Chikamatsu Monzaemon

Chikamatsu Monzaemon (Japanese: 近松門左衛門; real name Sugimori Nobumori, 杉森信盛, 1653?6 January 1724) was a Japanese dramatist of jōruri, the form of puppet theater that later came to be known as bunraku, and the live-actor drama, kabuki. Chikamatsu is known as the Japanese Shakespeare, for his assortment of plays staged by puppets in the early era of bunraku stage plays. He wrote mainly for theaters in Kyoto or Osaka.

Related Topics:
Japanese - 1653 - 6 January - 1724 - Japan - Drama - Jōruri - Bunraku - Kabuki - Kyoto - Osaka

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Chikamatsu was born in a samurai family. It is disputable where he was born. The most supported theory says he was born in Echizen province, but there are other candidates for his birthplace including Hagi, Natago province. His father, Sugimori Nobuyoshi served the daimyo Matsudaira in Echizen as a medical doctor. Chikamatsu's younger brother became a medical doctor. Chikamatsu himself wrote a book for caring health.

Related Topics:
Samurai - Echizen province - Hagi - Natago province

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In those days, doctors who served daimyos held samurai status. But his father lost his office and became a ronin. Chikamatsu moved to Kyoto with his father. For some years, it is unknown what they did. In 1703 his play on Soga brothers was performed in Kyoto and Chikamatsu became known as a playwright. Chikamatsu was the first known Japanese playwrite to not also act in the pieces he wrote. Throughout his life it is thought that Chikamatsu wrote a total of around 100 plays.

Related Topics:
Ronin - Kyoto

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