EA 170 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS WEEK 5

Rokujô gets to tell us much more clearly her side of the story in Aoi no Ue and Nonomiya, as compared to Tale of Genji. But her representation is quite different in each play -- what kind of a woman does she seem to be in Aoi no Ue? In Nonomiya? Does she seem to you like the same person as in Tale of Genji? Why or why not? Answering the questions under section II should clarify this for you.

I. Useful background information on Nonomiya (The Wildwood Shrine); see also "photo story"

A. Formal structure: Basic plot of Dream Vision (mugen) Noh:

1. Ghost returns to the place that has the strongest emotional memory for it (place of death, last place it met loved one etc.).
2. When he/she first appears to a wandering monk, they seem to be just a local person, but reveal too much knowledge about the events that took place in this spot.
3. They eventually admit that they are a ghost and ask a wandering monk to pray for their release from passionate attachments and enlightenment.
4. In the second half of the play they appear in their true form
a. warrior: re-enacts his death through dance
b. woman: dances in memory of her beloved
5. Usually (but not always) at the end they achieve enlightenment.

B. Basic Plot of Nonomiya: The spirit of Rokujo appears to a wandering priest at the place that she last met Genji. In the first half she takes the form of a local village woman serving the shrine; in the second half she appears in her true form in a "dream vision."

C. Authorship: Zeami’s son-in-law Zenchiku (1405-1470?)

D. Patronage: highly cultured samurai and aristocrats

II. Rokujô in Nonomiya -- Comparison to Aoi no Ue

1. In each play, why does Rokujô appear to the priest?

Aoi no Ue

Nonomiya

2. What is the central conflict? (It may be psychological)

Aoi no Ue

Nonomiya

3. Compare the imagery of carriages, Buddhist vehicles, The Burning House. Are they used for the same reasons in the two plays?

p. 213: "Still bitter at heart, I ride my carriage round and round. How long must I go on? Help me dispel, I pray, my wrongful clinging!"

4. Is Rokujô demonic?

Aoi no Ue

Nonomiya

5. Does Rokujô achieve enlightenment?

Aoi no Ue

Nonomiya

p. 214: “Now she steps again into her carriage. May she at long last find her way forever out of the Burning Mansion’s gate.”

a. Why do you think there is a difference?

5. Why do you think Rokujô is given so much sympathy and allowed to tell the story from her point of view although Nonomiya was written by a man?