Bullfighting - Tougyu

Japanese: 闘牛 - とうぎゅう

A fighting sport in which a bullfighter fights a bull.

[Kuramochi Sadasuke]

history

Fighting between humans and bulls was practiced as a martial art in ancient Greece and Rome, but it is said that it was introduced to Europe when the Moors, who lived in Algeria and Morocco in northwestern Africa, invaded Spain in the early 8th century. Currently, it is particularly developed in Spain, where it is called fiesta (meaning festival) and is considered the national sport. Until the end of the 17th century, it was mainly performed among the royal family and aristocracy as entertainment at the royal court, but in the early 18th century, during the Bourbon dynasty, professional bullfighters began to appear, attracting general spectators as they do today, and strict staging methods and rules were established. Francisco Romero, who was from Andalusia in southern Spain, is said to be the founder of bullfighting, and even today many bullfighters are from this region.

[Kuramochi Sadasuke]

Spanish Bullfight

Bullfights in Spain take place every Sunday from Easter Sunday in the spring through November in arenas (bullrings) that are modeled after the Roman Colosseum and are set up in cities such as Madrid and Barcelona. The main bullfighter is called the matador, and there are two banderilleros who shoot the harpoon, two picadors who ride horses and stab the bull with a spear, and several assistants called peneos.

A bullfight begins with a procession through the arena, where the bullfighters are introduced. The bullfighters are all dressed in glittering clothing decorated with medieval gold and silver, and the solemn and magnificent performance creates an atmosphere unique to bullfighting. After the introduction of the bullfighters, the peneo opens the door, and the bull enters, guided by a guide. The most ferocious bulls are selected for this procession, and they are kept in a dark room for 24 hours before being brought into the bullring. First, the matador appears and excites the bull by waving a red cloth called a capote. The bull becomes wild when suddenly bathed in a bright light, and runs around the arena. Then the picador appears, and the matador leaves the arena for a while. The picador skillfully controls the horse and stabs the bull with a spear. The bull becomes even more wild. Next comes the banderillero, who, while dodging the bull's charge, drives six harpoons into its neck and back. As the harpoons are driven into the bull, the bull goes wilder and wilder, and the arena becomes filled with an eerie excitement. At this point, the main matador reappears with his sword and a red cloth wrapped around a stick called a muleta. He skillfully dodges the bull while luring it with the muleta, and after about 20 minutes of fighting, when the excitement in the arena reaches its climax, he stabs the bull, charging head-on, through the neck and heart with his sword, killing it. The highlight of the bullfight is these final 20 minutes or so, when the matador's movements as he controls the bull with the muleta from left to right in the center of the bullring are beautiful, combined with the splendor of his appearance.

Bullfighting has long been practiced in Spain, southern France, Portugal, Mexico, South America, and other countries, but the methods vary slightly from country to country. In Portugal, for example, it is prohibited to kill the bull in front of the audience, and leather bags are placed over the bull's horns to protect the bullfighter from injury.

[Kuramochi Sadasuke]

Bullfighting in Japan

In Japan, bullfights, where bullfighters fight with bulls, are not held, but in Niigata, Shimane, and Ehime prefectures, as well as Hachijojima in Tokyo, bullfights, where bulls fight against each other, have been held since ancient times and are called bullfights. In the old days, they were called tsunoawase (cow match), and there is a record that Emperor Goshirakawa watched a tsunoawase in 1178 (Jisho 2). The match is held in a ring surrounded by a fence, where the bulls push against each other and the bull that is defeated or loses the will to fight and runs away is declared the loser. In cattle breeding areas, it is held as one of the annual events in the name of improving the quality of the cattle, but often involves gambling. In Tokyo, at the beginning of the Taisho era, it was held as a show at the Kokugikan in Ryogoku, attracting general spectators, but in 1916 (Taisho 5), it was banned from the viewpoint of animal protection.

[Kuramochi Sadasuke]

Bullfighting
It has developed especially in Spain, where it is called Fiesta and is considered the national sport. It is held in an arena (bull ring) modeled after the Roman Colosseum. Valencia, Spain ©Shogakukan ">

Bullfighting

Bull horn butting
This is a traditional event held in the Yamakoshi district of Nagaoka City and Ojiya City in Niigata Prefecture. It is said to have a history of about 1,000 years and is also called "Echigo Bullfighting." Since it was originally a religious ceremony dedicated to the local deity, it is customary to always end in a draw without deciding the winner. Nationally designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property Ojiya City, Niigata Prefecture © Niigata Prefecture Tourism Association ">

Bull horn butting

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

闘牛士が雄ウシと戦う闘技。

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歴史

人間とウシが戦うことは、古代ギリシアやローマで武技として行われていたが、8世紀の初めアフリカ北西部のアルジェリア、モロッコ地方に住んでいたムーア人がスペインに侵入し、これをヨーロッパに伝えたといわれる。現在はスペインでとくに発達し、フィエスタfiesta（祭りの意）とよび国技とされている。17世紀末までは、もっぱら宮廷の楽しみとして王侯貴族の間で行われたが、18世紀の初めブルボン王朝の時代になって、現在のように一般の観客を集めてプロの闘牛士が登場するようになり、同時に厳しい演出方法や規則が定められた。闘牛士は、スペイン南部のアンダルシア出身のフランシスコ・ロメロが開祖といわれ、いまでもこの地方出身の闘牛士が多い。

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スペインの闘牛

スペインの闘牛は、毎年春の復活祭の日曜日から11月までの毎日曜日、マドリード、バルセロナなどの都市に設けられたローマのコロセウムをかたどったアレーナarena（闘牛場）で開催される。闘牛士は主役をマタドールmatadorといい、ほかにバンデリレロbanderilleroという銛(もり)を打ち込む役が2人、ピカドールpicadorというウマに乗って槍(やり)でウシを刺す役が2人、ペネオpeneoという助手数人で行われる。

　闘牛は、闘牛士の顔見せである場内行進から始まる。闘牛士は、すべて中世風の金銀で飾られたきらびやかな服装をまとい、厳粛華麗な演出とともに闘牛特有の雰囲気を醸し出す。闘牛士の紹介が終わり、ペネオが扉を開くと、ウシが先導役の誘導で入場する。このウシは、なるべく獰猛(どうもう)な雄ウシを選び、闘牛場に出す前24時間、暗黒の部屋に入れておく。まずマタドールが登場してカポーテcapoteという赤い布を翻しながらウシを興奮させる。ウシは急に明るい光を浴びて荒れ狂い、場内を駆け回る。ついでピカドールが登場し、マタドールはいったん退場する。ピカドールは巧みにウマを御(ぎょ)しながら槍でウシを刺す。ウシはますます荒れ狂う。続いてバンデリレロが登場、ウシの突進をかわしながら6本の銛をウシの首と背に打ち込む。銛が打ち込まれるにつれて、ウシはいよいよ狂いたち、場内が異様な興奮に包まれる。ここで主役のマタドールが剣と、ムレタmuletaという棒に巻いた赤い布を持ってふたたび登場する。ムレタでウシを誘いながら巧みに身をかわして戦うこと約20分、場内の興奮が最高潮に達したとき、正面から突進してくるウシの首から心臓にかけて剣を突き刺し、ウシを殺す。闘牛の見所は、この最後の約20分間で、マタドールが闘牛場の中央で右に左にムレタでウシを操る身のこなしは、そのいでたちの華麗さと相まって美しい。

　闘牛はスペインのほか、フランス南部、ポルトガル、メキシコ、南アメリカなどでも古くから行われているが、やり方は国によって多少違っている。ポルトガルなどでは観客の前でウシを殺すことを禁じ、闘牛士の危険防止のためウシの角に皮袋をかぶせている。

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日本の闘牛

日本では闘牛士がウシと戦う闘牛は行われていないが、新潟、島根、愛媛の各県、東京都八丈島などでウシとウシを戦わす牛角力が古くから行われており、これを闘牛といっている。古くは角合(つのあわ)せ（牛合せ）といい、1178年（治承2）に後白河(ごしらかわ)法皇が角合せを見物したという記録がある。勝負は、柵(さく)で囲った土俵の中でウシとウシが角を合わせて押し合い、押し負けるか、戦意を失って逃げたほうのウシを負けとする。ウシの産地では、品質改良の名目で年中行事の一つとして行われるが、賭(か)けを伴う場合が多い。東京では大正の初めごろ、両国の国技館で一般の観客を集め興行として行われたことがあるが、1916年（大正5）動物愛護の立場から禁じられた。

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闘牛

牛の角突き
新潟県長岡市山古志地区と小千谷市で行われる伝統行事。約1000年の歴史をもつといわれ、「越後闘牛」ともよばれる。もともと鎮守へ奉納する神事であるため、勝負をつけず、必ず引き分けにするのが習わしである。国指定重要無形民俗文化財　新潟県小千谷市©公益社団法人新潟県観光協会">

牛の角突き

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例

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