第十回 竜成の会 関蝉丸神社勧進能 安宅【令和7年4月27日】

Yoshitsune, whose childhood name was Ushiwakamaru, has left the side of his mother, Tokiwa Gozen, and been sent to Kuramadera Temple. One day, Ushiwakamaru meets a yamabushi, or mountain ascetic, under the cherry blossoms of Mt. Kurama which are in full bloom. The yamabushi, learning Ushiwakamaru's true identity, and touched by his honesty, comforts him as they go to famous cherry blossom viewing spots together. In fact, the yamabushi is a great tengu, the mountain goblin Sōjō-bō, who lives on Mt. Kurama. (As tengu often disguise themselves as mountain ascetics they attach the suffix “bō,” meaning “priest,” to their names.) He tells Ushiwakamaru, who dreams of defeating the Heike clan, that he will teach him secrets of the Art of War, and they agree to become master and disciple.

After the tengu has taught Ushiwakamaru military tactics, Sōjō-bō bids him farewell, but Ushiwakamaru, still a young boy, without thinking clings to the tengu's sleeve. Feeling sorry for Ushiwakamaru, the tengu, as he flies away to Mt. Kurama, promises to stay by his side and lend him his strength in the defeat of the Heike clan.

Sōjō-bō appears as a fearsome tengu, but he is also portrayed as someone of character, both stern and kind. Perhaps Ushiwakamaru sees in him the image of his father. The dance shows the scene where Sōshō-bō bids farewell to Ushiwakamaru.

Nasuno Yoichi was a master archer on the Genji side during the Battle of Yashima. At dusk, a boat approached from the Heike side. Holding up a fan as a target, they provoked the Genji forces saying, "Try to shoot this down!” Yoshitsune ordered for the best archer to be called from the army, and Nasuno Yoichi, who was only 17 years old, was chosen. The famous scene in which Nasuno Yoichi, with the honor of the Minamoto clan resting on his skill, successfully hits the target as soldiers of both the Minamoto and Taira clans look on, has been passed down to posterity.

The episode of the “Fan Target" is a famous story that appears in Japanese textbooks and is also represented in various performing arts. Through my relationship with Seki Semimaru Shrine, which is dedicated to the poet and biwa performer Semimaru, I am pleased to have Ms. Kumada Kahori, a Tsuruta School biwa player, appear today. As the organizer of today’s program, I am very much looking forward to her performance.

Yoshitsune, who had defeated the Heike clan, was accused of treason by his elder brother, Yoritomo, and was forced to flee the capital. His party disguised themselves as yamabushi, mountain ascetics, traveling the country as they go to seek refuge with the Fujiwara clan in Oshu, present-day Iwate Prefecture. Yoritomo, hearing of this, has new barrier posts set up throughout the area giving orders to have all mountain ascetics strictly interrogated.

The Barrier Guard of Ataka in Kaga, present-day Ishikawa prefecture, is suspicious of the group and stops them. Benkei pretends to be the leader of a band of yamabushi traveling around the country to raise funds for the restoration of Todaiji temple. To prove their authenticity, they perform religious rites as though they are their last before the Barrier Guard and Benkei reads the Kanjincho, the scroll asking for donations, and the group begins to go through the barrier.

However, the Barrier Guard notices Yoshitsune, who is dressed as a baggage carrier walking behind them, and stops him. The group immediately turns back, and Benkei, furious that they have been held up by a baggage carrier who resembles Yoshitsune, strikes Yoshitsune with his vajra staff. As the Barrier Guard still refuses to let Yoshitsune pass, Benkei then calls Barrier Guard a thief saying, "You must be after the contents of the baggage carrier’s box!” The yamabushi, emboldened by his courage, approach the Barrier Guard aggressively in their excitement.The Barrier Guard, intimidated by their boldness, finally says he made a mistake and allows the group to pass.

The group stops to rest at some distance from the barrier and Benkei bows deeply to Yoshitsune, lamenting that he has struck his lord with his own hands. Yoshitsune consoles Benkei, telling him that his quick thinking saved his life thanks to the blessings of Hachiman Daibosatsu, god of war and guardian of warriors. The Barrier Guard from earlier then comes to visit the group. He apologizes for his rudeness and offers them some of the local sake. Benkei dances to liven up the party, and then, seizing the right moment, they all leave and head on to Oshu.