Reference:   Hakusensha tankoubon 40

[ Opening scene from the play, "Crimson Goddess" (Kurenai Tennyo).   High above the Plum Valley, the Crimson Goddess slowly emerges from the mist. ]

Crimson Goddess:
Who ... who has awakened me?
Is it the echoes of the forest?
Stillness of the night?
No, it's the smell of blood.

I see two waves colliding, a white wave and a red wave ...
Two wheels disrupting the Heaven and Earth ...
spinning and spinning, colliding and rebounding,
destroying all earthly things!

Two wheels spinning faster and faster,
disturbing the spirit of gods,
igniting the flame of war,
spreading hatred and sorrows across the land!
The spheres of life are slowly vanishing one by one ...

I don't understand!
Why must humans go to war?
Wreaking havocs and gore?

Can't you hear the calling of Heaven?
The weeping of Earth?
Why can't you hear the song of the gods?
The song that unites Heaven and Earth?
The song that nurtures the spheres of life?

Why, why haven't you realized that it's the humans who brought forth Evil?
Why, why don't you understand that it's the humans who embraced the evil forces?

King of the ghosts:
Humans only believe in those things they can see and hear, only those they can feel and touch.
Souls trapped in earthly bodies can only believe in tangible things.

Crimson Goddess:
How foolish!
Humans can't even understand their own bodily senses.
They know nothing about their true selves.
How can they ever understand that it's the spirit of gods within Heaven and Earth that nourish their souls?

What shall I do?
Abandon them!
Humans must decide their own destiny.
Be it prosperity or destruction,
it's up to the humans to decide.
I will not intervene.

King of the ghosts:
But, but their incessant wars are disrupting the spirit of Nature!
And their hatred, fears, and evil thoughts will become the force of Yin,
bringing forth a chain of volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tornadoes and hurricanes!

The sky will be overcast with tornadoes and hurricanes!
The earth will be polluted by people dying from plagues!
Even the flying birds and crawling insects will not be spared!
Every rock, tree, and spade of grass will be ruined!

Then everything in this world will slowly fall apart,
leading mankind onto the path of destruction!

Ignorance and unawareness are the the worst of sins!
You must not let them go on like this!

Crimson Goddess:
When humans become completely oblivious to their sins,
I shall order the Dragon to demolish the Heaven and Earth and inundate the lands with water.
Let the water purge all the filth and eradicate all the sins in this world!

...

Oh, why, there is something amazing buzzing within my heart.
What could it be?
Such a feverish passion, accompanied by a fearful but sweet loneliness,
drenched with ecstasy, yet overcome with heartwrenching sorrows ...
Oh, why, I have never felt this way before.

Something awful will happen to me!
No!   Stay away from me!
Oh, that irrestible sweetness ...
What will happen to me?
Will I rise to Heaven or fall onto Earth?
Oh, I don't know!

[ The Crimson Goddess dances, waving her fan and then tossing it into the air.   As the audience watch the falling fan, she disappears into the Plum Valley. ]

 

Musings Index