Nabeshima Incident - Nabeshima Incident

One of the family disputes in the Edo period. A dramatization of the transition of power from the Ryuzoji clan to the senior vassal Nabeshima clan in the Hizen Saga domain, later seen from the Ryuzoji clan's perspective. Known as the "Cat Ghost Incident." The Saga domain has a rare historical characteristic in Japan, in that the lord of the domain was changed due to the intervention of the government authorities, and the domain transitioned from the Ryuzoji Saga domain to the Nabeshima Saga domain. However, this was not a case of overthrowing the ruling class or the Nabeshima clan seizing power, but rather the government authorities ratifying the separation of the family headship (the Ryuzoji clan) and the ruling power (the Nabeshima clan), which had already been established under the Ryuzoji regime, and this was settled in 1607 (Keicho 12) when Katsushige, the eldest son of Nabeshima Naoshige, inherited the family headship of the Ryuzoji clan. Takafusa Ryuzoji, who was obsessed with inheriting the headship of the Ryuzoji family, attempted suicide in March of that year and later died in September, and the following month his father Masaie (Takanobu's son) also died of an illness. Takafusa's surviving son Hakuan repeatedly sued the shogunate to restore Ryuzoji, but his lawsuits were rejected and he was placed in the custody of the Aizu domain. The scenario for the "Cat Ghost Incident" was prepared under these circumstances, and became widely known and dramatized. In addition to "Hana no Saga Nekomatazōshi" (1853) by Segawa Jōkō III, a kabuki kyogen actor, there are also versions based on the events of the time and stories.

[Fujino Tamotsu]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸時代の御家騒動の一つ。肥前佐賀藩における龍造寺(りゅうぞうじ)氏から重臣鍋島氏への政権交代を、後世、龍造寺氏の立場から劇化したもの。「猫化け騒動」で知られる。佐賀藩は、公儀権力の介入によって藩主が交代し、龍造寺佐賀藩から鍋島佐賀藩に移行するという、全国にもまれにみる歴史的特質をもつ。しかし、それは下剋上(げこくじょう)でも、鍋島氏の政権奪取でもなく、すでに龍造寺体制のもとで定着していた家督（龍造寺氏）と支配権（鍋島氏）の分離を、公儀権力が追認したものであり、それは、1607年（慶長12）、鍋島直茂(なおしげ)の嫡子勝茂が龍造寺氏の家督を相続することで決着した。龍造寺家の家督相続に執着した龍造寺高房は、同年3月自殺未遂、のち9月に死亡、翌月には父政家(まさいえ)（隆信(たかのぶ)の子）も病死した。高房の遺子伯庵(はくあん)は、幕府に対し龍造寺再興の訴訟を繰り返したが、却下され会津藩お預けの身となった。「猫化け騒動」のシナリオは、このような事情のもとで準備され、人口に膾炙(かいしゃ)し、劇化された。歌舞伎(かぶき)狂言の3世瀬川如皐(じょこう)作『花嵯峨猫魔稗史(はなのさがねこまたぞうし)』（1853）のほか、実録本、講談などがある。

［藤野　保］

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