Stick - Uchizue

Japanese: 打杖 - うちづえ

A prop used in Noh, Kyogen, and dance. It is used in the scenes in which the demon or dragon god in the after-jite part of plays such as "Momijigari," "Kasuga-Ryujin," and "Dojoji" attacks the opponent. It is T-shaped and about 70 cm long, and the thin bamboo is wrapped with cloth (kodan) in navy blue, white, red, or light green depending on the curve. The uchijo in Kyogen is a whip used in plays such as "Utsubozaru" and "Tsurigitsune," and is a thin female bamboo about 60 cm long. It is generally called a cane for punishment, but it was originally thought to be one of the weapons of demons and other foreign gods, and in folk belief it was also thought to be a cane that brings long life and revives the dead.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

能楽･狂言や舞踊などの小道具。《紅葉狩》《春日竜神》《道成寺》などで後ジテの鬼や竜神が相手方に打ちかかる演技等に使う。丁字形で長さ70cmほど，細竹に曲によって紺，白，赤，萌黄などの布(香緞)を巻く。狂言の打杖は《靱（うつぼ）猿》《釣狐》などに用いる鞭で約60cmほどの細い女竹。一般に折檻の杖を称する場合もあるが，本来は鬼など異神の武器の一つと考えられ，転じて民俗信仰では寿福をもたらしたり，死者を蘇らせたりする杖とも考えられた。

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

<<: Internal benefit - Naitoku

>>: Roan Uchida - Uchida Roan