Kanze Motoshiga

Biography

Motoshige had a controversial relationship with his uncle Zeami Motokiyo, the best-remembered of the Kanze playwrights. Although Zeami wanted his son Motomasa to succeed him as tayū, or head of the troupe, Motoshige established a rival troupe that gained the favor of the shogun. The shogun preferred Motoshige's low-brow style of performance. and adds the first two syllables of the name adopted by all members of the Jishū (時宗) sect of Buddhism, amidabutsu, or the Japanese pronunciation of Amitābha, the principal Buddha of Pure Land Buddhism. This follows the same pattern as his predecessors Kan'ami and Zeami (Kan-Ze-On). By the time he died, noh was well on its way to becoming an art form identified with the samurai class. The Kanze troupe received the patronage of the warrior class. Kanze became the hereditary troupe of the shogun and the best actors of other troupes were required to join.