Sesshōseki

殺生石 The Killing Stone

1 Source and/or Related Material

Lady Tamamo, etc

2 Author

Unknown

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Hōshō, Komparu, Kongō, Kita

4 Synopsis

The monk Gennō (waki) is bound for the capital with his temple servant (ai), and on his way through the plain of Nasunohara in Shimotsuke Province (Tochigi) he sees a bird fall to the ground when it flies above a particular large rock, and wonders why. He is on his way over to the rock to investigate, when a local woman (maeshite) stops him, explaining that the stone is called the Killing Stone, a fearful embodiment of Lady Tamamo’s obsession which kills living beings that come in contact with it. She tells the story of Lady Tamamo, then reveals that she herself is Tamamo and disappears into the stone. Gennō conducts a memorial service, at which the great stone splits into two and Lady Tamamo no Mae appears in her true form, the spirit of a fox named Yakan (nochishite). Yakan reenacts the moment in which he was shot to death by an arrow, thanks Gennō for his memorial service, promises not to do any jmore killing, and disappears.