山谷番楽五百年 : Five Centuries of Yamaya Bangaku

「山谷番楽(やまやばんがく)五百年」

－短歌12首―　蓬田(よもぎだ)　真弓

“Five Centuries of Yamaya Bangaku”

―12 pieces of Tanka―　YOMOGIDA Mayumi 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

　山谷(やまや)番(ばん)楽(がく)は秋田県秋田市太平(たいへい)山谷(やまや)地区に伝わる民俗芸能である。太平山信仰の山伏らによって伝えられたとされている。山谷番楽には、面を付けて舞う演目がある。番楽面は十五面で、生きているという言い伝えがある。（蓬田真弓）

     Yamaya bangaku is a folk art inherited in Yamaya District, Akita City, Akita Prefecture.  It is said to have been handed down by yamabushi, hermits who believe in the spirits of Mt. Taihei.  Some Yamaya bangaku performances are mask dancing.  There are 15 masks, which are traditionally said to have been living.  (KONO Minoru )

山間に継がれ継がれて五百年　子らは舞うなり山谷番楽

Having been inherited

for five centuries

in the mountains,

Yamaya bangaku is danced

by children up here.

山の神に言問う儀なる番楽は山伏はじめに奉りたる

Bangaku, a ceremonial performance

of talking to mountain gods,

was first offered,

it is said,

by yamabushi, hermits.

きりきりと桶(おけ)胴(どう)太鼓(だいこ)の縄締めて五臓に響く音つくり出す

By tightening the ropes

of tub-shell drums,

performers create

sounds that echo

inside the human body.

子どもらに「神(じん)舞(まい)」教うる人の目が番(ばん)楽(がく)太夫(だゆう)のまなこに変わる

The eyes of a person

who teaches children

“jinmai” dancing

are changed to those

of a bangaku dayu, a head performer.

「神舞」は番楽の基本的な舞の演目。

「番楽太夫」は幕出しの口上の中に登場する。番楽を取り仕切る役か。

 “Jinmai” is a basic dancing performance of bangaku.

A “bangaku dayu,” probably a head performer of bangaku, appears in the message at each performance.

奥(おく)岳(だけ)の神に捧ぐる口上(こうじょう)は「末(まつ)ごうめでたけれ」と子らの吟ずる

The message dedicated

to the god of Okudake

on Mt. Taihei

is recited by children:

“God be blessed forever!”

太鼓の奏者は舞の前に口上を謳う。

A drummer recites a message before dancing.

本番の錦の装束身に纏い誇らしげなり九歳の夏

In summer

nine-year-olds

look proud

in brocaded costumes,

performing on stage.

太閤に「天下一(てんかいち)是(ぜ)閑(かん)」と言わしめた彫師の生(い)き面(めん)伝説となる

The engraver

who let Toyotomi Hideyoshi

call him “Zekan the greatest”

has become a legend

as a living Noh mask carver.

　「鈴木三郎」の舞に使われるお面「橋(はし)姫(ひめ)」は、是(ぜ)閑(かん)の作。是閑は秀吉に「天下一」と称されたという。お面の裏には「天下一是閑」と銘がある。

     The Noh mask of “Hashihime” used in the dancing of “Suzuki

Saburo” was carved by Zekan, who was said to be called “the greatest in

the world” by Toyotomi Hideyoshi.  On the back of the mask is an

inscription stating “Zekan the greatest.”

弁慶と牛若丸に手甲(てっこう)と脚(きゃ)絆(はん)を付けるは我の役割

It is my role

to let Benkei

and Ushiwakamaru

wear puttees and

wrist and hand wrappings.

神々は目を留めるらん「露払(つゆはらい)」舞う子どもらの白き扇に

Gods will fix their eyes,

upon the white fans

of children

dancing the opening

“tsuyu harai.”

　「露払」は他の舞に先立って、一番きれいな衣装を纏って舞うとされる。

     “Tsuyuharai” is the opening dancing on the stage.  Dancers perform in their most beautiful costumes.

降りてくる父祖の魂感じつつ声を掛けゆく子らに向かいて

Feeling the souls

of the descending ancestors,

I talk to each child,

trying to convey

their messages.

誰も居ぬステージ裏に浮かびくる「姥(うば)」のお面を見てしまいたり

I have just seen

A Noh mask of “uba,”

a blind old woman,

floating in the darkness

behind the lonely stage.

　「姥」（「盲人兵庫」ともいう）のお面は一(いっ)透(とう)（赤(しゃく)鶴(づる)）の作。一透は琵琶法師。目の見えない人の面をよく作った。お面の裏には「一透」と銘がある。

     The Noh mask of “uba,” also called “Mojin Hyogo” (Blind Hyogo), was carved by Itto (Shakuzuru).  Being a blind biwa (Japanese lute) player, he frequently made blind people’s masks.  On the back of the mask of “uba” is inscribed his name “Itto.”

秋の気をくっと押し上げびんびんと番楽太鼓の桴の音響く

Boosting

the energy of autumn,

crack! crack!

the sounds of bangaku drumsticks

resonate all in one.

蓬田真弓

山谷番楽保存会

YOMOGIDA Mayumi

Yamaya Bangaku Preservation Association

プロフィール

蓬田真弓：

秋田市立山谷小学校教諭として山谷番楽にかかわる。（2006年4月～2012年3月）　

2012年3月に山谷小学校が閉校になってからは、秋田市太平山谷番楽保存会に入会し、顧問として山谷番楽の伝承活動の支援に携わっている。

短歌結社　竹柏会「心の花」会員

Profile

YOMOGIDA Mayumi :

I involved myself in Yamaya bangaku performance activities while I was a teacher at Yamaya Elementary School, Akita City (April 2006 ～ March 2012). 

When the school was closed in March 2012, I joined Yamaya Bangaku Preservation Association, Akita City. 

Since then, I have taken part in support of traditional activities of Yamaya bangaku as an advisor.

I am also a member of “Kokoronohana” Chikuhakukai Tanka Poetry Association. (Translated by KONO Minoru)

短歌の英訳

初訳　稲美里佳

短歌結社：未来短歌会　

補訳　幸野　稔

秋田大学名誉教授、短歌結社：竹柏会「心の花」会員　

Original translation of Tanka by Rika Inami

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　A membership of <Muro Saisei Soceity>

　                                               A membership of <Tanka Association Mirai>

Additional translation of Tanka by KONO Minoru

                                                   Professor Emeritus, Akita University

                             A member of “Kokoronohana” Chikuhakukai Tanka Poetry Association

写真：旧山谷小学校の校舎

Photos: The Old School Buildings of Yamaya Elementary School

Yamaya Bangaku「山谷番楽」was designated as an intangible folk cultural property in Akita City in 1967.

Yamaya Bangaku Preservation Association「秋田市太平山谷番楽保存会」was also formed in Taihei, Akita City at the same time.

President Kurayoshi Kamada「鎌田庫喜会長」and the members of the Association started handing down Yamaya Bangaku to the children at Yamaya Elementary School「山谷小学校」in 1984. The children learn  how to perform Yamaya Bangaku「山谷番楽」at the school gymnasium every year. (Hidenori Hiruta)

Here is a piece of Tanka by President Kurayoshi Kamada「鎌田庫喜会長」.

人々を祓い清めし番楽を永遠（とわ）に伝えよ山谷の里へ

Bangaku

having exorcized us,

let it be handed down

to the home of Yamaya

forever!

Translated by Hidenori Hiruta

Note: Seimen-jinja Shrine「生面神社」

Fifteen masks were used in performing a sacred music and dancing. They are called “Live mask”「生面」in Yamaya area. The masks themselves have been deified and worshiped as the deities of Seimen-jinja Shrine「生面神社」. Some of them were carved into in the Kamakura period, so the sacred music and dancing has been passed down to the followers of the shrine from the yamabushi「山伏」in those days. (Hidenori Hiruta)

写真提供　蛭田秀法

　　　　　秋田国際俳句ネットワーク

Photos by Hidenori Hiruta

          The Akita International Haiku Network