Ōeyama

大江山 The Demon of Ōeyama

1 Source and/or Related Material

Ōeyama Ekotoba, Shuten Dōji, etc

2 Author

Unknown

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Hōshō, Komparu, Kongō, Kita

4 Synopsis

The hero Minamoto no Yorimitsu (maewaki) has been ordered to slay an oni called Shuten Dōji, who lives on Mt. Ōe in Tamba Province (Kyoto). Yorimitsu and his retainers (mae-wakitsure) disguise themselves as ascetics and climb the mountain. On Yoshimitsu’s orders, a manservant (omoai) is searching for the monster’s lair, when he comes across an old childhood friend (adoai) who, it turns out, has been kidnapped by Shuten Dōji and is serving as his laundry woman. She shows Yorimitsu the way to the monster’s lair. Believing their cover story that they are mountain ascetics, Shuten Dōji (maeshite) throws a party, tells them his life’s story, and drinks himself to sleep. Now dressed for battle, Yorimitsu (atowaki) and his retainers (ato-wakitsure) rush in and attack Shuten Dōji, who now appears in his full demonic form (nochishite), though he is no match for our heroes.