The story of the old couple, Jo and Uba came from the Noh play, Takasago written during the Muromachi period (1336-1573) by Zeami. Jo and Uba were spirits who resided in an old pine tree which was two trees that grew together over the years. They were seen in the moonlight raking and sweeping old pine needles. They symbolize longevity and harmony in marriage. Noh play were first supported by the Ashikaga Shogun in the Muromachi period and was followed by the high ranking samurai as Nobunaga (Oda) and Hideyoshi (Toyotomi). The play is solemn and acted out with limited movements which suited the rigid Confucian philosophy of the Tokugawa government. The simplicity was adorned with extravagance; textiles came through the Nanban trading in Azuchi-Momoyama period (1568-1603). To Samurai, the music played in the Noh became equivalent to the "gagaku" music of the Emperor’s court throughout the Edo period. The lines from the Takasago are still read in every traditional Japanese wedding today.