Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/39

 that an era of peace and refinement had prevailed for many long years under the Tokugawa régime, the public was tired of primitive stories, such as "Kimpira-Bon" and the "Story of Lady Jōruri," chanted in a simple and monotonous manner. The people craved for something novel and exhilarating. Under the circumstances the Takemoto Za supplied just what was wanted. Accordingly, Gidayū's fame soon spread throughout Japan, and his style overshadowed all the other artistes of that time. His school flourished more and more as time went on, until at last the jōruri began to be more popularly called gidayū and its reciters gidayū-katari.

There has been much dispute concerning the birthplace of Chikamatsu Monzayemon. The most accepted opinion was that he was a native of Hagi in the province of Chōshū. But most of the scholars of recent times have concluded that he was born a samurai of Kyōto in 1653. In his younger days he was a Buddhist priest. It must be remembered that the priests were then the most learned class; and it is probable that Monzayemon's great erudition, which afterwards blossomed forth into his immortal masterpieces,