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Portrait of Chikamatsu Monzaemon

Chikamatsu Monzaemon books in order

Japanese playwright

Lived
1653–1725
Country
Japan
Books
2

Chikamatsu Monzaemon published 2 plays, beginning with The Woman-Killer and the Hell of Oil (1721).

Updated September 2026

Where to start with Chikamatsu Monzaemon

Plays in order

  1. The Woman-Killer and the Hell of Oil (1721)

    Adapted for film

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  2. The Battles of Coxinga (1951)

    205 pages

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Film and TV adaptations

About Chikamatsu Monzaemon

Chikamatsu Monzaemon , real name Sugimori Nobumori , was a Japanese dramatist of jōruri, the form of puppet theater that later came to be known as bunraku, and the live-actor drama, kabuki. The Encyclopædia Britannica has written that he is "widely regarded as the greatest Japanese dramatist." His most famous plays deal with double-suicides of honor-bound lovers. Of his puppet plays, around 70 are jidaimono (時代物), and 24 are sewamono (世話物). The domestic plays are today considered the core of his artistic achievement, particularly works such as The Courier for Hell (1711) and The Love Suicides at Amijima (1721). His histories are viewed less positively, though The Battles of Coxinga (1715) remains praised.

Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.

Chikamatsu Monzaemon FAQ

How many books has Chikamatsu Monzaemon written?
Chikamatsu Monzaemon published 2 plays that we list, as of September 2026.
What order should I read Chikamatsu Monzaemon's books in?
Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Woman-Killer and the Hell of Oil.
What is Chikamatsu Monzaemon's last book?
The Woman-Killer and the Hell of Oil (1721).
What is Chikamatsu Monzaemon's most famous book?
The Woman-Killer and the Hell of Oil (1721) is Chikamatsu Monzaemon's most widely read book.
Which Chikamatsu Monzaemon books have been adapted?
1 book has been adapted for film or TV, including The Woman-Killer and the Hell of Oil (as The Oil-Hell Murder, film, 1992).

Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.