Hagoromo

羽衣 The Feather Robe

1 Source and/or Related Material

Later Collection of Gleanings, Records of Tango Province

2 Author

Unknown

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Hōshō, Komparu, Kongō, Kita

4 Synopsis

The fisherman Hakuryō (waki) is watching the peaceful spring landscape at Mio Bay with his companions (wakitsure) when he discovers a beautiful robe hung on a pine branch and decides to take it home. A celestial maiden (shite) appears and laments that the garment belongs to her and that without it she cannot return to heaven. Although Hakuryō does not want to do so, moved by the maiden’s sadness, he agrees to give it back under the condition that she dance for him. The maiden explains that this is impossible without the gown, but Hakuryō fears that she will break her word. When the maiden replies that only humans doubt, whereas in heaven there are no lies, Hakuryō feels ashamed and gives her the robe. The maiden dons it and does a dance praising the mystery and beauty of the moon, and the play tells us that this dance later became known as the Suruga Dance (suruga mai) in bugaku. Scattering treasures in her wake, the maiden ascends from Mio Bay through the haze of dusk, beyond the peak of Mount Fuji and back into heaven.