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About this Item

Title

  • Tsukishima.

Summary

  • Tsukishima is a Kōwaka-mai (dance drama) ballad that dates from the Muromachi period (1336-1573). It is also called Hyōgo or Hyōgo tsukishima. The literal meaning of "tsukishima" is "making an island," and the ballad is based on an episode in which Taira no Kiyomori (1118-81), a general and noble, built a new port in Fukuhara, Hyōgo. The story starts with Kiyomori's decision to build the port. To ensure the success of the construction, 30 people are captured in order to be made human sacrifices to the gods. Matsuō, a handsome young page who has gained the favor of Kiyomori, sees the grief of the captives and their families and offers himself as a sacrifice in place of the intended victims. He is thrown into the sea to drown with 10,000 copies of the Lotus Sutra, causing people to call the port "kyō-no-shima," the island of sutra. There is a record that Tsukishima was performed in 1545. Some manuscripts older than this one exist, but this is the first printed edition (wooden-type print) of Tsukishima and the only known copy of this edition. The illustrations, some of which are missing, are hand colored. The year of publication is not clear, but it must be earlier than 1632, when a wood-block edition was published.

Created / Published

  • [place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified], [1615 to 1631]

Headings

  • -  Japan
  • -  1338 to 1573
  • -  Dance
  • -  Japanese drama
  • -  Japanese literature

Notes

  • -  Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
  • -  Original resource extent: 3 books ; 26.8 x 19.2 centimeters.
  • -  Original resource at: National Diet Library.
  • -  Content in Japanese.
  • -  Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions.

Medium

  • 1 online resource.

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2021666417

Online Format

  • compressed data
  • pdf
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

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The Library asks that researchers approach the materials in this collection with respect for the culture and sensibilities of the people whose lives, ideas, and creativity are documented here.

Credit Line: [Original Source citation], World Digital Library

More about Copyright and other Restrictions

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For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Tsukishima. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified, to 1631, 1615] Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/2021666417/.

APA citation style:

(1615) Tsukishima. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified, to 1631] [Pdf] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2021666417/.

MLA citation style:

Tsukishima. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified, to 1631, 1615] Pdf. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2021666417/>.