One of the charm point of Tosenkyo is elegance. Each situation among the
position of target, fan, and box is named from "Genji Monogatari"
written by Murasaki-Shikibu. The judge determines the name, and players
will get points according to that name.
Let me introduce several examples.
If the fan does not hit or cannot drop the target, no score will be given. It is called "Tenarai", means beginner.
"Tenarai" is the name of chapter 53 of "Genji Monogatari".
We are glad to hit the fan to the target, but if the situation is not beautiful,
the score will be low.
When these three items lie separately, the score is only 1 point. It is
called "Hanachirusato". "Hana Chiru" means that the
flower or blossom ended and fell on the ground.
"Hanachirusato" is the name of chapter 11 of "Genji Monogatari",
and it means the most ordinary woman. So, this name might mean the common
pattern.
If the fan leans against the box, or the fan and the target touch each other, or the target stands up by itself, the score will be higher.
For example, the situation that the target lies on the ribs of the fan, player get 7 points. This is called "Asagao" that means the flower of morning glory. It imitates the target for the flower, and ribs for the props.
"Asagao" is the name of chapter 20 of "Genji Monogatari".
If the target lies under the ribs, the score is also 7 point. This is called
"Suzumushi", that means a bell-ring cricket. It imitates the
target for the cricket, and ribs for the cage or bush.
"Suzumushi" is the name of chapter 38 of "Genji Monogatari".
If the fan leans against the box, and the target lies under the fan, this
is called "Usugumo" and score is 8 points. It imitates the target
for the moon, and the fan for the cloud.
"Usugumo" is the name of chapter 19 of the "Genji Monogatari".
If the target stands alone, this is called "Sawarabi" and the
score is 10 points. "Sawarabi" means a young sprout of a bracken.
"Sawarabi" is the name of chapter 48 of the "Genji Monogatari".
If the fan lies on the box after it hit the target, this is called "Miotsukushi"
and the score is 11 points.
"Miotsukushi" means a ship guiding stake. It let the sea-farers
in the Osaka Bay know the depth of the sea and the route in ancient times.
Now, this is the symbol of Osaka City.
"Miotsukushi" is the name of chapter 14 of the "Genji Monogatari".
If the fan leans against the box, and the target is hanged from the box,
this is called "Utsusemi" and the score is 18 points. "Utsusemi"
means a cast-off shell of a cicada.
"Utsusemi" is the name of chapter 3 of the "Genji Monogatari".
If the target stands by itself, and the fan stands supported by the box
and the standing target, this is called "Koubai" and the score
is 20 points. "Koubai" means an ume [a Japanese apricot] with
red blossoms. It imitates the target for the blossoms, the fan for the
branches, and the box for the trunk.
"Koubai" is the name of chapter 43 of the "Genji Monogatari".
A Japanese famous actor tried Tosenkyo in a TV program, and he encountered
very rare situation.
When the target stood on the fan, he got 30 points at a time! This is called
"Ukifune" that means the ship. In this hand, the fan is imitated
as a ship, and the target is imitated as a sail.
"Ukifune" is the name of chapter 51 of the "Genji Monogatari".
I experienced most of the hands in Asakusa, but none of us saw only one dreamlike hand. That is called "Yumeno-ukihashi" with 50 points. "Yume" means a dream, and "Hashi" means a bridge.
The target stands up by itself, and the fan gets on between the box and
the target, without touching the ground. Do you think this is possible??
I hope to see in my life!
"Yumeno-ukihashi" is the name of chapter 54, last chapter, of
the "Genji Monogatari".
