Sakahoko

逆矛 The Spear of Heaven

1 Source and/or Related Material

Jinnō Shōtōki , etc

2 Author

Unknown, perhaps Miyamasu

3 Repertoire

Kanze

4 Synopsis

A high-ranking courtier (waki) and his retainers (wakitsure) are on pilgrimage to Mt. Tatsuta (Nara), when they meet an old man (maeshite) holding a branch of the sacred sakaki tree, accompanied by a courtier holding a torch (maetsure). The old man shows them to a night festival and tells how the Gods Izanagi and Izanami thrust the jewelled Spear of Heaven into the sea and the Japanese islands formed from drops that fell from its tip. The old man reveals that he is the God Takimatsuri, then disappears. A local (ai) comes and tells the story of Takimatsuri to the high-ranking courtier. That night, heavenly maidens (nochitsure) appear and perform a dance, and Takimatsuri reappears in his true form (nochishite), holding the jewelled Spear of Heaven, and reenacts the divine first couple creating the islands of Japan.