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Kōwakamai (''kouwakamai'', 幸若舞, こうわかまい ) is a type of ''kusemai'', or recitative dance, which was popular during Japan’s Muromachi Period (1333-1573 C.E.). Although kōwakamai has dance and musical components, scholars consider its textual component as an independent literary genre.〔Oyler, Elizabeth. Swords, Oaths, and Prophetic Visions. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 2006.〕 Kōwakamai is thought to date back 700 years (14th century), sharing its origins in traditional court dance and music with ''nō'' and ''kabuki''.〔Asahara Yoshiko and Kitahara Yasuo, eds. “Kaisetsu." In, ''Mai no hon''. Shin Nihon koten bungaku taikei, vol. 59, 589-620. Tokyo: Iwanami Shoten, 1989.〕 Kōwakamai is performed every year on January 20 at Tenman-jinja, a shintō shrine in Ōe. ==History== Kōwakamai (along with nō) is a form of entertainment enjoyed by warrior-class families during Japan’s medieval age. Kōwakamai performances were celebratory but also the cause for sorrow. Many of the pieces are sorrowful tales, ranging from resoundingly sympathetic tales dealing with the loss of life and defeat.〔Asahara Yoshiko and Kitahara Yasuo, eds. “Kaisetsu." In, ''Mai no hon''. Shin Nihon koten bungaku taikei, vol. 59, 589-620. Tokyo: Iwanami Shoten, 1989.〕 The piece titled “Atsumori” which depicts Taira no Atsumori () and Kumagai Naozane () at the battle of Ichi no tani is especially popular for these reasons. When considering the kōwakamai lineage and the creation of ''kōwaka-bukyoku'' (the actual kōwakamai written-texts), one Momonoi Naoakira () is usually accredited. Momonoi Naoakira was a 10th generation descendant of Momonoi Harima no Kami Tadatsune () who in turn was a descendant of Minamoto no Yoshiie (). Momonoi Naoakira’s childhood name was “Kōwakamaru” (), from which it is said the term “kōwakamai” gets its name.〔Araki, James T. (1964). The Ballad-Drama of Medieval Japan. University of California Press.〕 Kōwakamaru lived in Nishita-nakamura in Echizen Province’s Nyū district and after his father’s death became a young male attendant (''chigo'') on Mt. Hiei. Since birth Kōwakamaru was said to have been a genius, talented at singing, dancing, and music. He became well known for his ability to recite tales in the tradition court-music style, his performances came to be called “kōwaka-mai.” This is the start of what is known as Echizen kōwakamai. Echizen kōwakamai follows the Kōwaka family lineage with Momonoi Hachirō Kurō (), followed by Anjirō (), and then Kohachirō (). It is through this family lineage that the transmission of the art form continued until the collapse of the Edo ''bakufu''—at which point passing the kōwakamai tradition down from generation to generation also ceased.〔Araki, James T. (1964). The Ballad-Drama of Medieval Japan. University of California Press.〕 The kōwakamai Daigashira School began with Anjirō’s and was then passed down to Yamamoto Shirō Zaemon () and then to his disciple Mukade Zenbe () then to Ōsawa Jisuke Kōji (). In Tenshō 10 (1582 CE) Ōsawa Jisuke Kōji was invited to Kyūshū by the lord of Chikugo Province’s Yamashita Castle, Kamachi Shigeun (?) (), and his cousin, the lord of Yanagawa Castle, Kamachi Shigenami (?) () where he taught the performance style and transmitted the art form to the lords and their vassals. That style of kōwakamai became Ōe kōwakamai.〔Asahara Yoshiko and Kitahara Yasuo, eds. “Kaisetsu." In, ''Mai no hon''. Shin Nihon koten bungaku taikei, vol. 59, 589-620. Tokyo: Iwanami Shoten, 1989.〕 After the Meiji Restoration when feudal lords lost their landholdings and wealth the art form suffered setbacks, but it is this Daigashira School Ōe kōwakamai that has been transmitted to the present day. In the Ōe region, kōwakamai has successfully been passed on for 222 years as of the year 2009.〔http://www.hakata-nasu.com/setaka_net/kowaka/kowaka.htm〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Kōwakamai」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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