Akashi Kakuichi (明石 覚一, 1299 – 10 August 1371) also known as Akashi Kengyō (明石検校) was a Japanese Buddhist monk of the early Muromachi period of Japanese history, noted as the blind itinerant lute player (biwa hōshi)[1] who gave the epic Heike Monogatari its present form.
Little is known about his early life, but Kakuichi may have originally been a monk of Enkyō-ji near Himeji in Harima Province and may have been a nephew of Ashikaga Takauji. After losing his sight in his 30s, he is said to have come to Kyoto and joined the Tōdōza, a biwa hōshi guild, performing versions of the Heike Monogatari as entertainment for members of the aristocracy. Kakuichi was a student of Jōichi (城一), the most famous Heike reciter in Kyoto, but soon surpassed his master and 1363 had the attained the highest rank (検校, Kengyō) within the guild. On his death, he was posthumous awarded the rank of Grand Master (総検校, Sōkengyō).
WorkEdit
Kakuichi's version of the Heike Monogatari, known as the Kakuichi-bon, was developed over several decades beginning in the 1330s or 1340s, and was written down only a few months before his death as he recited it to his pupil Teiichi. The Tōdōza split over whether or not to accept Kakuichi's new version, with the Yasaka-ryu rejecting it, and the Ichikata-ryu accepting it. The Yasaka-ryu declined after the Onin War, leaving the tradition in the hands of the Ichikata-ryu. The Kakuichi-bon is currently the most popular version, and is the version used for most scholarly studies.[2]
ReferencesEdit
Ruch, Barbara (1990). The Cambridge History of Japan. Vol. 3. Cambridge University Press. ISBN0521223547. pp 500–543
akashi, kakuichi, 明石, 覚一, 1299, august, 1371, also, known, akashi, kengyō, 明石検校, japanese, buddhist, monk, early, muromachi, period, japanese, history, noted, blind, itinerant, lute, player, biwa, hōshi, gave, epic, heike, monogatari, present, form, contents, . Akashi Kakuichi 明石 覚一 1299 10 August 1371 also known as Akashi Kengyō 明石検校 was a Japanese Buddhist monk of the early Muromachi period of Japanese history noted as the blind itinerant lute player biwa hōshi 1 who gave the epic Heike Monogatari its present form Contents 1 Life 2 Work 3 References 4 NotesLife EditLittle is known about his early life but Kakuichi may have originally been a monk of Enkyō ji near Himeji in Harima Province and may have been a nephew of Ashikaga Takauji After losing his sight in his 30s he is said to have come to Kyoto and joined the Tōdōza a biwa hōshi guild performing versions of the Heike Monogatari as entertainment for members of the aristocracy Kakuichi was a student of Jōichi 城一 the most famous Heike reciter in Kyoto but soon surpassed his master and 1363 had the attained the highest rank 検校 Kengyō within the guild On his death he was posthumous awarded the rank of Grand Master 総検校 Sōkengyō Work EditKakuichi s version of the Heike Monogatari known as the Kakuichi bon was developed over several decades beginning in the 1330s or 1340s and was written down only a few months before his death as he recited it to his pupil Teiichi The Tōdōza split over whether or not to accept Kakuichi s new version with the Yasaka ryu rejecting it and the Ichikata ryu accepting it The Yasaka ryu declined after the Onin War leaving the tradition in the hands of the Ichikata ryu The Kakuichi bon is currently the most popular version and is the version used for most scholarly studies 2 References EditRuch Barbara 1990 The Cambridge History of Japan Vol 3 Cambridge University Press ISBN 0521223547 pp 500 543 McCullough Helen Craig 1988 The Tale of the Heike Stanford Stanford University Press ISBN 9780804714181 OCLC 16472263Notes Edit Sato Hiroaki 1995 Legends of the Samurai Overlook Duckworth p 188 ISBN 9781590207307 Matisoff Susan 2006 The Legend of Semimaru Blind Musician of Japan Cheng amp Tsui ISBN 0887276504 pp 42 nbsp This biography of a Japanese religious figure is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This article about a member of the Buddhist clergy is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Akashi Kakuichi amp oldid 1160598995, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
