Aoi no Ue (Yamada Ryu)
葵の上
| [Genre] | Sokyoku |
| [Style] | Uta mono |
| [School] | Yamada Ryū - 山田 |
| [Composed] | Yamada Kengyō - Koto |
History (Tsuge Gen'ichi):
| Aoi no ue, Yamada Kengyo's masterpiece, is considered the most profound work in the Yamada style repertoire. Its rhythmic texture - a quick alternation of tension and relaxation - is highly dramatic. Also, being over 40 minutes long, this piece demands highly-polished technique, energy, and endurance on the part of the performers. Aoi no ue is based on a no play of the same title. In fact, its text is taken almost intact (though the final one-third is cut), from the no play. The play is based on 'The Tale of Genji,' in particular, an episode from the 'Heartvine' (Aoi) chapter. Princess Rokujo was once courted by Genji, whose affection, however, soon shifted to other women. Rendered helpless by her noble upbringing and pride, the princess was overcome by jealousy, which eventually to the form of a revengeful ghost. The ghost stole out of her body, without her realizing it, to torment Lady Aoi, Genji's wife who was about to give birth to a son. |
Poem (translated by Tsuge Gen'ichi)
| Riding the three vehicles Of Law Others may escape The burning house. Mine is but a cart in ruins Like Yugao's house; I know not How to flee my passion. Like an ox-drawn cart, This weary world Rolls endlessly (On the wheels Of retribution.) (On the wheels Of retribution.) Like wheels of a cart Forever turning Are birth and death in all living things; Six Worlds and Four Births You must journey; Strive as you will, there is no escape. What folly to be blind To the frailty of this life, Like the banana stalk without a core, Like a bubble on the water! Flowers of yesterday are But a dream today. How sad my fate! Upon my sorrow Others heap Their spite. Unforgettable, Unforgivable. To find a moment Of respite, Now the ghost Has come, Drawn by the sound Of the birch-bow. Ah, how shameful That even now The eyes of others I should shun As on that festive day. Though all night long I gaze upon the moon, I, a phantom form, Remain unseen by it. Hence, By the birch-bow's upper end, I shall stand to tell My sorrow. Whence comes The sound of the birch-bow? Though by the mansion-gate I stand, Having no form, People pass me by Without notice. How strange! I see, Though I know not who, A lady Gentle-born Riding in A ragged coach, And one who seems A waiting-maid, Clutching the shaft Of the ox-less coach And weeping, Swathed in tears. Oh! Pitiful sight! Is this the evil spirit? Who it is I now can guess. Tell me straight Your name. Tell me straight Your name. In this world Where all, like lightning Passes, There should be none For me to hate Nor no fate For me to mourn, Why did I leave The way of truth? Attracted By the birch-bow's Sound, Here I now Appear. Am I unknown To you yet? I am the ghost Of Princess Rokujo. In those olden days When I walked the world, On spring mornings I was invited To the flower feasts Of the Palace, And on autumn nights I viewed the moon In the royal garden. Gaily thus, I spent my days In bright hues And scents. Fallen in life, I am today no more Than a morning-glory that Withers with the rising of the sun. My heart knows No rest from pain; Bitter thoughts grow Like fern shoots Bursting forth In fields. To vent My vengeance, Here Have I appeared. Know you not In this life, Charity is Not for others? Be harsh To another, And it will recoil Upon you. Why do you cry? My curse is Everlasting. My curse is Everlasting. Oh, how I hate you! I will punish you. What shame! For Princess Rokujo, Gentle-born, To you vengeance And act as One low-born, Are you not ashamed? Stop And say no more. Say what you will, I must strike her now. So staying I walk towards the pillow Of Lady Aoi And strike her. Now that things have come To such a pass, There is nothing more to do. So saying, she walks Towards the Princess Rokujo. For this you will soon suffer. Present vengeance is the retribution Of past wrongs you did to me. The flame of consuming anger Scorches only my own self. You shall feel The fullness of its fury. This loathsome heart! This loathsome heart! My unfathomable hate Causes Lady Aoi to wail In bitter agony. But long as is Her life In this world, Her love Of the Shining Prince Will never end- The Shining Prince, Lovelier than A firefly That flits across The marshland. I shall be to him A stranger, Which I was once, And I shall pass away Like a dewdrop On the mugwort leaf. When I think of this, How bitter I feel! Even were I living, Our love is already an old tale, Never to be revived Even in a dream. Yet all the while My longing grows more Till I am ashamed to see My love-torn self. In ragged coach, Standing by her pillow, I shall place the Lady Aoi And secretly Bear her off, And secretly Bear her off. (1) The following English translation has been adapted from The Nippon Gakujutsu Shinko Kai's translation of the no play Aoi no ue (Japanese Noh Drama, Vol. 2, Tokyo 1959). | Mitsu no kuruma ni nori no michi kataku no uchi wo ya idenuran Yuugao no yado no yareguruma yarukata naki koso kanashikere ukiyo wa ushi no oguruma no [meguru yo mukui naruran] [meguru yo mukui naruran] Oyoso rinne wa kuruma no wa no gotoku rokushu-shishoo wo ideyarazu ningen no fujoo bashoo hoomatsu no yo no narai kinoo no hana wa kyoo no yume to odorokanu koso oroka nare (ai) Mi no uki ni hito no urami no nao soite wasure mo yaranu waga omoi semeteya shibashi nagusamu to azusa no yumi ni onryoo no kore made araware idetarunari (ai) Ara hazukashiya imatote mo shinobi-guruma no waga sugata tsuki woba nagame akasutomo tsuki niwa mieji kageroo no (ai) Azusa no yumi no urahazu ni tachiyori uki wo kataran azusa no yumi no oto wa izuku zo (ainote) Azumaya no moya no tsumado ni itaredo mo sugata nakereba too hito mo nashi (ai) Fushigiya na tare tomo mienu jooroo no yabure-guruma ni mesaretaru ni aonyooboo tomo oboshiki hito no ushi mo naki kuruma no nagae ni toritsuki samezame to nakitamoo itawashisa yo Moshi kayoo no hito nitemo ya soorooran ookata wa suiryoo mooshite sooroo tada tsutsumazu na wo on-nanori soorae Sore shaba denkoo no sakai niwa uramubeki hito mo naku kanashimubeki mi mo arazaru ni itsu sate ukare sometsuran Tadaima azusa no yumi no oto ni hikarete araware idetaru woba ikanaru mono to ka oboshimesu kore wa rokujoo no miyasudokoro no onryoo nari Ware yo ni arishi inishie wa unshoo no hana no en haru no ashita no gyoyuu ni nare sentoo no momiji no aki no yo wa tsuki ni tawamure iroka ni somi hanayaka narishi mi naredo mo otoroenureba asagao no hikage matsu ma no arisama nari (ai) Tada itsutonaki waga kokoro monouki nobe no sawarabi no moeide-someshi omoi no tsuyu kakaru urami wo harasan tote koremade araware idetarunari omoishirazu ya yononaka no nasake wa hito no tame narazu ware hito no tame tsurakereba kanarazu mi nimo mukuyunari Nani wo nageku zo kuzu no ha no urami wa sarani tsukisumaji Ara urameshi ya ima wa utadewa kanai sooroomaji Ara asamashiya rokujoo no miyasudokoro hodo no onmi nite uwanari-uchi no on-furumai ikade saru koto no sooroobeki tada oboshimeshi tomaritamae Iya ikani intomo ima wa utadewa kanoomaji to makura ni tachiyori choo to uteba Kono ue wa tote tachiyorite warawa wa ato nite ku wo misuru Ima no urami wa arishi mukui Shin'i no homura wa Mi wo kogasu Omoi shirazu ya omoi shire Urameshi no kokoro ya ara urameshi no kokoro ya hito no urami no fukaku shite ukine ni nakase tamootomo ikite konoyo ni mashimasaba mizu kuraki sawabe no hotaru no kage yori mo kikaru kimi to zo chigiruran (ai) Warawa wa yomogiu no moto arazarishi mi to narite hazue no tsuyu to kie mo seba sore sae koto ni urameshi ya Yume ni dani kaeranu mono wo waga chigiri mukashi-gatari ni narinure ba naomo omoi wa masukagami sono omokage no hazukashi ya makura ni tateru yareguruma ychinose kakureyukoo yo uchinose kakureyukoo yo |
Aoi no Ue (Yamada Ryu) appears on the following albums
| Album | Artist | |
| Jiuta no Sekai - 4 |
Koto : Tomiyama Mieko Voice : Tomiyama Seikin I Shamisen : Tomiyama Seikin I | |
| Sankyoku Gassō Dai Zenshū (zoku) vol. 2 (続三曲合奏大全集2) |
Shakuhachi : Araki Kodō V Koto : Tomimoto Seishū Voice : Tomiyama Seikin II Shamisen : Tomiyama Seikin II | |
| Sokyoku Jiuta Taikei 46 |
Voice : Nakanoshima Kin'ichi Koto : Nakanoshima Kin'ichi Voice : Nakanoshima Keiko | |
| Yamada Kengyo o Utao Disk 1 |
Voice : Fujii Chiyoga II Koto : Fujii Chiyoga II Voice : Takayanagi Chikaga Voice : Kishibe Michiga II Koto : Kishibe Michiga II Voice : Fujii Chiyoga III Shamisen : Fujii Chiyoga III Voice : Takaba Yōga Shakuhachi : Yamaguchi Gorō Koto : Tomiyasu Mizuga Koto : Suzuki Seiju |