Kensarae sumai zue 拳会角力図会

FSC-GR-780.543.1-2

Commentary by Kitagawa Hiroko

Posted January 8, 2018

Original unedited text in Japanese follows

This book explains ken-asobi (拳遊び), a game using hand gestures in which players compete with one other by opening and closing the palm, folding fingers, and so on. There are significant variations of the game depending on the period and the region, but this book focuses on the principal hand “sumo” matches at Osaka venues; it also provides information about the diverse types of ken-asobi. In essence, two people compete against each other, performing all the rituals that are part of a sumo-wrestling tournament, such that it is like a real match.

The illustrations by Shōkōsai Hanbē follow the explanatory text. They depict a relatively large venue where a considerable number of people are in attendance and are participating. Various other related props are shown in addition to thereferee (gyōji) and the sumo ring (dōhyō). Images such as “Uchite no zu” 打手之図 and “Mushiken no zu” 虫拳之図 (vol. 1, pp. 42–43 on the website) explain the specific hand positions. Moreover, this book offers detailed explanations and commentaries on different types of hand games and sports. Shōkōsai’s compositions reveal how people engaged in these pursuits.

The end of the volume has a ranking list of famous competitors from Osaka, Kyoto, and Nagasaki, demonstrating that these were very popular pastimes. Although the illustrations are in black and white, Shōkōsai’s meticulously rendered images convincingly convey the craze for ken-asobi. Kyōka verse by Tetsugōshi Namimaru 鉄格子波丸 (d. 1811), a poet in great demand during this period, appear in different places throughout the book.

書名拳会角力図会

執筆者北川博子

拳遊びの解説書。「拳」は手のひらの開閉、指の折り曲げなどによって勝負を争う遊びである。土地や時代によっても多くの種類があるが、本書は大坂の会所で行われる大がかりな拳角力を中心に、様々な拳遊びの解説を施している。原則的には二人で勝負を争い、力士が戦う角力同様行事もつき、本格的な競技となっている。凡例に続く松好斎半兵衛による挿絵は、かなり大規模な会場で催され、多くの人々が参加している様子が描かれている。行事や土俵、その他周辺の小道具が絵で示されているのである。「打手之図」「虫拳之図」は具体的に手の形が図入りで解説されている。この他にも、様々な拳遊びの詳細な解説が施され、それに興じる人々の様子が松好斎によって描かれている。巻末には大坂、京都、長崎の拳名家の番付があり、かなり流行した遊技であることがわかる。墨摺ながら松好斎の描く精密な挿絵からは、拳遊び流行の様子が具体的に伝わってくるのである。随所に添えられた讃は、当時人気の鉄格子波丸による狂歌である。

Selected readings:

Kitagawa Hiroko 北川博子, “‘Geppyō kien’ no gakō” 「『月氷奇縁』の画工」, Kinsei bungei 96 『近世文藝96』(July 2012), 27–38.

Copies in other collections:

Iwaki Meisei University, Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture

Kansai University Library, Osaka

Kyoto University

Miyagi Prefectural Library, Sendai
National Diet Library, Tokyo
Nishio City Library (Iwase Bunko), Aichi Prefecture
Seikadō Bunko Art Museum, Tokyo

Tōhoku University, Sendai
University of Tokyo

Waseda University, Tokyo