力士舞

Old Japanese

Etymology

Derived from Middle Chinese 力士 (MC lik dzriX) + 舞ひ (mapi₁, “dance”).

Noun

力士舞 (RIKI₁ZIMAPI₁)

1. a type of masked performance; the performer plays the role of a Buddhist guardian deity, carries an axe, and dances
   • c. 759, Man’yōshū, book 16, poem 3831:

     池神力土儛可母白鷺乃桙啄持而飛渡良武

     IKEGAMI₂ NO₂ RIKI₁ZIMAPI₁ kamo SIRASAGI₁ no₂ POKO₂ KUPI₁ MOTITE TO₂BI₁ WATARU ramu

     The pond deity's strong dance! [She] holds a spear of a white heron in her mouth, and keeps on flying around through.

References

• Satake, Akihiro with Hideo Yamada, Rikio Kudō, Masao Ōtani, and Yoshiyuki Yamazaki (c. 759) Shin Nihon Koten Bungaku Taikei 4: Man’yōshū 4 (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Iwanami Shoten, published 2003, →ISBN.