Tenko

天鼓 The Heavenly Drummer

1 Source and/or Related Material

Unknown

2 Author

Unknown

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Hōshō, Komparu, Kongō, Kita

4 Synopsis

In late-Han–dynasty China, an envoy (waki) of the Emperor tells how an elderly man named Wangbo (maeshite) and his wife Wangmu had a son named Tiangu (Heavenly Drum). Wangmu gave the boy this name because she became pregnant with him following a mysterious dream in which a drum fell from heaven and entered her womb. After the dream, a drum actually fell to her from the sky and would make a beautiful sound when the boy beat it. Hearing of this, the Emperor ordered Tiangu to give him the drum, but he refused. Accordingly, Tiangu was put to death by drowning in the river Lüshui, but the drum now refused to make a sound, so it did the Emperor no good. One day, an imperial messenger visits Wangbo at home, announcing that he is ordered to appear at the imperial Palace. Wangbo prepares himself and goes to the Palace, where he is told to beat his son’s drum. He does so, and the drum makes its original, beautiful sound. The Emperor is deeply moved and rewards Wangbo. He promises to hold a memorial service of orchestral music and sutra-chanting for Tiangu at the river Lüshui. An attendant (ai) escorts Wangbo home and tells of the memorial service to be held. During the service, the spirit of Tiangu (nochishite) appears on the waters of the river. Beating his drum, Tiangu dances joyfully.