Ikkakusennnin

一角仙人 The One-Horned Wizard

1 Source and/or Related Material

Tales of Times Now Past, The Chronicle of Great Peace, Records of the three Countries

2 Author

Komparu Zempō

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Komparu, Kongō, Kita

4 Synopsis

A courtier (waki) of Vārānasī in ancient India tells of the trouble being caused by a wizard who has a single horn on his forehead. This one-horned wizard has used his magic powers to trap the Dragon Gods in a rock cavern so that there is no more rain. Accordingly, the king has sent a beautiful woman called Madame Chanda (Skt. “desire”) to the one-horned wizard to try to seduce him, defile him, and thus strip him of his magic powers. Madame Chanda (tsure) enters, carried by a palanquin bearer (wakitsure), and the courtier leads them up the mountain until they meet the wizard (shite). Madame Chanda offers the wizard wine and performs a dance. Mesmerized by her beauty, the wizard starts to dance along, and one thing leads to another until he passes out drunk and satisfied. Madame Chanda returns to the capital, the rock cavern breaks open, and two Dragon Gods (tsure) emerge. Just then, the one-horned wizard catches up with them. The dragons defeat him in battle, bless the land with a heavy rain, and go off to their Dragon Palace.