Zenchiku Ujinobu

Japanese author

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July 15, 2026

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Komparu Zenchiku (c. 1405–c. 1470) was a Japanese nō actor and playwright who also wrote critical works on drama. He was trained by Zeami Motokiyo, the most renowned playwright and theorist of Japanese Noh theatre. Zenchiku married Zeami's daughter and passed on Zeami's teachings to the Komparu family school of nō drama.

Zenchiku wrote over 20 plays, including Basho and Goon sankyoku shu, which were influenced by Zen Buddhist thought. His major critical works, such as Shidō yōshō, are important historical sources for understanding the development of nō drama. Zenchiku's work contributed to the rich tradition of Japanese theatre and literature.1

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tragedy
Absence of tragedy in Asian drama
In The Hoka Priests, by Zenchiku Ujinobu (1414–99), a son is confronted with Hamlet’s problem—i.e., that of avenging the death of his father. He is uncertain how to proceed, since his father’s murderer has many bold fellows to stand by him, while he is all alone. He persuades his brother,…
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In The Hoka Priests, by Zenchiku Ujinobu (1414–99), a son is confronted with Hamlet’s problem—i.e., that of avenging the death of his father. He is uncertain how to proceed, since his father’s murderer has many bold fellows to stand by him, while he is all alone. He persuades his brother,…
Read More