Tamura

田村 Tamura

1 Source and/or Related Material

Kiyomizudera engi, Konjaku mongatari shū, Genkō Shakusho

2 Author

Unknown, possibly Komparu Zenchiku

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Hōshō, Komparu, Kongō, Kita

4 Synopsis

A traveling monk (waki) from the wild East, accompanied by his disciples (wakitsure), visits the temple of Kiyomizudera in the capital. When they enter the temple grounds, the monks meet a young boy (maeshite) sweeping beneath cherry blossoms in full bloom. The boy explains that this is his job, then tells the history of Kiyomizudera and its environs. As the sun sets, the boy disappears inside Tamura Hall. A man at the temple gate (ai) retells the story in plain speech. That night, the monks chant sutras, and the spirit of Sakanoue Tamuramaro (nochishite) appears in full warrior regalia and tells how, on the orders of the Emperor, he fought demons on Mt. Suzuka. Because he had prayed at Kiyomizudera, Thousand-Armed Kannon came to his aid and enabled him to defeat the demons.