Senju (Shigehira) B

千手（重衡）：乙 Senju

1 Source and/or Related Material

“Senju,” Tale of the Heike book 10

2 Author

Komparu Zenchiku

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Hōshō, Komparu, Kongō, Kita

4 Synopsis

The Heike warrior Shigehira (tsure) was defeated at the battle of Ichi-no-tani and taken captive by the Genji. He is now held prisoner by Kanōnosuke Munemochi (waki) in Suruga Province (Shizuoka). On a rainy spring night, the traveling entertainer Lady Senju (shite) visits Shigehira and comforts him, and he laments that he will never be able to become a monk now. Out of pity for Shigehira, Munemochi holds a feast, at which Lady Senju composes poems, recites a ballad, and performs a dance. Shigehira starts to play the lute, and Senju accompanies him on the zither. The night comes to an end, and in the morning Senju watches as Shigehira is taken away to the capital to face his fate.