Kusenoto

九世戸 Kusenoto

1 Source and/or Related Material

Kusenoto engi

2 Author

Kanze Nobumitsu

3 Repertoire

Kanze

4 Synopsis

A courtier (waki) is on his way to pay homage to Kusenoto, a sacred spot in the land of Tango (Kyoto). There, he meets two fishermen (maeshite, maetsure) who tell him the history of the place. This is the spot where the Heavenly Grandson Hohonomi no Mikoto invited the Bodhisattva Mañjuśrī to come down from India, and it is also where Mañjuśrī returned after visiting the Dragon Palace at the bottom of the sea. The three sing praises of the deities and invoke their blessings on the land. The courtier asks the old fisherman his name, and he answers that he is a divine servant of Mañjuśrī, then promises to return later with a heavenly lantern. The guardian deity of the gate of Kusenoto appears and introduces the place again. After his monologue, a heavenly maiden (nochitsure) and the Dragon King (nochishite) appear, each holding a heavenly lantern. They perform a dance and then disappear into the sea.