Aigo no Waka

The title of a sekkyo joruri piece. The year of its creation is unknown, but a version published in January of 1661 (Manji 4) remains. It was conceived as a genjimono of Hiyoshi Sanno Gongen, based on the story in volume 4 of Konjaku Monogatari, "Prince Kunara's eyes were gouged out and he gained them through the power of the law." During the dynasty period, Nijo Kurando Kiyohira and his wife prayed to Hatsuse Kannon and were blessed with a boy named Aigowaka. When he grew up, his stepmother Kumoino Mae fell in love with him, but he rejected her. In retaliation, he was branded as the culprit of the theft of the treasures handed down through the Nijo family, and was also tormented by various schemes. In despair and anger, Aigowaka puts a will to his father in the sleeve of his kimono, hangs it on a tree branch, and throws himself into the Kiryu Falls at the eastern foot of Mount Hiei to his death. After that, Aigowaka's suspicions are cleared and he is enshrined as Sanno Gongen. Along with "Karukaya" and "Sansho Dayu," this work is beloved as one of the five sekkyo (five-story sutras), and has had a strong influence on later joruri, kabuki, and music. Among the adapted works are the original version of Takemoto Gidayu's "Fuji in the Capital," the original version of Musashi Gondayu's "The Original Land of Hiyoshi Sanno," Kino Kaion's "Negura no Hako," and "Aigo Waka Famous Victory Cry" by Chikamatsu Hanji and others. It is particularly interesting to note that the concept of "Setsubun Gappo Gatsuji" by Suga Sensuke and others shows a great influence from the sekkyo joruri "Aigo Waka."

[Kazuo Sekiyama]

"Aigo Waka" (compiled by Araki Shigeru and Yamamoto Kisso, annotated and included in Setsugeishubushi, 1973, Heibonsha)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

説経浄瑠璃(じょうるり)の曲名。成立年は不明であるが、1661年（万治4）正月刊行の版本が残されている。『今昔物語』巻4にある「狗拏羅(くなら)太子眼(まなこ)を抉(くじ)り法力に依(よ)りて眼を得たる語(こと)」により、日吉(ひえ)山王権現の本地物として仕組んだもの。王朝時代に、二条蔵人清平(くらんどきよひら)夫妻が初瀬観音に祈願して授かった愛護若は、成長して継母(ままはは)の雲井前に恋慕されたが、それを拒絶したため、その報復として二条家伝来の宝物盗難の犯人の汚名をきせられ、そのうえ、さまざまな計略で苦しめられる。愛護若は、絶望と悲憤の果てに父への遺書を小袖(こそで)の袂(たもと)に入れて木の枝にかけ、比叡山(ひえいざん)東麓(とうろく)の霧生の滝に身を投げて死ぬ。その後、愛護若は疑いが晴れて山王権現として祀(まつ)られるという内容。『かるかや』『さんせう太夫(だゆう)』などとともに五説経の一つとして親しまれ、後の浄瑠璃、歌舞伎(かぶき)、音曲に強い影響を与えた。改作物として竹本義太夫(ぎだゆう)の正本『都の冨士(ふじ)』、武蔵権太夫(むさしごんだゆう)の正本『日吉山王(ひえさんのう)の本地』、紀海音(きのかいおん)の『愛護若塒箱(ねぐらのはこ)』、近松半二らの『愛護若名歌勝鬨(めいかのかちどき)』などが現れ、とくに菅専助(すがせんすけ)らの『摂州合邦辻(せっしゅうがっぽうがつじ)』の構想には、説経浄瑠璃『愛護若』の大きな影響がみられて興味深い。

［関山和夫］

『『愛護若』（荒木繁・山本吉左右編・注『説経節』所収1973・平凡社）』

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