Pointing out a Wrong Attitude of Looking atShin-Sarugaku-Ki : A Look Given toward the City (Part III)

Abstract

Shin-Sarugaku-Ki, which is said to have been written by Fujiwara Akihira, has been frequently referred to as a source of the history of entertainment, because in its preface there is a description of the people who enjoy Sarugaku. However, the greater part of the book consists of descriptions concerning the occupation of each member of the Uemon-no-jo family which has as many asover forty people. Therefore, there should be another point of view to evaluate this work. An attempt is made to explain this work as a united whole, describing the time and space of "Ichi" which, according to Amino Yoshihiko, is filled with the words which become "mu-en" (estranged).