Kashiwazaki

柏崎 The Kashiwazaki’s Widow

1 Source and/or Related Material

Unknown

2 Author

Enami no Saemon Gorō, revised by Zeami

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Hōshō, Komparu, Kongō, Kita

4 Synopsis

The Lord of Kashiwazaki in Echigo Province (Niigata) travels to the shogunal capital of Kamakura for a court case but falls ill and dies. His son Hanawaka, who had accompanied him, is so grieved that he decides to continue his life in monastic seclusion. He sends his retainer Kotarō (waki) back to Echigo to deliver all the sad news, along with a memento of his father, to his mother (shite). The lord’s wife, realizing that her husband is dead, reads Hanawaka’s letter in anguish. While begrudging her son’s choice to leave her for the monastic life, she prays for his well-being. Meanwhile at Zenkōji Temple (Nagano), Hanawaka (kokata) devotes himself to prayer under the guidance of a priest (wakitsure) of the temple. A woman arrives at the temple, saying she has gone mad from separation: from her husband in death, and from her son in life. The woman attempts to enter the inner grounds of the temple, where women are forbidden, and asks if this exclusion of women was truly the desire of Shakyamuni. As night falls, she starts to chant the Nembutsu, and her madness intensifies. Looking on, Hanawaka realizes that this woman is his mother but keeps silent. The madwoman dons the court cap and robe of her husband, who excelled at singing and dancing, prays that her husband may reach the Pure Land, and offers a dance to the Buddha. Finally, Hanawaka reveals himself and mother and son are reunited.