Changes

*''Japanese'': 傾奇者 or 歌舞伎者　''(kabukimono)''

*''Japanese'': 傾奇者 or 歌舞伎者　''(kabukimono)''

''Kabukimono'' gangs were groups of flamboyant rogues comprised of increasingly bored samurai during the late [[Sengoku period]] and early [[Edo period]]. The term translates roughly to "eccentric," as the [[kanji|characters]] that comprise it mean, essentially, one (者) who leans (傾) [away from normal, or away from the norm] and is unusual (奇).

''Kabukimono'' gangs were groups of flamboyant rogues or ''flaneurs'' prominent during the late [[Sengoku period]] and early [[Edo period]]. The term translates roughly to "eccentric," as the [[kanji|characters]] that comprise it mean, essentially, one (者) who leans (傾) [away from normal, or away from the norm] and is unusual (奇).

''Kabukimono'' were noted for wearing loud, gaudy kimono and otherwise violating fashion norms (some wore women's kimono) and engaging in wild behavior, including loud conversation, and singing, dancing, and brawling in the streets. An early 17th century painting known as The [[Hikone Screen]] (due to its location in the collection of [[Hikone castle]]) is a particularly famous and oft-cited visual example of the appearance of the ''kabukimono''; it serves as a particularly convenient example because the central figure is not only dressed unusually, but is actually bending or leaning in an eccentric manner. Some of the stylistic features associated with ''kabukimono'' include long hair not held up in a [[chonmage|topknot]], swords of a longer than normal length and unusually large ''[[tsuba]]'' (handguards), and elements of European clothing.<ref name=ikegami261>Ikegami. p261.</ref>

''Kabukimono'' were noted for wearing loud, gaudy kimono and otherwise violating fashion norms (some wore women's kimono) and engaging in wild behavior, including loud conversation, and singing, dancing, and brawling in the streets. An early 17th century painting known as The [[Hikone Screen]] (due to its location in the collection of [[Hikone castle]]) is a particularly famous and oft-cited visual example of the appearance of the ''kabukimono''; it serves as a particularly convenient example because the central figure is not only dressed unusually, but is actually bending or leaning in an eccentric manner. Some of the stylistic features associated with ''kabukimono'' include long hair not held up in a [[chonmage|topknot]], swords of a longer than normal length and unusually large ''[[tsuba]]'' (handguards), and elements of European clothing.<ref name=ikegami261>Ikegami. p261.</ref>

Most of their members were made up of young men on the fringes of the samurai class. Many were younger sons who were not in line to inherit, while others were low-ranking samurai, manservants, or ronin. Often these groups were known to bully townspeople and others of lower classes, indulge in protection rackets, become gangs of thieves, or even [[tsujigiri|kill innocent civilians]]. [[Fuwa Kazuemon]] of the [[47 Ronin]] was said to be a member of a ''kabukimono'' gang.

Most of their members were made up of young men on the fringes of the samurai class. Many were younger sons who were not in line to inherit, while others were low-ranking samurai, manservants, or ronin. Some were members of court aristocrat families.<ref>Morgan Pitelka, ''Spectacular Accumulation'', University of Hawaii Press (2016), 128.</ref> Often these groups were known to bully townspeople and others of lower classes, indulge in protection rackets, become gangs of thieves, or even [[tsujigiri|kill innocent civilians]]. [[Fuwa Kazuemon]] of the [[47 Ronin]] was said to be a member of a ''kabukimono'' gang.

The theatrical form [[Kabuki]] is often said to have its origins among these ''kabukimono''; [[Izumo no Okuni]], who is usually credited with originating the form, is often described as one. In particular, just as many ''kabukimono'' wore women's clothing, so Okuni is said to have worn men's garments, to have carried swords and daggers, and to have acted as a man sometimes, e.g. jokingly flirting with other women.<ref>Ikegami. p264.</ref> The word for the drama form has, however, come to be written with different characters - namely, 『歌舞伎』, meaning, literally, "song," "dance," and "technique." These characters were then retroactively applied to the word for the ''kabukimono'', which is now written either of two ways.

The theatrical form [[Kabuki]] is often said to have its origins among these ''kabukimono''; [[Izumo no Okuni]], who is usually credited with originating the form, is often described as one. In particular, just as many ''kabukimono'' wore women's clothing, so Okuni is said to have worn men's garments, to have carried swords and daggers, and to have acted as a man sometimes, e.g. jokingly flirting with other women.<ref>Ikegami. p264.</ref> The word for the drama form has, however, come to be written with different characters - namely, 『歌舞伎』, meaning, literally, "song," "dance," and "technique." These characters were then retroactively applied to the word for the ''kabukimono'', which is now written either of two ways.