Kumasaka

Noh piece. Fifth piece. Current piece of the five schools. Author unknown. When a traveling monk (waki) passes through Akasaka Village in Mino Province (Gifu Prefecture), a local monk (mae shite) calls out to him and invites him to his hermitage to mourn the anniversary of a certain person's death. There are many weapons stored there, and when the traveling monk expresses suspicion, the monk explains that it is to save people from troubles in the dangerous village. As night falls, the monk and the hermitage disappear. As the traveling monk spends the night in the shade of the pine trees, the ghost of Kumasaka Chohan (go shite) appears before him, and tells him a tale of his unfortunate death in a battle with Ushiwakamaru wielding a long sword, and disappears after praying for the dedication of his soul. This piece depicts the events of the current Noh play "Eboshiori" in the form of a dream Noh play as the traveling monk's fantasy. The opening scene, in which two identically dressed monks sit facing each other, is a feature not found in other Noh plays. The contrast and coexistence of melancholy and boldness makes this a magnificent work of fine art.

[Masuda Shozo]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

能の曲目。五番目物。五流現行曲。作者不明。旅の僧（ワキ）が美濃(みの)国（岐阜県）赤坂の里を通ると、所の僧（前シテ）が呼びかけ、さる者の命日を弔ってほしいと庵室(あんしつ)にいざなう。そこには武具が多く備えられ、不審を述べる旅僧に、物騒な里ゆえ往来の者の難儀を救うためと語る。夜も更けると僧の姿も庵室も消えている。松陰に夜を明かす旅僧の前に、熊坂長範(ちょうはん)の亡霊（後シテ）が現れ、大長刀(なぎなた)を振るい牛若丸と戦った無念の死を仕方話に語り、回向(えこう)を願って消えうせる。現在能の『烏帽子折(えぼしおり)』の事件を旅僧の幻想として夢幻能の形で描いた曲。同装の僧が対座する前段は他の能にない特色。哀愁と豪快さの対比と同居がみごとな佳作である。

［増田正造］

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