The Tale of Shozo Namiki - The Tale of Shozo Namiki

Japanese: 並木正三一代噺 - なみきしょうぞういちだいばなし

A biography of a kabuki playwright. This biography describes the life of the first Namiki Shozo, who died in 1773 (An'ei 2), with a focus on his works and reputation. It was published in 1785 (Tenmei 5), the thirteenth anniversary of Shozo's death. The inscription reads "Namiki Shozo Ichidaibanashi" (The Tale of Shozo Namiki's Life) and the subtitle is "Namiki Shozo Kyogen Zarae (The Capture of Kyogen)." The author has traditionally been identified as Namiki Gohei, but it has now been discovered to be the second Namiki Senryu (Okinasuke). The identity of Iriga-en-no-shu, who wrote the preface, is unknown. The book is mainly a chronological listing of the titles of about 80 works by Shozo, from his first work, "The Blacksmith's Daughter's Omi Uwasa" (Rumors of a Blacksmith's Daughter's Hand-Oi), to his last work, "Japan's First Mekari Shinto Ceremony," and lacks any insight into the person, but it does discuss his activities as a playwright, episodes from his past, and his taste for props.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

歌舞伎作者の伝記。1773年(安永2)に没した初世並木正三の一生を，作品と評判を中心に記述した伝記。正三の十三回忌に当たる1785年(天明5)刊。題簽は〈並木正三一代噺〉，内題は〈並木正三狂言攫（ざらえ）〉。作者は従来並木五瓶とされてきたが，2世並木千柳(翁輔)と判明した。序文を書いた入我園主人に関しては不詳。正三の初作《鍛冶屋娘手追噂》から絶筆《日本第一和布刈神事》まで約80編の作品名の年代的羅列が主で，人物についての考察に欠けるが，作者としての動向やエピソード，大道具の趣向などについても述べられている。

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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