Zenji Soga

禅師曽我 The Zen Monk Soga Brother

1 Source and/or Related Material

“Monk Zenji Attempts Suicide,” Tale of the Soga Brothers book 10

2 Author

Unknown

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Hōshō, Kita

4 Synopsis

The Soga Brothers have avenged their father’s murder by slaying his killer, Kudō Suketsune, before dying in the ensuing incident. Now their loyal retainers Danzaburō (tsure) and Oniō (tsure) are on their way to deliver their last will and testament and the mementos that the brothers prepared for their mother, who lives in their hometown in Sagami Province (Kanagawa). Their mother (tsure) learns of her sons’ final moments, and upon receiving their keepsakes she laments their death. Fearing for the safety of her youngest son Ombō, who is a Zen monk at a temple in Kugami of Echigo Province (Niigata), she writes a letter to warn him. At Kugami, a temple servant (ai) attends the monk (shite) as he is about to perform a homa fire sacrifice. Just then, Itō no Kurō Sukemune bursts in with his retainers Hikita no Kosaburō (wakitsure) and Kano no Genroku (wakitsure). Itō took in Ombō from his infancy and had him raised here as a monk, but he has been ordered by the shogun Yoritomo to take him alive. Wearing armor beneath his priestly robes, Ombō brandishes a halberd and fights valiantly, but he is driven into a corner. He tries to commit ritual suicide and die with honor, but he is caught and sent off to Kamakura in shackles.