In the Edo period, lamplights allowed people to enjoy their activities longer at night and extend the scope of their space. Therefore, in a way, these lights introduced them to a world of night. It is noteworthy that the literature during the Edo period captured and expressed these lights that were extensively used among the general population in different ways. More specifically, when it came to Joruri, a type of drama that was performed on stages, the effect of using lamplights was more visibly pronounced. While Chikamatsu`s works of Joruri featured lamplights and lighting fixtures as onstage props, theatrical methods to use lights for performances, such as representing will-o`-the-wisps or shadows, on stage were developed and became diversified. This had to do with the changes in subject matters of Ningyo Joruri from the period drama, which handled historical events or Monogatari, to the modern drama, which was concerned with contemporary themes. The theatrical scenes in Chikamatsu`s Joruri that used lights actually highlighted the dark, rather than the bright, side of the society. In the end, Chikamatsu, who first introduced Sewamono (a genre of contemporary plays) to Joruri, wanted to describe in his works of art ordinary people who enjoyed the world in his days and, more importantly, at the same time, the sorrows hidden behind their joyful appearance.