Genzai Nue

現在鵺 Present-time Night-bird

1 Source and/or Related Material

The Tale of the Heike 4

2 Author

Unknown

3 Repertoire

Kongō

4 Synopsis

A minister (wakitsure) of Emperor Konoe tells how every night the emperor suffers from severe pain when a black cloud appears above the forest at Sanjō (Kyoto), and that Minamoto no Yorimasa, the Minister of the Armory, must shoot with his bow whatever demon is responsible. He summons Yorimasa (waki) and transmits the emperor’s order. At first Yorimasa declines, but recalling how he has kept the peace with bow and arrow in the past, he agrees to help. Having finished his preparations, Yorimasa and his retainer I no Hayata (wakitsure) wait for the demon at the palace. A black cloud appears, and a monster (shite) with the head of a monkey, the tail of a snake, hands and feet of a tiger and the cry of a nightbird appears. Praying to the God Hachiman, Yorimasa strikes the demon with an arrow. Thereupon I no Hayata stabs and kills it with his sword.