Anthology of Japanese Literature/The Bird-Catcher in Hades

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The Bird-Catcher in Hades

 

[Esashi Jūō]

 

“The Bird-Catcher in Hades” in theme rather resembles “Birds of Sorrow,” and is thus a good example of how the methods of kyōgen differ from those of Nō. Nothing is known of the authorship of this or the following kyōgen, and we cannot say much more about the date than that in their present form they are probably of the sixteenth century. It should be noted that “The Bird-Catcher in Hades” is a text of the now defunct Sagi school of kyōgen, and is no longer performed.

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Persons

• Emma, the King of Hades
• Kiyoyori, a bird-catcher
• Demons
• Chorus

(The stage is completely bare. Two drummers and a flute-player, passing down the Bridge, take their usual seats at the rear of the stage. They are followed by Emma. He wears a devil’s mask and a red wig. On his head there is a gold crown. His kimono is bright and large-patterned, and is resplendently decorated with gold thread. His hakama and outer kimono are of a similarly elaborate material, and he wears a brocade sash. His followers also wear devils’ masks and red wigs, and their clothing is similar to his, though less elaborate. They carry bamboo poles. They come from the Bridge and immediately take their places on the stage in two rows facing one another, with Emma standing closest to the Waki’s Pillar.)

Demons (singing): Emma, the King of Hades,
Emma, the King of Hades,
Comes to the Meeting of the Six Ways.

Emma: Yai, yai! Are my satellites around?
Demons: Ha! Here we are.
Emma: If any sinners come along, drive them into Hell.
Demons: We certainly will.

(Emma moves around the stage by the Chorus, finally taking his place at the end of the other row of Demons. The Demons all sit. Kiyoyori enters from the Bridge. He wears a plain kimono and a white cloak. He does not wear a mask, but he has a band tied around his forehead. He carries a long pole in his hand. He stops at the First Pine.)

Kiyoyori: All men are sinners, and I am no more a sinner than the rest of them.

My name is Kiyoyori, a birdwatcher, who was well known in the terrestrial plane. But my life span, like all things in the vale of tears, came to its end, and I was caught by the wind of impermanence. Now I am on the way to the world of darkness.

(He moves along the Bridge onto the stage, singing.)

Without a pang of parting,
Without a tinge of remorse,
I forsake the world of impermanence,
And as I wander about with no guide,
I have already come to the Meeting of the Six Ways.

Indeed, this is already the Meeting of the Six Ways of Existence. After due consideration, I wish to go to Heaven.

One of the Demons: Ha! Ho! I smell a man. Why, no wonder! Here comes a sinner. I will report to Emma.

(He stands and faces Emma.)

Oh, please. Sir! Here comes the first sinner.

Emma: Make haste and drive him into Hell.

Demon: Very well. Sir.

Come, you sinner! Hell is ever at hand, but one cannot say that about Heaven. Make haste.

(He and the other Demons attempt to beat Kiyoyori, who defends himself skilfully with his pole. He then sits in the center of the stage.)

Yai, yai! You are different from most of the sinners of the earth. What was your profession on the terrestrial plane?

Kiyoyori: I was Kiyoyori, the famous bird-catcher.

Demon: Bird-catcher? Taking life from morning till night! Your sins are unfathomably great. I must send you to Hell at once.

Kiyoyori: Oh, no! I am not such a bad sinner as you make me out to be. Please let me go to Heaven.

Demon: No, that cannot be! But first I shall ask the King about your case.

Pardon, Sir!

Emma: Well, what is it?

Demon: The sinner who has just arrived says that he was a very famous bird-catcher on the terrestrial plane. So I told him that, having taken life day and night, he committed deep sin and certainly is doomed to Hell. But he protests and says that we misjudge him thoroughly. What shall we do about him?

Emma: Call the sinner to me.

Demon: Very well. Sir.

Come along this way. King Emma wishes to see you.

Kiyoyori: I am coming.

Demon: Here is that sinner you sent for.

Emma: Come, you sinner! You have been sinning all through your life snaring birds, and you are indeed a very wicked man. I am going to send you to Hell at once.

Kiyoyori: What you say about me is very true, but the birds I caught were used to feed the falcons. There was really no serious harm in that.

Emma: A falcon is another kind of bird, isn’t it?

Kiyoyori: Yes, indeed.

Emma: Well, then! That puts the case on a slightly different basis. I do not consider that a serious offense.

Kiyoyori: I am glad you don’t. It really was more the falcon’s fault than mine. That being the case, I hope you will send me straight to Heaven.

Emma: Since I, the mighty King of Hades, have not yet tasted a bird, catch one with your pole, and let me taste it. Then I will grant your wish without further ado.

Kiyoyori: Nothing could be simpler. I shall catch a few birds and present them to you.

Chorus: To the bird-hunt, bird-hunt!
All at once from the southern paths of the mountain of death,
Many birds come flocking.
Swifter than a flash
The bird-catcher darts and
Snares many with his pole.

(While the Chorus is singing, Kiyoyori darts about the stage waving his pole. He makes his way to the back of the stage, where he spreads open his fan and pretends to put the birds on it.)

Kiyoyori: I will roast them for you. Here, they are ready. Please try one.

(He goes to Emma and offers him the fan.)

Emma: Well, well! I will have a taste.
Munch-munch! Crunch-crunch!
Oh, this is uncommonly delicious.
Kiyoyori (to the Demons): You would like to try them, too?

(He goes to each Demon in turn.)

Demons: Indeed, we shall!
Munch-munch! Crunch-crunch!
What marvelous flavor!

Emma: I have never tasted anything so wonderful. Since you have given us such a treat, I am going to send you back to the terrestrial plane. There you may catch birds for another three years.

Kiyoyori: I am greatly obliged to you, I am sure.

(During the following song of the Chorus, Kiyoyori dances joyfully with open fan.)

Chorus: For another three years, you shall snare birds!
Pheasant, goose, peacock, stork, and many others.

Thus commanded, Kiyoyori has turned his steps once more to the world beneath. But Emma, loath to see him depart, bestows on Kiyoyori his jeweled crown. Our bird-catcher marches lightly to the world below, there to begin his second span of life.

(Kiyoyori dances with crown, then leaves by Bridge, followed by Emma and the Demons.)

Translated by Shio Sakanishi