Hanajo or Lady Han by Zeami

Hanajo or Lady Han was undoubtedly written by the Noh playwright, Zeami. It is classified as fourth-category or yonbamme-mono Noh play. When compared to other literary works Hanajo can be equivalent to a ballad, rhyme, anecdote, and melody. As a ballad, Hanago’s problem of endlessly waiting for her lover, Yoshida, is considered to be an anecdote. The name Nogami, the inn (where Hanago lives and works) is considered to be poetry because its name suggests a “romantic sorrow”. Lastly, the melody of the of play is Chinese, which is due to the fact that, at one time the play was received and developed by painters and poets in China.

Lady Han consists of five main characters; A post-station Madam (ai), Hanago a post-station courtesan (shite), The Yoshida Minor Captain, a gentleman of Miyako (tsure), a Gentleman, friend of Yoshia (waki), and two or three Attendants to Yoshida (wakizure).

On the surface, Lady Han appears to be a typical love story. However, by looking at the play in more detail, it is not just a simple love story but a story about going through the struggles of longing for person you want but cannot have without losing all sanity.

The jo (110-113) starts with the Madam of the post-station introducing Hanago. She reveals that Hanago has been with the Madam since she was a child and she has grown up in the business of being a courtesan. She recounts the time when Yoshida and Hanajo met and how she hopelessly waits for him and does nothing but stare at his fan that was exchanged with hers when he left, which causes Madam to release Hanago from the inn. Hanago’s expresses her feelings in the following quote:

“O the world does play us false, and always will; yet many sorrows break her days’ swift flow—she whom ...

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... then perhaps you have forgotten all those ardent promise you heard at Nogami, while beside you heard a traveler, to return by fall: do they mean nothing to you?”(118) He in fact remembered his promise and has not forgotten about Hanago, but is taken back when she does not remember his promise. In reality, Hanago is still testing him to see if he remembers as well. They finally exchange the fans that they left to each other when they first departed and each examine it. The chorus narrates on the two lovers, “Each in the other’s fan knows that lost friend who now is found. For each, these gifts sealed after all the bond of steadfast love.” (119) the play comes to an conclusion where the suffering of the lovers come to an end and they are finally able to be with each other.

Works Cited

Tyler, Royall. Japanese Nō Dramas. New York: Penguin Group, 2004. Print.