Tomonaga

朝長 Tomonaga

1 Source and/or Related Material

Tale of Heiji book 2

2 Author

Unknown

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Hōshō, Komparu, Kongō, Kita

4 Synopsis

A monk (waki) from Seiryōji Temple in Saga (Kyoto) is going with his entourage (wakitsure) to pray at the grave of the Genji warrior Tomonaga, when they stop at the waystation of Aohaka in Mino Province (Gifu). The lead monk learns the location of Tomonaga’s grave from a local man (ai), and they go to pay their respects. Just then, the mistress of the inn (shite), accompanied by a female servant (tsure) and a male servant (tomo), asks the monk who he is, and he reveals that he was once Tomonaga’s retainer. The mistress describes how Tomonaga died by honorable suicide in the inn at this very waystation of Aohaka, then shows him the way there and encourages him to pray for Tomonaga. The local man comes back to tell the story of Tomonaga in plain speech, then announces the upcoming memorial services to everyone at the inn. The monks chant their sutras, and Tomonaga (nochishite) appears. The spirit relates how he was defeated in battle and then committed honorable suicide. He expresses gratitude to the inn’s mistress, who once gave him lodging and has been consistently praying for him. Tomonaga requests continued memorial services, then vanishes.