Aridōshi

蟻通 The Aridōshi Shrine

1 Source and/or Related Material

book on the study of waka poems

2 Author

Zeami

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Hōshō, Komparu, Kongō, Kita

4 Synopsis

On his way to Tamatsushima Shrine (Wakayama ), the poet Ariwara no Narihira (waki) passes the shrine of the Aridōshi Myōjin (Osaka) without realizing it. Suddenly he is troubled by heavy rain, and his horse collapses. The caretaker of the shrine (shite) appears and explains that Ariwara no Narihira has been punished by the god there for failing to dismount and thus defiling the sacred ground. At the caretaker’s suggestion, Narihira recites a poem for the god, and his horse recovers and stands up again. Then the caretaker offers a prayer to the deity and praises the way of song and dance. He reveals that he in fact is the Aridōshi God, then disappears suddenly.