KOMPARU ZENCHIKU

born 1405, Japan died c. 1470, , Nara, Japan original name Shichiro Ujinobu no actor and playwright who also wrote critical works on drama. Zenchiku, who married a daughter of the actor Zeami Motokiyo, was trained in drama by Zeami and Zeami's son Motomasa. Zenchiku worked and performed in the Nara region and perhaps, therefore, was not as successful as Zeami's nephew, On'ami, who performed in Kyoto and was the leader of the Kanze school. Zenchiku was a talented actor, however, who passed on the teachings of Zeami to the Komparu family school of no drama. He wrote more than 20 plays, including the masterpieces Basho, Tamakazura, Goon sankyoku shu, and Ugetsu, all of which were influenced by Zen Buddhist thought. His major critical worksShido yosho, Rokurin ichiro no ki, and Shugyoku tokkaare important historical sources on the development of no drama.