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Thank you to everyone who came here by searching for “study of old Japanese texts”, “The Tale of the Heike”, or “Atsumorisaigo”. This is the website of MORINORI, which holds small Heikyoku (Heike monogatari recited to the accompaniment of the Heike biwa) concerts and lectures.
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https://morinorijapan.com/about/
Content of this page
This page introduces the second half of the Heike Monogatari, Volume 9, “Atsumorisaigo”. You can listen to a modern translation of the synopsis of each scene, as well as the Heike biwa narration of that part. The text has been transcribed from the score of Heikyoku (a recitation of The Tale of the Heike Listened to by Heike Biwa). The modern translation and narration are still very poor, but please take a look if you are interested.
Click here for the first part.
(Part 1) Synopsis of the Heike Monogatari (Tale of the Heike) “Atsumorisaigo” in modern Japanese, and the Heike biwa narrative
https://morinorijapan.com/tale-of-the-heike/atsumori-saigo-part1
*Please note the volume.
The Tale of the Heike, “Atsumorisaigo” Scene 5
7:54 seconds
Recorded on July 4th, 2024
Scene 5
kumagaiamariniitooshikute izukunikatanawotatsubeshitomooboezu memokurekokoromokiehatete zengofukakunioboekeredomo sateshimoarubekikotonaraneba nakunakukubiwozokaitengeru aware yumiyatorimihodokuchioshikarikerukotowanashi bugeinoieniumarezuba nanishini tadaima kakaruukimewobamirubekitote sodewokaonioshiatete samazametozonakiitaru.
modern translation
Kumagai felt so sorry for him that he didn’t even know where to put his sword. He became so dazed and his mind so empty that he lost consciousness, but he couldn’t just leave it like that, so he wept and wept as he beheaded him. Oh, there is nothing more painful than being a man who takes up the bow and arrow. He pressed his sleeves to his face and continued to cry quietly, wondering how he could have come to such a painful situation if he had not been born into a family of warriors.
*Please note the volume.
The Tale of the Heike, “Atsumorisaigo” Scene 6
4:29 seconds
Recorded on July 4th, 2024
Scene 6
satashimoarubekikotonaraneba kubiwotsutsumantoteyoroibitatarewotoitemikereba nishikinofukuroniireraretaru fuewozokoshinisasaretaru anaitooshi konoakatsuki jyounouchinitekangennshitamaitsuruhitowa konohitobitoniteowashimasu toujimikatanitougokunoseinanmannkikaaruramedomo ikusanojinefuemotsumonowayomoaraji jhourouwanaomoyasashikarikerumonowotote korewotottetaishougunnoonnkennzannniiretarikereba sonozaninamiitamaeruhitobitomina yoroinosodewozonurasarekeru.
modern translation
As I couldn’t just stand there, I undid the armor’s straight hanging to wrap my neck, and found a flute in a brocade bag tucked into my waist. Oh, how pitiful. It was these people who had been playing the wind instruments in the castle at dawn. At that time, there were tens of thousands of soldiers from the eastern provinces on the side, but there was no one else on the battlefield who had a flute. He took it and showed it to the general, and everyone present wept tears of sadness.
*Please note the volume.
The Tale of the Heike, “Atsumorisaigo” Scene 7
7:37 seconds
Recorded on July 4th, 2024
Scene 7
nochinikikeba shurinotaifutsunemorinootogo taifuatsumoritote shounenjiushichinizonararekeru soreyorishitekoso kumagaigahosshinnokokorowaidekinikere kudannofuewa oojitadamorifuenojyouzunite tobanoinyorikutashitamawararetarishiwo tsunemorisoudenseraretarikeruwo atsumorifuenokiryoutaruniyotte motaretarikerutokaya nawoba saedatokosomoushikere kyougenkigyonokotowaritowaiinagara tsuinisanbutsujyounointonarukosoawarenare.
modern translation
Later, he learned that the second son of the repairman Tsunemori, Atsumori was 17 years old. From that time on, Kumagai began to feel a desire to become a priest. The flute was a gift from the Emperor Toba to his grandfather Tadamori, who was a master flute player, and it was passed down to Tsunemori, but Atsumori possessed it because of its beauty. The flute was called “Saeda”. Although it is a story embellished with flowery language, it is a sad story that eventually became the cause of praising the virtues of Buddha.
Click here for the first part.
(Part 1) Synopsis of the Heike Monogatari (Tale of the Heike) “Atsumorisaigo” in modern Japanese, and the Heike biwa narrative
https://morinorijapan.com/tale-of-the-heike/atsumori-saigo-part1
About Heikyoku and the Biwa
The Heikyoku (Heike monogatari recited to the accompaniment of the Heike biwa) that I have introduced in this article in two parts is a form of recitation that has been passed down orally by blind biwa players. For various reasons, a written score was prepared during the Edo period. The Heikyoku that I have been talking about on this page and at concerts is based on this written score.
There are various Heikyoku performers, research groups and preservation societies throughout the country, and although tuning, narration and interpretation of the inked score differ, each has its own unique charm. I myself am learning Heikyoku under the guidance of Suda Seishu (who studied under Kindaichi Haruhiko), but I would also encourage you to listen to the performances of other biwa players and schools. I think that being exposed to a variety of performances and interpretations will help you to further expand your understanding of the world of the Tale of the Heike.
Also, even though the story of “Atsumori” in the Tale of the Heike is the same, the type of biwa used in Satsuma biwa and Chikuzen biwa is different, and the sheet music is also different, so you can enjoy the charm of each. When listening to it from now on, if you are aware of which type of biwa is being used to tell the story, I think you will enjoy the Tale of the Heike even more.
If you become interested in the biwa…
What kinds of biwa are there? How do Heike biwa and other types of biwa differ? Are there any biwa concerts? You may find it helpful to visit the website of the Japan Biwa Music Association.
Japan’s only organization of comprehensive performers of biwa music
Japan Biwa Music Association https://nihonbiwagakukyokai.jimdofree.com/
A page introducing the characteristics of each school ▶click here
Thank you for reading this far.
I hope we meet someday, somewhere.
