Funa Benkei
Benkei in the boat（1934）Japanese Noh Plays: How to See them, Board of Tourist Industry, Tokyo [EN]
- 45In Funa-Benkei (Benkei in the Boat), for example, the Actor who plays the role of Shizuka, the dancing girl, in the ‘fore’ scene, appears as the Ghost of Tomomori in the ‘after’ scene, and in Tomonaga the Actor plays the double roles of the heir to the Genji clan.
- 1[Benkei in the Boat]
- xiLe Nô intitulé Benkei sur le Pont, qu’on lira plus loin, se danse de cette dernière manière.
- 464. Funa Benkei, Benkei at Sea.
- 54The most important, if not the most interesting, item in the programme was a little historic play in two scenes, entitled “Funa Benkei,” or “Benkei at Sea.”
- 265I had long since made the acquaintance of Benkei, the Devil Youth, and the feats both of mind and body which he achieved for the sake of his youthful victor, ever since the latter had defeated him in single combat on Gojo bridge, were familiar to me both from coloured prints and the representation of ” Funa Benkei,” by members of a No troupe.
- 46A glance at the programme gave assurance of prolonged and varied entertainment, since no less than five religious plays and three kiyōgen (lit. mad words), or farcical interludes, were announced in the following order: 1. Shunkwan, the High-Priest in Exile. 2. Koi no Omone, the Burden of Love. 3. Aoi no Uye, the Sick Wife. 4. Funa Benkei, Benkei at Sea. 5. Tsuchigumo, the Earth-Spider.
- 54The most important, if not the most interesting, item in the programme was a little historic play in two scenes, entitled “Funa Benkei,” or Benkei at Sea.”
- 133[FUNA BENKEI]
- 41The cult of Shugendo or Yamabushi is also found in the No, laying the emphasis on its miraculous prayers, “Ataka,” “Funa-Benkei,” and ” Aoi no Ue ” being fine examples.
- 24 -25Hachinoki, Hashibenkei, Hо̄kazо̄, Dо̄jо̄ji, Tо̄ru, Okina, Kayoigomachi, Kantan, Kagekiyo, Yoroboshi, Tsuchigumo, Nakamitsu, Utо̄, Kurozuka, Kuzu, Kumasaka, Yamauba, Yо̄rо̄, Matsukaze, Funa-Benkei, Fujito, Kokaji, Aoino-ue, Ataka, Ama, Midare, Shichiki-ochi, Shakkyо̄, Shunkwan, Shо̄zon, Mochizuki, Sesshо̄seki, Semimaru, Sumidagawa – 35 in all.
- 61Funa-Benkei (Benkei in the Boat)
- 8Worn in Funabenkei, Nishikigi, Matsumushi, etc.
- 40Following the above order, for instance, a spring programme might consist of (1) Takasago, (2) Tamura, (3) Tōboku, (4) Sumida-gawa or Ataka, (5) Huna-Benkei.
- 36-37In this group are included those in which supernatural beings such as oni (demon), tengu (goblin), kitsune (fox), sisi (lion) and syozyo (wine fairy appear and perform their special dances, as in Kurozuka (The Black Mound of the Adati Plain), Momizi-gari (The Maple Viewing), Ōe-yama (The Demon of Mt. Ōe), No-mori (The Field-keeping Demon), Kurama-tengu (The Hobgoblin of Mt. Kurama), Zegai (The Hobgoblin of China), Sessyō-seki (The Killing Stone of the Nasu Plain), Kokazi (The Sword-smith and the Fox-God), Yamanba (The Mountain Demoness), Nue (The Monkey Headed Monster), Tuti-gumo (The Cave Monster), Huna-Benkei (Benkei in the Boat), Kumasaka (Kumasaka the Chief Robber) and Syōkun (Wan Chao-chun Sacrificed).
- 44In Huna-Benkei (Benkei in the Boat), for example, the actor who plays the role of Sizuka, the dancing girl, in the “fore” scene, appears as the Ghost of Tomomori in the “after” scene, and in Tomonaga the actor plays the double roles of the hostess of a post-town and the ghost of Tomonaga, heir to the Genzi clan.
- 25Here is another example from the popular Noh Huna-Benkei (Benkei in the Boat).
- 26For the production of the Noh play the setting which serves in the ordinary theatre is not used, but only when necessary, ornamental stage properties, such as the pine-tree in Hagoromo, or the boat in Huna-Benkei, are carried in.