Yokihi

play by Komparu Zenchiku

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 17, 2026

Quick Summary

The play Yōkihi was written by Komparu Zenchiku in the 15th century. It is a Noh drama based on the story of Yang Guifei, a beloved concubine of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang dynasty. While the original Chinese narrative focuses on the emperor's love for Yang Guifei, Zenchiku's Noh adaptation emphasizes Buddhist themes of the impermanence of life and the inevitability of sorrow. The play incorporates Chinese poetry and draws upon the well-known story to resonate with its audience, reflecting Zenchiku's training in Noh drama and his exposure to Zen Buddhist thought.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Japanese performing arts
7th to 16th centuries
…and legends is the 15th-century Yōkihi by Komparu Zenchiku, based on the 9th-century narrative poem Chang hen ge (“The Song of Everlasting Sorrow”) by Bai Juyi. The original describes Emperor Xuanzong’s love for his concubine Yang Guifei (Yōkihi in Japanese). The Noh play emphasizes the Buddhist sentiment of the evanescence…
Read More
…and legends is the 15th-century Yōkihi by Komparu Zenchiku, based on the 9th-century narrative poem Chang hen ge (“The Song of Everlasting Sorrow”) by Bai Juyi. The original describes Emperor Xuanzong’s love for his concubine Yang Guifei (Yōkihi in Japanese). The Noh play emphasizes the Buddhist sentiment of the evanescence…
Read More