Ring drum - Ryugo

A wooden top shaped like a drum with a narrowed center. Drum top. Aerial top. Also called diabolo. It is played with by hanging two thin bamboo sticks with a long string attached to the end in both hands, maneuvering the narrowed part of the top up and down with both hands to spin the drum and throw it up into the air, then scooping it up again. It is unique in that it is played with in the air, not spun on the ground. It was popular in China during the Tang dynasty, and was introduced to Japan during the Heian period, where it was played as a type of acrobatics under the name of ring drum. It was named after its shape and the way it is played with. It became popular during the Kamakura period and was used as a children's plaything, but after the Muromachi period, it was performed on the streets by Hokashi, who had left Noh, and became a profession. It declined during the Edo period, but was revived under the name of diabolo in the late Meiji period and became popular again. It was introduced from China to Europe, and was popular from the 19th to 20th centuries, and was introduced to Japan. Even today, they can be seen as local toys (gangu) in hot spring areas of Kyushu and the Tohoku region.

[Ryosuke Saito]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中央がくびれて鼓(つづみ)の形をした木製独楽(こま)。鼓独楽。空中独楽。デアボロdiaboloともいう。2本の細い竹の先に長い糸をつけたものを両手に持ち、独楽のくびれた部分を糸にかけ両手で上下に操って鼓を回しながら空中に投げ上げ、またすくい取ったりして遊ぶ。地面で回す独楽ではなく、空中で操って遊ぶところに特徴がある。中国では古く唐代に流行し、日本には平安時代に渡来し、輪鼓の名で曲芸の一種としてもてあそばれた。その形と遊び方からこの名がついた。鎌倉時代には大衆化されて子供の遊具にもなったが、さらに室町時代以後は、能から離れた放下師(ほうかし)が街頭で演じて業とした。江戸時代には衰退したが、明治後期からデアボロの名で復活して流行した。中国からヨーロッパに伝わり、19世紀から20世紀にかけて流行したものが日本にも渡来したものである。現在でも九州や東北地方の温泉地などに郷土玩具(がんぐ)としてみられる。

［斎藤良輔］

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