Hōjōgawa

放生川 The Hōjō River

1 Source and/or Related Material

Story of Yawata Shrine origins, Dialogues in a dream

2 Author

Zeami

3 Repertoire

Kanze, Hōshō, Komparu, Kongō

4 Synopsis

A priest (waki) from Kashima Shrine visits the Iwashimizu Hachiman Shrine with his retainer (wakitsure). The pair encounter two men, one young (tsure) and one old (maeshite). The priest and his attendant ask about the origins of the Ritual of Releasing Living Beings which they perform at the Iwashimizu Hachiman Shrine. The old man tells the detailed story, then reveals that he is the God Takenouchi, and disappears into Mt. Otoko. Later on, the pair hear the history of the Iwashimizu Hachiman again from a local man (ai). Then they wait, and sure enough, Takenouchi (nochishite) appears as the sound of a kagura orchestra echoes through the night. He sings waka poems of the four seasons and dances.