Discussion Questions Week 9

Consider how the story of Michizane has been changed for the Edo period Bunraku puppet play version of the story (we will go over some of this in class as well).

For the "Mount Tempai and "Tumult in the Palace" questions, a list is fine.

For the "Summary" question, give me a shortish essay answer.

MOUNT TENPAI

1. How has the story of Michizane's transformation into the Thunder God been changed over time?

a. Why does Michizane vow to become the God of Thunder in Sugawara's Secrets of Calligraphy?

b. How has his reasoning changed from the Heian period oracles, Kitano Tenjn engi emaki, and the Noh play Raiden?

c. How does he feel about Emperor Daigo versus how he felt in earlier versions of the story?

2. Compare Michizane's attitude toward deification in Raiden versus Sugawara's Secrets. Does he seem in need of pacification in the Bunraku puppet play?

3. What is the role of Fujiwara Tokihira in the historical story, in Kitano Tenjin engi emaki, and in Sugawara's Secrets?

TUMULT IN THE PALACE

1. What elements in this scene come from earlier versions of the play: oracles, Kitano Tenjin Engi, Noh play Raiden? What is different?

2.  How are the ghosts of Yae and Sakuramaro presented in this play? Where do they apparently come from? What powers do they have? Is Buddhism effective against them? What pacifies them?

SUMMARY QUESTION

Why do you think these changes in the story of Michizane might have made? That is, how might these changes reflect changes in the audience/patronage, genre, and the political and religious context in which Sugawara's Secrets was produced? You should consider especially how the image of Michizane being used in the Bunraku play supports rigid Neo-Confucian ideology: class hierarchy with the Emperor as symblic head of state, followed by samurai-peasants-artisans-merchant castes.

["The God of Fire and Thunder" (Japanese Tales 144-48); Borgen, "Michizane as Tenjin"; The Taiheiki, trans. Helen McCullough "The Matter of the Shrine of Sugawara no Michizane" (350-363); translation of the Noh play Raiden; Introduction to Raiden "The Michizane Legend as Seen in the Noh Drama Raiden"; excerpts from Bunraku play Sugawara's Secrets of Calligraphy, "Mt. Tenpai" and "Tumult at the Palace" (Trad J Thtr)]