The Noh Plays of Japan (20 page)

†
Called in Sanskrit Mahasthama-prapta, third person of the Trinity sitting on Amida's right hand. The Moon-God is an emanation of this deity.

†
Of Buddha.

Here follows a long lyric passage describing their journey and ascent. The frequent occurrence of place-names and plays of word on such names makes it impossible to translate.

N
OTE ON
T
ANIK
Ō
AND
I
KENIYA.

B
OTH
of these plays deal with the ruthless exactions of religion; in each the first part lends itself better to translation than the second.
Tanik
ō
is still played; but
Ikeniye,
though printed by both
Ō
wada and Haga, has probably not been staged for many centuries.

The pilgrims of
Tanik
ō
are
Yamabushi,
"mountaineers," to whom reference has been made on page 33. They called themselves
Shugenja,
"portent-workers," and claimed to be the knight-errants of Buddhism. But their conduct seems to have differed little from that of the
S
ō
hei
(armed monks) who poured down in hordes from Mount Hiyei to terrorize the inhabitants of the surrounding country. Some one in the
Genji Monogatari
is said to have "collected a crowd of evil-looking Yamabushi, desperate, stick-at-nothing fellows."

Ikeniye,
the title of the second play, means "Pool Sacrifice," but also "Living Sacrifice," i. e. human sacrifice.

PERSONS

TEACHER

I am a teacher. I keep a school at one of the temples in the City I have a pupil whose father is dead; he has only his mother to look after him. Now I will go and say good-bye to them, for I am soon starting on a journey to the mountains.
(He knocks at the door of the house.)
May I come in?

BOY

Who is it? Why, it is the Master who has come out to see us!

TEACHER

Why is it so long since you came to my classes at the temple?

BOY

I have not been able to come because my mother has been ill.

TEACHER

I had no idea of that. Please tell her at once that I am here.

BOY
(calling into the house)

Mother, the Master is here.

MOTHER

Ask him to come in.

BOY

Please come in here.

TEACHER

It is a long time since I was here. Your son says you have been ill. Are you better now?

MOTHER

Do not worry about my illness. It is of no consequence.

TEACHER

I am glad to hear it. I have come to say good-bye, for I am soon starting on a ritual mountain-climbing.

MOTHER

A mountain-climbing? Yes, indeed; I have heard that it is a dangerous ritual. Shall you take my child with you?

TEACHER

It is not a journey that a young child could make.

MOTHER

Well—I hope you will come back safely.

TEACHER

I must go now.

BOY

I have something to say.

TEACHER

What is it?

BOY

I will go with you to the mountains.

TEACHER

No, no. As I said to your mother, we are going on a difficult and dangerous excursion. You could not possibly come with us. Besides, how could you leave your mother when she is not well? Stay here. It is in every way impossible that you should go with us.

BOY

Because my mother is ill I will go with you to pray for her.

TEACHER

I must speak to your mother again.
(He goes back into the inner room.)
I have come back—your son says he is going to come with us. I told him he could not leave you when you were ill and that it would be a difficult and dangerous road. I said it was quite impossible for him to come. But he says he must come to pray for your health. What is to be done?

MOTHER

I have listened to your words. I do not doubt what the boy says—that he would gladly go with you to the mountains:
(to the
BOY
) but since the day your father left us I have had none but you at my side. I have not had you out of mind or sight for as long a time as it takes a dewdrop to dry! Give back the measure of my love. Let your love keep you with me.

BOY

This is all as you say...Yet nothing shall move me from my purpose. I must climb this difficult path and pray for your health in this life.

CHORUS

They saw no plea could move him.
Then master and mother with one voice:
"Alas for such deep piety,
Deep as our heavy sighs."
The mother said,
"I have no strength left;
If indeed it must be,
Go with the Master.
But swiftly, swiftly
Return from danger."

BOY

Checking his heart which longed for swift return At dawn towards the hills he dragged his feet.
*

TEACHER

We have climbed so fast that we have already reached the first hut. We will stay here a little while.

LEADER

We obey.

BOY

I have something to say.

TEACHER

What is it?

BOY

I do not feel well.

TEACHER

Stay! Such things may not be said by those who travel on errands like ours. Perhaps you are tired because you are not used to climbing. Lie there and rest.

LEADER

They are saying that the young boy is ill with climbing. I must ask the Master about it.

PILGRIMS

Do so.

LEADER

I hear that this young boy is ill with climbing. What is the matter with him? Are you anxious about him?

TEACHER.

He is not feeling well, but there is nothing wrong with him. He is only tired with climbing.

LEADER.

So you are not troubled about him?

(A pause.)

PILGRIM

Listen, you pilgrims. Just now the Master said this boy was only tired with climbing. But now he is looking very strange. Ought we not to follow our Great Custom and hurl him into the valley?

LEADER

We ought to indeed. I must tell the Master. Sir, when I enquired before about the child you told me he was only tired with climbing; but now he is looking very strange.

Though I say it with dread, there has been from ancient times a Great Custom that those who fail should be cast down. All the pilgrims are asking that he should be thrown into the valley.

TEACHER

What, you would hurl this child into the valley?

LEADER

We would.

TEACHER

It is a Mighty Custom. I cannot gainsay it. But I have great pity in my heart for that creature. I will tell him tenderly of this Great Custom.

LEADER

Pray do so.

TEACHER

Listen carefully to me. It has been the law from ancient times that if any pilgrim falls sick on such journey as these he should be hurled into the valley—done suddenly to death. If I could take your place, how gladly I would die. But now I cannot help you.

BOY

I understand. I knew well that if I came on this journey I might lose my life.

Only at the thought
Of my dear mother,
How her tree of sorrow
For me must blossom
With flower of weeping—
I am heavy-hearted.

CHORUS

Then the pilgrims sighing
For the sad ways of the world
And the bitter ordinances of it,
Make ready for the hurling.
Foot to foot They stood together
Heaving blindly,
None guiltier than his neighbor.
And clods of earth after And flat stones they flung.
*

(THE POOL-SACRIFICE)
PART I
By Seami
*

PERSONS

TRAVELER

I am a man who lives in the Capital. Maybe because of some great wrong I did in a former life... I have fallen into trouble and cannot go on living here.

I have a friend in the East country. Perhaps he would help me. I will take my wife and child and go at once to the ends of the East.

(He travels to the East, singing as he goes a song about the places through which he passes.)

We are come to the Inn.
(Knocks at the door.)
We are travelers. Pray give us shelter.

INNKEEPER

Lodging, do you say? Come in with me. This way. Tell me, where have you come from?

TRAVELER

I come from the Capital, and I am going down to the East to visit my friend.

INNKEEPER

Listen. I am sorry. There is something I must tell you privately.Whoever passes this night at the Inn must go tomorrow to the drawing of lots at the sacrifice. I am sorry for it, but you would do best to leave the Inn before dawn. Tell no one what I have said, and mind you start early.

TRAVELER

If we may sleep here now we will gladly start at dawn.
(They lie down and sleep in the open courtyard. After a while they rise and start on their journey.)

Enter the
PRIEST.

PRIEST

Hey! where are you?

Enter the
ACOLYTE

ACOLYTE

Here I am.

PRIEST

I hear that three travelers stayed at the Inn last night and have left before dawn. Go after them and stop them.

ACOLYTE

I listen and obey. Hey, you travelers, go no further!

TRAVELER

Is it at us you are shouting?

ACOLYTE

Yes, indeed it is at you.

TRAVELER

And why should we stop? Tell me the reason.

ACOLYTE

He is right. It is not to be wondered at that he should ask the reason.
(To the
TRAVELER.
) Listen. Each year at this place there is a sacrifice at the Pool. Today is the festival of this holy rite, and we ask you to join in it.

TRAVELER

I understand you. But it is for those that live here, those that were born children of this Deity, to attend his worship. Must a wanderer go with you because he chances to lodge here for a night?

(He turns to go.)

ACOLYTE

No, No! For all you say, this will not do.

PRIEST

Stay! Sir, we do not wonder that you should think this strange. But listen to me. From ancient times till now no traveler has ever lodged this night of the year at the Inn of Yoshiwara without attending the sacrifice at the Pool. If you are in a hurry, come quickly to the sacrifice, and then with a blessing set out again on your journey.

TRAVELER

I understand you. But, as I have said, for such rites as these you should take men born in the place...No, I still do not understand. Why should a fleeting traveler be summoned to this Pool-Sacrifice?

PRIEST

It is a Great Custom.

TRAVELER

That may be. I do not question that that is your rule. But I beg you, consider my case and excuse me.

PRIEST

Would you be the first to break a Great Custom that has been observed since ancient times?