Takiginou - Firewood Noh

(1) Shinto Noh originated from the offering of firewood at the Shunie ceremony of Kofuku-ji Temple in Nara. It is a performing art that accompanies the collection of firewood for the sacred fire to welcome the guardian deity of Buddhism, and was also called Takigi Sarugaku or Takigi no Shinto Ritual. It is unclear when it began, but it is thought to have been in the mid-13th century. Kan'ami, the founder of Noh, promised the temple that he would attend eternal sankin in February, and Zeami wrote that it was "the first sacred ritual of the year." It was the most important event for the four troupes that developed with Kofuku-ji Temple as their mother: Konparu, Kanze, Hosho, and Kongo. After Noh came under the direct control of the Edo Shogunate, the Kanze troupe was exempt from attendance, and the other troupes also adopted a two-troupe rotation system. Following "Okina the Curse-Haster" on February 5th, performances were held for seven days starting on the 6th, but were suspended for a time during the Meiji Restoration and World War II. Today, it is performed on May 11th and 12th on the Hannya Lawn in front of the Great Southern Gate, in accordance with ancient customs, led by executive officers dressed as warrior monks. At the same time, "Okina the Curse-Haster" is performed at Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and "Gosha Nobori Noh" is performed at Kasuga Wakamiya Shrine, passing on the ancient form of Noh tradition to the present day.

(2) Outdoor Noh performances, also called Takigi Noh, became popular after the Second World War, beginning with the Kyoto Takigi no Noh at Heian Shrine in Kyoto in 1950 (Showa 25). This trend has now spread and become established in over 100 cities, temples and shrines across the country. Some of these performances, which are held as a way to cool off in the summer, attract more than 10,000 spectators. Some are held against the backdrop of scenic sites such as Himeji Castle or Shimabara Castle, or Suizenji Park, Miho no Matsubara, and Shinjuku Gyoen in Kumamoto, but most are dedicated to shrines and temples, such as Meiji Shrine, Hikawa Shrine in Omiya, Senso-ji Temple in Tokyo, Gokoku Shrine in Fukuoka, and Daito Shrine in Kamakura. New types of takigi Noh and takigi Noh as shows are on the rise, such as electronic takigi Noh using laser beams and synthesizers, takigi Noh in urban spaces filled with buildings, and outdoor theaters in amusement parks. Overseas, takigi Noh have also been held in places such as the Pope's villa in the Vatican and in the park below the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

[Masuda Shozo]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

(1)奈良・興福寺の修二会(しゅにえ)の際の薪献進に始まる神事能。仏法の守護神を迎えるための聖火の薪の採取に伴う芸能で、薪猿楽(たきぎさるがく)、薪の神事とも称された。始まった時期についてははっきりしないが、13世紀なかばと推定される。能の始祖、観阿弥(かんあみ)が2月であれば永代参勤を寺と約束し、世阿弥(ぜあみ)は「一年中の御神事始めなり」と書いている。興福寺を母胎として発達した金春(こんぱる)、観世(かんぜ)、宝生(ほうしょう)、金剛(こんごう)の四つの座にとって、なによりだいじな行事であった。能が江戸幕府直属となってからは、観世座は出勤が免除され、他の座も二座交替制となった。2月5日の「呪師(しし)走りの翁(おきな)」に続き、6日から晴天7日間の演能が行われたが、明治維新や第二次世界大戦で一時とだえたこともあった。今日では5月11、12日に、元南大門の前の般若(はんにゃ)の芝で、古式にのっとり僧兵姿の執行役の進行により行われる。同時に春日(かすが)大社では「呪師走りの翁」、春日若宮では「御社上(ごしゃのぼ)りの能」が舞われ、能の古い伝承の姿を今日に伝えている。

(2)薪能を称する野外能が盛んになったのは、第二次世界大戦後の新しい傾向で、1950年（昭和25）京都・平安神宮の「京都薪之能」以来のことである。この傾向は現在では全国の100か所以上の都市や寺社に広まって定着している。夏の納涼を兼ねた催しとして、なかには1万人を超す観客を動員する例もある。姫路城や島原城、あるいは熊本の水前寺公園、三保松原(みほのまつばら)、新宿御苑(ぎょえん)などの名勝を背景とするものもあるが、明治神宮、大宮の氷川(ひかわ)神社、東京の浅草寺、福岡の護国神社、鎌倉の大塔宮など、神社、仏閣に奉納の形をとることが多い。レーザー光線とシンセサイザーによるエレクトロニクス薪能が催されたり、ビルの林立する都市空間の薪能、あるいは遊園地の野外劇場が用いられるなど、新機軸の薪能、ショーとしての薪能も増えつつある。海外でも、バチカンの法王の別荘、あるいはパリのエッフェル塔の下の公園などでも薪能が催された。

［増田正造］

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