Ayakashi: Tenshu Monogatari

[meganbmoore]

Ages ago, a lone warrior surviced a battle and wandered lost before collapsing. A goddess saw him and took pity on him, sending rain to quench his thirst, a bend to ease his hunger, a flower to ease his loneliness, and many other gifts, and eventually fell in love with him. With her help, the warrior conquered the surrounding lands and became their lord and, once his goal was achieved, he abandoned the goddess. Because of her folly, the goddess and her people were exiled to Earth and became the Forgotten Gods. No longer of heaven, the Forgotten Gods must eat humans to survive, and settle into the castle of Shirasagi-jo, which soon acquires the reputation of being cursed. In her grief and guilt, the goddess becomes a falcon and leaves her people forever, and her people turn to her young daughter, Torihime, as their leader.

Should any of the Forgotten Gods fall in love with a human, they will lose their power and eventually die, but should Torihime fall in love with a mortal, all the Forgotten Gods will lose their powers. Years later, a young falconer, Zushonosuke, encounters Torihime at a river near the castle while looking for his lost falcon, Kojiro, who has been promised to the shogun. On a whim because he's cute, Torihime spares Zushonosuke's life, and there is, of course, only one way the story can go from there, and only a few ways it can end.

If Yotsuya Kaidan is the Vengeful Spirit story of Ayakashi, then Tenshu Monogatari is the Angsty Epic Romance. Before long, the forces of both the Forgotten Gods and Zushonosuke's lord are arrayed against the lovers. There's running away together, abandoned mortal lovers, betrayals, murder, samurai armies, swordfights, Zushonosuke getting manlier hair and clothing for the Big Battle, and many other wonderful things, including two rascally demons who may be trying to save Zushonosuke's life, or they may just be trying to get the castle's rumored treasure.

Unlike Yotsuya Kaidan, Tenshu Monogatari has no framing story or narrator, but instead just straight up tells it's story. It also has less stylized art. While the framing and designs(AMANO!) were a large part of the appeal of Yotsuya Kaidan, this approach is definately better suited for Tenshu Monogatari, which is a straightup romantic fable that allows for fun lines like:

"You do not fear me? but i eat human beings." *hand clasp* "But you've helped me in the past!"

or

"They entered our castle" "That's hardly a reason to eat them!"

and, naturally, the ever classic:

"If I must die, let it be by your hands."

(Personally, I think that one always shows up because it keeps the speaker from getting killed.)

I head off to bed with a pretty MV. I gain great amusement from a romantic Japanese myth having an MV set to what appears to be a Russian ballad(there are a few on the f-list who can confirm or deny this far better than I.) It works quite well, though.

Have I mentioned this anime is awesome and I am possibly in love with it? A pity more like this doesn't get licensed so I can know about it.

Comments

[egelantier.livejournal.com]

it is a Russian ballad, and very beautiful one - it's Hellawes' 'Korolevna', one of her best songs. thanks for a link )

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

It is very pretty...it "sounds" perfect for the story, even though I have no idea what's being said.

[egelantier.livejournal.com]

it's rather appropriate - it's about Faery Queen and falcons and love forbidden and all other things. I can do a interlinear translation for you, if you want - I love this song)))

Hellawes has a whole album of ballads in English, btw - you can dl them here (http://hellawes.ru/songs/mp3/), if you want. I love 'The Withering of the Boughs', with lyrics by W.B.Yeats the most, I think - so utterly magical.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

well in that case, it was essentially made for tenshu monogatari.

i sdhall look into the music.

[egelantier.livejournal.com]

have the text itself (it's horrible translation, since I fail at literary English and poetry both, but it more or less gets the content):

I sang of deities and sang of heroes, of clash of swords and bloody battles,
And while my falcon was with me, his squawk was my prayer.
But year passed since he flew away, was carried away by magic blizzard,
Since my beloved friend was stolen by faraway snowstorm.

And I'm not myself since, and seagulls cry in heaven;
Only eyes of color of gentian can be seen in the fog;
Ah, what if I could see with falcon eyes, fly with falcon's wings,
In that strange falcon land on that side of dreams.

Be my soul, dear bird, lend me wind in your wings,
Every night I dream of flying in cold fiords, mile after mile;
Silk is in your sleeves, Queen, your mountains are embroidered by white heathen;
I know that I never was there, and if I was, then just to my sorrow;
If only I could remember what happened, not with you and not with me,
I'm flying as a fallen leaf, and my soul will not find peace;
You're paying for songs in full moon, as other pay in gold coins;
In this faraway land covered with snow you're fairer than winter and more vivd than summer.

Wake up, Queen, don your feathers,
Let's fly into storm - how fragile is the thin ice of your wrists;
Silk in your sleeves, Queen, fair gold in your wings;
I laugh and plunge into sky, and I don't believe in myself even.

Please come closer to me, let me touch your feathers,
Every night I dream of mountains, and every morning I lose my eyesight;
Silk is in your sleeves, Queen, your sky is embroidered with fair moon,
Carry me away, northern wind, in these lands where pain and lie live;
How painful it's to know that it happened not to me and not to you,
That time didn't stop to look into carмed window;
I dreamed of you, my joy, but you're clothed in Sorrow's cloak,
and I'll sing in farewell for you, but I'll leave your house dawn.

Where do your dreams wander, o Queen?
How long will ancient forests wait until spring?
All that left is to say - just a couple of words, so little -
Wake up, Queen, don your feathers...

Who if not me knows that it happened not to me and not to you,
My heart is wounded by your mercy as if by fiery arrow;
You pay for this song in moon as others pay in gold coins,
I'd give up everything to be with you,
But perhaps you don't even exist in this world,
Queen...

[magicnoire.livejournal.com]

RightStuf shipped my Ayakashi DVDs, yay!

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

YAY!

Now you can share in the awesome.

I shall watch Bakeneko today, then probably start Avatar.ETA: and deep discount has finally shipped my princess tutu.