Empty arm - Soraude

The title of a Kyogen piece. Tarokaja Kyogen. At dusk, the master orders Tarokaja (shite) to go to Yodo to buy fish. Tarokaja is a coward and borrows his master's sword to go out, but once he leaves Kyoto city, he becomes frightened of even the slightest shadow and goes into the deserted darkness, holding out his sword and asking for help. The master follows him, sees this, takes the sword, and hits the knight with a fan, causing him to lose consciousness. Eventually, the knight regains his senses and returns home, calling his master. He tells the master a bogus tale of bravery, saying that on the way to Yodo he encountered many bandits, fought them hard, but his sword broke and he fled. The master, knowing the truth, lets him talk to his heart's content, then shows him the sword and scolds the knight for his cowardice. The highlight is the knight's empty bravery (false boasting of bravery) as told by the knight.

[Kazutoshi Hayashi]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

狂言の曲名。太郎冠者(かじゃ)狂言。暮れ方、主人は太郎冠者（シテ）に淀(よど)で魚を求めてくるよう言いつける。臆病(おくびょう)な太郎冠者は主人の太刀(たち)を借りて出かけるが、京都市中を出外れると、ちょっとした物影にもおびえ、人のいない闇(やみ)へ太刀を差し出して助けを請う始末である。あとをつけてきた主人がこれを見て太刀を取り上げ、扇で打つと冠者は気を失ってしまう。やがて正気に戻った冠者は帰宅して主人を呼び出し、淀へ行く途中大ぜいの賊に会い、さんざん戦ったが、太刀が折れたので逃げ帰ってきたと、でたらめの武勇談を並べ立てる。事実を知っている主人は存分にしゃべらせたのちに、太刀を見せて、冠者の臆病ぶりをしかる。冠者の仕方話による空腕立(そらうでだて)（偽りの武勇自慢）が見どころ。

［林　和利］

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