Atsumori (play)
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese Noh
play by Zeami Motokiyo
which focuses on Taira no Atsumori
, a young samurai who was killed in the Genpei War
, and his killer, Kumagai Naozane
. Atsumori's death is portrayed tragically in the Heike monogatari (Tale of the Heike), from which this and many other works stem.
(1184), was killed by the Minamoto warrior Kumagai Naozane. In the Heike monogatari and many works derived from it, this is focused upon as a particularly tragic episode. Atsumori is also, like many of his Taira brethren, portrayed as a courtier and poet, not truly prepared for battle. He is said to have carried a flute into battle, evidence of his peaceful, courtly nature as well as his youth and naïveté. Kumagai also notes that none of his fellow Genji (Minamoto) warriors were cultivated to a point where they would ride into battle with a flute. Royall Tyler
's analysis, preceding his translation of the play, focuses on the contrasts between Atsumori, the young, peaceful courtier and flute player, and Kumagai, the older seasoned warrior.
genre of Noh, although it differs slightly in that the ghost is usually unrelated to the person who sees it. The ghost of Atsumori, disguised as a grass cutter, is the shite role, and Kumagai, having become a monk and changed his name to Renshō (or Rensei), is played by the waki.
The play begins with Renshō's arrival at Ichi-no-Tani, also known as Suma
, a location which features prominently in a number of classic texts, and thus has many layers of significance within the Noh; references are made throughout the play to other events that took place there, in particular those of the Genji monogatari and Ise monogatari. The monk seeks to ask forgiveness from Atsumori, and to calm his spirit. There he meets a flute-playing youth and his companions; he speaks with them briefly about fluting and about Atsumori before the youth reveals that he has a connection to Atsumori, and the first act ends.
Between the two acts, there is a kyōgen
interlude, as is quite common and traditional in Noh. A kyōgen performer, playing an anonymous villager, speaks with Renshō and relates to the audience the background of the story of Atsumori, Kumagai and the battle of Ichi-no-tani.
The second act begins as the first one ended, with Renshō reciting prayers for Atsumori, who now makes his appearance. The actor who played the youth in the first act has now changed costume and plays Atsumori; this is a very common device in the most standard Noh plays, and it is implied that the youth earlier was Atsumori's ghost in disguise. Atsumori (along with the chorus chanting for him) relates his tragic story from his perspective, re-enacting it in dance form. The play then ends with Renshō refusing to re-enact his role in Atsumori's death; the ghost declares that Renshō is not his enemy, and asks that the monk pray for his release. (Tied to the mortal realm by the emotional power of his death, Atsumori's ghost has been unable to move on.)
In truth, This world is no eternal habitation
草葉に置く白露、水に宿る月よりなほあやし
It is more transient than dewdrops on the leave of grass, or moon reflected in the water.
金谷に花を詠じ、榮花は先立つて無常の風に誘はるる
After reciting the poetry of flower at Kanaya, all of glory is now left with wind of impermanence.
南楼の月を弄ぶ輩も 月に先立つて有為の雲にかくれり
Those who play with moon of southern tower at leisure, now hide into cloud of Saṅkhāra
.
人間五十年、化天のうちを比ぶれば、夢幻の如くなり
Human life lasts only 50 years, Contrast human life with life of Geten, it is but a very dream and illusion.
一度生を享け、滅せぬもののあるべきか
Once they given life from god, there is no such thing don't perish.
これを菩提の種と思ひ定めざらんは、口惜しかりき次第ぞ
Unless we consider this a very seed of awakening, it is grievous truth indeed.
It is very famous verse, which known as Oda Nobunaga
often sung. Geten(化天, Gerakuten化楽天, or Nirmaannarati) is an imaginary world of greed and desire in Buddhism.
According to scriptures, a day of geten is equal to year in our world and an inhabitant of Geten lives 8000 years.
Noh
, or - derived from the Sino-Japanese word for "skill" or "talent" - is a major form of classical Japanese musical drama that has been performed since the 14th century. Many characters are masked, with men playing male and female roles. Traditionally, a Noh "performance day" lasts all day and...
play by Zeami Motokiyo
Zeami Motokiyo
Zeami Motokiyo , also called Kanze Motokiyo , was a Japanese aesthetician, actor and playwright.-Acting:...
which focuses on Taira no Atsumori
Taira no Atsumori
' was a samurai famous for his early death in single combat. At the Battle of Ichi-no-Tani, Atsumori engaged Kumagai Naozane, an ally of the Minamoto, and was killed. Kumagai had a son the same age as Atsumori...
, a young samurai who was killed in the Genpei War
Genpei War
The was a conflict between the Taira and Minamoto clans during the late-Heian period of Japan. It resulted in the fall of the Taira clan and the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate under Minamoto Yoritomo in 1192....
, and his killer, Kumagai Naozane
Kumagai Naozane
was a famous soldier who served the Genji Clan during the Heian period of Japanese history. Kumagai is particularly known for his exploits during the Genpei War, specifically for killing the young warrior Taira no Atsumori at the battle of Ichi-no-tani in 1184...
. Atsumori's death is portrayed tragically in the Heike monogatari (Tale of the Heike), from which this and many other works stem.
Background
Atsumori, roughly 15 years old at the time of the battle of Ichi-no-TaniBattle of Ichi-no-Tani
' was a Taira fortress at Suma, to the west of present-day Kobe. It sat on a very narrow strip of shore, between mountains on the north, and the sea to the south. This made it quite defensible, but also made it difficult to maneuver troops inside the fortress. Minamoto no Yoshitsune split his force...
(1184), was killed by the Minamoto warrior Kumagai Naozane. In the Heike monogatari and many works derived from it, this is focused upon as a particularly tragic episode. Atsumori is also, like many of his Taira brethren, portrayed as a courtier and poet, not truly prepared for battle. He is said to have carried a flute into battle, evidence of his peaceful, courtly nature as well as his youth and naïveté. Kumagai also notes that none of his fellow Genji (Minamoto) warriors were cultivated to a point where they would ride into battle with a flute. Royall Tyler
Royall Tyler
Royall Tyler , American jurist and playwright who wrote The Contrast in 1787 and published The Algerine Captive in 1797. He wrote several legal tracts, six plays, a musical drama, two long poems, a semifictional travel narrative, The Yankey in London , and essays...
's analysis, preceding his translation of the play, focuses on the contrasts between Atsumori, the young, peaceful courtier and flute player, and Kumagai, the older seasoned warrior.
Plot
The Noh play takes place some years after the end of the Genpei War. It is an example of the dream or mugenMugen
Mugen is a word of Japanese origin, meaning dream, fantasy , or infinite .It may also refer to:*"Mugen" , a song by Nana Mizuki*Mugen Imawano, a character from the Capcom fighting game series Rival Schools*Mugen Motorsports...
genre of Noh, although it differs slightly in that the ghost is usually unrelated to the person who sees it. The ghost of Atsumori, disguised as a grass cutter, is the shite role, and Kumagai, having become a monk and changed his name to Renshō (or Rensei), is played by the waki.
The play begins with Renshō's arrival at Ichi-no-Tani, also known as Suma
Suma-ku, Kobe
is one of 9 wards of Kobe City in Japan. It has an area of 30.0 km², and a population of 168,400 .There is a white sandy beach in this ward, which attracts tourists to the Kansai region for sun bathing and popular events during the summer season. The same beach has appeared in the classic...
, a location which features prominently in a number of classic texts, and thus has many layers of significance within the Noh; references are made throughout the play to other events that took place there, in particular those of the Genji monogatari and Ise monogatari. The monk seeks to ask forgiveness from Atsumori, and to calm his spirit. There he meets a flute-playing youth and his companions; he speaks with them briefly about fluting and about Atsumori before the youth reveals that he has a connection to Atsumori, and the first act ends.
Between the two acts, there is a kyōgen
Kyogen
is a form of traditional Japanese comic theater. It developed alongside Noh, was performed along with Noh as an intermission of sorts between Noh acts, on the same Noh stage, and retains close links to Noh in the modern day; therefore, it is sometimes designated Noh-kyōgen...
interlude, as is quite common and traditional in Noh. A kyōgen performer, playing an anonymous villager, speaks with Renshō and relates to the audience the background of the story of Atsumori, Kumagai and the battle of Ichi-no-tani.
The second act begins as the first one ended, with Renshō reciting prayers for Atsumori, who now makes his appearance. The actor who played the youth in the first act has now changed costume and plays Atsumori; this is a very common device in the most standard Noh plays, and it is implied that the youth earlier was Atsumori's ghost in disguise. Atsumori (along with the chorus chanting for him) relates his tragic story from his perspective, re-enacting it in dance form. The play then ends with Renshō refusing to re-enact his role in Atsumori's death; the ghost declares that Renshō is not his enemy, and asks that the monk pray for his release. (Tied to the mortal realm by the emotional power of his death, Atsumori's ghost has been unable to move on.)
Famous verse
思へばこの世は常の住み家にあらずIn truth, This world is no eternal habitation
草葉に置く白露、水に宿る月よりなほあやし
It is more transient than dewdrops on the leave of grass, or moon reflected in the water.
金谷に花を詠じ、榮花は先立つて無常の風に誘はるる
After reciting the poetry of flower at Kanaya, all of glory is now left with wind of impermanence.
南楼の月を弄ぶ輩も 月に先立つて有為の雲にかくれり
Those who play with moon of southern tower at leisure, now hide into cloud of Saṅkhāra
Sankhara
' or ' is a term figuring prominently in the teaching of the Buddha. The word means "that which has been put together" and "that which puts together". In the first sense, refers to conditioned phenomena generally but specifically to all mental "dispositions"...
.
人間五十年、化天のうちを比ぶれば、夢幻の如くなり
Human life lasts only 50 years, Contrast human life with life of Geten, it is but a very dream and illusion.
一度生を享け、滅せぬもののあるべきか
Once they given life from god, there is no such thing don't perish.
これを菩提の種と思ひ定めざらんは、口惜しかりき次第ぞ
Unless we consider this a very seed of awakening, it is grievous truth indeed.
It is very famous verse, which known as Oda Nobunaga
Oda Nobunaga
was the initiator of the unification of Japan under the shogunate in the late 16th century, which ruled Japan until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. He was also a major daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. His opus was continued, completed and finalized by his successors Toyotomi...
often sung. Geten(化天, Gerakuten化楽天, or Nirmaannarati) is an imaginary world of greed and desire in Buddhism.
According to scriptures, a day of geten is equal to year in our world and an inhabitant of Geten lives 8000 years.
See also
- Ikuta AtsumoriIkuta AtsumoriIkuta Atsumori , sometimes known simply as Ikuta, is one of many Noh plays derived from the story of Taira no Atsumori, a young Taira clan samurai who was killed in the 1184 battle of Ichi-no-Tani...
(also known as Ikuta) - a related Noh play centering on Atsumori. - Tadanori - a related Noh play centering on another Taira killed in the same battle.
- Ichinotani Futaba Gunki - a jōruriBunraku, also known as Ningyō jōruri , is a form of traditional Japanese puppet theater, founded in Osaka in 1684.Three kinds of performers take part in a bunraku performance:* Ningyōtsukai or Ningyōzukai—puppeteers* Tayū—the chanters* Shamisen players...
and KabukiKabukiis classical Japanese dance-drama. Kabuki theatre is known for the stylization of its drama and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers.The individual kanji characters, from left to right, mean sing , dance , and skill...
play which relates much the same events.