Matsuyama (Tengu)

松山（天狗） The Tengu of Matsuyama

1 Source and/or Related Material

Senjūshō

2 Author

Unknown

3 Repertoire

Kongō

4 Synopsis

To console the spirit of Emperor Sutoku, Monk Saigyō (waki) goes to Matsuyama in Sanuki Province (Kagawa), where he meets an old man (maeshite) who leads him to the exiled Emperor’s grave. The old man is deeply impressed as Saigyō composes a poem as a commemorative offering, so he tells Saigyō that in all his days, the only ones who visited Sutoku’s grave were the tengu devils who live in the mountains. The old man reveals that he himself is a tengu, then disappears. A tree-leaf tengu (ai) appears and tells how Sutoku was banished to Matsuyama here in Sanuki, then declares that Sutoku is so pleased with Saigyō’s poem that he will come and do a dance. The ghost of Sutoku (nochi-shite) appears and calls out to Saigyō. As he begins to dance, he remembers the past and shows anger at his exile. Just then, the tengu Sagamibō (tsure) appears with a gang of other tengu (tsure). They comfort Sutoku, show heroic attitudes, and fly away.