Genzai Tadanori

現在忠度 Present-time Tadanori

1 Source and/or Related Material

The Tale of the Heike　7, Chronicle of the Rise and Fall of the Minamoto and Taira Clans 32

2 Author

Unknown

3 Repertoire

Kongō

4 Synopsis

As a member of the doomed Heike clan, Taira no Tadanori (waki) prepares to flee the capital accompanied by a single attendant (wakitsure), hoping only to die an honorable death. However, even in his haste to get out of the city he cannot resist stopping by the house of the poet Fujiwara Shunzei (shite). Shunzei is just about to finish editing the Shin-kokinshū, an imperial anthology which was supposed to celebrate peace in the realm, a peace which the Genji-Heike Wars are about to shatter. The avid poet Tadanori begs Shunzei to include one of his poems, even though he must now leave the court in disgrace, and the poet happily agrees. At Tadanori’s request, he gives a discourse on the origins of the art of poetry. Loathe to see him go, Shunzei detains his guest by serving food and drink, and the two poets dance a duet (aimai). Finally, Shunzei sees Tadanori off as he heads for the hills.