The Miraculous Tale of Tsubosaka - Tsubosaka Miraculous Tale

Joruri Gidayubushi (a type of Japanese recital). Sewamono (a domestic drama). One act. Commonly known as "Tsubosaka." The original author is unknown. It was adapted by Toyosawa Danpei II and his wife Kakochiga. It premiered in October 1879 (Meiji 12) at the Oebashi Theatre in Osaka. It was a revised composition by Danpei and his wife of the Joruri "Kannon Reijoki," written about four years earlier, but Danpei later revised it and performed it as "Sawaichiuchi no Dan" from "Sanjusansho Hana no Yama" at the Hikorokuza Theatre in Osaka in February 1887, which became the current version. When the blind man Sawaichi, who lives in the village of Tsubosaka in Yamato Province, learns that his wife Osato prays to the Kannon Bodhisattva at Tsubosaka Temple every night for her husband's eyesight to be opened, he is grateful for her faithfulness and the two of them make a pilgrimage to Tsubosaka. However, thinking that the disease is incurable, he decides to do it for his wife's happiness and throws himself into the valley. When Osato follows her, the Kannon Bodhisattva appears and saves the couple's lives, and Sawaichi opens his eyes. The performance by Takemoto Osumidayu III and Danpei is well-received, and the piece becomes a popular Gidayubushi piece. In the following year, 1888, it was adapted into a Kabuki play. Although the structure is simple, the strength lies in the beauty of the simple love between husband and wife, and the kudoki (a chant) beginning with "With my brother who is three years younger than me" in which Osato cries and pleads innocence after her husband suspects her of being unfaithful is well-known.

[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)。世話物。一段。通称「壺坂」。原作者未詳。2世豊沢団平(とよざわだんぺい)と妻加古千賀(かこちが)の改作。1879年（明治12）10月、大阪・大江橋席初演。4年ほど前に書かれた浄瑠璃『観音(かんのん)霊場記』を団平夫妻が補訂作曲したものだが、その後団平が改曲し、87年2月の大阪・彦六座で「卅三所(さんじゅうさんしょ)花の山」のうち「沢市(さわいち)内の段」として上演したのが現行曲となった。大和(やまと)国壺坂の里に住む座頭(ざとう)沢市は、妻お里が夫の眼(め)のあくよう毎夜壺坂寺の観世音へ祈願しているのを知ってその貞節に感謝し、2人で壺坂へ詣(もう)でるが、しょせん治らぬ眼病と思い、女房の幸せのためと覚悟して谷底へ身を投げ、お里も後を追うと、観世音が奇瑞(きずい)を現して夫婦の命を助け、沢市の眼を開かせる。3世竹本大隅(おおすみ)太夫と団平の演奏が評判で義太夫節の人気曲となる。翌88年には、歌舞伎(かぶき)にも移された。簡潔な構成ながら、素朴な夫婦愛の美しさが長所で、夫に操を疑われたお里が泣いて潔白を訴える「三つ違いの兄(あに)さんと」以下のクドキが有名。

［松井俊諭］

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