Circles of Fantasy: Convention in the Plays of Chikamatsu

by C. Andrew Gerstle

The vibrant merchant culture of Tokugawa Japan gave rise to many new forms of art, none more fascinating than the puppet theater, Jōruri, created chiefly by Chikamatsu Monzaemon, the foremost playwright of popular Japanese drama. In this analysis of Chikamatsu's artistry, Dr. Gerstle focuses on features hitherto neglected by Western scholars the musical structure of Jōruri, integral to the form, mood, and movement of the drama. For extensive translations from the various types of Chikamatsu's dramas, Gerstle supplies the musical notations, which illuminate the sophisticated conventions of this unique and timeless artistic form. Chikamatsu's art, combining puppets, text, samisen music, and chanting/narration, encompasses three major types of drama--history, contemporary-life, and love-suicide plays--each with distinct structural features. Gerstle shows how the music of Jōruri, a mixture of the samisen and chanting/narration, supplements the texts and expresses a dramatized action or emotion through complex changes in pitch, tempo, and style of delivery. Richly illustrated with woodblock prints, this is a fascinating study, which will be welcomed by scholars of Japanese culture, literature, and musicology.

248 pages, Paperback

First published April 25, 1986

Reviews

[Nicola ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent in-depth study of some of Chikamatsu's key works by one of my teachers (who is the expert in this field!). Found lots of useful information for my essay.

[Alice Jennings · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was alright. It doesn't cover all his plays. However the author himself is the main person to go to for Japanese Chikamatsu plays