Kiyomizu Zatō

The title of a Kyogen piece. Zatō Kyogen. A blind female musician and a blind zato (a zato) who have come to retreat to the Kannon of Kiyomizu, a temple famous for its miraculous powers of matchmaking, meet. Learning that they are both blind, they drink sake together throughout the night. As the night draws on, they each receive a prophecy in their dreams that says, "If you go to the west gate, a suitable spouse will be waiting for you." The blind female musician goes to the west gate first, waiting to see what kind of man will appear, and the blind female musician's walking stick touches the walking stick of the blind female musician, who comes later and is searching for Goreimu's wife. The two sing, "I push her with my walking stick," and head home hand in hand. This Kyogen piece is almost laugh-free, but it is full of lingering emotion, making you think about the purity of the bond between a man and a woman and the deep meaning of love. There is even a hint of eroticism in the air when the walking sticks touch each other with a click.

[Mitsuo Yuya]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

狂言の曲名。座頭狂言。縁結びの霊験(れいげん)あらたかな清水の観世音で、御籠(おこも)りにきた瞽女(ごぜ)と座頭が出会う。互いに盲目の身と知り、夜もすがらしみじみと酒を酌み交わす。夜もふけ、2人の夢枕(ゆめまくら)それぞれに「西門に行けばよい配偶者が待っている」というお告げがある。先に西門に行き、どんな男が現れるかと待つ瞽女の杖(つえ)に、あとからきて御霊夢の妻を探す座頭の杖が触れ、2人は「杖にて推したり」と謡い、手に手をとり帰って行く。ほとんど笑いのない狂言だが、男女の契りの純粋性と愛の深い意味を考えさせる、余情あふれる作品。杖がかちりと触れあう瞬間、ほのかなエロティシズムさえ漂う。

［油谷光雄］

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