Hikosan Gongen Seisuke Sword - Hikosan Gongen nearby sword

Joruri Gidayu (Japanese traditional puppet theatre). Historical piece. 11 acts. A collaboration between Umeno Shitakaze and Chikamatsu Yasuzo. The play premiered in the leap month of October 1786 (Tenmei 6) at Dotonbori Higashi in Osaka. It is an adaptation of the story of Keyamura Rokusuke's revenge (1586) from the true story Toyotomi Chinzei Gunki and other sources. Yoshioka Ichimisai, a martial arts instructor for the Choshu clan, was ambushed by Kyogoku Takumi due to a grudge over a match in front of the shogun, and his family line was wiped out. Ichimisai's elder sister Osono, a strong woman skilled in martial arts, sets out to avenge her father's death with her mother Oko and younger sister Okiku. Okiku is killed in retaliation by Takumi at Suma Bay, but her son Yasamatsu escapes and is picked up by Kedanimura Rokusuke, a master of martial arts who lives at the foot of Mount Hiko. Osono passes by Rokusuke's house dressed as a komuso monk and spots Yasamatsu's kimono. Thinking Rokusuke is a thief, she slashes at him, but soon learns that he is a disciple of Ichimisai and is engaged to be with Osono. Oyuki also arrives, and learns that the ronin named Mijindanjo, who took advantage of Saizen Rokusuke's filial piety to get him to give up the victory in the match to become a government official, is actually Takumi under a pseudonym, and the group bravely sets out to avenge their enemy.

The ninth act, "Keyamura," is a pleasant scene set against the backdrop of a farmhouse in early spring, featuring the filial and martial arts expert Rokusuke as the main character, and is popular in kabuki, giving the play a nickname. Osono's performance in her role as a "female martial artist" is also interesting. On rare occasions, the fifth act, which depicts the departure of Ichimisai's family to seek revenge, and the scenes that follow are performed.

[Toshiaki Matsui]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

浄瑠璃義太夫(じょうるりぎだゆう)節。時代物。11段。梅野下風(うめのしたかぜ)・近松保蔵(やすぞう)合作。1786年（天明6）閏(うるう)10月、大坂道頓堀東(どうとんぼりひがし)の芝居初演。実録『豊臣(とよとみ)鎮西軍記』などにある毛谷村六助(けやむらろくすけ)の仇討(あだうち)（1586）を脚色。長州藩の武芸指南番吉岡一味斎(いちみさい)は、御前試合の遺恨から京極内匠(きょうごくたくみ)に闇討(やみうち)され、家は断絶する。一味斎の姉娘お園は武術に優れた女丈夫で、母お幸(こう)、妹お菊とともに仇討に出立する。お菊は須磨(すま)の浦で内匠のため返り討にあい、その子弥三松(やさまつ)は逃れて英彦山(ひこさん)の麓(ふもと)に住む武芸の達人毛谷村六助に拾われる。お園は虚無僧(こむそう)姿で六助の家を通りかかり、弥三松の着物をみつけ六助を盗賊と思って切りつけるが、すぐに彼が一味斎の弟子で、お園とは許嫁(いいなずけ)の仲ということがわかる。お幸も来合わせ、最前六助の孝心を利用して仕官のための試合に勝ちを譲らせた微塵弾正(みじんだんじょう)という浪人こそ内匠の変名と知れ、一同は勇んで敵討(かたきうち)に向かう。

　九段目「毛谷村」は、早春の農家を背景に親孝行で武勇の達人六助を主人公にした快い場面なので、歌舞伎(かぶき)でも人気があり、全体の通称のようになっている。「女武道」といわれる役柄のお園の演技もおもしろい。まれに、一味斎一家の仇討出立を描いた五段目と、それ以後の場が上演される。

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