Sagi

鷺 The Heron

1 Source and/or Related Material

“Enemies of the Court,” Tale of the Heike book 5

2 Author

Unknown

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Hōshō, Komparu, Kongō, Kita

4 Synopsis

A courtier (ai) announces that the Sovereign is visiting his private gardens at Shinsen’en to enjoy the cool evening breeze. The Sovereign (tsure) arrives with a minister (wakitsure), retainers (wakitsure), litter carriers (wakitsure) and a chamberlain (waki). Just then, they see a beautiful heron (shite), but it flies away, so the Sovereign orders his subordinates to bring it back. The chamberlain tells the heron it must come back, on the Sovereign’s orders, and the heron returns voluntarily to let itself be captured. The chamberlain and the heron are both awarded the Fifth Rank. The heron dances for joy, then flies away.