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That evening, while Saigyō is resting under the cherry tree, an old man appears to him in a dream. The old man remonstrates with Saigyō about his poem, telling him that since trees and plants are insentient the blossoms must be innocent. Saigyō concedes the point and, addressing the old man, says that only the spirit of the blossoms could reason thus. The old man reveals that he is the spirit of the ancient cherry tree and tells Saigyō that whilst the blossoms may be silent, he feels obliged to defend their innocence. The spirit of the cherry tree expresses his delight at making Saigyō’s acquaintance, enumerates the locations in the capital that are famous for their cherry blossoms and then dances whilst lamenting the fact that a moment of time on a spring evening is as precious as a thousand pieces of gold. Time passes and, as the shadows of the blossoms reveal the approaching dawn, Saigyō awakens from his dream and the spirit of the cherry tree vanishes quietly without a trace amidst the scattering petals of the tree.
The human qualities of the seemingly insentient spirit of the cherry tree as it disagrees with the words of the poem, converses pleasurably with Saigyō and makes merry with dance, also make for fascinating viewing. This ability of the spirit of trees and plants to become protagonists is not limited to this play, but is has undercurrents of the teachings of Japanese Buddhism* that says “All living beings alike possess the Buddha nature” (i.e. all beings, including insentient beings such as trees and plants, have the potential to attain enlightenment). In Buddhism, trees and plants (vegetation) are essentially perceived as insentient (unfeeling) beings, and their ability to attain nirvana was not recognized in Early Buddhism in India. With the arrival of Buddhism in China and Japan, however, the concept of the Buddha nature in unfeeling (insentient) beings and of their potential to attain enlightenment took root. In “Saigyō and the Cherry Tree”, the dignified and invigorating figure of the spirit of the cherry tree is particularly stirring and impressive. Put the melancholy world behind you and enjoy this elegant encounter. * Current research confirms that this term first appears in a book written by Annen, a scholar of the Tendai sect of Mt. Hiei in the middle of the Heian period. STORY PAPER : Saigyō-zakura (Saigyō and the Cherry Tree)Story Paper presents noh chant stories in modern speech, with story outlines, highlights and more using Adobe PDF format, which can print out and zoom in. Print out the pages and take them with you when you see the actual noh performance.
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