One-horned hermit - Ikkaku Sennin

Noh piece. Fourth or fifth piece. Currently performed by four schools: Kanze, Konparu, Kongo, and Kita. Written by Konparu Zenpo, based on "Taiheiki." Set in the most remote place of all Noh pieces, Tenjiku (India). Born from a deer's womb, Ikkaku Sennin (Shite) has a horn on his forehead. He fights with the dragon god for power, and imprisons him in a cave, so there is no rain for several months. A beautiful woman (Tsure) named Senda Bunin is sent by the emperor to the mountains as a temptress. The Sennin is fascinated by the beautiful woman's dance, and soon begins to imitate her. It is a unique dance technique that contrasts beauty and beast. The Sennin becomes drunk and loses his supernatural powers. Two dragon gods (Tsure) appear, breaking through the cave, and the hermit fights with a sword in hand, but is defeated. The dragon gods return to Ryugu while bringing heavy rain. The dragon gods are also played by children. This is the original source of the kabuki play "Narukami".

[Masuda Shozo]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

能の曲目。四、五番目物。観世、金春(こんぱる)、金剛、喜多四流現行曲。『太平記』に材をとる金春禅鳳(こんぱるぜんぽう)の作。能の曲目中、もっとも遠隔の地、天竺(てんじく)（インド）を舞台としている。シカの胎内から生まれたため額に角(つの)の生えている一角仙人（シテ）は、竜神と力を争い、これを岩屋に封じ込めたので、数か月も雨が降らない。帝(みかど)によって旋陀夫人(せんだぶにん)という美女（ツレ）が誘惑者として山奥へ派遣される。仙人は美女の舞に見とれ、やがてまねして舞い出す。美女と野獣の対比をみせる特色ある相舞(あいまい)のくふうである。酔い伏して神通力を失った仙人。竜神2人（ツレ）が岩屋を破って現れ、仙人は剣を手に戦うが敗れ、竜神は大雨を降らしつつ竜宮へ帰る。竜神は子方でも演ずる。歌舞伎(かぶき)の『鳴神(なるかみ)』の原典である。

［増田正造］

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