Shunkan (play)
Shunkan (俊寛) is a Noh play which takes place in the aftermath of the Shishigatani Incident, and focuses upon one of a trio exiled to "Devil's Island" (Kikaigashima, 鬼界島), off the coast of Satsuma province, as punishment for a plot against the ruling Taira clan. Though two of the three are pardoned, the third, the monk Shunkan, is left alone on the island.
| Shunkan | |
|---|---|
| 俊寛 | |
| Category | 4th — miscellaneous |
| Characters | shite Shunkan tsure Naritsune tsure Taira no Yasuyori aikyōgen boatman waki messenger |
| Place | Kikaigashima, Kyūshū |
| Time | circa 1178 |
| Sources | Heike monogatari |
Plot summary
The imperial consort, pregnant with Antoku, the future emperor, has fallen ill, and seers have advised Taira no Kiyomori, the de facto head of government, to placate the spirits by pardoning and compensating some of his victims. He agrees to pardon Fujiwara no Naritsune and Taira no Yasuyori, but not Shunkan, who is left alone on the island.
The action takes place several years before the final defeat of the Taira and the ascendancy of the Minamoto clan in the Genpei War of 1180-1185.
The Kita school refers to this play as Kikaigashima. It was traditionally attributed to Zeami, but is now ascribed either to his son-in-law Zenchiku or his son Motomasa. It uses a boat as a prop.
See also
- Heike monogatari - classical epic relating the events on which this and many other works have been derived.
- Atsumori - another Noh play set at the same time.
References
- Karen Brazell, ed. Traditional Japanese Theater. Columbia University Press, New York, 1998.