Seiganji

誓願寺 Seiganji Temple

1 Source and/or Related Material

Rakuyō Seiganji engi, etc

2 Author

Unknown

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Hōshō, Komparu, Kongō, Kita

4 Synopsis

The charismatic Nembutsu preacher Ippen (waki) and his entourage (wakitsure) visit the temple of Seiganji. While on pilgrimage in the sacred mountains of Kumano, Ippen received a revelation in a dream that he should distribute cards with the words of the Nembutsu written on them. This is why he has come to Seiganji, a famous destination for Nembutsu worship in the capital. Ippen hands out all his holy cards, and they are such a hit that one woman (maeshite) suggests that the front plaque reading “Seiganji” be replaced with the words of the Nembutsu written by Ippen’s hand. The woman then reveals that she is the ghost of Izumi Shikibu and vanishes. A local man (ai) tells a story of the poet and critic Izumi Shikibu, then shares that he received a vision that Ippen must change the “Seiganji” sign to the Nembutsu in his own calligraphy. With this confirmation, Ippen feels empowered to make the switch, then begins to chant Nembutsu. Just then, Izumi Shikibu reappears in her true form (nochishite) and announces that Ippen’s replacing the sign has miraculously turned her into a Bodhisattva of song and dance. She sings of the origins of Seiganji and dances with her new Bodhisattva powers.