Hibariyama

雲雀山 Mt. Skylark

1 Source and/or Related Material

medieval tales relating to Princess Chūjō

2 Author

Unknown, sung by Kiami

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Hōshō, Komparu, Kongō, Kita

4 Synopsis

Based on a false accusation, Minister of the Right Yokohagi Toyonari (waki) orders the execution of his own daughter, Princess Chūjō (kokata). However, one of his chamberlains (wakitsure), conspires with the girl’s nurse (shite) to shelter and raise her secretly in a hut near Mt. Hibari. One day, the chamberlain leaves the young lady alone at the hut while he goes into town to sell the season’s produce. Just then, her father the Minister of the Right and his chamberlain (wakitsure) visit Mt. Hibari on a hunt. While a beater and a kennel master (ai) are gathering pheasants for the coming hunt, the Minister and his party come across the old nurse selling flowers in the town. The chamberlain asks the nurse about her life, and she tells the story of Princess Chūjō’s wrongful exile in song and dance. The Minister realizes that the old woman is his daughter’s old nurse, expresses his regret at the way he treated his daughter, and begs to see her again. The nurse brings him to the hut, and father and daughter are reunited at last.