影向の松Yougo no Matsu (The Pine of Divine Descent)

春日大社にある、神様が宿るとされる松。春日大明神が降臨され、万歳楽を舞われたとされる松。

This pine tree in Kasuga Tasha is believed to be a place where the gods descend and dwell. According to tradition, the deity Kasuga Daimyojin,the deity of KasugaTaisha descended here and performed the dance Manzairaku.

平安時代以降、毎年この松の前で舞が奉納され、室町時代には能を完成させた世阿弥もこの松の前で舞ったそうです。

From the Heian period onward, dances were offered every year in front of this pine. During the Muromachi period, it is said that Zeami—who perfected the art of Noh—also performed dances before this tree.

現在でも能楽堂には松の絵が描かれますが、その由来は、この影向の松の前で能楽の前身である猿楽が舞われていたことから、能楽堂にこの影向の松が描かれるようになったということだそうです。平成7年に枯れ、現代は新しい松が植えられています。

Even today, a pine tree is painted on the back wall of a Noh stage. The origin of this custom is said to lie in this very tree: the precursor of Noh, sarugaku, was once performed in front of the Yougo no Matsu, and later the image of the pine came to be painted on Noh stages as a symbolic reminder of that sacred setting.The original pine withered in 1995, and a new pine tree has since been planted in its place.