APPENDIX THE BARRIER OF KANKOKU BY CHIGAKU TANAKA . TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH BY K. SATOMI This English translation is reproduced by the permission of the Kokusei Bungeikai. PREFACE THE author of this drama, Mr Chigaku Tanaka, is well known in Japan as one of the greatest authorities on Buddhist philosophy as also as one of the powerful leaders of the nation. The author as a layman, however, has contributed many more things to society and religious spheres than any professional religionists. He has written many books which amount to forty volumes in all, besides magazines and a daily newspaper. He founded the Kokuchiukai, as a typical association for Nichirenism where the religion is believed and studied apart from the business point of view of religion. He recently started a new movement which he had been revolving in his mind for over forty years, in the fields of art, literature, and politics, and in connexion with this new movement he composed a few dramatic works which were staged in Tokio. The present tendency of the drama and similar enterprises is obvious of too sensual a nature. Most of them merely deal with love stories without any idea of righteousness. Incidents relating to murders and illicit pleasures on a large scale are the subjects. In consequence of this, Tanaka took upon himself to write some literary works in order to demonstrate his own idea of life. He proclaimed that he would make public his dramatic works as the expression of the Japanese National Principles. His dramas have been performed on the stage from time to time since his maiden drama 'Sado' was performed and welcomed at the largest play-house in Japan, the 'Kabuki' Theatre in Tokio. He sometimes acted a part himself, and this had a very powerful spiritual influence on the people; and his family and some of his disciples always take part simply for the sake of propagating the movement which is well worthy of notice. The Barrier of Kankoku which I translate here deals with the idea of the transport of stores in China. The idea which he expresses in this drama is one which throws light on some of the aspects of Confucianism from the point of view of Nichirenism. This drama has already been performed in Tokio with great success. Very recently he published a new drama entitled After leaving the Doll's House treated from the same point of view, and by which he intended to solve the problem which Ibsen first raised. I have translated this drama, After leaving the Doll's House, into German and it is my intention to publish the German translation at an early opportunity. Mr Tanaka is indeed a man of versatile tastes. He takes a deep interest, for instance, in poetry, literature, art, history, philosophy, religion, architecture, politics and even in mercantile pursuits. Wherever he goes he can pass as an authority. The Barrier of Kankoku as a popular expression of his ideas is worth reading. K. SATOMI Berlin. THE BARRIER OF KANKOKU IN ONE ACT, TWO SCENES SCENE I Time: The Age of Wars in China CHARACTERS: THE CHIEF OFFICER AN OFFICER THE GUARDS A YOUNG TRAVELLER, RYUKOKUMEI, AND OTHER The proscenium is a distant view of the precipitous mountains. In front, the thin forest of pine and oak trees, and, in the background, stone-steps, more than ten in number, above which is the gate. Various kinds of weapons are placed at the gate, on the right of which is a rock. From the face of the stage to the O.P. side, rugged rocks are visible. Many small rocks lie scattered on the ground. The Bambuse veitchii, and kindred plants, grow in the chinks and gaps of the rocks. Everything points to the idea of the Barrier of Kankoku at the frontier of Shin. |