Gedatsu (Salvation)  解脱  

The play

The bombastic play "Kaneiri Gedatsu no Koromo" was premiered in 1760. It was performed within the drama "Soga Mannen Bashira" and starred Ichikawa Danjûrô IV in the role of Akushichibyôe Kagekiyo. It went to oblivion and the original script was lost but it was nevertheless added to the 18 Kabuki plays collection of drama in 1840 by Ichikawa Ebizô V. It was revived in January 1914, and with a rewritten script in Tôkyô in 1932 and in the 1950’s.  It was revived in 2014 in a newly-created drama, which was entitled "Kotohoide Mimasu Kagekiyo", created by mixing scenes and elements coming from the four plays based on Kagekiyo. 

This play is one of the Kagekiyo-mono, plays whose main characters are Taira no Kagekiyo, his lover Akoya, Hateyama Shigatada and Miyonoya Shirô Kunitoshi. The other Kagekiyo-mono included in the 18 Kabuki plays are  "Kan-U" "Kamahige" and "Kagekiyo". All the Kagekiyo-mono take place at the end of the 12th century during the power struggle between the Taira family (Heike clan) and the Minamoto family (Genji clan). It became a full blown civil war which ended with the defeat of the Heike clan and the establishment of the Kamakura shogunate in 1185. Kagekiyo is a warrior of the Heike clan and these plays tell his story and ultimately his defeat. 

A service for the repose of the defeated Taira souls has been prepared, but the temple bell refuses to ring. A mysterious samurai enters, and when pursued, hides beneath the bell. Later, when two Taira refugees, one of them Kagekiyo's daughter, are caught and about to be executed, the figure emerges from the bell as the ghost of Kagekiyo, and attacks the Minamoto. Attempts are made in vain to exorcise his spirit, but when the robe of a saint is placed on his shoulders, he achieves spiritual release (salvation).

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