Chinese Sumo - Tozumo

The title of a kyogen piece. "Chinese Sumo" is the title of a piece in the Okura school, and is a side kyogen piece. In the Izumi school, it is called "Chinese Sumo" and is a miscellaneous kyogen piece. A Japanese sumo wrestler staying in China begs the emperor (shite), who appears with a lively entourage, to leave. The emperor forgives him and wishes to watch one more sumo match as a farewell. One after another, the Japanese entourage challenges him, and he defeats all of them. The emperor then takes off his costume in an exaggerated manner and challenges the Japanese, but becomes angry when a lowly person touches his body, and wraps a straw mat with holes for his hands around his body before wrestling. However, when the emperor is about to lose, everyone hurriedly makes the Japanese leave and takes the emperor off in a handcart. All performers except the Japanese and the tsuuji (interpreter) use Touon (a strange Chinese idiom unique to Kyogen). More than 20 people appear, making this the Kyogen piece with the largest number of performers. The sumo wrestling between the Japanese and their attendants is often humorous and acrobatic, depending on the style of the moment.

[Kobayashi, Responsible]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

狂言の曲名。『唐相撲』は大蔵流の曲名で脇(わき)狂言。和泉(いずみ)流では『唐人(とうじん)相撲』といい雑狂言。中国滞在中の日本の相撲取りが、供揃(ともぞろ)えもにぎやかに登場した皇帝（シテ）にいとまを願う。許した皇帝は名残(なごり)にもういちど相撲が見たいと望む。日本人が次々と立ち向かう供の者をみな負かしてしまう。すると皇帝は、自身相手になろうと、大げさな態度で装束を脱ぎ日本人に対するが、卑しい者が玉体に触ると怒り、手を通す穴のあいた菰(こも)を身体に巻き付けてから取り組む。しかし、皇帝が負けそうになると、一同は急いで日本人を退出させ、皇帝を手車に乗せて引き上げて行く。日本人と通辞(つうじ)（通訳）以外は唐音(とうおん)（狂言独特の珍妙な中国語）を使う。20人以上が登場、狂言中もっとも多人数の曲。日本人と供の者との相撲は多分にそのときの趣向でユーモラスなまたアクロバット的な演技をみせる。

［小林　責］

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