Urokogata

鱗形 The Snakeskin Crest

1 Source and/or Related Material

“Tokimasa Retires to Enoshima to Pray,” Taiheiki book 5

2 Author

Unknown

3 Repertoire

Kongō, Kita

4 Synopsis

Hōjō Tokimasa (waki) and his retainers (wakitsure) make a pilgrimage to the Goddess Sarasvatī (J. Benzaiten) at the island templ̀e of Enoshima, in order to decide on a crest for his family, which has now become responsible for governing as regents for the boy shoguns of Kamakura. A woman (maeshite) suddenly appears and extols Tokimasa’s constant faith, informs him that she will grant his wish, then disappears into the sanctuary. All are still reeling with amazement when the God of a lesser shrine (ai) comes and repeats the story in plain speech. Just then, the main sanctuary shakes, and Sarasvatī (nochishite) appears, bestowing upon Tokimasa a banner with a crest of three triangles, symbolizing the scales on a snake’s skin. She performs a kagura dance and prophesies that Tokimasu will be protected; then, she disappears once again into the sanctuary.