonezaki Tenjin. This was Chikamatsu's first Sewamono Joruri, and is a typical example of a Chikamatsu tragedy in which a young man and woman from the common people commit double suicide after struggling with the conflicts of love, money, and obligation. It was said to have been such a big hit that it paid off the Takemotoza's long-standing debts in one go. It was also performed as a Kabuki play.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

浄瑠璃。世話物。3巻，1段。近松門左衛門作。元禄 16 (1703) 年大坂竹本座初演。同年に起ったお初徳兵衛の心中事件を脚色。大坂内本町醤油屋平野屋の手代徳兵衛は，堂島新地の遊女お初と深く契り，主人の姪との縁談を拒絶したため，主人の怒りを買い，さらに主人に返却すべき金を友人九平次にだまし取られて，ついに曾根崎天神の森でお初と心中する。近松の最初の世話浄瑠璃で，若い庶民の男女が，恋と金と義理との葛藤の末に心中する近松悲劇の典型。竹本座の年来の負債を一気に返すほどの大当りをとったという。歌舞伎でも上演。

出典　ブリタニカ国際大百科事典小項目事典ブリタニカ国際大百科事典小項目事典について　情報

<<: Sonnet (English spelling)

>>: Sonezaki