Tachibana Kyokuou

Japanese: 橘旭翁 - たちばなきょくおう

Head of the Chikuzen Biwa Tachibana School and chairman of the Asahi-kai. (1) First Generation (1848-1919, Kaei 1-Taisho 8) He was called Asahi-o in 1911. His real name was Chijo. He was a blind monk in Hakata who was involved in the Kojin Biwa. In his forties, he visited Kagoshima for six months and learned the Satsuma Biwa, which he had always admired. After returning home, he tried to modify the instrument, create new styles of music, and write sheet music. The essence of this musical innovation was to break away from religiosity and to approach shamisen music, which resulted in the creation of a form of elegantly sung melody.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

筑前琵琶橘流の宗家，旭会（あさひかい）会長。(1)初世(1848‐1919∥嘉永1‐大正8)　旭翁の名は1911年より。本名智定（ちじよう）。博多の盲僧として荒神（こうじん）琵琶に携わっていた。40歳代で鹿児島を半年間訪れて，あこがれの薩摩琵琶を習い，帰郷後楽器の改作，新様式の作品創作，楽譜作成を試みた。この音楽的革新の骨子は，宗教性からの脱却，三味線音楽への接近であったので，結果として優雅にうたう旋律の型がつくられた。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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