In the eerie ranbyôshi, the serpent-woman, disguised as a beautiful shirabyôshi dancer, entrances the low-ranking temple workers who guard the temple bell that is the object of her passionate resentment. As the shirabyôshi, the shite (main actor) circles slowly and continuously, stamping out a rhythm accented by a single shoulder drum (kotsuzumi) and embellished by occasional flute melody. Long drawn-out silences, abruptly pierced by the drummer's high-pitched cries, add to the atmosphere of unbearable tension.