Kōtei

皇帝 The Emperor / The Mirror of Acala

1 Source and/or Related Material

The Lost Histories (Yishi), as cited in Kokin jibun ruijū

2 Author

Kanze Nobumitsu

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Hōshō, Kongō, Kita

4 Synopsis

At the palace of Emperor Xuanzong (waki) of Tang, a courtier (ai) announces that Yang Guifei (kokata), the Emperor’s favorite consort, has suddenly fallen ill. On stage, Yang Guifei sits behind a veiled platform and is revealed when Xuanzong sits down, sunk in lamentations. Just then, an old man (shite) arrives saying he is the demon queller Zhong Kui, come to repay the kindness that he received from Xuanzong’s ancestors. He gives the Emperor a magic mirror with which to capture the demon (tsure) who is causing Yang Guifei’s illness. Xuanzong sees the plague demon through the mirror he fails to kill it. Next, Zhong Kui (nochishite) arrives in his official outfit on a horse. He successfully slaughters the plague demon, and Yang Guifei recovers. Zhong Kui requests to become the guardian deity of both the Emperor and his lady, then disappears.