kyōgenbon 狂言本

Also called *eiri kyōgenbon 絵入狂言本. An Edo period woodblock printed book, the contents of which was a synopsis of a *kabuki 歌舞伎 play in novel-like form, kabuki kyōgen 歌舞伎狂言. The books also had illustrations. Kyōgenbon are thought to have originated around 1680, and enjoyed approximately a thirty year period of popularity until the rise of the puppet theater supplanted kabuki for a time. Kyōgenbon were particularly popular in Osaka, Kyoto, and Edo. These books are said to have led to *ehon banzuke 絵本番付.