Aoi no Ue

葵上 Lady Aoi

1 Source and/or Related Material

“Aoi,” The Tale of Genji

2 Author

Unknown, staged by Inuō

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Hōshō, Komparu, Kongō, Kita

4 Synopsis

Lady Aoi, the main wife of Prince Genji, is haunted by a spirit and lies stricken: she is represented not by an actor but by a gown folded and laid out on the stage. The shamaness Teruhi (tsure) manages to make contact with the evil spirit, who turns out to be the living spirit of Lady Rokujō (shite), a jealous mistress of Genji’s. The spirit expresses her resentment, jealousy, and fury towards Lady Aoi, torments her again, and disappears. Thereupon the Holy Man of Yokawa (waki) is called to perform incantations and prayers for the sick woman. When he starts his prayers the living spirit of Lady Rokujō appears in the shape of a demon, but the Holy Man’s dharmic power drives her away.