Oimatsu

老松 Ancient Pine

1 Source and/or Related Material

Kitano Tenjin Engi, Jikkinshō, etc

2 Author

Zeami

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Hōshō, Komparu, Kongō, Kita

4 Synopsis

A certain Umezu from the capital (waki) has been commanded in a dream to visit the Anrakuji Temple in Tsukushi (northern Kyūshū), so he is on his way there with his retainers (wakitsure). When they get there, they meet an old man (maeshite) and his younger companion (tsure). Umezu asks them about the plum tree and the pine tree that the exiled courtier Sugawara no Michizane loved and wrote poems about in his exile here. The old man explains that the plum is called Kōbaidono and the pine tree Oimatsu, and both are worshipped at sub-shrines of the Tenman-gu dedicated to Michizane. Suddenly, the old man vanishes into thin air. A local (ai) at the gate of Anrakuji retells the story in plain speech. That night, the spirit of Oimatsu (nochishite) appears and performs a divine dance in celebration of spring.