Posted by Theo de Kreijger on January 03, 1999 at 12:07:21:
In Reply to: Re:Sanjûrokkasen Ghosts vs. Poets posted by John Fiorillo on January 03, 1999 at 04:55:31:
Thanks for your reaction. This confirmes the statement from the Ombetsu Art Club by Anzawa Shigeru. He also wrote more or less the same thing. So it looks like we have to abandon the ghost-theory from Hans Olof Johansson.
At the moment I'm more interested in the meaning of "Mitate". There are three explanations found in literature. 1. The actor in one of his famous roles is compared to the contents of the poem, 2. The actor is portrayed as the poet representing a role in a kabuki play. and 3. an imaginary portrayal of the actor in role based upon the poem.
At the moment I tend to choose for the first explanation, which is the more common one. The second seems to complicated and therefor highly unlikely to me. But the third (see: OSAKA PRINTS by Dean J. Swaab) might hold some truth, although facts seem to prove against it. For instance: in the first print Danjuro VIII is portrayed as Tokijiro. He is known to have actually played the part. From the about same date a triptych is showing him on stage in this role. There are also several commemorative prints showing Danjuro VIII in this role.
But if someone has more detailed information or other explanations? Then please post them ...
Theo