Oharagokō

大原御幸・小原御幸 The Imperial Visit to Ohara

1 Source and/or Related Material

“Initiate’s Scroll,” Tale of the Heike

2 Author

perhaps Komparu Zenchiku

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Hōshō, Komparu, Kongō, Kita

4 Synopsis

After the final defeat of the Heike clan at the Battle of Dan-no-ura, a courtier (mae-wakitsure) in the service of the Cloistered Emperor GoShirakawa orders his attendant (ai) to clean the streets in anticipation of GoShirakawa’s arrival here in Ohara, where Kenreimon-in (maeshite), the daughter of Heike leader Kiyomori, adopted daughter of GoShirakawa, Empress to Emperor Takakura, and mother of the dead child Emperor Antoku, lives in seclusion with Lady Dainagon (tsure) and Dame Awa (tsure) in a humble hut, where they spend their days praying for the souls of their fallen family. One day, they go to the mountain to pick flowers and herbs, and while they are out, the Cloistered Emperor (tsure) arrives at their hut, together with Madenokōji Chūnagon (waki) and his palanquin bearers. Just then, the women come back from their outing. Kenreimon-in describes the Taira clan’ flight from the capital, comparing it with the endless flight of souls around the six realms of existence in this world of birth and death. GoShirakawa asks her to describe the death of her son (and his grandson) by drowning in the sea at Dan-no-ura, which she does. Closure achieved, she sees her adopted father off on his way back to the capital.