- Kanjinchō
Infobox Play | name = Kanjinchō
勧進帳
caption = Ichikawa Ebizō V as Benkei (front) and Ichikawa Danjūrō VIII as Togashi in the 1840 production of "Kanjinchō"
writer =Namiki Gohei III
chorus =
characters = Yoshitsune,Benkei , Togashi
mute =
setting = A gate on a post road,
c. 1160–80.
date of premiere = March 1840,Kawarazaki-za ,Edo
country of Origin =Japan
original language = Japanese
series =
subject =
genre = "jidaimono ""Kanjinchō" (勧進帳, "The Subscription List") is a
Japan esekabuki play by Namiki Gohei III, based on theNoh play "Ataka". It is one of the most popular plays in the modern kabuki repertory.Belonging to the repertories of the Naritaya and Kōritaya guilds, the play was first performed in March 1840 at the
Kawarazaki-za , inEdo .Ichikawa Ebizō V , Ichikawa Kuzō II, andIchikawa Danjūrō VIII played the leading roles ofBenkei , Togashi, and Yoshitsune, respectively. The lines ofIchikawa Danjūrō andMatsumoto Kōshirō have come to be particularly celebrated for playing the role of Benkei in "Kanjinchō".Though bearing the same name and general narrative concept as a 1702 play, one of the "
Kabuki Jūhachiban ", the modern version of "Kanjinchō", going back to 1840, is believed to not be directly derived from or connected to this earlier "aragoto " piece.Akira Kurosawa 's film "The Men who Tread on the Tiger's Tail " is partly based on "Kanjinchō".ummary
Hypothetically taking place in the mid- to late 12th century, the play begins with a local noble called Togashi Saemon, who is charged with defending a particular gate along the road. He warns his men to be vigilant, for Minamoto no Yoshitsune, the great warrior of the
Minamoto clan , is said to be traveling on the road, disguised as a porter.Yoshitsune and Benkei enter to music and begin to explain to Togashi that they are simple priests journeying around the northern provinces, seeking donations for the
Tōdai-ji in Nara. Togashi thus asks that they prove themselves to be priests and asks for a "kanjinchō", a subscription list of those who have donated already. Benkei, having been a mountain ascetic ("yamabushi "), is educated in traditional Buddhist teachings and has little trouble passing as a priest. But he does not have a "kanjinchō"; so, in a particularly famous moment in kabuki, he pulls out a blank scroll and begins reading from it as if it were a real subscription list.Though Togashi soon gets a look at the blank sheet, he admires Benkei's skill and daring, and lets the pair pass anyway after asking a series of difficult questions about Buddhism and the life of a priest. Benkei, of course, answers these all correctly.
About to escape entirely, the pair are stopped when one of Togashi's guards notices that the porter looks like Yoshitsune. Benkei, thinking quickly, pretends that Yoshitsune is simply his personal porter and begins to beat him for arousing suspicion and causing trouble. Again, Togashi sees through the ruse, but pretends not to, on account of Benkei's devotion to his master. Continuing on past the gate, Yoshitsune thanks his friend, who apologizes for beating him and bursts into tears—for, supposedly, the first time in his adult life.
The play ends traditionally, with Benkei dancing to celebrate his triumph.
References
* [http://kabuki21.com/kanjincho.php Kanjinchō at Kabuki21.com]
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