Tōsen

唐船 The Chinese Ship

1 Source and/or Related Material

Unknown

2 Author

Unknown

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Hōshō, Komparu, Kongō, Kita

4 Synopsis

Hakozaki (waki), a trader from Chikuzen Province (Fukuoka), has captured a Chinese ship in battle and taken a Chinese courtier named Zuqing as his slave. One day thirteen years later, Hakozaki is just ordering his sword bearer (adoai) to tell Zuqing to take the horses and cattle out to the fields and get to work, when the captain (omoai) of a Chinese ship enters with two men who say that they are Zuqing’s sons. Presently, Zuqing (shite) enters with two young sons (kokata) whom he has fathered here in Japan. Hakozaki grants permission to Zuqing and his sons from China to return home, but he insists that the sons from Japan must stay behind, as they are Hakozaki’s rightful property. Seeing Zuqing’s heartache, Hakozaki finally relents and allows the Japanese sons to go with him as well. The family set sail for China, and Zuqing dances for joy on the deck of the ship.