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| This kabuki drama, "The maiden at Dojoji temple," is
based on a very dramatic legend. A young girl falls in love with a priest,
but he resists her charms and hides under a bell; she, however, is so enraged
that she turns into a demonic serpent whose breath melts the bell and burns
up her lover. As the play opens, some years have passed, and the temple
has a new bell. A young girl comes to the temple and the priests agree
to let her dance in honor of the bell. As she whirls in a dance with hats,
they become scales and she reveals herself as the demonic serpent-woman!
(Woodblock print by Ogata Gekko, late 19th c.) |
The doll based on this play is often described as a "hat-seller,"
and sometimes, as here, she seems much too cheerful to be about to transform
into a demon of jealousy.
Another common doll representing this play, which involves changes of clothing, is the doll beating a small taiko drum. This is how the maiden begins her dance. For a collection of images of the story (including Noh as well as Kabuki versions, and prints), see A Maiden at Dojoji. A DVD of Tamasaburo Bando's performance of this play is available. |
