"Noh", or, Accomplishment : :: :: University of Virginia Library

This play is to be regarded as one of those
dealing with the "pacification of the country
and the driving out of evil spirits," although
one might perhaps look upon it as a ceremonial
play for the Temple founded by Tamura, or
even less exactly a ghost play.

The notes are in fragments, or rather there
are several long cuts, which do not, however,
obscure the outline or structure of the play.

Characters

Hero,

first apparition, a boy ("doji" or temple
servant).

Tamura Maro,

second apparition.

Waki, a priest.

(The opening may be thus summarized:
The Waki comes on and says that he is going
to Kioto to see the sights. It is spring, and
he comes from Kiyomidzu. Sakura are blooming.
He wants to ask questions about the

place. The boy comes on, describes the
flowers, and says that the light of the goddess
Kwannon has made them brighter than usual.
The Waki asks him who he is "to be standing
there is the shade and sweeping up the fallen
petals.")

Waki

Are you the flower-keeper?

Boy

I am a man who serves the "Jinnushi
Gongen." I always sweep in blossom season—
so you may call me the flower-keeper, or the
honorary servant; but, whatever name you
use, you should think of me as some one of
rank, though I am concealed in humble
appearance.

Waki

Yes, you look that. Will you tell me about
this temple?

Boy

This temple is called Seisuiji; it was
founded by Tamura Maro. In Kojimadera
of Yamato there was a priest named Kenshin.
He was always wishing to see the true light of
Kwannon. And one time he saw a golden
light floating on the Kotsu River. And he

was going toward it, when he met an old man
who said to him, "I am Gioye Koji, and you
must seek out a certain patron and put up a
great temple."

And the old man went off to the East, and
he was Kwannon. And the patron was Maro,
Sakanouye no Tamura Maro.

Chorus

In this pure water, Kwannon with a thousand
hands gives blessing. She blesses this land
and this people.

Waki

Well, I have met some one interesting.
Can you tell me of other places about here?

Boy

The peak to the south is Nakayama Sei-kanji.

Waki

And what is that temple to the northward
where they are ringing the nightfall bell?

Boy

That is the temple of Ashino-o. Look!
the moon is lifting itself over Mount Otoba,[1]
and lights the cherry flowers. You must look!

Waki

It is an hour outweighing much silver.

[The Boy and the Priest together recite
the Chinese poem.

One moment of this spring night is worth a full thousand gold bars.
The flowers have a fine smell under the moon.[2]

[The is a break here in the notes. There
should follow a chorus about cherries
under the moon.

Chorus

Having seen these things with you, I know
you are out of the common. I wonder what
your name is.

Boy

If you want to discover my name, you must
watch what road I take. You must see to
what I return.

Chorus

We cannot know the far or near of his
route.

Boy

I go into the mountains.

Chorus

He said: "Watch my path." And he
went down in front of the Jinnushi Gongen
temple, and to Tamura-do. He opened the
door and went in.

END OF PART ONE

[1]

Otoba, "sounding-wings."

[2]

Two lines from a poem by the Chinese poet Su Shih, a.d. 1036-1101.

II

Waki

I have watched all night under the cherries.
I do service beneath the full moon.

[He performs a service.

Hero
(in his second apparition, no longer the boy,
but Tamura Maro)

That is a very blessed scripture. Just because
you have droned it over, I am able to
come here and speak with the traveller. This
is the blessing of Kwannon.

Waki

How strange! A man appears, lit up by
the light of the flowers. What are you?

Tamura

To be open, I am none other than Sakano-Uye
Tamura Maro, out of the time of Heijo
Tenno. I conquered the eastern wild men,
beat down their evil spirit, and was an honest
servant to my Emperor by the grace of this
temple's Buddha.

[Here there follows a passage in which he
describes his battles.

Chorus

The Emperor bade me beat down the evil
spirits in Suzuka in Ise, and to set the capital
of that country in peace. I drew up my forces,
and then, before I set out, I came to this
Kwannon and prayed.

Tamura

And then a strange sign appeared.

Chorus

Having faith in the true smile of Kwannon,
he went swiftly to war, out past Osaka to the
forest Awadzu. He passed Ishiyamaji, and,
thinking it one of the gods of Kiyomidzu, he
prayed on the long bridge of Seta, as he was
come nigh to Ise.

Chorus
(changing from narrative of the journey
to description)

There the plum-trees were blossoming. All
the scene showed the favour of Kwannon and
the virtue of the Emperor.

Then there was a great noise of evil voices,
a shaking of mountains.

Tamura
(excitedly, and as if amid the original scene)

Hear ye the evil spirits! Once in the reign
of Tenshi, the evil spirit who served the bad
minister Chikata died, and Chikata fell. But
you are near to Suzukayama; you are easy
to kill.

Chorus

Look to the sea of Ise, on the pine-moor
of Anono the evil spirits rain their black clouds.
They pour down fires of iron; they move
like ten thousand footmen; they are piled
like the mountains.

Tamura

Look forth on the carnage!

Chorus

The battle! Senju Kwannon pours lights
on our banner. Her lights fly about in the
air. She holds in her thousand hands the bow
of "Great Mercy." Hers are the arrows of
wisdom. Fly forth her thousand arrows. They
harry the spirits; they fall in a swirl of hail.
The spirits are dead from her rain.

How Great is the Mercy of Kwannon![3]

THE END

[3]

Tamura Maro had a special devotion to the Kwannon of
the Seisui Temple. Her image, thousand-handed with an arrow
in each hand, was woven on his battle-banners.