Ryutei Tanehiko - Ryutei Tanehiko

A writer of readings and collections of volumes from the late Edo period. His real name was Takaya Tomohisa, and he was commonly known as Hikoshiro. His other names included Genshiro and Sokushinou. He served the shogunate for generations, and was a samurai retainer of the Kobushin group with a stipend of 200 koku. From a young age, he enjoyed painting, kyoka, and haiku, and was said to have been particularly fond of the theater and skilled in the voices of actors. He was a representative playwright of samurai origin who enjoyed the hobby lifestyle of the time. In 1807 (Bunka 4), he made his debut with the reading book "Awa no Naruto" and three other works, but he did not necessarily receive high praise as a reading book author. However, in 1811, he released his first work in a collection, "Suzuki Houcho Aoto no Kireaji," and broke new ground with the collection. In particular, he collaborated with Utagawa Kunisada, a master of actor portraits, and won unshakable fame with works such as "Shohon Jitate" (1815-1831) and "Nise Murasaki Inaka Genji" (1829-1842), which were composed in the style of plays. He incorporated complex changes in ideas into the tone of kabuki, and was permeated with the idea of ​​rewarding good and punishing evil, which placed importance on obligations, and his popularization of reading books in this way was widely supported by readers. In addition to writing comic stories, he also wrote famous works of research into the customs of the time, such as "Yoshabako" (1841) and "Sukikaeshi" (1826). In 1842 (Tenpo 13), during the Tenpo Reforms that were taking place at the time, rumors spread that "Inaka Genji" was a depiction of the Ooku, and he was ordered to cease publication. He became so distressed that he fell ill and died on July 19th. Some say that he committed suicide. He was buried at Jodo-ji Temple in Akasaka Hitotsugi. After his death, his disciple Ryutei Senka succeeded him as the second.

[Masahiro Tanahashi]

“Ryuutei Tanehiko” written by Akira Ikari (1965, Yoshikawa Kobunkan)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸後期の読本(よみほん)・合巻(ごうかん)作者。本名高屋知久(ともひさ)、通称彦四郎、別号は偐紫楼(げんしろう)、足薪翁(そくしんおう)など。代々幕府に仕え、小普請(こぶしん)組に属する食禄(しょくろく)200俵の旗本で、若年から絵画、狂歌、俳諧(はいかい)をたしなみ、ことに芝居通で役者の声色に巧みであったといわれ、当時の趣味的生活を満喫した武家出身の代表的戯作(げさく)者であった。1807年（文化4）読本『阿波之鳴門(あわのなると)』以下3作を発表して世に出るが、読本作者としてはかならずしも高い評価を得ることなく、やがて1811年に合巻初作『鱸庖丁青砥切味(すずきほうちょうあおとのきれあじ)』を出して以来合巻に新境地を開く。とくに役者似顔絵の名人歌川国貞(くにさだ)と提携し、戯曲風に構成された『正本製(しょうほんじたて)』（1815～1831）、『偐紫田舎源氏(にせむらさきいなかげんじ)』（1829～1842）などによって不動の名声を得た。歌舞伎(かぶき)の情調に複雑な趣向の変化を盛り込み、義理に重きを置く勧善懲悪の思想で貫かれ、こうした読本の平俗大衆化が読者に広く支持されるところであった。戯作のかたわら、『用捨箱(ようしゃばこ)』（1841）、『還魂紙料(すきかえし)』（1826）などの風俗考証の名著も残している。1842年（天保13）、おりからの天保(てんぽう)の改革にあたって、『田舎源氏』が大奥を写したとの風評がたち絶版を命じられ、憂悶(ゆうもん)のあまり発病して、7月19日没。一説には自殺とも伝えられる。赤坂一ツ木の浄土寺に葬られる。没後門弟の笠亭仙果(りゅうていせんか)が2世を継いだ。

［棚橋正博］

『伊狩章著『柳亭種彦』（1965・吉川弘文館）』

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