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{{Infobox Noh
| name = ''Chikubushima''
| name_ja = 竹生島
| name_en = Chikubu Island
| author = unknown
| revisor =
| category = 1
| mood = 
| style =
| chars = ''waki'' official<br>''wakizure'' two companions<br>''maeshite'' old man<br>''maetsure'' young woman<br>''aikyogen'' shrine attendant<br>''nochishite'' dragon-god<br>''nochitsure'' Benzaiten
| place = Chikubu-shima, [[Lake Biwa]]
| time = 10th century
| sources = 
| schools = all
}}
[[File:Chikubushima SAKURAMA Kintaro II.jpg|thumb|''Chikubushima'', Sakurama Kintaro II（櫻間金太郎）]]
'''''Chikubushima''''' is an anonymous Noh play of the first category, celebrating the sacred volcanic{{citation needed|date=January 2017}} [[Chikubu Island|island of that name]] in [[Lake Biwa]].

==Plot==
During the reign of [[Emperor Daigo]], a courtier goes to the island in the center of [[Lake Biwa]]: [[Chikubu Island]].

When he arrives at the lake shore, an old fisherman and a young woman are setting out in a fishing boat. He calls out and asks if he can go with them. After the boat arrives at [[Chikubu Island]] the old man gives the courtier directions to the shrine. As the young woman is going the same way, the courtier asks if there is a prohibition against women (like many other shrines). The old man and young woman reply that, as [[Benzaiten]] ([[Sarasvati]]) is a woman herself, she does not discriminate.

They tell the tale of the formation of [[Chikubu Island]]'s shrine. It becomes apparent that these two are not human. The old man dives into the ocean and the young woman disappears behind a door into the shrine. After a short while, [[Benzaiten]] appears and dances. Before long, the Dragon King of the Sea also appears and dances. Afterwards, [[Benzaiten]] returns to her shrine and the Dragon King returns to the waters.

==References==
*[[Royall Tyler (academic)|Tyler, Royall]] (ed. & trans.) (1992). "Japanese Nō Dramas." London: [[Penguin Books]], pp.&nbsp;58–67. {{ISBN|0-14-044539-0}}

[[Category:Noh plays]]
[[Category:Plays set in the 10th century]]

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