Hanagatami

花筐 The Flower Basket/ The Flower Remembrance

1 Source and/or Related Material

Collection of Myriad Leaves 15:3770, Collection of Ancient and Modern Poems 754

2 Author

Zeami, Lady Li’s kusemai by Kannami, noriji possibly by Kanze Nagatoshi

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Hōshō, Komparu, Kongō, Kita

4 Synopsis

Prince Ōatobe has sent a messenger (wakitsure) to his beloved consort Lady Teruhi (maeshite) at Ajimano in Chikuzen Province (Fukui). He tells her that the prince has been declared emperor and so has left for the capital, leaving her a flower basket and a letter as a farewell gift. Although Teruhi is pleased with the prince’s accession, she returns to her home village overwhelmed by sadness. Meanwhile, the new Emperor Keitai (kokata) has moved the capital to Tamaho (Nara). Lady Teruhi, now gone mad with grief (nochishite), is travelling in Tamaho one day with a servant (tsure) hoping to meet her old lover, and just then the emperor is there on an excursion to view the maple leaves, accompanied by palanquin bearers (wakitsure) and a courtier (waki). When the madwoman gets in the way of the Emperor’s procession, the courtier chases her away, throwing her precious flower basket on the ground. Teruhi declares that the basket is a keepsake from the Emperor and laments the courtier’s rudeness. She rebukes her old lover and collapses in distress. Asked by the courtier to show an interesting “mad” dance, she tells the story of Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty China and his consort Lady Li. Finally, the Emperor recognises Lady Teruhi’s flower basket and takes her in again as his consort.