Chikamatsu Monzaemon

Chikamatsu Monzaemon was a Japanese dramatist of jōruri, the form of puppet theater that later came to be known as bunraku, and kabuki theatre. He is considered one of Japan's greatest playwrights, having penned numerous plays that are still performed today. His works often explore themes of tragedy, love, and morality, and are notable for their insights into the human condition and society.

Books

This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

  1. 1. The Love Suicides At Sonezaki

    "The Love Suicides at Sonezaki" is a poignant Japanese play that tells the tragic story of two lovers, a young merchant named Tokubei and a courtesan named Ohatsu, who are driven to commit suicide together due to insurmountable societal pressures and personal betrayals. Set in the pleasure quarters of Osaka, the narrative explores themes of loyalty, love, and the harsh consequences of rigid social structures. As Tokubei faces betrayal by his unscrupulous uncle and Ohatsu suffers at the hands of her manipulative brothel owner, the lovers see no escape from their torment other than through death, leading them to make a profound and tragic decision.

    The 9818th Greatest Book of All Time