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Four Major Plays of Chikamatsu by Monzaemon Chikamatsu; American Council of Learned Societies is a book available to read on EtoBox.

What is Four Major Plays of Chikamatsu about?

Chikamatsu Monzaemon (1653-1725) wrote some 130 plays, chiefly for the puppet theater, many of which are still performed today by puppet operators and Kabuki actors. Chikamatsu is thought to have written the first major tragedies about the common man. This edition of four of his most important plays includes three popular domestic dramas and one history play. Chikamatsu's domestic dramas are accurate reflections of Japanese society at the time: his characters are samurai, farmers, merchants, and prostitutes who speak colloquially, and who people the shops, streets, teahouses, and brothels that constituted their daily environment. The heroes and heroines of these plays gain their tragic stature from their conflicts with society. "The Love Suicides at Sonezaki" and "The Love Suicides at Amijima" became so popular that they actually initiated a vogue for love suicides, both in life and onstage. Donald Keene's translation of the original text is presented here with an introduction and a new preface to aid readers in their comprehension and enjoyment of the plays.

Author

Monzaemon Chikamatsu; American Council of Learned Societies

Publisher

Colombia University Press

Published

1961

Language

EN

ISBN

9780231074148

Subjects

Literary Fiction, Humanities

Rating

3.8 / 5 (173 ratings)

Updated

2026-03-14