Nonomiya

野宮 The Shrine in the Field

1 Source and/or Related Material

“Sakaki,” Tale of Genji

2 Author

perhaps Komparu Zenchiku

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Hōshō, Komparu, Kongō, Kita

4 Synopsis

A travelling monk (waki) is visiting the Nonomiya Shrine in Sagano (Kyoto). The monk meets a local woman (maeshite) who says that today is the day that Prince Genji came to Nonomiya to visit Lady Rokujō, telling the story of their broken vows. Little and little she reveals that she is the ghost of Lady Rokujō, then disappears in the shadow of Nonomiya’s famous torii gate made from logs with the bark still on. A villager (ai) repeats the story in plain speech. That night, the ghost of Lady Rokujō (nochishite) appears to the monk in her true form and performs a dance while ruminating on her affair with Prince Genji and her disgraceful treatment at the Kamo Festival, where she lost a prestigious parking spot for her oxcart against Genji’s main wife Lady Aoi. By and by the ghost goes off to keep wandering the paths of delusion.