Danpū

檀風 The Holy Wind

1 Source and/or Related Material

The Chronicle of Great Peace 2

2 Author

Unknown

3 Repertoire

Hōshō, Kongō, Kita

4 Synopsis

Hino Suketomo (maeshite—tsure in the Hōshō school) has been exiled to the island of Sado (present-day Niigata) for his unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the Kamakura shogunate. Honma no Saburō (wakitsure), who is in charge of Suketomo, receives orders to execute him and commands his retainer (ai) not to allow any meetings between Suketomo and his relatives. The monk Kumano no Sochi (waki) brings Suketomo’s son Umewaka to Sado and requests a meeting with Suketomo. Fearing that his son might also be killed, Suketomo insists that he has no children. Hearing this from Honma, Umewaka is deeply grieved. Right before he is executed, Suketomo reveals to Honma that Umewaka is his son and pleads for Umewaka to be sent back to the capital. The monk receives Suketomo’s body from Honma and conducts a dignified memorial service. Umewaka resolves to kill Honma and proceeds to avenge his father’s death with the monk’s help. As they escape, Honma’s servant (ai) chases after them. Arriving at the harbor, Umewaka and the priest ask their ship’s captain (wakitsure) to allow them to come aboard, but the captain refuses and sets sail. The monk faces the boat in prayer, whereupon the god Kumano Gongen (shite) appears and blows the boat back to shore. Umewaka and the monk board the boat, and Kumano Gongen blows them safely out to sea.