japanese 170 reseach papaer
S1monD
J A P A N E S E
T
A
L
E
5
P a n t k c o n F a i r y X a l e a n J F o l k l o r e L i t r a r y
P A N T H E O N B O O K S
N E W Y O R K
Copyright © 1987 by Royal! Tyler
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Published in the United States by Pantheon Books, a division of Random House, Inc., New York, and simultaneously in
Canada by Random House of Canada Limited, Toronto. Originally published in hardcover by Pantheon Books, a division of
Random House, Inc., in 1987.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Japanese Tales.
(Pantheon fairy tale and folklore library) Bibliography: p.
Includes index.
I. Tales—Japan. I. Tyler, Royall. II. Series: Pantheon fairy tale & folklore library.
GR340.J33 1987 398.2'0952 86-17017
ISBN 0-394-52190-0 0-394-75656-8 (pbk.)
Book design by Susan Mitchell Manufactured in the United States of America
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
F O R L I Z
C O N T E N T S
A C K N O W L E D G M E N T S XVI
A N O T E O N P R O N U N C I A T I O N xvii
I N T R O D U C T I O N XLX
O A K , M E L O N , G O U R D , A N G E L , F L E A
l. The Giant Oak 3
a. Melon Magic 3
3. The Sparrows' Gifts A
4 The Maiden from the Sky 7
5. The Flea 9
S U R P R I S E S
6. The Little Spicier 9
j. A Flash in the Palace 10
8. Salt Fish and Doctored Wine 10
o,. The Tapeworm's Sad End 14
10. A Toad to Reckon With 15
H A U N T S
11. Better Late Than Early 16
is . The Ravenous Storehouse 17
13. The Grisly Box 18
14. The Bridge 19
15. The Rooted Corpse 22
16. An Old, Old Ghost 23
M O N K J O K E S
17. Syrup 24
18. Not Quite the Right Robe 25
v i i i
27
B U D D H I S T B E G I N N I N G S
aa. T h e E m p e r o r ' s F i n g e r 3 0
a3. J a p a n ' s F i r s t G o l d 3 1
a<f. G y o g i a n d B a r a m o n 33
a5. T h e O l d M a c k e r e l P e d d l e r 3 4
a6. K o b o D a i s h i 3 5
37. T h e K a n n o n in t h e P i n e 37
G O D S
»8. V e r y K i n d o f H i m , N o D o u b t 3 8
a 9 . T h e D o g a n d H i s W i f e 3 9
30. A n O l d G o d R e n e w e d 4 0
31. C o m e t o M y K a s u g a M o u n t a i n ! 4 2
3a. P r i n c e s s G l o r y 46
T E N G U A N D D R A G O N S
33. T h e M u r m u r i n g o f t h e S e a 4 7
34. J a p a n M e a n s T r o u b l e ! 4 8
35. T h e I n v i n c i b l e P a i r 52
36. R a i n 53
37. N o D r a g o n 5 5
P U R E H E A R T S
38. T h i n g s A s T h e y A r e 5 6
3 9 . T h e P o r t r a i t 5 7
40. W h a t t h e B e a n s W e r e S a y i n g 5 7
41. M e r c y 58
4a. A m o n g t h e F l o w e r s 5 9
M U S I C A N D D A N C E
43. F o r L o v e o f S o n g 6 0
44. T h r e e A n g e l s 61
1 9 . T h e N o s e 2 5
20. T w o B u c k e t s o f M a r i t a l Bl iss
at. H o m e in a C h e s t 29
45. G i v e M e M u s i c ! 6 1
46. T h e W e i g h t o f T r a d i t i o n 62
47. T h e G o d o f G o o d F o r t u n e 6 3
48. D i v i n e A p p l a u s e 67
M A G I C
45. B r i n g B a c k T h a t F e r r y ! 67
50. T h e M a n - M a d e F r i e n d 6 8
51. T h e L a u g h i n g Fi t 70
5a. S m a l l - T i m e M a g i c 72
53. T h e Li t t le O i l J a r 7 5
T H E S E X E S
54. A H a r d M o m e n t 76
55. A N i c e M u g o f M o l t e n C o p p e r 7 7
56. T h e Li t t le B o t t l e o f T e a r s 78
57. E l i m i n a t i o n 78
58. B u t S h e C o u l d n ' t H e l p I t ! 8 1
Y I N . Y A N G W I Z A R D R Y
5 9 . T h e G e n i e 8 2
60. O n e F r o g L e s s 8 3
61. T h e S p e l l b o u n d P i r a t e s 8 3
6». T h e T e s t 84
63. M a n ' s Bes t F r i e n d 8 5
R O B B E R S
64. G e n j o 87
65. T h e R a s h o G a t e 8 8
66. T h e Self less T h i e f 89
67. A u t h o r i t y 90
68. T h e W r e s t l e r ' s S i s t e r 92
65. T o S o o t h t h e S a v a g e B r e a s t 9 3
H E A L I N G
70. T h e B u d d h a w i t h L o t s o f H a n d s 9 4
71. T h e P r o t e c t o r Sp i r i t 94
X
72. T h e F l y i n g S t o r e h o u s e 9 5
7 3 . N o R e s p e c t 9 7
7 4 T h e Inv i s ib l e M a n 9 9
E S C A P E S
75. D y e i n g C a s t l e 102
76. T a k e n In 104
77. T h e Sacr i f ice 107
78. T h e L u r e 110
79. J u s t L i k e a B i rd 113
F O X E S
80. E n o u g h Is E n o u g h ! 114
81. T h e L o v i n g F o x 115
82. T o u c h e d in t h e H e a d 116
83. Y a m S o u p 118
8 4 T h e E v i c t i o n 122
A S C E T I C S
85. I n c e n s e S m o k e 124
86. T h e B le s s ing 125
87. A n o t h e r F l y i n g J a r 126
88. T h e W i z a r d o f t h e M o u n t a i n s 127
89. An A w f u l Fa l l 130
90. T h e R i c e p o o p S a i n t 131
O D D I T I E S
91. W h a t t h e S t o r m W a s h e d I n 132
92. S e a D e v i l s 133
93. T h e D a n c i n g M u s h r o o m 134
9 4 T h e B e s t - L a i d P l a n s . . . 135
9 5 . Rea l F l a m e s a t Las t ! 136
96. T h e P a i n t e d H o r s e 137
G O L D E N P E A K A N D T H E O M I N E M O U N T A I N S
97. A M o d e l D e m o n 137
98. T h e R i v e r o f S n a k e s 138
99- T h e W i n e S p r i n g 1 3 9
100. V e r y H i g h in t h e M o u n t a i n s 1-41
101. T h e G o d o f F i r e a n d T h u n d e r 1 4 4
102. T h e G o l d o f G o l d e n P e a k 1 4 9
T U R T L E S A N D A C R A B
103. T h e T h u n d e r T u r t l e 1 5 0
104 T h e C a t c h 151
,o5. T h e G r a t e f u l T u r t l e 1 5 2
106. U r a s h i m a t h e F i s h e r m a n 1 5 4
107. T h e G r a t e f u l C r a b 1 5 6
D E S I R E
«o8. Y o u n g L u s t 1 5 7
. o 9 . T h e P r e t t y G i r l 1 5 8
no . M e s m e r i z e d 1 5 9
111. R e d H e a t 1 6 0
11a. L o v e s i c k 1 6 2
P A R A D I S E
u3. G o n e , B o d y a n d Sou l 1 6 3
114. P a r a d i s e in t h e P a l m of t h e H a n d 1 6 4
u5 . N o C o m p r o m i s e 1 6 5
6 . T h e F a i l u r e 1 6 8
117. L e t t e r s f rom P a r a d i s e 1 6 9
118. N o t E x a c t l y t h e L a n d o f Bliss 171
T E N G U , B O A R , A N D B A D G E R
119. O n e Las t S h o w e r o f Pe t a l s 1 7 2
iao. I n s p i r i n g , U n f o r t u n a t e l y 1 7 3
131. N o Foo l , t h e H u n t e r 1 7 4
122. T h e H a i r y A r m 1 7 6
»23. E x p e r t H e l p 1 7 6
H E A L I N G I I
124 R ice C a k e s 1 7 7
u 5 . A M e m o r a b l e E m p r e s s 1 7 8
x i i
L O V E A N D L O S S
139. A B e l o v e d W i f e , a B o w , a W h i t e B i rd 185
i 3 3 . T h e F o r s a k e n L a d y 188
i 3 3 . S h e D i e d L o n g A g o 190
S N A K E S
135. T h e S n a k e C h a r m e r 193
136. T h e T u g - o f - W a r 194
1 3 7 . A s D e e p A s t h e S e a 195
138. W h a t t h e S n a k e H a d i n M i n d 196
1 3 9 . R e d P l u m B l o s s o m s 198
R O B B E R S I I
140. T h e E n i g m a 199
141. W a s p s 2 0 0
143. W i t h o u t E v e n a F i g h t 202
.43. T h e T e m p l e Bell 2 0 3
144. T h e D e a d M a n W a k e s 2 0 5
145. C o w e d 2 0 6
L O T U S T A L E S
.46. T h e B l o o d y S w o r d 2 0 7
Ug. A P l e a f rom H e l l 2 0 8
148. T h e V o i c e f rom t h e C a v e 209
149. I n c o r r i g i b l e 2 1 1
150. T h e P i r a t e ' s S t o r y 2 1 5
151. A Li t t l e L e s s o n 2 1 7
130. T h e U n k n o w n T h i r d
131. An I m a g e in a F l a m e
186
187
134. I S a w It in a D r e a m 191
u 6 . Q u i t e a S t i n k 181
i a 7 . T h e M a s t e r 182
138. A S i m p l e C u r e 184
B O Y S
i5a. H e r o i c P a t i e n c e , A l m o s t 2 1 8
i53. T h e P o t - H e a d e d D e m o n 2 1 9
154 R i o t o u s L i v i n g 2 2 0
155. T h e B o y W h o L a i d t h e G o l d e n S t o n e 221
156. C h e r r y B l o s s o m s 224
P A R A D I S E I I
1 5 7 . T h e T h i r s t for P a r a d i s e 224
158. T h e C h a n t i n g S k u l l 2 2 5
1 5 9 . T h e N i c e Li t t le G o d Sa i l s A w a y 2 2 6
160. T h e U n e a r t h l y F r a g r a n c e 2 2 8
A T w i n g e of R e g r e t 2 2 9
Y I N - Y A N G W I Z A R D R Y I I
.62. D a d d y , W h o W e r e T h o s e P e o p l e ? 230
.63. T h e C u r s e 2 3 1
164 T h e H a r m l e s s H a u n t 232
165. I n t h e N i c k o f T i m e 2 3 3
166. A s t r i d e t h e C o r p s e 2 3 5
D E M O N S
167. T w i n l e a f 2 3 6
168. N o N i g h t t o B e O u t C o u r t i n g 2 3 7
169. L u m p Off, L u m p O n 2 3 9
170. T a k e a G o o d L o o k ! 2 4 1
P L E N T Y
171. C h e r i s h - t h e - A g e d S p r i n g 242
172. T h e B o t t o m l e s s S a c k 2 4 2
1 7 3 . T h e Sol id G o l d C o r p s e 244
174 A F o r t u n e f rom a W i s p of S t r a w 2 4 6
i 7 5 . " D o g ' s H e a d " Si lk 250
x i v
176. A V e r y S u r p r i s e d B o d h i s a t t v a 251
177. T h e A w a k e n i n g 2 5 2
,78. T h e Li t t le G o d ' s Big C h a n c e 2 5 8
179. P i o u s A n t i c s 2 5 8
180. T h e R e p r i e v e 262
W A T E R
181. T h e W a t e r Sp i r i t 264
182. T h e M a s t e r o f S t r e a m s a n d Fa l l s 2 6 5
183. T h e D r a g o n C a v e 2 6 6
184 G o l d from t h e D r a g o n Pa l ace 2 6 7
, 8 5 . T h e P o n d G o d T a k e s a Wi fe 2 6 9
C L O S E D W O R L D S
.86. T h e Isle o f M a n a n d M a i d 2 7 0
187. T h e S n a k e a n d t h e C e n t i p e d e 271
188. T h r o u g h t h e W a t e r C u r t a i n 274
189. C a n n i b a l I s l a n d 281
H A U N T S I I
190. N o N o n s e n s e ! 282
191. Q u i t e a Bit of N o n s e n s e 2 8 3
192. O n e M o u t h f u l 2 8 3
193. S u d d e n l y , H o r s e D u n g 284
» 9 4 T h e M o n k i n W h i t e A r m o r 2 8 5
D R E A M S
i 9 5 . L i t t l e W h i t e H a i r s 2 8 6
,96. T h e M a n W h o S to l e a D r e a m 2 8 6
.97. T h e B u d d h a - O x 2 8 7
198. T h e F a l c o n e r ' s D r e a m 290
,99. P o v e r t y 2 9 2
O D D P A T H S T O S A L V A T I O N
S C A R E S A N D N I G H T M A R E S
aoo. T h e N i g h t m a r e 2 9 2
201. T h e D o u b l e 2 9 4
202. B e w i t c h e d 2 9 4
T h e F u n e r a l 2 9 6
T h e G r i n n i n g F a c e o f a n O l d W o m a n 2 9 7
F O X E S I I
ao5. F o x A r s o n 2 9 8
ao6. T h e F o x ' s Ball 2 9 9
207. S i n g e d F u r 3 0 0
ao8. N o t R e a l l y a T r e e a t All 3 0 3
209. T h e W h i t e F o x : F o u r D r e a m s 3 0 4
B E Y O N D T H E R U L E S
a.o. T h e Te l l t a l e F i s h 3 0 5
an. A T a s t e for F i s h 3 0 5
aia. T h e P r o m i s e 3 0 6
ai3. T h e J e l l y f i s h ' s B o n e s 3 0 7
314. T h e S t i n k i n g H u t 3 1 0
P A R E N T A N D C H I L D
ai5. B e G o o d t o Y o u r M o t h e r a n d F a t h e r ! 3 1 2
a.6. He l l i n B r o a d D a y 3 1 3
217. T h e O l d W o m a n o n t h e M o u n t a i n 3 1 5
ai8. M o t h e r 3 1 6
219. P e r i l o u s G r a t i t u d e 3 1 7
aao. T h e U g l y S o n 3 1 9
S O U R C E S A N D N O T E S 3 2 1
T H E W O R K S T H E S E T A L E S C O M E F R O M 3 2 5
T A L E S C L A S S I F I E D B Y S O U R C E S 3 2 7
B I B L I O G R A P H Y 3 3 1
I N D E X 3 3 3
A C K N O W L E D G M E N T S
J o h n D o w e r i n t r o d u c e d m e t o P a n t h e o n a n d s o b e g a n t h e b o o k . S u s a n
Ty le r , m y wife , r e a d a n d r e r e a d m y d ra f t s , c o n t i n u a l l y m a k i n g s u g g e s -
t i ons ; d i s c u s s e d c o u n t l e s s q u e s t i o n s o f fo rm a n d c o n t e n t w i t h m e , a l w a y s
of fer ing w i s e a n d w e l l - i n f o r m e d a d v i c e ; a n d k e p t m e g o i n g w i t h b a t c h e s
o f c o o k i e s . W e n d y Wolf, m y ed i to r , w a s a l w a y s q u i c k a n d he lpfu l . H o w
c a n I t h a n k t h e m e n o u g h ?
A N O T E
O N
P R O N U N C I A T I O N
J a p a n e s e i s e a s y t o p r o n o u n c e . T h e c o n s o n a n t s w o r k w h e n s p o k e n just
a s t h e y a r e w r i t t e n i n th i s b o o k . T h e v o w e l s s o u n d r o u g h l y a s i n I ta l ian.
E a c h sy l lab le in J a p a n e s e g e t s e q u a l s t r e s s ( q u i t e un l ike I t a l i an) a n d in
p r i n c i p l e e a c h v o w e l i s a s e p a r a t e sy l lab le . F o r e x a m p l e , t he n a m e T a d a i e
i s p r o n o u n c e d t a h - d a h - e e - a y .
O ' s a n d U s w i t h a m a c r o n o r l o n g m a r k o v e r t h e m ( 6 o r u ) a re
s u p p o s e d to las t t w i c e as l o n g as p la in o n e s — the d i f ference b e t w e e n sOf t
a n d s O f a . F o r e x a m p l e , t h e n a m e S o o i s p r o n o u n c e d , no t " S u e , " b u t
m o r e l ike " S O , O m a g n i f i c e n t o n e , I h a v e a h u m b l e s u g g e s t i o n . "
A few n a m e s , l ike U r i n ' i n , h a v e an i n t e rna l a p o s t r o p h e w h i c h the
r e a d e r c a n i g n o r e s ince i t h a r d l y affects p r o n u n c i a t i o n .
I N T R O D U C T I O N
T h e s e t a les f rom m e d i e v a l J a p a n a r e b y t u r n s c u r i o u s , t o u c h i n g , d i s t u r b -
ing, funny , g r o s s , a n d s u b l i m e . N o d o u b t t h e y will g ive e v e r y o n e w h o
r e a d s t h e m a d i f fe ren t i m p r e s s i o n , b u t I t h i n k first of h o w civi l ized t h e y
a r e . T h e r e h a v e n e v e r b e e n b e t t e r losers t h a n t h e Pa l ace G u a r d s i n n o . 8 ,
w h o l a u g h w h o l e h e a r t e d l y a t t h e i r o w n awful d i s c o m f i t u r e ; a n d n o w a r -
r io r w a s e v e r w i s e r t h a n t h e h e r o o f n o . 6 7 . M o s t p e o p l e i n t h e s to r i e s
a r e q u i c k t o l a u g h o r c r y b u t s l ow t o kill o r seek r e v e n g e , a n d t h e i r g o d s
( w i t h a few local e x c e p t i o n s ) a r e k i n d .
N e a r l y all t h e s t o r i e s c o m e from ta le co l lec t ions p u t t o g e t h e r b e t w e e n
a b o u t A . D . 1100 a n d 1350, t h o u g h the ear l ies t ( n o . 106) w a s w r i t t e n
d o w n in t h e e a r l y 7 0 0 s a n d t h e mos t r ecen t ( n o . 2 0 9 ) i n 1578. M o s t tell
a b o u t t h i n g s t h a t h a p p e n e d i n t h e t w o c e n t u r i e s b e t w e e n 8 5 0 a n d 1050,
a c lass ic p e r i o d in J a p a n e s e c iv i l iza t ion.
T H E W O R L D O F T H E T A L E S
N o w a d a y s w e a s s o c i a t e ta les m a i n l y w i t h c o u n t r y p e o p l e . N o d o u b t
v i l l agers to ld t a les in J a p a n a t h o u s a n d y e a r s a g o too , b u t i f t h e a r i s t o c -
r a c y h a d no t b e e n e q u a l l y fond o f s to r ies , t h e o n e s i n th i s b o o k w o u l d
n e v e r h a v e b e e n w r i t t e n d o w n . P e o p l e ' s ideas a b o u t t h e w o r l d t h e n w e r e
r a t h e r d i f fe ren t f rom o u r s , a n d from t h o s e o l t he m o d e r n J a p a n e s e . I t i s
t r u e , for e x a m p l e , t h a t fox lo re still s u r v i v e s in J a p a n , a n d tha t pos se s s ion
by fox sp i r i t s is still a fac to r in a v e r y few pe op l e ' s l ives; b u t i t h a s b e e n
a l o n g t i m e s ince s o m e o n e l ike a r e g e n t c o u l d e n c o u r a g e s u c h g o i n g s - o n
as t h o s e in n o . 4 7 . T h e r u m o r o f a m o d e r n p r i m e min i s t e r p r a c t i c i n g fox
mag ic w o u l d b e t o o w e i r d t o m a k e s e n s e .
E v e n t i m e w a s d i f fe ren t t h e n . D a y a n d n igh t w e r e each d i v i d e d in to
six " h o u r s ' ' w h i c h e x p a n d e d a n d c o n t r a c t e d a s t he s e a s o n s t u r n e d . S i n c e
t h e c a l e n d a r w a s l u n a r , i n s t e a d o f so l a r l ike t h e m o d e r n w o r l d ' s , t h e
" m o n t h s " fo l lowed t h e m o o n ' s p h a s e s . T h a t i s w h y in th i s b o o k I u s e t h e
w o r d " m o o n " i n s t e a d o f " m o n t h , " for a " m o o n " a n d a so la r m o n t h a r e
no t t h e s a m e . T h e N e w Y e a r c a m e s o m e t i m e i n o u r F e b r u a r y , a s i t still
d o e s i n t h e C h i n e s e c a l e n d a r t o d a y .
T h e r e w a s n o fixed r e f e r e n c e p o i n t i n J a p a n e s e h i s to ry c o m p a r a b l e t o
X X
t h e b i r t h o f C h r i s t o r t h e H e g i r a . I n s t e a d , t h e flow o f t h e y e a r s w a s
d i v i d e d i n t o " y e a r p e r i o d s , " w h i c h m i g h t r a n g e in l eng th from a y e a r o r
t w o t o a b o u t t w e n t y . Y e a r p e r i o d s d id no t c o r r e s p o n d t o t h e re ign o f a n
e m p e r o r o r t o a n y t h i n g else e a s y t o d e s c r i b e , a n d t h e y cou ld s ta r t o r s t op
a t a n y t i m e . E a c h h a d its o w n n a m e : for e x a m p l e , S h o t a i ( 8 9 8 - 9 0 1 ) a n d
E n g i ( 9 0 1 - 9 2 3 ) . N o . 171 tel ls h o w Y o r o ( 7 1 7 - 7 2 4 ) go t its n a m e . T h e
p e o p l e i n c h a r g e o f d e c i d i n g y e a r p e r i o d s , a n d o f all m a t t e r s r e l a t ing t o
t h e c a l e n d a r , w e r e t o p y i n - y a n g d i v i n e r s ( see b e l o w ) l ike t he K a m o n o
T a d a y u k i o f n o s . 162 a n d 165 . Of c o u r s e , all d a t e s i n th i s b o o k h a v e been
c o n v e r t e d t o t h e m o d e r n W e s t e r n c a l e n d a r .
P e o p l e ' s n a m e s , t h e n a s n o w i n J a p a n , w e r e w r i t t e n w i t h t h e s u r n a m e
first , b u t t h e y w e r e a lit t le d i f ferent in o t h e r w a y s from the i r m o d e r n
c o u n t e r p a r t s . F o r e x a m p l e , t h e full n a m e o f t h e r e g e n t i n no . 47 i s Fuji-
w a r a no T a d a z a n e . " F u j i w a r a " i s h is family o r c lan n a m e ; " n o " i s a
p a r t i c l e l ike t h e F r e n c h <)e o r t h e G e r m a n von; a n d " T a d a z a n e " i s his
p e r s o n a l n a m e . I n o t h e r w o r d s , F u j i w a r a n o T a d a z a n e m e a n s " T a d a z a n e
o f t h e F u j i w a r a [ c l a n ] . " S imi l a r n a m e s a r e M i n a m o t o n o Y o r i n o b u ( n o .
6 7 ) a n d T s u n e z u m i n o Y a s u n a g a ( n o . 130) . N a m e s like t h e s e h a v e a b o u t
a s m u c h m e a n i n g a s o u r s d o — usua l l y r a t h e r l i t t le.
T h e n a m e s o f B u d d h i s t m o n k s a n d n u n s a r e d i s t inc t ive . I n t h e s e s to r ies
a m o n k h a s o n l y o n e n a m e , u sua l l y t h e o n e h e a c q u i r e d o n e n t e r i n g
r e l ig ion . B u d d h i s t n a m e s of ten h a v e s o m e sor t o f f o r t una t e m e a n i n g . I n
n o . 1 0 1 , for i n s t a n c e , D o k e n ( " W i s e a b o u t t h e W a y " ) r ece ives i n a v is ion
t h e n e w n a m e N i c h i z o ( " S u n - s t o r e " ) . M o n k s ' n a m e s s o u n d q u i t e differ-
e n t f rom l a y m e n ' s n a m e s , a l t h o u g h b o t h a r e w r i t t e n w i t h C h i n e s e c h a r -
a c t e r s , b e c a u s e t h e y a r e p r o n o u n c e d a c c o r d i n g t o en t i r e ly different
p r i n c i p l e s .
T H E C A P I T A L A N D T H E P R O V I N C E S
T h e c e n t e r o f J a p a n , a b o u t t h e y e a r 1000, w a s " t h e C a p i t a l " : t h e c i ty
n o w k n o w n a s K y o t o . I t s p r a n g u p i n 794 w h e n the e m p e r o r m o v e d t o
t h e s i te f rom N a r a ( see b e l o w ) , a n d for c e n t u r i e s w a s p rac t i ca l ly t h e on ly
c i ty i n t h e l a n d . A m o n g its r o u g h l y 100 ,000 i n h a b i t a n t s , t h o s e w h o
" r e a l l y m a t t e r e d , " b o t h m e n a n d w o m e n , p r o b a b l y n u m b e r e d n o m o r e
t h a n a few t h o u s a n d , b u t t h e y g a v e a so r t o f g l o w to all t h e res t . T h a n k s
t o t h e m t h e C a p i t a l , s e e n f rom t h e p r o v i n c e s , w a s a sor t o f P a r n a s s u s :
t h e h o m e of e l e g a n c e , wi t , r o m a n c e , l e a r n i n g , t he a r t s — in sho r t , of all
c iv i l i za t ion . T h e r e s t o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n c o n s i s t e d o f t he l o w e r a r i s t o c r a c y
a n d of f ic ia ldom, s e r v a n t s o f m a n y d e g r e e s , c r a f t smen , p e t t y m e r c h a n t s ,
g u a r d s , p r i e s t s , B u d d h i s t m o n k s o f v a r i o u s k i n d s , e tc . T h e r e s eems also
to h a v e b e e n a tw i l igh t z o n e , no t o u t s t a n d i n g l y l a rge , o f a s s o r t e d ne ' e r -
d o - w e l l s a n d t h i e v e s . G o v e r n m e n t i n c o m e c a m e from d w i n d l i n g c r o w n
l a n d s ; t h e a r i s t o c r a c y l ived off t h e i n c o m e from t h e i r g r o w i n g p r i v a t e
e s t a t e s ; a n d re l ig ious i n s t i t u t i ons p r o s p e r e d from p i o u s d o n a t i o n s a n d
from t h e i r o w n l a n d h o l d i n g s . N o t h i n g l ike a m i d d l e c lass d e v e l o p e d unt i l
c e n t u r i e s l a t e r .
T h e s t r e e t s o f t h e C a p i t a l w e r e laid o u t i n t h e s a m e r e g u l a r g r i d p a t t e r n
a s t h e C h i n e s e cap i t a l o f t h e t i m e . ( M o d e r n K y o t o i s still p a t t e r n e d th i s
w a y , a l t h o u g h n o n e o f t h e b u i l d i n g s m e n t i o n e d i n t h e s e s to r i e s s u r v i v e . )
T h e ma jo r e a s t - w e s t a v e n u e s w e r e n u m b e r e d ( F i r s t A v e n u e , S e c o n d
A v e . , e t c . ) , w h i l e t h e n o r t h - s o u t h o n e s w e r e n a m e d ( E a s t O m i y a A v e -
n u e ) . S m a l l e r , i n t e r m e d i a t e s t r e e t s w e r e a l so n a m e d ( H o r i k a w a S t r e e t ) .
T h e c e n t r a l n o r t h - s o u t h t h o r o u g h f a r e w a s S u z a k u A v e n u e . I t b e g a n a t
t h e S u z a k u G a t e , t h e c e n t r a l g a t e i n t he s o u t h wal l o f t h e p a l a c e c o m -
p o u n d , a n d r a n d o w n t o t h e R a s h o G a t e , t h e c e n t r a l , s o u t h e r n g a t e i n t o
t h e c i ty itself. T h e f lu te -p lay ing d e m o n o f n o . 167 l ived h igh in t h e
s t r u c t u r e o t t h e S u z a k u G a t e , a n d t h e R a s h o G a t e s h e l t e r e d t h e e q u a l l y
mus ica l d e m o n - t h i e f of n o . 64.
N a t u r a l l y t h e I m p e r i a l P a l a c e o c c u p i e d a c o m m a n d i n g pos i t ion in t h e
c i ty . L o c a t e d a t t h e n o r t h e n d o f S u z a k u A v e n u e , i t w a s ac tua l ly a
c o m p l e x o f b u i l d i n g s i n s ide a l a rge , r e c t a n g u l a r w a l l e d c o m p o u n d t h a t
o c c u p i e d a b o u t t h r e e h u n d r e d a c r e s . W i t h i n t h e c o m p o u n d w e r e seve ra l
h u n d r e d b u i l d i n g s i n c l u d i n g t h e e m p e r o r ' s p e r s o n a l r e s i d e n c e ( in a s u b -
c o m p o u n d o f its o w n ) , t h e v a r i o u s hal ls o f g o v e r n m e n t , a n d m a n y o t h e r
s t r u c t u r e s e i t h e r func t i ona l o r c e r e m o n i a l . N o . 59 , for e x a m p l e , s t a r t s
w i t h a s c e n e of g e n t l e m e n a r r i v i n g a t t h e pa l ace , a p p a r e n t l y for a counc i l
t o be he ld n e a r t h e G r e a t H a l l o f S t a t e . In n o . 207 , a w a r r i o r o f t h e
Pa l ace G u a r d a r r a n g e s t o m e e t h i s co l l e agues by a ga t e a t t h e n o r t h e a s t
c o r n e r o f t h e p a l a c e c o m p o u n d , w h i l e a t t h e nex t ga t e s o u t h l u r k s t h e
d a s t a r d l y t o a d o f n o . 10.
R i v e r s f low on e i t h e r s ide o f K y o t o , eas t a n d w e s t . To t h e eas t i s t h e
K a m o , w h i c h e v e r y v i s i to r h a s s e e n . R ive r s ide Pa l ace ( K a w a r a - n o - i n ) ,
w h e r e R e t i r e d E m p e r o r U d a m e t t h e g h o s t ( n o s . 190, 191) , w a s o n t h e
w e s t b a n k o f t h e K a m o . T o t h e w e s t f l o w s t h e d e e p e r K a t s u r a R ive r ,
w h e r e t w o ho ly m e n ( n o s . 116, 161) c a m e t o grief.
T h e c i ty lies in a ba s in s u r r o u n d e d on t h r e e s ides by m o u n t a i n s . T h i s
m a k e s i t m i s e r a b l y ho t i n s u m m e r , w h i c h i s w h y t h e e m p r e s s w a s w e a r i n g
" a n e a r l y t r a n s p a r e n t g o w n " w h e n t h e h e r m i t first g l i m p s e d h e r i n n o .
125. L a d i e s of ten d r e s s e d t h a t l ight ly in s u m m e r , a t leas t in p r i v a t e . To
t h e n o r t h w e s t r i ses M o u n t A t a g o , w h e r e a n o t h e r h e r m i t h a d his false
v is ion ( n o . 121) ; to t h e n o r t h s t r e t c h e s a r a n g e w h e r e a m a n m e t a
x x i i
m o u n t a i n g o d in t h e fo rm o f a w h i t e d o g ( n o . 129) ; a n d to t he n o r t h e a s t
t o w e r s M o u n t H ie i , w h e r e all s o r t s o f c u r i o u s t h i n g s w e n t o n ( n o s . 3 3 ,
3 4 , a n d o t h e r s ) .
A b o u t t h i r t y mi les s o u t h o f K y o t o i s N a r a , w h i c h b e c a m e J a p a n ' s first
" p e r m a n e n t " cap i t a l i n 7 1 0 . ( B e f o r e t h e n t h e imper ia l r e s idence h a d
m o v e d e v e r y t i m e a n e m p e r o r d i e d . ) N a r a a p p e a r s often i n t he se ta les
b e c a u s e t h e e i g h t h c e n t u r y w a s s u c h a c ruc ia l p e r i o d in t he d e v e l o p m e n t
o f J a p a n e s e c iv i l iza t ion , a n d b e c a u s e t h e re l ig ious ins t i tu t ions f o u n d e d
t h e r e r e m a i n e d i m p o r t a n t l a t e r o n . Toda i j i , n o d o u b t t he s ingle mos t
f a m o u s B u d d h i s t t e m p l e i n J a p a n a n d a m u s t for e v e r y tour i s t , a p p e a r s
i n n o s . 2 3 , 24 , a n d 2 5 ; w h i l e t h e g r e a t S h i n t o s h r i n e o f K a s u g a ( n o s . 3 1 ,
4 5 ) still p r e s e r v e s t h e m u s i c a n d d a n c e t r a d i t i o n h o n o r e d by hell itself i n
n o . 4 6 .
T h e r e s t o f J a p a n c o n s i s t e d o f s ix ty-s ix p r o v i n c e s , w h o s e n a m e s a n d
b o u n d a r i e s w e r e d i f fe ren t f rom t h o s e o f t h e m o d e r n J a p a n e s e pre fec-
t u r e s . T h o s e m e n t i o n e d m o s t often a r e t h e o n e s c loses t t o t h e Cap i t a l ,
l ike O m i a r o u n d t h e s o u t h e r n e n d o f L a k e Biwa ; Y a m a t o , w h e r e N a r a i s
l o c a t e d ; a n d H a r i m a , w h i c h i n c l u d e d the si te o f m o d e r n K o b e . F o r a
c o u r t i e r , t h e e n d s o f t h e e a r t h w e r e r e p r e s e n t e d b y the n ine p r o v i n c e s o f
K y u s h u , s u c h a s H i z e n , w h e r e N a g a s a k i e v e n t u a l l y g r e w u p ; a n d M u t s u
a n d D e w a i n t h e far n o r t h o f H o n s h u . O f t h e s tor ies t h a t t a k e p lace i n
t h e s e m o r e r e m o t e r e g i o n s , m a n y invo lve v i s i to rs from t h e C a p i t a l o r
p e r s o n s b o u n d for t h e C a p i t a l .
E M P E R O R S , M I N I S T E R S . O F F I C I A L S ,
S E R V A N T S
T h e g r e a t n o b l e s o f t h i s c o u r t - c e n t e r e d w o r l d , m e n w h o s e b i r t h d e s t i n e d
t h e m for t h e t o p r a n k s a n d p o s t s i n t h e g o v e r n m e n t , f igure p r o m i n e n t l y
in t h e t a l e s . N a t u r a l l y t h e e m p e r o r h a d a specia l au ra , e v e n for t he
m e m b e r s o f t h e nob i l i ty ; b u t i t i s t o u c h i n g to g l impse ( n o s . 32 , 67 ) h o w
i m p r e s s i v e e v e n a p r o v i n c i a l g o v e r n o r c o u l d look in his o w n p r o v i n c e .
P r o v i n c i a l g o v e r n o r s w e r e a p p o i n t e d a n d sen t ou t from t h e Cap i t a l ,
a l t h o u g h s o m e t i m e s ( n o . 8 ) t h e y s t a y e d i n t h e Capi ta l a n d h a d the i r
p r o v i n c e s r u n by s u b o r d i n a t e s on loca t ion . D a z z l i n g i n the h i n t e r l a n d , a t
c o u r t t h e y i m p r e s s e d n o o n e b e c a u s e t h e y c a m e t o o low i n t h e official
h i e r a r c h y . A spec ia l p rov inc i a l pos t , h o w e v e r , w a s tha t o f v i c e r o y of
K y u s h u . T h e v i c e r o y w a s n o r m a l l y o f c o n s i d e r a b l e r a n k , b u t n o o n e
c o v e t e d h i s office s ince K y u s h u w a s so far a w a y . In fact, a p p o i n t m e n t a s
v i c e r o y o f K y u s h u c o u l d a m o u n t t o ex i le . F u j i w a r a n o Y a m a k a g e ( n o .
105) s e e m s no t t o h a v e m i n d e d t oo m u c h , b u t S u g a w a r a n o M i c h i z a n e ' s
a p p o i n t m e n t as v i c e r o y o f K y u s h u m e a n t his downfa l l a n d led to his
b e c o m i n g a vengefu l g o d ( n o s . 101 , 103) .
T h e e m p e r o r w a s o f c o u r s e s u p p o s e d t o ru le J a p a n , a n d t h e s e s to r i e s
a s s u m e t h a t he rea l ly d i d . B u t i t i s r e m a r k a b l e h o w often, in J a p a n e s e
h i s to ry , rea l p o w e r h a s b e e n he ld no t by t h e f igure w i t h t h e g r e a t t i t le,
bu t b y s o m e o n e w h o i s olficially his s u b o r d i n a t e . T h e g r e a t s h o g u n w h o
unified J a p a n in 1600 af ter a c e n t u r y o f w a r leg i t imized his p o w e r w i t h
t he fiction t h a t h e w a s r u l i n g for t he e m p e r o r a t t h e e m p e r o r ' s r e q u e s t .
H i s t o r y p r o v i d e s m a n y o t h e r s u c h e x a m p l e s . N o d o u b t i t i s n a t u r a l t h a t
effective p o w e r s h o u l d h a v e p a s s e d from office to office, f rom c lan to
c lan , a n d e v e n f rom c lass to c lass o v e r t ime . W h a t i s m o r e s u r p r i s i n g i s
t h a t t h e e m p e r o r s h o u l d n e v e r h a v e b e e n d e p o s e d , a n d s h o u l d a l w a y s
h a v e r e m a i n e d t h e u l t i m a t e s o u r c e o f l eg i t ima te poli t ical a u t h o r i t y .
In t h e t ime o f t h e s e s to r i e s , real p o w e r h a d b e e n c a p t u r e d by t h e
F u j i w a r a c lan , h e a d e d by a r e g e n t w h o s e pos i t ion w a s h e r e d i t a r y in o n e
F u j i w a r a l ine . T h e F u j i w a r a w e r e w e a l t h i e r t h a n t h e imper ia l family, a n d
t he i r " p r i v a t e ' ' h o u s e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n r iva led t h e " p u b l i c " ( i m p e r i a l ) g o v -
e r n m e n t n o m i n a l l y h e a d e d b y t h e e m p e r o r , espec ia l ly s ince s o m a n y o f
t he t o p p o s t s i n t h e " p u b l i c " g o v e r n m e n t w e r e inev i t ab ly he ld b y t h e t o p
F u j i w a r a s . S i n c e m o s t o f t h e g r e a t l o rds b e l o n g e d t o t h e F u j i w a r a c lan ,
t h i s b o o k i s full o f F u j i w a r a s g r e a t a n d smal l . T a d a z a n e h a s a l r e a d y b e e n
m e n t i o n e d , b u t t h e u l t i m a t e F u j i w a r a p o t e n t a t e w a s t h e R e g e n t M i c h i -
n a g a ( 9 6 6 - 1 0 2 7 ) , w h o s e little d o g saves h im from hos t i le mag ic i n n o .
6 3 . O f t he res t , m o s t b o r e t h e s u r n a m e M i n a m o t o . T o m ( n o s . 190, 191)
w a s a n i l lus t r ious M i n a m o t o .
T h e r e g e n t ' s s t a n d i n g i l l u s t r a t e s th i s s ta te o f affairs per fec t ly , for a l -
t h o u g h t h e r e w a s no slot a t all for a r e g e n t in t h e g o v e r n m e n t ' s official
t ab l e of o r g a n i z a t i o n , he o u t r a n k e d e v e r y o t h e r official a t c o u r t even i f
h e he ld n o o t h e r office. N o r m a l l y his d a u g h t e r w a s t he e m p e r o r ' s wife
( n o . 125) , a n d t h e r e f o r e t h e m o t h e r o f t he nex t e m p e r o r . ( N o w o m a n
w a s a l l o w e d t o s u c c e e d t o t h e t h r o n e b e t w e e n 770 a n d 1630. ) M i c h i n a g a
h a d t h r e e e m p e r o r s a s his s o n s - i n - l a w a n d four a s his g r a n d s o n s .
U n d e r t h e s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s e m p e r o r s w e r e often ch i l d r en , o r a t least
v e r y y o u n g , a n d usua l ly a b d i c a t e d ea r ly . A r e t i r ed e m p e r o r en joyed a
g o o d dea l m o r e f r eedom t h a n a r e i g n i n g o n e . R e t i r e d E m p e r o r K a z a n
( n o . 3 9 ) , fo rced to a b d i c a t e by t h e F u j i w a r a , e n d e d up l e a d i n g a life o f
B u d d h i s t p r a c t i c e . As a r e i g n i n g e m p e r o r he c o u l d n e v e r h a v e left K y o t o
on p i l g r i m a g e to see a ho ly m a n , as he d o e s in t h e s t o ry . R e t i r e d e m p e r o r s
cou ld e v e n w ie ld real i n f luence . I n t h e twel f th c e n t u r y t h e y c a m e to
c o m p e t e w i t h t h e r e g e n t s for p o w e r a t cou r t , l eav ing the r e i g n i n g e m -
p e r o r , as u sua l , to p l ay a l a rge ly c e r e m o n i a l ro le .
x x i v
T h e h i g h e s t fo rmal p o s t i n t h e g o v e r n m e n t w a s t h a t o f chance l lo r , the
s e n i o r m i n i s t e r o f s t a t e . A n y o n e w e e p i n g w i t h joy to see an ox eat a
h a n d f u l o f g r a s s w o u l d be b o u n d to ra ise a smile , b u t he i s pa r t i cu l a r ly
a m u s i n g w h e n he i s a c h a n c e l l o r ( n o . 197) . B e l o w the chance l lo r c a m e
t h e M i n i s t e r o f t h e Left, t h e n t h e M i n i s t e r o f t h e R igh t . M i n a m o t o n o
M a k o t o , v i s i t ed by a n g e l s in n o . 4 4 , w a s a M i n i s t e r o f t h e Left; w h i l e t he
" S a g e M i n i s t e r " o f t h e R i g h t , F u j i w a r a n o S a n e s u k e , a p p e a r s i n n o . 5 3
a n d e l s e w h e r e .
I n t h e o r y t h e c h a n c e l l o r w a s t o b e a m a n o f o u t s t a n d i n g c h a r a c t e r w h o
c o u l d s e r v e a s a n e x a m p l e for t h e e m p e r o r a n d t h e officials. T h e office
w a s n o t s u p p o s e d to be filled u n l e s s a s u i t a b l y s u p e r i o r c a n d i d a t e w a s
a v a i l a b l e . In fact t h e c h a n c e l l o r ' s a p p o i n t m e n t d e p e n d e d largely on his
s t a n d i n g in t h e F u j i w a r a c l an . In a n y ca se , s ince t h e office c a r r i e d little
rea l p o w e r , e l igible c a n d i d a t e s often d e c l i n e d t h e h o n o r — o n e r e a s o n w h y
t h e p o s t w a s of ten v a c a n t . T h e M i n i s t e r o f t h e Left h a d far m o r e g e n u i n e
a u t h o r i t y s i nce h e w a s t h e legal h e a d o f t h e g o v e r n m e n t , a n d r e spons ib l e
for t h e w o r k i n g o f t h e C o u n c i l o f S t a t e ( n o . 11) . T h e M i n i s t e r o f t he
R i g h t c o u l d s u b s t i t u t e for h im as n e e d e d , a n d d id so as a m a t t e r o f c o u r s e
w h e n t h e M i n i s t e r o f t h e Left s e r v e d c o n c u r r e n t l y a s r egen t .
B e l o w t h e m i n i s t e r s w e r e t h r e e g r a d e s o f c o u n s e l o r s . ( M a j o r C o u n -
se lo r Y a s u m i c h i a n d his fox- infes ted m a n s i o n a p p e a r i n no . 8 0 . ) T h e t w o
t o p g r a d e s b e l o n g e d , l ike t h e m i n i s t e r s , t o t he Counc i l o f S t a t e . A m o n g
t h e m a n y o t h e r , l o w e r offices w e r e t h o s e o f con t ro l l e r ( n o . 11) a n d c h a m -
b e r l a i n . T h e c o n t r o l l e r s ( t h e r e w e r e b e t w e e n six a n d nine o f t h e m ) s u p e r -
v i s ed e s sen t i a l a d m i n i s t r a t i v e ac t iv i t ies w h i c h l inked the C o u n c i l o f S t a t e
w i t h t h e c e n t r a l a n d p rov inc i a l b u r e a u c r a c i e s . C h a m b e r l a i n s w e r e gen -
e ra l ly y o u n g e r a n d o f m u c h l o w e r r a n k t h a n t h e officials jus t de sc r i bed ,
b u t t h e i r office w a s u n u s u a l l y g l a m o r o u s b e c a u s e a t least s o m e o f t h e m ,
b e i n g p r i v a t e s e c r e t a r i e s t o t h e e m p e r o r , h a d f r equen t access t o h im. O n e
c h a m b e r l a i n is t h e v i c t im of a n a u g h t y j o k e in n o . 7 , a n d a n o t h e r has a
s t r a n g e d r e a m i n n o . 5 6 .
S e v e r a l s to r i e s c o n c e r n m e m b e r s o f t h e Pa l ace G u a r d s a n d the I m p e -
rial Po l i ce . B o t h w e r e n e e d e d . S e c u r i t y i n t he Capi ta l w a s doub t fu l ,
e s p e c i a l l y a t n igh t , e v e n w i t h o u t t h e p a r a d e s o f d e m o n s t h a t p e o p l e oc -
c a s i o n a l l y m e t i n t h e d a r k , d e s e r t e d s t r e e t s ( see b e l o w ) . R o b b e r i e s w e r e
n o t u n c o m m o n , a n d p a s s e r s b y c o u l d b e m u r d e r e d u n d e r t h e v e r y wal l s
o f t h e p a l a c e c o m p o u n d . I t i s p r o b a b l y o n l y s ince t h e s e v e n t e e n t h c e n t u r y
t h a t K y o t o h a s b e e n a s safe a s i t a n d o t h e r J a p a n e s e cities a r e n o w .
T h e P a l a c e G u a r d s c o n s i s t e d o f G a t e G u a r d s , Mi l i t a ry G u a r d s , a n d
I n n e r G u a r d s , e a c h d i v i d e d in to Left a n d R igh t c o n t i n g e n t s . All six
c o n t i n g e n t s b e s i e g e a m a n s i o n in n o . 8 , b u t on ly t he I n n e r G u a r d s c o m e
t o grief. S i n c e t h e I n n e r G u a r d s s e r v e d phys i ca l l y c lose r t o t h e e m p e r o r
a n d w e r e t h e r e f o r e g r a n d e r t h a n t h e o t h e r s , t he i r u n d o i n g in n o . 8 i s all
t h e funn ie r . T h e l e a d i n g officers o f t h e g u a r d s w e r e c a p t a i n s o f v a r i o u s
g r a d e s , l ike t h e g a l l a n t y o u n g m a n o f n o . 7 8 . I n fact t h e p o s t o f s e n i o r
c a p t a i n o f t h e I n n e r G u a r d s ( e i t h e r c o n t i n g e n t w o u l d d o , b u t Left w a s
p r e f e r a b l e s i nce i t m e a n t h i g h e r p r e s t i g e ) w a s o n e o f t h e m o s t d e s i r a b l e
o f all for a v e r y h i g h - b o r n y o u n g m a n ( n o . 168) .
T h e I m p e r i a l Po l ice h a d t h e i r h e a d q u a r t e r s ju s t o u t s i d e t h e pa l ace
c o m p o u n d . T h e i r chief ( n o . 102) w a s n o r m a l l y a c o u n s e l o r a n d h a d d i r e c t
a c c e s s t o t h e e m p e r o r . T h e y c o u l d b e b r a v e ( n o . 7 9 ) a n d t h e y c o u l d b e
r o u g h . F o r t h e i r d i r t y w o r k t h e y r o u t i n e l y u s e d freed conv ic t s l ike t h e
o n e s in n o . 173 w h o force a p o o r y o u n g m a n to c a r r y a s t r a n g e l y h e a v y
c o r p s e .
B e l o w all t h e s e c a m e t h e h u m b l e p e o p l e w h o m a d e u p t h e b u l k o f t h e
C a p i t a l ' s p o p u l a t i o n . W h e n t h e y a p p e a r i n t h e s e s to r i e s t h e y a r e n a m e -
less . T h e m e n s e e m usua l l y to be jaburai, or c a p a b l e of b e i n g daburai i f
o n l y t h e y c o u l d find a j o b . T h e h e r o e s o f n o s . 74 a n d 174 a r e t h a t so r t o f
p e r s o n . T h e w o r d m e a n t " s e r v a n t , " s o m e o n e w h o s e r v e d a n o b l e m a n i n
a n y o n e o f m a n y c a p a c i t i e s . I t c o m e s f rom t h e s a m e v e r b a s t h e famil iar
jamurai, o r " w a r r i o r , " b u t in t h o s e d a y s its m e a n i n g w a s less spec ia l i zed .
T h e a s s u m p t i o n t h a t a y o u n g m a n o f h u m b l e s ta t ion w a s o r s h o u l d be a
aaburai i l lus t ra tes t h e o v e r w h e l m i n g i m p o r t a n c e of t h e a r i s t o c r a c y in t h e
life of t h e C a p i t a l .
H O U S E S
E m p e r o r o r c o m m o n e r , p e o p l e l ived i n s ing l e - s to ry h o u s e s w h e r e t h e y
sa t a n d s lep t o n t h e floor, a s m a n y J a p a n e s e still d o . " B e d " i n th i s b o o k
re fers o n l y to a s l e e p i n g - p l a c e , no t to a p iece of f u r n i t u r e or to a n y o t h e r
s t r u c t u r e . C o v e r s w e r e of ten jus t a l aye r of r o b e s . Tatami, t h e t h i c k s t r a w
f loor ing for w h i c h " t r a d i t i o n a l " J a p a n e s e h o u s e s a r e n o w f a m o u s , h a d
no t y e t b e e n i n v e n t e d . F l o o r s w e r e p o l i s h e d b o a r d s s p r e a d w i t h s t r a w
m a t s . H a v i n g n o p e r m a n e n t o u t s i d e wal l , r o o m s h a d n o w i n d o w s a n d
g e n e r a l l y n o o u t s i d e d o o r . I n t e r i o r d o o r s w e r e s l id ing p a n e l s .
T h e b o u n d a r y b e t w e e n o u t s i d e a n d ins ide w a s a so r t o f c o n t i n u o u s
shel f a few feet w i d e w h i c h r a n all a r o u n d t h e h o u s e . " V e r a n d a " i s t h e
w o r d for i t in t h e s e s to r i e s , a l t h o u g h i t w a s no t rea l ly a v e r a n d a at all .
T h e o u t s i d e r o o m s o p e n e d o n t o th i s shelf. A g e n t l e m a n m i g h t sit on t h e
v e r a n d a to ta lk w i t h a l a d y ins ide , t h e t w o often b e i n g s e p a r a t e d by a
h a n g i n g b l ind . In o n e e p i s o d e ( n o . 2 1 3 ) , a ho ly m o n k s t e p s s t r a igh t o u t
x x v i
o f t h e e m p r e s s ' s r o o m o n t o t h e v e r a n d a a n d d o e s s o m e t h i n g qu i t e d is -
g u s t i n g .
T h e r o o m s a l o n g t h e v e r a n d a c o u l d b e c losed off b y l a t t i c ework shu t -
t e r s , w h i c h w e r e b a c k e d b y b o a r d s a n d d iv ided ho r i zon ta l l y in to u p p e r
a n d l o w e r p a n e l s . W h e n b o t h p a n e l s w e r e i n p lace t h e r o o m w a s s u p -
p o s e d t o b e s e c u r e from s u n , w i n d , r a in , a n d p r y i n g eyes . H o w e v e r , t h e
u p p e r p a n e l c o u l d s w i n g u p a n d o u t w a r d , ho r i zon ta l ly , l eaving the r o o m
o p e n . In n o . 44 a g e n t l e m a n f inds t h r e e little an g e l s d a n c i n g on an o p e n
s h u t t e r p a n e l .
T h e e l a b o r a t e m a n s i o n s o f t h e g r e a t l o r d s w e r e c o m p o s e d o f s e p a r a t e
p a v i l i o n s ( s o m e t i m e s r e f e r r ed t o a s " w i n g s " ) l inked b y cove red , o p e n -
s i d e d ga l l e r i e s . T h e r e w a s a l a rge g a r d e n a r o u n d t h e m , a n d a p o n d in
f ron t w i t h an i s l and in it. N o . 139 g ives an idea l ized d e s c r i p t i o n o f such
a g a r d e n . T h e m a n s i o n faced s o u t h . On its eas t a n d w e s t s ides i t h a d an
e n t r a n c e , a n d j u s t ins ide e a c h e n t r a n c e a " m i d d l e g a t e " w h i c h g a v e access
to t h e c o r r e s p o n d i n g " w i n g " o f t h e m a n s i o n p r o p e r . In n o . 71 a d e v o t e d
m o n k s i ts by a m i d d l e g a t e o f t h e c h a n c e l l o r ' s m a n s i o n to p r a y for t h e
c h a n c e l l o r ' s r e c o v e r y .
M E N , W O M E N , A N D M A N N E R S
Y o u w o u l d n o t g u e s s f rom t h e s e s to r i e s t h a t a c o u r t l ady o f M i c h i n a g a ' s
t i m e w r o t e o n e o f t h e w o r l d ' s g r e a t e s t nove l s , t h o u g h the J i j u o f n o . 5 7
d o e s s e e m c a p a b l e o f p r a c t i c a l l y a n y s t r o k e o f g e n i u s . W o m e n p l a y e d a
m a j o r ro le in c u l t u r a l life, b u t t h e i r p r e s e n c e h e r e i s s u b d u e d . In fact, t he
b o o k c o n t a i n s n o t a s ing le w o m a n ' s n a m e . " J i j u " a n d the o t h e r s e e m i n g
n a m e s a r e a c t u a l l y n i c k n a m e s . W o m e n d id no t use the i r p e r s o n a l n a m e s
i n p u b l i c . T w o w o m a n w r i t e r s o f t h e a g e a r e k n o w n on ly a s " M i c h i -
t s u n a ' s m o t h e r " a n d " T a k a s u e ' s d a u g h t e r . " " M i t s u t o ' s s i s t e r " i s a n o t h e r
e x a m p l e . A l t h o u g h n o . 6 8 i s r ea l ly a b o u t he r , no t h e r b r o t h e r , t h e s t o ry
n a m e s a n d d e s c r i b e s h e r b r o t h e r be fo re e v e r m e n t i o n i n g he r , a n d n e v e r
n a m e s h e r a t al l .
P r o p e r w o m e n s t a y e d h i d d e n , phys i ca l l y a s wel l a s f igurat ively, t h o u g h
p e a s a n t w o m e n m u s t h a v e b e e n t o o ac t ive t o imi ta te t h e m . N o t t h a t
w o m e n n e v e r w e n t o u t s i d e . B u t a m o n g t h e a r i s toc racy , a g e n t l e m a n
s e l d o m s a w a l a d y ' s face p l a in ly in b r o a d day l igh t . T h e r e w a s usua l ly a
c u r t a i n b e t w e e n t h e m , a n d e v e n w h e n t h e y w e r e i n bed t o g e t h e r i t w a s
d a r k o r a t b e s t d i m .
T h i s i s o b v i o u s i n n o . 177 . W h e n t h e y o u n g m o n k , n e w l y a r r i v e d i n
t h e l a d y ' s h o u s e , h e a r s r u s t l i n g i n a r o o m n e a r b y , he k n o w s r ight a w a y
w h a t i s g o i n g o n : c u r t a i n s on a p o r t a b l e f rame a r e b e i n g m o v e d in so tha t
t h e l a d y can ta lk t o h im f rom b e h i n d t h e m . He will no t ac tua l ly see he r .
T h i s m o v a b l e , c u r t a i n e d e n c l o s u r e , f o r m i n g a t i ny r o o m ins ide a r o o m ,
p lays a ro le in s eve ra l s to r i e s ( n o s . 5 8 , 7 3 , 125) .
T h e m o n k d o e s no t see t h e l a d y unt i l h e t a k e s a w a l k o u t s i d e a n d spo t s
a hole in o n e o f t h e s h u t t e r s t h a t enc lo se h e r r o o m for t h e n igh t . ( T h e
l i t e r a t u r e o f t h e t i m e i s full o f m e n p e e r i n g t h r o u g h s u c h c r a c k s a n d
ho l e s . ) N a t u r a l l y he falls i n love . L a t e r on , w h e n s h e a l l o w s h i m in to h e r
r o o m k n o w i n g t h a t he will be j o i n i n g h e r in b e d , s h e still h a s a c u s h i o n
laid for h im outside h e r c u r t a i n s . T h e on ly l ight in t h e r o o m is f rom a d im
l a m p b e h i n d a s c r e e n . No d o u b t t h e l a m p i s o u t a n d h e r m a i d s all a s l e e p
w h e n h e finally lies d o w n b e s i d e he r . S h e n e v e r s i ts s imp ly t a l k i n g w i t h
h im face to l a ce .
C o u r t i n g m e n w e r e l ike b e e s v i s i t ing s h y f lowers , a n d c o u r t s h i p t o o k
p lace l a rge ly i n t h e d a r k . H e i c h u ( n o . 5 7 ) h a s n e v e r seen t h e l ady he i s so
d e s p e r a t e t o m a k e love to , a n d w h e n he finally ge t s in to h e r r o o m i t i s
n a t u r a l l y p i t ch d a r k . H e c a n o n l y a s s u m e t h a t t h e w o m a n ly ing t h e r e i s
t h e o n e he i s c o u r t i n g ; in fact, he m u s t c h e c k w h e t h e r s h e i s a w o m a n a t
all by feel ing o v e r h e r face a n d h e r long , cool ha i r .
B o t h m e n a n d w o m e n s e e m t o h a v e w e p t freely a n d of ten i n r e s p o n s e
t o e m o t i o n . C o u r t s h i p a l w a y s i nvo lved t e a r s . W h e n y o u w e p t y o u d r i e d
y o u r eyes w i t h y o u r s leeves , a n d i f y o u r g r ie f w a s d e e p e n o u g h y o u r
s leeves go t p r e t t y w e t . A m a n w i t h c o n s p i c u o u s l y d r y s leeves m i g h t
a p p e a r i n s i n c e r e . H e i c h u ( n o . 5 6 ) k n e w th i s so wel l t h a t he t o o k a l i t t le
bo t t l e o f w a t e r w i t h h im w h e n h e w e n t c o u r t i n g , t o d a m p e n h imse l f a s
n e e d e d .
T h e t r a n s i t i o n f rom l o v e r t o h u s b a n d w a s a p a s s a g e f rom d a r k n e s s a n d
s e c r e c y t o d a y l i g h t a n d p u b l i c r e c o g n i t i o n . N o . 220 s u m m a r i z e s th i s
p r o c e s s . T h e b r i d e g r o o m s p e n d s t w o n i g h t s w i t h t h e b r i d e , l eav ing w h i l e
i t i s still d a r k . On t h e t h i r d n i g h t he s t ays i n b e d w i t h h e r on in to t h e
m o r n i n g , for h e r p a r e n t s a n d h o u s e h o l d , a n d i n fact for he r , t o see . W a s
t h e r e n o t h i n g else t o g e t t i n g m a r r i e d i n t h o s e d a y s ? O f c o u r s e t h e r e w a s ,
b u t th i s , t o g e t h e r w i t h s o m e d i s c r e e t r i tua l s , w a s t h e gist o f t h e " w e d -
d i n g . " M o r e o v e r , a r i s t o c r a t i c h u s b a n d s , w h o m i g h t h a v e lesser w i v e s a n d
c o n c u b i n e s as wel l as a p r i n c i p a l wi fe , d id n o t n o r m a l l y live w i t h t h e i r
w i v e s b u t o n l y v i s i ted t h e m . T h e wife i n n o . 54 l ives w i t h h e r p a r e n t s i n
a g r e a t l o r d ' s m a n s i o n , a n d h e r h u s b a n d jus t s p e n d s t h e n i g h t w i t h he r .
T h e e m p e r o r d id no t live w i t h his p r i n c i p a l c o n s o r t e i t he r ( n o . 125) . I n
th is s e n s e , m o r e m o d e s t p e o p l e l ived w h a t s e e m m o r e n o r m a l l ives . T h e
h u s b a n d a n d wife o f n o . 130 o b v i o u s l y live t o g e t h e r ; a n d t h e h u s b a n d o f
n o . 134 is af ra id of his wife in a m a n n e r r e c o g n i z a b l e t h e w o r l d ove r .
O n l y w o m e n u s e d t h e p o r t a b l e c i y t a i n s j u s t d e s c r i b e d , b u t i n fo rmal
c i r c u m s t a n c e s h i g h - r a n k i n g m e n t o o m i g h t s p e a k from b e h i n d b l inds .
T h e g o v e r n o r i n n o . 8 d o e s j u s t t h i s w h e n he finally a d m i t s his v ic t ims to
h i s m a n s i o n . T h e e m p e r o r n o r m a l l y s p o k e o r w a t c h e d from b e h i n d
b l i n d s . B e i n g m a d e o f t h i n b a m b o o o r r u s h s t r ip s , b l inds w e r e m o r e o r
less t r a n s p a r e n t to s o m e o n e in a d i m s p a c e l o o k i n g ou t a t a b r i g h t s cene .
O f t e n r o o m s w e r e s c r e e n e d f rom t h e o u t s i d e o n l y b y b l inds , like t h e
r e s i d e n c e o f t h e D r a g o n K i n g i n n o . 183 .
T h e t e n d e n c y t o a v o i d face- to - face c o n t a c t a l so e n c o u r a g e d c o n v e r s a -
t i o n s c o n d u c t e d no t d i r e c t l y b u t t h r o u g h s e r v a n t s . I t w a s b e n e a t h a lo rd
o r l a d y ' s d i g n i t y to s p e a k d i r e c t l y to a h u m b l e p e r s o n , e v e n t h r o u g h a
c u r t a i n o r b l i nd , a n d a s e r v a n t w o u l d c a r r y m e s s a g e s b a c k a n d forth
i n s t e a d . A p p r o x i m a t e e q u a l s w o u l d l i kewise b e c o m e a c q u a i n t e d t h r o u g h
l e t t e r s a n d m e s s a g e s c a r r i e d b y i n t e r m e d i a r i e s . T h i s w a s poss ib le b e c a u s e
p e o p l e h a d s o m a n y s e r v a n t s .
I t i s difficult for us n o w to i m a g i n e a life so p e o p l e d by s e r v a n t s of all
d e g r e e s . In n o . 133 a m a n g o e s b a c k to see t h e wife he left m a n y y e a r s
a g o . I t s a d d e n s h i m to find t h e h o u s e fall ing to ru in , b u t his wife ' s p l ight
a n d t h e force o f h i s o w n c r u e l t y o n l y s ink i n w h e n h e d i s cove r s t h a t she
h a s b e e n t o o p o o r t o k e e p a s ingle s e r v a n t . E v e n t h e s t a r v i n g y o u n g m a n
o f n o . 172 h a s a s e r v a n t t o o p e n t h e d o o r for h i m . T h e p o o r w o m a n in
n o . 175 , a b a n d o n e d by h e r h u s b a n d , i s r e d u c e d to l iv ing "a sad life in he r
p o o r , d r e a r y h o u s e , a l o n e b u t for a p a i r o f m a i d s . " Bet te r -of f p e o p l e h a d
s e r v a n t s a n d " r e t a i n e r s " o f all so r t s .
A s a r e su l t , a m a n ' s " h o u s e h o l d " w a s m u c h l a r g e r t h a n w h a t w e w o u l d
call h i s " f a m i l y , " a n d w h a t e v e r h a p p e n e d t o h im affec ted th i s l a rge r
g r o u p . T h e fox-gir l o f n o . 8 2 t a k e s t h e r a n d y h e r o h o m e t o a beaut i ful
h o u s e b u s t l i n g w i t h s e r v a n t s w h o w e l c o m e h e r effusively. I n fact, t o
e v o k e a f ine, p r o s p e r o u s r e s i d e n c e , i t w a s no t e n o u g h to p r a i s e t h e size
o r l u x u r y o f t h e b u i l d i n g . T h e p l ace h a d a lso t o b e " b u s t l i n g , " w h i c h
m e a n t t h a t i t h a d lo ts o f s e r v a n t s a n d v i s i to r s . I f i t w a s no t " b u s t l i n g , " i t
l o o k e d fo r lo rn a n d g a v e t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t t h e o c c u p a n t , w h a t e v e r his
o r h e r m e a n s , h a d li t t le real s t a n d i n g i n t h e w o r l d .
W i t h so m a n y s e r v a n t s , p e o p l e w e r e s e l d o m , i f ever , a l one i n o u r sense
o f t h e w o r d . A l a d y l ike t h e o n e in n o . 177 m a y have s lept w i th in h e r
c u r t a i n s , b u t s e v e r a l m a i d s s lept i n t h e s a m e r o o m . S o m e o n e w a s a l w a y s
w i t h i n e a r s h o t , i f n o t w i t h i n s igh t . T h e w r i t e r s o f t he t ime d id no t insist
o n th i s s i nce i t w a s o b v i o u s t o t h e m a n d t h e i r r e a d e r s , a n d s ince i n a n y
c a s e s e r v a n t s d i d n o t rea l ly " c o u n t " i n r e l a t i on t o the i r m a s t e r s ; b u t w e
n e e d t o b e r e m i n d e d . N o o n e o f t h e s l igh tes t s t a n d i n g w e n t a n y w h e r e
e n t i r e l y a l o n e . E v e n t h e w a n d e r e r o f n o . 127 h a s a s e r v a n t w i t h him on
his t r a v e l s , a n d s o d o e s t h e t h r e a d b a r e m o n k o f n o . 155.
J A P A N E
M A G I C . H E A L I N G , A N D R E L I G I O N
O n e t h i n g t h a t m a k e s t h e s e ta les un l ike r e c e n t l y co l lec ted J a p a n e s e folk-
ta les , d e s p i t e t h e c o n t i n u i t y o f m a n y moti fs , i s re l ig ion . M e d i e v a l J a p a n
w a s a s s t e e p e d in re l ig ion a s m e d i e v a l E u r o p e , a n d p e o p l e t h o u g h t i n
re l ig ious t e r m s far m o r e of ten t h a n n o w a d a y s . B u d d h i s m w a s d o m i n a n t ,
b u t o t h e r re l ig ious o r mag ica l t r a d i t i o n s w e r e i m p o r t a n t t o o . N o n e w e r e
m u t u a l l y exc lus ive , a t least no t i n a n y s ense t h a t migh t s o u n d s e r i o u s to
a C h r i s t i a n or a M o s l e m .
T h e mag ic a n d re l ig ion in t h e s e s to r i e s fall in to four ma in c a t e g o r i e s :
y i n - y a n g lore , C h i n e s e y o g a , t h e cu l t s o f t h e na t ive J a p a n e s e g o d s , a n d
B u d d h i s m . T h e first t w o can b e dea l t w i t h fairly q u i c k l y . T h e na t ive
g o d s , h o w e v e r , will r e q u i r e fuller t r e a t m e n t , t o g e t h e r w i t h s u c h p r e o c -
c u p a t i o n s a s sp i r i t p o s s e s s i o n , d r e a m s , hea l ing , a n d t h e fear o f po l lu t i on .
I will s ave B u d d h i s m till last, e v e n t h o u g h I will h a v e to refer to i t often
be fo re t h e n , jus t b e c a u s e B u d d h i s m looms s o l a rge . M a g i c , spir i t p o w e r s ,
hea l ing , e t c . a r e , a f te r all, s ub j ec t s famil iar to us in a g e n e r a l w a y f rom
m a n y c u l t u r e s ; a n d s o i s t h e q u e s t for r igh t c o n d u c t a n d sa lva t ion w h i c h
f inds its e x p r e s s i o n in B u d d h i s m as in o t h e r re l ig ions . But B u d d h i s t ideas ,
t h e n a m e s a n d ro les o f B u d d h i s t d iv in i t ies , a n d the o t h e r t r a p p i n g s o f t h e
B u d d h i s t faith a r e t o o c o m p l e x t o t r e a t consecu t i ve ly unt i l t h e o t h e r ,
lesser t op i c s a r e safely o u t o f t h e w a y .
Y I N - Y A N G L O R E
T h e y i n - y a n g t r a d i t i o n c a m e t o J a p a n from C h i n a . I n t he W e s t , mos t
p e o p l e k n o w n o w t h a t " y i n " m e a n s t h e d a r k , mois t , co ld , pass ive , female
p r inc ip l e o f t he u n i v e r s e , w h i l e " y a n g " m e a n s t h e b r igh t , d r y , ho t , ac t ive ,
ma le p r i n c i p l e . T h i s is no t w r o n g , of c o u r s e , bu t i t r e p r e s e n t s s u c h a h igh
level of p h i l o s o p h i c a l a b s t r a c t i o n tha t i t h a s little to do w i t h y i n - y a n g lore
as i t f igures in t h e s e s to r i e s . Y i n - y a n g k n o w l e d g e , in t r i ca te a n d p rac t i ca l ,
i nvo lved a s t r o l o g y , g e o m a n c y , pur i f i ca t ion , d iv ina t ion , a n d offensive o r
de fens ive m a g i c .
I h a v e ca l led t h e y i n - y a n g m a s t e r s in th is b o o k " d i v i n e r s " b e c a u s e t h e y
a p p e a r mos t c o m m o n l y in t h a t ro le . T h e y w e r e often ca l led in to f a thom
the m e a n i n g o f p u z z l i n g e v e n t s a n d t o p r e s c r i b e a p p r o p r i a t e ac t ion ( n o s .
6 3 , 164) . T h e y co u ld a lso b e a s k e d t o d e t e r m i n e a u s p i c i o u s o r i nausp i -
c ious d a y s a n d to i n t e r p r e t d r e a m s . Pur i f i ca t ion r i tes c o m e up in nos . 162
a n d 179. Bo th t h e g o v e r n m e n t a n d p r i v a t e p a t r o n s c o n s i d e r e d s u c h func-
t ions e s sen t i a l . T h e g o v e r n m e n t ' s t ab l e of o r g a n i z a t i o n i n c l u d e d a B u r e a u
X X X
of D i v i n a t i o n , w h i c h e m p l o y e d t h e t o p m e m b e r s o f t he profess ion like
A b e n o S e i m e i ( n o s . 59 , 60 , a n d . o t h e r s ) a n d K a m o n o T a d a y u k i ( n o s .
162, 1 6 5 ) . A l t h o u g h h e r e d i t a r y in ce r t a in families, t he profess ion r e -
q u i r e d l o n g t r a i n i n g . As a l r e a d y n o t e d , s u c h m e n a lso p l ayed a key role
in t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e official c a l e n d a r .
Y i n - y a n g d i v i n e r s p r a c t i c e d m a g i c a t t h e r e q u e s t o f the i r p a t r o n s . In
n o . 5 9 , for e x a m p l e , Se ime i d e f e n d s a y o u n g g e n t l e m a n aga ins t a h i r ed
d i v i n e r ' s c u r s e . S u c h m a g i c w a s le tha l ( n o . 163) . A c o m m o n c o u n t e r m e a -
s u r e a g a i n s t c u r s e s a n d o t h e r m i s f o r t u n e s , fo reseen b y the d iv ine r t h a n k s
t o h i s a r t , w a s s ec lu s ion . T h e p o t e n t i a l v ic t im h a d t o shu t h imsel f u p
s t r i c t ly a t h o m e , a d m i t t i n g n o o n e a n d t a l k i n g t o n o ou t s i de r . N o . 1 4
d e s c r i b e s t h e p a r t i c u l a r l y h o r r i d w a y a d e m o n b r o k e t h r o u g h a m a n ' s
s ec lu s ion , s e n s i b l y o r d e r e d by a d iv ine r .
C H I N E S E Y O G A
T h e C h i n e s e t r a d i t i o n o f asce t ic se l f -cul t iva t ion e n t e r e d J a p a n ear ly , b u t
w a s t h e n o v e r w h e l m e d by B u d d h i s m . I t i s r e p r e s e n t e d h e r e by a few old
s t o r i e s . T h e a sce t i c ' s goa l w a s t h e e t e rna l o n e o f f reedom from mor ta l i ty
a n d f rom t h e c o n s t r a i n t s o f t h e b o d y . A t r u l y a c c o m p l i s h e d asce t ic cou ld
s h e d h i s g r o s s p h y s i c a l i t y a n d t a k e on a n e w , sp i r i tua l b o d y a s an I m m o r -
t a l ; a n d o n e n ice t h i n g a b o u t b e i n g a n I m m o r t a l w a s t h a t y o u cou ld fly.
O n e a sce t i c w h o t h o u g h t h e c o u l d fly m a d e a b ig mi s t ake ( n o . 9 0 ) , b u t
t h e w i z a r d o f n o . 8 8 m a n a g e d beau t i fu l ly . ( T h i s w i z a r d i s k n o w n t o h a v e
m a s t e r e d C h i n e s e y o g a , b u t i t i s t r u e t h a t he mixed B u d d h i s t eso te r ic
p r a c t i c e s w i t h i t . )
I n t i m e t h e i d e a o f t h e I m m o r t a l c a m e , u n d e r B u d d h i s t in f luence , t o b e
a s s o c i a t e d w i t h c e r t a i n a sce t i c m o n k s w h o w e r e d e v o t e d t o t h e L o t u s
S u t r a ( s ee b e l o w ) .
T H E N A T I V E G O D S
J a p a n h a s a l w a y s b e e n full o f g o d s . T h e r e a r e n o w sh r ine s t o t h e m even
o n t h e roo f s o f d e p a r t m e n t s t o r e s . I n m e d i e v a l t imes peop le of ten t h o u g h t
o f J a p a n a s t h e " l a n d o f t h e g o d s , " t h u s e x p r e s s i n g a na tu r a l love for t he
beau t i fu l J a p a n e s e i s l a n d s a n d t he i r h u m a n c o m m u n i t y .
I n t h e c e n t u r i e s c o v e r e d b y t h e s e s to r i e s t h e r e w e r e c o u n t l e s s cu l t s t o
t h e s e g o d s , a n d s o m e w e r e v e r y s t r o n g . O n t h e w h o l e , t h o u g h , t h e w o r -
s h i p o f t h e n a t i v e J a p a n e s e g o d s d id no t c o n s t i t u t e a c l ea r - cu t re l ig ion.
W e a r e of ten to ld t h a t t h e t w o ma in re l ig ions o f J a p a n a r e B u d d h i s m
a n d S h i n t o , a n d t h a t S h i n t o ( " t h e W a y o f t he G o d s " ) i s t he "na t i ve
re l ig ion o f J a p a n . " B u t S h i n t o h a s on ly ex i s t ed as a se l f -consc ious rel i -
g i o n s ince t h e la te n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y , w h e n i t d e v e l o p e d in r e s p o n s e to
a m o v e m e n t o f pol i t ica l a n d re l ig ious i dea s w h i c h i s fore ign to t h e w o r l d
of t h e s e tale's. T h e ea r l i e r cu l t s o f local , r eg iona l , o r e v e n n a t i o n a l signif-
i cance c e l e b r a t e d a g r e a t v a r i e t y of d iv ine p r e s e n c e s in s y m b i o s i s w i t h
B u d d h i s m .
P h i l o s o p h i c a l l y a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n a l l y , B u d d h i s m w a s far m o r e h i g h l y
d e v e l o p e d . A h a n d f u l o f i m p o r t a n t s h r i n e s t r i ed w i t h l imi ted s u c c e s s to
k e e p B u d d h i s m a t a r m ' s l e n g t h , b u t m o s t w e r e a s m u c h d o m i n a t e d b y
t he i r a s s o c i a t e d B u d d h i s t t e m p l e s a s t h e e m p e r o r w a s b y t h e F u j i w a r a
r e g e n t . N o t t h a t th i s d o m i n a t i o n i nvo lved force . M a n y l e g e n d s tell h o w
t h e n a t i v e g o d s a c c e p t e d B u d d h i s m g lad ly , l i s t ened e a g e r l y t o its t e a c h -
ing, a n d s o m e t i m e s e v e n c l a i m e d B u d d h i s t - s o u n d i n g t i t les .
All th i s h e l p s t o e x p l a i n w h y t h e s to r i e s ta lk m o r e a b o u t B u d d h i s t
d iv in i t i e s t h a n a b o u t t h e n a t i v e g o d s . A l t h o u g h the c o u r t h o n o r e d t h e
g o d s , i t w a s so s t e e p e d in B u d d h i s m t h a t i t d id no t t h i n k d e e p l y a b o u t
t h e m . T h e K a s u g a G o d , t h e c l an g o d o f t h e F u j i w a r a , u p h e l d B u d d h i s m
w i t h a f fec t ing c o n v i c t i o n ( n o . 3 1 ) . I n fact, his s h r i n e w a s t h o r o u g h l y
d o m i n a t e d b y Kofukuj i ( n o . 4 5 a n d o t h e r s ) , t h e o ldes t a n c e s t r a l t e m p l e
o f t h e s a m e F u j i w a r a c l an . T h e G o d o f F i re a n d T h u n d e r ( n o . 101) i s
v e r y d i f fe ren t , b u t h e still ins is ts t h a t B u d d h i s m m o v e s h im d e e p l y a n d
h a s s o far d e t e r r e d h im f rom d e s t r o y i n g J a p a n c o m p l e t e l y .
T h e K a s u g a G o d a n d t h e G o d o f F i r e a n d T h u n d e r w e r e ma jo r d iv in -
it ies. So w a s t h e d iv ine p r e s e n c e a t K u m a n o , a g r e a t p i l g r image c e n t e r
w h o s e n a m e a l o n e a p p e a r s i n t h e s e s to r i e s . O t h e r s w e r e m o r e r e m o t e .
N o . 3 0 s h o w s h o w g e n t l e m a n l y a p rov inc i a l g o d cou l d be , b u t t h e m o u n -
ta in g o d s K 6 y a a n d Nifu , e a g e r t o h e l p f o u n d a g r e a t B u d d h i s t t e m p l e ,
a r e i m p r e s s i v e l y r u g g e d ( n o . 2 6 ) . T h e w a r b e t w e e n the m o u n t a i n g o d
a n d t h e w i z a r d ( n o . 8 8 ) i s o n e o f J a p a n ' s m o s t f a m o u s l e g e n d s . N o s . 7 7
a n d 188, w i t h t h e i r l e g e n d s o f h u m a n sacrif ices offered t o m o n k e y g o d s ,
c o n j u r e u p a w o r l d t h a t m u s t h a v e s e e m e d a l m o s t a s s t r a n g e t o t h e
or ig ina l r e a d e r s o f t h e s e s to r i e s as i t d o e s to u s .
S o m e g o d s h a d a n i m a l f o r m s . I n a d d i t i o n t o m o n k e y s , t h e s e s to r i e s
i nc lude a d o g ( n o . 2 9 ) a n d a s n a k e a n d c e n t i p e d e ( n o . 187) . A n i m a l s
cou ld a l so b e d iv ine m e s s e n g e r s : t h e d e e r for t h e K a s u g a G o d ; t h e m o n -
k e y for t h e H i e G o d ( n o . 4 1 ) . T h e fox i s a s soc ia t ed w i t h Ina r i , a g o d o f
p l e n t y , a n d t h a t i s p r o b a b l y h o w t h e fox ge t s in to t h e r i te t h a t s t a r t s n o .
4 7 . L a t e r in t h e s a m e s to ry , t h e fox i tself i s a g o d . ( F o x sp i r i t s , w h o
o c c u p y a l o w e r level t h a n g o d s , a r e d i s c u s s e d b e l o w . )
H u m b l e s t o f all, p e r h a p s , w e r e t h e r o a d g o d s ( n o s . 159, 178) . T h e i r
d i r e c t d e s c e n d a n t s c a n still be seen a l o n g t h e r o a d s i n s o m e p a r t s o f
J a p a n . N o w a s t h e n , m o s t r o a d g o d s " h a v e a m a n p a r t a n d a w o m a n
p a r t , " a s n o . 159 p u t s it. T h e r o a d g o d i n b o t h s to r i e s a p p e a r s a s a n old
m a n , t h e s ing le m o s t l ikely fo rm for a na t i ve g o d to t a k e w h e n a p p e a r i n g
to a h u m a n .
All t h e g o d s t h r i v e d o n h u m a n a t t e n t i o n a n d i n fact r e q u i r e d it. N a t u -
r a l ly t h e y r e c e i v e d of fer ings o f food a n d d r i n k , a s wel l a s r i tes a n d festival
o b s e r v a n c e s . B u t i n t h e s e s t o r i e s t h e g o d s espec ia l ly enjoy mus i c a n d
d a n c e . T h e d i v i n e a p p l a u s e d e s c r i b e d i n n o . 4 8 w a s o n e a c c e p t e d sign o f
a g o d ' s p l e a s u r e . T h e G o d o f G o o d F o r t u n e ' s lust for mus i c ( n o . 4 7 )
s e e m s d e m e n t e d ; b u t t h e K a s u g a G o d n ice ly d i s p o s e s o f t h e idea t h a t
m u s i c h a s n o t h i n g , o r n o t h i n g i m p o r t a n t , t o d o w i t h g e n u i n e re l ig ion ( n o .
4 5 ) .
C O M M U N I C A T I N G W I T H T H E G O D S
N o t o n l y d i d h u m a n b e i n g s a d d r e s s t h e g o d s , b u t t h e g o d s s p o k e t o
h u m a n s . S h a m a n i s t i c p o s s e s s i o n i s n o w b a n i s h e d from t h e re l ig ion t h a t
ident i f ies i tself a s S h i n t o , b u t in t h e w o r l d o f t h e s e s to r i e s i t w a s q u i t e
n o r m a l . S o w a s a k e e n i n t e r e s t i n d iv ine ly i n s p i r e d d r e a m s .
A g o d m i g h t d e l i v e r an o r a c l e t h r o u g h a h u m a n m e d i u m . H i t o k o t o n u -
sh i , t h e n a m e o f t h e g o d w h o o p p o s e s t h e w i z a r d i n n o . 8 8 , m e a n s
" M a s t e r o f t h e S ing l e W o r d " a n d s u g g e s t s t h e p r a c t i c e o f g i v i n g o n e -
w o r d o r a c l e s , y e s o r n o . I n t h e s t o ry , t h o u g h , H i t o k o t o n u s h i a c c u s e s t h e
w i z a r d a t l e n g t h t h r o u g h o n e o f t h e e m p e r o r ' s o w n a t t e n d a n t s . T h i s sor t
of s p o n t a n e o u s p o s s e s s i o n of a h o u s e h o l d m e m b e r by a god o c c u r s in no .
3 1 , a n d a l so i n n o . 163 w h e r e a m a n d i s c o v e r s , t h a n k s t o " a n o rac le
d e l i v e r e d i n h i s o w n h o m e , " t h a t a n e n e m y i s p l o t t i n g t o kill h i m . H o w -
e v e r , t h e r e w e r e p l e n t y o f p ro fe s s iona l m e d i u m s , t oo . S o m e w o r k e d i n
h e a l i n g , a s e x p l a i n e d b e l o w u n d e r t h a t t o p i c . O t h e r s b e l o n g e d t o t h e
staffs o f m a j o r s h r i n e s l ike t h o s e o f K a s u g a o r H i e . I n no . 4 1 a H i e S h r i n e
m e d i u m i s s een d e l i v e r i n g o r a c l e s to a c r o w d of p i lg r ims .
S h r i n e m e d i u m s w e r e w o m e n , a s w e r e m o s t o t h e r p rofess iona l o r s p o n -
t a n e o u s m e d i u m s . Y o u n g b o y s s o m e t i m e s g a v e o rac le s , t h o u g h n o n e d o
i n t h i s b o o k . O f s h a m a n i c m e n , m o s t s e e m t o h a v e been m o n k s l ike t h e
o n e w h o h a s t h e g r e a t v i s ion i n n o . 1 0 1 , o r l ike t h e m o n k d e s c r i b e d i n
n o . 8 8 a s " t h e vesse l o f t h e G o d o f H a k u s a n . " M a n y m o n k s w e r e invo lved
w i t h sp i r i t p o s s e s s i o n as h e a l e r s , of ten a c t i n g in p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h a
w o m a n m e d i u m .
A n a b s o r b i n g o r o u t s t a n d i n g l y a p t o r ac l e w a s u n c o m m o n . W h a t p e o p l e
s o u g h t i n s t e a d , a t b o t h s h r i n e s a n d B u d d h i s t t e m p l e s , w a s d r e a m s . T h e
Buddhist divinities did not possess mediums, but they and the gods could speak or otherwise signify their will in dreams.
The common procedure was to do a seven-day retreat at a temple or shrine, in the hope of getting a sign from the divinity in the form of a dream. If none came, you could do a second seven-day period or even a third. The dream seems always to come just before the last dawn of the retreat (no. 45). In no. 174, ayoung man prays at a temple for relief from poverty, and by acting on his dream message he becomes rich.
A medieval Japanese story may not identify a communication from a god or a Buddhist divinity as a dream, but may describe it instead as though it were a normal, waking event. (In most such instances the circumstances still make it clear that the communication is a dream, and sometimes another version of the story may say so plainly.) This suggests that dream experience and waking experience were not always sharply distinguished from each other, and that dream experience could be ac- cepted as perfectly authentic. Some sacred dreams, although unsought, carried great weight. In a fascinating example (no. 197), a monk dreams that a certain temple has a black ox and that this ox is actually a buddha. The dream starts a mass pilgrimage (it really happened) to worship the Buddha-Ox.
Besides sacred dreams, these tales contain other kinds of dreams which show how fascinating people found the theme. Examples are the comple- mentary dreams dreamed simultaneously by both members of a couple (nos. 130, 134), and the extraordinary Buddhist morality dream of no. 198.
H E A L I N G
The literature of the time rarely acknowledges that the Japanese had acquired from China (as well as undoubtedly developed also on their own) knowledge ol medicine and drugs. The physician who appears briefly in no. 125 must have known about such things, but his treatment is not even mentioned. Instead, the emphasis is on spiritual rather than physical processes, and especially on exorcism.
Several stories contain a passage like this one (no. 72): "Then Emperor Daigo happened to become very ill. All sorts of prayers and rites tried on his behalf brought him no relief. Finally an official remembered the holy man of Mount Shigi . . ." The first thing to do, apparently, was to bring in one or more Buddhist monks (depending on the patient's means) to perform rites and chant sacred texts. A rite alone could work, for a healer once cleansed an entire province of an epidemic with his masterful per-
f o r m a n c e o f a n e l a b o r a t e r i tua l ( n o . 127) . U s u a l l y c h a n t i n g w a s essent ia l
t o o . W h e n t h e c h a n c e l l o r w a s ill ( n o . 7 1 ) , "all t h e b e s t - k n o w n m o n k s
c r o w d e d i n t o his m a n s i o n , w h i c h r a n g w i t h t h e d in o f the i r c h a n t i n g . "
In m o s t c a se s , sp i r i t s a r e i n v o l v e d on b o t h s ides o f t h e s t rugg le b e t w e e n
t h e h e a l e r a n d t h e s i c k n e s s . In n o . 70 a B u d d h i s t d iv in i ty , i n v o k e d by
c h a n t i n g m o n k s , d r i v e s a w a y a h o r d e o f n a s t y sp i r i t - ch i ld ren . M o r e
of ten , t h o u g h , t h e h e a l i n g sp i r i t i s n o t a s t a n d a r d d iv in i ty bu t a p r o t e c t o r
sp i r i t p e r s o n a l l y l i n k e d to t h e h e a l e r . A f a m o u s e x a m p l e i s t he S w o r d
G u a r d i a n ( n o . 7 2 ) , a sp i r i t c o n t r o l l e d by t h e ho ly m a n o f M o u n t Shig i .
A s for t h e evil sp i r i t s w h o c a u s e s i c k n e s s , t he i r n a t u r e a n d mot iva t ion
a r e u s u a l l y s h a d o w y . A l t h o u g h o n e s t o r y ( n o . 7 4 ) f ea tu re s a r e m a r k a b l e
a c c o u n t o f a h e a l i n g sess ion from t h e aff l ict ing sp i r i t ' s s t a n d p o i n t , we
l e a r n n o t h i n g a b o u t w h y t h e p a t i e n t s h o u l d h a v e b e e n s ingled ou t for
t o r m e n t . T h e aff l ic t ing spir i t h a s on ly b e e n d r a g o o n e d in to serv ice by a
m i n o r g o d , a n d t h e m i n o r g o d i s a p p a r e n t l y a c t i n g on behalf o f a b igge r
g o d w h o s e r e a s o n s a r e u n f a t h o m a b l e . I n t h e s e s to r ies , t h e on ly k ind o f
aff l ic t ing sp i r i t w i t h a re la t ive ly c l ea r iden t i ty is a fox.
F o x sp i r i t s still m a k e p e o p l e ill i n J a p a n . T h e r e a s o n s w h y t h e y possess
p e o p l e m a y b e h a r d t o m a k e ou t , especia l ly w h e n y o u d o u b t ( a s a m o d e r n
r e a d e r o r o b s e r v e r c a n h a r d l y h e l p d o i n g ) t h a t foxes real ly a r e a u t o n o -
m o u s en t i t i e s , e x t e r n a l t o t h e p o s s e s s e d p e r s o n , w h o jus t m o v e i n w h e n
t h e y feel l ike it. In t h e s e t a les , t w o m o t i v e s a r e g iven . T h e first i s e x c e p -
t i o n a l : a m a n s e n d s a fox to d e l i v e r a m e s s a g e to his h o u s e h o l d , a n d the
fox o b e y s b y p o s s e s s i n g t h e m a n ' s wife a n d s p e a k i n g t h r o u g h h e r m o u t h
( n o . 8 3 ) . T h e s e c o n d i s m o r e c o m m o n : t h e fox exp la ins t h a t i t h a s p o s -
s e s s e d t h e p a t i e n t o n l y b e c a u s e i t h o p e s to be g iven some food ( n o s . 124,
2 0 6 ) .
T h e s e last t w o s to r i e s s h o w c lea r ly h o w a m o n k a n d a w o m a n m e d i u m
w o r k e d t o g e t h e r . A s t h e m o n k c h a n t e d s a c r e d t ex t s a n d spel ls , t h e m e -
d i u m w e n t i n to a t r a n c e . M e a n w h i l e t h e p r o t e c t o r spir i t o r sp i r i t s w h o
s e r v e d t h e m o n k w o u l d force t h e affl ict ing p o w e r t o m o v e in to t h e m e -
d i u m , w h e r e t h e m o n k c o u l d q u e s t i o n it. Af te r a s k i n g w h a t i t w a s a n d
w h y i t w a s t h e r e , he m i g h t go on to sco ld i t for its mischief. F ina l ly he
w o u l d s e n d i t a w a y a n d t h e m e d i u m w o u l d r e g a i n c o n s c i o u s n e s s .
A F T E R D E A T H
I f h e a l i n g fails, t h e p a t i e n t m a y d ie . T h e r e a r e severa l d e a t h s a n d c o r p s e s
in t h e s e s t o r i e s , a l t h o u g h no b i r t h s . A c o r p s e m a y po l lu te the p lace w h e r e
i t lies a n d t h e p e o p l e w h o c o m e in to c o n t a c t w i t h it, a n d the spir i t o f t he
d e c e a s e d m a y a p p e a r a s a g h o s t .
J A P A N E
P r o p e r t r e a t m e n t o f t h e d e a d h a s a l w a y s b e e n vital i n J a p a n e s e reli-
g i o n . F i r s t , t h e b o d y h a d t o be p r o p e r l y d i s p o s e d of. ( N o . 133 e v o k e s
h o r r i b l y t h e fate o f a n u n t e n d e d c o r p s e . ) T h i s c o u l d b e d o n e b y c r e m a t i o n
o r b y d i s p o s i n g i n o n e w a y o r a n o t h e r o f t h e w h o l e b o d y . T o r i b e n o , t h e
C a p i t a l ' s ma jo r b u r n i n g g r o u n d , a p p e a r s i n severa l s to r i e s ( n o s . 15, 131) .
In o t h e r i n s t a n c e s t h e c o r p s e w a s c a r r i e d to a c h a r n e l g r o u n d , o l t e n a
r a v i n e n e a r t h e foot o f t h e m o u n t a i n s w h e r e i t m i g h t b e a b a n d o n e d , o r a t
be s t b u r i e d in a s h a l l o w g r a v e . In t w o s to r i e s ( n o s . 27 , 4 6 ) t h e b o d y i s
h u n g in a t r e e . I t c o u l d a l so be left in a c a v e ( t h e s a v i n g spi r i t in n o . 148
s p e a k s f rom s u c h a c a v e ) o r e v e n on the t o p f loor o f a c i ty g a t e ( n o . 6 5 ) .
F o r t h e l iving, t h e s e s p o t s b e l o n g e d t o a n o t h e r , a l ien w o r l d o f w h i c h t h e
hel l i sh , v o l c a n i c l a n d s c a p e o f T a t e y a m a ( n o s . 147, 2 1 6 ) i s an e x t r e m e
e x a m p l e .
P r o p e r c a r e o f t h e sp i r i t t o o k m o r e d e v o t i o n t h a n d i sposa l o f t h e b o d y .
B u d d h i s t r i tes h a d to be p e r f o r m e d da i ly for t h e first s even d a y s af ter
d e a t h ( n o . 2 1 6 ) , t h e n e v e r y s e v e n t h d a y t h e r e a f t e r unt i l t h e l o r t y - n i n t h
d a y . T h e s c h e d u l e o f o b s e r v a n c e s t h i n n e d ou t af ter t ha t , b u t i t r a n on
a n o t h e r y e a r o r t w o for t h e i nd iv idua l spi r i t . W h e n i t w a s over , t h e sp i r i t
j o i n e d a fami ly ' s co l lec t ive a n c e s t o r s , w h o w e r e h o n o r e d jo in t ly .
W i t h o u t t h i s c a r e sp i r i t s w e r e m i s e r a b l e , a n d cou l d eas i ly l inger o n a s
ha rmfu l o r u n h a p p y g h o s t s . I n a n y case , p e o p l e w h o d i ed v io len t ly o r i n
a c u t e d i s t r e s s w e r e l ikely t o b e c o m e g h o s t s ( n o . 133) . I n e x t r e m e cases ,
a n u n h a p p y g h o s t c o u l d b e c o m e a h a r m f u l g o d ( n o . 2 8 ) . T h e G o d o f F i r e
a n d T h u n d e r ( n o s . 101 , 103) , a m o d e l o f th i s k i n d , w a s o r ig ina l ly
t h e s t a t e s m a n S u g a w a r a n o M i c h i z a n e . M i c h i z a n e d ied h e a r t b r o k e n , i n
un jus t ex i le . W h e n his g h o s t s t a r t e d c a u s i n g d i s a s t e r s , h e w a s first pos t -
h u m o u s l y p r o m o t e d in r a n k , t h e n a ma jo r s h r i n e to h im w a s bu i l t in
K y o t o a n d h i s w o r s h i p d e v e l o p e d in to a w i d e s p r e a d cul t .
D e a t h w a s a difficult i ssue for m o s t na t ive g o d s , w h o a b h o r r e d a n y
t a in t o f b l o o d , s i c k n e s s , o r d e a t h . N o d o u b t t h e p e o p l e o f p r e - B u d d h i s t
J a p a n f o u n d w a y s t o dea l w i t h th i s p r o b l e m . B u d d h i s m s e e m s t o h a v e
me t a n e e d , h o w e v e r , s ince so m u c h o f its t e a c h i n g w a s c o n c e r n e d w i t h
t he fate of t h e sou l a f te r d e a t h , a n d s ince in p r i nc ip l e its d iv in i t i es felt no
s u c h r e v u l s i o n . In fact, t h e c a r e o f t h e d e a d b e c a m e in t i m e t h e f u n d a -
m e n t a l t a s k o f B u d d h i s m i n J a p a n e s e soc ie ty . B u d d h i s t m o n k s c o n d u c t e d
m o r t u a r y r i t es , B u d d h i s t a sce t i c s p r a c t i c e d i n t h e m o u n t a i n s w h i c h w e r e
t h e " o t h e r w o r l d " o f t h e a n c e s t r a l sp i r i t s , a n d B u d d h i s t t e m p l e s g r e w u p
i n a s s o c i a t i o n w i t h t h e p l a c e s w h e r e t h e d e a d w e r e d i s p o s e d o h I n n o . 4 6
a w o o d c u t t e r h e a r s g r o a n s f rom a coffin h a n g i n g in a t r e e a n d g o e s to
w a r n " t h e p r i e s t s o f t he t e m p l e n e a r b y . " T h e t e m p l e m a y h a v e h a d th i s
s o r t o f c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e p l a c e .
X X X V 1
T h e n a t i v e g o d s ' a t t i t u d e t o w a r d d e a t h i s beaut i fu l ly i l lus t ra ted i n n o .
4 1 . A m o n k i s m a k i n g da i ly p i l g r i m a g e s from K y o t o to t he H i e S h r i n e ,
o v e r a l o w m o u n t a i n p a s s t o t h e eas t o f t h e ci ty. O n his w a y h o m e o n e
d a y h e f i n d s a y o u n g w o m a n w e e p i n g b e c a u s e s h e c a n n o t d i spose o f t h e
c o r p s e o f h e r m o t h e r w h o h a s j u s t d i ed . T h e v i l l agers will no t he lp h e r
b e c a u s e t h e y a r e b u s y w i t h p r e p a r a t i o n s for a festival in h o n o r o f t he i r
local g o d ; i f t h e y t o u c h t h e c o r p s e , t h e g o d will b e a n g r y a n d mi s fo r tune
wil l s t r i k e t h e w h o l e v i l l age . T h e m o n k g e n e r o u s l y he lp s c a r r y t he b o d y
a w a y . N o w , h o w e v e r , he i s p o l l u t e d h imse l f a n d m u s t e i the r b r e a k off h is
p i l g r i m a g e s o r r i sk t h e H i e G o d ' s w r a t h . T h o u g h afraid, h e d e c i d e s t h e
n e x t m o r n i n g t o m a k e his p i l g r i m a g e a s u s u a l . O n a r r iva l h e k e e p s wel l
a w a y f rom t h e s a n c t u a r y b u i l d i n g . W h e n t h e g o d n o n e t h e l e s s o r d e r s h im
( t h r o u g h a m e d i u m ) to a p p r o a c h , he i s so te r r i f ied t h a t he a lmos t fa ints .
T h i s fear o f p o l l u t i o n w a s so d e e p l y i n g r a i n e d i n t h e J a p a n e s e t h a t i t
i n f l u e n c e d t h e B u d d h i s t e s t a b l i s h m e n t s t h e m s e l v e s , e v e n t h o u g h i t h a d
no c a n o n i c a l ba s i s i n B u d d h i s t t e a c h i n g . W h e n th i eves m a n a g e to r o b a
t e m p l e o f i ts b i g b r o n z e bell ( n o . 143) , t he k e y to t he i r succes s i s t he i r
c e r t a i n t y t h a t t h e m o n k s o f t h e t e m p l e will no t go n e a r a d e a d b o d y .
L i k e w i s e , t h e t e m p l e m o n k s in n o . 174 a r e afraid t h a t t h e h e r o o f t he
s t o r y wil l d ie o f s t a r v a t i o n r igh t be fo re t he i r a l t a r a n d in so d o i n g po l lu te
t h e t e m p l e . T h i s fear w a s no t conf ined to s h r i n e s a n d t e m p l e s , for a
c o u r t i e r p o l l u t e d b y d i r e c t c o n t a c t w i t h d e a t h cou ld no t a p p e a r a t c o u r t ,
a s n o . 132 s u g g e s t s .
B U D D H I S M
B u d d h i s m b e g a n i n I n d i a a b o u t 5 0 0 B . C . , a n d f i r s t c a m e officially t o the
J a p a n e s e c o u r t ' s a t t e n t i o n in t h e m i d - s i x t h c e n t u r y A . D . I n b e t w e e n i t
h a d p e r m e a t e d S o u t h e a s t As ia , C e n t r a l As ia , C h i n a , a n d Korea , a n d g o n e
t h r o u g h a t h o u s a n d y e a r s of e v o l u t i o n . In t ime i t all bu t v a n i s h e d from
I n d i a a n d f aded i n C h i n a . D u r i n g t h e t h i r t e e n t h c e n t u r y , ce r t a in J a p a -
n e s e B u d d h i s t s e v e n b e g a n c l a i m i n g t h a t t h e c e n t e r o f B u d d h i s m w a s
n o w J a p a n .
So o ld , c o m p l e x , a n d s o p h i s t i c a t e d a re l ig ion i s h a r d to s u m m a r i z e ,
e v e n for t h e l imi ted p u r p o s e of i n t r o d u c i n g t h e s e s tor ies . P e r h a p s i t i s
b e s t t o b e g i n w i t h s o m e bas ic t e r m s .
T h i s b o o k i s full o f B u d d h i s t " m o n k s , ' ' w i t h a few " p r i e s t s " s ca t t e r ed
h e r e a n d t h e r e . S o m e w e r e sa in t ly , s o m e fr ivolous , some w o r l d l y a n d
r i ch . T h e r e l i g ious o r q u a s i - r e l i g i o u s p o p u l a t i o n w a s la rge , a s i n medieva l
E u r o p e , a n d m a n y m o n k s w h o a p p e a r i n t h e s e s to r i e s w e r e sons o f g r e a t
fami l ies . S u b c l a s s e s o f v a r y i n g s t a n d i n g a n d o u t l o o k m a d e up the reli-
g i o u s p o p u l a t i o n , b u t I h a v e no t t r i ed to d i s t i n g u i s h t h e m in t r a n s l a t i o n .
I n s t e a d , I h a v e ca l led e v e r y o n e a m o n k un les s he is o b v i o u s l y m i n i s t e r i n g
to t h e la i ty; t h e n I h a v e ca l led h im a p r ies t . I h a v e left o u t all ecc les ias t ica l
t i t les .
M o n k s h a d b o y s o f v a r y i n g a g e s ( a c o l y t e s ) t o s e r v e t h e m , a n d of ten
d i sc ip les s t u d y i n g u n d e r t h e m . I n t he i r a l l -male socie ty , t h e r e n a t u r a l l y
o c c u r r e d c e r t a i n t h i n g s t h a t a r e m a d e q u i t e expl ic i t i n nos . 154 a n d 155.
M o n k s w e r e a t t a c h e d m o r e o r less c losely t o re l ig ious e s t a b l i s h m e n t s
c o n v e n t i o n a l l y ca l led " t e m p l e s " i n Eng l i sh , a l t h o u g h in m a n y ca s e s t h e
w o r d " m o n a s t e r y " m i g h t do as we l l . ( I t i s a l so s imp ly a useful c o n v e n t i o n
t o call t h e na t i ve g o d s ' ho ly p l ace s " s h r i n e s . " ) T y p i c a l t e m p l e n a m e s a r e
Toda i j i , Kofukuj i , a n d Tenno j i , w h e r e t h e e l e m e n t -ji m e a n s " t e m p l e . "
A n o t h e r p r o n u n c i a t i o n of t h e s a m e -ji e l e m e n t is -dera, w h i c h o c c u r s in
s u c h t e m p l e n a m e s a s S h i g a d e r a , K o y a d e r a , a n d M i d e r a . T w o o t h e r
e n d i n g s t h a t for o u r p u r p o s e s a lso m e a n " t e m p l e " a r e -in ( U r i n ' i n ) a n d
-do ( R o k k a k u d o ) . N o s . 22 t h r o u g h 26 a r e a t i ny s a m p l i n g o f J a p a n ' s
m a n y t e m p l e or ig in l e g e n d s .
I m p o r t a n t t e m p l e s w e r e l a rge a n d c o m p l e x c o m m u n i t i e s . Kofukuj i a n d
Toda i j i i n N a r a , M o u n t Hie i n e a r K y o t o , a n d the M o u n t K o y a o f n o . 2 6
e a c h h a d a to ta l p o p u l a t i o n o f m a n y t h o u s a n d s , a n d cons i s t ed o f c o u n t l e s s
b u i l d i n g s g r e a t a n d sma l l . T h e y a lso h a d vas t , w i d e l y s c a t t e r e d e s t a t e s
w h i c h s u p p o r t e d t h e i r ac t iv i t i es . T h e mos t p r o m i n e n t t e m p l e c o m p l e x i n
t h e s e s t o r i e s i s M o u n t H i e i . M o u n t Hie i i s first of all a m o u n t a i n a b o u t
3 ,000 feet h i g h t h a t r i ses n e a r t h e n o r t h w e s t c o r n e r o f K y o t o . T h e t e m p l e
c o m p l e x t h a t g r e w u p t h e r e a f te r a b o u t A . D . 8 0 0 c a m e t o wie ld e n o r m o u s
re l ig ious , pol i t ica l , a n d e v e n mi l i t a ry p o w e r . S i n c e its d o i n g s w e r e o f
spec ia l i n t e r e s t t o t h e n o b l e s , a l m o s t all o f w h o m h a d re la t ives on t h e
m o u n t a i n , t h e r e w a s a lot o f traffic, ma te r i a l a n d in te l lec tual , b e t w e e n
K y o t o a n d M o u n t H ie i .
B u d d h i s t s c r i p t u r e s a r e ca l led s u t r a s . T h e o n e m o s t c o m m o n l y m e n -
t i o n e d h e r e i s t h e L o t u s S u t r a , b u t t h e H e a r t S u t r a ( n o s . 74, 182) , t h e
S u t r a o f G o l d e n L igh t ( n o . 149) , t h e D i a m o n d W i s d o m S u t r a ( n o . 151) ,
a n d o t h e r s a l so a p p e a r . " S u t r a , " a S a n s k r i t w o r d , m e a n s a t ex t a c c e p t e d
b y the t r a d i t i o n a s h a v i n g b e e n s p o k e n b y the B u d d h a . T h e J a p a n e s e
u s e d C h i n e s e t r a n s l a t i o n s .
S h a k y a m u n i , t h e h i s to r ica l B u d d h a , w a s cal led S h a k a i n J a p a n . S h a k a
w a s a m a n a n d t a u g h t as a m a n , w i t h o u t c l a iming to be a g o d or to s h a r e
i n a n y d i v i n e n a t u r e . H i s a im w a s s i m p l y t o t each the w a y t h i n g s a r e .
O n e w h o u n d e r s t o o d his m e s s a g e w o u l d b e free from b o n d a g e t o t h e
c o m p l e x s e d u c t i o n s o f t h e p h y s i c a l a n d men ta l r ea lms , c h a r a c t e r i z e d
a b o v e all b y t h e r o u n d o f b i r t h a n d d e a t h . T h i s t h e m e r e m a i n e d vi tal
t h r o u g h o u t B u d d h i s t h i s t o ry , a n d t h e J a p a n e s e m o n k s fol lowed t h r o u g h
o n i t a s t h o r o u g h l y a s a n y o n e . A l t h o u g h t h e B u d d h i s t c o s m o s b e c a m e
filled w i t h d i v i n e b e i n g s , B u d d h i s t p h i l o s o p h y c o n t i n u e d t o hold t h a t
t h e s e d iv in i t i e s h a d n o u l t i m a t e ex i s t ence , b u t on ly p o i n t e d to , o r a c t e d
f rom, a r ea l i t y b e y o n d n a m e o r d e s c r i p t i o n : t h e w a y s t h i n g s real ly a r e .
S i n c e " t h e w a y t h i n g s rea l ly a r e " o b v i o u s l y d o e s no t e x c l u d e t h e r o u n d
o f b i r t h a n d d e a t h ( w e a r e all b o r n a n d w e all d i e ) , med ieva l J a p a n e s e
B u d d h i s m t a u g h t r o u t i n e l y t h a t e n l i g h t e n m e n t a n d t h e w o r l d w h i c h en -
s l aves u s a r e n o t d i f fe ren t f rom e a c h o t h e r . I t w o u l d be foolish even to
t r y e x p l a i n i n g th i s p a r a d o x fu r the r , b u t I m e n t i o n i t b e c a u s e i t u n d e r l i e s
n o . 3 8 , t h e s t o r y of a sa in t a n d a p r o s t i t u t e . I t d e m o n s t r a t e s tha t to t he
e n l i g h t e n e d e y e ( t h e s a in t ' s ) , all t h i n g s , e v e n t h e i n c a r n a t i o n o f base ,
e n s l a v i n g d e s i r e ( t h e p r o s t i t u t e ) , s p e a k o f t he i r t r u e n a t u r e , w h i c h i s
f r e e d o m a n d e n l i g h t e n m e n t .
T h e effort t o rea l ize or , be t t e r , t o e m b o d y th i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g h a d
p r o f o u n d c o n s e q u e n c e s i n B u d d h i s t t h o u g h t a n d p r a c t i c e . O n e a p p r o a c h
h e l d t h a t t h e p a t h t o w a r d f ree ing onse l f f rom s l a v e r y ( t h a t is, t o w a r d
o p e n i n g t h e e y e o f e n l i g h t e n m e n t ) w e n t t h r o u g h close e m b r a c e w i t h th is
a p p a r e n t l y e n s l a v i n g w o r l d . S i n c e t h e de ta i l ed B u d d h i s t c o d e o f c o n d u c t
for m o n k s i s d e s i g n e d p r e c i s e l y t o d i s c o u r a g e a n y t h i n g o f t h e k i n d , t h o s e
w h o t o o k t h i s a p p r o a c h w e r e l ikely t o b r e a k v a r i o u s ru l e s . T r a c e s o f a
l ine o f a d e p t s w h o d o s e e m t o h a v e l ived b e y o n d t h e ru les m a y b e seen i n
n o s . 182 a n d 2 1 1 , a n d p e r h a p s i n n o . 2 1 2 . All t h r e e m o n k s w e r e from the
s a m e t e m p l e i n N a r a , a n d a t least t h e first t w o w e r e from t h e s a m e
l i n e a g e ; t h e v i s i o n a r y o f n o . 101 m a y h a v e b e e n c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e m .
M e a n w h i l e , t h e m o n k ' s life to ld in n o . 2 1 3 i s a g a r l a n d of t r i u m p h a n t
a f f ron t s t o r e s p e c t a b i l i t y .
A r e l a t e d a p p r o a c h a v o i d e d r u l e - b r e a k i n g , u p h o l d i n g ins tead o r t h o d o x
c o n d u c t t o a c h i e v e t h e s a m e e n l i g h t e n e d e m b r a c e o f t he w o r l d o f b i r t h
a n d d e a t h . T h i s w a s t h e t r a d i t i o n f o u n d e d i n J a p a n b y K o b o D a i s h i , w h o
i s still a p o w e r f u l p r e s e n c e in J a p a n e s e B u d d h i s m . K o b o D a i s h i t a u g h t
t h a t all o b j e c t s o f s ense a n d t h o u g h t a r e t h e " p r e a c h i n g " o f t h e C o s m i c
B u d d h a , a n d s t r e s s e d for e v e r y o n e t h e poss ib i l i ty of e n l i g h t e n m e n t in this
body. H i s o w n l e g e n d n a t u r a l l y exempl i f ies th i s a c h i e v e m e n t , for he d id
n o t d i e ( n o . 2 6 ) . I n s t e a d , h e e n t e r e d e t e r n a l m e d i t a t i o n o n his m o u n t a i n .
K o b o D a i s h i a n d t h e o t h e r s all p r a c t i c e d o n e v a r i e t y o r a n o t h e r o f t h e
E s o t e r i c B u d d h i s m t h a t u n d e r l i e s t h e B u d d h i s m o f t he se s tor ies . O n e o r
t w o t e r m s f rom th i s t r a d i t i o n n e e d e x p l a i n i n g . N o s . 26 , 87 , 8 8 , a n d 101
m e n t i o n t h e v a j r a (a S a n s k r i t w o r d ) , w h i c h is a r i tual as well as a sym-
bol ic i m p l e m e n t . " V a j r a " i s v a r i o u s l y t r a n s l a t e d " d i a m o n d " o r " t h u n d e r -
b o l t , " a n d re fe r s t o sp i r i t ua l p o w e r . T h e V a j r a - B e a r e r ( n o . 101) i s
t h e r e f o r e a b e i n g o f p u r e p o w e r . T h e V a j r a - R e a l m M a n d a l a i s p a i r e d
( n o s . 101 , 127) ) w i t h t h e W o m b - R e a l m M a n d a l a : b o t h c o m p l e m e n t a r y
d i a g r a m s o f t h e c o s m o s s u m up a vas t a n d c o m p l e x u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f " t h e
w a y s t h i n g s a r e . " T h e h e a l i n g d e s c r i b e d i n n o . 127 w o r k s b e c a u s e t h e
h e a l e r e n d o w s t h e m a n d a l a s w i t h l iving p o t e n c y a n d s o br ief ly t r a n s f o r m s
t h e a r e a a r o u n d h i m in to a pe r f ec t r e a l m w h e r e s i cknes s i s i m p o s s i b l e .
B U D D H I S T D I V I N I T I E S
S h a k a m u s t h a v e s e e m e d m o r e t h a n h u m a n t o his d isc ip les , t h o u g h h e
p r e a c h e d p u r e l y a s a m a n , for p e o p l e ' s t e n d e n c y to deify g r e a t b e i n g s a n d
p r i n c i p l e s i s v e r y s t r o n g . I n a n y ca se , a s B u d d h i s m d e v e l o p e d a n d s p r e a d
i t w a s i n f luenced in m a n y w a y s by o t h e r , the i s t ic re l ig ions . By t h e t i m e i t
r e a c h e d J a p a n i t w a s r ich i n d iv in i t i e s , h a v i n g even a b s o r b e d t h e H i n d u
g o d s I n d r a a n d B r a h m a , w h o a p p e a r i n t he se s to r i e s r e spec t ive ly a s
T a i s h a k u ( n o s . 11 , 147) a n d B o n d e n ( n o . 3 6 ) . O f c o u r s e t h e B u d d h i s t
d iv in i t i e s h a v e S a n s k r i t n a m e s , b u t I will u s e t he i r J a p a n e s e n a m e s a s
t h e y a p p e a r in t h e s e t a les . I h a v e r e t a i n e d t w o S a n s k r i t t i t les , t h o u g h ,
b e c a u s e t h e y a r e s o wel l k n o w n i n E n g l i s h : b u d d h a a n d b o d h i s a t t v a .
Buddhcu. " B u d d h a " m e a n s a fully e n l i g h t e n e d be ing . N a t u r a l l y t h e t i t le
a p p l i e s t o S h a k a himself, w h o i s m e n t i o n e d h e r e o n c e a s a d iv in i ty ( n o .
101) a n d o n c e as a m o u n t a i n ( n o . 8 8 ) . B u t i t a l so app l i e s to o t h e r d iv in i -
t ies w h o r e p r e s e n t o n e a s p e c t o r a n o t h e r o f t h e t imeless , un ive r sa l c h a r -
a c t e r o f e n l i g h t e n m e n t .
B u d d h i s m c a m e t o t e a c h t h a t S h a k a , t h e b u d d h a o f o u r age , w a s o n e
o f a l ine o f b u d d h a s e x t e n d i n g ou t o f t h e r e m o t e p a s t a n d in to t h e indefi-
n i te fu tu re . T w o o f t h e p a s t b u d d h a s , B ibash i a n d K a s h o , a p p e a r h e r e
( n o s . 101 , 197) . T h e n e x t b u d d h a af ter S h a k a i s M i r o k u , w h o a t p r e s e n t
i s still t e c h n i c a l l y a b o d h i s a t t v a . He will d e s c e n d in to o u r w o r l d e o n s
from n o w , a s n o . 88 e x p l a i n s . A c c o r d i n g to a J a p a n e s e l egend ( n o s . 22 ,
8 8 , 102) , t h e e a r t h wil l t h e n b e c o v e r e d w i t h go ld . T h i s n o d o u b t m e a n s
t h a t t h e e a r t h wil l b e m a d e n e w , s ince M i r o k u h a s a t t imes b e e n w o r -
s h i p p e d in J a p a n as a d e i t y o f w o r l d r e n e w a l . In t he m e a n t i m e he w a i t s
i n t h e I n n e r S a n c t u m o f t h e T o s o t s u H e a v e n ( n o s . 7 3 , 8 6 ) , w h i c h i s a
k i n d o f p a r a d i s e w h e r e c e r t a i n e a r n e s t p r a c t i t i o n e r s l onged t o g o . O n e
m o n k ( n o . 7 3 ) r e a c h e d t h e g a t e b u t u n f o r t u n a t e l y cou ld no t ge t in. T h e
T o s o t s u H e a v e n w a s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h sa lva t ion a c h i e v e d t h r o u g h t h e
L o t u s S u t r a ( n o s . 7 3 , 111) .
D a i n i c h i ( " G r e a t S u n " ) , d e s c r i b e d a s " t h e C o s m i c B u d d h a " i n n o . 101 ,
X 1
i s a s s o c i a t e d espec ia l ly w i t h K o b o D a i s h i ' s t e a c h i n g . He i s ph i l o soph i -
ca l ly i n t e r e s t i n g , b u t t o o a b s t r u s e e v e r t o h a v e b e e n p o p u l a r .
N o b u d d h a r e q u i r e d sole a l l eg i ance , b u t m a n y p e o p l e ( l ike t he n u n i n
n o . 160 ) c e n t e r e d t h e i r d e v o t i o n b y cho i ce o n A m i d a , w h o m the J a p a n e s e
i m a g i n e d a n d d e p i c t e d as a s i m p l e b u d d h a in m e d i t a t i o n . A m i d a i s t he
loftiest s a v i o r f igure i n t h e J a p a n e s e B u d d h i s t p a n t h e o n . H i s n a m e m e a n s
b o t h " In f in i t e L i g h t " a n d " In f in i t e L i fe . " I n t h e t h i r t e e n t h c e n t u r y t h e r e
e m e r g e d a t r e n d t o w a r d exc lu s ive faith in A m i d a , b u t th i s d e v e l o p -
m e n t lies o u t s i d e t h e w o r l d o f t h e s e s to r i e s .
A m i d a p r e s i d e s o v e r a p a r a d i s e t h a t lies a vas t d i s t a n c e a w a y from o u r
w o r l d , t o w a r d t h e w e s t . T h i s p a r a d i s e i s s o m e t i m e s cal led t he P u r e L a n d
a n d s o m e t i m e s t h e L a n d o f Bl iss . A m i d a e s t a b l i s h e d i t for all t hose w h o
h a v e fai th i n h i m , a n d h e v o w e d t h a t w h o e v e r calls h is n a m e s incere ly
shal l b e r e b o r n t h e r e . T h a t i s w h y t h e k e y p r a c t i c e for t h e A m i d a d e v o t e e
i s s i m p l y t o c h a n t A m i d a ' s N a m e , " N a m u A m i d a B u t s u " ( "Ha i l A m i d a
B u d d h a ! " ) . M a n y p e o p l e i n t h e s e s to r i e s call o n A m i d a , b u t n o n e s o
u r g e n t l y a s t h e r o b b e r w h o ac tua l ly h e a r s A m i d a a n s w e r h im from the
d e p t h s o f t h e s ea ( n o . 115) . Ca l l i ng t h e N a m e w a s a lso a c o m m o n p rac t i ce
a t fune ra l s , for t h e benef i t o f t h e d e c e a s e d ( n o s . 143, 2 0 3 ) .
U n l i k e t h e " e n l i g h t e n m e n t i n th i s b o d y " a p p r o a c h jus t d e s c r i b e d ,
A m i d a fai th w a s a l m o s t e n t i r e l y c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e life t o c o m e . A t t he
m o m e n t o f d e a t h , A m i d a w o u l d c o m e d o w n from his p a r a d i s e in a b laze
o f g l o r y , p r e c e d e d b y t h e t w o B o d h i s a t t v a s K a n n o n a n d Seishi , a n d b y a
j o y o u s h o s t o l m u s i c i a n s a n d sa in t s , t o w e l c o m e t h e soul in to t h e L a n d o f
Bliss ( n o s . 118, 119) . T h e p e o p l e a r o u n d t h e d y i n g p e r s o n w o u l d no t see
th i s v i s ion , b u t t h e y w o u l d k n o w b y c e r t a i n s igns t h a t t he soul h a d g o n e
t o g l o r y : t h e y w o u l d h e a r s t r a i n s o f celest ia l m u s i c , smell an i n d e s c r i b a b l y
s w e e t f r a g r a n c e on t h e a i r , a n d see a p u r p l e c l o u d t ra i l ing a w a y from the
s p o t i n t h e d i r e c t i o n o f t h e w e s t ( n o s . 113, 160) .
V o l u n t a r y r e n u n c i a t i o n o f t h e b o d y ( r a t h e r t h a n " su i c ide" ) i s a n iden-
t if iable s t r a i n in J a p a n e s e sp i r i tua l e n d e a v o r , especia l ly in med ieva l
t i m e s . A few p e o p l e t h i r s t e d so s t r o n g l y for p a r a d i s e tha t t h e y s o u g h t
d e a t h t o h a s t e n t h e i r j o u r n e y t h e r e . T h e w a y t o seek A m i d a ' s p a r a d i s e i n
th i s m a n n e r w a s b y d r o w n i n g . T h e sea off Tenno j i ( m e n t i o n e d i n no . 4 3 )
w a s a w e l l - k n o w n p l ace for th i s , b u t t h e t w o s to r i e s on t he t h e m e h e r e
( n o s . 116, 161) invo lve t h e K a t s u r a R i v e r n e a r K y o t o . Both s h o w in
d i f f e ren t w a y s h o w d a n g e r o u s t h e p r a c t i c e w a s , a n d h o w c o m p l e x p ie ty
c o u l d b e .
Bodhutattvaj. A b o d h i s a t t v a is, in t h e o r y , a b e i n g w h o has v o w e d no t to
e n t e r final N i r v a n a ( e n l i g h t e n m e n t ) unt i l all b e i n g s in t he w o r l d c a n e n t e r
i t w i t h h im, a n d w h o in t he m e a n t i m e he lp s a n d saves all t h o s e w h o a r e
c a u g h t i n t h e r o u n d o f b i r t h a n d d e a t h . F o r e x a m p l e A m i d a , a s a b u d d h a ,
d o e s no t i n t e r v e n e d i r e c t l y i n th i s w o r l d , a l t h o u g h he w e l c o m e s to his
far-off p a r a d i s e t h e sou l o f a n y o n e w h o calls h is N a m e w i t h faith. O n the
o t h e r h a n d K a n n o n , a s a b o d h i s a t t v a , w o r k s ac t ive ly in t h e w o r l d to save
t h o s e in d i s t r e s s .
T h e B o d h i s a t t v a K a n n o n , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e re la t ive ly o b s c u r e Se ish i ,
a c c o m p a n i e d A m i d a t o w e l c o m e t h e soul i n to t h e L a n d o f Bl iss . Bu t
K a n n o n ' s r e l ig ious ro le i n J a p a n w a s m u c h b r o a d e r a n d m o r e a u t o n o -
m o u s t h a n t h a t o f an a t t e n d a n t t o A m i d a . I t w a s b a s e d p a r t l y on t h e
" K a n n o n S u t r a , " a c t u a l l y a c h a p t e r o f t h e m u c h l o n g e r L o t u s S u t r a ,
w h e r e A m i d a i s o n l y br ief ly m e n t i o n e d , a n d p a r t l y o n o t h e r s c r i p t u r e s
a n d t r a d i t i o n s .
K a n n o n i s of ten ident i f ied a s t h e " G o d d e s s o f M e r c y . " T h e " m e r c y " i s
q u i t e r i gh t , b u t for J a p a n the " g o d d e s s " p a r t i s doub t fu l , i f on ly b e c a u s e
in t e r m s of t h e L o t u s S u t r a a female b o d h i s a t t v a is imposs ib l e . S e x u a l l y
specif ic d e p i c t i o n s o f K a n n o n a r e all ma le . In a n y case , t h e v a r i e t y o f
K a n n o n ' s f o r m s m a k e s t he q u e s t i o n less i n t e r e s t i n g t h a n i t m i g h t s o u n d .
T h e " K a n n o n S u t r a " tells h o w K a n n o n m a y t a k e a n y c o n c e i v a b l e fo rm
to s a v e b e i n g s from a n y c o n c e i v a b l e per i l . ( I n n o . 137, for e x a m p l e ,
h e a p p e a r s a s a h u g e s n a k e . ) M o r e o v e r , N y o i r i n K a n n o n ( n o . 2 3 ) ,
T h o u s a n d - A r m e d K a n n o n ( n o s . 70 , 98 , a n d o t h e r s ) , a n d E l e v e n - H e a d e d
K a n n o n ( n o s . 27 , 8 2 , a n d o t h e r s ) a r e on ly s o m e o f t h e fo rms o f K a n n o n
t h a t a r e d e p i c t e d in r e l ig ious a r t .
T h e m a i n i m a g e on t h e a l t a r o f a t e m p l e d e d i c a t e d t o K a n n o n w o u l d
be a specif ic fo rm s u c h as E l e v e n - H e a d e d K a n n o n , a n d t h a t form a lone
w o u l d b e a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h a t t e m p l e . N y o i r i n K a n n o n usua l ly h a s six
a r m s , E l e v e n - H e a d e d K a n n o n l o o k s q u i t e n o r m a l e x c e p t for a so r t o f
c r o w n f o r m e d o f faces w i t h d i f fe ren t e x p r e s s i o n s , a n d T h o u s a n d - A r m e d
K a n n o n h a s a b o u t t h a t n u m b e r o f a r m s . T h e t h o u s a n d - a r m e d form s im-
ply s h o w s g r a p h i c a l l y t h e c o u n t l e s s w a y s K a n n o n saves b e i n g s from
d a n g e r ( s i c k n e s s in n o . 70 , a frightful s n a k e in n o . 9 8 ) , b u t t h e r e a s o n s
for t h e o t h e r fo rms a r e m o r e c o m p l i c a t e d . All w ie ld s a v i n g p o w e r .
K a n n o n h a s a p a r a d i s e ca l led F u d a r a k u in J a p a n e s e . P o t a l a k a , i ts
S a n s k r i t n a m e , i s v is ib ly t h e s a m e as t h a t o f t h e f amous Po t a l a Pa l ace in
L h a s a , unt i l r e c e n t l y t h e h o m e o f t h e D a l a i L a m a . ( F o r t he T i b e t a n s , t h e
D a l a i L a m a i s a n i n c a r n a t i o n o f K a n n o n . ) S o m e m o u n t a i n s i n J a p a n
w e r e t h o u g h t o f a s F u d a r a k u , b u t t h e J a p a n e s e k n e w tha t B u d d h i s t t e x t s
ident i fy i t as a m o u n t a i n at t h e s o u t h e r n t ip of Ind ia .
T o t h e J a p a n e s e , t h e loca t ion o f F u d a r a k u m e a n t t h a t K a n n o n ' s p a r a -
d ise , u n l i k e A m i d a ' s , w a s i n o u r o w n w o r l d a n d t h a t i n p r inc ip l e i t co u l d
x 1 i i
be r e a c h e d in th i s b o d y . A few p e o p l e , l ike t h e m a n in no . 157, t r i ed to
sail t h e r e . B u t a l t h o u g h F u d a r a k u w a s a g e o g r a p h i c a l l y real p lace , i t w a s
s o r e m o t e f rom J a p a n t h a t t h e j o u r n e y t h e r e w a s ac tua l ly imposs ib le . I n
o t h e r w o r d s , t o set o u t for F u d a r a k u m e a n t t o r e n o u n c e one ' s b o d y .
( P e r h a p s t h e i dea o f sa i l ing t o F u d a r a k u w a s co lo r ed b y l egends o f is land
p a r a d i s e s in t h e sea , a s in n o s . 106 a n d 186.) T h e d e v o t e e s w h o d id so
can h a v e h a d little d o u b t a b o u t t h i s . T h e y h a d t h e m s e l v e s cas t adrif t from
s o m e w h e r e on t h e Pacific coas t o f J a p a n , s o m e t i m e s sea led in a cab in
a b o a r d a r u d d e r l e s s b o a t . O n l y a s t o r y l ike t h a t of t he nice little r o ad g o d
w h o sa i led t o F u d a r a k u ( n o . 159) can m a k e the t h e m e b e a r a b l e .
P e o p l e cou ld h a r d l y i m a g i n e p a r a d i s e w i t h o u t i m a g i n i n g hel l . M e d i e v a l
J a p a n i m a g i n e d hell v iv id ly . W h e r e a s K a n n o n n o r m a l l y saved peop le
from e a r t h l y d a n g e r s , t h e B o d h i s a t t v a J i z o spec ia l i zed i n s av ing peop le
f rom hel l . H e w a s n a t u r a l l y v e r y p o p u l a r . T h e K a s u g a G o d i n n o . 2 1 5
w a s ident i f ied w i t h J i z o , a m o n g o t h e r B u d d h i s t d iv in i t ies . J i z o looks like
a mi ld l i t t le m o n k ( n o s . 104, 180) . T h e w i z a r d o f t h e m o u n t a i n s ( n o . 88 )
r e j ec t ed h im o n t h e g r o u n d s t h a t h e d id no t look t o u g h e n o u g h t o k e e p
t h e u n r u l y J a p a n e s e p e o p l e i n l ine, a n d p e r h a p s t h e w i z a r d w a s r igh t ;
b u t m a n y m i r a c l e s to r i e s s h o w w h a t a t i re less sav io r J i z o is.
T h e B o d h i s a t t v a s M o n j u a n d F u g e n a r e closely a s soc ia t ed w i t h t he
B u d d h a S h a k a , e spec ia l ly i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h S h a k a ' s p r e a c h i n g o f t he
L o t u s S u t r a . O n e m o n k sees , i n a v is ion o f th i s p r e a c h i n g , " t h e B u d d h a ,
f l a n k e d b y M o n j u a n d F u g e n , [ s i t t i n g ] be fo re h im o n his Lion T h r o n e "
( n o . 1 2 0 ) . M o n j u e m b o d i e s t h e B u d d h a ' s w i s d o m . I n n o . 2 4 a n In d i an
m o n k r e c o g n i z e s a J a p a n e s e sa in t a s an i n c a r n a t i o n o f M o n j u .
F u g e n e m b o d i e s t h e B u d d h a ' s T e a c h i n g a n d r ides a w h i t e e l e p h a n t
( n o s . 3 8 , 121) . S i n c e he p l a y s a ma jo r ro le in t h e L o t u s S u t r a , he s h a r e d
p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e S u t r a ' s p o p u l a r i t y . T h e t o u c h i n g idea tha t F u g e n cou ld
man i f e s t h imse l f a s a w o m a n o f p l e a s u r e ( n o . 3 8 ) go t s y m p a t h e t i c r e -
s p o n s e , for a m a j o r m e d i e v a l p l a y i s b a s e d on it, a n d the t h e m e l ived on
in l a t e r w o o d b l o c k p r i n t s .
T h e B o d h i s a t t v a K o k u z o h a d n o p o p u l a r cu l t i n J a p a n , b u t s o m e
s c h o l a r - m o n k s h o n o r e d h im b e c a u s e i n v o k i n g K o k u z o could d r a m a t i c a l l y
i m p r o v e o n e ' s p o w e r t o u n d e r s t a n d a n d r e m e m b e r s a c r e d t ex t s ( n o . 177) .
K o k u z o ' s d e c i s i o n to mani fes t h imse l f a s a beaut i fu l w o m a n (a l so n o .
177) i s a k i n to F u g e n ' s a p p e a r i n g as a p r o s t i t u t e . I t i l lus t ra tes per fec t ly
t h e e n l i g h t e n e d t ac t i c o f u s i n g p e o p l e ' s o w n w e a k n e s s e s a n d des i r e s t o
d r a w t h e m t o w a r d t h e t r u e goa l .
Lower Buddhi.it Divinities. A t h i r d c lass of B u d d h i s t d iv ini t ies h a s a less
e x a l t e d s t a n d i n g t h a n t h e b u d d h a s a n d b o d h i s a t t v a s , b u t i nc ludes d iv in i -
t ies w h o a r e p r o m i n e n t i n t h e s e s to r i e s . T h e r e a r e , f i r s t o f all, t h e p r o t e c -
t o r s . T h e p r o t e c t i v e a t t i t u d e o f t h e na t i ve g o d s t o w a r d B u d d h i s m has
a l r e a d y b e e n n o t e d , b u t B u d d h i s m h a d a c o r p s o f official p r o t e c t o r s
be fo re i t e v e n r e a c h e d J a p a n . T h e y g u a r d t he b u d d h a s , t h e b o d h i s a t t v a s ,
a n d t h e d e v o t e e a s we l l . T h e o n l y o n e w h o f igures h e r e i s B i s h a m o n .
I m a g e s o f s u c h d iv in i t i e s s h o w t h e m a s w a r r i o r s , often t r a m p l i n g d e m o n s
u n d e r f o o t , a n d t h a t i s w h y B i s h a m o n w i e l d s his s p e a r s o effect ively ( n o .
1-46). He c o u l d a lso d i s p e n s e w e a l t h ( n o . 155) .
A c lass of w r a t h f u l d iv in i t i es , a s s o c i a t e d espec ia l ly w i t h E s o t e r i c B u d -
d h i s m , r e p r e s e n t e n e r g y - i n - a c t i o n , d e s t r o y i n g w h a t e v e r i m p e d e s en -
l i g h t e n m e n t . E v e n i m p o r t a n t , peacefu l d iv in i t i es c a n t a k e on a w r a t h f u l
a p p e a r a n c e . K a n n o n , lo r i n s t a n c e , h a s a t t i m e s a t e r r i fy ing form t h a t i s
v i sua l i zed s u r r o u n d e d b y f lames . F u d o ( " T h e U n m o v i n g " ) , t h e w r a t h f u l
e m a n a t i o n o f D a i n i c h i , a p p e a r s in severa l s to r ies , a n d i s still p o p u l a r . He
i s e spec ia l ly to be l o u n d on m o u n t a i n s , n e a r a wa te r f a l l . U s u a l l y b l u e -
b l ack in co lor , F u d o si ts o r s t a n d s on a r o c k a n d i s s u r r o u n d e d by f lames
( n o . 9 5 ) . P r a c t i c e s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h h im involve t h e e n e r g y o f fire ( n o .
3 4 ) . S o m e t i m e s th i s e n e r g y i s t u r n e d t o t h e p u r p o s e o f hea l ing ( n o s . 74 ,
126) . T h e f ierce a sce t i c of n o . 73 i s a l so a power fu l hea le r , a n d i t i s F u d o
w h o c a r r i e s h im u p t o t h e T o s o t s u H e a v e n .
T w o s to r i e s f e a t u r e a g o r g e o u s femin ine d iv in i ty n a m e d Kich i jo ten ,
p r o b a b l y d e s c e n d e d from t h e I n d i a n g o d d e s s L a k s h m i . T h o u g h wel l
k n o w n a s an ob jec t for a m o n k ' s sexua l fan tas ies ( n o . 2 0 ) , s h e w a s
a c t u a l l y o n e o f m a n y d iv in i t i e s y o u cou ld p r a y t o for w e a l t h ( n o . 172) .
T h e r e i s a l so t h e k i n g o f hel l . In B u d d h i s m t h e r e a r e mul t ip l e hel ls ,
jus t a s t h e r e a r e mu l t i p l e p a r a d i s e s a n d h e a v e n s . I n t h e s e s to r ies , t h o u g h ,
hell i s no t t o o c o m p l i c a t e d . N o . 149 e v o k e s i t n ice ly . E m m a , t h e k i n g of
hell a n d j u d g e o f t h e d e a d , a p p e a r s i n n o s . 4 6 , 149, a n d 2 1 5 . H e w a s
u sua l l y i m a g i n e d in J a p a n as a C h i n e s e m a g i s t r a t e , a i d e d by a w h o l e
b u r e a u c r a c y o f a s s i s t a n t s , officials, bailiffs, e t c . F o r t u n a t e l y , he c o u l d be
i n f luenced b y s a v i o r f igures l ike J i z o .
R E L I C S A N D I M A G E S
Fa i th in t h e m i r a c u l o u s p o w e r s o f re l ics a n d o f specific ho ly i m a g e s w a s
c o m m o n i n J a p a n . " R e l i c s " w e r e no t t h e b o n e s o f sa in t s , h o w e v e r , a s i n
t h e C h r i s t i a n w o r l d , b u t w e r e c e r t a i n h a r d b o n e f r a g m e n t s o r m i n e r a l
pa r t i c l e s ( p e r h a p s g a l l s t o n e s ) t h a t s u r v i v e d c r e m a t i o n a n d t h a t w e r e b e -
l ieved t o c o m e from t h e B u d d h a S h a k a . T h e rel ics m e n t i o n e d i n n o . 4 3
a r e o f t h i s k i n d , a n d s o a r e t h e d r e a m e d o n e s i n n o . 2 0 9 . Rel ics w e r e
t h o u g h t t o b e f i l l e d w i t h d i v i n e p o w e r .
x 1 i v
B o o n s , m i r a c l e s , o r sp i r i tua l p o w e r d id no t a l w a y s c o m e from a d iv in i ty
g e n e r a l l y c o n c e i v e d , b u t w e r e s o m e t i m e s g r a n t e d b y specific icons ( s ta t -
u e s o r p a i n t i n g s ) . N o . 27 , w h i c h r e l a t e s t h e m i r a c u l o u s or ig in o f a p a r t i c -
u l a r i m a g e o f E l e v e n - H e a d e d K a n n o n , s h o w s h o w specia l a p e r s o n ' s
r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h s u c h a n i m a g e c o u l d b e . A p p e a l s t o t he K a n n o n o f
H a s e d e r a ( n o s . 76 , 173, 174) w e r e a d d r e s s e d no t t o K a n n o n i n g e n e r a l
b u t t o t h e i m a g e o f E l e v e n - H e a d e d K a n n o n e n s h r i n e d a t t h a t t e m p l e .
T h e F u d o w h o t a k e s a m o n k u p t o t h e T o s o t s u H e a v e n ( n o . 73 ) i s " t h e
o n e [ t h e m o n k ] h imse l f h a d m a d e , life-size, a n d e n s h r i n e d i n his t e m p l e " ;
a n d t h e w i z a r d i n n o . 8 8 r ece ives a n i m p o r t a n t d r e a m message from the
M i r o k u t h a t h e h imse l f h a d m a d e a n d e n s h r i n e d .
B U D D H I S T T E X T S
S u t r a s a r e o f c o u r s e full o f p h i l o s o p h y , a n d B u d d h i s t p h i l o s o p h y i s fas-
c i n a t i n g . B u t i t c a n be sa id t o o t h a t no t all s u t r a s c o n v e y t he i r p h i l o s o p h -
ical m e s s a g e e c o n o m i c a l l y ; t h a t t h e p o i n t o f s o m e s u t r a s i s n o t
p h i l o s o p h i c a l ; a n d t h a t s o m e d o no t e v e n m a k e s ense un les s y o u a r e a n
a d v a n c e d in i t i a t e . I n a n y case , t h e C h i n e s e v e r s i o n s u s e d i n J a p a n a r e
difficult for t h e p o o r l y e d u c a t e d t o u n d e r s t a n d ; a n d b e i n g C h i n e s e r a t h e r
t h a n J a p a n e s e , t h e y a r e un in te l l ig ib le a s l a n g u a g e w h e n s p o k e n a l o u d o r
c h a n t e d . A n i m p o r t a n t a s p e c t o f t h e s u t r a s h a s a l w a y s been ou t s ide t he i r
m e a n i n g , for t h e i r s o u n d a l o n e , w h e n t h e y a r e c h a n t e d , ca r r i e s p o w e r .
E x a m p l e s h e r e i n c l u d e t h e m o n k w h o h a s d e d i c a t e d himsel f t o c h a n t i n g
t h e S u t r a o f D i a m o n d W i s d o m ( n o . 151) , a n d t h e m o n k w h o hea l s t h e
c h a n c e l l o r b y c h a n t i n g t h e S u t r a o f G o l d e n L i g h t ( n o . 149) . H o w e v e r ,
t h e i s sue w o u l d be a m i n o r o n e w i t h o u t t h e L o t u s S u t r a , w h i c h f igures i n
t w e n t y - n i n e t a les a n d i s t h e s u p r e m e p o w e r t e x t i n t h e w o r l d o f t h e s e
s t o r i e s .
The Lotiu Sutra. T h e L o t u s S u t r a is p r o b a b l y t h e s ingle mos t i m p o r t a n t
s u t r a i n J a p a n e s e B u d d h i s m . I ts i m p r e s s i v e p a r a b l e s , its a w e s o m e vis ion ,
a n d its f e r v e n t l y p u t m e s s a g e o f un ive r s a l sa lva t ion g ive i t end le s s a p p e a l .
T h e S u t r a ' s full t i t le i s " S u t r a o f t h e L o t u s o f t h e W o n d e r f u l T e a c h i n g , "
a n d i n C h i n e s e , " W o n d e r f u l " i s t h e t i t le ' s first w o r d . T h i s " W o n d e r f u l , "
w r i t t e n on t h e o n l y s c r a p o f p a p e r left f rom an a n c i e n t c o p y o f t h e S u t r a ,
s a v e s a m a n f rom a d e m o n in n o . 148: s u c h w a s t h e L o t u s S u t r a ' s p o w e r .
I n o n e b r a n c h o f J a p a n e s e B u d d h i s m , c h a n t i n g the tit le a lone b e c a m e a
f u n d a m e n t a l o b s e r v a n c e t h a t m a n y p e o p l e still d o t o d a y .
T h e L o t u s S u t r a s t a t e s t h a t i t w a s p r e a c h e d b y t h e B u d d h a S h a k a o n
V u l t u r e P e a k , a rea l m o u n t a i n i n Ind i a . T h e m o u n t a i n ' s C h i n e s e n a m e
w a s a p p l i e d t o a g o o d m a n y hills a n d m o u n t a i n s i n J a p a n , a n d t h e image
of t h e B u d d h a p r e a c h i n g t h e L o t u s S u t r a on V u l t u r e P e a k b e c a m e in
J a p a n an i m a g e o f p a r a d i s e ( n o . 120) .
At t h e t i m e o f t h e s e s to r i e s , s t u d y o f t h e L o t u s S u t r a w a s bas ic for a
g r e a t m a n y m o n k s , e spec ia l ly t h o s e o n M o u n t Hie i ( n o . 177) . T e m p l e s
m i g h t s p o n s o r l e c t u r e s on i t for t h e lai ty ( n o . 138) , a n d lay p a t r o n s often
h a d m o n k s l e c t u r e on i t in o r d e r to ga in sp i r i tua l mer i t for t h e m s e l v e s o r
o t h e r s ( n o . 139) . I n fact, t h e S u t r a itself d e s c r i b e s t h e e n o r m o u s mer i t t o
b e g a i n e d f rom h o n o r i n g it. A n o t h e r w a y t o a c q u i r e th i s mer i t w a s t o
c o p y o u t t h e t ex t . N o o n e h e r e cop ie s t h e S u t r a for himself, a l t h o u g h
p e o p l e c e r t a i n l y d id so ; b u t t h e h e r o of n o . 149 cop ie s it, l ike a s o r t of
s c r ibe , for p a t r o n s w h o t h i n k his beaut i fu l w r i t i n g will b r i n g t h e m still
m o r e mer i t t h a n i f t h e y c o p i e d i t on t h e i r o w n . O f t e n p e o p l e c o p i e d t h e
S u t r a i n t e n t i o n a l l y for t h e benef i t o f s o m e o n e else, e spec ia l ly for t h e d e a d
( n o s . 8 1 , 2 1 6 , a n d o t h e r s ) .
C h a n t i n g t h e S u t r a w o r k e d m u c h t h e s a m e w a y a s c o p y i n g it. Y o u
c o u l d c h a n t i t as a r e g u l a r p r a c t i c e on y o u r o w n behalf . A ho ly m a n co u l d
a lso hea l s o m e o n e by c h a n t i n g i t ( n o . 128) , a n d a sa in t ( n o . 6 6 ) g e t s
h imse l f t h r o w n in jail so t h a t he c a n c h a n t t he S u t r a for t he benef i t o f t he
p r i s o n e r s . T h e d e a d p a r t i c u l a r l y v a l u e d h e a r i n g t h e S u t r a c h a n t e d for
t h e m b e c a u s e i t h e l p e d t o d i s so lve t h e i r l i nge r ing a t t a c h m e n t t o t h e e a r t h .
In n o . 159 a g o d g o e s to p a r a d i s e t h a n k s to a m o n k ' s c h a n t i n g of t h e
L o t u s , a n d in n o . 2 1 6 t h e f l ames of hell d im a t t h e s o u n d .
T h e L o t u s S u t r a ' s s a v i n g p o w e r d i d no t t a k e t h e spir i t t o a n y o n e
p a r a d i s e , t h e w a y d e v o t i o n t o A m i d a a l w a y s m e a n t r e b i r t h i n t h e L a n d
of Bl iss . Bu t i t w a s of ten l inked to r e b i r t h in t he T o s o t s u H e a v e n , w h e r e
M i r o k u , t h e F u t u r e B u d d h a , w a i t s t o b e b o r n in to o u r w o r l d ( n o . 111) .
F o r w o m e n , t h o u g h , t h e r e w a s a c a t c h . A p p a r e n t l y t he T o s o t s u H e a v e n
w a s t o o lofty for t h e m . In t h e s e s to r ies , all the w o m e n a re r e b o r n in to t h e
T o r i H e a v e n , a l o w e r r ea lm p r e s i d e d o v e r b y t h e de i t y T a i s h a k u ( n o s .
8 1 , 111 , 147) . S t a n d a r d B u d d h i s t t e a c h i n g def ined w o m e n a s sp r i t ua l ly
in fe r ior t o m e n . In t h e L o t u s S u t r a a y o u n g girl d r a m a t i c a l l y a t t a i n s
e n l i g h t e n m e n t , t h u s g i v i n g h o p e t o all w o m e n ; b u t she h a s t o p a s s
t h r o u g h a m a l e i n c a r n a t i o n , h o w e v e r briefly, in o r d e r to do so .
M a n y m o n k s c h a n t e d t h e S u t r a i n o r d e r t o pur i fy t h e m s e l v e s sp i r i -
tua l ly . T h e m o s t success fu l o f t h e m m e m o r i z e d it, a s t h e m o n k in n o . 177
finally m a n a g e s to d o . S i n g l e m i n d e d c h a n t i n g of t h e L o t u s , a c o m m o n
asce t i c p r a c t i c e , c o u l d e n d o w o n e w i t h m i r a c u l o u s p o w e r s ( n o . 151) , t h e
g r e a t e s t o f w h i c h w a s s i m p l y e n d l e s s life ( n o s . 8 5 , 86 , 100) . W i t h his
p o w e r o f f l i gh t , t h e I m m o r t a l o f n o . 85 c losely r e s e m b l e s t h e C h i n e s e -
s tyle I m m o r t a l s d i s c u s s e d ea r l i e r .
A s w i t h t h e A m i d a a n d K a n n o n cu l t s , d e v o t i o n t o t he L o t u s S u t r a
cou ld lead to r e n u n c i a t i o n of t h e b o d y . T h e S u t r a itself c o n t a i n s a c lea r
x 1 v i
m o d e l o f s u c h a c t i o n : a b o d h i s a t t v a w h o b u r n s his o w n b o d y a s an
o f fe r ing t o t h e B u d d h a . Se l f - immola t ion i n t h e L o t u s t r ad i t i on w a s d o n e
by fire ( n o . 1 5 7 ) . I n n o . 22 t h e e m p e r o r h imsel f fol lows th is e x a m p l e on
a smal l sca le by l i gh t ing a f lame on his o w n f inger ( n o d o u b t d i p p e d in
p e r f u m e d oi l ) a n d t h e n c u t t i n g off t h e f inger a s a n offer ing. T h e L o t u s
a sce t i c o f n o . 158 c h o o s e s a n o t h e r , b u t n o less d i s t r e s s i n g w a y .
Mantrcu and Daranif. Bes ides t h e s u t r a t e x t s t h e r e w e r e m u c h s h o r t e r
f o r m u l a s w h i c h c a r r i e d c o n c e n t r a t e d p o w e r . S o m e w e r e cal led m a n t r a s
a n d o t h e r s d a r a n i s . F o r " m a n t r a " I u s e t h e S a n s k r i t w o r d b e c a u s e i t i s
r e l a t i ve ly fami l ia r in E n g l i s h . " D a r a n i ' ' i s t h e J a p a n e s e ve r s ion o f t he
S a n s k r i t w o r d p r o p e r l y w r i t t e n " d h a r a n i " i n o u r a l p h a b e t .
M a n y m a n t r a s i n v o k e specific d iv in i t ies . T h e N a m e o f A m i d a , a l r e a d y
e x p l a i n e d , i s a k i n d of m a n t r a ; so i s t he t i t le of t h e L o t u s S u t r a . Bu t t he
M a n t r a o f F u d o a n d t h e M a n t r a o f F i r e ( n o . 3 4 ) a r e b e t t e r e x a m p l e s .
B o t h i l l u s t r a t e a p e c u l i a r i t y o f mos t m a n t r a s : t h e y a r e no t even in C h i n e s e
b u t i n h o p e l e s s l y d i s t o r t e d S a n s k r i t . I n o t h e r w o r d s , t h e y a r e uninte l l ig i -
b le n o t o n l y a s s p o k e n b u t a l so a s w r i t t e n t e x t . T h e u n u s u a l C h i n e s e
c h a r a c t e r s u s e d t o w r i t e t h e m c o n v e y on ly s o u n d , no t m e a n i n g . B u d d h i s t
m a n t r a s i n J a p a n a r e " m y s t i c a l " i n d e e d .
T h e s a m e i s t r u e o f t h e g e n e r a l l y l o n g e r fo rmulas k n o w n a s d a r a n i s .
S o m e s u t r a s g ive d a r a n i s t h a t a r e d e s c r i b e d a s s u m m i n g u p t h e d e e p
m e a n i n g o f t h e w h o l e t ex t , h o w e v e r l ong . T h e S o n s h o D a r a n i , a g r e a t l y
r e v e r e d e x a m p l e o f t h e g e n r e , o c c u r s t h r e e t i m e s i n t he se s to r i e s a s a n
e x t r a o r d i n a r i l y p o w e r f u l p r o t e c t i v e spell ( n o s . 8 5 , 108, 168) .
S A C R E D M O U N T A I N S
F o r r e a s o n s c o n n e c t e d a s m u c h w i t h C h i n e s e , B u d d h i s t , a n d p r e -
B u d d h i s t i dea s a s w i t h J a p a n ' s n e b u l o u s " love o f n a t u r e , " l a n d s c a p e
f igured p r o m i n e n t l y i n m e d i e v a l J a p a n e s e re l ig ion . " L a n d s c a p e " m e a n s
m o u n t a i n s , for i n J a p a n m o s t l a n d s c a p e u m o u n t a i n s a n d val leys . T h e r e
w a s a t e n d e n c y i n J a p a n e s e B u d d h i s m t o a f f i rm t h a t m o u n t a i n s , va l leys ,
r i v e r s , e t c . ( in o t h e r w o r d s , all o f n a t u r e ) d id n o t jus t symbol ize b u t were
e n l i g h t e n m e n t ( n o . 3 8 ) .
B u d d h i s t i dea s o f p a r a d i s e a n d hell w e r e p r o j e c t e d o n t o c o u n t l e s s -
m o u n t a i n s . I n s t a n d a r d J a p a n e s e B u d d h i s t c o s m o l o g y , a g rea t m o u n t a i n
n a m e d S h u m i s e n s t a n d s a t t h e c e n t e r o f t h e u n i v e r s e . A b o v e its s u m m i t ,
w h i c h i s t h e T o r i H e a v e n , r ise level a l t e r level o f inc reas ing ly e the r ea l
h e a v e n s , w h i l e on t h e e a r t h b e n e a t h i t a r e mu l t i p l e levels o f hel ls . J a p a -
n e s e m o u n t a i n s c o u l d eas i ly s u p p o r t seve ra l p a r a d i s e s . T h e K a s u g a
M o u n t a i n ( n o . 3 1 ) w a s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h K a n n o n s F u d a r a k u p a r a d i s e .
V u l t u r e P e a k w h e r e t h e B u d d h a p r e a c h e d t h e L o t u s S u t r a , a n d o t h e r s .
I t a l so h a d a hel l . So d id M o u n t Hie i . M o u n t Fuji ( n o . 3 2 ) w a s c r o w n e d
w i t h all s o r t s o f p a r a d i s e s , a n d its hell b e c a m e f a m o u s af ter t h e t h i r t e e n t h
c e n t u r y . T h e vo l can i c hel ls o f T a t e y a m a a r e v iv id ly d e s c r i b e d in n o s . 147
a n d 2 1 6 .
M o s t p r o m i n e n t o f all, i n t h e s e s to r i e s , a r e t h e m o u n t a i n s o f t he O m i n e
r a n g e s o u t h o f N a r a . T h e y h a v e b e e n r e v e r e d s ince t he ear l ies t t imes , a n d
t he i r s a c r e d c h a r a c t e r still l i nge r s o n t o d a y . G o l d e n P e a k ( n o w San jo -ga -
t a k e on J a p a n e s e m a p s ) i s t h e ch ie f p e a k o f t he r a n g e . N o . 101 d e s c r i b e s
b o t h its p a r a d i s e a n d its hel l . N o . 88 p a s s e s on t h e s h a m e l e s s l y tall ta le
t h a t G o l d e n P e a k w a s o r ig ina l ly a c o r n e r o f V u l t u r e P e a k in Ind i a a n d
flew to J a p a n in A . D . 5 5 2 , w h i c h m e a n s t h a t t h e m o u n t a i n i s n o t h i n g less
t h a n t h e B u d d h i s t T e a c h i n g itself. N o s . 2 3 a n d 102 b o t h invo lve t he
l e g e n d t h a t G o l d e n P e a k i s full o f go ld , a l t h o u g h t h e r e ac tua l ly i s no go ld
i n t h e O m i n e M o u n t a i n s . Smal l go ld b u d d h a s r e c e n t l y d i s c o v e r e d a t t h e
t e m p l e si te o n G o l d e n P e a k m a y h a v e b e e n offered t h e r e b y E m p e r o r
U d a ( n o s . 190, 191) i n 9 0 0 ; a n d L o r d M i c h i n a g a ( n o . 6 3 ) m a d e a g r a n d
p i l g r i m a g e t h e r e in 1007.
A p a r t f rom b e i n g B u d d h i s t p a r a d i s e s o r hel ls , s a c r e d m o u n t a i n s i n
J a p a n a l so h a d local g o d s o f t he i r o w n . Z a o G o n g e n , t h e g o d o f t h e
O m i n e M o u n t a i n s , w a s espec ia l ly f a m o u s : t h e w i z a r d E n n o G y o j a ca l led
h im in to e x i s t e n c e as a so r t o f g u i d e for t h e p e o p l e o f J a p a n ( n o . 8 8 ) .
Z a o G o n g e n i s c lose ly r e l a t e d to w r a t h f u l B u d d h i s t d iv in i t ies l ike F u d o
a n d l o o k s v e r y f ierce i n d e e d . H e b e c a m e the p a t r o n g o d o f t he m o u n t a i n
a sce t i c t r a d i t i o n , f o u n d e d b y E n n o Gyoja , a n d images o f h im c a n n o w
b e found o n m a n y J a p a n e s e m o u n t a i n s .
S U P E R N A T U R A L M O N S T E R S A N D B E A S T S
T h e s u p e r n a t u r a l m o n s t e r s a n d b e a s t s i n t he se s to r i e s i nc lude d e m o n s ,
t e n g u , foxes , b a d g e r s , d r a g o n s , t u r t l e s , s n a k e s , a n d a b o a r . All c a n be
found in r e c e n t l y co l l ec t ed J a p a n e s e folktales , b u t no t a s d e e p l y co lo r ed
b y B u d d h i s m a s t h e y a r e h e r e .
D e m o n s a r e a m o t l e y c r e w . As n o . 169 p u t s it, " s o m e w e r e r ed d r e s s e d
in g r e e n , s o m e w e r e b l ack w i t h a r e d lo inc lo th , s o m e h a d o n e eye o r no
m o u t h , a n d m o s t w e r e jus t i n d e s c r i b a b l e . " T h e y a r e a lso t e r r i fy ing . I n
n o . 14 a r i d e r sees b e h i n d h im "a r ed face w i t h o n e a m b e r - y e l l o w eye as
h u g e a n d r o u n d a s a c u s h i o n . T h e t h i n g w a s g r e e n i s h a n d n ine feet tal l .
T h e t h r e e f ingers o n e a c h h a n d h a d f ive- inch, knife l ike nai ls , a n d t h e ha i r
w a s l ike a sna r l of w e e d s . " S i n c e t h e y a r e ca l led oni in J a p a n e s e , I h a v e
c o n s i s t e n t l y t r a n s l a t e d t h e m a s " d e m o n s , " w i t h t w o e x c e p t i o n s : i n n o . 9 2
x I v i i
t h e y a r e " d e v i l s " a n d in n o . 169 t h e y a r e " m o n s t e r s . " (Ac tua l ly , t he oni
o f n o . 9 2 s e e m t o b e exo t ic h u m a n s . )
D e m o n s f r e q u e n t a b a n d o n e d s t o r e h o u s e s o r i so la ted chape l s , t h e
u p p e r s t o r i e s o f c i ty g a t e s , m o u n t a i n c l ea r ings , b r i d g e s , a n d o t h e r o b -
v i o u s l y t w i l i g h t - z o n e p l aces . A h u m a n w h o d e t e c t s o n e n e a r b y e x p e c t s t o
b e e a t e n , a n d w i t h g o o d r e a s o n , for s o m e p e o p l e d o get ea t en ( n o s . 11 ,
12, 1 4 6 ) . F o r t u n a t e l y , t h o u g h , d e m o n s a r e no t a l w a y s s o m u r d e r o u s .
T h e y l ike p a r t i e s ( n o . 169) , a n d s o m e s e e m t o l ike p l a y i n g mus ic ( n o s .
6 4 , 1 6 7 ) . A t t i m e s t h e y c a n n o t b e b o t h e r e d t o h a r m a h u m a n ser ious ly
( n o s . 74 , 170) , t h o u g h t h e least t h e i r m e r e p r e s e n c e will do i s f r ighten
s o m e o n e ha l f t o d e a t h .
A r e c u r r i n g mo t i f i s t h a t o f t h e " d e m o n s ' n igh t p r o c e s s i o n . " O n e n ight
e a c h m o n t h ( c l e a r l y i n d i c a t e d o n y o u r c a l e n d a r , a s l ong a s y o u t ook the
t r o u b l e t o c o n s u l t i t ) t h e d e m o n s w o u l d p a r a d e t h r o u g h t h e s t r ee t s o f
K y o t o , a n d y o u r i s k e d y o u r life i f y o u w e n t o u t o f d o o r s . H a v i n g o t h e r
t h i n g s o n h i s m i n d , o n e y o u n g m a n r u n s s t r a igh t i n to t h e m a n d i s l u c k y
to g e t off w i t h n o t h i n g w o r s e t h a n a few d a y s o f fever ( n o . 168) . In no .
74 t h e d e m o n s spi t on a m a n t h e y find c o w e r i n g u n d e r a b r i d g e , a n d he
d i s c o v e r s t o h i s h o r r o r t h a t t h e y h a v e m a d e h im invis ible .
I n s o B u d d h i s t a l a n d a s m e d i e v a l J a p a n , even d e m o n s w e r e b o u n d
s o m e t i m e s t o b e r e l i g ious . I n m o s t d e m o n s tor ies , d e m o n s s imp ly exis t ;
t h e r e i s n o s p e c u l a t i o n a b o u t h o w t h e y go t t ha t w a y . N o . 97 , h o w e v e r ,
p r e s e n t s a B u d d h i s t m o r a l i t y d e m o n : he u s e d to be a h u m a n be ing , b u t
s i n g l e m i n d e d h a t e t u r n e d h im in to a d e m o n a n d got h im s tuck in t h a t
fo rm fo r eve r . S o m e d e m o n s a c t u a l l y s e rve B u d d h i s t d ivini t ies o r a r e
B u d d h i s t d iv in i t i e s i n d i sgu i se ( n o s . 9 8 , 172) . Still o t h e r s a r e p i o u s d e -
v o t e e s , h u n g r y o n l y for t h e m y s t i c s o u n d o f t he L o t u s S u t r a ( n o . 100) .
T e n g u , a n o t h e r k i n d o f t r o u b l e s o m e c r e a t u r e , p l ay t r i cks o n h u m a n s .
T h e y a r e s h a p e - c h a n g e r s . T e n g u live in t h e m o u n t a i n s — not in t he w h o l l y
d e s e r t e d m o u n t a i n w i l d e r n e s s , b u t c lose r t o w h e r e peop le , for i n s t a n c e
m o n k s , l ive o r p a s s b y . M a n y s a c r e d m o u n t a i n s h a d the i r t engu , inc lud-
i n g M o u n t I b u k i ( n o . 118) a n d M o u n t H i r a ( n o . 3 5 ) . M o u n t Hie i ( n o s .
34 , 120) s e e m s t o h a v e t e e m e d w i t h t h e m . Seve ra l s to r ies even h a v e t h e m
v i s i t i ng t h e C a p i t a l ( n o s . 3 5 , 119, 120) .
In t h e s e s to r i e s t e n g u a p p e a r as a k i te ( n o s . 3 5 , 120), a kes t re l ( n o .
119) , a w a r r i o r - m o n k ( n o . 3 5 ) , a d e c r e p i t o ld m o n k ( n o s . 34 , 120) , a
chee r fu l , we l l - fed m o n k ( n o . 123) , t h e B u d d h a S h a k a ( n o . 120), a n d the
B u d d h a A m i d a ( n o . 118) . I n effect, t h e y often p a r o d y the so lemn B u d -
d h i s t w o r l d . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e form m o s t famil iar i n a r t a n d i l lus t ra t ion
( t h a t o f a l o n g - n o s e d , w i n g e d m o u n t a i n a sce t i c ) d o e s no t a p p e a r he re ,
p e r h a p s b e c a u s e t h e i m a g e d e v e l o p e d re la t ive ly la te . As b i rds o f p r ey ,
t h e y a r e n a t u r a l e n e m i e s o f s n a k e s ( n o . 3 5 ) a n d m a y e v e n c a r r y off a
m o n k ( n o s . 3 5 , 118) . T h e y a l so a r e k n o w n t o c a r r y off c h i l d r e n .
A t e n g u ' s g r e a t e s t p l e a s u r e s e e m s t o be t o r m e n t i n g p i o u s m o n k s ( n o s .
3 3 , 3 4 ) . No d o u b t a n y o n e l e a d i n g a life o f r e l ig ious p r ac t i c e , i n a n y
t r ad i t i on , h a s t o d i s t i n g u i s h a t t imes b e t w e e n t r u e i n s p i r a t i o n s a n d t h o s e
t h a t " c o m e from t h e d e v i l . " J a p a n e s e m o n k s h a d t o look o u t no t o n l y for
t e n g u t a l o n s b u t for t e n g u v i s ions , s ince t e n g u c o u l d c r e a t e o u t r a g e o u s l y
c o n v i n c i n g h a l l u c i n a t i o n s . O n e u n h a p p y asce t ic i s d o n e in by a fake
A m i d a w i t h all h is s a in t s ( n o . 118) , w h i l e in n o . 120 a t e n g u ' s L o t u s S u t r a
s h o w w o r k s all t o o wel l , e v e n t h o u g h t h e t e n g u h imsel f h a s w a r n e d his
s p e c t a t o r no t to be l i eve it.
T h e b a d g e r a n d t h e b o a r t oo c a n c o n j u r e u p d e c e p t i v e v is ions , h o w e v e r
m u c h t h e y m a y s o u n d like " r e a l " a n i m a l s . O n e b a d g e r p u t s o n a w o n d e r -
ful s h o w as t h e B o d h i s a t t v a F u g e n ( n o . 121) a n d a n o t h e r h a u n t s a c h a p e l
i n t h e fo rm o f an a b s u r d l y tall m o n k ( n o . 122) . T h e o n e b o a r i n th is b o o k
s t a g e s a fake funera l for t h e benef i t of a lone ly t r a v e l e r ( n o . 5 2 ) . H o w -
ever , all t h e s e t r i c k s e n d i n t h e t r i c k s t e r ' s d e a t h , w h e r e a s t e n g u do no t
ge t k i l l ed .
A far g r e a t e r t r i c k s t e r i s t h e fox. In t he se s to r ies foxes leave m o n k s
a l o n e , i n s t e a d p e s t e r i n g l a y m e n w i t h con fus ing v i s ions a n d i l lus ions ( n o .
2 0 8 ) . P e r h a p s t h e foxes ' l ack o f i n t e r e s t i n m o n k s h a s t o d o w i t h t h e i r
re la t ive ly m o r e fami l ia r p r e s e n c e in t h e e v e r y d a y h u m a n w o r l d . I t w a s a
c o m m o n p l a c e t h a t a n a b a n d o n e d m a n s i o n , l ike t h e o n e i n n o . 84 , soon
b e c a m e a foxes ' la ir ; a n d e v e n an i n h a b i t e d m a n s i o n c o u l d be infes ted
w i t h foxes ( n o . 8 0 ) . A p p a r e n t l y foxes cou ld m o v e in to a h o u s e jus t t h e
w a y r a c c o o n s a n d e v e n s k u n k s d o i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , b u t I w o n d e r
w h e t h e r a r a c c o o n family h a s e v e r c a r r i e d on t h e w a y t h e s e foxes d o .
S o m e fox t r i c k s a r e s imp le mischief . W h e r e a s t e n g u a n d t h e i r co l -
l e a g u e s l ike to p l a y on re l ig ious feel ings, foxes p l a y espec ia l ly on s exua l
d e s i r e . T h e fox c o u n t e r p a r t t o t h e t e n g u v is ion o f A m i d a a n d his s a in t s
( n o . 118) i s t h e d r e a m - m a r r i a g e o f t h e f o x - e n c h a n t e d h e r o i n n o . 8 2 .
F o x e s a r e f a m o u s in J a p a n for m a s q u e r a d i n g as beaut i fu l w o m e n — so
m u c h so t h a t i f a m a n r u n s a c r o s s a p r e t t y gir l a lone , espec ia l ly a t twi l igh t
or in t h e e v e n i n g , he is a fool i f he d o e s no t s u s p e c t h e r of b e i n g a fox. In
o t h e r w o r d s , e n c h a n t r e s s e s a r e , l i teral ly , foxy lad ies . T h e s t u n n i n g fox-
w o m a n o f n o . 4 7 i s a n o t h e r e x a m p l e . S h e d o e s no t exac t l y mi s l ead t h e
r e g e n t w h o sees he r , b u t s h e c e r t a i n l y p lays o n his m a l e n e s s .
F o x e s d o no t a p p e a r t o w o m e n a s h a n d s o m e m e n , b u t p o s s e s s t h e m
i n s t e a d as sp i r i t s . N o t t h a t a fox s p e a k i n g t h r o u g h a w o m a n ' s m o u t h t a l k s
a b o u t a n y t h i n g r o m a n t i c . O f t e n , all t h e fox w a n t s i s food ( n o s . 124, 2 0 6 ) .
In t h e e n d , t h o u g h , s o m e t h i n g else s e e m s to be g o i n g on — s o m e t h i n g t h a t
h a s a s m u c h t o d o w i t h t h e w o m a n a s t h e f o x - b e w i t c h e d m a n ' s in fa tua t ion
h a s t o d o w i t h himself . N o . 125 s e e m s t o s u p p o r t th is impres s ion . A t t he
b e g i n n i n g of t h e s to ry , t h e e m p r e s s i s p o s s e s s e d by a fox w h i c h the hea le r
m a n a g e s t o t r a n s f e r t o a m e d i u m a n d t h e n c a p t u r e . N e x t , t he e m p r e s s i s
o v e r w h e l m e d to t h e p o i n t o f i n s a n i t y by t h e hea le r ' s o w n lust . I t i s h a r d
t o be l i eve t h a t t h e or ig ina l fox h a d n o t h i n g t o d o w i t h he r suscept ib i l i ty .
T h e D a k i n i r i te o f n o . 47 invo lves foxes in s o m e sor t o f m e s s e n g e r ro le .
" D a k i n i " r e fe r s to a t r i ad o f d e m o n i c f igures w h o w e r e a b s o r b e d in to
E s o t e r i c B u d d h i s m , a n d w h o b e c a m e a s s o c i a t e d i n J a p a n w i t h the g o d
Ina r i , w h o g r a n t s a b u n d a n c e a n d w h o s e m e s s e n g e r i s t he fox. T h e s to ry ' s
G o d of G o o d F o r t u n e , a b y - p r o d u c t o f t h e D a k i n i r i te , i s so foxy tha t he
e v e n smel l s l ike a fox.
T h e fox in n o . 2 0 9 is p r o b a b l y a m e s s e n g e r t oo , s igni fy ing tha t a mag ic
c h a n n e l o f c o m m u n i c a t i o n b e t w e e n the d r e a m e r a n d t h e h i g h e r divini t ies
s t a n d s o p e n . ( T h e a p p e a r a n c e o f t h e g o l d e n rel ics s e e m s t o c o n f i r m th i s . )
A l t h o u g h I do no t k n o w jus t w h y t h e w h i t e fox s h o u l d h a v e a s k e d the
d r e a m e r t o w e a r r ed , t h e i m a g e i s fasc ina t ing .
D r a g o n s a n d s n a k e s c o n s t i t u t e a n en t i re ly di f ferent c lass o f c r e a t u r e s .
B o t h a r e c lose ly a s s o c i a t e d , in all J a p a n e s e folklore, a r t , a n d l i t e r a tu re
( i n c l u d i n g t h e s e s t o r i e s ) , w i t h w a t e r . Re l a t ed as soc ia t ions a r e w i t h t h u n -
d e r a n d l i g h t n i n g on t h e o n e h a n d a n d w i t h lust on t h e o t h e r — in o t h e r
w o r d s , w i t h p r i m o r d i a l m a n i f e s t a t i o n s o f e n e r g y a n d vi tal i ty. T h e b o u n d -
a r y b e t w e e n d r a g o n s a n d s n a k e s i s often v a g u e , bu t o n t he w h o l e d r a g o n s
a r e n o b l e r a n d a r e m o r e l ikely t o b e t h u n d e r - b e i n g s t h a n s n a k e s , w h i l e
s n a k e s a r e m o r e l ikely t h a n d r a g o n s t o s t a n d p la in ly for lust . N e i t h e r i s
g i v e n t o g r a t u i t o u s mischief, b u t s n a k e s can s o m e t i m e s b e d e s t r u c t i v e .
J a p a n e s e d r a g o n s h a v e d i s t i n g u i s h e d c o n t i n e n t a l a n c e s t o r s . I n t h e
B u d d h i s t s u t r a s t h e y a p p e a r a s sp i r i t s o f t he cosmic w a t e r s w h o h o n o r
a n d p r o t e c t t h e T e a c h i n g , w h i l e imper i a l i m a g e r y i n t he S i n o - J a p a n e s e
t r a d i t i o n i s full o f d r a g o n s . F o r i n s t a n c e , t h e e m p e r o r ' s face i s " t h e
d r a g o n v i s a g e , " a n d a n a n g r y e m p e r o r h a s "ruff led s c a l e s . "
P e r h a p s t h e d r a g o n i s bes t t h o u g h t o f a s t h e e n e r g y o f t he w a t e r cyc le :
r a i n , r ive r , sea , v a p o r , a n d ra in a g a i n . T h e image o f a d r a g o n s p o r t i n g
a m o n g t h e c l o u d s , o b v i o u s l y r e p r e s e n t i n g ra in a n d t h e b less ing its b r i n g s ,
i s so c o m m o n in E a s t As i an p a i n t i n g t h a t i t i s famil iar to m a n y in t he
W e s t . T h e d r a g o n o f n o . 36 , a L o t u s S u t r a d e v o t e e , m a k e s ra in , a n d
d r a g o n g o d s w e r e n o r m a l l y i n v o k e d i n r a i n m a k i n g r i tes ( n o . 183) . T h e
e m p e r o r , w h o b l e s se s his p e o p l e from h igh a t o p a m e t a p h o r i c a l m o u n t a i n ,
i s d r a g o n l i k e b e c a u s e i t i s f rom m o u n t a i n s t h a t t h e l ife-giving w a t e r s flow
d o w n t o t h e p l a in . D r a g o n ( o r s n a k e ) s h r i n e s a r e c o m m o n o n w a t e r s h e d
s u m m i t s a n d r i d g e s for t h i s r e a s o n .
P r a c t i c a l l y a n y b o d y o f w a t e r i n J a p a n m a y h a r b o r a D r a g o n King .
M a n o P o n d ( n o . 3 5 ) m a y b e i m p o s i n g ; b u t S a r u s a w a P o n d ( n o s . 37 ,
183), w h i c h p r ac t i c a l l y e v e r y v i s i to r t o N a r a h a s seen , i s u n i m p r e s s i v e ;
a n d t h e poo l a t K o z e n ( n o . 183) , t h e si te o f r a i n m a k i n g r i tes even in to
the t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y , i s t i ny . In fact t h e D r a g o n K i n g of n o . 183 lives in
a c a v e on a m o u n t a i n s i d e , w h e r e t h e w a t e r s beg in the i r j o u r n e y to t h e
fields b e l o w .
A p r o p e r D r a g o n K i n g l ives in a s p l e n d i d p a l a c e . T h e d r a g o n of n o .
183 h a s his ins ide a c a v e , b u t a d r a g o n w i t h a p o n d will h a v e his pa l ace
a t t h e b o t t o m of t h e p o n d . N o . 18-4 p r o v i d e s a fine e x a m p l e . T h e D r a g o n
Pa l ace a t t h e b o t t o m o f t h e sea , wel l k n o w n in J a p a n e s e lore , d o e s no t
f igure d i r e c t l y in t h e s e s to r i e s , b u t i t i s p r o b a b l y re la ted to t h e E t e r n a l
M o u n t a i n o f n o . 106.
S n a k e s , t h e m o s t a m b i g u o u s o f all " r e a l " c r e a t u r e s , can b e g o d s o r a t
least s u p e r n a t u r a l p o w e r s ; c a n e m b o d y sinful, espec ia l ly lustful t h o u g h t s ;
a n d c a n be a form of K a n n o n ( n o . 137) . T h e i r lack of d ign i ty in c o m p a r -
ison w i t h d r a g o n s n o d o u b t h a s t o d o w i t h t h e i r famil iar i ty i n n o r m a l life.
N o . 187 f e a t u r e s a s n a k e g o d w h o r e s e m b l e s a d r a g o n in m a n y w a y s ,
b u t w h o l a c k s a d r a g o n ' s p h i l o s o p h i c a l o r poe t ic a u r a . He c o n t r o l s a
fruitful i s l and , a n d l ives h igh up on t h e i s land for t h e s a m e r e a s o n t h a t
d r a g o n s of ten live on m o u n t a i n s . (A r e l a t ed g o d still l ives h igh on a smal l
s a c r e d i s land i n L a k e B i w a . ) T h e s n a k e s o f severa l o t h e r s to r i e s a r e m o r e
p la in ly w a t e r - b e i n g s . In n o . 98 a m a s s of s n a k e s e v e n looks l ike w a t e r ,
a n d in n o . 136 a s n a k e t r i es for no p a r t i c u l a r r e a s o n to d r a g a w r e s t l e r
in to a d e e p poo l .
S n a k e s a r e eas i ly r e c o g n i z a b l e even to u s a s an image for evil , d e l u d e d ,
o r lustful t h o u g h t s . In t h e s e s to r i e s a s n a k e s e e m s s o m e t i m e s to be lus t
itself. T h e w o m a n i n n o . I l l , f rant ic w i t h f ru s t r a t ed s exua l des i r e , t u r n s
in to a h u g e s n a k e a n d p u r s u e s t h e m a n s h e w a n t s . In no . 109 a y o u n g
m a n d r e a m s a gir l m a k e s love to h im, t h e n w a k e s up to d i s c o v e r t h a t a
s n a k e h a s m a d e h im e j acu la t e ; w h i l e i n n o . 110 a y o u n g w o m a n e n d s u p
m e s m e r i z e d b y a s n a k e t h a t h a s a c c i d e n t a l l y seen b e t w e e n h e r legs . F o u r
s to r i e s a s s o c i a t e t h e s n a k e mo t i f w i t h a y o u n g gi r l ' s s exua l fantas ies ( n o s .
107, 108, 112, a n d 1 8 5 ) .
An a v o w e d l y B u d d h i s t c o n t e x t m a y g ive s n a k e s a w i d e r , m o r a l signif-
i c a n c e . In n o . 139, a y o u n g g i r l ' s o n l y sin i s to love h e r p l u m t r e e ' s
b l o s s o m s so m u c h t h a t s h e c a n n o t forget t h e m e v e n af ter d e a t h . As a
resu l t of th i s c l i n g i n g to t h e p l e a s u r e s of h e r p a s t life, s h e i s r e b o r n as a
lit t le s n a k e t h a t w r a p s itself a r o u n d t h e p l u m t r e e . T h e s t o r y m a k e s a
p r e t t y B u d d h i s t s e r m o n a g a i n t a t t a c h m e n t t o t h e t h i n g s o f th i s w o r l d , b u t
i t t oo , o f c o u r s e , m a y a l l u d e s i len t ly to sexua l fan tas ies .
T h e last a n i m a l to m e n t i o n i s t h e t u r t l e . T h e i m m o r t a l l ady o f n o . 106
i s a t u r t l e . M a r i n e t u r t l e s a r e m a g i c c r e a t u r e s w h o s t a n d for i m m o r t a l i t y
I i i
a n d w h o s e e m re l a t ed , l ike d r a g o n s a n d s n a k e s , t o ideas o f sp i r i tua l
t r a n s f o r m a t i o n ( n o s . 103, 104, a n d 105) .
T H E S O U R C E S
J a p a n e s e s c h o l a r s d i s t i n g u i s h a b o d y of w r i t i n g t h e y call sctduwa bungaku.
T h e t e r m j u s t m e a n s " ta le l i t e r a t u r e , " b u t i t refers specifically t o a b o u t
for ty-f ive co l l ec t ions ( t h e y v a r y g r e a t l y i n l a n g u a g e , qua l i ty , a n d i n t e n t )
p u t t o g e t h e r b e t w e e n A . D . 8 2 2 a n d r o u g h l y 1350. O f t he 220 s tor ies i n
th i s b o o k , 210 c o m e f rom ten o f t h e m o r e i m p o r t a n t o f t he se med ieva l
co l l ec t ions , w h i l e t h e r e m a i n i n g 10 a r e f rom o t h e r med ieva l w o r k s ou t -
s ide " t a l e l i t e r a t u r e . " (All t h e s o u r c e s a r e l is ted i n " T h e W o r k s T h e s e
T a l e s C o m e F r o m , " i n t h e b a c k o f t he b o o k . ) H o w e v e r , 165 o f t he s tor ies ,
far m o r e t h a n a t w o - t h i r d s major i ty , a r e from t w o co l lec t ions , t he mas t e r -
p i ece s of t h e g e n r e : Ujishutmonogatari("'A L a t e r Col lec t ion of Uji T a l e s , "
e a r l y t h i r t e e n t h c e n t u r y ) w i t h 54 , a n d Konjaku monogatari dhu ( "Ta le s of
T i m e s N o w P a s t , " ca . 1100) w i t h 1 1 1 .
W h a t a r e t h e s u b j e c t s o f " t a le l i t e r a t u r e " ? O n e c a t e g o r y o f s to r ies dea l s
w i t h C h i n a a n d I n d i a . Konjaku, for i n s t ance , d e v o t e s t h e first 185 of its
m o r e t h a n 1,000 ta les t o Ind ia , a n d the s e c o n d 181 to C h i n a . N e e d l e s s t o
say , I left s u c h t a les o u t b e c a u s e t h e y a r e a b o u t t he w r o n g c o u n t r y .
T h e s e c o n d a n d b y far t h e l a rges t c a t e g o r y dea l s w i th B u d d h i s t t op i c s .
I f I h a d k e p t t h e s a m e p r o p o r t i o n of B u d d h i s t s to r ies as in my s o u r c e s ,
Japanese Tales w o u l d be a far m o r e p i o u s b o o k , for the medieva l col lec-
t i o n s i n c l u d e m a n y m o r e B u d d h i s t s to r i e s t h a n a n y o t h e r k ind . A g o o d
m a n y , l ike n o s . 115 a n d 137, m u s t h a v e b e e n u s e d in p r e a c h i n g ; w h i l e
o t h e r s e v o k e t h e m i r a c u l o u s o r ig in s o f f a m o u s t e m p l e s ( n o . 26 ) o r images
( n o . 2 7 ) , o r t h e d e e d s o f g r e a t m o n k s ( n o s . 182, 2 1 3 ) .
T h e t h i r d c a t e g o r y o f s to r i e s c o n c e r n s t h e c o u r t a n d its w o r l d . S o m e
of t h e s e t a les a r e v e r y g o o d ( n o s . 7 a n d 191 , for e x a m p l e ) , bu t I found
m a n y o t h e r s u n s u i t a b l e : b r ie f i t ems a b o u t c o u r t m a n n e r s o r a b o u t t he
d o i n g s o f g r e a t l o r d s ; s c e n e s o f c o u r t life i n t e r e s t i n g on ly to the in i t ia ted ;
c u r i o u s i n c i d e n t s in h i s t o r y a n d pol i t i cs ; a few a c c o u n t s of ba t t l e s ; m o -
m e n t s o f t r i u m p h for m a s t e r a r t i s t s , c r a f t s m e n , h o r s e m e n , wre s t l e r s , p lay-
e r s o f c o u r t footbal l (kemari), e t c . ; a n d n u m e r o u s a n e c d o t e s a b o u t
p a r t i c u l a r l y success fu l , m o v i n g , o r u n u s u a l p o e m s . M a n y o f these i t ems
c a n h a r d l y b e ca l led s to r i e s a t all . T h e y i n t e r e s t e d c o m p i l e r s a n d r e a d e r s
less a s e n t e r t a i n m e n t t h a n a s e x a m p l e s o f c o n d u c t , j u d g m e n t , o r skill .
T h e f o u r t h c a t e g o r y , f rom w h i c h I h a v e d r a w n the mos t heavi ly, con -
sis ts o f l e g e n d s a n d p o p u l a r t a les . H o w e v e r , th i s c a t e g o r y i s the smal les t
of t h e four , a n d for t h i s r e a s o n a lone Uji abui, Konjaku, a n d the o t h e r
s o u r c e s s h o u l d no t be t h o u g h t o f p r i m a r i l y as folktale co l lec t ions .
W h a t i s t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n " ta le l i t e r a t u r e " a n d t h e m o d e r n
fo lkta le? A c o m p a r i s o n w i t h Ancient Tales in Modern Japan, a r ecen t ly
p u b l i s h e d v o l u m e of fo lk ta les to ld by v i l lage s to ry t e l l e r s in t he t w e n t i e t h
c e n t u r y ( s ee B i b l i o g r a p h y ) , c a n s e rve a s a n i l lus t ra t ion . F a n n y H a g i n
M a y e r ' s w o r k s h a r e s f ive s to r i e s w i t h Japanese Tales: n o . 127 ( m y n o . 3 ) ;
n o . 183j ( m y n o . 17) ; n o . 140 ( m y n o . 169) ; no . 69 ( m y n o . 174) ; a n d n o .
164 ( m y n o . 2 1 7 ) . A few of its s to r i e s a l so i nc lude p a r t s of ta les p r e s e n t
in th i s b o o k — for e x a m p l e , n o . 99 ( m y n o . 7 5 ) , n o . 30 ( m y n o . 107) , a n d
n o . 311 ( m y n o . 2 1 9 ) . T h e t w o w o r k s a l so s h a r e v a r i o u s mot i fs . T h i s i s
r e m a r k a b l e in a w a y , s ince six h u n d r e d to e igh t h u n d r e d y e a r s s e p a r a t e
t h e s o u r c e s for e a c h . On t h e o t h e r h a n d , Ancient Tales in Modern Japan
r e p r e s e n t s fairly t h e r a n g e o f t h e m o d e r n J a p a n e s e folktale , w h e r e a s
Japanese Tales e x a g g e r a t e s t h e folktale c o n t e n t of t h e m e d i e v a l co l l ec t ions .
Seen i n th i s l ight , t h e r e s e m b l a n c e s a r e no t necessa r i ly i m p r e s s i v e . H o w -
e v e r a n c i e n t t h e r e c e n t l y co l l ec t ed fo lk ta les m a y be , m a n y t h i n g s h a v e
c h a n g e d in t h e last e igh t h u n d r e d y e a r s . F o r i n s t ance , n o s . 3 a n d 169 in
th i s b o o k fol low t h e s y m m e t r i c a l " g o o d old m a n / b a d old m a n " p a t t e r n
wel l k n o w n in m o d e r n folkta les , a n d wel l r e p r e s e n t e d i n F a n n y H a g i n
M a y e r ' s b o o k ; y e t t h e y a r e t h e o n l y e x a m p l e s o f th is p a t t e r n in all my
s o u r c e s . T h e kappa, a w a t e r - g o b l i n t h a t has b e c o m e a lmos t t h e e m b l e m
of J a p a n e s e fo lk lore , is no t to be found in med ieva l ta le l i t e r a tu r e a t all .
A b o v e all, f a r m e r s a n d t he i r p r e o c c u p a t i o n s , s o bas ic t o t h e m o d e r n
folkta le , a r e r a r e i n t h e o l d e r l i t e r a t u r e .
A l t h o u g h t h e y d o i n c l u d e p o p u l a r e l e m e n t s , t h e med ieva l co l lec t ions
a r e no t folk l i t e r a t u r e . T h e c o m p i l e r s a n d the i r r e a d e r s w e r e h igh ly l i ter-
a t e , a n d p a r t i c u l a r l y c o n s c i o u s o f h i s to ry . O f c o u r s e e d u c a t e d p e o p l e
w e r e b o u n d t o b e i n t e r e s t e d i n h i s t o r y a n y w a y , b u t t h e C h i n e s e t r a d i t i o n
o f m e t i c u l o u s r e c o r d - k e e p i n g in f luenced the J a p a n e s e , w h o a lso v a l u e d
de ta i l ed r e c o r d s . I n th i s sp i r i t , m a n y s tor ies g ive p rec i se i n fo rma t ion by
w h i c h t h e y c a n b e d a t e d . ( I h a v e i n d i c a t e d t h e s e d a t e s w h e n e v e r poss ib le
i n t h e no t e s , u s u a l l y w i t h t h e h e l p o f t h e m o d e r n J a p a n e s e c o m m e n t a -
t o r s . ) T h e c o m p i l e r s ' i n t e r e s t i n a c c u r a c y i s on ly e m p h a s i z e d by occa -
s ional g a p s in t h e s o u r c e s , e spec ia l ly in Konjaku. H e r e t h e c o m p i l e r s e e m s
to h a v e left a b l a n k w h e n he f o u n d he w a s mis s ing a n a m e , so t h a t he
cou ld f i l l i t i n la ter . T h e s t o r i e s w e r e s u p p o s e d to be t r u e , a n d i t w a s t h e
t r a n s m i t t e r ' s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o s i t u a t e t h e m co r r ec t l y i n his a n d his r e a d -
e r ' s w o r l d .
W h e r e d id t he c o m p i l e r s ge t t h e i r t a l e s? T h e pre face to Uji shui mono-
gatari g ives a f a sc ina t ing g l i m p s e of a c o m p i l e r at w o r k on an i m p o r t a n t
co l lec t ion , n o w u n f o r t u n a t e l y lost . T h i s w a s Uji no Dainaaon monogatart
( " T h e Uji M a j o r C o u n s e l o r ' s T a l e s " ) , p u t t o g e t h e r by a h i g h - r a n k i n g
c o u r t i e r n a m e d M i n a m o t o n o T a k a k u n i (d . 1077) w h o r e t i r ed t o Uji,
1 i
b e t w e e n K y o t o a n d N a r a . T h e r e he w o u l d "en joy t h e cool rec l in ing on a
m a t a n d f a n n i n g h imse l f w i t h a g r e a t b ig fan. He w o u l d call o v e r a n y
p a s s e r b y , h igh o r low, a n d ge t t h e p e r s o n to tell h im a s to ry , w h i c h he
w o u l d t a k e d o w n in a b ig n o t e b o o k , s t r a i g h t from the te l ler ' s l ips . " T h e
a n o n y m o u s a u t h o r o f t h e p r e f a c e s u r m i s e s t h a t t he equa l ly u n k n o w n Uji
sht'ti c o m p i l e r m e a n t t o c o n t i n u e T a k a k u n i ' s w o r k .
P e r h a p s T a k a k u n i u s e d w r i t t e n s o u r c e s a s we l l ; l a te r compi l e r s su re ly
d i d . A n y w a y , w r i t t e n a n d ora l s o u r c e s p r o b a b l y d id no t e x c l u d e e a c h
o t h e r e v e n for a s ing le t a l e . In cases w h e r e an ear l ie r , w r i t t e n ve r s ion
c e r t a i n l y e x i s t e d , a c o m p i l e r still m i g h t no t u s e it, a t least no t d i rec t ly .
H e m i g h t r e ly i n s t e a d o n a n i n t e r m e d i a t e w r i t t e n v e r s i o n ; o n his o w n
fami l ia r i ty w i t h s eve ra l v e r s i o n s , w r i t t e n o r o ra l ; o r o n s o m e o n e else 's
t e l l ing . I n fact t h e d i s t i nc t ion b e t w e e n " w r i t t e n " a n d " o r a l " m a y not b e
v e r y useful for Japanese Tales. T a k e t h e e x a m p l e o l T a k a k u n i n o t i n g d o w n
t a l e s f rom " a n y p a s s e r b y , h igh o r l o w . " A " h i g h " p a s s e r b y w o u l d h a v e been
s o m e o n e w h o s e t h i n k i n g h a d b e e n fo rmed la rge ly b y the w r i t t e n w o r d ,
w h e t h e r p o e t r y ( w h i c h w a s essen t ia l t h e n ) o r p r o s e ; a n d T a k a k u n i w o u l d
still h a v e e d i t e d h i s t e l l ing . A " l o w " p a s s e r b y migh t h a v e been i l l i terate
o r s e m i l i t e r a t e , a n d T a k a k u n i w o u l d h a v e t id ied u p his w o r d s even m o r e .
E v e r y c o m p i l e r p u t h is m a r k o n his w o r k . S o m e seem t o h a v e r e d u c e d
a lot o f m a t e r i a l to s k e l e t o n n o t e s , w h i l e o t h e r s d e v e l o p e d s tor ies lovingly .
A t t h e v e r y least , t h e r e w a s t h e q u e s t i o n o f c h o o s i n g the k ind o f l a n g u a g e
t o w r i t e in.
W r i t i n g i n m e d i e v a l J a p a n c o u l d v a r y b e t w e e n classical C h i n e s e a n d
p u r e , n a t u r a l J a p a n e s e . T h e s e a n d m a n y t r ans i t i ona l s tyles a r e p r e s e n t
i n " t a l e l i t e r a t u r e . " ( P e o p l e t h e n w r o t e i n C h i n e s e r a t h e r a s t he med ieva l
E u r o p e a n s w r o t e i n L a t i n , t h o u g h t h e y c o u l d no t s p e a k i t . ) W r i t t e n
l a n g u a g e w a s no t t h e s a m e a s s p e e c h . E v e n t h e p u r e J a p a n e s e o f Ujishui
p r o b a b l y d o e s n o t s i m p l y t r a n s c r i b e s p e e c h , for J a p a n e s e w a s a l i t e ra ry
l a n g u a g e t oo , w i t h m a n y m a s t e r p e i c e s to its c r ed i t by t h e t ime t h e Uji
shui c o m p i l e r l ived. H i s s to r i e s e v o k e n a t u r a l s p e e c h t h a n k s to t h e
w r i t e r ' s craf t , a n d t h e i r c o n s i s t e n c y o f t o n e c o u l d on ly h a v e been i m p o s e d
on t h e m by a fine w r i t e r .
W h o w e r e t h e " c o m p i l e r s " I k e e p m e n t i o n i n g ? T h e r e i s no t m u c h t o
s a y a b o u t t h e m . M o s t co l lec t ions , l ike Uji shut, a r e a n o n y m o u s . No o n e
k n o w s w h o p u t t o g e t h e r Konjaku, a l t h o u g h s c h o l a r s m a k e o n e c o n j e c t u r e
o r a n o t h e r . P e r h a p s t h e m a n w a s a m o n k ; a n d p e r h a p s severa l p e o p l e
w o r k e d o n it. A t a n y r a t e all t h e c o m p i l e r s , w h e t h e r m o n k s o r l aymen ,
m u s t h a v e b e e n e d u c a t e d m e n w i t h s o m e k n o w l e d g e o f c o u r t soc ie ty .
T a k a k u n i , for h i s p a r t , w a s a f o r m e r m e m b e r o f t h e Counc i l o l S t a t e .
A m o n g m y t e n s o u r c e co l l ec t ions n o r m a l l y classif ied a s " ta le l i t e r a t u r e , "
t h e c o m p i l e r s a r e k n o w n o n l y for t h e fo l lowing w o r k s , f rom w h i c h I got
t h i r t y t a l e s : HoMhimhu ( " T h o s e W h o A w o k e t o F a i t h , " e a r ly t h i r t e e n t h
c e n t u r y ) ; Kojidan ( " A n e c d o t e s of t h e P a s t , " ca . 1215) ; Kokonchomonju
( " T h i n g s S e e n a n d H e a r d , O l d a n d N e w , " 1254) ; Shcmekuhu ( " A B o o k
o f S a n d a n d P e b b l e s , " 1287) ; a n d Tjurezuregiua ( " E s s a y s in I d l e n e s s , "
ca . 1330) . T h r e e m o r e t a les a r e from Kaluga Gongen genki ( " T h e M i r a c l e s
o f t h e K a s u g a G o d , " 1309) , w h i c h , t h o u g h no t c o u n t e d a s p a r t o f " t a le
l i t e r a t u r e , " is a fine co l lec t ion of m i r ac l e s to r i e s . S o m e of t h e s e c o m p i l e r s
w e r e m o n k s a n d s o m e l a y m e n , a n d all e x c e p t p e r h a p s t h e Sbadekifbu
c o m p i l e r w e r e o f d i s t i n g u i s h e d b i r t h a n d k n e w t h e w o r l d o f t h e C a p i t a l .
I n a m e a n d d e s c r i b e t h e m i n " T h e W o r k s T h e s e T a l e s C o m e F r o m . "
T R A N S L A T I O N A N D E D I T I N G
All m y t r a n s l a t i o n s a r e ed i t ed , m o r e o r less s o d e p e n d i n g o n t h e c h a r a c t e r
o f t h e o r ig ina l . O f c o u r s e s t u d i o u s l y faithful t r a n s l a t i o n s a r e v a l u a b l e ,
b u t I felt t h e y w o u l d be o u t o f p l ace in th i s b o o k . T h e s e a r e v e r y old
s to r i e s , a f te r all, f rom a d i s t a n t c o u n t r y . I f t he i r g e n i u s is to s h i n e for u s ,
in o u r t i m e , t h e y n e e d a litt le c o m b i n g a n d b r u s h i n g to r id t h e m of smal l
i d i o s y n c r a s i e s w h i c h m i g h t t u r n o u r a t t e n t i o n from w h a t m a t t e r s . I h a v e
t a k e n n o c a s u a l l ibe r t i es , h o w e v e r , a n d h a v e no t d e n a t u r e d t h e s to r i e s i n
a n y w a y . I t i s t r u e , t h o u g h , t h a t in a few i n s t a n c e s I c o m b i n e d e l e m e n t s
f rom d i f fe ren t s o u r c e s i n to a s ingle ta le — t h e o u t s t a n d i n g e x a m p l e i s n o .
2 1 3 . T h r o u g h o u t , I w o r k e d espec ia l ly on four p r o b l e m s : t h e t i t les o f t h e
s to r i e s , t h e i r s ty le , t h e l a rge a m o u n t o f un fami l i a r i n f o r m a t i o n m a n y
c o n t a i n , a n d t h e i r fo rm.
A l t h o u g h n e a r l y e v e r y ta le h a s a t i t le in t h e or ig ina l , I m a d e up all t he
t i t les i n t h i s b o o k . T h e old o n e s s o u n d like th i s : " H o w R e t i r e d E m p e r o r
U d a R e v e a l e d t h e G h o s t o f M i n i s t e r o f t h e Left T o r u , o f R i v e r s i d e P a l -
a c e " ( n o . 190) , a n d t h i s : " H o w t h e F o x o f K o y a R i v e r C h a n g e d in to a
W o m a n a n d R o d e o n t h e C r o u p s o f H o r s e s " ( n o . 2 0 7 ) . O l d - f a s h i o n e d
t i t les l ike t h e s e a r e useful ly d e s c r i p t i v e , b u t t h e y s e e m awfu l ly p o k e r - f a c e d .
As for s ty le , I h a v e a l r e a d y n o t e d t h e v a r i e t y o f l a n g u a g e s in t h e
s o u r c e s . C lass ica l C h i n e s e ( n o . 101) p r o d u c e s a v e r y d i f ferent effect f rom
p u r e c o n v e r s a t i o n a l J a p a n e s e ( n o . 150) . T h e r e a r e a lso d i f fe rences o f
t o n e , s i nce s o m e o r ig ina l s s o u n d l ight , o t h e r s s e r ious o r stiff. T h e s tyle o f
Konjaku is often r a t h e r p l o d d i n g . I t r i ed to b l e n d all t h e s e v a r i a t i o n s in to
a b o u t t h e s a m e so r t o f E n g l i s h . O c c a s i o n a l l y I f o u n d I h a d to c h a n g e t h e
o r d e r o f t h e s t a t e m e n t s i n t h e n a r r a t i o n so a s t o m a k e a s t o ry s o u n d
n a t u r a l i n E n g l i s h — an i n t e r e s t i n g d i s c o v e r y . T h e m e d i e v a l J a p a n e s e d id
no t v a l u e f o r w a r d m o v e m e n t i n a s t o r y a s m u c h a s we d o .
1 V i
T h e o r i g in a l s of ten s u p p l y i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t for t h e un in i t i a t ed m o d e r n
r e a d e r m a k e s t h e t ex t u n n e c e s s a r i l y o b s c u r e . N a m e s a n d t i t les o f h is tor i -
cal p e o p l e , a n d t h e n a m e s o f p r e c i s e loca t ions , a r e d i sp l ayed p r o m i n e n t l y ;
w h i l e e l s e w h e r e de ta i l s o f a r c h i t e c t u r e , c o s t u m e , e q u i p m e n t , e tc . a r e
ca re fu l ly r e c o r d e d . I h a v e t o n e d d o w n t h e ident i f ica t ions o f p e o p l e a n d
p l a c e s , of ten s impl i fy ing a n d occas iona l l y even s u p p r e s s i n g t h e m ; a n d I
h a v e a l so s impl i f ied s o m e d e s c r i p t i o n s , o r r e p l a c e d t echn ica l t e r m s w i t h
m o r e fami l ia r a p p r o x i m a t i o n s — l ike " v e r a n d a . " S o m e t i m e s I h a v e in-
s e r t e d s h o r t de f in i t ions o r e x p l a n a t i o n s i n to t h e t ex t .
T h e p r o b l e m o f fo rm h a s t o d o w i t h t h e b e g i n n i n g s a n d the e n d i n g s o f
t h e s t o r i e s . F i r s t , w h i l e m o s t co l l ec t ions set t h e ta les ou t p r e t t y p la in ly ,
t h e Konjaku c o m p i l e r care fu l ly b e g a n each ta le w i t h a set fo rmula r e sem-
b l i n g " o n c e u p o n a t i m e , " a n d e n d e d i t w i t h an ed i to r ia l c o m m e n t , a little
m o r a l or b i t of s a g e a d v i c e , a n d a set c los ing f o r m u l a . I left ou t all t he se
f o r m u l a s a n d k e p t p a r t s o f t h e c o m m e n t s on ly w h e n I t h o u g h t t h e y w e r e
a m u s i n g o r p a r t i c u l a r l y a p p r o p r i a t e . B e g i n n i n g s cou ld p r e s e n t a n o t h e r
s o r t o f p r o b l e m . T h i s i s w h e r e m a n y s tor ies c r a m in a p a r t i c u l a r l y la rge
a m o u n t o f b a c k g r o u n d i n f o r m a t i o n , a n d s o m e t i m e s rhe to r i ca l o r n a m e n t s
t h a t t h e m o d e r n r e a d e r m a y no t a d m i r e . I n such cases , I s implif ied.
T h e c o n c l u s i o n s o f t h e s to r i e s a r e t h e last t h i n g t o m e n t i o n . J a p a n e s e
w r i t i n g h a s a l w a y s a v o i d e d s n a p p y e n d i n g s . E v e n m o d e r n nove l s m a y
s e e m to fade o u t g r a d u a l l y , o r e v e n to b r e a k off i n m i d - t h o u g h t . M o s t o f
t h e s e t a l e s e n d softly, t o o . T h i s a p p r o a c h d o e s no t p r o d u c e p u n c h l ines ,
b u t i t h a s its o w n v i r t u e s a n d I h a v e no t t r i ed to c h a n g e it.
T H E P A T T E R N O F T H E B O O K
T h e 2 2 0 ta les a r e g r o u p e d in se ts of five, w i t h a few i r r e g u l a r sets of four
o r s ix, a n d e a c h se t h a s its o w n t h e m a t i c h e a d i n g . T h i s a r r a n g e m e n t i s
m e a n t t o m a k e c o n v e n i e n t u n i t s for r e a d i n g a n d t o a l low in t e r e s t i ng
j u x t a p o s i t i o n s of s t o r i e s . T h e n o r m a l p a t t e r n for a set — a n d t h e r e a r e
m a n y e x c e p t i o n s — is to s t a r t w i t h a s h o r t ta le , c o n t i n u e w i t h t w o of
m e d i u m l e n g t h , f e a t u r e a l o n g e r s t o r y in four th pos i t ion , a n d close w i t h
a n o t h e r s h o r t p i e c e .
D o n o t b e he ld b a c k b y t h e t h e m e s s u g g e s t e d . S o m e a r e v e r y specific,
o t h e r s c a t c h - a l l . M o s t s to r i e s c o u l d easi ly h a v e b e e n p u t u n d e r o t h e r
h e a d i n g s , i n c l u d i n g o n e s I d id no t m e n t i o n a t all . In a n y case , few h e a d -
ings e x h a u s t t h e i r a n n o u n c e d sub jec t . T h e p r e s e n c e o f t w o se ts o n foxes,
for e x a m p l e , d o e s n o t m e a n t h a t a r e no fox s to r i e s i n o t h e r sets ; a n d the
b o o k i s e v e n m o r e full o f s n a k e s t h a n o f foxes , t h o u g h t h e r e i s on ly o n e
se t e n t i t l e d " S n a k e s . "
I n K u r i t a c o u n t y o f O m i p r o v i n c e t h e r e o n c e g r e w a g i an t o a k t r e e . S i n c e
t he t r u n k w a s five h u n d r e d f a t h o m s a r o u n d , t he he igh t a n d t h e s p r e a d o f
its b r a n c h e s c a n eas i ly be i m a g i n e d . In t he m o r n i n g its s h a d e r e a c h e d
T a m b a p r o v i n c e , a n d lay o v e r Ise i n t h e a f t e r n o o n . N o s t o r m cou ld m o v e
i t a n d no t y p h o o n c o u l d set i t s w a y i n g .
O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e f a r m e r s o f Sh iga , Kur i t a , a n d K o g a c o u n t i e s
c o u l d n o t g r o w a n y t h i n g b e c a u s e t h e t r e e b l o c k e d t h e s u n s h i n e from t h e i r
fields. T h e y p r e s e n t e d a c o m p l a i n t to t h e e m p e r o r , w h o sen t a p a r t y to
cu t t h e o a k d o w n . T h e f a r m e r s go t g o o d h a r v e s t s o n c e i t w a s g o n e , a n d
t he i r d e s c e n d a n t s a r e w o r k i n g t h o s e fields still.
2 .
MELON MAGIC
L a t e o n e s u m m e r a t r a in o f p a c k h o r s e s w a s on its w a y up from Y a m a t o
p r o v i n c e t o w a r d t h e C a p i t a l , l o a d e d w i t h m e l o n s . N o r t h o f Uji t h e d r i v -
e rs s t o p p e d to res t u n d e r a p e r s i m m o n t r ee . T h e y t o o k the me l o n b a s k e t s
4
off t h e h o r s e s a n d loafed in t h e s h a d e , e a t i n g s o m e me lons o f the i r o w n
w h i c h t h e y h a d b r o u g h t a l o n g .
An o ld m a n shuff led up to t h e m , l e a n i n g on a cane , a n d s tood t h e r e
w h i l e t h e y a t e , w e a k l y f a n n i n g himself a n d s t a r i n g g reed i ly a t t he i r mel-
o n s . F i n a l l y h e sa id h e w a s t h i r s t y a n d a s k e d for o n e . T h e d r i v e r s said h e
w o u l d be w e l c o m e to a me lon b u t u n f o r t u n a t e l y t he o n e s in the i r load
w e r e n ' t t h e i r s t o g ive a w a y — t h e y w e r e jus t d e l i v e r i n g t h e m to t he ci ty.
" Y o u b o y s a r e m e a n , " t h e o ld m a n c o m p l a i n e d . " Y o u s h o u l d b e k i n d e r
t o o ld p e o p l e . W e l l , all r igh t , I'll g r o w my o w n . "
W h i l e t h e d r i v e r s l a u g h e d , t h e old m a n p i c k e d up a s t ick a n d b e g a n to
w o r k a t i n y p a t c h of e a r t h in to a m i n i a t u r e field. N e x t he p l a n t e d some
m e l o n s e e d s t h e d r i v e r s h a d s c a t t e r e d . T h e d r i v e r s l o o k e d o n w i t h g r o w -
ing a m a z e m e n t a s t h e s e e d s s p r o u t e d be fo re t he i r e y e s a n d me lon v ines
b e g a n s n a k i n g e v e r y w h e r e . S o o n t h e f lowers h a d b l o o m e d a n d the fruit
swe l l ed i n t o b ig , r i pe m e l o n s .
By n o w a d r e a d h a d c o m e o v e r t he d r i v e r s — the old m a n su re ly m u s t
be a g o d . T h e o ld m a n h e l p e d himself to a me lon . " S e e ? " he sa id . " T h e
m e l o n s y o u w o u l d n ' t s h a r e h a v e g r o w n m e m y o w n ! " H e p a s s e d ou t
m e l o n s t o all t h e d r i v e r s a n d e v e n t o p e o p l e p a s s i n g by . W h e n all t h e
m e l o n s h a d b e e n e a t e n h e go t u p . " W e l l , I'll b e go ing n o w , " h e said a n d
w a n d e r e d o u t of s igh t .
I t w a s t i m e t o load t h e b a s k e t s b a c k o n the h o r s e s a n d get go ing , b u t
t h e b a s k e t s w e r e e m p t y . T h e m e l o n s w e r e g o n e ! T h e d r ive r s d e c i d e d t h a t
t h e o ld m a n h a d s o m e h o w c o n f u s e d t h e i r v is ion a n d go t t en all t he m e l o n s
o u t o f t h e b a s k e t s w i t h o u t b e i n g s e e n . T h e y w e r e fur ious . All t hey co u l d
d o w a s t u r n a r o u n d , m u c h t o t h e o n l o o k e r s ' a m u s e m e n t , a n d set off
l a m e l y b a c k t o Y a m a t o .
3 .
THE SPARROWS' GIFTS
O n e w a r m s p r i n g d a y a n old w o m a n w a s s i t t ing a t h o m e p ick ing lice
w h i l e a s p a r r o w h o p p e d a b o u t in h e r g a r d e n . T h e n a little boy t h r e w a
s t o n e a t t h e s p a r r o w a n d b r o k e its leg. A s t he s p a r r o w f l u t t e r e d helpless ly
a l o n g t h e g r o u n d , a c r o w c a m e c i rc l ing o v e r h e a d . " T h e p o o r t h i n g ! "
t h o u g h t t h e old w o m a n . " T h e crow'11 get i t ! " S h e p i c k e d the s p a r r o w
u p , b r e a t h e d on it, fed it, a n d p u t i t in a little t u b to k e e p i t safe for t he
n igh t .
I n t h e m o r n i n g s h e fed t h e s p a r r o w r ice m i x e d w i t h p o w d e r e d c o p p e r
to m a k e i t b e t t e r . H e r c h i l d r e n a n d g r a n d c h i l d r e n m a d e fun o f he r . "Si l ly
old t h i n g , " t h e y sa id , " n o w y o u ' r e b a b y i n g s p a r r o w s ! "
S h e t e n d e d t h e s p a r r o w for a m o n t h o r t w o till i t cou l d h o p aga in , a n d
the s p a r r o w w a s a s h a p p y a s cou ld b e . I f she w e n t ou t s h e m a d e s o m e o n e
w a t c h a n d feed i t for h e r . T h e family k e p t t e a s i n g h e r u n k i n d l y . " W h a t ' s
all th i s fuss o v e r a s p a r r o w ? " t h e y g r u m b l e d .
" I t ' s s u c h a d e a r little t h i n g , y o u s e e ! " s h e a n s w e r e d .
A t last t h e s p a r r o w s e e m e d m e n d e d . " T h e c rows ' l l n e v e r ge t y o u n o w ! "
she sa id , t a k i n g i t o u t s i d e a n d lifting i t on h e r o p e n p a l m . " L e t ' s see h o w
y o u f ly!" T h e s p a r r o w w o b b l e d in to t h e a i r a n d flew a w a y .
H a v i n g s p e n t s o l o n g l u s s i n g o v e r t h e s p a r r o w , feed ing i t e v e r y d a y
a n d p u t t i n g i t t o b e d , s h e mi s sed i t v e r y m u c h . S o m e t i m e s s h e t a l k e d
a b o u t i t a n d e v e n w o n d e r e d a l o u d w h e t h e r i t m i g h t c o m e b a c k . M o c k i n g
l a u g h t e r w a s all s h e go t in r e t u r n .
T h r e e w e e k s o r s o l a t e r s h e h e a r d a s p a r r o w c h e e p i n g loud ly n e a r b y .
S u r e e n o u g h , i t w a s h e r s p a r r o w b a c k aga in . " H o w l o v e l y ! " she c r i ed .
" Y o u h a v e n ' t f o rgo t t en m e ! " T h e s p a r r o w c o c k e d a n eye a t he r , d r o p p e d
s o m e t h i n g t i ny from its b e a k , a n d f lew olf. I t w a s a s ingle g o u r d s eed .
S h e k e p t i t b e c a u s e t h e s p a r r o w h a d b r o u g h t i t to he r .
H e r c h i l d r e n j e e r e d a t h e r l o r b e i n g so h a p p y a b o u t a p r e s e n t f rom a
silly s p a r r o w , b u t s h e h a d to p l a n t t he seed to see h o w i t w o u l d g r o w . By
tall t h e v i n e w a s h u g e a n d l a d e n w i t h la r m o r e fruit t h a n a n y o r d i n a r y
g o u r d v i n e . T h e old w o m a n w a s v e r y p l eased . T h o u g h she g a v e g o u r d s
a w a y t o all t h e n e i g h b o r s t h e r e w e r e a l w a y s p l e n t y m o r e . T h e family w h o
h a d m o c k e d h e r n o w a t e g o u r d for e v e r y mea l . F inal ly , s h e s h a r e d ou t
t he g o u r d s w i t h t h e w h o l e vi l lage, t h e n h u n g seven o r e ight o f t h e v e r y
b igges t u p ins ide t o d r y .
M o n t h s la ter , w h e n t h e g o u r d s w e r e r e a d y , s h e b e g a n t a k i n g t h e m
d o w n . H o w h e a v y t h e y w e r e ! S h e cu t t he t o p off o n e t o m a k e a s to r -
age c o n t a i n e r , a n d on f ind ing t h e g o u r d w a s full she p o u r e d o u t a
little o f w h a t w a s ins ide it. I t w a s w h i t e r i ce ! After she h a d e m p t i e d w h a t
s e e m e d like a w h o l e g o u r d f u l in to a b u c k e t , t h e g o u r d w a s still as full as
be fo re .
I t w a s t h e s p a r r o w s h e h a d to t h a n k for th is m i r ac l e ! S h e w a s i n
r a p t u r e . T h e o t h e r g o u r d s w e r e jus t a s full, a n d n o m a t t e r h o w m u c h s h e
p o u r e d ou t t h e r e w a s a l w a y s m o r e left t h a n she k n e w w h a t t o d o w i t h .
H e r family g r e w r i ch .
T h e n e i g h b o r s cou ld no t be l i eve t he i r eyes a n d w e r e t e r r i b l y j e a l o u s .
6
" W h a t m a k e s y o u a n d h e r s o d i f f e r e n t ? " t h e y c o m p l a i n e d t o the i r old
w o m a n . " S h e ' s m a d e t h e m r i ch . W e d o n ' t see y o u d o i n g t h a t for uA"
T h e w o m a n w e n t t o h e r succcess fu l n e i g h b o r t o find ou t h o w she h a d
d o n e it. " I g a t h e r i t h a d s o m e t h i n g to do w i t h a s p a r r o w , " she said, " b u t
I d o n ' t q u i t e u n d e r s t a n d . P l ea se tell me t h e w h o l e s t o r y ! " T h e first o ld
w o m a n a d m i t t e d c a u t i o u s l y t h a t i t h a d all s t a r t e d w i t h a seed a s p a r r o w
h a d b r o u g h t he r , b u t w h e n p r e s s e d for de ta i l s s h e t h o u g h t i t w o u l d b e
p e t t y o f h e r no t t o tell all . S h e e x p l a i n e d h o w s h e h a d c a r e d for t he
s p a r r o w w i t h t h e b r o k e n leg, a n d h o w s h e h a d p l a n t e d t he gra tefu l
s p a r r o w ' s s eed . T h e n e i g h b o r b e g g e d for j u s t o n e seed from the bount i fu l
v i n e , b u t t h e first o ld w o m a n sa id n o , s h e rea l ly co u l d not g ive ou t t he
s e e d s . S h e of fered r ice from the g o u r d s i n s t e a d .
T h e d i s a p p o i n t e d n e i g h b o r d e c i d e d s h e w o u l d f i n d h e r o w n in jured
s p a r r o w a n d k e p t a s h a r p eye o u t for one , b u t i n v a i n . T h e n s h e no t iced
t h e s p a r r o w s h o p p i n g a b o u t a t h e r b a c k d o o r e a c h m o r n i n g , feeding o n
t h e r ice g r a i n s s c a t t e r e d t h e r e , a n d she t r i ed t h r o w i n g s t o n e s a t t h e m .
T h e r e w e r e s o m a n y s p a r r o w s a n d s h e t h r e w s o m a n y s tones t h a t she
f i n a l l y m a n a g e d t o s t u n o n e .
In g lee s h e b r o k e its leg p r o p e r l y , t h e n fed i t food a n d m e d i c i n e . As far
a s s h e c o u l d see , i f o n e w o u l d m a k e h e r r ich t h e n m o r e w o u l d m a k e h e r
r i c h e r , a n d s h e w o u l d ge t still m o r e p r a i s e from h e r ch i l d r en t h a n t h a t
n e i g h b o r w o m a n h a d g o t t e n f rom h e r s . S o she s ca t t e r ed m o r e r ice a n d
t h r e w m o r e s t o n e s a t t h e s p a r r o w s till she h a d hit t h r e e . T h a t s e e m e d
e n o u g h . S h e p u t t h e m in a t u b a n d l o o k e d af ter t h e m for a few m o n t h s
till t h e y w e r e b e t t e r , t h e n m e r r i l y t ook t h e m o u t s i d e a n d w a t c h e d t h e m
f lu t t e r a w a y . S h e w a s e v e r s o p l ea sed w i t h herself . T h e s p a r r o w s , o n the
o t h e r h a n d , w e r e v e r y u n h a p p y t o h a v e h a d t he i r legs b r o k e n a n d t o h a v e
b e e n s h u t u p for m o n t h s .
I n t en d a y s t h e t h r e e s p a r r o w s c a m e b a c k , a n d t h e w o m a n p e e r e d
e a g e r l y a t t h e i r b e a k s . E a c h d r o p p e d a g o u r d seed a n d flew off.
" T h e r e ! " s h e c h o r t l e d , a n d p l a n t e d t h e s e e d s . T h e v ines g r e w fas ter
t h a n n o r m a l a n d b e c a m e v e r y l a rge , b u t t h e y d id not b e a r m a n y g o u r d s
— s e v e n o r e i g h t p e r v i n e , no m o r e . T h e w o m a n looked on wi th a b ig
g r i n . " Y o u to ld me I w a s u s e l e s s , " s h e said t o h e r ch i ld ren , " b u t I 'm
d o i n g b e t t e r t h a n t h a t w o m a n n e x t d o o r ! " H o w the ch i ld ren h o p e d s h e
w a s r i g h t !
S i n c e t h e r e w e r e s o few g o u r d s t h e y g a v e n o n e a w a y a n d did no t even
ea t a n y t h e m s e l v e s . T h e y r e m e m b e r e d , t h o u g h , t h a t t he n e i g h b o r w o m a n
h a d s h a r e d h e r g o u r d s w i t h t h e w h o l e v i l lage , a n d g iven t hem s o m e a s
we l l . P e r h a p s t h e y s h o u l d offer s o m e t o o t h e r p e o p l e , s ince t h e y h a d
t h r e e v i n e s . T h e old w o m a n a g r e e d t o g ive t h e i r nea re s t n e i g h b o r s s o m e
g o u r d s , a n d e v e n sa t d o w n to a mea l o f g o u r d w i t h h e r family. E v e r y o n e
t ook a l ibera l p o r t i o n , b u t t h e g o u r d s t u r n e d ou t t o be h o r r i b l y b i t te r ,
a n d w h o e v e r a t e a n y t h r e w u p .
T h e n e i g h b o r s t h e y h a d b e e n s o g e n e r o u s t o be s i eged t h e h o u s e , s h o u t -
ing, " W h a t k i n d o f s tuff w a s that y o u g a v e u s ? E v e r y o n e w h o ' s even
t o u c h e d i t i s n e a r l y d e a d from n a u s e a a n d v o m i t i n g ! " B u t t he old w o m a n
a n d h e r c h i l d r e n , w r i t h i n g o n t h e f loor a n d r e t c h i n g help less ly , w e r e i n
no c o n d i t i o n to a n s w e r . F o r t u n a t e l y , t h e v i c t ims r e c o v e r e d in a few d a y s .
W h a t a d i s a s t e r ! T h e old w o m a n d e c i d e d s h e h a d b e e n o v e r e a g e r a n d
o u g h t t o h a v e w a i t e d l o n g e r for t h e g o u r d s t o t u r n in to r ice , s o s h e h u n g
u p t h e res t t o d r y . M o n t h s la te r , w h e n s h e j u d g e d t h e y w e r e d o n e , s h e
go t t o g e t h e r e n o u g h c o n t a i n e r s t o ho ld h e r h a r v e s t . H e r t oo th l e s s old
m o u t h g a p e d w i d e i n a s h a m e l e s s g r i n a s s h e t o o k d o w n t h e g o u r d s . T h e n
s h e p o u r e d . O u t c a m e horsef l ies , w a s p s , c e n t i p e d e s , l i za rds , a n d s n a k e s
w h i c h b a t t e n e d o n t o h e r eyes , h e r e a r s , a n d e v e r y p a r t o f h e r b o d y a n d
s t u n g h e r w i t h o u t p i t y . B u t s h e w a s s o s u r e s h e w a s p o u r i n g ou t r ice t h a t
she n e v e r felt a t h i n g . S h e jus t k e p t m u t t e r i n g , " J u s t y o u wa i t , y o u little
s p a r r o w s , I'll ge t s o m e f rom e a c h o f y o u ! "
S w a r m s o f v e n o m o u s s n a k e s from t h e g o u r d s bi t t h e c h i l d r e n a n d
s t u n g t h e o ld w o m a n he r se l f t o d e a t h . T h o s e t h r e e s p a r r o w s h a d en l i s t ed
t h e h e l p o f e v e r y n a s t y c r e e p y - c r a w l y i n t h e w o r l d a n d p u t t h e m i n t h e
g o u r d s .
E n v y i s s o m e t h i n g t o avo id .
4 •
THE MAIDEN FROM THE SKY
O n e d a y long a g o a n o ld m a n w h o m a d e b a m b o o b a s k e t s w e n t t o t h e
b a m b o o g r o v e t o c u t s o m e m o r e b a m b o o a n d s a w t h a t o n e o f t h e b a m b o o
s t e m s w a s s h i n i n g . I n s i d e t h e s t e m he found a b a b y girl on ly t h r e e i n c h e s
long .
N e v e r h a v i n g c o m e a c r o s s a n y t h i n g like that be fore , h e h u r r i e d h o m e
to his wife w i t h t h e litt le gir l in o n e h a n d a n d his b u n d l e o f b a m b o o in
t h e o t h e r . H e a n d his wife w e r e v e r y h a p p y . T h e y p u t t h e t i ny b a b y i n a
b a s k e t a n d c a r e d for h e r t e n d e r l y . In t h r e e m o n t h s s h e w a s a n o r m a l size
for a chi ld , a n d t h e b i g g e r s h e g r e w , t h e lovel ier she b e c a m e . M e a n w h i l e
8
t h e o ld m a n k e p t g o i n g for m o r e b a m b o o , a n d each t ime he found gold i n
t h e s t e m s h e c u t .
S o o n he w a s r i ch . He bu i l t a pa la t ia l h o m e p e o p l e d by flocks o f ser-
v a n t s a n d r e t a i n e r s , a n d his s t o r e h o u s e ove r f lowed wi th t r e a s u r e s o f all
k i n d s . H e a n d h i s wife , w h o n o w h a d t he i r h e a r t ' s des i re i n e v e r y t h i n g ,
c o n t i n u e d t o lavish love o n t h e i r d a u g h t e r .
S h e w a s s o d a z z l i n g t h a t i t w a s h a r d t o be l ieve she b e l o n g e d t o th is
w o r l d . R u m o r s a b o u t h e r b e a u t y b e g a n t o ge t a r o u n d a n d soon m a n y
l o r d s w e r e c o u r t i n g he r , b u t s h e w o u l d h a v e n o t h i n g t o d o w i t h t h e m .
W h e n t h e y s h o w e r e d h e r w i t h love l e t t e r s a n y w a y , s h e t r ied t o p u t t h e m
off b y s e t t i n g t h e m h o p e l e s s t a s k s . " I ' m y o u r s , " s h e w r o t e t o one , "if
y o u ' l l b r i n g m e t h e t h u n d e r from t h e s k y . " S h e to ld o t h e r s she w a n t e d
t h e f l o w e r t h a t g r o w s i n p a r a d i s e , o r t h e d r u m t h a t s o u n d s w i t h o u t b e i n g
b e a t e n . B u t h e r b e a u t y h a d s o i n tox i ca t ed t h e s u i t o r s t h a t t h e y d id the i r
b e s t t o o b e y . O f f t h e y w e n t t o a s k p e o p l e w i s e i n old lore w h e r e t h e y
s h o u l d look for s u c h t h i n g s . S o m e e n d e d u p r o a m i n g the b e a c h e s like
v a g a b o n d s , w h i l e o t h e r s w a n d e r e d h o m e l e s s t h r o u g h t h e m o u n t a i n s .
S o m e d i ed , o t h e r s n e v e r r e t u r n e d .
F ina l l y e v e n t h e e m p e r o r h e a r d she w a s t h e m o s t beaut i fu l w o m a n i n
t h e w o r l d , a n d h e d e c i d e d t o g o a n d see h e r for himself. " I f it 's t r u e , " h e
t h o u g h t , " I ' l l m a k e h e r m y e m p r e s s . " H e set o u t w i t h all his min i s t e r s
a n d officials a n d w a s s u r p r i s e d t o find, w h e n h e r e a c h e d the h o u s e , t ha t
i t w a s fit for a k i n g . T h e girl c a m e to h im w h e n he ca l led he r . N o , t h e r e
w a s n o o n e l ike h e r i n all t h e w o r l d . W h y , s h e m u s t h a v e refused eve ry -
o n e j u s t s o a s t o k e e p he r se l f for h i m !
" F i n e ! " h e sa id h a p p i l y . " W e ' l l g o b a c k t o m y pa lace a n d you ' l l b e m y
e m p r e s s . "
" T h a t w o u l d p l ea se m e v e r y m u c h , Y o u r M a j e s t y , " she repl ied , " b u t
y o u see , I 'm no t a c t u a l l y h u m a n . "
" W e l l , w h a t a r e y o u t h e n ? A d e m o n o r a g o d ? "
" N e i t h e r , Y o u r M a j e s t y . B u t they ' l l s o o n b e c o m i n g from the sky t o
t a k e m e a w a y . Y o u s h o u l d g o h o m e n o w . "
T h e e m p e r o r h a r d l y k n e w h o w t o t a k e th i s . " W h a t ' s she t a lk ing
a b o u t ? " h e w o n d e r e d . " N o b o d y ' s c o m i n g d o w n from the s k y t o ge t h e r !
S h e ' s ju s t s a y i n g t h a t t o ge t r id o f m e ! "
B u t a t h r o n g soon d id d e s c e n d f rom t h e h e a v e n s , a n d t h e y c a r r i e d t h e
m a i d e n a w a y . T h e y l o o k e d q u i t e u n l i k e t h e p e o p l e o f o u r w o r l d .
W e l l , i t h a d b e e n t r u e . S h e h a d no t b e e n o f th i s e a r t h . T h e h e a r t b r o k e n
e m p e r o r n e v e r forgot he r , b u t no t e v e n h e c o u l d follow he r t o he r h o m e .
W h a t k i n d o f b e i n g bad s h e b e e n , t h o u g h ? A n d w h y had she b e c o m e
t h e o ld c o u p l e ' s d a u g h t e r ? I t ' s all a m y s t e r y .
THE FLEA
A wife a n d h e r l ove r w e r e o n c e i n b e d w h e n t h e h u s b a n d c a m e h o m e .
S i n c e t h e l ove r h a d n o t i m e t o r u n o r h ide , t h e w o m a n ro l led h im u p i n a
s t r a w m a t , m a r c h e d o u t w i t h t h e m a t u n d e r h e r a r m , a n d a n n o u n c e d t h a t
s h e w a s g o i n g t o k n o c k t h e fleas o u t o f it. A s s h e j u m p e d o v e r t h e h e a r t h ,
t h e n a k e d love r slid o u t a n d fell t h u m p in to t h e a s h e s . T h e h u s b a n d ' s
e y e s w i d e n e d . " B i g g e s t flea I e v e r s a w ! " h e e x c l a i m e d . H e s e e m e d t o
r e g i s t e r n o t h i n g e lse .
T h e b ig flea fled on all f o u r s .
S U R P R I S E S
THE LITTLE SPIDER
A s h o i> a sort of bamboo mouth organ.
O n c e t h e r e w a s n o o n e t o p l a y t h e oho for t h e e m p e r o r , a n d s o K a n e t o s h i ,
t h e f o r m e r g o v e r n o r o f C h i k u z e n p r o v i n c e , w a s g r a n t e d specia l p e r m i s -
s ion t o a u d i t i o n a t t h e p a l a c e . H e p u t t h e p r i ce le s s i n s t r u m e n t t h e y g a v e
h im r i g h t to his l ips a n d b e g a n to b l o w . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e imper i a l obo
h a d a l i t t le s p i d e r i n s ide it. T h e n e x t t ime he inha led , t h e s p i d e r s h o t
s t r a i g h t t o t h e b a c k o f his t h r o a t . T h e c o u g h i n g a n d c h o k i n g fit t h a t
se ized h i m t h e n m a d e t h e e m p e r o r a n d his officials a l m o s t spli t t he i r s ides
l a u g h i n g . H a v i n g m a d e a t e r r i b l e fool o f himself, t h e p o o r m a n w a s n e v e r
a s k e d t o t h e p a l a c e a g a i n . H e s h o u l d h a v e rea l i zed t h a t a n imper i a l
t r e a s u r e l ike t h a t i s s e l d o m p l a y e d a n d t r i ed i t o u t c a u t i o u s l y first.
I 0
7 •
A FLASH IN THE PALACE
E a r l y i n his c a r e e r L o r d F u j i w a r a no N o r i k u n i w a s a c h a m b e r l a i n o f t h e
fifth r a n k . O n e d a y w h e n h e w a s o n d u t y h e h a d t o g o in to t he Pa lace
C o u n c i l C h a m b e r t o r ece ive a n imper i a l d e c r e e from M i n i s t e r o f t h e
R i g h t S a n e s u k e , t o g e t h e r w i t h s o m e i n s t r u c t i o n s o n w h e r e t o t ake it.
T h e r o o m w a s o p e n t o t h e b r e e z e s . A s N o r i k u n i a p p r o a c h e d the min-
is ter , h e g l a n c e d t o w a r d t h e n e x t b u i l d i n g ( t h e G r e a t Hal l o f S t a t e ) a n d
s p o t t e d L o r d M i n a m o t o no A k i s a d a , a l i e u t e n a n t in t h e Imper i a l Pol ice ,
o n t h e v e r a n d a o f t h e hal l . A k i s a d a h a d jus t w h i p p e d ou t his tool . T h e
m i n i s t e r w a s t o o far ins ide t h e r o o m to see h im, b u t N o r i k u n i , w h o h a d a
p e r f e c t v i e w , c o u l d no t h e l p b u r s t i n g ou t l a u g h i n g .
" I t a k e i t y o u rea l ize th i s i s a p r o c l a m a t i o n f rom H i s M a j e s t y , " said t he
m i n i s t e r s h a r p l y . " I fail t o u n d e r s t a n d w h y y o u find i t so a m u s i n g . " He
r e p o r t e d N o r i k u n i ' s m i r t h t o t h e e m p e r o r immed ia t e ly . T h o u g h d e s p e r -
a t e l y f r i g h t e n e d , p o o r N o r i k u n i cou ld no t v e r y wel l exp la in his l a u g h t e r
b y r e v e a l i n g t h a t L o r d A k i s a d a h a d e x p o s e d his pen i s a t t h e p a l a c e .
A k i s a d a m u s t h a v e b e e n v e r y p l ea sed w i t h his j o k e .
8 .
SALT FISH AND DOCTORED WINE
W h i l e g o v e r n o r o f E c h i z e n ( t h o u g h he ac tua l ly l ived i n K y o t o ) , L o r d
F u j i w a r a no T a m e m o r i failed t o c o n t r i b u t e his s h a r e o f t h e r ice s t i pend
d u e t h e P a l a c e G u a r d s . T h e six c o n t i n g e n t s o f t he g u a r d s r e s p o n d e d b y
r i s i ng u p a s o n e m a n a n d m a r c h i n g t o L o r d T a m e m o r i ' s r e s idence w h e r e
t h e y l ined u p s h o u l d e r t o s h o u l d e r , s e a t e d o n c a m p s tools , u n d e r a w n i n g s
t h e y h a d t h o u g h t f u l l y b r o u g h t w i t h t h e m . T h e y h a d the h o u s e b l o c k a d e d ,
a n d r e fused to let a n y o n e in o r o u t .
I t w a s t h e s ix th m o o n , a n d t h e d a y s w e r e l o n g a n d v e r y ho t . T h e
g u a r d s h a d b e e n t h e r e s ince ea r ly m o r n i n g . B y m i d d a y t h e y w e r e roas t -
ing, b u t t h e y m a n a g e d t o h a n g o n b y r e m i n d i n g t h e m s e l v e s t h a t t h e y
c o u l d no t l eave w i t h o u t sa t i s fac t ion . T h e n the g a t e o p e n e d a c r a c k a n d a
s e n i o r r e t a i n e r s t u c k his h e a d o u t .
" H i s E x c e l l e n c y t h e G o v e r n o r h a s a s k e d m e t o s p e a k t o y o u , " t h e
r e t a i n e r a n n o u n c e d . " H e s a y s h e w o u l d l ike t o m e e t y o u i m m e d i a t e l y ,
b u t u n f o r t u n a t e l y t h a t i s i m p o s s i b l e b e c a u s e y o u r p r e s e n c e h a s t e r r i b l y
f r i g h t e n e d all t h e w o m e n a n d c h i l d r e n . H e d o e s rea l ize , t h o u g h , t h a t i n
th i s h e a t y o u m u s t all b e t h i r s ty , a n d h e t h i n k s h e m i g h t d i s c u s s t h i n g s
w i t h y o u ins ide , t h r o u g h a s c r e e n , a s l ong a s y o u d o n ' t m i n d c o m i n g in
i n smal l p a r t i e s . H e s u g g e s t s s o m e r e f r e s h m e n t s . W e m i g h t first h a v e t h e
Left a n d R i g h t I n n e r G u a r d s , i f y o u h a v e n o ob j ec t i on . T h e o t h e r c o n t i n -
g e n t s c a n fol low. H i s E x c e l l e n c y k n o w s h e o u g h t t o h a v e y o u all c o m e i n
a t o n c e , b u t u n h a p p i l y h i s r e s i d e n c e i s t o o smal l a n d p o o r t o a l l ow t h a t .
S o p l ea se b e p a t i e n t , t h e res t o f y o u . Wil l t h e I n n e r G u a r d s n o w b e g o o d
e n o u g h t o c o m e in? H i s E x c e l l e n c y will r ece ive y o u . "
T h e g u a r d s c e r t a i n l y were t h i r s ty , a n d t h e t h o u g h t o f g e t t i n g no t on ly a
d r i n k b u t a c h a n c e t o say t h e i r p i ece p l ea sed t h e m v e r y m u c h . " H o w
k i n d o f h i m ! " t h e y r ep l i ed . " W e ' l l b e h a p p y t o g o i n a n d exp la in t o h im
w h y w e ' r e h e r e . "
" F i n e ! " sa id t h e r e t a i n e r a n d o p e n e d t h e g a t e . T h e m e n o f t h e Left a n d
R i g h t I n n e r G u a r d s q u i c k l y g a t h e r e d be fo re it.
L o n g m a t s h a d b e e n laid o u t i n t h e ga l l e ry n o r t h o f t h e m i d d l e g a t e ,
a n d o n t h e m s t o o d seve ra l d o z e n ind iv idua l t ab l e s a r r a n g e d fac ing e a c h
o t h e r i n t w o r o w s . T h e t a b l e s w e r e p i led h igh w i t h s l iced sea b r e a m ,
d r i e d a n d wel l s a l t ed ; s l ices o f v e r y s a l t y - l o o k i n g sal t s a l m o n ; sa l t ed h o r s e
m a c k e r e l ; a n d sea b r e a m p i ck l ed in muw. F o r fruit t h e r e w e r e t en g r e a t
l a c q u e r e d b o w l s h e a p e d w i t h n ice ly r i p e n e d p u r p l e p l u m s .
" T h i s w a y , p l e a s e ! " c r i ed t h e r e t a i n e r . " J u s t t h e Inner G u a r d s n o w , i f
y o u d o n ' t m i n d ! "
I n t h e y t r o o p e d : K a n e t o k i from O w a r i p r o v i n c e a n d A t s u y u k i f rom
S h i m o s a first, fo l lowed by all t h e o ldes t a n d mos t s en io r officers. " T h e
o t h e r c o n t i n g e n t s will all h a v e t h e i r t u r n ! " cal led t h e r e t a i n e r to t h o s e left
o u t s i d e , t h e n l o c k e d t h e g a t e b e h i n d h im a n d k e p t t h e key .
T h e r e t a i n e r p r e s s e d t h e g u a r d s pol i te ly t o s t ep u p in to t he ga l l e ry a n d
t a k e t h e i r sea t s , w h i c h t h e y d id . W h e n t h e y w e r e all i n p lace , i n t w i n
r o w s , t h e r e t a i n e r ca l led for w i n e . I n fact, t h o u g h , t he w i n e w a s s low to
a p p e a r , a n d i n t h e m e a n t i m e t h e h u n g r y g u a r d s q u i c k l y p i c k e d u p t h e i r
c h o p s t i c k s a n d h e l p e d t h e m s e l v e s t o t h e v i c tua l s .
" W h a t can h a v e h a p p e n e d t o t h e w i n e ? " t h e r e t a i n e r k e p t m u t t e r i n g ,
b u t still i t d id no t c o m e . At las t i t w a s a n n o u n c e d t h a t a l t h o u g h t h e
g o v e r n o r d id s o m u c h w a n t t o m e e t w i t h t h e g u a r d s , h e w a s j u s t n o w
1 2
su f f e r ing f rom a b o u t o f s o m e s t o m a c h a i lmen t a n d could not be w i t h
t h e m q u i t e y e t . H e w o u l d b e o u t w h e n t h e y h a d f inished the i r re f resh-
m e n t s .
F ina l l y t h e w i n e c a m e . T w o y o u n g m e n b r o u g h t i n a pa i r o f big c u p s
o n t r a y s a n d set t h e m d o w n be fo re K a n e t o k i a n d A t s u y u k i , w h o w e r e
o p p o s i t e e a c h o t h e r . W i t h g e n e r o u s lad les t h e y t h e n filled t he c u p s full.
K a n e t o k i a n d A t s u y u k i p i c k e d t h e m u p a n d d r a n k g reed i ly till w i n e
d r i b b l e d d o w n t h e i r c h i n s . T h e w i n e w a s a bi t c l o u d y a n d sour , b u t
h a v i n g b r o i l e d so l o n g in t h e s u n t h e m e n h a d a power fu l th i r s t , a n d t h e y
k e p t p o u r i n g i t d o w n . In fact, t h e i r c u p s h a d to be refilled twice before
t h e y w o u l d p a s s t h e m o n t o t h e n e x t i n l ine .
T u r n b y t u r n t h e m e n all d r a n k t h e i r fill w h i c h , p a r c h e d a s t h e y w e r e ,
w a s for s o m e a s m a n y a s five c u p s . N e x t t h e y h a d t h e p l u m s . S o o n t h e
w i n e w a s b a c k a g a i n a n d k e p t c o m i n g r o u n d (w i t h p l u m s i n b e t w e e n )
un t i l e v e r y o n e h a d w e t his w h i s t l e hal f a d o z e n t i m e s .
O n l y n o w d i d t h e g o v e r n o r e m e r g e a n d sea t h imsel f o n t h e o t h e r s ide
o f t h e b l i n d s w h i c h s c r e e n e d t h e ga l l e ry from t h e i n t e r io r o f t he h o u s e .
" A h , g e n t l e m e n , " h e b e g a n , " I n e v e r i m a g i n e d t h a t a n y fai lure o f gen -
e r o s i t y o n m y p a r t w o u l d set y o u a g a i n s t m e th i s w a y a n d hold m e u p t o
s h a m e b e f o r e all t h e w o r l d ! T h e r e ' s b e e n a d r o u g h t in my p r o v i n c e eve r
s i nce last y e a r , y o u see , a n d w e ' v e t a k e n i n n o t h i n g , n o t h i n g a t al l! A t
least , t h e t i ny a m o u n t we did h a r v e s t w a s c l a imed q u i t e pe r suas ive ly by
T h e i r E x c e l l e n c i e s a t c o u r t . T h e y t o o k e v e r y t h i n g , I 'm afra id . T h e r e ' s
n o t a g r a i n left. My o w n h o u s e h o l d i s ou t of food, a n d t h e se rv ing-g i r l s
a r e g o i n g h u n g r y . W e l l , I s u p p o s e I d e s e r v e d it. Bu t , g e n t l e m e n , p lease
u n d e r s t a n d t h a t I c a n ' t offer y o u a s ingle m i s e r a b l e potful of r ice . I t 's th is
awfu l k a r m a o f m i n e t h a t k e p t me for y e a r s f rom a n y official a p p o i n t -
m e n t , a n d t h a t n o w h a s g o t t e n me a h o p e l e s s p r o v i n c e so p o o r tha t i t
y i e l d s me n o t h i n g b u t e m b a r r a s s m e n t . I c e r t a i n l y d o n ' t b l ame you for
a n y t h i n g , I a s s u r e y o u ! N o , I 'm o n l y g e t t i n g w h a t w a s c o m i n g t o m e ! "
T h e g o v e r n o r s o b b e d a l o u d .
K a n e t o k i a n d A t s u y u k i r e a s s u r e d h im t h a t t h e y q u i t e u n d e r s t o o d his
p r e d i c a m e n t , b u t t h e y r e m i n d e d h i m too t h a t t h e y d id not r e p r e s e n t only
t h e m s e l v e s . " W e h a v e n o t h i n g a t t h e g u a r d s ' h e a d q u a r t e r s e i t h e r , " t h e y
w e n t o n , " a n d t h e m e n a r e v e r y u n h a p p y . T h a t ' s w h y w e ' r e all h e r e : t h e
p r o b l e m affects u s all . N a t u r a l l y we feel for y o u , sir, a n d w e ' r e s o r r y to
p r e s s u r e y o u l ike th is , b u t a t t h e s a m e t ime w e ce r t a in ly w o u l d n ' t h a v e
c o m e i f w e h a d n ' t felt w e h a d v e r y g o o d r e a s o n . . . "
T h e i r s t o m a c h s r u m b l e d s h a m e l e s s l y a s t h e y s p o k e , w h i c h w a s pa r t i c -
u l a r l y e m b a r r a s s i n g s ince t h e y w e r e so c lose to t he g o v e r n o r . F o r a t ime
s o m e t r i ed c o v e r i n g t h e s q u a w k s a n d g u r g l e s b y t a p p i n g the i r formal
b a t o n s a g a i n s t t he i r t a b l e s , w h i l e o t h e r s t r i ed d i f ferent d o d g e s to d i s t r a c t T
a t t e n t i o n f rom t h e i r p r o b l e m . B u t t h e g o v e r n o r b e h i n d his b l ind co u l d
h e a r t h a t b o w e l s w e r e i n l oud rebe l l ion all d o w n t h e l ine a n d co u l d see
pe r fec t ly wel l t h a t t h e m e n w e r e d o u b l i n g u p w i t h c r a m p s . L
" E x c u s e me a m o m e n t ! " e x c l a i m e d K a n e t o k i , a n d he bo l t ed o u t . E
E v e r y o n e else l e a p e d u p a n d p e l t e d he l t e r - ske l t e r af ter h i m . S o m e cu t
loose r igh t on t h e e d g e o f t h e ga l l e ry , even as t h e y w e r e j u m p i n g off.
S o m e m a d e i t t o t h e c a r r i a g e h o u s e a n d b u r s t be fore t h e y go t t h e i r
t r o u s e r s off. O t h e r s go t t h e i r t r o u s e r s off a n d s q u i r t e d l ike nozz l e s . T h e n
t h e r e w e r e t h o s e w h o d id no t e v e n look for a p lace to h ide b u t sha t ,
ob l i v ious t o all e lse , w h e r e v e r t h e y h a p p e n e d t o b e . All t h e w h i l e t h e y
w e r e l a u g h i n g t he i r h e a d s off. " I k n e w t h e old b o y w o u l d pull s o m e -
t h i n g ! " t h e y c h o r t l e d . " N o , n o , w e ' v e go t n o c o m p l a i n t ! I t ' s o u r o w n
faul t . W e w e r e t oo g r e e d y for t h a t w i n e ! " A n d l a u g h i n g still, b e l l y a c h e
a n d all, t h e y s h a t on i n c h o r u s .
M e a n w h i l e , t h e r e t a i n e r o p e n e d t h e g a t e a g a i n . " V e r y w e l l , " h e a n -
n o u n c e d , " y o u g e n t l e m e n m a y leave . C o u l d w e h a v e t he nex t c o n t i n g e n t ,
p l e a s e ? "
" O h y e s , " t h e m e n c h u c k l e d a s t h e y left, " b y all m e a n s get e m i n h e r e
a n d t r e a t ' em to a g o o d shi t t h e w a y y o u d id u s ! "
T h e w e r e w i p i n g a t t h e i r filthy t r o u s e r s a s t h e y e m e r g e d . T h e m e n o f
t he o t h e r four c o n t i n g e n t s b u r s t in to l a u g h t e r a t t h e s ight a n d fled.
I t h a d g o n e e x a c t l y a s L o r d T a m e m o r i h a d p l a n n e d . T h e d a y w a s g o o d
a n d ho t . H e w o u l d let t h e m s t e w for h o u r s u n d e r t he i r a w n i n g s , t h e n
b r i n g t h e m in p a r c h e d , stuff t h e i r e m p t y s t o m a c h s w i t h salt fish a n d
p l u m s , a n d w a s h i t all d o w n for t h e m w i t h p l e n t y o f sou r , c l o u d y w i n e —
w i n e l ibera l ly fortified w i t h t h a t t r u s t y m e d i c i n e for i n n a r d s in n e e d of
e n c o u r a g e m e n t , g r o u n d m o r n i n g - g l o r y s e e d s . O h y e s , t h o s e r a sca l s
w o u l d shi t all r i gh t !
A c t u a l l y , L o r d T a m e m o r i w a s a c a g e y old s c a m p a n d a w h i z a t m a k i n g
p e o p l e l a u g h . T h i s w a s jus t his sor t o f t h i n g . T h e w h o l e c o u r t en joyed
t h e i n c i d e n t h u g e l y . T h o s e g u a r d s h a d p i c k e d a s l i ppe ry fellow to t a n g l e
w i t h !
P e r h a p s t h e g u a r d s l e a r n e d t h e i r lesson , too , b e c a u s e t h e y n e v e r a g a i n
d e s c e n d e d on a p r o v i n c i a l g o v e r n o r w h o failed to m a k e his c o n t r i b u t i o n .
T a m e m o r i w a s v e r y c l eve r t o c a t c h t h e m out t h e w a y h e d id . H e c o u l d
n e v e r h a v e g o t t e n rid o f t h e m by m a i n force .
1 A
9 •
THE TAPEWORM'S SAD END
Walnuts are still recommended in Japan
against intestinal worms.
O n c e a w o m a n w h o h a d a t a p e w o r m ins ide h e r m a r r i e d , conce ived , a n d
b o r e a s o n . W h e n t h e son g r e w u p , h e b e g a n a g o v e r n m e n t c a r e e r w h i c h
c u l m i n a t e d i n h i s a p p o i n t m e n t a s g o v e r n o r o f S h i n a n o p r o v i n c e .
O n a r r i v a l i n S h i n a n o t h e n e w g o v e r n o r w a s m e t a t t h e b o r d e r b y t h e
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e p r o v i n c e , a s c u s t o m r e q u i r e d , a n d w e l c o m e d w i t h
a b a n q u e t . T o g e t h e r , t h e g o v e r n o r ' s o w n m e n a n d t h e t h r o n g o f local
p e o p l e m a d e a l a rge p a r t y .
G a z i n g o u t o v e r t h e g a t h e r i n g , t h e g o v e r n o r no t i ced t h a t e v e r y s ingle
t a b l e , h i s o w n i n c l u d e d , w a s l ibera l ly h e a p e d w i t h w a l n u t s . T h e s ight
b o t h e r e d h i m i n t e n s e l y . H e felt s o m e h o w a s t h o u g h h e w a s b e i n g
s q u e e z e d d r y . O n a s k i n g w h y t h e g u e s t s sho u l d b e g iven s o m a n y w a l -
n u t s , h e w a s to ld t h a t s ince w a l n u t t r e e s g r e w all ove r t he p r o v i n c e ,
w a l n u t s w e r e r o u t i n e a t e v e r y m e a l . T h i s n e w s m a d e h im feel still w o r s e
a n d t h e s q u e e z i n g s e n s a t i o n c o n t i n u e d .
H e w a s g e t t i n g d e s p e r a t e . T h i s w a s no t mi s sed b y the d e p u t y gove r -
n o r , a s e a s o n e d o ld h a n d w h o f o u n d his n e w s u p e r i o r ' s b e h a v i o r c u r i o u s
— so o d d , i n fact, t h a t he w o n d e r e d w h e t h e r t h e g o v e r n o r migh t no t
a c t u a l l y be a t a p e w o r m w h i c h h a d m a n a g e d to ge t itself b o r n as a h u m a n .
T h e t h o u g h t i n s p i r e d h i m to t r y a little e x p e r i m e n t .
T h e d e p u t y m i x e d p l e n t y o f g r o u n d w a l n u t m e a t in to s o m e a g e d w i n e
a n d h e a t e d t h e w i n e wel l in a j a r . T h e n he p u t t h e c u p on a t r ay , lifted
t h e t r a y r e spec t fu l ly a b o v e his h e a d , a n d w e n t t o p r e s e n t i t t o t he g o v e r -
n o r . W h e n t h e g o v e r n o r t o o k t h e c u p , h is d e p u t y p r o m p t l y f i l l e d i t w i t h
w i n e , w h i c h t h e g r o u n d w a l n u t m a d e a c l o u d y w h i t e .
T h e s igh t m a d e t h e g o v e r n o r v e r y n e r v o u s . " T h i s w i n e looks s t r a n g e , "
he s a id . " W h y ' s i t all c l o u d y ? "
" I t ' s a n o ld c u s t o m o f o u r s , sir , t h a t w h e n w e w e l c o m e a n e w g o v e r n o r
w e offer h i m w i n e a g e d t h r e e y e a r s a n d m i x e d w i t h g r o u n d w a l n u t . T h e n
t h e n e w g o v e r n o r d r i n k s t h e w i n e . " T h e d e p u t y ' s t o n e o f vo ice s u g g e s t e d
t h a t t h e c u s t o m w a s no t l ight ly t o b e i g n o r e d .
T h e n e w g o v e r n o r l o o k e d e v e n m o r e ill t h a n be fo re a n d t r e m b l e d
u n c o n t r o l l a b l y .
" Y o u m u s t d r i n k it, s i r , " t h e d e p u t y ins i s t ed .
S h a k i n g v io l en t ly , t h e g o v e r n o r b r o u g h t t h e c u p t o his l ips. " I ' m real ly
a t a p e w o r m ! " he b l u r t e d . " I c a n ' t t a k e th i s s tuff!" T h e n he t u r n e d to
w a t e r , s l u m p e d t o t h e floor, a n d f lowed a w a y . T h e r e w a s n o b o d y a t all .
T h e g o v e r n o r ' s r e t a i n e r s w e r e o v e r c o m e b y confus ion a n d d i s m a y .
" Y o u n e v e r rea l i zed , d id y o u ? " sa id t h e d e p u t y . H e a n d t h e res t o f t h e
p a r t y f rom S h i n a n o p a c k e d u p a n d w e n t h o m e .
T h e g o v e r n o r ' s m e n cou ld o n l y r e t u r n t o t h e C a p i t a l a n d r e p o r t w h a t
h a d h a p p e n e d . T h e g o v e r n o r ' s wife , c h i l d r e n , a n d h o u s e h o l d w e r e v e r y
s u r p r i s e d , b u t e v e r y o n e w h o h e a r d t h e s t o r y go t a g o o d l a u g h .
1 o .
A TOAD TO RECKON WITH
O n c e a b ig t o a d l ived in t h e so-ca l led G u a r d s ' G a t e in to t h e p a l a c e
c o m p o u n d a n d u s e d t o t r i p p e o p l e u p . E v e r y e v e n i n g a t twi l igh t i t w o u l d
c o m e o u t a n d sit t h e r e l o o k i n g l ike a l ow rock . No o n e h e a d i n g in t o w a r d
t h e p a l a c e w o u l d fail to s t e p on i t a n d fall flat, as t he t o a d h o p p e d off in to
t h e g l o o m . T h e v i c t im m i g h t l ea rn his lesson a n d look ou t nex t t ime , b u t
for s o m e r e a s o n h e w o u l d a l w a y s s t e p o n t h e t o a d aga in a n y w a y a n d t a k e
t h e s a m e t u m b l e .
N o w a c e r t a i n s t u d e n t a t t h e A c a d e m y w a s a g r e a t fool, a l w a y s b r a y i n g
w i t h l a u g h t e r o r s p o u t i n g l oud a b u s e . I n t ime h e h e a r d a b o u t t h e t o a d
a n d a l l o w e d t h a t i t m i g h t ge t h im once , p e r h a p s , b u t no t a s e c o n d t i m e —
no i n d e e d , no t e v e n i f s o m e o n e w e r e l u r k i n g in t h e s h a d o w s to h e l p i t
w i t h a p u s h .
D a r k n e s s w a s fal l ing. A s t h e s t u d e n t left t h e A c a d e m y , h e r e m a r k e d
t h a t he w a s off t o see a l a d y w h o l ived on the pa l ace g r o u n d s . W i t h i n t h e
G u a r d s ' G a t e sat t h e t o a d .
" O h , t h e r e y o u a r e , a r e y o u ? " t h e s t u d e n t s n e e r e d . " W e l l , y o u m a y ge t
o t h e r p e o p l e b u t y o u w o n ' t ge t me\" A s h e j u m p e d ove r t h e t o a d his h a t
u n f o r t u n a t e l y s l i pped off, h i t t i n g his foot as i t fell.
" S o y o u ' d l ike t o t r i p m e , w o u l d y o u ? " t h e s t u d e n t b e l l o w e d . " W e ' l l
see a b o u t tkat\" He s t a m p e d v io len t ly on th i s t o a d o f his, b u t t he h a t w a s
t he stiff, l a c q u e r e d k i n d w o r n by t h e g e n t r y , a n d i t r e s i s t ed b e i n g
c r u s h e d . " D a m n e d t o a d ! S t u p i d t o a d ! T h i n k y o u ' r e s o t o u g h , h u h ? " T h e
s t u d e n t s u m m o n e d all h is pit iful s t r e n g t h a n d s t a m p e d like o n e p o s s e s s e d .
S o m e g e n t l e m e n c a m e o u t t o see w h a t t h e c o m m o t i o n w a s a b o u t ,
s e n d i n g s e r v a n t s a h e a d t o l ight t h e w a y . T h e s t u d e n t kne l t a c c o r d i n g t o
e t i q u e t t e a s t h e s e r v a n t s a p p r o a c h e d .
C o m i n g u p o n a d i s h e v e l e d y o u n g m a n , t h e y a s k e d him w h a t h e w a s
d o i n g t h e r e . T h e s t u d e n t ident i f ied h imse l f in t h e t one o f a w a r r i o r on t he
field of b a t t l e . " Y o u h a v e s u r e l y h e a r d of m e ! " he d e c l a i m e d . " I am a
h i s t o r y s t u d e n t a t t h e A c a d e m y , F u j i w a r a n o T h i n g a m a j i g b y n a m e , a n d
c o n c u r r e n t l y c h a r g e d w i t h v i s i t i ng jus t i ce u p o n th i s t oad w h i c h t r ip s
p e o p l e u p a t t h e G u a r d s ' G a t e ! "
" W h a t i n t h e w o r l d i s h e t a l k i n g a b o u t ? " l a u g h e d the s e r v a n t s . " G e t
h im u p . Le t ' s h a v e a l o o k ! "
T h e y p u l l e d h im r o u g h l y t o his feet, t e a r i n g his c loak a n d w o u n d i n g
h i s d i g n i t y in t h e p r o c e s s . W h e n he felt o v e r his h e a d , he l o u n d his ha t
w a s g o n e . T h e s e r v a n t s m u s t h a v e t a k e n it. " W h a t d id y o u steal m y hat
f o r ? " h e r o a r e d . " G i v e i t b a c k th i s m i n u t e ! G i v e i t b a c k ! "
T h e s e r v a n t s l u n g e d a t h im a n d c h a s e d h im a w a y . A s h e fled d o w n the
a v e n u e o u t s i d e , he fell flat a n d s c r a p e d his face all b loody , b u t he p i c k e d
h i m s e l f up a n d r a n on , h i d i n g his face b e h i n d his s leeve, till he w a s qu i t e
lost . F i n a l l y he g l i m p s e d a l ight . I t w a s a little h o u s e . Alas , d e s p i t e all his
k n o c k i n g a t t h e d o o r t h e p e o p l e ins ide n a t u r a l l y re fused t o o p e n u p . B y
n o w i t w a s so la te t h a t all he cou ld do w a s lie d o w n by t h e d i t ch till
m o r n i n g .
W h e n t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d a w o k e a t d a w n t h e y found him t h e r e i n his
s a d s t a t e a n d c r i e d o u t w i t h s u r p r i s e . I t w a s on ly b y a s k i n g c o n s t a n t l y
for d i r e c t i o n s t h a t h e m a n a g e d t o find his w a y h o m e .
T h e r e rea l ly u s e d to be fools l ike t h a t in t h e old d a y s — even in t h e
A c a d e m y , a p p a r e n t l y , s i nce t h e fel low w a s a s t u d e n t t h e r e . H o w o d d t h a t
h e s h o u l d h a v e b e e n s o h o p e l e s s , y e t s o c l eve r i n s choo l !
H A U N T S
11
T h e staff o f t h e C o u n c i l o f S t a t e u s e d t o hold w h a t w e r e cal led " m o r n i n g
s e s s i o n s , " w h i c h t o o k p l ace be fo re d a w n . T h e p a r t i c i p a n t s w o u l d a r r ive
c a r r y i n g t o r c h e s .
BETTER LATE THAN EARLY
O n c e a c e r t a i n s e c r e t a r y a r r i v e d af ter t h e con t ro l l e r , w h o o u t r a n k e d
h im, h a d a l r e a d y t a k e n his sea t . T h e s e c r e t a r y h a d b e e n afra id th i s m i g h t
h a p p e n , a n d his fears w e r e c o n f i r m e d w h e n h e go t t h e r e a n d s a w t h e
c o n t r o l l e r ' s c a r r i a g e b y t h e g a t e . R u s h i n g t o t he counc i l b u i l d i n g h e f o u n d
t h e c o n t r o l l e r ' s s e r v a n t s w a i t i n g for t he i r m a s t e r b y t he wa l l . N e x t , h e
ran i n p a n i c t o t h e d o o r o f t h e E a s t C o u n c i l C h a m b e r a n d p e e r e d c a u -
t ious ly in to t h e hal l . T h e l a m p s w e r e o u t . N o o n e w a s t h e r e .
TbL< w a s a s u r p r i s e . B a c k he w e n t t o t h e con t ro l l e r ' s s e r v a n t s , w h o
c ou ld o n l y tell h im t h a t t h e i r m a s t e r w a s a l r e a d y ins ide . T h e s e c r e t a r y
ca l led a g u a r d w i t h a t o r c h a n d h a d h im l ight t h e w a y in to t h e c h a m b e r .
A t t h e c o n t r o l l e r ' s sea t t h e r e w a s o n l y a b l o o d y h e a d . T h e ha i r w a s
s c a t t e r e d far a n d w i d e . N e a r b y lay a c e r e m o n i a l b a t o n , a b l o o d y p a i r of
shoes , a n d a fan on w h i c h t h e c o n t r o l l e r h a d w r i t t e n t h e p r o c e d u r e for
t h e m e e t i n g . T h e m a t t i n g w a s s o a k e d w i t h b lood . T h e r e w a s n o t h i n g e lse .
T h e h o r r o r o f t h e s c e n e c a n s c a r c e l y b e d e s c r i b e d . A t d a w n a n e x c i t e d
c r o w d g a t h e r e d w h i l e t h e c o n t r o l l e r ' s s e r v a n t s left w i t h the i r m a s t e r ' s
h e a d .
Af te r t h a t , t h e m o r n i n g s e s s ions w e r e n o l o n g e r held i n t h e Eas t C h a m -
ber , b u t w e r e sh i f ted t o t h e W e s t .
1 2 .
THE RAVENOUS STOREHOUSE
T h e g r e a t l ove r A r i w a r a n o N a r i h i r a m a d e su re h e c o u r t e d e v e r y w o m a n
k n o w n t o b e a b e a u t y , w h e t h e r pa l ace lady o r c o m m o n g e n t l e m a n ' s
d a u g h t e r . H e b e c a m e espec ia l ly fasc ina ted w i t h one girl w h o w a s s u p -
p o s e d t o b e love ly b e y o n d i m a g i n i n g , b u t u n f o r t u n a t e l y h e r p a r e n t s h a d
t he i r h e a r t s set on g e t t i n g h e r a far m o r e exa l t ed h u s b a n d t h a n N a r i h i r a .
H e w a s no t e v e n i n t h e r u n n i n g . S o m e h o w , t h o u g h , h e m a n a g e d t o
p e r s u a d e h e r to r u n off w i t h h i m .
B u t n o w t h a t h e h a d he r , w h e r e w a s h e g o i n g t o h ide h e r ? F ina l ly , h e
r e m e m b e r e d a n a b a n d o n e d , t u m b l e d o w n m a n s i o n i n t h e m o u n t a i n s . T h e
d o o r o n t h e b ig s t o r e h o u s e w a s ly ing b r o k e n o n the g r o u n d , b u t s ince t h e
h o u s e no l o n g e r h a d a floor, he s p r e a d a m a t in t he s t o r e h o u s e af ter all .
H e h a d jus t lain d o w n o n i t w i t h t h e gir l w h e n l i gh tn ing f lashed a n d
t h e r e w a s a c r a s h o f t h u n d e r . D r a w i n g his s w o r d , he go t t he girl b e h i n d
h im a n d k e p t w a t c h t h r o u g h t h e s t o r m . A t d a w n i t finally p a s s e d .
I 8
P u z z l e d t o h e a r n o s o u n d f rom t h e gir l , N a r i h i r a g l a n c e d b e h i n d h im.
S h e w a s g o n e . N o t h i n g w a s left o f h e r b u t h e r c lo thes a n d h e r ha i r . H e
fled, t e r r i f i ed .
L a t e r h e l e a r n e d t h a t t h a t s t o r e h o u s e w a s k n o w n t o eat p e o p l e . I t w a s
n o t t h e t h u n d e r t h a t h a d g o t t e n h e r af ter all, b u t t he d e m o n i n t he
b u i l d i n g .
I t j u s t g o e s t o s h o w t h a t y o u s h o u l d n ' t g o n e a r a p lace y o u d o n ' t k n o w .
A n d a s for s p e n d i n g t h e n igh t t h e r e , y o u s h o u l d n ' t even c o n s i d e r it!
i 3 .
THE GRISLY BOX
K i n o T o s u k e l ived o n a n e s t a t e t he r e g e n t o w n e d i n M i n o p r o v i n c e .
W h e n t h e r e g e n t s e n t a g e n t l e m a n to look af ter t he es ta te , th i s g e n t l e m a n
c a m e t o re ly o n T o s u k e a b o v e all; a n d i t w a s T o s u k e w h o w a s sen t t o
s e r v e t h e r e g e n t d u r i n g a l e n g t h y p e r i o d w h e n the r egen t w a s o n d u t y a t
t h e p a l a c e .
F ina l l y T o s u k e go t l eave t o r e t u r n h o m e . O n the w a y h e na tu ra l l y
c r o s s e d t h e b r i d g e a t S e t a w h e r e t h e r i v e r f lows from t h e s o u t h e r n e n d
o f L a k e B i w a . A w o m a n w a s s t a n d i n g t h e r e o n t h e b r idge , h o l d i n g h e r
sk i r t i n h e r h a n d , a n d T o s u k e a s h e p a s s e d t h o u g h t she looked r a t h e r
o d d . J u s t t h e n s h e ha i l ed h i m .
" W h e r e a r e y o u g o i n g ? " s h e a s k e d .
H e d i s m o u n t e d po l i t e ly . " I ' m o n m y w a y t o M i n o , " h e rep l ied .
" I ' d a p p r e c i a t e i t so m u c h i f y o u ' d t a k e s o m e t h i n g t h e r e for m e . W o u l d
y o u d o t h a t ? "
" C e r t a i n l y . "
" O h , t h a n k y o u ! " sa id t h e w o m a n , d r a w i n g a s i l k - w r a p p e d b o x from
t h e i n n e r fold o f h e r r o b e . " P l e a s e t a k e th i s t o M o r o k o s h i vi l lage in M i n o .
You ' l l f ind a w o m a n a t t h e w e s t e r n e n d o f t h e b r i d g e t h e r e . G ive th is b o x
to h e r . "
B y n o w T o s u k e w a s u n c o m f o r t a b l e a b o u t t h e w h o l e t h i n g . N o t t h a t
t h e r e q u e s t i tself w a s difficult, b u t t h e w o m a n w a s awful ly s t r a n g e . I n
t h e e n d , t h o u g h , he f o u n d i t imposs ib l e t o re fuse . " W h a t ' s t he n a m e o f
t h i s w o m a n ? " h e a s k e d . " W h e r e d o e s s h e l ive? W h e r e s h o u l d I look for
h e r i f s h e i sn ' t on t h e b r i d g e ? A n d w h o s h o u l d I tell h e r th is i s f r o m ? "
" D o n ' t w o r r y , " t h e w o m a n a n s w e r e d . " J u s t g o t o t h e e n d o f t he b r i d g e
a n d she ' l l c o m e , y o u c a n c o u n t on t h a t . All y o u n e e d do i s w a i t . I h a v e to
tell y o u , t h o u g h , t h a t y o u a b s o l u t e l y m u s t no t open t h e b o x . "
M e a n w h i l e T o s u k e s s e r v a n t s , w h o s a w n o w o m a n , co u l d no t i m a g i n e
w h a t t h e i r m a s t e r w a s d o i n g . T o s u k e t ook t h e b o x a n d t h e w o m a n
w a l k e d off.
H e r o d e o n t o M i n o b u t forgot all a b o u t t h e b o x unt i l h e w a s h o m e ,
even t h o u g h h e a c t u a l l y c r o s s e d t h e b r i d g e w h e r e h e w a s s u p p o s e d t o
m a k e t h e d e l i v e r y . T h i s s l ip b o t h e r e d h im a g o o d dea l w h e n he n o t i c e d
it, a n d he d e c i d e d to m a k e a specia l t r i p b a c k to t h e b r i d g e . B u t s ince he
c o u l d no t g o r igh t a w a y , h e h u n g t h e b o x for t h e t ime b e i n g h igh u p i n
a n o u t b u i l d i n g .
U n f o r t u n a t e l y , h is wife , a j e a l o u s w o m a n , s p o t t e d h im h i d i n g the p a c k -
a g e . S h e a s s u m e d i m m e d i a t e l y t h a t i t w a s a p r e s e n t for s o m e mis t r e s s ,
a n d a s s o o n a s he w a s g o n e s h e t o o k i t d o w n a n d o p e n e d it. I t w a s full o f
g o u g e d - o u t h u m a n eyes a n d s e v e r e d ma le m e m b e r s w i t h t he h a i r still o n
t h e m .
H e r s c r e a m b r o u g h t T o s u k e r u n n i n g . R e m e m b e r i n g w i t h h o r r o r w h a t
t h e w o m a n h a d sa id a b o u t o p e n i n g t h e box , h e f rant ical ly p u t t h e lid
b a c k o n a n d w r a p p e d t h e b o x u p a g a i n . T h e n h e t o o k i t s t r a i g h t t o t h e
b r i d g e a n d w a i t e d . S u r e e n o u g h , a w o m a n a p p e a r e d . H e h a n d e d h e r t h e
p a c k a g e w i t h a s h o r t e x p l a n a t i o n o f h o w he h a d c o m e by it.
" T h i s b o x h a s b e e n o p e n e d a n d l o o k e d i n t o , " t h e w o m a n o b s e r v e d a s
s h e t o o k it.
" N o , n o i t h a s n ' t ! " T o s u k e p r o t e s t e d , " I a s s u r e y o u ! "
T h e w o m a n ' s e x p r e s s i o n b e c a m e d read fu l . " Y o u ' v e d o n e a t e r r i b l e
t h i n g , " s h e sa id , b u t a c c e p t e d t h e b o x n o n e t h e l e s s . H i s miss ion c o m -
p le t ed , T o s u k e h u r r i e d h o m e .
Ill n o w , he t o o k to his b e d . H i s wife b i t t e r ly r e g r e t t e d o p e n i n g t h e b o x ,
b u t i t w a s t oo l a t e . S h o r t l y h e w a s d e a d .
1 4 •
THE BRIDGE
A g o v e r n o r o f O m i p r o v i n c e h a d m a n y b r a v e y o u n g m e n in his s e rv i ce .
O n e m o r n i n g t h e y w e r e a m u s i n g t h e m s e l v e s p l a y i n g g a m e s , d r i n k i n g ,
a n d te l l ing s to r i e s w h e n o n e o f t h e m said, " H a v e y o u e v e r h e a r d o f Agi
2 0
B r i d g e ? I t ' s r i g h t h e r e in O m i . P e o p l e u s e d to use i t all t he t ime , bu t n o w
t h e y say n o o n e c a n c ro s s it, s o n o b o d y t a k e s tha t w a y a n y m o r e . ' '
O n e o f his l i s t ene r s s e e m e d to h a v e h e a r d o f t he b r i d g e a l r e a d y (o r
p e r h a p s h e s i m p l y d id no t be l i eve t h e s t o r y ) b e c a u s e h e q u i c k l y d e c l a r e d
t h a t he w o u l d c r o s s t h e b r i d g e . " I d o n ' t c a r e w h a t k ind of d e m o n i s
b l o c k i n g i t , " he c o n t i n u e d , "I ' l l ge t a c r o s s a s l ong as I 'm r id ing H i s
L o r d s h i p ' s b e s t h o r s e , t h e r o a n . "
T h e o t h e r s t h o u g h t th i s a fine idea . "All r igh t , let 's find o u t ! " t h e y
c r i e d . " L e t ' s see w h a t s o r t o f c o u r a g e y o u ' v e g o t ! " T h e g a t h e r i n g go t
q u i t e r o w d y w h i l e t h e y e g g e d h im on , till t h e g o v e r n o r himself h e a r d t he
no i se a n d w a n t e d t o k n o w w h a t i t w a s all a b o u t . W h e n h e found ou t h e
w a s n o t i m p r e s s e d w i t h t h e d e m o n - b a i t e r ' s g o o d sense , b u t h e d id not
ob jec t to t h e u s e of his h o r s e .
" T h i s i s c r a z y ! " t h e d a r e d e v i l e x c l a i m e d . " I ' m s o r r y I e v e r b r o u g h t i t
u p ! "
" S h a m e , s h a m e ! " t h e o t h e r s s h o u t e d . " C o w a r d ! "
" G e t t i n g a c r o s s t h e b r i d g e i s n o t h i n g , " t he m a n w e n t on . " W h a t m a k e s
me s o r r y i s t h a t I s h o u l d e v e r h a v e s e e m e d to covet H i s L o r d s h i p ' s
h o r s e ! "
L o u d vo i ce s o b j e c t e d t h a t t h e s u n w a s a l r e a d y high a n d tha t t h e y w e r e
w a s t i n g t i m e . T h e r o a n w a s s a d d l e d .
T h o u g h h e w i s h e d h e h a d n e v e r o p e n e d his m o u t h , t he m a n w a s
d e t e r m i n e d t o see t h e t h i n g t h r o u g h . H e s m e a r e d t h e ho r se ' s h i n d q u a r -
t e r s l ibe ra l ly w i t h g r e a s e , c i n c h e d the s a d d l e on t ight , a n d l igh tened his
c l o t h i n g , t h e n s l i p p e d his w r i s t t h r o u g h t h e loop o n t h e w h i p h a n d l e s o
t h a t he c o u l d no t d r o p i t a n d r o d e off. By t h e t i m e he r e a c h e d the b r i d g e
his h e a r t w a s p o u n d i n g a n d h e w a s f r i gh t ened half t o d e a t h , bu t t h e r e
w a s n o t u r n i n g b a c k .
T h e s u n w a s s i n k i n g t o w a r d t h e m o u n t a i n s a n d t h e d e s e r t e d l a n d s c a p e
l o o k e d i n d e f i n a b l y b l e a k . W i s p s of s m o k e ro se from the h o u s e s of a
d i s t a n t v i l l age . H e g r i t t e d his t e e th a n d p r e s s e d on . H a l f w a y ac ro s s t he
b r i d g e a w o m a n w a s l e a n i n g a g a i n s t t h e ra i l ing , t h o u g h from fur the r off
s h e h a d no t s e e m e d t o b e t h e r e .
T h i s n o d o u b t w a s t h e d e m o n . H e l o o k e d h e r o v e r w i t h d e e p misgiv-
ing . U n d e r h e r p a l e c loak s h e h a d on a d a r k g o w n a n d a long red t r o u s e r -
sk i r t , a n d s h e w a s h o l d i n g h e r s leeve o v e r h e r m o u t h . S h e looked s o
p a t h e t i c t h a t a t first g l a n c e i t w a s h a r d no t to feel s o r r y for he r . S h e
m i g h t h a v e j u s t b e e n a b a n d o n e d t h e r e .
T h e d e m o n w a t c h e d h im c o m i n g w i t h s igns o f m i n g l e d e m b a r r a s s m e n t
a n d p l e a s u r e , a n d for a m o m e n t he cou ld t h i n k o f n o t h i n g bu t t he des i re
t o lift h e r u p o n his h o r s e a n d t a k e h e r a w a y ; b u t t h e t h o u g h t t h a t s h e
h a d no b u s i n e s s b e i n g t h e r e let h im steel h imsel f to r ide on by . S h e c lea r ly
e x p e c t e d h im t o s t o p , a n d w h e n in s t ead h e ga l l oped pas t w i t h his eyes
t igh t ly s h u t s h e s h o u t e d , " S a y , a r e y o u jus t g o i n g to leave me h e r e ? I
d i d n ' t ask to be d r o p p e d h e r e in t h e m i d d l e o f th i s b r i d g e ! Y o u co u l d a t
least t a k e me on to t he nex t v i l l a g e ! "
H e r h a i r s e e m e d t o swel l a n d t h i c k e n a s s h e s p o k e . H e o n l y w h i p p e d
his h o r s e o n h a r d e r . " Y o u b r u t e ! " s h e s c r e a m e d , a n d the e a r t h s h o o k .
N o w s h e w a s a l t e r h im . " S u r e e n o u g h ! " h e t h o u g h t , a n d p r a y e d t o
K a n n o n t o s a v e h i m . D e s p i t e t h e h o r s e ' s t r e m e n d o u s s p e e d the d e m o n
c a u g h t u p , b u t t h e h o r s e ' s r u m p w a s t o o t h o r o u g h l y g r e a s e d for i ts
c l u t c h i n g h a n d s to find a ho ld .
G l a n c i n g b a c k , he s a w a r ed l ace w i t h o n e a m b e r - y e l l o w eye a s h u g e
a n d r o u n d a s a c u s h i o n . T h e t h i n g w a s g r e e n i s h a n d n ine feet tal l . T h e
t h r e e f ingers o n e a c h h a n d h a d f ive- inch, knife l ike nai ls , a n d the h a i r w a s
l ike a s n a r l o f w e e d s . M a d d e n e d n o w w i t h fear he g a l l o p e d on , ca l l ing on
K a n n o n w i t h m i g h t a n d ma in , till a t last he r e a c h e d t h e vi l lage .
"All r i gh t , I'll ge t y o u n e x t t i m e ! " sa id t h e d e m o n , a n d s u d d e n l y v a n -
i shed .
P a n t i n g a n d e x h a u s t e d , t h e m a n d r a g g e d h imsel f b a c k a s fast a s h e
c o u l d t o his l o r d ' s m a n s i o n a n d a r r i v e d a t twi l igh t . H e w a s t o o w e a k t o
a n s w e r t h e b a r r a g e o f q u e s t i o n s t h a t g r e e t e d h im. All t h e h o u s e h o l d co u l d
d o w a s t r y t o b r i n g h im r o u n d . Bu t w h e n the g o v e r n o r , w h o h a d b e e n
c o n c e r n e d all a l o n g , finally a s k e d h im to tell his s t o r y he d id so . T h e
g o v e r n o r s c o l d e d h im for h a v i n g r i sked his life o v e r a t r i f l ing w a g e r , t h e n
g a v e h im t h e h o r s e . T h e m a n w e n t h o m e well satisfied a n d told t h e ta le
aga in t o his hor r i f i ed family a n d s e r v a n t s .
A spi r i t b e g a n to h a u n t t h e h o u s e af ter t ha t , a n d the m a n cal led in a
y i n - y a n g d i v i n e r t o find o u t w h a t t h e t r o u b l e w a s . T h e d i v i n e r told h im
t o b e v e r y carefu l t h e n e x t t i m e t h e d a y w h e n h e h a d t h w a r t e d t h e d e m o n
c a m e r o u n d . W h e n t h e d a y d id c o m e , t h e m a n shu t h is ga t e t o all c o m e r s .
N o w , h e h a p p e n e d t o h a v e a y o u n g e r b r o t h e r w h o h a d g o n e off w i t h
t he i r m o t h e r t o M u t s u , i n t h e p r o v i n c i a l g o v e r n o r ' s e n t o u r a g e . T h i s w a s
t he d a y w h e n t h e y o u n g e r b r o t h e r c a m e b a c k a n d k n o c k e d a t t h e g a t e .
H i s o l d e r b r o t h e r r e fused t o t a lk w i t h h im e x c e p t t h r o u g h a s e r v a n t , a n d
t h e o n l y r ep ly he go t w a s , " I ' m in s t r i c t s ec lus ion . I'll see y o u t o m o r r o w .
T r y s o m e w h e r e else i n t h e m e a n t i m e . "
" W h a t d o y o u m e a n ? " t h e y o u n g e r b r o t h e r p r o t e s t e d . " T h e sun h a s
a l r eady set! / c a n go s o m e w h e r e else, I s u p p o s e , s ince I 'm a l o n e . B u t
w h a t am I g o i n g to do w i t h my b a g g a g e ? I on ly jus t m a n a g e d to c o m e a t
all, a n d t o d a y w a s t h e o n l y d a y I cou ld find. O u r m o t h e r h a s p a s s e d
a w a y , y o u see , a n d I w a n t e d to tell y o u myself ."
2 2
T h e o l d e r b r o t h e r h a d b e e n w o r r y i n g a b o u t his m o t h e r for y e a r s , b o t h
b e c a u s e s h e w a s old a n d b e c a u s e h e loved h e r d e a r l y . W h e n th is n e w s
w a s r e l a y e d t o h i m , h e b r o k e d o w n a n d i n t e a r s h a d his b r o t h e r let in.
T h e y o u n g e r b r o t h e r e n t e r e d , all i n b l ack , a n d first h a d s o m e t h i n g t o
ea t o n t h e v e r a n d a . T h e n t h e o l d e r b r o t h e r c a m e ou t t o ta lk t o h im . B o t h
w e p t . T h e o l d e r b r o t h e r ' s wife s t a y e d b e h i n d t h e b l i nds t h a t c u r t a i n e d
t h e v e r a n d a off f rom t h e h o u s e p r o p e r a n d l i s tened t o t h e t w o m e n ' s
c o n v e r s a t i o n .
S u d d e n l y , for no r e a s o n she c o u l d see , t h e b r o t h e r s fell t o g r a p p l i n g
f iercely a n d c r a s h e d o v e r a n d over , l o c k e d t o g e t h e r , o n t he floor. S h e
s h o u t e d a t t h e m t o s t o p . W h e n h e r h u s b a n d go t his y o u n g e r b r o t h e r
u n d e r h i m , h e d e m a n d e d t h e s w o r d h e k e p t b y his p i l low. S h e a n s w e r e d
t h a t h e m u s t h a v e g o n e m a d a n d re fused t o b u d g e .
" G i v e i t t o m e ! " h e b a r k e d . " D o y o u w a n t t o ge t m e k i l l e d ? "
J u s t t h e n t h e y o u n g e r b r o t h e r t u r n e d t h e t ab les , go t o n t op , a n d w i t h
o n e c r u n c h b i t off h is o l d e r b r o t h e r ' s h e a d . As he fled he t u r n e d b a c k t o
g l a n c e a t t h e wi fe . "That's b e t t e r n o w ! " he e x u l t e d . H i s face w a s t h e
d e m o n ' s . T h e n h e v a n i s h e d .
T h e r e w a s n o t h i n g t h e d i s t r a u g h t h o u s e h o l d co u l d d o . A s for t he awful
i n t r u d e r ' s b a g g a g e , i t t u r n e d ou t t o c o n t a i n on ly a n i m a l b o n e s a n d skul l s .
S o t h e m a n d i e d for a p e t t y w a g e r a n d e v e r y o n e w h o h e a r d t he s to ry
ca l l ed h i m a fool.
A f t e r p l a y i n g a few m o r e t r i ck s , t h e d e m o n d i s a p p e a r e d .
i 5 .
THE ROOTED CORPSE
T h e e l d e r o f t w o s i s t e r s w a s m a r r i e d a n d l ived i n t h e mis t r e s s ' s a p a r t m e n t
t o w a r d t h e b a c k o f h e r l a te f a the r ' s m a n s i o n . T h e y o u n g e r h a d se rved for
a t i m e in a n o b l e h o u s e h o l d b u t n o w l ived a t h o m e . S h e h a d no h u s b a n d
o r a c c e p t e d lover , o n l y occas iona l , casua l v i s i to rs w h o m she s a w in h e r
r o o m a t t h e f ron t o f t h e h o u s e , b y t h e d o u b l e d o o r s i n t he w e s t w i n g . T h e
h o u s e w a s n e a r t h e c r o s s i n g o f Taka t su j i a n d M u r o m a c h i s t r ee t s i n
K y o t o .
A t t h e a g e o f t w e n t y - s e v e n t h e y o u n g e r s i s te r fell ill a n d d ied . H e r
b o d y w a s left i n h e r r o o m , s ince t h e r e s e e m e d t o b e n o w h e r e else for h e r
i n t h e h o u s e , till h e r o l d e r s i s te r a n d t h e res t o f t h e h o u s e h o l d t ook h e r
off t o t h e b u r n i n g g r o u n d a t T o r i b e n o .
T h e y w e r e a b o u t t o u n l o a d t h e coffin from t h e c a r r i a g e , i n p r e p a r a t i o n
for t he u sua l funera l r i tes , w h e n t h e y no t i ced t h a t i t w a s o d d l y l ight a n d
t h a t t h e lid w a s a jar . W h y , t h e b o d y w a s g o n e ! T h i s w a s a s h o c k i n g
d i s c o v e r y . T h e b o d y c o u l d no t poss ib ly h a v e fallen o u t o n t h e w a y , b u t
t h e y r e t r a c e d t he i r s t e p s t o m a k e s u r e . O f c o u r s e , t h e y f o u n d n o t h i n g .
B u t o n r e a c h i n g t h e h o u s e t h e y t h o u g h t t h e y m i g h t a s wel l c h e c k t h e
r o o m b y t h e d o u b l e d o o r s . T h e r e s h e w a s , ly ing t h e r e a s t h o u g h s h e h a d
n e v e r b e e n m o v e d !
T h e n igh t w o r e o n w h i l e t h e m o u r n e r s d i s c u s s e d a n x i o u s l y w h a t t o d o .
A t d a w n t h e y p u t t h e b o d y b a c k i n t h e coffin a n d carefu l ly sea led t h e lid,
t he n w a i t e d for n i g h t a n d a n o t h e r c h a n c e t o p r o c e e d w i t h t h e c r e m a t i o n .
B u t a t nightfal l t h e y a g a i n found t h e coffin o p e n a n d w e r e rea l ly ter r i f ied
th i s t i m e . T h e b o d y w a s ly ing a s be fo re b y the d o u b l e d o o r s , a n d i t
d e f e a t e d e v e r y a t t e m p t t o ge t i t b a c k w h e r e i t b e l o n g e d . T h e y s imp ly
c o u l d no t b u d g e it. T h e y m i g h t a s we l l h a v e t r i ed to m o v e a r o o t e d t r e e .
T h e r e s h e w a s , a n d a p p a r e n t l y t h a t w a s w h e r e s h e m e a n t t o s t ay .
" T h a t ' s w h a t y o u w a n t , i s i t ? " o n e l e v e l - h e a d e d m o u r n e r finally sa id t o
t h e c o r p s e . " Y o u like i t h e r e ? All r igh t , th i s i s w h e r e we ' l l leave y o u . B u t
we are g o i n g to h a v e to ge t y o u ou t o f s ight , y o u k n o w ! "
T h e y t o o k u p t h e floor, a n d s h e w a s a s l ight a s a f ea the r w h e n t h e y
l o w e r e d h e r t h r o u g h t h e ho le . S o t h e y b u r i e d h e r u n d e r t h e f l o o r a n d
bui l t a g o o d - s i z e d m o u n d o v e r he r . T h e n the family a n d s e r v a n t s all
m o v e d a w a y , s i nce no o n e w a n t e d t o s t ay on i n t h e s a m e h o u s e w i t h a
c o r p s e . O v e r t h e y e a r s t h e h o u s e fell t o ru in a n d e v e n t u a l l y d i s a p p e a r e d .
F o r s o m e r e a s o n , no t e v e n t h e c o m m o n p e o p l e s e e m e d t o b e ab l e t o
live n e a r t h e m o u n d . P e o p l e c l a i m e d t h a t awful t h i n g s h a p p e n e d t h e r e .
As a r e su l t , t h e m o u n d s t o o d all a l o n e , w i t h o u t a s ingle h u t for for ty or
fifty feet a r o u n d it. In t i m e a s h r i n e w a s bu i l t on t o p of it, for o n e r e a s o n
o r a n o t h e r , a n d t h e y say t h e s h r i n e i s still t h e r e .
AN OLD, OLD GHOST
D e m o n Ha l l i s i n t h e C a p i t a l , n o r t h o f T h i r d A v e n u e a n d eas t o f t h e E a s t
T o i n P a l a c e . T h e p l ace i s h a u n t e d .
L o n g a g o , be fo re t h e C a p i t a l e v e r g r e w u p , t h e r e w a s a g r e a t p ine t r e e
a t t h e s i te . An a r m e d r i d e r p a s s i n g by go t c a u g h t in a v io len t t h u n d e r -
s t o r m , s o h e d i s m o u n t e d a n d led his h o r s e u n d e r t he t r ee t o seek s h e l t e r
2 4
f rom t h e d o w n p o u r . A l i g h t n i n g bo l t spli t h im a n d his m o u n t in t w o a n d
ki l led t h e m . T h a t r i d e r i s t h e g h o s t .
L a t e r o n , t h e C a p i t a l c a m e a n d p e o p l e bui l t h o u s e s all o v e r t he a rea ,
b u t t h e g h o s t r e fused t o l eave . T h e y say it 's still a r o u n d a n d tha t t h a t ' s
w h y awfu l t h i n g s h a v e often h a p p e n e d t h e r e . I t c e r t a in ly i s an old g h o s t !
T h e s t i n g y s e n i o r m o n k of a m o u n t a i n t e m p l e m a d e a b a t c h o f s w e e t
s y r u p , g u z z l e d s o m e all a l o n e , t h e n carefu l ly p u t t h e j u g up on a shelf.
H i s litt le a c o l y t e g o t n o n e . In fact, he w a r n e d t h e aco ly te tha t t he stuff
w o u l d kill y o u i f y o u a t e it .
T h e b o y b a d l y w a n t e d s o m e too , a n d o n e d a y w h e n his m a s t e r w a s ou t
h e g o t t h e j u g d o w n . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , h e spi l led s o m e s y r u p i n t h e p r o c e s s
a n d g o t i t all o v e r h i s r o b e a n d ha i r , b u t th i s d id no t d i s c o u r a g e him from
g u l p i n g s e v e r a l m o u t h f u l s . W h e n h e w a s d o n e , h e s m a s h e d his m a s t e r ' s
p r e c i o u s j u g to b i t s on a r o c k o u t s i d e .
T h e m o n k c a m e b a c k t o find t h e b o y c r y i n g a s t h o u g h his h e a r t w o u l d
b r e a k . " W h a t ' s t h e m a t t e r ? " h e a s k e d .
" Y o u r j u g ! " s o b b e d t h e b o y . " I b r o k e y o u r g o o d j u g b y m i s t a k e a n d I
j u s t d i d n ' t k n o w what y o u ' d do to me , so I d e c i d e d I 'd be b e t t e r off d e a d
a n d I a t e a b i g m o u t h f u l o f t h a t stuff y o u to ld me w a s po i son , b u t i t d i d n ' t
w o r k . I a t e m o r e a n d w h e n that d i d n ' t w o r k I t r i ed s m e a r i n g i t all ove r
m y r o b e a n d h a i r b u t I 'm still no t d e a d ! "
T h e m o n k go t n o m o r e o f h i s s y r u p , a n d h e lost h i s n ice j u g , t oo . W h a t
a c l e v e r b o y ! H e ' d no d o u b t h a v e m a d e a f ine s c h o l a r .
i 8 .
i 9 .
THE NOSE
T h e m o n k Z e n c h i n w a s s o l e a r n e d a n d ho ly t h a t p e o p l e often c o m m i s -
s ioned p r a y e r s f rom h i m , w h i c h m a d e h i m q u i t e c o m f o r t a b l y w e a l t h y a n d
well ab l e t o k e e p his c h a p e l a n d his o w n lodg ing i n v e r y g o o d r e p a i r .
NOT QUITE THE RIGHT ROBE
O n c e a v e r y g r e a t m o n k w a s m a k i n g c l a n d e s t i n e vis i ts t o a n e x a l t e d
g e n t l e m a n ' s r e s i d e n c e . T h e g e n t l e m a n k n e w n o t h i n g o f t h e affair unt i l
o n e d a y , la te i n t h e t h i r d m o o n , w h e n h e w e n t t o t h e p a l a c e .
W h i l e h e w a s g o n e , t h e m o n k go t i n a n d m a d e h imsel f a t h o m e w i t h
t h e g e n t l e m a n ' s wi fe . A l a d y - i n - w a i t i n g h u n g his n ice , soft r o b e r igh t on
h e r m a s t e r ' s c l o t h e s r a c k . M e a n w h i l e t h e g e n t l e m a n sen t a s e r v a n t b a c k
from t h e p a l a c e to fetch h i m a less fo rmal outf i t t h a n t h e o n e he h a d on ,
s ince he w a s n o w off to h a v e a g o o d t i m e w i t h a b a n d o f c o u r t i e r s . " B r i n g
m e m y h a t a n d m y h u n t i n g c l o a k , " h e o r d e r e d .
T h e l a d y - i n - w a i t i n g t o o k t h e h a n g i n g c loak from the r ack , p u t i t in a
b a g w i t h t h e ha t , a n d sen t i t off. B y t h e t i m e the s e r v a n t c a u g h t u p w i t h
t h e g e n t l e m a n , h e a n d his f r iends h a d a l r e a d y g o t t e n w h e r e t h e y w e r e
g o i n g . T h e g e n t l e m a n o p e n e d t h e b a g . T h e r e w a s t h e h a t . B u t w h e r e w a s
t h e c l o a k ? H e t o o k o u t i n s t e a d a r u m p l e d , b r o w n i s h r o b e .
H e u n d e r s t o o d i m m e d i a t e l y . O f c o u r s e , all h is c o m p a n i o n s s a w t h e
r o b e t o o , a n d h e w a s a s e m b a r r a s s e d a s h e w a s a n g r y . T h e r e w a s n o t h i n g
h e c o u l d d o , t h o u g h . H e s imp ly folded t h e r o b e u p , p u t i t b a c k i n t h e
b a g , a n d r e t u r n e d i t w i t h a c u r t v e r s e t h a t let h is wife k n o w he n o w
k n e w . H e n e v e r w e n t b a c k t o his h o u s e a g a i n .
T h e l a d y - i n - w a i t i n g w a s a silly w o m a n , a n d t h e r o o m h a d b e e n d a r k .
I n h e r h a s t e s h e h a d t a k e n t h e m o n k ' s r o b e in s t ead o f t h e l o rd ' s h u n t i n g
c loak , s i nce b o t h w e r e on t h e s a m e r a c k a n d felt equa l ly soft.
W h e n t h e wife s a w h e r h u s b a n d ' s l e t te r s h e w a s d i s t r a u g h t , b u t t h e r e
w a s n o t h i n g she c o u l d do e i t h e r .
2 6
T h e r e w e r e a l w a y s of fer ings o n his a l t a r , t h e a l t a r l a m p s w e r e a l w a y s
b u r n i n g , a n d t h e smal l c r o w d o f m o n k s w h o l ived a r o u n d him kep t t he
p l a c e l ively. T h e b a t h w a s h e a t e d e v e r y d a y , a n d the b a t h h o u s e re -
s o u n d e d w i t h chee r fu l vo i ce s . W h e n l a y m e n a d d e d t he i r h o u s e s t o t h e
c o m m u n i t y , a b u s t l i n g vi l lage g r e w u p .
Z e n c h i n h a d a l o n g n o s e . Its five or six i nches , r e d d i s h - p u r p l e w i t h a
p i m p l y s u r f a c e l ike a m a n d a r i n o r a n g e , d a n g l e d b e l o w his ch in a n d i t ched
t e r r i b l y . Z e n c h i n h a d a hole m a d e in a s q u a r e t r ay , jus t big e n o u g h to
p u t t h e n o s e t h r o u g h , t o p r o t e c t h is face f rom t h e fire w h i l e he boi led t he
n o s e in a p o t o f w a t e r . W h e n d o n e t h e n o s e w o u l d be a d a r k p u r p l e .
N e x t , Z e n c h i n w o u l d lay i t ou t flat on a p a d a n d h a v e s o m e o n e t r a m p l e
it. A v a p o r i s h s o r t o f s tuff w o u l d puff ou t f rom e a c h p imp le , a n d wi th
d i l i gen t p r e s s i n g a w h i t e w o r m w o u l d ooze from e a c h p o r e . E a c h p o r e
w o u l d y i e l d t o t h e t w e e z e r s half an inch o f w o r m . T h e n Z e n c h i n w o u l d
p u t h is n o s e b a c k in t h e po t a n d b r i n g t h e w a t e r b a c k up to a g o o d boil .
S o o n his n o s e w o u l d s h r i n k to a b o u t t he size o f a n y o n e else 's , bu t i n t w o
o r t h r e e d a y s i t w o u l d b e a s b a d a s ever .
So m o s t d a y s Z e n c h i n s nose w a s big , a n d t o ea t he w o u l d h a v e t o
h a v e an a c o l y t e sit o p p o s i t e h im w i t h a sor t of p a d d l e , a foot l ong a n d an
inch w i d e , t o lift h is n o s e up a n d o u t o f t he w a y till he w a s f in ished. S o m e
w h o d id th i s for h im lifted w i t h a bi t t o o m u c h e n t h u s i a s m , a n d t h e n he
w o u l d ge t a n g r y a n d no t ea t . T h a t i s w h y h e m a d e s u r e t h a t t he o n e
a c o l y t e w h o d id i t r i gh t w a s a l w a y s t h e r e t o h e l p h im .
O n e d a y th i s a c o l y t e w a s ill a n d failed t o a p p e a r for his usua l d u t y .
Z e n c h i n w a n t e d his b r e a k f a s t b u t t h e r e w a s n o o n e t o hold u p his nose .
W h a t a p i c k l e ! F ina l ly o n e o f t h e s e r v a n t b o y s p i p ed u p , " / ' / / hold up his
n o s e ! I c a n do i t j u s t as wel l as t h a t o t h e r fe l low!" An o lde r s e r v a n t
r e p o r t e d th i s t o Z e n c h i n , w h o d e c i d e d h e l iked the b o y well e n o u g h a n d
w o u l d g ive h i m a t r y . He ca l led t h e b o y in. T h e b o y p i c k e d up t h e nose
p a d d l e , sat v e r y n ice ly o p p o s i t e Z e n c h i n , a n d he ld up his nose jus t r ight ,
n e i t h e r t o o h i g h n o r t o o l ow . " H e ' s w o n d e r f u l ! " t h o u g h t Z e n c h i n a s h e
s i p p e d his g r u e l . " E v e n b e t t e r t h a n t h e o t h e r o n e ! "
A l a s , t h e b o y felt a s n e e z e c o m i n g on , t u r n e d as ide , a n d let ou t
a g o o d a - c h o o . H i s h a n d s h o o k , t he p a d d l e q u i v e r e d , a n d the nose
s l i p p e d off a n d p l o p p e d in to t h e g r u e l . G r u e l s p l a s h e d all o v e r Z e n -
c h i n ' s face a n d t h e b o y ' s . Z e n c h i n w a s fu r ious . " Y o u r a s c a l ! " h e
b e l l o w e d a s he w i p e d g r u e l off h is face a n d p a t e . "A n as t y little b e g g a r
i s j u s t w h a t y o u a r e ! Y o u w o u l d n ' t h a v e d o n e t h a t i f y o u ' d g o n e t o
h o l d u p t h e n o s e o f s o m e fine g e n t l e m a n ! D i s g u s t i n g little id iot! G e t ou t !
G e t o u t ! "
T h e b o y go t ou t , b u t on his w a y he loosed a p a r t i n g sho t . " I ce r t a in ly
woti/t) go ho ld up s o m e fine g e n t l e m a n ' s n o s e , ' ' he r e t o r t e d , "if a n y g en t l e -
m a n in all t h e w o r l d e v e r h a d a n o s e l ike y o u r s ! "
Z e n c h i n ' s s t u d e n t s h a d t o d ive for c o v e r be fo re t h e y e x p l o d e d
l a u g h i n g .
2 O .
TWO BUCKETS OF MARITAL BLISS
At a t e m p l e in I z u m i p r o v i n c e , e a c h t r i p to t h e bell t o w e r t o o k t h e bel l-
r i n g e r m o n k p a s t a s t a t u e o f K ich i jo t en . E v e r y o n e k n o w s h o w beaut i fu l
th i s g o d d e s s is. S e e i n g h e r d a y af ter d a y w a s q u i t e e n o u g h t o d r i v e e v e r y
o t h e r t h o u g h t f rom the m o n k ' s m i n d . H e t ook t o h u g g i n g t h e s t a t u e ,
p i n c h i n g it, o r e v e n g o i n g t h r o u g h t h e m o t i o n s o f k i s s ing it.
I n t i m e h e d r e a m e d h e w a s fond l ing Kichi jo ten a s usua l , o n his w a y t o
r i n g t h e bel l , w h e n s h e s u d d e n l y m o v e d .
" M y d e a r , " sa id s h e , " I ' m t o u c h e d b y y o u r lov ing a t t e n t i o n s . I 'm g o i n g
t o b e y o u r wife . G o t o I n a m i n o i n H a r i m a o n s u c h - a n d - s u c h a d a t e a n d
I'll mee t y o u t h e r e . "
T h e bell r i n g e r a w o k e blissfully h a p p y . H e cou ld still see h e r lovely
face be fo re h i m . T h e d a y s h e h a d m e n t i o n e d s e e m e d s o far a w a y !
F e v e r i s h w i t h a n t i c i p a t i o n , h e c o u l d h a r d l y be l ieve t h e d a y w o u l d e v e r
a r r i v e ; b u t w h e n i t d id , t h e r e h e w a s a t I n a m i n o , p a c i n g i m p a t i e n t l y u p
a n d d o w n . A t last h e s a w a r a d i a n t l y beaut i fu l w o m a n c o m i n g t o w a r d
h im, d r e s s e d i n b r i l l i an t c o l o r s . C o u l d s h e b e t h e o n e ? H e w a s t r e m b l i n g
a n d c o u l d no t b r i n g h imse l f t o hai l h e r .
" H o w n ice t o see y o u h e r e ! " s h e sa id w h e n s h e got t o h im . " N o w ,
m a k e us a h o u s e ! "
" H o w a m I s u p p o s e d t o d o t h a t ? "
" W h y , t h e r e ' s n o t h i n g t o it. Y o u jus t ge t t o w o r k ! "
A m a n c a m e u p t o t h e m . " W h o a r e y o u ? " h e a s k e d , " W h a t a r e y o u
d o i n g o u t h e r e i n t h e f i e ld s?"
" W e ' r e p l a n n i n g t o live h e r e , " a n s w e r e d t h e m o n k , " b u t w e h a v e n o
h o u s e a n d I d o n ' t q u i t e k n o w w h e r e w e ' r e g o i n g t o get o n e from, e i t he r .
I 'm w o n d e r i n g w h a t t o d o . "
2 8
" S a y n o m o r e ! Y o u ' v e n o t h i n g t o w o r r y a b o u t a s long a s I'm h e r e . / ' / /
ge t y o u y o u r h o u s e bui l t . W a i t a n d I'll b r i n g s o m e m e n . "
T h e m a n w a s s o o n b a c k w i t h a g o o d c r e w o l w o r k e r s . E a c h b r o u g h t a
jois t o r a b e a m , a n d e v e r y t h i n g else t h e y n e e d e d jus t kep t c o m i n g whi l e
t h e y w o r k e d . S o m e o l t h e m a t e r i a l s a p p a r e n t l y b e l o n g e d t o t he w o r k m e n
t h e m s e l v e s , w h i l e s o m e s e e m e d t o h a v e b e e n p u r c h a s e d b y the lady. A t
all e v e n t s , a beau t i fu l h o u s e q u i c k l y ro se on t h e spo t . Bes ide h imsel f w i th
joy , t h e m o n k led his l a d y i n a n d lay d o w n w i t h he r .
" I ' m y o u r w i l e n o w , " t h e g o d d e s s r e m i n d e d h im . " I f y o u love me, y o u
m u s t n ' t ge t i nvo lved w i t h a n y o n e else . F o r y o u , I 'm the on ly o n e . Re-
m e m b e r t h a t . "
E v e n i f s h e h a d b e e n a pe r fec t ly o r d i n a r y w o m a n he h a p p e n e d to be
fond of, he w o u l d h a r d l y h a v e ob j ec t ed ; b u t u n d e r t he c i r c u m s t a n c e s he
a g r e e d w i t h all h is h e a r t . " O f c o u r s e ! " h e p r o m i s e d . " I w o u l d n ' t d r e a m
o f w a n d e r i n g a w a y from y o u ! "
" T h a n k y o u , m y d e a r , " sa id t h e g o d d e s s .
H e b e g a n g r o w i n g r ice a n d f o u n d t h a t t he least p lo t h e w o r k e d g a v e
m o r e t h a n a n y o n e e lse ' s w h o l e fa rm. E v e r y co mfo r t w a s his n o w , a n d i n
fact he w a s t h e r i che s t m a n in t h e w h o l e c o u n t y . P e o p l e c a m e from far
a w a y j u s t t o a s k for his h e l p , a n d h e a l w a y s g a v e t h e m w h a t t h e y w a n t e d .
H i s h e r d s o f h o r s e s a n d ca t t l e w e r e vas t . F ina l ly even the g o v e r n o r o f t he
p r o v i n c e b e g a n to de fe r t o h im a n d l is ten t o his a d v i c e .
Af t e r s e v e r a l y e a r s of t h i s p l e a s a n t life, he h a d to go off for a few d a y s
on b u s i n e s s to a n o t h e r c o u n t y . W h i l e he w a s t h e r e , a r e t a i n e r of his jus t
h a p p e n e d to m e n t i o n a v e r y n ice girl he k n e w of. " Y o u could have he r
c o m e a n d m a s s a g e y o u r feet o r s o m e t h i n g , s i r , " t h e r e t a i n e r s u g g e s t e d .
" W e l l , " t h o u g h t t h e g o d d e s s ' s h u s b a n d , " e v e n i f I s t a r t g e t t i n g ideas , I
s u p p o s e i t d o e s n ' t rea l ly m a t t e r as long as I d o n ' t ac tua l ly do a n y t h i n g
w i t h h e r . "
" F i n e ! " h e sa id . "I ' l l t r y h e r . "
T h e girl a r r i v e d , d r e s s e d t o kill. He h a d h e r beg in w o r k i n g on his feet,
b u t o n e t h i n g led t o a n o t h e r a n d soon t h e y w e r e a lot m o r e in t ima te t h a n
t h a t . N o t t h a t he h a d fallen i n love w i t h he r , b u t he d id k e e p h e r by h im
a s l o n g a s h i s t r i p l a s t ed .
H i s b u s i n e s s ove r , he go t b a c k h o m e to find his wife l ook ing v e r y p u t
o u t .
" Y o u s w o r e y o u w o u l d n ' t , " s h e said, " a n d n o w y o u ' v e g o n e a n d d o n e
it! O h , h o w could y o u ? I 'm l eav ing . I c an ' t s t ay h e r e a n y m o r e . "
H e s t a r t e d jus t i fy ing h imse l f a n d m a k i n g e x c u s e s , a s s u r i n g h e r tha t
s h e w a s still h is o n l y love . S h e , m e a n w h i l e , w e n t t o fetch t w o big b u c k e t s
o f w h i t i s h l iqu id .
" H e r e , " s h e sa id , " I ' v e s a v e d i t all s ince w e ' v e b e e n t o g e t h e r . Y o u c a n
k e e p i t ! " T h e n s h e v a n i s h e d .
I t w a s , of c o u r s e , all t h e s e m e n he h a d e jacu la ted in to his h e a v e n l y
wife .
Life w a s n e v e r q u i t e t h e s a m e for h im af ter tha t , b u t he w a s still far
f rom p o o r . So he g a v e up b e i n g a m o n k for g o o d a n d l ived on s imp ly a s
a p r o s p e r o u s f a rmer .
2 1 .
HOME IN A CHEST
At o n e t ime K a i s h u , t h e a b b o t o f G i o n t emp le , w a s p a y i n g sec re t vis i ts t o
a m a n s i o n w h i c h b e l o n g e d to o n e o f t h e Cap i t a l ' s mos t p r o m i n e n t p r o v i n -
cial g o v e r n o r s . T h e g o v e r n o r c a u g h t w i n d o f t he affair b u t for s o m e t i m e
p r e t e n d e d no t t o n o t i c e .
O n c e w h i l e t h e g o v e r n o r w a s out , Ka i shu s l ipped in to t he h o u s e a n d
m a d e himself r i gh t a t h o m e . W h e n the g o v e r n o r c a m e b a c k , h e no t i ced
t h a t h is wife a n d t h e o t h e r w o m e n s e e m e d a bit f lus te red , a n d he u n d e r -
s t o o d r igh t a w a y w h a t t h e t r o u b l e m u s t be . I n t he w o m e n ' s p a r t o f t h e
h o u s e he n o t e d t h a t a l o n g s t o r a g e ches t w h i c h n o r m a l l y s t ood o p e n w a s
n o w c losed a n d l o c k e d . O b v i o u s l y t h a t w a s w h e r e t h e y h a d t h e fel low
h i d d e n . T h e g o v e r n o r ca l led a s e n i o r r e t a i n e r a n d h a d h im s u m m o n t w o
w o r k m e n . T h e n h e o r d e r e d t h e ches t c a r r i e d i m m e d i a t e l y t o G i o n a s a
fee for h a v i n g s o m e s u t r a s c h a n t e d t h e r e . Off t h e ches t w e n t on t h e
w o r k m e n ' s s h o u l d e r s , a c c o m p a n i e d by t h e r e t a ine r b e a r i n g a formal n o t e .
T h o u g h hor r i f ied , t h e wife a n d h e r w o m e n k e p t qu ie t .
T h e G i o n m o n k s c a m e o u t t o r ece ive t he ches t a n d w e r e m u c h im-
p r e s s e d w i t h t h e d o n o r ' s g e n e r o s i t y . " G o ge t t he a b b o t ! " t h e y sa id t o
e a c h o t h e r . " W e c a n ' t v e r y wel l o p e n i t w i t h o u t h i m . " Bu t t he o n e w h o
w e n t c a m e b a c k , a f te r a l o n g de l ay , t o r e p o r t t h a t t he a b b o t w a s n o w h e r e
to be f o u n d . T h e r e t a i n e r c o m p l a i n e d t h a t he h a d no t ime to wa i t . "I'm
h e r e , " h e ins i s ted . " N o b o d y ' s g o i n g t o a c c u s e y o u o f a n y t h i n g . J u s t g o
a h e a d a n d o p e n it. I 'm in a h u r r y . "
T h e m o n k s w e r e still w o n d e r i n g w h a t t o do w h e n a doleful little vo ice
from ins ide t h e c h e s t p i p e d u p , "Any m o n k will d o , y o u k n o w ! " T h e
m o n k s cou ld h a r d l y be l i eve t h e i r e a r s , b u t v e r y g inge r ly t h e y o p e n e d t h e
3 0
c h e s t . O u t p o p p e d t h e h e a d o f t h e i r a b b o t . T h e sight s o a l a r m e d t h e m
t h a t t h e y all fled, a n d s o d id t h e r e t a i n e r . M e a n w h i l e t h e a b b o t e x t r a c t e d
h imse l f f rom t h e c h e s t a n d r a n t o h i d e .
O f c o u r s e t h e g o v e r n o r cou ld h a v e h a u l e d Ka i shu s t ra igh t out o f t he
c h e s t a n d g i v e n h im a few g o o d , swift k i cks , b u t th is w o u l d no t h a v e
l o o k e d v e r y g o o d . I t w a s w i s e o f h im t o s h a m e the m a n ins tead . Ka i shu
w a s a l w a y s a fast t a lke r , a n d even in t h e ches t he h a d s o m e t h i n g to say.
W h i l e v i s i t i ng a c e r t a i n s h r i n e a t A w a z u in S h i g a c o u n t y o f t he p r o v i n c e
o f O m i , E m p e r o r Tenj i d e c i d e d t o bu i ld a t e m p l e . T h i s w a s a b o u t t he
y e a r 6 6 5 . B u t w h e r e s h o u l d t h e t e m p l e s t a n d ? T h e e m p e r o r p r a y e d for
h e l p . T h a t n i g h t h e d r e a m e d a m o n k c a m e t o h im a n d a n n o u n c e d tha t
t h e r e w a s a n e x c e l l e n t s p o t t o t h e n o r t h w e s t . T h e m o n k sa id h e s h o u l d
look t h a t w a y r i g h t n o w .
W a k i n g u p , t h e e m p e r o r s a w a l ight i n t h a t d i r e c t i o n . T h e nex t m o r n -
ing he s e n t s o m e o n e to i nves t iga t e , a n d the m e s s e n g e r , still fo l lowing the
g l o w , c a m e to t h e foot o f M o u n t S a s a n a m i . F a r up a r av ine he c a m e to a
d e e p c a v e u n d e r a r o c k face a n d p e e r e d ins ide . He w a s lace t o face w i t h
a n e x t r a o r d i n a r y old m a n w h o s e e m e d infinitely ho ly a n d wi se . T h e
m e s s e n g e r a n n o u n c e d t h a t t h e e m p e r o r h a d sen t h im t o find out w h y
t h e m o u n t a i n w a s s h i n i n g , a n d a s k e d the old m a n pol i te ly w h o h e w a s .
T h e o ld m a n i g n o r e d h i m . T h e m e s s e n g e r w a s upse t , bu t w e n t b a c k t o
H i s M a j e s t y t o r e p o r t .
"I ' l l h a v e t o g o t h e r e a n d q u e s t i o n him myself ," said t h e e m p e r o r a n d
set o u t . H i s b e a r e r s b r o u g h t his p a l a n q u i n a s c lose t o t he cave a s t h e y
c o u l d , a n d he w a l k e d t h e res t o f t h e w a y . T h e old m a n w a s still t h e r e .
He h a d on a b r o c a d e h a t a n d a pa le violet r o b e a n d looked m o r e like a
g o d t h a n a m a n . A p p a r e n t l y t h e e m p e r o r d id no t i m p r e s s h im a bi t .
" W h o a r e y o u , a n d w h a t a r e y o u d o i n g h e r e ? " t he e m p e r o r a s k e d .
T h e old m a n b r o u g h t his s l eeves t o g e t h e r a litt le, m a d e a s l ight g e s t u r e
o f d e f e r e n c e , a n d sa id , " I m m o r t a l s h a v e a l w a y s l ived in th i s c a v e . " T h e n ,
af ter a few m o r e c r y p t i c w o r d s , he v a n i s h e d .
T h e e m p e r o r d e c i d e d th i s w a s a v e r y ho ly spo t i n d e e d , a n d ce r t a in ly a
g o o d p l ace for t h e t e m p l e .
T h e t e m p l e , S h i g a d e r a , w a s bui l t t h e nex t y e a r , w i t h a s ix teen- foo t -
h igh s t a t u e o f M i r o k u . W h i l e t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n w a s u n d e r w a y , t h e w o r k -
m e n d u g u p a m i n i a t u r e p a g o d a t h a t o b v i o u s l y w a s no t J a p a n e s e . I t
c o u l d o n l y h a v e b e e n o n e o f t h e 8 4 , 0 0 0 p a g o d a s d i s t r i b u t e d t h r o u g h o u t
t h e w o r l d , e a c h w i t h a rel ic o f t h e B u d d h a ins ide it, by t h e g r e a t I n d i a n
k i n g A s o k a s o m e n ine h u n d r e d y e a r s be fo re .
In f ront of t h e t e m p l e s t o o d a g r e a t l a n t e r n . F o r t he c o n s e c r a t i o n of
t h e t e m p l e t h e e m p e r o r k i n d l e d a f lame on t h e t ip of his o w n r igh t r i n g
f inger a n d lit t h e l a n t e r n w i t h it. T h e n he cu t off t h e f inger a n d b u r i e d i t
u n d e r t h e l a n t e r n , in a s t o n e b o x , a s an of fer ing to M i r o k u .
H a v i n g c o n s i d e r a b l e p o w e r , t h e e m p e r o r ' s f inger w o u l d s e n d a n y visi-
t o r w h o w a s t h e least u n c l e a n t u m b l i n g d o w n in to t h e n e i g h b o r i n g r a v i n e .
T h i s d i s c o u r a g e d p i l g r i m s comple t e ly , a n d a p r i e s t w h o took o v e r t h e
t e m p l e m u c h l a t e r go t b o r e d w i t h h a v i n g n o v i s i to r s . T h e p r o b l e m w a s
t h a t f inger . T h e p r i e s t d e c i d e d to d i g i t up a n d ge t r id o f it.
As soon a s t h e w o r k m e n b e g a n , a frightful s t o r m b r o k e , w i t h t h u n d e r ,
l i gh tn ing , r a in , a n d v io len t w i n d . T h i s ju s t m a d e the p r i e s t a n g r i e r t h a n
eve r , a n d h e k e p t h is m e n d i g g i n g till t h e y go t t o t h e b o x . T h e f inger
l o o k e d pe r fec t ly fresh a n d g a v e off a pa l e g l o w , b u t i t soon t u r n e d to
l iquid a n d d i s a p p e a r e d .
S o o n t h e p r i e s t w e n t m a d a n d d i e d .
2 3 .
JAPAN'S FIRST GOLD
Todaiji in Nara u a mii.it for every touri.il,
and it.i Great Buddha Li famous. The original Great
Buddha wa.i dedicated in 752, in a magnificent ceremony
attended by monk.t from all over A)ia.
W h e n E m p e r o r S h o m u bui l t Todai j i , l ong a g o , h e h a d his w o r k m e n cas t
a h u g e , s e a t e d b r o n z e i m a g e o f t h e C o s m i c B u d d h a , a n d he e n s h r i n e d i t
in a c o r r e s p o n d i n g l y v a s t hal l . T h i s s t a t u e w a s t h e o r ig ina l o f t he G r e a t
Todai j i B u d d h a w e k n o w t o d a y .
3 2
F o r t h e e m p e r o r , th i s G r e a t B u d d h a w a s t h e pr ice less jewel t h a t w a s
t o d r a w o u r l a n d t o g e t h e r i n t h e B u d d h i s t faith, a n d h e g a v e himsel f t o
t h e p r o j e c t h e a r t a n d sou l . W h e n t h e t i m e c a m e t o bui ld t he da is for t h e
B u d d h a to r e s t on ( t h e da i s w o u l d look like a l o tu s f lower ) , t h e e m p e r o r
d u g t h e first s p a d e f u l s o f e a r t h himself, a n d his e m p r e s s c a r r i e d t he e a r t h
a w a y i n t h e l o n g s leeves o f h e r r o b e .
T h e t e m p l e w a s q u i c k l y bui l t , w i t h wi l l ing s u p p o r t from all, a n d the
G r e a t B u d d h a w a s cas t . T h e n e x t t h i n g w a s t o ge t t h o u s a n d s o f shee t s o f
go ld foil t o gi ld t h e B u d d h a w i t h . B u t w h e r e w e r e t h e y t o c o m e f rom?
J a p a n h a d n e v e r h a d a n y go ld . T h e e m p e r o r s en t a n e n v o y t o C h i n a ,
l a d e n w i t h t r e a s u r e , t o b u y t h e go ld r e q u i r e d , a n d t h e nex t s p r i n g the
e n v o y r e t u r n e d . C r a f t s m e n w e r e a s s e m b l e d a n d s t a r t e d w o r k , b u t t he
c o l o r o f t h e go ld w a s w r o n g , a n d bes ides , t h e r e still w a s no t e n o u g h o f i t
e v e n for t h e G r e a t B u d d h a , let a l one t h e m a n y sma l l e r images i n t he
o t h e r , l e s se r ha l l s o f t h e t e m p l e .
In th i s d e s p e r a t e s i t ua t i on t h e e m p e r o r cal led in t he g r ea t e s t m o n k s o f
t h e t i m e t o a s k t h e i r a d v i c e . T h e y to ld h im a b o u t G o l d e n P e a k , a m o u n -
t a in i n Y o s h i n o c o u n t y o f Y a m a t o p r o v i n c e , a n d said th i s m o u n t a i n w a s
b o u n d t o h a v e g o l d . B u t t h e y r e m i n d e d H i s M a j e s t y t h a t a power fu l g o d
w a t c h e d o v e r G o l d e n P e a k , a n d r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t before t a k i n g a n y
g o l d H i s M a j e s t y s h o u l d f i r s t s p e a k t o th i s g o d .
T h e e m p e r o r o r d e r e d R o b e n , t h e m o n k i n c h a r g e o f t h e w h o l e pro jec t ,
t o b e g t h e g o d re spec t fu l ly for s o m e o f his go ld . Af te r p r a y i n g for seven
d a y s a n d n i g h t s , R o b e n h a d a d r e a m . T h e g o d a p p e a r e d a s a m o n k a n d
sa id t o h i m , " T h e go ld o f m y m o u n t a i n w a s p l a c e d h e r e b y M i r o k u , t h e
F u t u r e B u d d h a . I t wil l b e g iven o u t w h e n M i r o k u c o m e s in to t h e w o r l d ,
a n d m u s t be k e p t till t h e n . My role i s on ly to g u a r d it. Bu t I will tell y o u
w h a t t o d o . I n S h i g a c o u n t y o f O m i p r o v i n c e , a l o n g the r iver t h a t r u n s
i n to L a k e B i w a , t h e r e is a spo t ca l led T a g a m i . N e a r b y is a low, i so la ted
hill w h o s e e a s t e r n s p u r f o r m s T s u b a k i P o i n t . Y o u will f i nd t h e r e a g r o u p
o f s t a n d i n g r o c k s . T h e r e a l w a y s u s e d t o b e a n old m a n fishing from o n e
o f t h e m . Bu i ld a c h a p e l on t h a t r o c k a n d e n s h r i n e N y o i r i n K a n n o n , t h e n
p r a y t h e r e for y o u r go ld . Y o u wil l ge t it, I p r o m i s e . "
R o b e n r e p o r t e d his d r e a m a n d t h e e m p e r o r s en t h im s t r a igh t off t o
O m i . T h e hill w a s t h e r e a n d T s u b a k i P o i n t h a d t h e s t r a n g e r o c k s t he g o d
h a d m e n t i o n e d . A m o n g t h e m w a s t h e o n e t h e old m a n h a d fished from.
R o b e n h a d s o o n m a d e a N y o i r i n K a n n o n a n d bui l t t he chape l , a n d h e
p r a y e d t h e r e for g o l d .
S h o r t l y M u t s u a n d S h i m o t s u k e p r o v i n c e s in t h e n o r t h sen t a gift t o t h e
e m p e r o r i n t h e fo rm o f s o m e g o l d - c o l o r e d s a n d . M e t a l w o r k e r s s u m m o n e d
to m e l t i t f o u n d t h a t i t r ea l ly w a s t h e m o s t beaut i fu l ly y e l l o w go ld . T h e
d e l i g h t e d e m p e r o r s e n t for m o r e , a n d i t q u i c k l y a r r i v e d . S o m u c h w a s
left o v e r f rom g i l d i n g t h e G r e a t B u d d h a t h a t t h e r e w a s p l e n t y for all t he
o t h e r B u d d h a s t o o .
T h a t w a s h o w go ld w a s first f o u n d i n J a p a n .
a 4 .
GYOGI AND BARAMON
Baramon '•< name is simply a japanization of
"brahman, " meaning an Indian of high caste.
L o n g a g o E m p e r o r S h o m u inv i t ed G y o g i t o p r e s i d e a t t h e c o n s e c r a t i o n
c e r e m o n y for t h e G r e a t B u d d h a o f Toda i j i . T h i s w a s n a t u r a l b e c a u s e
G y o g i w a s a b e l o v e d sa in t : a g r e a t t e a c h e r , p r e a c h e r , a n d b u i l d e r w h o s e
w o r k h e l p e d e v e r y o n e t h r o u g h o u t t h e l a n d .
B u t G y o g i d e c l i n e d . " N o , Y o u r M a j e s t y , " h e sa id , " I ' m no t w o r t h y .
T h e m a n y o u n e e d i s o n his w a y h e r e f rom a c r o s s t h e s e a . " H i s M a j e s t y
let G y o g i lead a h u n d r e d m o n k s a n d a b a n d o f c o u r t m u s i c i a n s to N a n i w a
i n S e t t s u p r o v i n c e , w h e r e t h e y w a i t e d o n t h e s h o r e t o w e l c o m e t h e for-
e ign m o n k .
T h e m o n k G y o g i m e a n t w a s B a r a m o n , a n I n d i a n f rom K a b i r a e w h e r e
t h e B u d d h a h imse l f w a s b o r n . B a r a m o n , w h o l o n g e d t o m e e t t h e B o d h i -
s a t t v a M o n j u in p e r s o n , h a d l e a r n e d in a d r e a m t h a t M o n j u l ived on a
C h i n e s e m o u n t a i n n a m e d G o d a i s a n . H e left for G o d a i s a n immed ia t e ly ,
b u t a n o ld m a n h e m e t o n t h e w a y to ld h im t h a t for t h e benef i t o f all
s en t i en t b e i n g s t h e r e , M o n j u h a d n o w b e e n b o r n a g a i n i n J a p a n . S o
B a r a m o n w e n t o n t o J a p a n . T h a n k s t o d iv ine i n sp i r a t i on , G y o g i k n e w
h e w a s c o m i n g .
W h e n B a r a m o n failed to a r r i v e a t N a n i w a , G y o g i set a b o w l o f ho ly
w a t e r af loat i n t h e sea . T h e b o w l sa i led off w e s t w a r d , u n d i s t u r b e d b y t h e
w a v e s , till i t v a n i s h e d f rom s igh t . T h e n i t r e a p p e a r e d , sa i l ing l a n d w a r d
th i s t i m e i n f ront o f B a r a m o n ' s s h i p . B a r a m o n k n e w a b o u t t h e c o n s e c r a -
t ion a n d h o p e d h e w o u l d b e i n t i m e .
B a r a m o n a n d G y o g i joyful ly t o o k e a c h o t h e r ' s h a n d s . I t w a s a w o n d e r
h o w t h e J a p a n e s e a n d t h e I n d i a n s e e m e d t o h a v e k n o w n e a c h o t h e r all
t he i r l ives a n d t a l k e d t o g e t h e r l ike t h e b e s t o f f r i ends . G y o g i sa id in ve r se ,
3 4
" T h e love w e p l e d g e d e a c h o t h e r a s b r o t h e r s i n t r u t h , be fore S h a k a o n
V u l t u r e P e a k , i s still a l ive ; a n d s o w e m e e t a g a i n ! " A n d B a r a m o n , w h o
r e c o g n i z e d i n G y o g i t h e b o d h i s a t t v a h e s o u g h t , a n s w e r e d , " H o w r igh t ly
we p l e d g e d e a c h o t h e r love in K a b i r a e , for n o w a t last I see M o n j u ' s
f a c e ! "
T h a t w a s h o w w e i n J a p a n f o u n d o u t t h a t G y o g i w a s ac tua l ly a n
i n c a r n a t i o n o f M o n j u .
G y o g i b r o u g h t B a r a m o n t o t h e e m p e r o r , w h o w a s v e r y h a p p y t o mee t
h i m a n d i m m e d i a t e l y a p p o i n t e d h im t o p r e s i d e o v e r t he c o n s e c r a t i o n . I t
w e n t off beau t i fu l ly .
2 5 .
THE OLD MACKEREL PEDDLER
W h e n Toda i j i h a d b e e n bui l t a n d t h e G r e a t B u d d h a w a s r e a d y t o b e
c o n s e c r a t e d , E m p e r o r S h o m u a p p o i n t e d t h e In d i an m o n k B a r a m o n , re -
c e n t l y a r r i v e d i n J a p a n , t o p r e s i d e o v e r t h e c e r e m o n y . Bu t w h o s h o u l d
B a r a m o n ' s a s s i s t a n t b e ? T h e e m p e r o r cou ld no t dec ide , a n d h e w o r r i e d
till he h a d a d r e a m in w h i c h a ho ly b e i n g c a m e to h im a n d said, " Y o u
m u s t a p p o i n t a s a s s i s t a n t t h e first m a n t o p a s s t h e t e m p l e o n t h e d a y o f
t h e c o n s e c r a t i o n . N e v e r m i n d w h e t h e r he i s a m o n k , or a l ayman , or a
n o b l e , o r a n o b o d y . "
T h e c o n s e c r a t i o n w a s set for t h e f o u r t e e n t h d a y o f t h e th i rd m o o n o f
7 5 2 . T h e e m p e r o r m a d e u p his m i n d t o d o exac t l y a s h e h a d been told
a n d p o s t e d g u a r d s a t t h e a p p r o p r i a t e t i m e t o k e e p w a t c h . A l o n g c a m e a n
old m a n c a r r y i n g a b a s k e t of m a c k e r e l o v e r his s h o u l d e r on a po le . T h e
g u a r d s w h i s k e d h i m s t r a i g h t off t o t h e e m p e r o r , w h o d r e s s e d h im i n
p r i e s t l y r o b e s a n d h a d a l m o s t a p p o i n t e d h im w h e n the old m a n finally
p r o t e s t e d , " D e a r m e , Y o u r M a j e s t y , I 'm no t a t all t he m a n y o u ' r e look ing
for! I 'm j u s t a n old m a c k e r e l p e d d l e r ! " B u t t h e e m p e r o r i gno red h im.
S o o n i t w a s t i m e for t h e c e r e m o n y , a n d t h e old m a n w a s ins ta l led on a
t h r o n e r i g h t n e x t t o B a r a m o n w i t h his b a s k e t o f m a c k e r e l bes ide h im.
H i s po l e w a s s t u c k i n t h e g r o u n d eas t o f t h e e n t r a n c e t o t h e hal l . W h e n
t h e r i t e w a s ove r , B a r a m o n c a m e d o w n from his t h r o n e a n d the old m a n
j u s t v a n i s h e d .
" I t h o u g h t s o ! " sa id t h e e m p e r o r t o himself. " H e uvw m a g i c ! " T h e n h e
h a d a look a t t h e b a s k e t . T h o s e h a d def in i te ly b e e n m a c k e r e l in t h e r e ,
b u t n o w t h e y w e r e t h e e i g h t y sc ro l l s o f t h e K e g o n S u t r a . T h e e m p e r o r
w e p t a n d p r o s t r a t e d h imse l f i n a w e . H i s v o w t o bu i ld t h e t e m p l e h a d
b e e n wel l c o n c e i v e d a n d a b u d d h a h a d c o m e t o h e l p h i m !
T h e m a c k e r e l p e d d l e r ' s po l e i s still by t h e e n t r a n c e to t h e ha l l . I t h a s n ' t
g r o w n , o r b u r s t i n to b l o o m , o r d o n e a n y t h i n g i n p a r t i c u l a r . I t ' s j u s t t h e r e .
a 6 .
KOBO DALSHI
Kobo Dauhi (Daishi meaiu<"Grcat Teacher")
is credited with many extraordinary
accompluihments including the invention of the Japanese
phonetic script, and his temple on Mount Koya L>
still an important pdgrunagc center. Women have been
allowed there only since the late nineteenth century.
A vajra i< a key ritual implement in Esoteric Buddhism.
The term means "diamond"or "thunderbolt"in Sanskrit.
L o n g a g o K o b o D a i s h i b r a v e d t h e v o y a g e t o C h i n a t o s t u d y t h e T e a c h i n g
a n d b r o u g h t b a c k t h e E s o t e r i c B u d d h i s m w h i c h h e t h e n s p r e a d far a n d
w i d e . W h e n h e w a s g e t t i n g o ld , h e g a t h e r e d his d isc ip les t o g e t h e r a n d
d i s t r i b u t e d a m o n g t h e m t h e m a n y t e m p l e s h e h a d f o u n d e d . B u t t h e r e w a s
o n e t e m p l e , t h e g r e a t e s t o f all, w h i c h h e h a d y e t t o found b e c a u s e h e still
d id no t k n o w w h e r e t o bu i ld it. T h i s w a s t h e o n e o n M o u n t K o y a .
K o b o D a i s h i h a d p l a n n e d th i s t e m p l e e v e n i n C h i n a . T h e d a y be fo re
he left C h i n a , he s t o o d on a cliff o v e r l o o k i n g t h e sea a n d h u r l e d a t h r e e -
p r o n g e d va j ra t o w a r d J a p a n . A s h e d i d so , h e p r a y e d t h a t t h e va j r a
s h o u l d l a n d at t h e r i g h t p l a c e for a t e m p l e — a t e m p l e t h a t w o u l d last till
M i r o k u c o m e s in to t h e w o r l d . T h e va j r a s o a r e d h igh u p a n d d i s a p p e a r e d
in to t h e c l o u d s .
N o w t h a t h is d i sc ip les w e r e p r o v i d e d for, K o b o D a i s h i d e c i d e d t o g o
l o o k i n g for t h e va j ra . He set o u t f rom t h e C a p i t a l i n t h e s ix th m o o n o f
8 1 6 . F ina l ly , in U c h i c o u n t y o f Y a m a t o p r o v i n c e , he m e t a h u n t e r , an
i m m e n s e l y p o w e r f u l , r e d - f a c e d m a n e igh t feet tal l , w e a r i n g a g r e e n i s h
coa t a n d a r m e d w i t h a b o w a n d a r r o w s . T h e h u n t e r h a d t w o b l ack d o g s ,
3 6
o n e b i g a n d o n e l i t t le. H e a s k e d K o b o D a i s h i w h e r e h e w a s g o i n g a n d
K o b o D a i s h i e x p l a i n e d a b o u t his va j ra . " I p r a y e d for i t to l and on a
m o u n t a i n g o o d for m e d i t a t i o n , " h e w e n t on , " a n d n o w I 'm look ing for i t . "
" I ' m a h u n t e r f rom M o u n t K o y a , " t h e h u n t e r r ep l i ed . " I k n o w w h e r e
y o u r v a j r a is. Le t m e tell y o u t h e w a y . " H e loosed his d o g s a n d t h e y
q u i c k l y d i s a p p e a r e d .
K o b o D a i s h i fo l lowed t h e h u n t e r ' s d i r e c t i o n s till he r e a c h e d a la rge
r i v e r o n t h e b o r d e r b e t w e e n Y a m a t o a n d t h e p r o v i n c e o f Kii. T h e r e h e
m e t a m o u n t a i n m a n , w h o to ld h im t h a t t h e p l ace he w a n t e d w a s a bas in
i n t h e m o u n t a i n s s o m e w a y t o t h e s o u t h . T h e m a n w e n t w i t h K o b o
D a i s h i . " I ' m t h e M o u n t a i n K i n g , " h e to ld K o b o D a i s h i a s t h e y w a l k e d
a l o n g . "All t h i s l a n d i s my gift t o y o u . "
T h e y g o t to a p l ace t h a t w a s jus t l ike a b o w l , w i t h e ight p e a k s all
a r o u n d it. H u g e c y p r e s s e s t o w e r e d t h e r e , a s d e n s e a n d s t r a igh t a s b a m -
b o o s . O n e o f t h e t r e e s w a s fo rked , a n d i n t h e fork w a s t he vaj ra . K o b o
D a i s h i w a s o v e r j o y e d . H e a s k e d t h e g o d his n a m e a n d l e a r n e d i t w a s
Nifu n o M y o j i n . " A n d t h e h u n t e r y o u m e t , " t h e g o d w e n t on , "is K o y a
n o M y o j i n . " T h e n h e v a n i s h e d .
K o b o D a i s h i w e n t b a c k t o t h e Cap i t a l , r e s igned all his o f f ices , a n d
se t t l ed h i s affairs . T h e n h e r e t u r n e d t o M o u n t Koya , w h e r e h e bui l t t he
t e m p l e a n d n a m e d it, b y imper i a l w i s h , Kongobu j i , T e m p l e o f t h e Vajra
P e a k . F ina l l y h e p r e p a r e d the p l a c e for h is o w n p a s s i n g .
On t h e twen ty - f i r s t d a y of t h e t h i r d m o o n of 8 3 5 , he sat in a cave , in
l o t u s p o s t u r e , a n d p a s s e d in to e t e rna l m e d i t a t i o n a s his d isc ip les a r o u n d
h im c h a n t e d t h e n a m e o f t h e B u d d h a M i r o k u .
L o n g a f t e r w a r d s his d i sc ip le s o p e n e d t h e cave , s h a v e d his h e a d (for
h i s h a i r h a d c o n t i n u e d t o g r o w ) , a n d c h a n g e d his c lo thes . Bu t t h e y neve r
c a m e b a c k , a n d i t w a s o n l y m u c h l a t e r t h a t s o m e o n e o p e n e d the c a v e
a g a i n . T h i s w a s K a n k e n , a s t u d e n t o f o n e o f K o b o Da i sh i ' s d isc ip les a n d
a h i g h - r a n k i n g m o n k on t h e m o u n t a i n .
W h e n K a n k e n o p e n e d t h e cave , h e w a s m e t b y a th ick c l o u d o f dus t .
W h e n t h e d u s t c l e a r e d , h e s a w t h a t i t h a d b e e n from K o b o Da i sh i ' s r o b e ,
w h i c h h a d d i s i n t e g r a t e d a n d b e e n s w e p t u p b y the w i n d a s h e o p e n e d the
c a v e . K o b o D a i s h i ' s h a i r w a s a foot long . K a n k e n , w h o h a d w a s h e d a n d
p u t on a fresh r o b e b e f o r e h a n d , s h a v e d the sa in t ' s h e a d o n c e m o r e w i t h
a n e w r a z o r . T h e c o r d o f t h e s a in t ' s c rys ta l r o s a r y h a d r o t t e d a w a y , a n d
t h e b e a d s l ay s c a t t e r e d be fo re h i m . K a n k e n g a t h e r e d t h e m u p , s t r u n g
t h e m o n a n e w c o r d , a n d p u t t he r o s a r y b a c k i n K o b o Da i sh i ' s h a n d .
F i n a l l y he d r e s s e d t h e sa in t in a n e w r o b e . As he left t h e cave he w e p t ,
o v e r c o m e by a feel ing of d e e p p e r s o n a l loss.
N o o n e h a s e v e r o p e n e d t h e c a v e aga in , b u t w h e n a p i lgr im c o m e s
t h e r e t h e d o o r s o f t h e c h a p e l bui l t aga ins t i t o p e n o f t hemse lve s , a n d the
m o u n t a i n i s h e a r d to r u m b l e . S o m e t i m e s p e o p l e h e a r t h e s o u n d o f a smal l
g o n g . I t i s a l so r e m a r k a b l e t h a t h e r e , so d e e p in t h e m o u n t a i n s t h a t e v e n
b i r d s o n g i s r a r e , no o n e e v e r feels a f ra id .
T h e t w o g o d s , Nifu a n d K o y a , h a v e t he i r s h r i n e s s ide b y s ide b e l o w
the m o u n t a i n a n d still p r o t e c t i t a s t h e y v o w e d t o do so l o n g a g o . C o u n t -
less p i l g r i m s still vis i t M o u n t K o y a , all m e n . W o m e n h a v e n e v e r b e e n
a l l o w e d o n t h e m o u n t a i n .
2 7 •
THE KANNON IN THE PINE
O n e hall a t Kofukuj i , t h e g r e a t t e m p l e in N a r a , e n s h r i n e s a m i r a c u l o u s
s t a t u e o f E l e v e n - H e a d e d K a n n o n . T h i s i s h o w t h e s t a t u e c a m e t o b e
t h e r e .
O n t h e v e r y first d a y o f 1007, a m o n k n a m e d C h o k o n w a s o n his w a y
b a c k to t h e p l a c e ca l led D e e r P a r k , a little w a y s o u t h o f t h e t e m p l e , w h e n
a smal l b o y c a m e up t o h im, a s k i n g t o go h o m e w i t h h im a n d se rve h i m .
C h o k o n r ead i ly a g r e e d .
S ix y e a r s la te r , i n 1013 , t h e b o y lay d y i n g . " I w o n ' t last m u c h l o n g e r , "
h e to ld C h o k o n . " W h e n m y b r e a t h i n g s tops , d o n ' t d i s t u r b m y b o d y i n
a n y w a y . P u t me e x a c t l y as I am in a coffin, t h e n h a n g the coffin in t h e
p i n e t r e e a t D e e r P a r k w h e r e w e first me t . Af ter seven d a y s , b u t no t
ear l ie r , y o u m a y o p e n t h e coffin a n d look a t m e . " T h e n h e d ied a s t h o u g h
falling a s l e e p .
W e e p i n g , C h o k o n fo l lowed t h e b o y ' s i n s t r u c t i o n s a n d h u n g h im i n t h e
p i n e . H e w a l k e d o n from t h e r e s eve ra l h o u r s t o H a s e d e r a a n d w e n t i n to
r e t r e a t be fo re t h a t t e m p l e ' s o w n m o s t ho ly E l e v e n - H e a d e d K a n n o n . N o w
a n d a g a i n h e c o u l d no t h e l p b e w a i l i n g his a d v a n c i n g age a n d c h a r g i n g
K a n n o n w i t h h a v i n g n e g l e c t e d h i m .
S e v e n d a y s la te r he h e a d e d b a c k to N a r a . A de l ic ious f r a g r a n c e filled
t he a i r a r o u n d t h e p ine a t D e e r P a r k , a n d w h e n he o p e n e d t h e coffin a
b laze of l ight b u r s t fo r th . Ins ide w a s a l ife-sized s t a t u e of E l e v e n - H e a d e d
K a n n o n . A s t o n i s h e d a n d ove r joyed , C h o k o n r e g r e t t e d all h is c o m p l a i n t s .
He c a r r i e d t h e s t a t u e on his b a c k to Kofukuj i a n d e n s h r i n e d i t in its
p r e s e n t hal l .
Af te r h e d i ed a n o r a c l e r evea l ed t h a t h e h a d passed o n t o F u d a r a k u ,
K a n n o n ' s p a r a d i s e .
3 8
A n e p i d e m i c s i c k n e s s t h a t c a u s e d a t e r r i b l e c o u g h w a s o n c e g o i n g r o u n d ,
a n d e v e r y o n e from p e a s a n t t o e m p e r o r c a u g h t it.
A c o o k h a d f in ished w o r k i n g in his e m p l o y e r ' s k i t c h e n a n d left for
h o m e la te i n t h e e v e n i n g af ter t h e h o u s e h o l d h a d r e t i r ed . A t t h e g a t e he
m e t a h a u g h t y , f r i g h t e n i n g g e n t l e m a n in a red c loak a n d formal h e a d -
d r e s s . T h e c o o k h a d n o idea w h o t h e g e n t l e m a n w a s , b u t s ince t h e r e w a s
n o d o u b t i n g his q u a l i t y h e kne l t a n d b o w e d .
" D o y o u k n o w w h o I a m ? " t h e g e n t l e m a n a s k e d .
" N o , s i r . "
" I u s e d to be a m a j o r c o u n s e l o r n a m e d Ban no Y o s h i o , a n d I d ied in
ex i le in Iyo p r o v i n c e . T h e n I b e c a m e a g o d of pes t i l ence a n d d i sease . I 'd
c o m m i t t e d a s e r i o u s offense a g a i n s t H i s M a j e s t y , y o u see, a n d I w a s qu i t e
j u s t l y p u n i s h e d . B u t I o w e my c o u n t r y a g r e a t deal for t he favor I en joyed
w h i l e I still s e r v e d a t c o u r t , a n d w h e n i t t u r n e d ou t t h a t th i s y e a r t h e r e
w a s to be a w a v e of s i c k e n s s w h i c h w o u l d kill e v e r y o n e , I pe t i t i oned to
h a v e t h e e p i d e m i c c o m m u t e d i n s t e a d t o c o u g h i n g . T h a t ' s w h y e v e r y o n e
is d o w n w i t h a c o u g h . I w a s w a i t i n g h e r e b e c a u s e I w a n t e d to let peop le
k n o w . D o n ' t b e a f r a i d . " W h e n h e h a d s p o k e n , h e v a n i s h e d .
T h e c o o k fearful ly c o n t i n u e d o n his w a y a n d to ld o t h e r s w h a t h e h a d
s e e n a n d h e a r d . T h a t w a s h o w p e o p l e f o u n d ou t t h a t Ban n o Y o s h i o w a s
n o w a g o d of p e s t i l e n c e .
B u t w h y d id B a n c h o o s e t h a t c o o k t o ta lk t o ? H e cou ld have c h o s e n
a n y o n e e lse . W e l l , n o d o u b t h e h a d his r e a s o n s .
2 9 •
THE DOG AND HIS WIFE
A y o u n g m a n of t h e C a p i t a l o n c e w e n t for a w a l k in t he m o u n t a i n s t h a t
r ise so a t t r a c t i v e l y n o r t h o f t h e c i ty . As t h e s u n s a n k in t h e sky , he
b e c a m e m o r e a n d m o r e lost a n d e n d e d u p w i t h n o idea h o w t o ge t b a c k .
T h e r e s e e m e d t o b e n o s h e l t e r a n y w h e r e , a p r o b l e m w h i c h w o r r i e d h im
g r e a t l y till a t last he g l i m p s e d a h u t l a r d o w n in a ho l low. I t w a s a h u m a n
d w e l l i n g , a t least , a n d he g ra t e fu l ly m a d e his w a y to it.
A p r e t t y girl o f t w e n t y c a m e o u t w h e n she h e a r d h im, a n d the s ight o f
h e r g l a d d e n e d his h e a r t still m o r e . S h e , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , s e e m e d t r o u -
bled a n d a s k e d w h a t h e w a s d o i n g t h e r e . H e e x p l a i n e d . " I c o u l d n ' t find
a n y s h e l t e r for t h e n i g h t , " he sa id , " a n d I w a s v e r y g lad t o see y o u r
p l a c e ! "
" N o o n e e v e r c o m e s h e r e , " s h e a n s w e r e d . " T h e m a s t e r will b e b a c k
soon , a n d w h e n h e f inds y o u he'l l b e s u r e y o u ' r e s o m e boyf r i end o f m i n e .
What'11 y o u d o t h e n ? "
"I ' l l t h i n k o l s o m e t h i n g . T h e t h i n g i s t h a t I c an ' t poss ib ly get h o m e
t o n i g h t . I jus t h a v e to s t a y . "
"All r igh t , i f y o u m u s t . I'll tell h im y o u ' r e an o l d e r b r o t h e r I h a v e n ' t
s een for y e a r s . Y o u w e r e w a l k i n g i n t he m o u n t a i n s w h e n y o u go t lost
a n d c a m e h e r e b y c h a n c e . R e m e m b e r t h a t . A n d w h e n y o u ge t b a c k t o
t o w n , d o n ' t tell a n y o n e a b o u t u s . "
" I u n d e r s t a n d , " sa id t h e y o u n g m a n . " T h a n k y o u v e r y m u c h . I w o n ' t
tell a soul , i f t h a t ' s t h e w a y y o u w a n t i t . "
S h e led h im ins ide a n d s p r e a d h im a m a t to sit on . T h e n s h e c a m e v e r y
c lose . " A c t u a l l y , " s h e w h i s p e r e d , " I ' m a g e n t l e m a n ' s d a u g h t e r f rom t h e
C a p i t a l . T h i s c r e a t u r e s to le m e , a n d for y e a r s n o w he ' s d o n e w i t h m e a s
he p l ea ses . He ' l l be b a c k a n y m i n u t e . You ' l l see w h a t I m e a n . N o t t h a t
he d o e s n ' t g ive me e v e r y t h i n g I n e e d . " S h e s o b b e d pa the t i ca l ly .
As far a s t h e y o u n g m a n c o u l d tell, th i s " c r e a t u r e " o f h e r s m u s t be
s o m e sor t o f d e m o n . H e w a s te r r i f ied . N i g h t fell. O u t s i d e , s o m e t h i n g
h o w l e d .
W h i l e t h e y o u n g m a n ' s in s ides c h u r n e d w i t h fear, t h e girl w e n t t o o p e n
t h e d o o r . I n c a m e a n e n o r m o u s w h i t e d o g . W h y , t h e girl w a s his wi fe !
A t t h e s ight o f t h e v i s i to r t h e d o g s t o p p e d s h o r t a n d h o w l e d a g a i n . T h e
girl h a s t e n e d t o tell h e r s t o r y a b o u t t h e y o u n g m a n b e i n g h e r b r o t h e r .
" I ' m s o h a p p y t o see h i m ! " s h e c r i ed a n d b u r s t in to t e a r s . T h e d o g s e e m e d
to l i s ten. T h e n he c a m e in a n d lay d o w n by t h e fire wh i l e t he girl sat
4 0
b e s i d e h i m s p i n n i n g h e m p . S h o r t l y s h e s e r v e d a v e r y nice mea l . W h e n i t
w a s o v e r , t h e y o u n g m a n lay d o w n t o s leep w h i l e t h e d o g r e t i r ed t o a n
i n n e r r o o m a n d w e n t t o b e d w i t h t h e g i r l .
T h e n e x t m o r n i n g t h e girl b r o u g h t t h e y o u n g m a n b r e a k f a s t a n d w h i s -
p e r e d t o h i m a g a i n t h a t h e m u s t n e v e r tell a n y o n e . " C o m e b a c k s o m e t i m e ,
t h o u g h , " s h e sa id , " n o w h e be l i eves y o u ' r e m y b r o t h e r . I'll g lad ly d o
a n y t h i n g I c a n for y o u . " T h e y o u n g m a n p r o m i s e d s i lence a n d said h e
w o u l d r e t u r n . T h e n h e f in ished his b r e a k f a s t a n d set off t o t o w n .
H e h a d n o s o o n e r a r r i v e d t h a n h e b e g a n b l a b b i n g t h e s to ry t o eve ry -
o n e . T h e w o r d s p r e a d , a n d s o m e sp i r i t ed b r a v e s w a n t e d r igh t off t o g o
a n d s h o o t t h e d o g a n d b r i n g his w o m a n b a c k . T h e y go t t he y o u n g m a n
t o g u i d e t h e m .
A c o u p l e o f h u n d r e d set off, e a c h wel l a r m e d w i t h b o w , a r r o w s , a n d
c l u b . T h e y r e a c h e d t h e p l ace s o o n e n o u g h a n d s p o t t e d t he h u t d o w n i n
t h e h o l l o w .
" T h e r e i t i s ! " t h e y s h o u t e d . T h e d o g h e a r d t h e m , c a m e ou t t o see, a n d
r e c o g n i z e d t h e y o u n g m a n . D a r t i n g b a c k ins ide , h e r e e m e r g e d i n a m o -
m e n t , d r i v i n g t h e gir l be fo re h i m . B o t h fled d e e p e r i n to t he m o u n t a i n s .
T h e i n t r u d e r s s h o t m a n y a r r o w s a t t h e m b u t s c o r e d n o hi ts . N e x t t h e y
t r i e d p u r s u i t , b u t t h e d o g a n d t h e girl fairly flew, unt i l t h e y o u t h s d e c i d e d
t h e y m u s t b e s u p e r n a t u r a l a n d g a v e u p .
O n c e b a c k i n t o w n , t h e m a n w h o h a d s t a r t e d all t h e t r o u b l e felt ill a n d
l ay d o w n . I n t w o o r t h r e e d a y s h e w a s d e a d .
T h e d o g w a s s u r e l y a g o d , a n d t h e m a n w h o to ld a b o u t h im w a s v e r y
fool ish i n d e e d . N o o n e e v e r s a w t h e d o g a g a i n .
3 o .
AN OLD GOD RENEWED
A s s o o n a s T a i r a n o K o r e n o b u r e a c h e d M u t s u a s t he p r o v i n c e ' s n e w
g o v e r n o r , h e w e n t a r o u n d g r e e t i n g all t h e local g o d s . B y t h e r o a d s i d e o n e
d a y he c a m e a c r o s s a s p a r s e litt le g r o v e w i t h a smal l s h r i n e ins ide it.
T h e r e w a s n o s ign t h a t a n y o n e e v e r c a m e t h e r e .
K o r e n o b u a s k e d t h e local officials w i t h h im w h e t h e r a n y g o d w a s
p r e s e n t h e r e , a n d a n o ld m a n w h o l o o k e d a s t h o u g h h e migh t k n o w m a n y
a ta le r e p l i e d , " Y e s , sir , t h e r e u s e d t o b e . He w a s power fu l , t o o . Bu t
w h e n G e n e r a l T a m u r a w a s g o v e r n o r , a v io len t q u a r r e l b r o k e ou t a m o n g
t he s h r i n e p r i e s t s . I t go t so b a d t h a t e v e n t h e c o u r t h e a r d a b o u t it. As a
r e su l t t h e g o v e r n o r s t o p p e d s e n d i n g his m o n t h l y offer ings , a n d n e w g o v -
e r n o r s n e v e r c a m e t o g r e e t t h e g o d a g a i n . T h e s h r i n e fell t o p ieces , a n d
p i l g r ims p r ac t i c a l l y d i s a p p e a r e d . T h a t ' s w h a t m y g r a n d f a t h e r to ld m e h e
h a d h e a r d , a n d h e w a s e i g h t y a t t h e t i m e . I t m u s t h a v e h a p p e n e d a g o o d
t w o h u n d r e d y e a r s a g o . ' '
T h i s w a s s ad n e w s . T h e q u a r r e l h a d no t b e e n t h e g o d ' s fault , a f ter all .
K o r e n o b u d e c l a r e d t h a t f rom n o w o n h e w o u l d h o n o r t h e g o d j u s t a s
p e o p l e h a d d o n e l o n g a g o . H e l i n g e r e d till t h e w e e d s co u l d b e c l e a r e d
a n d t h e p l ace t i d i ed u p , t h e n left o r d e r s w i t h t h e c o u n t y a d m i n i s t r a t i o n
t h a t t h e s h r i n e s h o u l d b e r ebu i l t o n a g e n e r o u s sca le . H e h a d t h e s h r i n e ' s
n a m e i n s c r i b e d on t h e official r eg i s t e r o f t h e s a n c t u a r i e s o f t h e p r o v i n c e ,
a n d h e s en t fo rmal of fer ings e v e r y m o n t h . H e w a s s u r e t h e g o d w o u l d b e
p l e a s e d by all t h i s a t t e n t i o n , b u t d u r i n g his t e r m o f office he n o t i c e d no
specia l s ign a n d h a d n o specia l d r e a m s .
W h e n his t e r m w a s ove r , h e s t a r t e d b a c k t o K y o t o . A few d a y s l a t e r
t h e official w h o h a d to ld h i m a b o u t t h e g o d in t h e first p l a c e d id h a v e a
d r e a m . S o m e o n e u n k n o w n t o h im e n t e r e d h i s h o u s e a n d a n n o u n c e d , " H e
i s o u t s i d e t h e g a t e a n d s u m m o n s y o u t o a t t e n d h im . G o n o w . " T h e o ld
m a n w o n d e r e d w h o o n e a r t h c o u l d b e " s u m m o n i n g " h im n o w t h a t t h e
g o v e r n o r w a s g o n e , s ince n o o n e else i n t h e p r o v i n c e c o u l d poss ib ly
" s u m m o n " s o m e o n e l ike himself . T h e w h o l e t h i n g s e e m e d s o o d d t h a t a t
first he d id no t m o v e , b u t t h e v i s i to r ins i s ted till t h e d r e a m e r d e c i d e d t h a t
he would j u s t h a v e a l ook .
A big , beau t i fu l c e r e m o n i a l c a r r i a g e , fit for an e m p e r o r , s t ood at his
g a t e , a n d t h e g e n t l e m a n ins ide i t l o o k e d e x t r e m e l y d i s t i n g u i s h e d . R o w s
o f a t t e n d a n t s s t o o d n e a r b y .
" P e r h a p s t h e r e ' s s o m e t h i n g to all t h i s ! " t h o u g h t t h e old official a s he
kne l t i n a w e d g r e e t i n g .
" Y o u , m y m a n , c o m e h e r e ! " ca l led t h e g e n t l e m a n i n t h e c a r r i a g e . T h e
f r i g h t e n e d d r e a m e r f roze for a m o m e n t , b u t w h e n t h e g e n t l e m a n ca l led
aga in he forced h imse l f t o o b e y .
T h e g e n t l e m a n m o v e d t h e c a r r i a g e b l i n d s s l igh t ly a s ide . " D o y o u k n o w
w h o I a m ? " h e a s k e d .
" H o w c o u l d I k n o w Y o u r W o r s h i p ? "
" I ' m t h e g o d w h o w a s a b a n d o n e d all t h o s e y e a r s . T h e g o v e r n o r g a v e
m e s u c h j o y t h a t I 'm s e e i n g h im b a c k t o t h e C a p i t a l . W h e n he ' s safely
t h e r e I'll r e t u r n , o f c o u r s e , b u t no t be fo re I 've m a d e s u r e he ge t s a n o t h e r
g o o d pos t . I n t h e m e a n t i m e I'll be a w a y . I 'm l e t t ing y o u k n o w b e c a u s e i t
o c c u r s t o m e t h a t y o u ' r e t h e o n e w h o or ig ina l ly to ld h im a b o u t m e . "
T h e old official s a w t h e c a r r i a g e m o v e off t o w a r d K y o t o a n d a w o k e i n
a s w e a t . W h e n he r ea l i zed i t h a d b e e n a d r e a m , he w a s filled w i t h g ra t i -
A 2
t u d e t o w a r d t h e g o d , a n d all t h o s e w h o h e a r d h im tell t h e d r e a m w e r e
s imi l a r ly m o v e d .
I n t i m e t h e n e w g o v e r n o r a r r i v e d , a n d i n t h e c o m m o t i o n the old official
fo rgo t all a b o u t his d r e a m . Y e a r s l a t e r h e d r e a m e d aga in t h a t " h e " w a s a t
t h e g a t e a n d s u m m o n i n g h i m . H e h u r r i e d ou t , w o n d e r i n g w h e t h e r i t w a s
t h e s a m e g o d a s b e f o r e . S u r e e n o u g h , h e s a w t h e s a m e c e r e m o n i a l ca r -
r i a g e . T h i s t i m e i t s e e m e d s o m e h o w less a l a r m i n g l y a w e s o m e a n d s o d id
t h e g o d . T h e official k n e l t a s h e h a d y e a r s a g o a n d r ece ived t h e s a m e
s u m m o n s t o a p p r o a c h .
" D o y o u r e m e m b e r m e ? " t h e g o d a s k e d .
" I h a v e n ' t f o r g o t t e n y o u , Y o u r W o r s h i p . "
" V e r y we l l . F o r t h e las t few y e a r s I 've b e e n w i t h t h e fo rmer g o v e r n o r
i n t h e C a p i t a l , a n d I 've b e e n a b l e t o h a v e h im a p p o i n t e d g o v e r n o r o f
H i t a c h i . N o w I 'm b a c k a g a i n . I j u s t t h o u g h t I s h o u l d let y o u k n o w . "
T h e o ld official t o ld t h e s a m e co l l eagues a s be fo re a b o u t his d r e a m ,
a n d t h e y w e r e i m p r e s s e d w i t h t h e g o d ' s k i n d n e s s a n d p o w e r . M e a n w h i l e
t h e list o f t h a t y e a r ' s official a p p o i n t m e n t s r e a c h e d t h e p r o v i n c e from
K y o t o , a n d t h e f o r m e r g o v e r n o r h a d i n d e e d b e e n p o s t e d t o H i t a c h i .
Af t e r t h a t t h e p e o p l e o f t h e p r o v i n c e s e r v e d the g o d w i t h i nc reas ing
d e v o t i o n , a n d t h e g o d , w h o w a s t h e soul o f g r a t i t u d e , r e w a r d e d t h e m
r i ch ly . T h e w o n d e r s h e w o r k e d w e r e m a n y , a n d t h e old official p r o s p e r e d
t o o .
3 i .
COME TO MY KASUGA MOUNTAIN!
The god in tb'is story u definitely male,
but the intensely feminine quality of the medium
makes thu< hard to remember.
T h e V e n e r a b l e M y o e h a d a g e n i u s for c o m m u n i c a t i o n w i t h t h e d iv ine ,
a n d his l ink w i t h t h e K a s u g a G o d w a s t r u l y e x c e p t i o n a l . H e w a s s t a y i n g
w i t h r e l a t i ve s i n t h e p r o v i n c e o f Kii w h e n h e d e c i d e d tha t th is w a s t he
t i m e t o ac t a t las t on his l i fe long w i s h t o visit Ind ia , w h e r e t h e B u d d h a
l ived a n d t a u g h t .
T h i s w a s a b r a v e idea . T r a v e l t o C h i n a i s d a n g e r o u s e n o u g h , b u t I nd i a
i s so far f rom J a p a n , a n d t h e diff icult ies o f t h e j o u r n e y a r e so i m m e n s e ,
t h a t f ew J a p a n e s e c a n h a v e r e a c h e d i t a n d f ewer still, i f a n y , h a v e e v e r
r e t u r n e d . M y o e k n e w th i s , a n d h e m u s t h a v e k n o w n t o o t h a t t h e B u d -
d h a ' s T e a c h i n g i s a l m o s t d e a d , a las , in t h e l and of its b i r t h . Bu t his on ly
t h o u g h t w a s t o seek ou t a n d h o n o r t h e s o u r c e o f t he T e a c h i n g , a t w h a t -
e v e r r i sk to himself .
In t h e first m o o n o ( 1202, on t h e n i n e t e e n t h d a y , his u n c l e s w i l e b e g a n
a to ta l fast . S h e e v e n s t o p p e d d r i n k i n g . A l t h o u g h t h e family feared she
w a s ill, s h e l o o k e d i f a n y t h i n g m o r e r a d i a n t l y h e a l t h y t h a n be fo re . E v e r y
d a y s h e b a t h e d , r e a d t h e s u t r a s , a n d ca l led t h e B u d d h a ' s ho ly N a m e . S h e
cou ld g ive n o spec ia l r e a s o n w h y s h e w a s d o i n g th i s . " I t ' s jus t t h a t I 'm s o
lull o l t h e pe r fec t ion of t h e T e a c h i n g ! " s h e sa id . " T h e t h i n g s of th i s w o r l d
n o l o n g e r t o u c h m e a t a l l . "
A t n o o n o n t h e t w e n t y - s i x t h , s h e t h r e w a n e w m a t o v e r t he b e a m
u n d e r t h e ce i l ing o f h e r r o o m , t h e n ro se a n d sat o n t he b e a m .
" I a m t h e K a s u g a G o d , " s h e said, a d d r e s s i n g M y o e . " G o o d m o n k , I 'm
s o s o r r y a b o u t t h e t r i p y o u ' r e p l a n n i n g t h a t I 've c o m e t o ask y o u no t t o
g o . Y o u ' r e so m u c h w i s e r t h a n all t h e o t h e r s , y o u see , t h a t I p r o t e c t
e v e r y o n e w h o h a s faith i n y o u . P l ea se visit m e s o m e t i m e s ! M y h o m e i s i n
N a r a . "
"I ' l l g ive u p m y p i l g r i m a g e , t h e n , " a n s w e r e d the a w e d M y o e .
A l t h o u g h p r e g n a n t t h e l a d y d e s c e n d e d , a s s h e h a d r i sen , w i t h t h e
g r e a t e s t o l e a se , l ike a m o t h f lu t t e r ing its w i n g s .
T h r e e d a y s l a t e r s h e b e g a n fas t ing a n d pur i fy ing herself a s be fo re , t h e n
s h u t hersel f in h e r r o o m , from w h e r e a m a r v e l o u s f r a g r a n c e s p r e a d to fill
t h e w h o l e g a r d e n . M y o e slid o p e n h e r d o o r a n d found h e r ly ing d o w n
w i t h t h e c o v e r s o v e r h e r face. S h e lifted h e r h e a d a n d smi led a t h i m . H e
a s k e d a b o u t t h e f r a g r a n c e .
" I d o n ' t k n o w w h a t i t i s e i t h e r , " s h e rep l ied , " b u t w h e n I no t i ced i t
w a s c o m i n g from me I g o t r e a d y to rece ive y o u . N o w I w a n t to sit up
h igh a g a i n . P lease leave a m o m e n t a n d close t h e d o o r . "
M y o e d id so . W h e n h e o p e n e d t h e d o o r aga in , t h e r e s h e w a s u p n e a r
t h e ce i l ing . A ce i l ing p l a n k h a d b e e n r e m o v e d so t h a t she co u l d sit c o m -
for tab ly . T h e f r a g r a n c e w a s s t r o n g e r t h a n ever . H e a n d his a t t e n d a n t s
p r o s t r a t e d t h e m s e l v e s , s a y i n g , " H a i l t o t h e K a s u g a G o d ! "
T h e l a d y b e g a n in a k i n d a n d g e n t l e vo ice . " I t ' s r u d e of me , I k n o w , to
set myself a b o v e y o u b y s p e a k i n g from h e r e , " s h e apo log ized , " b u t I 'm
afra id I 'm so u s e d to b e i n g h igh up t h a t I 've t a k e n the l iber ty o f r a i s i ng
t h e w o m a n I 'm a d d r e s s i n g y o u t h r o u g h . Af te r y o u ' v e h e a r d w h a t I h a v e
t o say , I'll b e h a p p y t o c o m e d o w n . I 'm h e r e , y o u see, b e c a u s e y o u d o n ' t
s eem t o b e q u i t e s u r e y o u be l i eve w h a t h a p p e n e d a t o u r last m e e t i n g . "
" Y o u mudt s t o p p r o s t r a t i n g y o u r s e l v e s t o m e ! " s h e i n t e r r u p t e d he rse l f t o p r o t e s t , b u t M y o e a n d t h e o t h e r s c o n t i n u e d n o n e t h e l e s s . S h e ins is ted
t h a t t h e i r m a n n e r s left m u c h t o b e d e s i r e d .
A A
"All t h e g o d s p r o t e c t y o u , g o o d m o n k , " s h e t h e n w e n t on , "especia l ly
t h e S u m i y o s h i G o d a n d I . I 'm a l w a y s w i t h y o u , y o u k n o w , d e e p ins ide
y o u , s o e v e n i f y o u d o g o t o I n d i a w e w o n ' t b e p a r t e d a n d I w o n ' t
p e r s o n a l l y m i n d . B u t I c a n ' t t h i n k o f y o u r t r i p w i t h o u t feeling s o r r y for
all t h e p e o p l e h e r e i n J a p a n w h o m y o u m i g h t h a v e insp i red to faith! I
love all t h o s e w h o h o n o r t h e B u d d h a ' s T e a c h i n g , o f c o u r s e , bu t t h e r e ' s
no o n e I love q u i t e as I do y o u ! "
W h e n s h e w a s f in ished, s h e c a m e d o w n a s s i lent ly a s a s w a n ' s fea ther
fal l ing. T h e f r a g r a n c e w a s m o r e p r o n o u n c e d t h a n ever . I t w a s not m u s k
o r a n y o t h e r s u c h p e r f u m e o f t h e h u m a n w o r l d , h o w e v e r r a r e , bu t i t w a s
v e r y fine a n d r i ch .
T h e p e o p l e p r e s e n t w e r e i n ecs t a sy . T h e y p r e s s e d in t o lick h e r h a n d s
a n d feet, w h i c h w e r e de l i c ious ly s w e e t . ( O n e w o m a n ' s m o u t h h a d been
h u r t i n g for d a y s , b u t w h e n s h e l icked h e r t h e p a i n w a s g o n e . ) S h e d id
no t res i s t . O n t h e c o n t r a r y , s h e s t a y e d per fec t ly still w i t h a n exp re s s ion
o f p u r e love on h e r face. T h o u g h h e r eyes w e r e w i d e o p e n , rol led up t o
s h o w far less p u p i l t h a n w h i t e , s h e n e v e r even b l i n k e d . In fact, n o t h i n g
a b o u t h e r w a s o r d i n a r y i n a n y w a y . S h e w a s a s c lea r a n d b r igh t a s
c r y s t a l .
" I ' v e n e v e r c o m e d o w n in to h u m a n p r e s e n c e th i s w a y before , i n m y
t r u e f o r m , " s h e n o w c o n t i n u e d , " a n d I n e v e r will a g a i n . O n l y my love for
y o u , g o o d m o n k , c o u l d h a v e m a d e me do it! I t ' s a w o n d e r f u l t h ing , o f
c o u r s e , for y o u r o w n sp i r i tua l d e v e l o p m e n t , t h a t y o u shou ld h a v e y o u r
h e a r t set o n th i s g r e a t p i l g r i m a g e o f y o u r s . Bu t w h e n y o u ' r e g o n e , y o u
see , t h o s e y o u ' d o t h e r w i s e h a v e a c h a n c e to t o u c h will lose t he i r o p p o r -
t u n i t y t o c o n c e i v e , t h r o u g h y o u , t h e i r o w n faith i n e n l i g h t e n m e n t . T h a t ' s
w h a t I find so s a d ! " S h e c o n t i n u e d in th is vein for s o m e t i m e .
" T h i s h a s b e e n a l o n g m e e t i n g ! " she finally sa id . " I ' d m e a n t to leave
ea r l i e r , b u t I w a s so h a p p y to be w i t h y o u t h a t I c o u l d n ' t b r i n g myself to
g o . " S h e p r e s s e d h e r p a l m s t o g e t h e r a n d b o w e d t o M y o e . M y o e t r i ed t o
a v o i d a c c e p t i n g th i s h o m a g e , b u t s h e b o w e d t o h im aga in a n y w a y . T h e n
s h e s p o k e br ief ly o f a n o t h e r m o n k t h e g o d loved , an o lde r friend o f
M y o e ' s . " I t ' s e x t r a o r d i n a r y h o w m u c h I c a r e for h im t o o , " she said, " b u t
I c a n ' t a c c e p t h i s l iv ing as a h e r m i t . P l ea se tell h im so from m e ! "
" A h , b u t youl" s h e w e n t on a g a i n . " Y o u r a r d o r t o a d o r e t he B u d d h a i n
t h e l a n d w h e r e h e a c t u a l l y l ived m a k e s y o u u n i q u e i n all t he w o r l d , a n d
g ive s me s u c h joy ! I love y o u m o r e t h a n a n y p a r e n t loves an on ly son .
B u t I must go n o w . C o m e to my K a s u g a m o u n t a i n ! Y o u w o n ' t see me,
b u t y o u c a n b e s u r e I'll b e t h e r e a n d will c o m e t o g ree t y o u . O h , it 's s o
l a t e ! G o o d - b y e , g o o d - b y e ! "
S h e d r e w M y o e ' s h a n d s t o he r , a n d h e r f r ag rance g r e w still m o r e
i n t e n s e . E v e r y o n e , i n c l u d i n g M y o e , w a s c r y i n g .
" D o n ' t b e s a d ! " s h e sa id . " T h e w o r l d h a s c o m e in to a d e g e n e r a t e a g e
w h e n n o o n e fol lows t h e B u d d h a ' s p a t h h e a r t a n d sou l . N o w t h a t p e o p l e
love e v e r y t h i n g b u t t h e T e a c h i n g , t h e r e ' s little h o p e t h a t t r u t h c a n p r e -
vai l . P l ea se d o n ' t let t i m e sl ip was te fu l ly b y ! S t u d y t h e s a c r e d w r i t i n g s
till y o u g r a s p t h e i r d e e p e s t m e a n i n g . G o o d m o n k , y o u r w i s d o m i s o f t h e
h ighes t , b u t y o u r l e a r n i n g is still no t q u i t e m a t u r e . I f y o u 11 s t o p a l l o w i n g
y o u r e n e r g y t o b e s c a t t e r e d h i t h e r a n d y o n in to th i s w o r t h y t a sk a n d tha t ,
a n d k e e p y o u r e y e s o n t h e T e a c h i n g a lone , t h e n y o u ' l l c o m e t o k n o w
w h a t t h e B u d d h a k n e w . B e wi l l ing t o t a k e o n m a n y s t u d e n t s , a h u n d r e d
or a t h o u s a n d of t h e m , e v e n i f all t h e y m e a n to ga in from the i r s t u d y is
f o r t u n e a n d f ame! A n d for yourse l f , s imp ly w e e p t h a t h e a r t s c a n ' t h e l p
b e i n g b a s e i n th i s p r e s e n t a g e ! " T h e g o d ' s g r ie f a n d pa in s h o w e d p la in ly
i n t h e t e a r s t h a t r a n d o w n h e r c h e e k s . S h e w a s p u r e c o m p a s s i o n i n vis ible
form.
Af te r a m o m e n t of s i l ence s h e lifted h e r h e a d aga in . " N o w I am g o i n g , "
s h e sa id , " b u t I'll l eave my f r a g r a n c e b e h i n d to r e m i n d y o u o f m e . Y o u
m u s t all t a k e c o m f o r t f rom it. G o o d m o n k , c o m e soon t o my K a s u g a
m o u n t a i n ! A n d I p r o m i s e y o u th i s . I f y o u ' l l g a t h e r p e o p l e t o g e t h e r each
y e a r o n th i s s a m e n igh t , a n d p a s s o n t o t h e m t h e B u d d h a ' s m e s s a g e , I'll
c o m e d o w n t o b e w i t h y o u , w h e r e v e r t h e p lace m a y b e . "
Of c o u r s e M y o e n e v e r set off for Ind ia . In s t ead , he w e n t to t h e K a s u g a
S h r i n e , w h i c h i s b e l o w t h e g o d ' s m o u n t a i n . W h e n h e r o d e u p , seve ra l
d o z e n o f t h e t a m e d e e r t h a t r o a m t h e r e b e n t the i r forelegs t o knee l be fo re
h im a n d b o w e d t h e i r h e a d s ; a n d o n c e aga in t h a t m a r v e l o u s f r a g r a n c e
f loated on t h e a i r .
W h e n h e r e t u r n e d t o Kii , h e l e a r n e d t h r o u g h the s a m e m e d i u m a s
before w h a t h a d a c t u a l l y h a p p e n e d . " Y o u k n o w , " r e m a r k e d the g o d i n
t he c o u r s e o f a c o n v e r s a t i o n , " t h e d e e r d i d n ' t real ly b o w to y o u , b u t to
me. I w a s in t h e a i r o v e r y o u r h e a d , y o u see . Y o u d i d n ' t k n o w it, b u t t h e y
d i d . "
" I h a d n o i d e a ! " a n s w e r e d M y o e . "If I'd rea l ized w h a t w a s h a p p e n i n g
I'd h a v e d i s m o u n t e d . I t w a s v e r y r u d e of me no t to . I 'm so s o r r y ! "
4 6
3 2 .
PRINCESS GLORY
In t h e r e ign o f E m p e r o r Y u r y a k u an old c o u p l e l ived a t t he foot o f M o u n t
Fuj i . H a v i n g n o ch i ld m a d e t h e m s a d . T h e n o n e d a y t h e old m a n found a
beau t i fu l l i t t le gir l i n t h e b a m b o o g r o v e b e h i n d t he i r h o u s e . S h e s e e m e d
t o h a v e c o m e f rom n o w h e r e . H e a n d his wife w e r e v e r y h a p p y , a n d s ince
s h e s h o n e w i t h a love ly l ight t h e y cal led h e r K a g u y a - h i m e , P r ince s s
G l o r y .
P r i n c e s s G l o r y g r e w u p t o b e s o beaut i fu l t h a t even the g o v e r n o r o f
t h a t p r o v i n c e c o u r t e d he r , a n d t h e t w o w e r e m a r r i e d . W h e n the old
c o u p l e finally p a s s e d a w a y , s h e confessed t o h e r h u s b a n d t h a t s h e w a s
no t r ea l ly f rom th i s e a r t h a t al l . " I ' m ac tua l ly t he I m m o r t a l L a d y o f
M o u n t F u j i , " s h e e x p l a i n e d , " a n d I on ly c a m e d o w n in a n s w e r t o t he
d e a r o ld p e o p l e ' s p r a y e r s . N o w I 'm no l o n g e r t ied t o t h e m , a n d I m u s t go
h o m e t o m y p a l a c e . "
T h e g o v e r n o r w a s d i s t r a u g h t , b u t she d id h e r bes t t o comfor t h im .
" Y o u ' l l f ind m e o n t h e t o p o f M o u n t Fu j i , " s h e sa id . " C o m e t h e r e w h e n
y o u m i s s m e , o r look in to th i s b o x . " A n d s h e g a v e h im a b o x o f t he mag ic
i n c e n s e ca l l ed I n c e n s e t o Reca l l t h e S o u l . T h e n s h e v a n i s h e d .
H e a r t b r o k e n n o w , h e mi s sed h e r s o b a d l y t h a t h e soon o p e n e d the
b o x , b u t all h e c o u l d see t h r o u g h t h e s m o k e w a s a s h a d o w y w r a i t h tha t
s o m e t i m e s f aded a l t o g e t h e r . I n d e s p a i r he c l i m b e d M o u n t Fuji a s she h a d
inv i t ed h im to d o . At t h e t o p he found a l a rge p o n d w i t h an is land in t he
m i d d l e . T h e i s l and s e e m e d to h a v e a pa l ace on it, b u t t h r o u g h the v a p o r
t h a t r o s e from t h e w a t e r h e c o u l d on ly ba r e ly m a k e ou t P r i n c e s s G l o r y ' s
fo rm. B i t t e r ly d i s a p p o i n t e d , he p r e s s e d t h e b o x o f i ncense to his hea r t ,
j u m p e d f rom a p r e c i p i c e , a n d d i e d .
" N e v e r m i n d , " t he g o d c o n s o l e d h im . " T h e y say a be loved chi ld can
do no w r o n g . I c e r t a i n l y n e v e r t h o u g h t o f s c o l d i n g y o u for it. A n y w a y ,
t h e r e w a s n o h a r m d o n e s ince I w a s a l r e a d y h i g h e r t h a n y o u ! "
M y o e d i d ho ld t h e m e e t i n g s t h e g o d h a d a s k e d for. M u c h g iven t o
d r e a m s a n d v i s ions , a n d t o i n t e n s e sp i r i tua l s t r ugg l e , h e led a n e x e m p l a r y
life a n d b e c a m e o n e of t h e g r e a t f igures of his t i m e .
T h e h e a t o f h is b u r n i n g love set t h e b o x a f lame, a n d t h e s m o k e f rom
th i s fire i s t h e s m o k e o f Fuji t h a t so m a n y p e o p l e h a v e p u t i n t he i r p o e m s
a b o u t love a n d l o n g i n g . L a t e r o n h e a n d P r i n c e s s G l o r y b o t h a p p e a r e d
as t h e g o d o f t h e m o u n t a i n . T h e g o d i s o n e , b u t m a y be seen as e i t h e r a
m a n or a w o m a n .
O n c e a n I n d i a n t e n g u set off t o visi t C h i n a , a n d o n t h e w a y h e a r d t h e s e
l ines i n t h e m u r m u r i n g o f t h e sea :
All things pass:
this is the law
of birth and death.
Once birth and death
likewise have passed,
that peace is bliss.
T h e a s t o n i s h e d t e n g u w o n d e r e d h o w i n t h e w o r l d t he sea co u l d b e m u r -
m u r i n g th i s d e e p e s t e x p r e s s i o n o f t h e B u d d h a ' s T e a c h i n g , a n d h e d e t e r -
m i n e d t o find o u t w h a t set t h e sea t a l k i n g t h a t w a y . " A n d w h e n I d o , " h e
p r o m i s e d himself, "I ' l l g ive i t a g o o d d o s e of t r o u b l e ! "
H e fo l lowed t h e m u r m u r i n g all t h e w a y t o C h i n a , b u t s ince t h e sea
t h e r e w a s still m u r m u r i n g h e w e n t r i g h t b y a n d o n t o t h e sea off J a p a n .
T h e sea w a s still m u r m u r i n g . H e f lew o v e r t h e p o r t o f H a k a t a i n K y u s h u ,
a n d a t t h e s t r a i t b e t w e e n K y u s h u a n d H o n s h u h e l i s t ened a g a i n . T h e
m u r m u r i n g w a s a l i t t le l o u d e r . M o r e a s t o n i s h e d t h a n eve r , h e flew o n
o v e r p r o v i n c e a f te r p r o v i n c e un t i l h e r e a c h e d t h e m o u t h o f t h e Y o d o
4 8
R i v e r , t h e r i v e r t h a t f l o w s f rom n e a r t h e Cap i t a l in to t h e I n l a n d Sea . U p
t h e r i v e r h e f l e w , a n d t h e m u r m u r g r e w l o u d e r still. T h e Y o d o n a r r o w e d
t o t h e Uji R ive r , a n d t h e t e n g u s o a r e d o n u p t o w h e r e t h e Uji e m p t i e s
o u t o f L a k e B i w a . H e r e t h e r u m o r o f t h e w a t e r s w a s d i s t inc t ly loud . H e
p r e s s e d o n o v e r t h e l ake t o w h e r e a b r o o k c a m e t u m b l i n g d o w n from
Y o k a w a o n M o u n t H i e i . H e r e t h e vo i ce o f t h e w a t e r s c h a n t i n g t he s a c r e d
v e r s e r o s e t o a r o a r , a n d h e s a w u p s t r e a m t h e F o u r H e a v e n l y Kings a n d
c o u n t l e s s o t h e r g l o r i o u s G u a r d i a n s o f t h e T e a c h i n g w a t c h i n g ove r t he
b r o o k . A w e d a n d a m a z e d , h e d a r e d no t g o fu r the r , b u t h e cou ld no t resis t
h i d i n g a w h i l e t o see w h e t h e r h e c o u l d find o u t w h a t th i s p l ace w a s .
W h e n a l e s se r ce les t ia l sp i r i t h a p p e n e d pas t , t he t e n g u p l u c k e d up
e n o u g h c o u r a g e t o a sk , " W h y i s t h e w a t e r c h a n t i n g th i s d e e p e s t e x p r e s -
s ion o f t h e n o b l e T e a c h i n g ? "
" T h e r e a r e a lot o f l e a r n e d m o n k s up on t h e m o u n t a i n , " t he spir i t
r ep l i ed , " a n d t h i s b r o o k r u n s t h r o u g h t he i r p r i v y . T h a t ' s w h y its w a t e r s
p r o c l a i m t h e n o b l e t r u t h , a n d w h y w e sp i r i t s g u a r d i t . "
T h e t e n g u fo rgo t all t h o u g h t o f mischief . " I f e v e n t h e s t r e a m t h a t
f lushes t h e i r p r i v y p r o c l a i m s t h e d e e p e s t t r u t h , " h e ref lec ted , " t h e n t h e
m o n k s o f t h i s m o u n t a i n m u s t be m o r e h o l y t h a n I c o u l d eve r i m a g i n e ! I'll
b e c o m e a m o n k o n M o u n t H i e i ! " A n d a s h e m a d e th i s v o w h e p a s s e d
a w a y .
N e x t he l o d g e d in t h e w o m b o f a v e r y g r e a t lady , t he wife o f P r i n c e
A r i a k e w h o w a s a s o n o f E m p e r o r U d a , a n d h e w a s b o r n a s t h e p r ince ' s
s o n . In t i m e he d id b e c o m e a m o n k on M o u n t Hie i a n d a c q u i r e d a g r e a t
r e p u t a t i o n for l e a r n i n g a n d s a n c t i t y .
JAPAN MEANS TROUBLE!
A p o w e r f u l C h i n e s e t e n g u n a m e d C h i r a y o j u o n c e c a m e t o J a p a n a n d met
o n e o f o u r local t e n g u . " I n my c o u n t r y , " he b o a s t e d , " t h e r e a r e lots o f
r o u g h , t o u g h w a r r i o r - m o n k s , b u t n o w t h a t I 've go t t h e m all e a t i n g ou t o f
m y h a n d I t h o u g h t I 'd c o m e a n d h a v e a look a r o u n d J a p a n . T h e y say
t h e r e a r e s o m e p r e t t y p o t e n t a sce t i c s h e r e . P e r h a p s I migh t see w h a t I
c a n d o w i t h t h e m . W h a t d o y o u t h i n k ? "
T h e J a p a n e s e t e n g u t h o r o u g h l y a p p r o v e d . " I ' v e go t all t he good , b r a v e
m o n k s of tbii c o u n t r y e a t i n g o u t of my h a n d , " he a n s w e r e d , " b u t i f y o u
w a n t to g ive t h e m a b a d t i m e , go a h e a d . O n e ' s ju s t a s k i n g for it, in fact.
I'll s h o w y o u . C o m e o n . "
Of f h e w e n t w i t h t h e C h i n e s e t e n g u i n t o w . T h e y f lew u p t o t h e s t o n e
t o w e r o n t h e m a i n p e a k o f M o u n t Hie i a n d s t o o d t o g e t h e r be s ide t h e
t ra i l .
" P e o p l e h e r e k n o w m e , " sa id t h e J a p a n e s e t e n g u . " I ' d b e t t e r no t s h o w
myself. I'll j u s t h ide d o w n t h e hill a l i t t le. T u r n y o u r s e l f in to an old m o n k
a n d w a i t . M a k e s u r e y o u t a k e c a r e o f a n y o n e w h o c o m e s b y ! "
T h e J a p a n e s e t e n g u h id in a t h i c k e t a n d f rom t h e r e k e p t an eye on his
C h i n e s e co l l eague , w h o t u r n e d in to a pe r fec t , b e n t old m o n k . T h e w e i r d
g l e a m i n his e y e s h o w e d h e w a s p l a n n i n g s o m e t h i n g g o o d , a n d t h e J a p -
a n e s e t e n g u l o o k e d f o r w a r d w i t h p l e a s u r e t o w h a t w o u l d c o m e nex t .
A l o n g c a m e a p a l a n q u i n from h i g h e r up t h e m o u n t a i n . I n s ide i t r o d e
Y o k y o , a m o n k o f r a n k a n d r e p u t a t i o n w h o w a s o n his w a y d o w n t o t h e
C a p i t a l . W h e n h e r e a c h e d t h e t o w e r , t h e J a p a n e s e t e n g u g l a n c e d o v e r t o
c h e c k o n t h e old m o n k . H e w a s g o n e . Y o k y o a n d a c r o w d o f d i sc ip les
p a s s e d by in p e a c e .
T h o r o u g h l y p u z z l e d , t h e J a p a n e s e t e n g u w e n t l ook ing for his C h i n e s e
c o l l e a g u e a n d f o u n d h im c o w e r i n g d o w n in t h e r a v i n e w i t h his b e h i n d i n
t h e a i r .
" W h y a r e y o u h i d i n g ? " a s k e d t h e J a p a n e s e t e n g u .
" W h o w a s t h a t m o n k w h o w e n t b y ? "
" T h a t w a s Y o k y o , a f a m o u s w o n d e r - w o r k e r . H e ' s o n his w a y d o w n t o
t h e p a l a c e for a spec ia l r i t e . H e ' s so ho ly I t h o u g h t y o u ' d s h o w h im up a
bit , b u t y o u jus t let h i m g o . T o o b a d . "
" R i g h t , r igh t , I c o u l d see he w a s v e r y ho ly a n d I k n e w he m u s t be t h e
o n e y o u w e r e t a l k i n g a b o u t . W e l l , t h a t w a s fine, a n d I w a s jus t g o i n g t o
h a v e a t h im w h e n he d i s a p p e a r e d . I n s t e a d t h e r e w a s a c o l u m n o f f lame
r i s ing from his p a l a n q u i n . I c o u l d see I 'd ge t b u r n e d i f I go t t o o c lose , so
I t h o u g h t , we l l , I'll j u s t p a s s on th i s o n e . T h e n I sor t of go t myse l f ou t of
s i g h t . "
T h e J a p a n e s e t e n g u l a u g h e d m o c k i n g l y . " H e r e y o u fly i n all t h e w a y
from C h i n a , " he sa id , " a n d y o u c a n ' t e v e n roll a fellow like t h a t o v e r a
few t i m e s ? Y o u jus t let h im b y ? I 'd s a y y o u ' r e p a t h e t i c . N e x t t ime , s t o p
y o u r m a n a n d d o s o m e t h i n g t o h i m ! "
" A b s o l u t e l y ! " sa id t h e C h i n e s e t e n g u . " J u s t y o u w a t c h ! " H e set h im-
self t o w a i t a s be fo re b y t h e s t o n e t o w e r w h i l e t h e J a p a n e s e t e n g u
c r o u c h e d in a t h i c k e t .
A no isy b a n d c a m e d o w n t h e p a t h . I t w a s t h e g r e a t p r e l a t e J i n z e n
h e a d i n g off t o t o w n w i t h a c o l y t e s r u n n i n g a h e a d o f his p a l a n q u i n t o c l ea r
5 0
t h e w a y . W h e n t h e a c o l y t e s g o t t o t h e old t e n g u m o n k , t h e y jus t h e r d e d
h i m o n a h e a d w i t h m e r r y w h a c k s o f t he i r s t i cks . T h e old m o n k p u t his
a r m s u p t o p r o t e c t h i s h e a d a n d c l e a r e d o u t . H e obv ious ly w a s go ing t o
ge t n o w h e r e n e a r t h e p a l a n q u i n . T h o s e aco ly t e s h a d g o t t e n rid o f h im i n
n o t i m e .
T h e J a p a n e s e t e n g u w e n t a f te r h im a n d h e a p e d r id icu le o n him aga in .
T h e C h i n e s e t e n g u p r o t e s t e d . " W i t h all d u e r e s p e c t , " h e c o m p l a i n e d ,
" y o u d o n ' t k n o w w h a t y o u ' r e s a y i n g ! I w a s n ' t g o i n g t o ge t c lose t o t hose
a c o l y t e s , no t t h e w a y they l o o k e d , a n d I t h o u g h t I 'd b e t t e r get ou t be fo re
t h e y c a u g h t me a n d c r a c k e d my sku l l . So y e s , I let t h a t m o n k by . I can
fly h e r e f rom C h i n a in a f lash, b u t t h o s e aco ly t e s w e r e t o o fast for me. No
sir , I h id i n s t e a d ! "
" W e l l , for p i t y ' s s a k e do s o m e t h i n g to t he next o n e a t leas t ! Y o u can ' t
c o m e all t h e w a y h e r e a n d d o n o t h i n g ! W h y , y o u ' l l b e a n e m b a r r a s s m e n t
t o y o u r c o u n t r y ! " H a v i n g t r i ed a g a i n t o s h a m e his co l l eague in to ac t ion ,
t h e J a p a n e s e t e n g u w e n t off t o h i d e .
S o o n a b a b b l e o f vo i ce s ro se t o w a r d t h e m from a p a r t y on its w a y u p .
A m o n k w i t h a r e d s to le a p p e a r e d first, c l e a r i ng t h e p a t h , a n d b e h i n d
h i m y o u n g m o n k s b o r e a c e r e m o n i a l c h e s t c o n t a i n i n g t h e i l lus t r ious t r a v -
e le r ' s m o n a s t i c r o b e s . T h e p a l a n q u i n b e h i n d t h e m c a r r i e d J i e o f Y o k a w a ,
t h e a b b o t o f t h e e n t i r e t e m p l e c o m p l e x o n t h e m o u n t a i n . "Wi l l t h e y ge t
h i m ? " w o n d e r e d t h e J a p a n e s e t e n g u , a s t w o d o z e n b o y aco ly te s p a s s e d
b y o n e i t h e r s ide o f t h e p a l a n q u i n . B u t t h e old m o n k w a s g o n e . H e h a d
h i d d e n a g a i n .
" I n o t i c e d a s u s p i c i o u s c h a r a c t e r a r o u n d h e r e , " sa id o n e o f t he b o y s .
" L e t ' s s p r e a d o u t a n d l o o k ! " T h e f i erce b o y s d i s p e r s e d o n e i t he r s ide o f
t h e p a t h , b r a n d i s h i n g s t i cks , a n d t h e J a p a n e s e t e n g u p r u d e n t l y s tole
f u r t h e r d o w n t h e s l ope in to a d e e p e r t h i c k e t .
" H e r e h e is! G e t h i m ! " s h o u t e d a b o y ' s vo ice .
" W h a t ? " y e l l e d a n a n s w e r i n g c h o r u s .
" T h e r e ' s t h i s o ld m o n k h i d i n g h e r e ! H e d o e s n ' t look r i g h t ! "
" H o l d h i m ! D o n ' t let h im ge t a w a y ! " T h e o t h e r s d a s h e d off t o p r o v i d e
r e i n f o r c e m e n t s .
" H o w a w f u l ! " t h e J a p a n e s e t e n g u g r o a n e d , b u t h e w a s far t o o
f r i g h t e n e d t o d o a n y t h i n g b u t b u r r o w d e e p e r i n to his t h i c k e t a n d f lat ten
h i m s e l f t o t h e g r o u n d . P e e r i n g fearfully ou t , he s a w a d o z e n b o y s d r a g
t h e o ld m o n k t o t h e s t o n e t o w e r , b e a t a n d k i ck h i m , a n d g ive h im a v e r y
b a d t i m e i n d e e d . T h e o ld m o n k b e l l o w e d a n d r o a r e d , b u t i t d id h im little
g o o d .
" W h o a r e y o u , y o u o ld m o n k ? " t h e b o y s s h o u t e d , w h a c k i n g h im a s
t h e y s p o k e . "Te l l u s ! Tel l u s ! "
" I ' m jus t a p o o r t e n g u from C h i n a , y o u n g m a s t e r s ! I t h o u g h t I 'd h a v e
a look a t t h e m o n k s p a s s i n g by . B u t t h e f i r s t w a s Y o k y o , a n d h e w a s
r ec i t ing t h e M a n t r a o f F i r e so t h e r e w a s a h u g e f lame in his p a l a n q u i n ;
t he n e x t w a s J i n z e n , w h o w a s d o i n g t h e M a n t r a o f F u d o s o t h a t F u d o ' s
o w n m i n i o n s w e r e g u a r d i n g h im w i t h t he i r i ron staffs; a n d t h e t h i r d , t h e
a b b o t , w a s p o n d e r i n g Per fec t M e d i t a t i o n . T h e f i r s t t w o f r igh tened m e s o
I h id , b u t t h e a b b o t d i d n ' t s e e m f r igh ten ing a t all a n d I w a s ca r e l e s s .
T h a t ' s h o w I go t c a u g h t ! "
T h e b o y s cou ld no t see t h a t he w a s m u c h o f a t h r e a t , so t h e y d e c i d e d
jus t to let h im g o , b u t no t be fo re e a c h h a d f i l ed pas t a n d g iven h im a
swift k ick in t h e b e h i n d .
O n c e t h e a b b o t w a s by , t h e J a p a n e s e t e n g u c r a w l e d u p from t h e
b o t t o m o f t h e r a v i n e a n d w e n t t o f i nd t h e old m o n k w h e r e he lay all b a t -
t e r e d a n d b r u i s e d . " H o w ' d i t g o thit t i m e ? " h e a s k e d . " D i d y o u ge t h i m ? "
" S h u t u p . J u s t lay off m e , " t h e C h i n e s e t e n g u g r o w l e d . " I c a m e h e r e
all t h e w a y f rom C h i n a , i n n o c e n t l y be l i ev ing I 'd ge t a little c o o p e r a t i o n
from t h e l ikes o f y o u , b u t y o u w o u l d n ' t g ive me a n y s t r a igh t he lp , n o ,
y o u h a d t o p u t m e u p a g a i n s t m e n l ike l iving B u d d h a s , a n d all I 've go t
for my t r o u b l e i s a b r u i s e d b a c k s i d e a n d a g o o d b e a t i n g ! " A n d he b u r s t
i n to t e a r s .
" I d o n ' t b l a m e y o u , " t h e J a p a n e s e t e n g u rep l ied conso l ing ly , " b u t y o u
see , y o u ' r e a t e n g u f rom a g r e a t b ig c o u n t r y , a n d I t h o u g h t y o u ' d be ab l e
to t a k e c a r e of a n y o n e f rom a smal l c o u n t r y like m i n e . I 'm s o r r y y o u go t
y o u r b e h i n d k i c k e d ! " H e t o o k t h e C h i n e s e t e n g u t o a nice p lace i n t h e
m o u n t a i n s w h e r e t h e p o o r fel low c o u l d s o a k t h e so re p a r t i n a ho t b a t h
a n d m a k e i t feel b e t t e r , a n d t h e n he p a c k e d t h e v is i tor b a c k off t o C h i n a .
W h i l e t h e t w o w e r e b a t h i n g , a c o u p l e o f s e r v a n t s from t h e ci ty c a m e
in to t h e m o u n t a i n s t o fetch f i r e w o o d . P a s s i n g t h e b a t h shed , t h e y n o t i c e d
s m o k e r i s ing f rom t h e c h i m n e y , a n d d e c i d e d t h a t a s long a s s o m e o n e w a s
a l r e a d y h e a t i n g w a t e r t h e y m i g h t a s wel l go in a n d h a v e a s o a k t h e m -
se lves . T h e y p u t d o w n t h e i r l o a d s a n d w e n t i n t o f i n d t w o old m o n k s i n
t he b ig t u b . O n e o f t h e m s e e m e d to h a v e some sor t o f p a i n i n his b u t t .
T h e m o n k s w a n t e d t o k n o w w h o t h e t w o m e n w e r e , b u t t h e m e n , for
t he i r p a r t , no t i ced t h a t t h e b a t h s h e d s t a n k to h igh h e a v e n — so h o r r i b l y ,
5 2
in fact, t h a t t h e y b o t h i n s t an t l y go t a sp l i t t ing h e a d a c h e . Terr i f ied , t h e y
e s c a p e d a s fast a s t h e y c o u l d .
L a t e r o n t h e J a p a n e s e t e n g u p o s s e s s e d s o m e o n e a n d told t he w h o l e
s t o r y .
3 5 .
THE INVINCIBLE PAIR
In S a n u k i p r o v i n c e t h e r e still i s a l a rge b o d y o f w a t e r n a m e d M a n o P o n d
t h a t K o b o D a i s h i m a d e ou t o f k i n d n e s s t o w a r d the p e o p l e w h o live
n e a r b y . I t i s so big , a n d t h e d i k e s a r o u n d i t a r e so h igh , t h a t i t looks m o r e
l ike a l ake t h a n a p o n d . Its d e e p w a t e r s h a r b o r c o u n t l e s s fish g rea t a n d
smal l , a n d a t t h e b o t t o m t h e r e o n c e l ived a d r a g o n .
O n e d a y th i s d r a g o n c a m e ou t o f t h e w a t e r t o s u n himself, a n d sli th-
e r e d a r o u n d on an i so la ted sec t ion of t h e d ike in t he s h a p e of a little
s n a k e . J u s t t h e n t h e t e n g u o f M o u n t H i r a , far off in O m i p r o v i n c e , f l ew
o v e r in t h e fo rm of a k i t e . He d o v e a t t h e little s n a k e , c a u g h t h im in his
t a l o n s , a n d s o a r e d u p a g a i n in to t h e sky .
A d r a g o n is, of c o u r s e , i m m e n s e l y s t r o n g , bu t th is o n e h a d been t a k e n
so s u d d e n l y t h a t all he c o u l d do w a s h a n g in t h e t e n g u s c l aws . T h e t e n g u
for h i s p a r t m e a n t t o c r u s h t h e s n a k e a n d eat h im, bu t t h a t t u r n e d ou t t o
be i m p o s s i b l e s ince , a f ter all, i t w a s a m i g h t y d r a g o n he h a d se ized a n d
n o w e a k l i n g s e r p e n t . N o t k n o w i n g q u i t e w h a t else t o d o , t h e t e n g u t ook
t h e d r a g o n b a c k to his lair on M o u n t H i r a a n d stuffed h im in to a hole in
t h e r o c k s s o smal l t h a t t h e d r a g o n cou ld h a r d l y m o v e . T h e p o o r d r a g o n
w a s m i s e r a b l e . N o t h a v i n g a d r o p o f w a t e r h e cou ld no t f l y a w a y , a n d
for s e v e r a l d a y s he lay t h e r e w a i t i n g to d ie .
M e a n w h i l e t h e t e n g u w a s p l a n n i n g a little fo ray to M o u n t Hiei t o
c a t c h h imse l f a n ice fat m o n k . T h a t n igh t he p e r c h e d in a tall t r ee a n d
k e p t h is e y e s on t h e d o r m i t o r y a c r o s s t he va l ley on t h e s ide of t he hill. A
m o n k c a m e o u t o n t h e v e r a n d a t o re l ieve himself. W h e n h e p i c k e d u p the
w a t e r j a r t o w a s h his h a n d s , t he t e n g u p o u n c e d , se ized h im, a n d ca r r i ed
h im off to M o u n t H i r a , w h e r e he s tuffed h im in to t he hole wi th the
d r a g o n . T h e te r r i f ied m o n k t h o u g h t h e w a s d o n e for, b u t t he t e n g u w e n t
off a g a i n .
F r o m o u t o f t h e d a r k n e s s a vo ice a s k e d , " W h o a r e y o u ? W h e r e did
y o u c o m e f r o m ? " T h e m o n k e x p l a i n e d w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d — s o s u d d e n l y
t ha t h e still h a d his w a t e r j a r — a n d a s k e d w h o h a d s p o k e n . T h e d r a g o n
i n t r o d u c e d h imse l f a n d to ld his o w n s to ry . " I t ' s v e r y t igh t i n th i s ho le ,
y o u k n o w , " he g r o a n e d , " b u t I c a n ' t f ly a w a y b e c a u s e I h a v e n ' t a d r o p of
w a t e r !
" M a y b e t h e r e ' s s o m e left i n th i s j a r , " s u g g e s t e d t he m o n k .
" O h , h o w w o n d e r f u l ! W h a t l uck y o u ' r e h e r e ! I f t h e r e is, I c a n save u s
b o t h . I'll t a k e y o u b a c k h o m e ! "
W i t h j o y o u s a n t i c i p a t i o n t h e m o n k t u r n e d t h e j a r u p s i d e d o w n o v e r
t h e d r a g o n a n d a d r o p o f w a t e r fell o u t . T h e d r a g o n w a s w e t .
"All r i g h t , " sa id t h e d r a g o n , " d o n ' t b e afra id . J u s t c lose y o u r eyes a n d
sit on my b a c k . I'll n e v e r forge t w h a t I o w e y o u . "
T h e d r a g o n t u r n e d in to a smal l boy , t o o k t h e m o n k on his b a c k ,
s m a s h e d t h e r o c k wa l l s o f t h e i r ho le , a n d b u r s t for th a m i d t h u n d e r c l a p s
a n d bo l t s o f l i g h t n i n g . H u g e c l o u d s g a t h e r e d i n t h e sky a n d h e a v y r a in
fell. T h e m o n k w a s f r i g h t e n e d b u t t r u s t e d t h e d r a g o n e n o u g h t o h a n g o n .
H e w a s d e p o s i t e d i n s t a n t l y r igh t w h e r e h e h a d s t a r t ed , o n t h e v e r a n d a o f
his d o r m i t o r y o n M o u n t H i e i . T h e d r a g o n f l e w off.
W i t h all t h e c r a s h i n g a n d r o a r i n g , t h e o t h e r r e s iden t s o f t h e d o r m i t o r y
w e r e s u r e t h a t a n y s e c o n d a bo l t w o u l d d e s t r o y t h e m . T h e n s u d d e n l y t h e
t h u n d e r s t o p p e d a n d b l a c k n e s s fell. W h e n the sky c lea red , t h e y d i scov-
e r e d t h e i r c o l l e a g u e w h o h a d v a n i s h e d t h e o t h e r n igh t , a n d h e a n s w e r e d
t he i r a s t o n i s h e d q u e s t i o n s b y te l l ing t h e m his s to ry .
T h e d r a g o n p u r s u e d t h e t e n g u e v e r y w h e r e i n s e a r c h o f r e v e n g e . A t
last w h e n t h e t e n g u w a s c r u i s i n g t h e s t r ee t s o f t h e Cap i t a l , d i sgu i sed a s a
w a r r i o r - m o n k so l ic i t ing d o n a t i o n s for his t emp le , t h e d r a g o n s w o o p e d
d o w n a n d kil led h im w i t h o n e b l o w . S u d d e n l y t he t e n g u w a s a kes t r e l
w i t h a b r o k e n w i n g , a n d h e w a s t r a m p l e d u n d e r f o o t b y t he p a s s e r s b y .
O n M o u n t H ie i t h e m o n k r e p a i d his d e b t b y r e a d i n g t h e s u t r a s fai th-
fully on behalf of h is f r iend t h e d r a g o n . E a c h h a d s a v e d the o t h e r ' s life —
su re ly t h e r e su l t o f a d e e p k a r m i c b o n d b e t w e e n t h e m in l ives g o n e by .
RAIN
In N a r a t h e r e u s e d to be a t e m p l e ca l led Ryuenj i , o r T e m p l e o f t h e
D r a g o n G a r d e n . T h e s ingle m o n k w h o l ived t h e r e s e r v e d the L o t u s
S u t r a , e x p o u n d i n g a c h a p t e r a d a y a n d c h a n t i n g its t e x t . A d r a g o n ,
5 A
m o v e d by t h e c h a n t i n g , w o u l d c o m e in h u m a n Form e v e r y d a y to listen,
a n d w h e n t h e m o n k found o u t w h o his v i s i tor w a s t he t w o b e c a m e fast
f r i ends .
T h e n a d r o u g h t s t r u c k . W i t h o u t ra in t h e c r o p s w i t h e r e d a n d d ied , till
n o b l e s a n d c o m m o n e r s a l ike faced t e r r i b l e suffer ing . T h e e m p e r o r got a
pe t i t i on r e m i n d i n g h im a b o u t t h e m o n k a n d the d r a g o n (for the i r fr iend-
s h i p h a d b e c o m e w i d e l y k n o w n ) a n d s u g g e s t i n g tha t t he m o n k b e c o m -
m a n d e d t o h a v e t h e d r a g o n m a k e r a in .
T h e e m p e r o r ca l led in t h e m o n k a n d m a d e h im a little s p e e c h a t t he
e n d o f w h i c h he g a v e his o r d e r . " W h e n t h e d r a g o n c o m e s for y o u r dai ly
s e r m o n , " he sa id , " y o u ' r e g o i n g to d i r ec t h im to m a k e ra in . I'll ban i sh
y o u f rom J a p a n fo reve r i f y o u d o n ' t . "
T h e m o n k w a s v e r y u p s e t . W h e n h e go t h o m e h e e x p l a i n e d the s i tua-
t ion to t h e d r a g o n , w h o sa id he w o u l d g l ad ly g ive his life for his friend in
t h a n k s for all t h e S u t r a h a d d o n e for h im o v e r t h e y e a r s . " B u t / d o n ' t
g o v e r n t h e r a i n , " he w e n t o n . " K i n g B o n d e n d e c i d e s t he se t h i n g s . I f I
o p e n t h e g a t e o f t h e ra ins my h e a d will f ly . I'll do it, t h o u g h . Ra in will
fall th ree d a y s f rom n o w , a n d I'll be ki l led. P lease , p ick up my b o d y ,
b u r y it, a n d bu i ld a t e m p l e o v e r it. You ' l l find i t in t he p o n d w h i c h i s up
in t h e hills in t h e w e s t e r n p a r t o f H e g u r i c o u n t y . A n d t h e r e a r e t h r e e
o t h e r p l a c e s I'll visi t on my w a y t h e r e . Bui ld a t e m p l e in each o n e . "
D e s p i t e his s o r r o w , t h e m o n k cou ld no t i gno re t he imper ia l o r d e r . H e
a g r e e d t o t h e d r a g o n ' s last r e q u e s t , a n d the t w o p a r t e d i n t e a r s .
O n l e a r n i n g w h a t t h e d r a g o n h a d sa id , H i s M a j e s t y looked f o r w a r d
w i t h relief t o r a in . S u r e e n o u g h , o n t he p r o m i s e d d a y the sky c l o u d e d
ove r , t h e r e w a s t h u n d e r a n d l i gh tn ing , a n d h e a v y rain fell for t h r e e d a y s
a n d n i g h t s . N o w t h a t t h e r e w a s p l e n t y o f w a t e r aga in t h e c r o p s r i pened
a n d all w a s we l l . T h e e m p e r o r a n d his p e o p l e w e r e v e r y h a p p y .
T h e m o n k f o u n d t h e p o n d in t h e hills w h e r e he h a d been told to look.
T h e f r a g m e n t s o f t h e d r a g o n ' s d i s m e m b e r e d b o d y f loa ted in its r e d d e n e d
w a t e r s . W e e p i n g , t h e m o n k b u r i e d t h e m a n d built o v e r t h e m a t e m p l e
ca l led Ryuka i j i , o r T e m p l e o f t he D r a g o n L a k e ; a n d he e x p o u n d e d the
L o t u s S u t r a t h e r e da i ly for h is f r iend. W i t h t he e m p e r o r ' s he lp he buil t
t h r e e o t h e r t e m p l e s too , a s h e h a d p r o m i s e d t o d o . T h e s e w e r e Ryushin j i ,
T e m p l e o f t h e D r a g o n M i n d ; Ryu ten j i , T e m p l e o f t he D r a g o n H e a v e n ;
a n d Ryuo j i , T e m p l e o f t h e D r a g o n K i n g . A n d all his life t he m o n k
c h a n t e d t h e S u t r a for t he d r a g o n ' s final e n l i g h t e n m e n t .
3 7 •
I t h a d no t b e e n T h e N o s e ' s d a y .
NO DRAGON
Ein , a m o n k in N a r a , h a d a b ig , r ed n o s e . At f i rs t p e o p l e cal led h im " E i n
t he R e d - N o s e d C l e r i c , " b u t s h o r t e n e d i t l a t e r t o " E i n R e d - N o s e " a n d
f i n a l l y t o jus t " T h e N o s e . "
L e g e n d h a s i t t h a t a d r a g o n l ives in S a r u s a w a P o n d , by Kofukuj i ' s
G r e a t S o u t h G a t e r igh t o n t h e e d g e o f N a r a . I n his y o u t h T h e N o s e
p o s t e d a no t i ce b e s i d e t h e p o n d , a n n o u n c i n g tha t on s u c h - a n d - s u c h a
d a t e t h e d r a g o n w o u l d r ise f rom t h e p o n d i n b r o a d day l igh t . T h e p a s -
s e r s b y w h o r e a d i t w e r e i n t r i g u e d , a n d t h e w o r d b e g a n t o ge t a r o u n d .
T h e r e s u l t i n g r u m o r g r e a t l y t i ck l ed T h e N o s e , w h o af ter all h a d s t a r t e d
i t himself, a n d he w a s a m u s e d a t p e o p l e ' s fool i shness . Reso lv ing to see
t h e j oke t h r o u g h , h e w e n t o n p r e t e n d i n g h e k n e w n o t h i n g a b o u t t h e
no t i ce .
A s t h e d a y d r e w n e a r , t h e r u m o r a b o u t t h e d r a g o n a t t r a c t e d c r o w d s
no t o n l y f rom n e a r b y b u t e v e n f rom t h e n e i g h b o r i n g p r o v i n c e s . T h e N o s e
w a s i m p r e s s e d . " W h a t are t h e y all h e r e f o r ? " h e w o n d e r e d . " H o w v e r y
s t r a n g e ! P e r h a p s s o m e t h i n g rea l ly will h a p p e n ! " B u t h e w e n t o n l o o k i n g
a s i n n o c e n t a s e v e r .
O n t h e d a y , t h e s t r e e t s w e r e s o j a m m e d tha t even T h e N o s e b e g a n t o
t a k e t h e s t o r y s e r i o u s l y . S i n c e a p p a r e n t l y t h e d r a g o n uw.i g o i n g to r ise ,
h e w a n t e d t o g o a n d w a t c h . O f c o u r s e i t w a s imposs ib le t o get a n y w h e r e
n e a r t h e p o n d , s o i n s t e a d h e c l i m b e d u p o n t h e f o u n d a t i o n s o f t h e G r e a t
S o u t h G a t e , w h i c h s t a n d s o n a h igh e m b a n k m e n t . G a z i n g ou t o v e r t h e
p o n d a n d t h e w h o l e e n o r m o u s t h r o n g , h e w a i t e d eage r ly for t h e d r a g o n
t o a p p e a r .
T h e v e r y idea! B y s u n s e t t h e r e w a s still n o d r a g o n . W h e n n igh t fell,
T h e N o s e h a d t o g ive u p . H e w a s c r o s s i n g a little b r i d g e o n the w a y
h o m e w h e n h e n e a r l y b u m p e d in to a b l ind m a n . " G o o d n e s s , " h e ex-
c l a imed , " y o u s h o u l d n ' t b e o u t i n t h e d a r k l ike th i s ! W h y , y o u can ' t see
t he h a n d in f ront o f y o u r f a c e ! "
" T h e n o s e , " t h e b l ind m a n c o r r e c t e d h im, " Y o u m e a n y o u can ' t see t h e
node."
T h e V e n e r a b l e S h o k u o f M o u n t S h o s h a h a d f o u n d e d a g r e a t t e m p l e a n d
i n s p i r e d c o u n t l e s s p e o p l e to fa i th . He w a s in fact a sa in t , a n d by c h a n t i n g
t h e L o t u s S u t r a h a d g a i n e d a w o n d e r f u l f r eedom from t h e t y r a n n y o f t he
s e n s e s . B u t t h e t h o u g h t o f t h e B o d h i s a t t v a F u g e n , w h o p l ays i n t h e S u t r a
so g r a n d a ro le , still f i l l ed his m i n d , a n d he k n e w he w o u l d h a v e no p e a c e
un t i l h i s o w n e y e s h a d seen F u g e n i n t h e f l e s h .
Af t e r s e v e n d a y s s p e n t p r a y i n g for t h i s b o o n , h e f i n a l l y saw, a t d a w n
on t h e las t d a y , a d i v i n e b o y w h o to ld h im, " L o o k a t t h e chief ha r lo t o f
M u r o . S h e i s t h e t r u e F u g e n . "
T h i s n e w s a s t o n i s h e d S h o k u , b u t h e h u r r i e d t o t h e little p o r t w h i c h , a s
he we l l k n e w , w a s f a m o u s for i ts w h o r e s . I t w o u l d be o d d , t h o u g h , for a
m o n k in h i s b l a c k r o b e to e n t e r a b r o t h e l , so he c h a n g e d in to a plain
w h i t e g a r m e n t . I n M u r o h e f o u n d t h e h o u s e , a n d the ha r lo t c a m e ou t t o
g r e e t h i m . T h e n s h e p o u r e d h im w i n e a n d d a n c e d t o a s ing ing-g i r l ' s s o n g :
Down in Suo
among the marshes
of Mitarashi
the swift winds blow
s h e s a n g , a n d h e r g i r l s t o o k u p t h e re f ra in ,
and waves are (lancing,
look!
the pretty waves!
" S o t h i s i s t h e l iv ing F u g e n ! " t h o u g h t S h o k u . C los ing his eyes t o
c o n t e m p l a t e q u i e t l y t h e p r e s e n c e o f his b e l o v e d b o d h i s a t t v a , h e n o w s a w
F u g e n p e r f e c t l y rea l b e f o r e h im, e x q u i s i t e l y a d o r n e d , r a d i a t i n g w i s d o m
3 8 .
THINGS AS THEY ARE
5 6
P U R E
H E A R T S
a n d k i n d n e s s , a n d m o u n t e d o n his c u s t o m a r y w h i t e e l e p h a n t . F u g e n w a s
s i ng ing :
On the great jea of truth unsullied,
how brightly the moon of pure insight shines!
W h e n h e o p e n e d his e y e s a g a i n , t h e r e w a s t h e h a r l o t s i n g i n g a b o u t
w a v e s d a n c i n g i n t h e w i n d ; w h e n h e c losed t h e m , t h e r e w a s F u g e n .
D e e p l y a w e d , h e finally t o o k his l eave .
H e h a d no t g o n e m o r e t h a n a h u n d r e d y a r d s w h e n t h e h a r l o t d i e d .
3 9 .
THE PORTRAIT
R e t i r e d E m p e r o r K a z a n t h o u g h t s o m u c h o f t h e V e n e r a b l e S h o k u t h a t
h e o n c e t o o k a p a i n t e r w i t h h im t o M o u n t S h o s h a . T h e p a i n t e r w a s
s u p p o s e d t o h i d e w h e r e h e c o u l d ge t a g o o d look a t t he ho ly m a n , t h e n
p a i n t h is p o r t r a i t w h i l e h e a n d K a z a n t a l k e d . A s t h e p a i n t e r w o r k e d , t h e
m o u n t a i n r u m b l e d a n d s h o o k — i n r e s p o n s e , a s t h e a s t o n i s h e d K a z a n
i m m e d i a t e l y r ea l i zed . K a z a n con fe s sed his p l a n t o S h o k u a n d r e v e r e d
h im e v e n m o r e af ter t h a t .
N o w , t h e p a i n t e r h a d n e g l e c t e d to p u t i n a few mole s on S h o k i i ' s face .
O n e t r e m o r , w h i c h a l m o s t m a d e h im d r o p his b r u s h , s h o o k severa l d r o p s
o f i nk off o n t o t h e p o r t r a i t . T o e v e r y o n e ' s a m a z e m e n t t h e y c o r r e s p o n d e d
p r e c i s e l y t o t h e m o l e s .
T h e p o r t r a i t i s still i n M o u n t S h o s h a ' s t r e a s u r e hal l .
A o •
WHAT THE BEANS WERE SAYING
S h o k u , t h e h o l y m a n o f M o u n t S h o s h a , h a d a c h i e v e d t h e h i g h e s t s a n c t i t y
b y c o n t i n u a l l y c h a n t i n g t h e L o t u s S u t r a , a n d h e t ook i n t h r o u g h all h is
s e n s e s t h i n g s t h a t o r d i n a r y p e o p l e n e v e r p e r c e i v e . O n c e i n his t r a v e l s h e
5 8
h e a r d a po t o f b e a n s b u b b l i n g o v e r a f i re o f b e a n h u s k s . " B r u t e s , b r u t e s , "
t h e b e a n s i n t h e p o t w e r e s a y i n g , " y o u ' r e b r u t e s t o boil us , for w e ' r e
b e a n s t o o ! " B u t t h e h u s k s w e r e c r a c k l i n g b a c k , " W e ha t e t o d o i t bu t w e
m u s t ! I t h u r t s u s so ! O h , d o n ' t b l a m e u s ! "
4 » •
MERCY
O n c e a q u i t e o r d i n a r y m o n k , t i red o f life in t he C a p i t a l , v o w e d to m a k e
a h u n d r e d p i l g r i m a g e s ( o n e e a c h d a y ) from K y o t o t o t h e H i e S h r i n e a n d
b a c k . O n his w a y h o m e o n t h e e igh t i e th d a y , h e p a s s e d a y o u n g w o m a n
s o b b i n g a s t h o u g h h e r h e a r t w o u l d b r e a k . H e r v io len t s o r r o w m o v e d him
t o a s k h e r w h a t w a s t h e m a t t e r .
" N o , n o , I c a n see y o u ' r e a p i l g r i m ! " s h e c r i ed . " I c an ' t tell y o u , I
r ea l ly c a n ' t ! "
H e ins i s t ed s o k i n d l y t h a t s h e s p o k e a t last . " M y m o t h e r w a s sick for
s o l o n g , " s h e sa id , " a n d th i s m o r n i n g s h e f i n a l l y d ied . T h a t ' s b a d e n o u g h ,
b u t t h e w o r s t i s t h a t I 've no i dea w h a t I 'm g o i n g t o do w i t h he r b o d y . I 'm
a w i d o w , y o u see , a n d I 've no o n e to ask for he lp . B e i n g a w o m a n , I 'm
n o t s t r o n g e n o u g h t o m a n a g e i t a l o n e . M y n e i g h b o r s ta lk a b o u t h o w
s o r r y t h e y a r e , b u t t h e y ' r e s o b u s y n o w w i t h fest ivals for t he g o d s t h a t
I 'm s u r e t h e y w o n ' t rea l ly d o a n y t h i n g . I jus t d o n ' t k n o w w h e r e t o t u r n ! "
S h e b u r s t i n to fresh w e e p i n g .
T h e m o n k u n d e r s t o o d , a n d felt s o m u c h for h e r t ha t h e t o o h a d t e a r s
i n his e y e s . H e k n e w t h e g o d s e n t e r th i s d i n g y w o r l d o f o u r s on ly b e c a u s e
t h e y t a k e p i t y o n u s , a n d h e d id no t see h o w h e co u l d s imply i gno re h e r
p l i gh t . " I ' v e n e v e r d o n e m u c h i n t h e w a y o f g o o d d e e d s , " h e ref lec ted .
" L o o k u p o n m e , O b u d d h a s ! O y o u g o d s , forgive me n o w ! " A n d t o t h e
gir l he c o n t i n u e d a l o u d , " D o n ' t be so sad . I'll h e l p y o u a s bes t I c a n . We
s h o u l d g o in s ide , p e o p l e m a y w o n d e r a b o u t u s . " T h r o u g h h e r t ea r s t he
y o u n g w o m a n smi l ed a s s e n t .
T h a t n igh t , i n t h e d a r k , t h e y t o o k t h e b o d y w h e r e i t h a d t o go . B u t
w h e n t h e d e e d w a s d o n e , t h e m o n k cou ld no t ge t t o s l eep . H e kep t
t h i n k i n g a b o u t t h e e i g h t y d a y s o f p i l g r i m a g e h e h a d t h r o w n a w a y , a n d
a b o u t w h a t a p i t y i t w a s t o h a v e t o s t o p n o w . W e l l , h e h a d n e v e r m e a n t
t o g a i n a n y t h i n g spec ia l b y his h u n d r e d d a y s a n y w a y , s o h e migh t a s wel l
go b a c k t o t h e s h r i n e a n d see h o w t h e g o d felt a b o u t it. T h e po l lu t i on o f
b i r t h o r d e a t h w a s superf ic ia l e n o u g h , af ter all, a n d no t m u c h c o n n e c t e d
w i t h o n e ' s real s t a t e o f m i n d . S o t h e n e x t m o r n i n g h e w a s h e d a n d set o u t
for t h e s h r i n e . All t h e w a y t h e r e his h e a r t bea t fast b e c a u s e ac tua l ly he
w a s a f ra id .
A l a rge c r o w d be fo re t h e s h r i n e w a s l i s ten ing to a m e d i u m de l ive r
o r ac l e s f rom t h e g o d . N o t d a r i n g t o g o nea r , t he p o l l u t e d m o n k h id
i n s t ead s o m e d i s t a n c e a w a y to pray on his o w n . He w a s g lad a t least t o
h a v e c o m e a n d no t mi s sed a d a y .
T h e m e d i u m s p o t t e d h im l eav ing . " Y o u m o n k t h e r e , c o m e h e r e ! " s h e
ca l led .
I t w a s a n awful s h o c k , b u t t h e r e w a s n o e s c a p e for h im n o w . S h i v e r i n g
w i t h d r e a d h e o b e y e d , u n d e r t h e s u s p i c i o u s g a z e o f t h e w h o l e c r o w d .
T h e m e d i u m b r o u g h t h im v e r y c lose . " I s a w w h a t y o u d id last n i g h t ! "
she w h i s p e r e d .
T h e ha i r s t o o d o n e n d all o v e r his b o d y a n d h e t h o u g h t h e w a s g o i n g
to faint .
" D o n ' t b e a f r a i d , " s h e w e n t o n . " I t h o u g h t i t w a s w o n d e r f u l ! I 'm no t
really o n l y a g o d , y o u k n o w . I t ' s c o m p a s s i o n t h a t b r o u g h t me h e r e . I w a n t
p e o p l e to be l i eve t h e T e a c h i n g . T a b o o s a r e jus t a w a y o f g o i n g a b o u t it,
a s a n y o n e e n l i g h t e n e d k n o w s . D o n ' t tell a n y o n e else, t h o u g h . P e o p l e a r e
s o fool ish. T h e y w o n ' t u n d e r s t a n d t h a t y o u rea l ly a c t e d from d e e p m e r c y ,
they ' l l t h i n k t h e y t o o c a n b r e a k t h e t a b o o w h e n e v e r t h e y w a n t , w h i c h
m e a n s t h a t they ' l l j u s t ge t all m i x e d up a n d ru in t h e t i ny bi t o f faith t h e y
h a v e . I t ' s n o t t h e r u l e s t h a t rea l ly c o u n t , i t 's t he p e r s o n . "
T h e m o n k w a s m o v e d t o t e a r s , a n d af ter t h a t w a s often i n sp i r ed t o a c t s
o f spec ia l k i n d n e s s .
4 * •
AMONG THE FLOWERS
Sa igyo , a m o n k a n d a w o n d e r f u l poe t , w a s r o a m i n g t h e E a s t w h e n o n e
n igh t i n br i l l i an t m o o n l i g h t he c r o s s e d M u s a s h i n o P la in . T h e c a r p e t o f
f l o w e r s h e t r o d w a s s p a r k l i n g w i t h d e w , a n d insect m u r m u r s m i n g l e d
w i t h t h e s i g h i n g o f t h e w i n d . F a r o u t o n t he m o o r h e h e a r d a c h a n t i n g
vo ice .
6 0
H e a d i n g t h a t w a y , he c a m e to a h u t h e d g e d w i t h p ink , n o d d i n g bagi a n d y e l l o w v a l e r i a n , a n d c h a r m i n g l y t h a t c h e d wi th p a m p a s g ra s s , p l u m e
g r a s s , a n d r e e d s . I n s ide a h o a r s e - v o i c e d old m a n w a s c h a n t i n g the L o t u s
S u t r a .
S a i g y o a s k e d h im w h o h e w a s .
" I u s e d t o s e r v e E m p e r o r S h i r a k a w a ' s y o u n g e s t d a u g h t e r , " the old
m a n r ep l i ed . " S h e w a s on ly t w e n t y w h e n s h e d ied , a n d af ter t ha t I felt I
w a n t e d no m o r e of t h e w o r l d . I t o o k up a life of re l igion. L o n g i n g to live
w h e r e no o n e w o u l d f ind me , I w a n d e r e d off w i t h o u t a n y goal till I c a m e
h e r e , a n d t h e f lowers w e r e so beau t i fu l t h a t I s t ayed . T h a t w a s m a n y
y e a r s a g o . T h e f lowers o f fall, my favor i tes , l inger in my mind w h e n all
t h e f l ower s a r e g o n e . Y e s , I love t h e f lowers so m u c h tha t I 'd say I have
n o c a r e s !
T e a r s s p r a n g t o S a i g y o ' s eyes . " B u t h o w d o y o u l i v e ? " h e a s k e d .
" O h , I d o n ' t w a s t e m y t ime g o i n g r o u n d t h e vi l lages b e g g i n g . Peop le
b r i n g me food i f t h e y w a n t t o . S o m e t i m e s I go w i t h o u t for d a y s a t a t ime .
I w o u l d n ' t w a n t to m a k e a f i r e h e r e a m o n g t h e f lowers , so y o u c o u l d n ' t
call w h a t I e a t p r o p e r mea l s a t a l l . "
W a s e v e r a m a n ' s h e a r t m o r e w o n d e r f u l l y p u r e ?
M U S I C A N D D A N C E
4 3 .
FOR LOVE OF SONG
On a fest ival d a y a t T e n n o j i a r o u n d 1202, w h e n the t e m p l e ' s f amous
re l ics o f t h e B u d d h a w e r e t o b e b r o u g h t o u t a s u sua l for t he p i lg r ims , t he
d i v i n e p o w e r s r e fused to let t h e d o o r s o f t h e r e l i q u a r y o p e n . A p p a r e n t l y
s o m e o n e i n t h e c r o w d w a s u n c l e a n . T h e p r i e s t s h a d t h e p e o p l e s t ep b a c k
a l i t t le , b u t still t h e d o o r s c o u l d no t be b u d g e d .
" I s a n y o n e h e r e a g o o d s i n g e r o r d a n c e r ? " c r ied an old p r ies t . " I f so ,
n o w ' s t h e t i m e t o s h o w off y o u r a r t ! "
M i d d l e C a p t a i n M o r i m i c h i c a m e f o r w a r d a n d s a n g a kagura song , t h e
k ind s o of ten offered t o t h e g o d s . T h e r e l i q u a r y d o o r s o p e n e d i m m e d i -
a te ly . I t w a s s o l ike t h e t i m e w h e n the S u n G o d d e s s p u s h e d o p e n t h e
d o o r o f h e r H e a v e n l y R o c k C a v e , a n d l ight aga in b u r s t u p o n t h e w o r l d !
4 4 •
THREE ANGELS
T h e ve r sa t i l e M a k o t o , a s o n o f E m p e r o r S a g a a n d t h e M i n i s t e r o f t h e
Left, w a s a n espec ia l ly fine m u s i c i a n . O n t h e long, m e l l o w - s o u n d i n g
z i t he r ca l led t h e koto, no o n e cou ld c o m p a r e w i t h h im . O n e e v e n i n g he
b e c a m e so a b s o r b e d in his p l a y i n g t h a t he w e n t on all n ight , n e v e r even
c lo s ing t h e l a t t i c e w o r k s h u t t e r s t h a t s w u n g u p h o r i z o n t a l l y t o o p e n o n t o
t h e g a r d e n . F ina l ly , n e a r d a w n , he b e g a n a r a r e a n d difficult p i ece . H i s
o w n h e a r t swe l l ed w i t h t h e w o n d e r a n d b e a u t y o f t h e m u s i c . N o t i c i n g a
l ight o v e r o n e of t h e s h u t t e r s he s tole ou t , myst i f ied, for a look . T h r e e
ange l s , e a c h a foot tall , w e r e d a n c i n g on the s h u t t e r a n d the l ight w a s
t he i r s h i n i n g p r e s e n c e . T h e y h a d c o m e d o w n t o h e a r h i m ! H e w a s f i l l e d
w i t h a t e n d e r a w e .
W h a t a love ly t h i n g t o h a v e h a p p e n !
4 5 .
GIVE ME MUSIC!
T h e m o n k R i n ' e l ived i n N a r a i n E m p e r o r Ichi jo 's t ime . T h e g o d w h o
p r o t e c t e d his t e m p l e , Kofukuj i , w a s a t t h e K a s u g a S h r i n e n e a r b y .
O n e day , af ter p r e s i d i n g o v e r a n espec ia l ly so l emn r i te , R i n ' e c a m e t o
t h e s h r i n e a n d m e d i t a t e d a w h i l e . H e r e v i e w e d i n his m i n d a s h e d id s o
t h e full r a n g e of his s a c r e d l e a r n i n g a n d offered i t all to t h e g o d w h o , he
w a s s u r e , cou ld o n l y b e p l e a s e d .
6 2
S u d d e n l y t h e s h r i n e a t t e n d a n t s b e g a n m a k i n g m u s i c for t he g o d w i t h
d r u m s a n d be l l s . R i n ' e f r o w n e d . " T h i s i s all v e r y w e l l , " h e t h o u g h t , " b u t
I c a n ' t h a v e t h e m m a k i n g s u c h a r a c k e t w h i l e I 'm offer ing t he g o d t h e
B u d d h a ' s o w n w i s d o m . I f I e v e r ge t to be a b b o t , I'll see t h a t th is sor t o f
t h i n g d o e s n ' t h a p p e n a g a i n . "
W h e n R i n ' e d i d b e c o m e a b b o t h e s i lenced t h e m u s i c , a n d t h e sh r ine
b e c a m e s o co ld a n d lifeless t h a t p e o p l e w e r e afraid t o c o m e n e a r it. N o
o n e c o m p l a i n e d b e c a u s e R i n ' e w a s s o p o w e r f u l .
H a v i n g r e a c h e d t h e p i n n a c l e of g lo ry in thii life, R in ' e finally b e g a n a
s e v e n - d a y r e t r e a t a t t h e s h r i n e to p r a y , w i t h m a n y a hear t fe l t t ea r , for t he
g o d ' s p r o t e c t i o n o n t h e p a t h t o e n l i g h t e n m e n t i n t h e life t o c o m e . W h e n
t h e g o d g a v e n o a n s w e r i n g s ign , h e s t a y e d o n a n o t h e r seven d a y s .
A t d a w n on t h e last d a y he d o z e d off a m o m e n t a n d s a w a g e n t l e m a n
i n fo rma l c o u r t d r e s s e m e r g e f rom t h e s a n c t u a r y . T e a r s o f g r a t i t u d e
s p r a n g t o R i n ' e s eyes b e c a u s e th i s w a s s u r e l y t h e g o d c o m i n g t o g r a n t
h im h is p r a y e r . B u t w h e n t h e g e n t l e m a n h a d c o m e far e n o u g h d o w n the
s a n c t u a r y s t e p s for R i n ' e t o see his face, h is e x p r e s s i o n t u r n e d ou t t o be
a n a n g r y s c o w l . Af ra id n o w , R i n ' e h u r r i e d l y r e m i n d e d the g o d o f his
b l a m e l e s s life a n d his c o u n t l e s s m e r i t s , a n d he p r o t e s t e d b e w i l d e r m e n t a t
t h i s d i s p l a y o f d i v i n e w r a t h .
F o r s o m e t ime t h e g o d j u s t g l a r ed a t h i m . T h e n h e sa id :
The drums' lively beat resounds in the palace of truth.
In wisdom \i mirror may be seen the lightly shaken bells.
A n d h e v a n i s h e d .
T h e hor r i f i ed R i n ' e r u e d his folly. Before l eav ing , he careful ly o r d e r e d
t h a t t h e d r u m s a n d be l l s s h o u l d n e v e r a g a i n b e s i lenced for a n y r e a s o n
w h a t s o e v e r .
A 6 •
THE WEIGHT OF TRADITION
H a r u t o , a d a n c e r f rom N a r a , b e l o n g e d to a family t h a t h a d spec ia l ized
g e n e r a t i o n a f te r g e n e r a t i o n in p e r f o r m i n g t h e n o b l e d a n c e Genjoraku.
U n f o r t u n a t e l y , he fell ill a n d d i ed be fo re he co u l d t e a c h the d a n c e to his
s u c c e s s o r .
S i n c e i t w a s la te s u m m e r a n d still ho t , his coffin w a s h u n g in a t r e e in
H a h a s o W o o d . T w o o r t h r e e d a y s la te r , a w o o d c u t t e r p a s s i n g t h a t w a y
h e a r d g r o a n s f rom t h e t r e e a n d r e p o r t e d th i s d i s t u r b i n g i n c i d e n t t o t h e
p r i e s t s o f t h e n e a r b y t e m p l e .
F i n d i n g t h a t h e h a d c o m e b a c k t o life, H a r u t o ' s family t o o k h im h o m e
a n d l o o k e d a f te r h i m . T h i s i s w h a t h e to ld t h e m w h e n h e r e g a i n e d his
s e n s e s .
" I w e n t t o K i n g E m m a ' s p a l a c e i n hell , a n d w h i l e I w a s b e i n g j u d g e d
o n e o f t h e k i n g ' s officials o b s e r v e d , ' T h e d a n c e r H a r u t o , f rom J a p a n , h a s
b e e n ca l led h e r e be fo re he c o u l d p a s s on Genjdraku. T h a t m e a n s t h a t t h e
d a n c e will n o w d ie o u t i n h i s c o u n t r y . W e s h o u l d s e n d h im b a c k a n d call
h im in a g a i n w h e n h e ' s b e e n a b l e t o t e a c h i t t o his s u c c e s s o r . ' T h e o t h e r
officials a g r e e d , a n d I r ea l i zed I w a s to be s e n t h o m e . T h e n I c a m e t o . "
O n c e H a r u t o h a d t a u g h t t h e d a n c e t o his s u c c e s s o r , S u e t a k a , h e d i e d
a g a i n .
T h e f o u n d e r o f H a r u t o ' s l ine o r ig ina l ly go t t h e m a s k for Genjdraku
d i r ec t ly f rom h e a v e n . T h e m a s k ' s n a m e i s I b u r i , a n d t h e y say i t ' s n o w
o n e o f t h e t r e a s u r e s o f N a r a . I b u r i t oo , l ike t h e d a n c e itself, i s p a s s e d on
f rom g e n e r a t i o n t o g e n e r a t i o n . H o w w o n d e r f u l t h a t H a r u t o ' s t r a d i t i o n
s h o u l d a l so be p r i z e d a t K i n g E m m a ' s roya l p a l a c e i n hel l !
4 7 •
THE GOD OF GOOD FORTUNE
The b i w a u the East Asian coiuiin of the lute.
L o r d T a d a z a n e w a n t e d s o d e s p e r a t e l y t o b e a p p o i n t e d r e g e n t t h a t h e s en t
for a m o n k , a w o n d e r - w o r k e r , to do t h e D a k i n i r i te , h o p i n g its m a g i c
w o u l d ge t h i m t h e p r i z e . H e to ld t h e m o n k h e n e e d e d r e su l t s b y a c e r t a i n
d a t e .
" D o n ' t w o r r y , Y o u r E x c e l l e n c y , " r ep l i ed t h e m o n k , " t h e r i te h a s n e v e r
failed me y e t . I'll h a v e r e su l t s for y o u w i t h i n s even d a y s , a n d i f I d o n ' t
I'll go on a n o t h e r s e v e n . I f i t h a s n ' t w o r k e d by t h e n , Y o u r E x c e l l e n c y ,
y o u c a n s e n d m e s t r a i g h t i n to e x i l e . "
L o r d T a d a z a n e p r o v i d e d all t h e of fer ings a n d o t h e r necess i t i es , a n d
t h e m o n k b e g a n . Af te r s e v e n d a y s n o t h i n g h a d h a p p e n e d , a n d h e let t h e
m o n k k n o w h e w a s w o r r i e d .
6 4
" S e n d s o m e o n e t o o b s e r v e t h e r i te , Y o u r E x c e l l e n c y ! " t h e m o n k a n -
s w e r e d . " I t h i n k y o u r m a n will f ind t h e r e ' s g o o d r e a s o n t o b e op t imi s t i c . "
L o r d T a d a z a n e ' s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s a w a fox, c o m p l e t e l y una f ra id o f t he
p e o p l e p r e s e n t , c o m e a n d ea t all t h e of fe r ings . S ince t h e D a k i n i r i te
i n v o l v e d fox m a g i c , t h i s w a s i n d e e d a hopefu l s ign .
T h e m o n k s t a r t e d a n o t h e r s e v e n - d a y p e r i o d , a s h e h a d p r o m i s e d t o d o .
On t h e c l o s i n g d a y T a d a z a n e d o z e d off for a m o m e n t a n d s a w a w o m a n
w a l k b y h i m w i t h t h r e e feet o f h e r magn i f i cen t ly l o n g ha i r t ra i l ing b e h i n d
h e r a l o n g t h e f l o o r . S h e w a s s o beau t i fu l t h a t w i t h o u t t h i n k i n g h e r e a c h e d
o u t a n d g r a b b e d h e r ha i r .
" D o n ' t d o t h a t ! " s h e c r ied , t u r n i n g b a c k t o look a t h im . " W h a t d o y o u
w a n t w i t h m e ? " H e r face a n d vo ice m i g h t j u s t a s wel l h a v e b e e n a n
a n g e l ' s , a n d t h e e n t h r a l l e d T a d a z a n e on ly he ld o n h a r d e r . W i t h a s h a r p
t o s s o f h e r h e a d s h e f reed he r se l f a n d p a s s e d o n . T a d a z a n e w a s horr i f ied
t o find t h a t h e still h a d h e r ha i r . T h e n h e w o k e u p . H i s h a n d w a s g r i p p i n g
a fox ' s ta i l .
A s t o n i s h e d , h e ca l led t h e m o n k a n d d e s c r i b e d w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d .
" I t o l d y o u , Y o u r E x c e l l e n c y , I t o ld y o u ! " t h e m o n k b u r b l e d . " O h , I
n e v e r d o u b t e d t h e r i t e w o u l d w o r k , b u t I m u s t say , i n all my y e a r s o f
e x p e r i e n c e i t ' s n e v e r w o r k e d q u i t e l ike t h i s ! You ' l l h a v e w h a t y o u w a n t
a t m i d d a y t o m o r r o w . P e r h a p s y o u w o n ' t h a v e t o exile m e af ter a l l ! "
T a d a z a n e lost no t i m e in m a k i n g h im t h e h a n d s o m e p r e s e n t o f a w o m a n ' s
r o b e .
T h e n e x t d a y a t n o o n L o r d T a d a z a n e ' s a p p o i n t m e n t w a s a n n o u n c e d .
He m a d e i t h i s f i r s t official ac t a s r e g e n t to n a m e the m o n k to a d is t in-
g u i s h e d ecc les ias t i ca l p o s t . As for t h e fox 's tail, he careful ly p u t i t a w a y .
T h e n h e se t a b o u t l e a r n i n g t h e D a k i n i r i te h imse l f a n d p e r f o r m e d i t
w h e n e v e r he h a d a spec ia l w i s h . T h e y s a y i t w o r k e d beaut i fu l ly for h im .
E v e n t u a l l y T a d a z a n e e n s h r i n e d t h e tail in a hall on M o u n t Hie i , o n e
a l r e a d y d e d i c a t e d to a h e a l i n g sp i r i t . B u t for o n e r e a s o n o r a n o t h e r
( p e r h a p s b e c a u s e th i s s h a r i n g of t h e hal l w a s no t a g o o d idea ) a special
s h r i n e w a s e v e n t u a l l y bu i l t for t h e tail d o w n i n t h e ci ty. T h e g o d w a s
g i v e n t h e n a m e F u k u t e n j i n , o r Celes t ia l G o d o f G o o d F o r t u n e . T h e
s h r i n e i s still t h e r e .
T h e m o s t c u r i o u s o f F u k u t e n j i n s m a n y w o n d e r s o c c u r r e d in 1229. I t
i n v o l v e d a m a n k n o w n as S a e m o n no J o , t h e son of a f o r m e r official in
E c h i z e n p r o v i n c e .
O n e e v e n i n g a t t w i l i g h t S a e m o n n o J o h a d jus t left his m a s t e r ' s res i -
d e n c e w h e n a t a n e a r b y c r o s s r o a d s h e s t o p p e d a n d exc l a imed , " O h , w h a t
beau t i fu l koto m u s i c ! " T h e n h e j u s t s t o o d t h e r e l i s t en ing . T h e m a n w i t h
h i m sa id h e h e a r d n o t h i n g . " W h a t a p i t y ! " sa id S a e m o n n o J o , r o o t e d t o
t h e s p o t i n f a sc ina t i on .
A s s o o n a s S a e m o n n o J o go t h o m e , s o m e t h i n g w e n t v e r y w r o n g i n his
ches t , a n d h e b e c a m e t e r r i b l y ill. H e a lso w e n t c o m p l e t e l y m a d a n d t r i ed
to r u s h off w e s t w a r d . I t t o o k s ix s t r o n g m e n to s t o p h im . T h e n he l eap t
h igh in t h e a i r , c a m e d o w n h e a d first, a n d hit t h e f loor so h a r d w i t h h i s
s h o u l d e r s t h a t i t l o o k e d a s t h o u g h h e w o u l d d a s h h imse l f t o p i eces .
A g e n t l e m a n n a m e d T a k a t o k i w a s t h e n r e n t i n g p a r t o f a m a n s i o n jus t
eas t o f t h e s ick m a n ' s h o u s e . W h e n S a e m o n n o J o n o w p o i n t e d i n t h a t
d i r e c t i o n a n d a g a i n s t r a i n e d t o r u s h off, his f a the r d e m a n d e d t o k n o w
w h e r e h e w a n t e d t o g o . " I s i t T a k a t o k i y o u w a n t t o s e e ? " h e a s k e d . T h e
s ick m a n n o d d e d y e s . " T h e n w h y no t ju s t let m e call h im o v e r ? " T h e s ick
m a n l o o k e d p l e a s e d a n d a g a i n n o d d e d y e s .
T h e f a the r w e n t o v e r t o T a k a t o k i ' s p l ace , e x p l a i n e d t h e s t r a n g e s i tua -
t ion t o h i m , a n d b r o u g h t h i m b a c k . A s s o o n a s t h e s ick m a n s a w T a k a -
tok i , he left off r a v i n g . V e r y q u i e t n o w , he p i c k e d up a formal ha t , p u t i t
o n ( h e w a n t e d t o b e p r o p e r l y d r e s s e d ) , a n d b o w e d d e e p l y t o T a k a t o k i .
N e x t , h e g l a r e d mean ing fu l ly a t t h e ha l f -dozen m e n w h o w e r e s t a t i o n e d
a r o u n d h i m . T h e y t o o k t h e h in t a n d w i t h d r e w . T h e f a the r m a d e h imse l f
a s i n c o n s p i c u o u s a s he c o u l d in a c o r n e r , b u t w h e n t h e s ick m a n g l a r e d
a t h i m i n t h e s a m e w a y , h e left t o o . T h e s ick m a n a n d T a k a t o k i w e r e
a l o n e t o g e t h e r .
T h e s ick m a n l o o k e d pe r f ec t ly h a p p y a n d w e n t o n b o w i n g t o T a k a t o k i .
" W e l l ? " sa id T a k a t o k i . " W h a t i s th i s all a b o u t ? "
T h e s ick m a n b o w e d e v e n m o r e d e e p l y t h a n be fore . " Y o u ' r e a ne igh -
b o r , y o u see , a n d I s o m u c h w a n t e d y o u r c o m p a n y ! "
" S o h e r e I a m . Tel l me f r ank ly w h a t I c a n do for y o u . "
" I intuit h e a r y o u s ing , a n d p l a y t h e koto a n d biwa."
" W h y , o f c o u r s e , I'll be h a p p y to m a k e mus i c for y o u a s l ong a s it'll
c h e e r y o u u p ! "
T a k a t o k i h a d a biwa b r o u g h t o v e r a n d b e g a n to p lay . T h e s ick m a n
n o d d e d o n a n d o n a s h e l i s t ened , a n d r o c k e d from s ide t o s ide . H e l o o k e d
a s blissful a s w h e n h e h a d s t o o d l i s t en ing t o t h e mus i c a t t h e c r o s s r o a d s .
T a k a t o k i w e n t o n t o s i n g all s o r t s o f s o n g s a s t h e s ick m a n r e q u e s t e d
t h e m , a n d t h e s ick m a n w a s i n e c s t a s y .
" W e l l , n o w I 've p l a y e d o r s u n g for y o u p rac t i ca l ly e v e r y t h i n g I k n o w , "
T a k a t o k i finally d e c l a r e d . " D o n ' t he s i t a t e t o tell m e w h e n y o u ' d l ike t o
h e a r m e a g a i n , b e c a u s e I'll h a p p i l y ob l ige . T h e r e ' s n o n e e d t o c a r r y o n
t h e w a y y o u d i d . N e x t t ime , ju s t a s k q u i e t l y ! "
T h e s ick m a n s t a r t e d b o w i n g a g a i n . " O h , I w o u l d n ' t p r e s u m e t o a s k
y o u o v e r a g a i n till I 'm b e t t e r ! " he p r o t e s t e d .
" F i n e . T h e n I'll be g o i n g . B u t first I 'd l ike to see y o u ea t s o m e t h i n g . "
W h e n t h e s ick m a n a g r e e d , T a k a t o k i h a d h im b r o u g h t s o m e r ice a n d
d r i e d a b a l o n e . T h e s ick m a n g o b b l e d up the r ice w i t h a g r e a t c l i ck ing o f
6 6
teeth, then scraped the abalone into a pile which he swallowed easily in
a couple of mouthfuls. His manners were not exactly normal. Next,
Takatoki offered him wine. Normally Saemon no Jo barely drank at all,
but now he downed two large cupfuls in quick succession, then disposed
willingly of a third.
"All right, I'll be going now!" Takatoki announced. "Good-bye!"
Near dawn the sick man's father came for Takatoki again. "He went
back to raving once you were gone," he explained. "Could you possibly
come?" Takatoki arrived to find the sick man in a terrifying frenzy.
"All right," he said firmly, "what's this act you're putting on? I did
everything you asked, and I played you all my music. You should have
been fine then. What do you mean by carrying on like this instead?"
"Well, you see," the sick man replied, "you didn't do everything I
wanted! There's that wonderful te style on the biwa, and I wanted to hear
that, too!"
"Fine! Why didn't you tell me in the first place?" Takatoki played a
couple of pieces like that and the sick man listened attentively, nodding
as usual.
"All right, you've played the biwa for me," he said. "How about some
koto now?"
"Certainly, if that's what you want." Takatoki played a couple of
pieces while the sick man listened again in rapture.
Finally day came and sunlight streamed in through a hole in the wall.
When a dog's nose suddenly appeared in the hole, sniffing vigorously,
the sick man straightened up, paled, and showed every sign of terror.
His father and Takatoki realized that the dog must have smelled a fox,
and it dawned on them that the cause of all the trouble was Fukutenjin.
They chased the dog away.
"Well, I'm sure you feel fine now," said Takatoki, speaking quite
consciously to the god. "I think I'll be going. Thank you very much for
having had me to play for you! I promise you music at your shrine, too."
Saemon no Jo lay unconscious till late afternoon while Takatoki, very
upset over what had happened, took his two sisters to the Fukutenjin
Shrine and went on playing the koto and biwa with them, for the pleasure
of the god.
E
4 8 •
M A G I C
4 9 •
BRING BACK THAT FERRY!
A little c r o w d of p e o p l e w a i t i n g for t h e fe r ry a t K o r a k i in E c h i z e n p r o v -
ince w e r e j o ined by a m o u n t a i n a sce t i c n a m e d K e i t o b o — a fellow w h o
h a d d o n e t h e p i l g r i m a g e s t o G o l d e n P e a k , t o K u m a n o , a n d t o e v e r y o t h e r
s a c r e d m o u n t a i n o f a n y i m p o r t a n c e in t h e l and .
W h e n the fe r ry a r r i v e d , t h e p e o p l e pa id t he i r fare a n d w e n t a b o a r d ,
bu t K e i t o b o d e m a n d e d t o b e t a k e n a c r o s s free. T h e f e r r y m a n re fused a n d
cas t off. " H o w c a n y o u d o th i s t o m e ? " K e i t o b o s h o u t e d , b u t t h e ferry-
m a n i g n o r e d h im a n d r o w e d a w a y .
DIVINE APPLAUSE
T h r e e m a s t e r d a n c e r s n a m e d N o r i t a k a , M a s a s u k e , a n d T o k i s u k e a c c o m -
p a n i e d t h e n e w g o v e r n o r o f B i t chu w h e n h e w e n t d o w n t o his p r o v i n c e t o
sa lu te its g o d s . T h e y d a n c e d t h e t r ad i t i ona l offer ing d a n c e s a t each s h r i n e .
W h e n N o r i t a k a p e r f o r m e d Rydd ( a l w a y s a favor i t e ) a t t h e Kib i t su
S h r i n e , t h e s a n c t u a r y c r e a k e d a n d s h o o k . T h e c r o w d w a s a m a z e d . M a -
s a s u k e a n d T o k i s u k e w e r e e q u a l l y s t a r t l ed , b u t g lad , too , t h a t t he g o d
w a s s o p l e a s e d . T h e n t h e g o d t h r e w o p e n t h e s a n c t u a r y d o o r s , t h o u g h o f
c o u r s e h e still cou ld no t b e seen , a n d t h e c r o w d w a s t r a n s p o r t e d w i t h j o y
a n d a w e .
S o o n i t w o u l d b e M a s a s u k e a n d T o k i s u k e ' s t u r n t o d a n c e . H o w e m -
b a r r a s s e d t h e y w o u l d be i f t h e g o d g a v e them no s u c h s ign! Bo th t u r n e d
t o w a r d t h e s a n c t u a r y a n d p r a y e d , i n t e a r s , t h a t t he i r a r t s h o u l d b e jus t a s
en joyab l e .
W h e n t h e t i m e c a m e , t h e y b e g a n Raktuon. In a m o m e n t t he s a n c t u a r y
w a s s h a k i n g s o v io len t ly t h a t i t w a s q u i t e a l a r m i n g !
6 8
K e i t o b o c l e n c h e d his t e e t h a n d b e g a n r u b b i n g the b e a d s o f his r o sa ry
i n t e n t l y t o g e t h e r , m a k i n g a b u z z i n g s o u n d . H e w a s cas t ing spells , a s
a n y o n e c o u l d tell . T h e f e r r y m a n g l a n c e d b a c k a t h im from a few h u n d r e d
y a r d s o f f shore , s h o w i n g p la in ly e n o u g h b y his look t h a t h e t h o u g h t Kei-
t o b o a p a t h e t i c fool.
K e i t o b o s t a r e d a f te r h im a n d s t a m p e d his feet in to t he s a n d ha l fway
u p his s h i n s . T h e n , g l a r i n g r e d - e y e d a t t h e fe r ry a n d a lmos t d e m o l i s h i n g
h i s r o s a r y w i t h t h e fury o f his r u b b i n g , he b e g a n to shou t , " B r i n g i t b a c k !
B r i n g i t b a c k ! "
T h e b o a t k e p t g o i n g . K e i t o b o s t r o d e t o t h e w a t e r ' s e d g e . " G u a r d i a n
s p i r i t , " h e t h u n d e r e d , " b r i n g t h a t fe r ry b a c k ! I 'm t h r o u g h w i t h t he B u d -
d h a f o r e v e r i f y o u d o n ' t ! " N e x t , h e t h r e a t e n e d t o t h r o w his pr ies t ly s tole
i n to t h e sea . T h e b y s t a n d e r s t u r n e d pa le w h e n t h e y s a w w h a t h e w a s
d o i n g .
T h e b o a t b e g a n g l i d ing b a c k t o w a r d t h e s h o r e even t h o u g h t h e r e w a s
n o w i n d . " T h a t ' s it, t h a t ' s i t ! " K e i t o b o r o a r e d . " H u r r y , h u r r y , b r i n g i t
i n ! " T h e o n l o o k e r s t u r n e d p a l e r still.
" F i n e ! " h e b e l l o w e d w h e n t h e ferry w a s less t h a n a h u n d r e d y a r d s
o f f sho re . " N o w , roll i t ove r , c a p s i z e i t ! "
T h i s t i m e t h e o n l o o k e r s c r i ed o u t in p r o t e s t . " W h a t a ho r r ib l e t h i n g to
w i s h ! Y o u b r u t e ! W h y c a n ' t y o u leave t h e m a l o n e ! "
K e i t o b o o n l y r o s e to a still h i g h e r p i tch of feroci ty. " T u r n tha t ferry
o v e r / M » ' ! " h e t h u n d e r e d . T h e r e w a s a h u g e sp la sh a s t he ferry caps ized
a n d t h e t w o d o z e n p a s s e n g e r s w e r e p i t c h e d in to t h e sea .
K e i t o b o w i p e d t h e s w e a t f rom his b r o w . " T h e i d i o t s ! " h e m u t t e r e d .
" W h e n will t h e y e v e r l e a r n ? " A n d h e s t a lked off.
5 o .
THE MAN-MADE FRIEND
S a i g y o , t h e p o e t a n d w a n d e r i n g m o n k , w a s l iving o n M o u n t K o y a w h e n
he r a n in to an a c q u a i n t a n c e o f his , a fellow re l ig ious w a n d e r e r w h o w a s
s t a y i n g on t h e m o u n t a i n t o o . T h e y me t on a b r i d g e a n d p a u s e d t h e r e t o
c h a t a n d a d m i r e t h e b r i l l i ance o f t h e m o o n . S a i g y o ' s fr iend r e m a r k e d tha t
he w a s off to t h e C a p i t a l .
S a i g y o w a s s a d t o lose th i s c o m p a n i o n a n d found himsel f l ong ing for
s o m e o n e else t o s h a r e his p l e a s u r e i n m o o n l i g h t a n d f lowers . T h e n he
h e a r d a m a n w h o s e k n o w l e d g e he r e s p e c t e d d e s c r i b e h o w a d e m o n can
col lect h u m a n b o n e s a n d m a k e t h e m in to a h u m a n be ing .
H e w e n t s t r a i g h t t o a w i ld m o o r w h e r e p e o p l e left t h e d e a d , p u t b o n e s
t o g e t h e r , a n d m a d e a m a n himself. At least , i t l o o k e d l ike a m a n , b u t i t
h a d p o o r co lo r a n d no h e a r t o r s p a r k o f life. I ts vo ice ( for i t h a d o n e )
s o u n d e d like a mus i ca l i n s t r u m e n t . I t is t h e h e a r t w h i c h is essent ia l in
m a n , h o w e v e r p l e a s i n g t h e vo ice m a y b e . H a v i n g n o t h i n g m o r e t h a n a
vo ice , t h e t h i n g he h a d m a d e w a s l ike a d a m a g e d f lute.
Still , i t w a s a s t o n i s h i n g t h a t h e h a d c o m e s o close, a n d h e h a r d l y k n e w
w h a t t o d o w i t h his c r e a t i o n . H e c o n s i d e r e d b r e a k i n g i t u p aga in , b u t
t h a t m i g h t b e m u r d e r . O f c o u r s e i t h a d n o c o n s c i o u s n e s s , a n d i n t h a t
s ense w a s jus t l ike a p l a n t . Y e t i t d id look h u m a n . He left i t in a d e s e r t e d
spo t . N o d o u b t a n y o n e w h o found i t w o u l d b e f r igh tened a n d t h i n k i t
s o m e so r t of a p p a r i t i o n .
P e r p l e x e d as he w a s , S a i g y o set off for t h e Cap i t a l too , to see L o r d
T o k u d a i j i , f rom w h o m h e h a d l e a r n e d m a n y t h i n g s i n t h e pas t . U n f o r t u -
na te ly , L o r d T o k u d a i j i w a s a w a y a t t h e p a l a c e . Sa igyo d e c i d e d t o visi t
L o r d M o r o n a k a i n s t e a d .
H e e x p l a i n e d h o w his e x p e r i m e n t h a d t u r n e d out , a n d L o r d M o r o n a k a
a s k e d h im e x a c t l y w h a t h e h a d d o n e .
" I w e n t i n to t h e w i l d s w h e r e n o o n e cou ld see m e , " S a i g y o e x p l a i n e d ,
" a n d p u t h u m a n b o n e s t o g e t h e r to m a k e a c o m p l e t e ske l e ton . T h e n I
p a i n t e d t h e b o n e s w i t h a r s e n i c , a n d c r u m b l e d s n a k e - s t r a w b e r r y a n d
c h i c k w e e d l eaves o v e r t h e m . N e x t I t ied t he b o n e s t o g e t h e r w i t h t h r e a d
a n d v ines , a n d w a s h e d t h e m i n m a n y w a t e r s . O n t h e skul l , w h e r e t he
ha i r w o u l d be g r o w i n g , I r u b b e d a s h e s from the leaves of saikai a n d rose
of S h a r o n . F ina l ly I s p r e a d a m a t on t h e g r o u n d , laid t he b o n e s on it, a n d
w r a p p e d t h e m s e c u r e l y s o t h e w i n d c o u l d n ' t ge t a t t h e m . F o u r t e e n d a y s
la te r I c a m e b a c k . I b u r n e d m u s k a n d r e g u l a r i ncense a n d d id t h e S e c r e t
Ri te of t h e S o u l ' s R e c a l l . "
" T h a t w a s a b o u t r i g h t , " sa id M o r o n a k a , " b u t y o u d id t he Ri te o f t h e
Sou l ' s Recal l a bi t s o o n . F o r myself, i t h a p p e n s tha t I 've m a d e p e o p l e by
t h e Shi jo ma jo r c o u n s e l o r ' s m e t h o d , b u t I 'm afraid I c an ' t tell y o u the
m e t h o d b e c a u s e i f I d id , t h e p e o p l e a n d o t h e r t h i n g s I 've m a d e w o u l d all
v a n i s h . Y o u do k n o w a g o o d dea l , t h o u g h , so I'll he lp y o u . F o r o n e t h i n g ,
d o n ' t b u r n i n c e n s e . I t ' s ange l i c b e i n g s , y o u see, no t devi l i sh o n e s w h o a r e
a t t r a c t e d to i n c e n s e . A n d s ince ange l i c b e i n g s h a v e a d e e p h o r r o r o f t h e
r o u n d o f b i r t h a n d d e a t h , y o u a r e n ' t g o i n g t o ge t a n y l i fe-spark in to y o u r
c r e a t u r e t h a t w a y . Y o u ' d d o b e t t e r t o b u r n m u s k a n d mi lk . A n d t h e n ,
a n y o n e w h o d o e s t h e S e c r e t R i te o f t h e S o u l ' s Recal l s h o u l d h a v e fasted
7 0
5 i .
THE LAUGHING FIT
W h e n T a k a s h i n a S h u m p e i w a s s en t d o w n o n a n official a s s i g n m e n t t o
K y u s h u , h i s y o u n g e r b r o t h e r , w h o h a d n o g o v e r n m e n t pos t , w e n t w i t h
h i m . S h u m p e i ' s b r o t h e r s o o n m e t a n e w l y a r r i v e d C h i n e s e m a s t e r o f dan
m a g i c . T h e m e t h o d i nvo lved m a n i p u l a t i n g t h e h e x a g r a m s of t h e Book o f
Changed by m e a n s o f s ix w o o d e n s t i cks a b o u t t h r e e i n ch es l ong a n d s q u a r e
in s ec t i on . T h e s e w e r e ca l led dan.
S h u m p e i ' s b r o t h e r w a n t e d to l e a rn dan m a g i c t o o . A t first t he C h i n e s e
r e fused to t e a c h h i m , b u t r ea l i zed w h e n he t r i ed h im ou t a little t ha t he
a c t u a l l y h a d a r e m a r k a b l e t a l en t . " T h e r e ' s no po in t i n y o u r s t ay ing he re ,
t h o u g h , " t h e C h i n e s e w a r n e d . " J a p a n i s h o p e l e s s for w o r k i n g the dan.
I'll t e a c h y o u i f y o u 11 c o m e b a c k w i t h me to C h i n a . "
S h u m p e i ' s b r o t h e r a g r e e d r igh t a w a y , p r o m i s i n g t h a t h e w o u l d happ i l y
d o a n y t h i n g t o m a s t e r t h e a r t . "I ' l l b e g lad t o g o t o C h i n a w i t h y o u a s
l o n g a s I c a n s e r v e y o u , " h e a s s u r e d t h e m a n . S o t h e C h i n e s e b e g a n
g i v i n g h i m l e s s o n s .
H e l e a r n e d w i t h a m a z i n g s p e e d , w h i c h p l eased his t e a c h e r g rea t ly .
" T h e r e a r e m a n y dan m a s t e r s i n my c o u n t r y , " he sa id , " b u t n o n e o f t h e m
u n d e r s t a n d t h e dan t h e w a y y o u d o . Y e s , y o u mudt c o m e b a c k w i t h m e t o
C h i n a ! "
" O f c o u r s e I w i l l , " h is s t u d e n t a n s w e r e d . " A n y t h i n g y o u s a y . "
" I n t h e a r t o f t h e dan, " t h e C h i n e s e c o n t i n u e d , " t h e r e a r e m e t h o d s for
h e a l i n g t h e s ick , a s t h e r e a r e a lso m e t h o d s for k i l l ing ins t an t ly a n y o n e
y o u m a y h a v e c a u s e to d i s l ike . I'll g ive y o u full k n o w l e d g e o f t h e m all.
O n l y jwear t h a t y o u ' l l c o m e b a c k t o m y c o u n t r y w i t h m e . "
S h u m p e i ' s b r o t h e r s w o r e , b u t no t q u i t e w h o l e h e a r t e d l y . T h i s d id not
e s c a p e t h e C h i n e s e , w h o t a u g h t h im m a n y t h i n g s b u t w i t h h e l d t he t ech-
n i q u e for k i l l ing . "I ' l l t e a c h y o u h o w t o kill p e o p l e w h e n w e ' r e o n t h e
b o a t , " h e sa id .
for s e v e n d a y s . I f y o u fol low t h o s e d i r ec t i ons , I g u a r a n t e e it'll w o r k .
Y o u ' l l s e e . "
B u t S a i g y o t h o u g h t b e t t e r o f t h e w h o l e t h i n g a n d d e c i d e d t o g o n o
f u r t h e r .
O n e d a y T a k a s h i n a S h u m p e i h a d t o l eave for t h e Cap i t a l o n u r g e n t
b u s i n e s s , a n d his b r o t h e r p r e p a r e d t o g o w i t h h im . T h e C h i n e s e p r o -
t e s t ed , b u t S h u m p e i ' s b r o t h e r r e fused t o s t ay b e h i n d . " T h e i d e a ! " h e
e x c l a i m e d . " I c an ' t j u s t let h im go by himself! B u t I'll k e e p my p r o m i s e ,
d o n ' t w o r r y ! "
"All r i g h t , " a g r e e d t h e C h i n e s e , " b u t c o m e b a c k ! I 've b e e n p l a n n i n g t o
leave for C h i n a a n y d a y n o w . W e ' l l g o t o g e t h e r w h e n y o u r e t u r n . "
W i t h th is u n d e r s t a n d i n g c o n c l u d e d , S h u m p e i ' s b r o t h e r left for K y o t o .
H e w a s t h i n k i n g h e m i g h t rea l ly g o t o C h i n a af ter all, b u t h is r e l a t i ons ,
a s o n e m i g h t wel l i m a g i n e , p e r s u a d e d h im to s t ay on in t h e C a p i t a l
i n s t e a d . T h e n S h u m p e i h imse l f go t w i n d o f his b r o t h e r ' s p l a n s a n d p u t a
s t o p t o t h e w h o l e idea . H i s b r o t h e r n e v e r w e n t b a c k t o K y u s h u .
T h e C h i n e s e w a i t e d , a n d w h e n h e h e a r d n o t h i n g from his s t u d e n t
b e g a n t o s e n d h i m a c c u s i n g m e s s a g e s . All h e go t b a c k w e r e e x c u s e s a b o u t
" m y a g e d p a r e n t s , " a n d a b o u t w a n t i n g t o see t h e m t h r o u g h t o t h e e n d o f
t he i r l ives be fo re u n d e r t a k i n g so l o n g a j o u r n e y . T h e C h i n e s e r ea l i zed
t h a t h is s t u d e n t h a d n e v e r m e a n t t o k e e p his p r o m i s e , a n d h e sa i led t o
C h i n a a l o n e .
Bu t be fo re he left he laid a t h o r o u g h c u r s e on t h e m i s c r e a n t . S h u m p e i ' s
b r o t h e r h a d a l w a y s b e e n h igh ly in te l l igent b u t n o w , u n d e r t h e in f luence
o f t h e c u r s e , h e g r e w v a g u e , forgetful , a n d s t u p i d . I n t h e e n d h e c o u l d
on ly m a k e h imse l f i n to a s o r t o f m o n k a t a m o u n t a i n t e m p l e , a n d he s p e n t
h is life t r u d g i n g b a c k a n d for th b e t w e e n th i s t e m p l e a n d S h u m p e i ' s res i -
d e n c e . He h a d b e c o m e a use le s s fool.
H e w a s o n c e a t S h u m p e i ' s h o u s e o n t h e n igh t o f t he m o n t h l y K o s h i n
vigil , w h e n e v e r y o n e h a s t o s t ay a w a k e till d a w n on p a i n o f suf fe r ing
s o m e c a l a m i t y . T h e y o u n g w o m e n o f t h e h o u s e h o l d h a d g a t h e r e d t o w h i l e
a w a y t h e n i g h t t o g e t h e r , a n d i n t h e smal l h o u r s , w h e n t h e y w e r e b e g i n -
n i n g to feel awfu l ly s l eepy , t h e y n o t i c e d t h e i r m a s t e r ' s b r o t h e r o v e r in a
c o r n e r , l o o k i n g as w i t l e s s as eve r . " H o w a b o u t hini\" c r i ed a p a r t i c u l a r l y
h i g h - s p i r i t e d l a d y . " M a y b e he k n o w s a g o o d s to ry o r t w o ! C o m e , s i r , "
s h e ca l led to h im, "tel l u s a s t o r y a n d m a k e us l a u g h ! L a u g h i n g will k e e p
u s a w a k e ! "
" I c a n ' t t a lk v e r y w e l l , " t h e p o o r fool a n s w e r e d , " a n d I d o n ' t k n o w a n y
funny s to r i e s . B u t i f y o u j u s t w a n t to l augh , y e s , I can m a k e y o u l a u g h , I
c e r t a i n l y c a n ! "
" Y o u w o n ' t tell u s a s t o r y b u t y o u ' l l m a k e u s l augh a n y w a y ? W h a t a r e
y o u g o i n g t o d o ? D a n c e , p e r h a p s ? O h , tha t ' l l b e even b e t t e r t h a n a
s t o r y ! " T h e l a d y l a u g h e d a t t h e v e r y t h o u g h t .
" N o , n o , I 'm jus t g o i n g t o m a k e y o u l a u g h . "
" W e l l , how? C o m e t h e n , s h o w u s ! "
7 2
T h e w o m e n w a t c h e d e a g e r l y a s S h u m p e i ' s b r o t h e r m o v e d u p t o t h e
l a m p , u n t i e d t h e b a g t h a t he ld his <tan, a n d e m p t i e d t h e s t i cks on t h e floor.
" W h a t ' s f u n n y a b o u t t h o s e t h i n g s ? " t h e w o m e n c o m p l a i n e d . " W h y ,
n o t h i n g a t a l l ! C o m e , c o m e , w e w a n t t o l a u g h ! "
S h u m p e i ' s b r o t h e r i g n o r e d t h e m . I n s t e a d , h e b e g a n m a k i n g passes
w i t h t h e s t i cks a n d a r r a n g i n g t h e m i n p a t t e r n s .
W h e n h e w a s f in ished, h e h a d o n e left ove r , a n d h e he ld i t u p before
t h e m . " N o w , l a d i e s , " h e said, " y o u ' r e g o i n g t o l a u g h , a n d let 's h o p e i t
d o e s n ' t h u r t t o o b a d l y . Y e s i n d e e d , y o u ' r e g o i n g t o l a u g h ! "
" H o w s t u p i d c a n y o u b e ? " t h e w o m e n m u t t e r e d . " H o w co u l d l a u g h i n g
h u r t ? "
S h u m p e i ' s b r o t h e r a d d e d t h e last s t ick to t h e p a t t e r n . A s p a s m o f m i r t h
a b r u p t l y se i zed all t h e w o m e n . T h e y l a u g h e d a n d l a u g h e d a n d s imply
c o u l d no t s t o p . T e a r s p o u r e d f rom t h e i r eyes , t h e i r s ides felt a s t h o u g h
t h e y w e r e l i te ra l ly sp l i t t ing , a n d t h e y t h o u g h t t h e y w e r e g o i n g t o d ie .
U n a b l e e v e n t o s p e a k , t h e y w r u n g t h e i r h a n d s be fo re t h e t o r m e n t o r w h o
j u s t n o w h a d b e e n t h e i r v ic t im, b e g g i n g h im t o des i s t .
" I t o ld y o u ! " h e sa id . " H a v e y o u h a d e n o u g h ? "
T h e y n o d d e d f rant ical ly , ro l l ing a r o u n d t h e f l o o r a n d l a u g h i n g hi lar -
ious ly e v e n a s t h e y p l e a d e d . W h e n h e t h o u g h t t h e y h a d suffered e n o u g h ,
h e b r o k e u p t h e p a t t e r n . T h e r e w a s a s u d d e n , d a z e d s i lence . " I ' d h a v e
b e e n d e a d i f t h a t h a d g o n e o n m u c h l o n g e r , " o n e w o m a n finally g a s p e d .
" I ' v e n e v e r h a d s u c h a n awfu l e x p e r i e n c e i n m y l i fe !" T h e y w e r e all ly ing
in a h e a p , p r a c t i c a l l y ill w i t h e x h a u s t i o n .
P e o p l e sa id i t w a s a g o o d t h i n g t h a t S h u m p e i ' s b r o t h e r h a d n e v e r b e e n
t a u g h t h o w to kill p e o p l e w i t h t h e san. I f he h a d , s o m e t h i n g really awful
m i g h t h a v e h a p p e n e d .
5 2 .
SMALL-TIME MAGIC
L o n g a g o E m p e r o r Y o z e i s en t M i c h i n o r i , a n imper i a l g u a r d , d o w n t o t he
eas t t o co l lec t t a x r e v e n u e s . O n t h e w a y M i c h i n o r i s t o p p e d off i n S h i n a n o
p r o v i n c e a t t h e h o u s e o f a c o u n t y m a g i s t r a t e , w h o e n t e r t a i n e d h im v e r y
civi l ly b e f o r e r e t i r i n g w i t h his r e t a i n e r s for t h e n i g h t .
U n a b l e t o s l eep , M i c h i n o r i qu i e t l y go t u p a g a i n a n d b e g a n p o k i n g
a b o u t t h e h o u s e . H e s o o n f o u n d a beaut i fu l r o o m w i t h fine n e w m a t t i n g
on t h e f loor a n d a s c r e e n e d - o f f s p a c e ins ide . A l a m p w a s b u r n i n g w i t h i n
t h e s c r e e n s , a n d a de l i c ious f r a g r a n c e f loa t ed on t h e a i r . P e e k i n g cu r i -
ous ly b e t w e e n t w o s c r e e n s , he s a w a w o m a n in h e r la te t w e n t i e s , e x q u i -
si tely love ly in face a n d f igure , ly ing t h e r e all a l o n e .
T h e m o r e h e l o o k e d t h e less h e felt l ike l e av ing . N o o n e w a s a r o u n d .
H e t h o u g h t i t o v e r . T h e m a g i s t r a t e h a d b e e n v e r y k i n d , a n d i f th i s w a s
his wife , h e o u g h t no t t o t a k e a d v a n t a g e o f h e r . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , h e
c o u l d no t res is t t r y i n g his l uck . He slid i n to b e d be s ide h e r .
T h e w o m a n jus t smi l ed . M i c h i n o r i w a s a s p l e a s e d a s p u n c h . H e r s cen t
w a s de l i c ious . S i n c e i t w a s e a r l y fall a n d t h e w e a t h e r still w a r m , n e i t h e r
o f t h e m h a d m u c h o n . H e u n d r e s s e d . W h e n h e slid his h a n d s u n d e r h e r
shift, s h e p u t u p o n l y t o k e n r e s i s t a n c e a n d let h im fondle h e r a s h e
p l e a s e d .
F e e l i n g a s u d d e n t ick le b e t w e e n h i s legs, M i c h i n o r i r e a c h e d for his
m e m b e r . I t w a s no t t h e r e . H e g r o p e d a r o u n d fever i sh ly l ike a m a n t r y i n g
to c a t c h a b u g in his b e a r d , b u t i t w a s g o n e as t h o u g h i t h a d n e v e r b e e n .
All t h o u g h t o f t h e w o m a n , w h o lay t h e r e smi l ing en igmat i ca l ly , v a n i s h e d
f rom h is m i n d . F ina l l y h e go t u p , w e n t b a c k t o his o w n b e d c o m p l e t e l y
c on fused , a n d m a d e a n o t h e r m i n u t e i n s p e c t i o n . I t w a s h o p e l e s s .
M i c h i n o r i w a s no t t o o p a n i c k e d t o u s e his h e a d . H e ca l led o n e o f his
m e n , to ld h i m a b o u t t h e s t u n n i n g w o m a n h e h a d found , a n d m e n t i o n e d
t h a t s h e w a s a v a i l a b l e . T h e m a n w h o w e n t off w i t h h igh h o p e s soon c a m e
b a c k l o o k i n g d e e p l y d i s t u r b e d . " H e go t i t t o o ! " t h o u g h t M i c h i n o r i , a n d
p a s s e d t h e t ip o n t o t h e n e x t v ic t im, w h o c a m e b a c k i n his t u r n w i t h
a n g u i s h w r i t t e n all o v e r his face. M i c h i n o r i s en t all e igh t o f his m e n to
t h e w o m a n , a n d t h e y all l o o k e d t h e s a m e w a y w h e n t h e y c a m e o u t .
T h e s k y p a l e d w i t h t h e c o m i n g o f d a w n . C o n s i d e r i n g t h e n i g h t ' s d i s a s -
te r , M i c h i n o r i p r e f e r r e d t o l eave a s q u i c k l y a s poss ib le , d e s p i t e his hos t ' s
k i n d w e l c o m e , a n d he a n d his m e n h u r r i e d off be fo re i t w a s fully l ight .
T h e y h a d no t g o n e m o r e t h a n a q u a r t e r o f a mile w h e n a m a n g a l l o p e d
u p b e h i n d t h e m , ha i l i ng t h e m u r g e n t l y a n d h o l d i n g aloft a p a c k a g e
w r a p p e d i n w h i t e p a p e r . T h e r i d e r w a s o n e o f t he i r hos t ' s r e t a i n e r s .
" T h e m a g i s t r a t e to ld m e t o d e l i v e r t h e s e t o y o u , " h e sa id . " H o w could
y o u h a v e left t h e m b e h i n d ? W e h a d y o u r b r e a k f a s t all r e a d y , b u t y o u
w e r e i n s u c h a r u s h t h a t y o u m u s t h a v e jus t fo rgo t t en t h e m . A n y w a y , w e
p i c k e d t h e m u p for y o u a n d h e r e t h e y a r e . " M i c h i n o r i a n d his p a r t y
w o n d e r e d w h a t h e w a s t a l k i n g a b o u t .
T h e p a c k e t c o n t a i n e d a h e a p o f m a l e o r g a n s ; t h e y l o o k e d r a t h e r l ike
m u s h r o o m s . D u m b f o u n d e d , t h e m e n i n s p e c t e d t h e m o n e af ter a n o t h e r ,
each c o u n t i n g n i n e . S u d d e n l y t h e o r g a n s v a n i s h e d , a n d t h e m e s s e n g e r
w h e e l e d his h o r s e a r o u n d a n d g a l l o p e d a w a y . M i c h i n o r i a n d his m e n
s h o u t e d for joy , " I t ' s b a c k ! I t ' s b a c k ! "
7 4
O n h is r e t u r n j o u r n e y M i c h i n o r i s t o p p e d aga in a t t h e mag i s t r a t e ' s
h o u s e a n d m a d e h im a g e n e r o u s gift o f go ld , h o r s e s , eagle fea thers , a n d
t h e l ike . H e e x p l a i n e d t o t h e p u z z l e d m a g i s t r a t e t h a t h e h o p e d t o learn
j u s t w h a t h a d b e e n d o n e t o h im d u r i n g his last visi t . T h e m a g i s t r a t e felt
h e c o u l d h a r d l y re fuse . H e to ld M i c h i n o r i h o w i n his y o u t h h e h a d h a d
a n affair w i t h t h e y o u n g wife o f t h e m a g i s t r a t e o f a n o t h e r c o u n t y , h imsel f
a n o ld m a n , a n d h o w s u d d e n l y his m e m b e r t o o h a d d i s a p p e a r e d . H e h a d
d o n e h i s b e s t t o b e v e r y , v e r y n ice t o t h e old m a g i s t r a t e unt i l h e h a d
s u c c e e d e d i n g e t t i n g h imse l f t a u g h t t h e s a m e m a g i c . B u t h e r e m i n d e d
M i c h i n o r i t h a t M i c h i n o r i w a s p r e s e n t l y t r a v e l i n g o n imper ia l b u s i n e s s . I f
h e w a n t e d t o l e a r n t h e m a g i c too , h e s h o u l d g o s t r a igh t b a c k t o t h e
C a p i t a l , c o n c l u d e his miss ion , a n d t h e n c o m e b a c k p r iva t e ly . M i c h i n o r i
r e a d i l y a g r e e d , a n d set off.
W h e n h e c a m e a g a i n h e b r o u g h t th i s m a g i s t r a t e a n o t h e r su i t ab l e p r e s -
en t , a n d t h e m a g i s t r a t e cheer fu l ly u n d e r t o o k t o t e a c h h im all h e k n e w .
" H o w e v e r , " h e c a u t i o n e d , " y o u d o n ' t l ea rn th i s so r t o f t h i n g casua l ly .
F i r s t y o u ' l l h a v e t o s p e n d s e v e n d a y s fas t ing a n d pu r i fy ing y o u r s e l f w i t h
co ld w a t e r . "
M i c h i n o r i d id a s h e w a s to ld , a n d o n t h e a p p o i n t e d d a y t h e m a g i s t r a t e
t o o k h i m far u p in to t h e m o u n t a i n s . T h e y c a m e t o a s t r e a m b e s i d e w h i c h
t h e m a g i s t r a t e w e n t t h r o u g h v a r i o u s r i tua l p r o c e d u r e s a n d m a d e M i c h i -
n o r i s w e a r a t e r r i b l y sinful o a t h . T h e n t h e m a g i s t r a t e set off u p s t r e a m .
" N o m a t t e r w h a t c o m e s d o w n t h e s t r e a m , " h e w a r n e d , " g r a b i t i n y o u r
a r m s . D e v i l o r d e m o n , I d o n ' t c a r e , j u s t t h r o w y o u r a r m s r o u n d i t ! "
S o o n a h e a v y r a i n s t o r m b l e w in from u p s t r e a m . T h e sky b l a c k e n e d
a n d t h e w a t e r r o s e . D o w n t h e s t r e a m c a m e a colossal s n a k e . Its h e a d
a l o n e w a s b i g e n o u g h to fill a m a n ' s a r m s a n d its eyes w e r e l ike g r e a t
b r o n z e b o w l s . T h e s n a k e ' s b a c k w a s a d e e p b lue a n d its bel ly w a s r ed .
M i c h i n o r i k n e w wel l e n o u g h t h a t h e w a s s u p p o s e d t o t h r o w his a r m s
a r o u n d i t b u t i n s t e a d w a s s o te r r i f ied t h a t h e co l l apsed o n the spo t .
T h e m a g i s t r a t e q u i c k l y r e t u r n e d . " H o w did i t g o ? " h e a s k e d . " D i d y o u
ho ld o n t o i t ? " M i c h i n o r i r e p o r t e d w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d . " T o o b a d ! " said
t h e m a g i s t r a t e . " Y o u w o n ' t b e ab l e t o l e a rn . W e l l , a n y w a y , let 's t r y
a g a i n . " A n d off h e w e n t .
I n n o t i m e a n e n o r m o u s b o a r c a m e h u r t l i n g d o w n , b r i s t l i ng w i t h fury,
c r u s h i n g g r e a t b o u l d e r s , a n d b e l c h i n g fire. O n c e a g a i n M i c h i n o r i w a s
te r r i f i ed , b u t h e d e s p e r a t e l y s c r e w e d u p his c o u r a g e a n d d a s h e d f o r w a r d
to c l a s p i t in h i s a r m s . I t t u r n e d o u t to be a bi t o f o ld log. He w a s t e r r ib ly
let d o w n , e spec ia l ly w h e n h e rea l i zed t h a t t h e s n a k e t o o m u s t h a v e b e e n
a log . H e w a s k i c k i n g h imse l f for no t h a v i n g g o n e af ter t he s n a k e w h e n
t h e m a g i s t r a t e r e a p p e a r e d .
M i c h i n o r i t o ld h i m h o w i t h a d g o n e th i s t i m e . " W e l l , " r ep l i ed t h e
m a g i s t r a t e , " y o u lost y o u r first c h a n c e a n d t h a t m e a n s y o u can ' t l ea rn
w h a t y o u w a n t e d . B u t I t h i n k y o u cou ld m a n a g e s o m e o t h e r little a m u s e -
m e n t . I'll t e a c h y o u o n e . " M i c h i n o r i l e a r n e d w h a t h e c o u l d a n d r e t u r n e d
d i s a p p o i n t e d t o t h e C a p i t a l .
B a c k a t t h e p a l a c e he b e t h i s fel low g u a r d s t h a t he co u l d t u r n all t h e i r
s h o e s in to p u p p i e s , t h e n d i d it, a n d t h e p u p p i e s s c r a m b l e d a r o u n d all
o v e r t h e p l ace , y a p p i n g m a d l y ; a n d h e t u r n e d a n old s t r a w s a n d a l in to a
g r e a t b ig c a r p f l opp ing a r o u n d o n a d i n n e r t r a y . W h e n t h e e m p e r o r h e a r d
a b o u t t h e s e g o i n g s - o n , h e s u m m o n e d M i c h i n o r i a n d go t h imse l f t a u g h t
mag ic t o o . H i s M a j e s t y u s e d i t t o m a k e t h e g r a n d p roces s ion o f t h e K a m o
festival g o b y o v e r t h e s c r e e n h e a l w a y s sa t b e h i n d .
P e o p l e d e e p l y d i s a p p r o v e d o f t h e e m p e r o r h imsel f l e a r n i n g a n a r t
w h i c h o f f ended t h e B u d d h a ' s w a y , a n d o n e h a s t o a g r e e t h a t no t o n l y
w a s M i c h i n o r i ( w h o a f te r all w a s a n o b o d y ) v e r y w r o n g t o t e a c h h im,
b u t t h a t h o w e v e r r a r e t h e s e so r t o f t e n g u t r i c k s m a y be , H i s M a j e s t y w a s
a bi t c r a z y to w a n t to l e a r n .
5 3 .
THE LITTLE OIL JAR
S a n e s u k e , t h e M n i s t e r o f t h e R i g h t , w a s t r ave l i ng u p O m i y a A v e n u e
o n e d a y on h i s w a y to t h e p a l a c e w h e n he s a w a little oil j a r ro l l ing a n d
h o p p i n g a l o n g in f ront o f his c a r r i a g e . T h i s w a s so o d d t h a t he g u e s s e d a
sp i r i t m u s t b e a t w o r k . E v e n t u a l l y t h e j a r t u r n e d w e s t off O m i y a , a n d
af ter still a n o t h e r t u r n ro l l ed up to a ce r t a in g a t e . T h e ga t e w a s l o c k e d ,
a n d t h e j a r b e g a n j u m p i n g a g a i n s t i t i n an o b v i o u s effort t o ge t i n t h r o u g h
t h e k e y h o l e . Af t e r m i s s i n g t i m e a f te r t ime , i t finally s u c c e e d e d , a n d in
t h r o u g h t h e k e y h o l e i t w e n t .
S a n e s u k e left n o w , b u t he ident i f ied t h e h o u s e to o n e o f his s e r v a n t s
a n d h a d t h e m a n find o u t a s d i s c r ee t l y a s poss ib le w h e t h e r a n y t h i n g
u n u s u a l h a d h a p p e n e d t h e r e . T h e m a n c a m e b a c k t o r e p o r t t h a t t h e
d a u g h t e r o f t h e h o u s e , w h o h a d b e e n ill for s o m e t ime , h a d jus t d i ed .
S a n e s u k e rea l i zed t h a t t h e j a r h a d i n d e e d been a spir i t , a n d t h a t i t h a d
ki l led t h e girl o n c e i t g o t in .
H i s c l e v e r n e s s g r e a t l y i m p r e s s e d e v e r y o n e w h o k n e w h im.
7 6
T H E S E X E S
5 4 .
A HARD MOMENT
K o t o d a l ived w i t h his wife a n d d a u g h t e r i n t h e m a n s i o n o f L o r d S a d a -
fusa, for all t h r e e w e r e i n S a d a f u s a ' s s e rv i ce . He w a s v e r y p r o u d o f t h e
e x p e r t w a y h e s a w t o all h is m a s t e r ' s affairs , a n d h e h a d t a k e n ca r e t o
p r o v i d e his d a u g h t e r w i t h a v e r y fine h u s b a n d .
H a v i n g jus t s p e n t t he n i g h t w i t h K o t o d a ' s d a u g h t e r , t h e y o u n g m a n
w o k e u p o n e m o r n i n g t o find t h a t i t w a s p o u r i n g w i t h ra in ; s o ins t ead o f
l e a v i n g a s u s u a l , h e s t a y e d w h e r e h e w a s . M e a n w h i l e t he d a u g h t e r w e n t
t o look a l t e r h e r m i s t r e s s , l e av ing t h e y o u n g m a n lying i n t he i r b e d
c o m p l e t e l y s u r r o u n d e d by s c r e e n s . T h e s p r i n g rain s h o w e d no sign o f
l e t t ing u p .
I n t i m e K o t o d a d e c i d e d t h a t his s o n - i n - l a w m u s t b e g e t t i n g r a t h e r
b o r e d . W i t h a t r a y of s n a c k s in o n e h a n d a n d a g o u r d of w i n e in the
o t h e r , h e h e a d e d for t h e y o u n g c o u p l e ' s r o o m . D i s c r e t i o n p r o m p t e d him
t o e n t e r n o t f rom t h e g a r d e n , a s h e w o u l d n o r m a l l y h a v e d o n e , bu t from
ins ide t h e h o u s e .
N a k e d u n d e r t h e c o v e r s , his s o n - i n - l a w w a s ly ing s t a r i n g u p a t t he
ce i l ing , ho t for h is wi fe . T h a t s o u n d of a d o o r in t h e h o u s e s l id ing o p e n
o b v i o u s l y m e a n t t h a t s h e w a s finally b a c k from H e r L a d y s h i p ' s . W h i s k -
ing t h e c o v e r s o v e r his face a n d off e v e r y t h i n g else, he r u b b e d up a g o o d
h a r d - o n a n d a r c h e d his b a c k t o d i sp lay it. T h e s c r e e n s p a r t e d .
K o t o d a ' s s h o c k e d recoi l s en t food a n d d r i n k f ly ing . He fell f l a t on his
b a c k w i t h his b e a r d i n t h e a i r a n d hit his h e a d so h a r d he s a w s t a r s .
K
5 5 . T
A NICE MUG OF MOLTEN COPPER
E
S
A c h a m b e r l a i n c o u r t i n g t h e d a u g h t e r o f t h e a b b o t o f Da ian j i i n N a r a w a s
so m u c h in love w i t h t h e girl t h a t s o m e t i m e s he d id no t even leave h e r a t
d a w n , a s h e s h o u l d h a v e , b u t s t a y e d o n in to t h e d a y . O n o n e s u c h
occas ion h e w a s n a p p i n g i n h e r r o o m w h e n h e d r e a m e d h e h e a r d t h e
w h o l e h o u s e h o l d w e e p i n g a n d w a i l i n g .
H e w e n t t o see w h a t w a s t h e m a t t e r a n d f o u n d t h e m all, f rom t h e
a b b o t a n d his wife ( n o w a n u n ) o n d o w n , h o l d i n g m u g s a n d s o b b i n g .
T h i s s e e m e d v e r y o d d till he r ea l i zed t h a t t h e m u g s w e r e full o f m o l t e n
c o p p e r . T h e m o s t fearful d e m o n c o u l d h a r d l y force a n y o n e t o t a k e s o
g r u e s o m e a r e f r e s h m e n t bu t , t e a r s o r n o t e a r s , t h e s e p e o p l e w e r e d r i n k i n g
it; a n d w h e n i n a g o n y t h e y h a d e m p t i e d o n e m u g , s o m e w e r e even a s k i n g
for m o r e . T h e s e r v a n t s w e r e d r i n k i n g u p t oo , e v e r y o n e o f t h e m .
W h e n a m a i d c a m e to call t h e c h a m b e r l a i n ' s s w e e t h e a r t , she go t o u t o f
b e d a n d w e n t . In h o r r o r he w a t c h e d t h e ma id fill a s i lver m u g w i t h m o l t e n
c o p p e r a n d g ive i t to his B e l o v e d . T h e girl t o o k it, u t t e r e d a h e a r t - r e n d i n g
little c r y , a n d d o w n e d t h e l iqu id me ta l , w h i m p e r i n g pa the t i ca l ly . S m o k e
p o u r e d from h e r e y e s a n d n o s e .
" S e r v e o u r g u e s t ! " c o m m a n d e d t h e a b b o t , a n d the ma id a p p r o a c h e d
t h e c h a m b e r l a i n w i t h a c u p on a t r a y . " A m I g o i n g to h a v e to d r i n k i t
t o o ? " h e w o n d e r e d i n t e r r o r , a n d w o k e u p .
O n o p e n i n g his e y e s h e s a w t h a t t he ma id h a d b r o u g h t l unch , a n d h e
h e a r d loud s l u r p i n g a n d c h e w i n g from his fu tu re f a the r - in - l aw ' s r o o m .
C l e a r l y t h e m o n k w a s in fact gu i l t y o f a g r a v e sin: he w a s e a t i n g up w h a t
r ight ful ly b e l o n g e d t o t h e t e m p l e . S a d d e n e d b y his d i scove ry , t h e y o u n g
c h a m b e r l a i n w a n t e d n o m o r e t o d o w i t h t h e family, a n d his love for t h e
girl e v a p o r a t e d . He e x c u s e d h imse l f w i t h t h e p lea tha t he felt u n w e l l , left
w i t h o u t e a t i n g a b i te , a n d n e v e r c a m e b a c k .
7 8
5 6" .
THE LITTLE BOTTLE OF TEARS
H e i c h u , t h e g r e a t lover , w a s q u i t e p r e p a r e d t o feign d r a m a t i c sobs w h e n
r e j ec t ed , e v e n i f he d i d no t rea l ly c a r e for t h e w o m a n t h a t m u c h ; a n d he
w e n t c o u r t i n g w i t h a litt le bo t t l e o f w a t e r f a s t ened to his a r m so tha t he
c o u l d p r o d u c e t e a r s a n d w e t s leeves w h e n e v e r h e n e e d e d t h e m .
O n e d a y H e i c h u ' s wife no t i ced h i m sl ip s o m e t h i n g u p o n t o p o f a b e a m
in t h e i r h o u s e , a n d t h e n e x t t i m e he s t e p p e d o u t s h e t o o k i t d o w n . I t w a s
a l i t t le b o t t l e o f w a t e r a n d a p a c k e t o f t h e t iny d r i e d f lower b u d s t h a t
p e o p l e c h e w t o m a k e t h e i r b r e a t h smell n ice . S h e e m p t i e d ou t t he w a t e r ,
filled t h e b o t t l e w i t h r i ch b l a c k ink , s w i t c h e d t h e f l ower b u d s for m o u s e
t u r d s , t h e n p u t t h e bo t t l e a n d p a c k e t b a c k o n t h e b e a m .
H e i c h u w e n t off t h a t n i g h t a s h e a l w a y s d id . H e c a m e b a c k a t d a w n i n
a v e r y s o u r m o o d a n d s p a t v i g o r o u s l y a s h e lay d o w n . " M u s t b e s o m e
g o b l i n go t i n t o t h a t p a c k e t ! " h e m u t t e r e d . B y day l igh t h e no t i ced his
s l e eves w e r e all b l a c k . T h e n h e l o o k e d i n t h e m i r r o r . H i s s m u d g y , b lack
face, a l m o s t inv is ib le b u t for t w o e y e s s h i n i n g o u t o f t h e d a r k n e s s , g a v e
h i m q u i t e a t u r n . N e x t he c h e c k e d t h e l i t t le bo t t l e . Y e s , t h a t w a s ink in
t h e r e , all r i g h t ; a n d h e k n e w a m o u s e t u r d w h e n h e s a w o n e .
D e e p l y mor t i f i ed , H e i c h u g a v e u p his fake t e a r s a n d his f l o w e r b u d s .
5 7 .
ELIMINATION
T a i r a n o S a d a f u n , c o m m o n l y k n o w n a s H e i c h u , w a s t h e d e p u t y c o m -
m a n d e r o f t h e P a l a c e G u a r d s . H e w a s a m a n o f r e s p e c t a b l e r a n k , h a n d -
s o m e a n d e l egan t , a n d i n e v e r y t h i n g h e d id o r sa id t h e mos t a m u s i n g
fe l low o f his t i m e . N a t u r a l l y h e c o u r t e d e v e r y wife , e v e r y d a u g h t e r , a n d
a b o v e all , e v e r y l a d y - i n - w a i t i n g w i t h i n r e a c h .
A c e r t a i n m i n i s t e r h a d in his h o u s e h o l d as lovely a n d as w i t t y a y o u n g
l a d y a s e v e r t h e r e w a s , a n d h e r n a m e w a s J i j u . H e i c h u k n e w a b o u t h e r
s i nce he of ten v i s i t ed t h e min i s t e r , a n d in fact h a d b e e n p u r s u i n g h e r for
a g e s , b u t s h e h a d no t d e i g n e d to a n s w e r a s ingle o n e o f his l e t t e r s .
M u c h p u t ou t , H e i c h u f i n a l l y t r i ed a no t e t h a t b e g g e d h e r a t least t o
a n s w e r t h e o n e w o r d " a c k n o w l e d g e d " ; a n d h e e n d e d it, " Y o u r s i n c e a s e -
less t e a r s . " W h e n h e s a w t h e m e s s e n g e r r e t u r n ac tua l ly c a r r y i n g a r ep ly ,
h e r a n o u t a n d o p e n e d i t f ever i sh ly . T h e l a d y h a d t o r n t h e " a c k n o w l -
e d g e d " o u t o f h is o w n le t te r , s t u c k i t o n a n o t h e r p iece o f p a p e r , a n d sen t
i t r i g h t b a c k to h i m .
H e i c h u w e n t w i l d . "All r i gh t , t h a t ' s e n o u g h ! " h e s w o r e t o himself . " I
g ive u p . "
T h a t w a s o n t h e last d a y o f t h e s e c o n d m o o n . H e i c h u sen t J i j u n o t h i n g
b e t w e e n t h e n a n d wel l i n to t h e f i f t h m o o n w h e n , o n a d a r k a n d d i s m a l l y
r a i n y n igh t , h e f o u n d himself b r o o d i n g o v e r h e r a g a i n .
" I f I w e n t t o n i g h t i t 'd s u r e l y do something to h e r , " he r u m i n a t e d , " e v e n
i f s h e ' s go t a h e a r t o f s t o n e . " T h e h o u r w a s la te , t h e r a in w a s b e a t i n g
d o w n i n t e r m i n a b l y , a n d t h e b l a c k n e s s o f t h e n i g h t w a s f i n a l . T h e he lp le s s
H e i c h u f o u n d his w a y to t h e m i n i s t e r ' s r e s i d e n c e a n d ca l led for a l i t t le
m a i d w h o h a d p a s s e d m e s s a g e s for h im be fo re .
" H e r e I a m . I c a n ' t s t a n d i t a n y m o r e . " T h a t w a s w h a t h e s en t t h e m a i d
off t o tel l J i j u . T h e m a i d w a s soon b a c k w i t h w o r d t h a t J i j u w a s p r e s e n t l y
a t t e n d i n g H i s E x c e l l e n c y a n d H e r L a d y s h i p , a n d c o u l d n ' t r e t i r e ju s t y e t
b e c a u s e t h e h o u s e h o l d w a s still u p . " W a i t a b i t , " J i j u ' s m e s s a g e c o n -
c l u d e d . "I ' l l t a lk t o y o u i n p r i v a t e l a t e r o n . "
H e i c h u ' s h e a r t b e a t fast . " W e l l , w e l l , " t h o u g h t he , " s h e rea l ly c o u l d n ' t
t u r n a fe l low a w a y on a n i g h t l ike t h i s ! I 'm so g lad I c a m e ! "
H e w a i t e d b y t h e d a r k e n e d d o o r for w h a t s e e m e d l ike y e a r s . A n h o u r
o r m o r e l a t e r h e h e a r d t h e s o u n d s o f p e o p l e g o i n g t o b e d . T h e n s o m e o n e
c a m e t o his d o o r a n d q u i e t l y o p e n e d t h e la tch . W i t h b a t e d b r e a t h h e
t e s t e d it: i t sl id eas i ly a s i d e . He w o n d e r e d w h e t h e r he w a s d r e a m i n g . I n
fact h e w a s s h a k i n g w i t h joy , b u t h e m a n a g e d t o ca lm d o w n e n o u g h t o
s tea l i n s ide .
A s w e e t f r a g r a n c e o f i n c e n s e f i l l ed t h e r o o m . H e i c h u g r o p e d his w a y
t o w a r d w h e r e h e k n e w t h e b e d m u s t b e a n d f o u n d s o m e o n e w a s ly ing
t h e r e . Y e s , i t w a s a w o m a n a n d s h e h a d o n l y o n e r o b e on . H e felt o v e r
h e r h e a d a n d s h o u l d e r s . H e r f e a t u r e s w e r e f i n e , a n d t h e ha i r s t r e a m i n g
o u t a l o n g t h e f loor w a s a s s m o o t h a n d cool t o t h e t o u c h a s ice. All b u t
de l i r i ous n o w , H e i c h u w a s t e m p o r a r i l y d e p r i v e d o f s p e e c h by a f i t o f
t r e m b l i n g .
" O h d e a r , " e x c l a i m e d t h e w o m a n , " I ' v e fo rgo t t en s o m e t h i n g v e r y im-
p o r t a n t ! I d i d n ' t lock t h e d o o r i n to th i s p a r t o f t h e h o u s e . I'll be r igh t
b a c k . "
T h a t s o u n d e d all r i g h t t o H e i c h u . " D o n ' t b e l o n g ! " h e ca l led af ter h e r .
S h e go t u p a n d w e n t j u s t a s s h e w a s , w h i l e H e i c h u u n d r e s s e d a n d lay
8 0
d o w n . A lock c l i cked . A n y m o m e n t s h e w o u l d b e b a c k . Bu t no , t he
f o o t s t e p s f aded o u t d e e p e r i n to t h e h o u s e . T i m e p a s s e d . W i t h g r a v e
m i s g i v i n g H e i c h u w e n t to c h e c k t h e d o o r . I t w a s l ocked , all r ight — from
t h e o t h e r s i de . H e d a n c e d u p a n d d o w n a n d w e p t w i t h r age , t h e n jus t
s t o o d t h e r e in a d a z e , a g a i n s t t h e d o o r , p o u r i n g a s m a n y t e a r s a s t he
r a i n y sk ies o u t s i d e . " W h a t a t r a p s h e led m e i n t o ! " h e g r o a n e d . " O h , th is
i s a w f u l ! I t I 'd o n l y rea l ized , I cou ld h a v e s t a y e d w i t h h e r w h e n she w e n t
t o lock t h e d o o r ! I s u p p o s e s h e w a n t s t o see h o w far s h e can p u s h m e .
S h e m u s t t h i n k m e a pe r fec t i d i o t ! " T h i s t h o u g h t , even m o r e t h a n the
m i s s e d o p p o r t u n i t y , b r o u g h t H e i c h u t o t h e last p i t ch o f d e s p a i r .
" W e l l , let t h e d a y d a w n ! " his m i n d r a n o n . " I d o n ' t c a r e , I 'm g o i n g t o
s l eep r i g h t h e r e , a n d i f t h e y c o m e in a n d find m e , so m u c h t h e b e t t e r ! "
B u t a s d a w n a c t u a l l y a p p r o a c h e d a n d h e h e a r d t h e h o u s e h o l d w a k i n g u p ,
h e d e c i d e d t h a t d i s c r e t i o n w a s t h e b e t t e r p a r t o f v a l o r a n d s n e a k e d
q u i c k l y off w h i l e i t w a s still d a r k .
F o r e v e r af ter , H e i c h u l o n g e d t o h e a r s o m e r u m o r a b o u t J i j u tha t
w o u l d rea l ly p u t h im off he r , b u t s ince h e n e v e r d id h e w e n t o n b u r n i n g
for h e r i n s t e a d . T h e n o n e d a y h e h a d a n idea . F o r all J i j u ' s b e a u t y a n d
w i t , t h e m a t t e r s h e d e p o s i t e d i n h e r c h a m b e r po t w a s b o u n d t o b e t he
s a m e as w h a t he left i n his o w n . I f by h o o k o r c r o o k he cou ld get ho ld o f
s o m e of that, that o u g h t to c u r e h i m ! "I ' l l a m b u s h h e r maid w h e n s h e
g o e s to w a s h t h e po t , I'll s tea l it, a n d I'll h a v e a g o o d look i n s i d e ! " he
p r o m i s e d himself .
H e i c h u w e n t s t r a i g h t off t o l u r k ( a s i n n o c e n t l y a s poss ib l e ) ou t s ide
J i j u ' s r o o m . O u t c a m e a s m a r t y o u n g ma id w i t h ha i r d o w n a lmos t t o t he
h e m o f h e r p i n k a n d g r e e n j acke t , w h i c h s h e w o r e o v e r a p u r p l e t r o u s e r -
sk i r t c a s u a l l y t u c k e d u p . S h e w a s c a r r y i n g a po t ( a b o x , ac tua l ly , a s w a s
t h e c u s t o m t h e n ) w r a p p e d i n filmy, l i g h t - o r a n g e silk, d i sc ree t ly s c r e e n i n g
i t f rom v i e w w i t h a r e d p a p e r fan t h a t h a d s o m e s c e n e o r o t h e r p a i n t e d
on it. S h e m a d e a v e r y s ty l i sh p i c t u r e . H e i c h u s h a d o w e d h e r till she w a s
o u t o f s igh t o f t h e h o u s e , t h e n c h a r g e d u p a n d s n a t c h e d t h e b o x . S h e
b u r s t i n to t e a r s a n d r e fused to let go , b u t H e i c h u to re i t r u th l e s s ly from
h e r g r a s p , fled i n t o a d e s e r t e d bu i l d ing , a n d locked t h e d o o r from the
i n s i d e . T h e m a i d w a s left c r y i n g o u t s i d e .
H e i c h u e x a m i n e d t h e b o x . I t w a s beaut i fu l ly l a c q u e r e d — so p re t t y , in
fact , t h a t he h a t e d t o go f u r t h e r . T h e c o n t e n t s w e r e o n e t h ing , b u t for a
c h a m b e r p o t t h i s w a s a u n i q u e w o r k o f a r t . T o t h i n k h e w a s go ing t o
o p e n i t a n d d e s t r o y f o r e v e r his fond v is ions o f i ts o w n e r ! He cou ld not
b e a r t h e idea , a n d for a w h i l e jus t s t a r e d a t t h e b o x in s t ead .
Sti l l , t h i s w a s no t i m e to t u r n b a c k . T r e m u l o u s l y he r e m o v e d the lid. A
r i ch f r a g r a n c e o f i n c e n s e p e r f u m e d t h e a i r . W h a t o n e a r t h ? G o l d e n w a t e r
half filled t h e b o x , a n d in i t s w a m t h r e e b r o w n i s h , cy l indr i ca l ob j ec t s
a b o u t t h e t h i c k n e s s o f a t h u m b . " W e l l , " t h o u g h t H e i c h u , " t h e r e t h e y
a r e ! " B u t t h i s h e a v e n l y s c e n t w a s no t exac t l y w h a t h e e x p e c t e d from
t h e m . He s p e a r e d o n e w i t h a s l ip o f w o o d a n d he ld i t g i n g e r l y to his n o s e .
M u s k , c love , s a n d a l w o o d : t h e s e p e r f u m e s a n d m o r e m i n g l e d i n a n e x q u i -
site b l e n d w h i c h f loa ted in to his nos t r i l s like a g i d d y i n g c a r e s s .
H e w a s ou t o f h is d e p t h . T h i s w o m a n w a s no t o f t h e s a m e o r d e r a s a
c o m m o n m o r t a l . W i t h awful c e r t a i n t y h e s a w t h a t t h e v e r y idea o f b r i n g -
ing h e r r o u n d w a s a b s u r d . H e d r e w t h e b o x t o his l ips a n d s i p p e d t h e
g o l d e n w a t e r : i t w a s r e d o l e n t o f c loves . H e l i cked t h e t i p o f t h e r o u n d
b r o w n ob jec t h e h a d s p e a r e d : b o t h b i t t e r a n d s w e e t , i t w a s end l e s s ly
f r ag ran t .
H e i c h u w a s c l e v e r t oo , a n d h e c o u l d see pe r fec t ly w h a t J i j u h a d d o n e .
F o r t h e u r i n e s h e h a d s i m p l y bo i led c loves a n d d r a w n off t h e w a t e r . F o r
t h e o t h e r m a t t e r s h e h a d g r o u n d t o g e t h e r y a m s , i ncense sp ices , a n d
s w e e t v i n e , a n d m o l d e d t h e m i x t u r e in t h e c o v e r o f a l a rge w r i t i n g b r u s h .
A n y o n e cou ld d o t h a t , o f c o u r s e . B u t for h e r t o h a v e d iv ined t h a t h e
w o u l d w a n t t o c o n t e m p l a t e t h e c o n t e n t s o f h e r c h a m b e r po t — that w a s
b e y o n d a n y t h i n g . A g e n i u s l ike J i j u w a s jus t n o t o f th i s w o r l d .
W i t h t h e s e t h o u g h t s w h i r l i n g de l i r i ous ly t h r o u g h his h e a d , H e i c h u
s i c k e n e d , suf fe red a w h i l e , a n d d i e d .
5 8 .
BUT 5HE COULDN'T HELP IT!
L a t e o n e e v e n i n g t h e fu tu r e M a j o r C o u n s e l o r T a d a i e w a s c o u r t i n g a c o y
a n d beau t i fu l l a d y . S h e w a s s i t t i ng d e m u r e l y i n h e r r o o m , b e h i n d h e r
c u r t a i n s , w h i l e h e t a l k e d t o h e r f rom t h e v e r a n d a . T h e m o o n l i g h t w a s
b r i g h t e r t h a n d a y . F i n a l l y T a d a i e c o u l d n o l o n g e r s t a n d it. H e c r a w l e d
u n d e r t h e c u r t a i n s , t o o k h e r s h o u l d e r s , a n d t r i ed t o d r a w h e r t o h i m .
" O h , d o n ' t ! " s h e c r i ed , h i d i n g u n d e r h e r l o n g ha i r a n d s t r u g g l i n g t o
e s c a p e .
In d o i n g so s h e let o u t a l oud far t . T h e r e w a s d e a d s i lence . S h e lay
v e r y still.
" O h n o ! " g r o a n e d T a d a i e . " T h i s i s t h e e n d ! H o w can I face t h e w o r l d
a g a i n ? I'll h a v e t o e n t e r r e l i g i o n ! " D u c k i n g b a c k ou t u n d e r t h e c u r t a i n s
8 2
he s n e a k e d off, fully i n t e n d i n g to m a k e h imsel f in to a m o n k . Bu t in a
m o m e n t h e b e g a n t o w o n d e r w h y h e s h o u l d h a v e t o e n t e r re l igion jus t
b e c a u s e s o m e w o m a n h a d d i s g r a c e d herself, a n d ins t ead s imply go t ou t
o f t h e r e a s fast a s he c o u l d .
N o o n e k n o w s w h a t h a p p e n e d t o t h e l ady .
THE GENIE
O n c e t h e f a m o u s y i n - y a n g d i v i n e r Se ime i w a s w a t c h i n g the p a r a d e o f
g e n t l e m e n a r r i v i n g a t t h e p a l a c e i n f a sh ionab ly o s t e n t a t i o u s style w h e n
he n o t i c e d a h a n d s o m e a n d e l e g a n t y o u n g c h a m b e r l a i n a l igh t ing from his
c a r r i a g e . T h e c h a m b e r l a i n h a d h a r d l y s t a r t e d t o w a r d the G r e a t Ha l l
w h e n a p a s s i n g c r o w d r o p p e d filth o n h i m . " O h d e a r , " t h o u g h t Se imei ,
" h e ' s s o y o u n g a n d h a n d s o m e , a n d s o wel l r ece ived b y e v e r y o n e ! W h a t a
p i t y t h a t g e n i e go t h im — b e c a u s e t h a t b i r d c e r t a i n l y wad a g e n i e . S o m e -
t h i n g awfu l s e e m s t o b e i n s t o r e for h i m ! "
H e felt s o s o r r y for t h e y o u n g m a n t h a t h e w e n t o v e r t o t a lk t o h im .
" A r e y o u o n y o u r w a y t o H i s M a j e s t y ? " h e a s k e d . " I t ' s f o r w a r d o f m e t o
s p e a k , I k n o w , b u t I w o n d e r w h a t y o u r p u r p o s e is, b e c a u s e , y o u see, y o u
m u s t n ' t s p e n d t h e n i g h t i n t h e p a l a c e . T h a t ' s q u i t e c lea r . N o , c o m e w i t h
me i n s t e a d . I'll h e l p y o u as bes t a s I c a n . "
I t w a s a b o u t fou r i n t h e a f t e r n o o n . T h e t w o w e n t t o t h e c h a m b e r l a i n ' s
h o u s e i n h i s c a r r i a g e , a n d all t h e w a y t h e c h a m b e r l a i n t r e m b l e d a n d
b e g g e d S e i m e i t o s a v e h i m . Af te r s u n s e t S e i m e i k e p t h is a r m s t ight
a r o u n d t h e c h a m b e r l a i n a n d laid p r o t e c t i v e spe l l s . H e s p e n t t h e n igh t i n
e n d l e s s , un in t e l l i g ib l e m u t t e r i n g .
T h e fall n i g h t w a s l ong . A t d a w n t h e r e w a s a k n o c k o n the d o o r , a n d
S e i m e i h a d t h e c h a m b e r l a i n s e n d s o m e o n e t o a n s w e r . I t w a s a m e s s e n g e r
f rom t h e e n e m y d i v i n e r . T h e c h a m b e r l a i n ' s b r o t h e r - i n - l a w , w h o l ived i n
a n o t h e r p a r t o f t h e h o u s e , w a s s o j ea lous o f t h e c h a m b e r l a i n t h a t h e h a d
h a d th i s d i v i n e r set a g e n i e on t h e c h a m b e r l a i n to kill h im . Se imei h a d
s p o t t e d t h e g e n i e . " T h e g e n t l e m a n w a s s o s t r o n g l y p r o t e c t e d , " t h e m e s -
s e n g e r l oud ly a n n o u n c e d , " t h a t t h e gen i e c a m e b a c k a n d kil led m y m a s t e r
i n s t e a d ! "
" Y o u s e e ? " sa id S e i m e i .
T h e f a t h e r - i n - l a w d r o v e t h e vi l lain o u t o f t he h o u s e , a n d t h e gra te fu l
c h a m b e r l a i n g a v e Se ime i a r ich r e w a r d .
b~ o .
ONE FROG LESS
Seimei w a s v i s i t ing a g r e a t p r e l a t e he k n e w w h e n a y o u n g m o n k in t h e
p r e l a t e ' s e n t o u r a g e sa id h e h a d h e a r d t h a t Se imei k e p t gen ies , a n d a s k e d
Se ime i w h e t h e r he c o u l d kill a m a n easi ly . " N o t easi ly, n o , " Se imei
r ep l i ed . " I t w o u l d t a k e a b i g effort . I s u p p o s e I cou ld kill a small c r e a t u r e
r ead i ly e n o u g h , b u t I c a n ' t see a n y p o i n t in d o i n g so . S ince I w o u l d n ' t
k n o w h o w to b r i n g i t b a c k to life, I 'd ju s t e n d up c o m m i t t i n g a s i n . "
J u s t t h e n s o m e frogs s t a r t e d j u m p i n g ac ro s s t he g a r d e n t o w a r d t h e
p o n d . " T r y ki l l ing o n e o f t h o s e for u s , " sa id t h e m o n k .
" Y o u ' r e w i c k e d , a r e n ' t y o u ! " Se imei rep l ied . "A cha l l enge i s a cha l -
lenge , t h o u g h . " H e p i c k e d u p a b l a d e o f g r a s s , m u t t e r e d s o m e t h i n g , a n d
t o s s e d t h e g r a s s a t a frog. T h e g r a s s c r u s h e d the frog a n d kil led i t in-
s t an t ly . T h e m o n k s l o o k i n g o n t u r n e d pa le w i t h fear.
b~ i .
THE SPELLBOUND PIRATES
C h i t o k u , a m o n k a n d a p ro fe s s iona l y i n - y a n g d iv iner , l ived in H a r i m a
p r o v i n c e . H e w a s a n u n u s u a l m a n .
O n e d a y a sh ip c a m e sa i l ing u p t h e H a r i m a coas t t o w a r d t h e Cap i t a l ,
8 A
l a d e n w i t h a r ich c a r g o . J u s t off A k a s h i i t w a s b o a r d e d by p i ra tes , w h o
s to le e v e r y t h i n g o n b o a r d a n d kil led m o s t o f t h e c r e w . T h e on ly s u r v i v o r s
w e r e t h e vesse l ' s o w n e r a n d a c o u p l e o f his s e r v a n t s , w h o p l u n g e d in to
t h e sea a n d m a n a g e d t o d r a g t h e m s e l v e s , w e e p i n g , u p o n the s h o r e . W h e n
C h i t o k u h a p p e n e d by , l e a n i n g o n his staff, h e a s k e d t h e m w h a t t he m a t t e r
w a s . T h e o w n e r to ld h im h o w t h e d a y be fo re t h e y h a d been set u p o n b y
p i r a t e s .
" W h y , t h a t ' s t e r r i b l e ! " C h i t o k u e x p l a i n e d . "I ' l l b r i n g t h e m t o jus t ice
a n d ge t y o u r t h i n g s b a c k for y o u ! "
T h e o w n e r d i d no t t a k e h im se r ious ly , b u t h e h u m o r e d C h i t o k u e n o u g h
to say , t h r o u g h his t e a r s , " I ' d be v e r y gra te fu l i f y o u w o u l d ! "
" W h a t t i m e y e s t e r d a y d id i t h a p p e n ? " C h i t o k u a s k e d , a n d the o w n e r
to ld h i m .
C h i t o k u t o o k t h e o w n e r ou t in a smal l boa t to p rec i se ly w h e r e t he
a t t a c k h a d o c c u r r e d , t h e n w r o t e t h i n g s o n t h e w a t e r a n d r e a d w o r d s
a l o u d o v e r t h e sea . B a c k o n l and h e p o s t e d w a r r i o r g u a r d s jus t a s t h o u g h
h e m e a n t t o a r r e s t s o m e o n e w h o w a s ac tua l ly p r e s e n t .
On t h e s e v e n t h d a y af ter t h e a t t a c k , a sh ip c a m e dr i f t ing in from
n o w h e r e , full o f a r m e d m e n . T h e g u a r d s r o w e d ou t t o mee t it, bu t t he
m e n , w h o l o o k e d a s t h o u g h t h e y w e r e d e a d d r u n k , m a d e n o a t t e m p t t o
ge t a w a y . I t w a s t h e p i r a t e s h i p . E v e r y t h i n g t h e p i r a t e s h a d s tolen w a s
still o n b o a r d , a n d t h e c a r g o w a s n o w u n l o a d e d a n d r e t u r n e d t o its
r igh t fu l o w n e r . T h e local p e o p l e w a n t e d t o seize t h e p i r a t e s t hemse lves ,
b u t C h i t o k u h a d t h e m t u r n e d o v e r t o h im in s t ead . " D o n ' t y o u e v e r d o
t h a t a g a i n ! " h e w a r n e d t h e m . " B y r igh t s y o u s h o u l d b e e x e c u t e d , bu t
t h a t w o u l d jus t be a n o t h e r s in . R e m e m b e r , t h e r e ' s an old m o n k in this
p r o v i n c e t h a t y o u ' d b e t t e r no t c r o s s ! " A n d h e sen t t h e m p a c k i n g .
S o o n t h e s h i p o w n e r w a s ab l e t o beg in fi t t ing ou t a n o t h e r sh ip .
THE TEST
M a n y y e a r s a g o a d o d d e r i n g old m o n k s h o w e d up a t Se imei s h o u s e on
T s u c h i m i k a d o A v e n u e i n K y o t o i n t h e c o m p a n y o f t w o t en -yea r -o ld boys .
S e i m e i a s k e d h im w h o h e w a s . H e a n s w e r e d t h a t h e w a s from H a r i m a
p r o v i n c e a n d t h a t h e w a n t e d t o l ea rn d i v i n a t i o n . H e h a d c o m e b e c a u s e
S e i m e i w a s s u p p o s e d to be a real e x p e r t .
Se ime i g u e s s e d t h a t t h e old fel low k n e w m o r e t h a n h e let o n a n d h a d
ac tua l ly c o m e to tes t h i m . On his me t t l e n o w , he d e c i d e d to h a v e a bit o f
fun himself. T h e t w o b o y s s e e m e d t o b e g e n i e s . Se imei p r a y e d s i lent ly
tha t i f t h e y w e r e , t h e y s h o u l d v a n i s h ; a n d he sec re t ly cas t a spell a n d
m a d e t h e a p p r o p r i a t e p a s s e s u n d e r his s l eeves . T h e n h e p r o m i s e d the
m o n k t h a t h e w o u l d t e a c h h im w h a t e v e r h e w a n t e d i f h e c a m e b a c k o n
s o m e o t h e r , m o r e a u s p i c i o u s d a y . T h e m o n k t h a n k e d h im, b o w e d , a n d
left.
H e w a s n e a r l y ou t t h e g a t e w h e n h e s t o p p e d a n d b e g a n p o k i n g a b o u t
a m o n g the c a r r i a g e s p a r k e d t h e r e . T h e n h e c a m e b a c k t o Se ime i . " T h o s e
t w o b o y s I h a d w i t h me h a v e d i s a p p e a r e d , s i r , " he sa id . " I ' d a p p r e c i a t e
y o u r r e t u r n i n g t h e m be fo re I g o . "
" I ' m af ra id I d o n ' t k n o w w h a t y o u m e a n , " Se imei r ep l i ed . " W h y
s h o u l d I h a v e t a k e n y o u r b o y s ? "
" I see w h a t y o u m e a n , sir , b u t n o n e t h e l e s s , p l ease a c c e p t m y a p o l o g y . "
" V e r y we l l . Y o u h a d m e w o r r i e d a m o m e n t , c o m i n g a r o u n d w i t h t w o
gen i e s t o tes t m e , b u t I adv i s e y o u t o d o y o u r t e s t ing e l s e w h e r e . Y o u
w o n ' t c a t c h me l ike t h a t . " T h e n he m u r m u r e d a spell , a n d s h o r t l y t h e t w o
b o y s c a m e r u n n i n g u p t o t h e i r m a s t e r f rom s o m e w h e r e o u t s i d e .
" I t ' s t r u e , s i r , " t h e m o n k sa id , " I d id m e a n t o tes t y o u . It 's ea sy t o k e e p
gen i e s , b u t I c o u l d n ' t pos s ib ly m a k e s o m e o n e else 's g en i e s d i s a p p e a r .
P lease let m e b e y o u r d i s c i p l e . "
Se imei a c c e p t e d h im o n t h e spo t .
6 3 .
MAN'S BEST FRIEND
A long t i m e a g o t h e R e g e n t F u j i w a r a no M i c h i n a g a bui l t Hojoj i in K y o t o ,
a n d af ter t h a t m a d e a h a b i t o f v i s i t ing t h e t e m p l e dai ly . He a l w a y s
b r o u g h t w i t h h im a w h i t e d o g he p a r t i c u l a r l y l iked. O n e d a y his c a r r i a g e
w a s a b o u t t o p a s s t h r o u g h t h e g a t e a s u sua l w h e n the d o g d a r t e d a h e a d ,
s t ood i n t h e g a t e w a y , a n d s t o p p e d the c a r r i a g e . Its b e h a v i o r s e e m e d v e r y
s t r a n g e . M i c h i n a g a a l i g h t e d a n d t r i ed w a l k i n g t h r o u g h , bu t t h e d o g
c a u g h t t h e h e m of his r o b e in its t e e th a n d he ld h im b a c k . C lea r ly t h e
d o g h a d a r e a s o n for a c t i n g th i s w a y . I n s t e a d of ins is t ing, M i c h i n a g a sat
d o w n on a shaft o f h is c a r r i a g e a n d ca l led for Se imei , t h e d iv ine r . Se imei
soon a r r i v e d .
8 6
L o r d M i c h i n a g a a s k e d h im w h a t h e cou ld m a k e o f all th i s . Seimei w e n t
t h r o u g h a d i v i n a t i o n p r o c e d u r e a n d a n n o u n c e d t h a t s o m e o n e w h o w i s h e d
M i c h i n a g a ill h a d b u r i e d u n d e r t h e p a t h , i n t h e t e m p l e g r o u n d s , an object
d e s i g n e d t o p u t a c u r s e on H i s E x c e l l e n c y . " I f y o u w e r e t o w a l k ove r i t ,"
S e i m e i e x p l a i n e d , " s o m e t h i n g t e r r i b l e w o u l d h a p p e n . Y o u r dog ' s special
p o w e r s e n a b l e d i t t o w a r n y o u . "
" W h e r e ' s t h i s t h i n g b u r i e d ? " M i c h i n a g a d e m a n d e d t o k n o w . " S h o w i t
t o m e ! "
" C e r t a i n l y , Y o u r E x c e l l e n c y . " Se ime i p e r f o r m e d a n o t h e r d iv ina t ion .
" H e r e i t i s , " he sa id , p o i n t i n g to a p r ec i s e spo t .
S o m e t h i n g w<u b u r i e d t h e r e , five feet d o w n . I t cons i s t ed of t w o u n -
g l a z e d c u p s b o u n d t o g e t h e r , l ip t o l ip, w i t h s t r i n g m a d e o f t w i s t e d y e l l o w
p a p e r . T h e s t r i n g w a s t ied i n a c r o s s . T h e objec t t u r n e d ou t t o be e m p t y
e x c e p t for t h e c h a r a c t e r " o n e " w r i t t e n i n c i n n a b a r o n t he b o t t o m o f each
c u p .
" I ' m t h e o n l y o n e w h o k n o w s th i s k i n d o f m a g i c , " said Se ime i . " I
w o n d e r w h e t h e r i t c o u l d be t h a t f o r m e r s t u d e n t o f m i n e , D o m a . Wel l , I'll
f ind o u t . " He t o o k o u t a shee t o f p a p e r w h i c h he folded in to t he s h a p e o f
a b i r d , p r o n o u n c e d a spel l , a n d t o s sed the p a p e r in to t he air . I t t u r n e d
in to a w h i t e h e r o n a n d f l ew off t o w a r d t h e s o u t h . Se imei o r d e r e d t w o
u n d e r l i n g s t o m a r k w h e r e i t c a m e d o w n , a n d t h e y r a n af ter it.
T h e p l a c e w a s a n old m o n k ' s h o u s e . T h e m o n k w a s s u m m a r i l y a r r e s t e d
a n d b r o u g h t b e f o r e H i s E x c e l l e n c y . H e confessed u n d e r i n t e r roga t i on
t h a t he h a d b e e n c o m m i s s i o n e d to lay a c u r s e on t h e r e g e n t by L o r d
A k i m i t s u , t h e M n i s t e r o f t h e Left . M c h i n a g a felt h e real ly s h o u l d s e n d
t h e fe l low i n t o d i s t a n t exi le , b u t i n s t e a d h e jus t p a c k e d h im b a c k t o
H a r i m a p r o v i n c e , w h e r e he w a s from, w i t h a w a r n i n g n e v e r t o do i t
a g a i n .
Af t e r L o r d A k i m i t s u d ied , he b e c a m e a vengefu l g h o s t w h o s e fu r the r
a t t e m p t s t o c u r s e M i c h i n a g a e a r n e d h im t h e n i c k n a m e " G h o u l o f t h e
L e f t . " As for t h e d o g , L o r d M i c h i n a g a loved i t even m o r e after t h a t .
R O B B E R S
6 4 •
GENJO
I n E m p e r o r M u r a k a m i ' s r e ign t h e biwa G e n j o s u d d e n l y d i s a p p e a r e d .
S i n c e t h e mus i ca l i n s t r u m e n t w a s o n e o f t h e imper i a l family 's g r e a t e s t
t r e a s u r e s , t h e e m p e r o r t o o k its loss v e r y h a r d . T o t h i n k t h a t G e n j o h a d
v a n i s h e d d u r i n g hu< r e i g n ! P e r h a p s i t h a d b e e n s to len , b u t i f so, t h e th ie f
w o u l d n e v e r b e a b l e t o k e e p it. N o , n o o n e w o u l d h a v e t a k e n t h e i n s t r u -
m e n t u n l e s s h e h a d a spec ia l g r u d g e a g a i n s t t he e m p e r o r a n d w a n t e d
o n l y t o d a m a g e o r d e s t r o y it.
H a k u g a n o S a m m i , t h e r e n o w n e d mus i c i an , w a s still g r i e v i n g o v e r
G e n j o ' s d i s a p p e a r a n c e w h e n , la te o n e n igh t a t t h e pa l ace af ter e v e r y o n e
h a d g o n e t o b e d , h e h e a r d i t b e i n g p l a y e d s o m e w h e r e t o t h e s o u t h . H o w
e x t r a o r d i n a r y ! H e t h o u g h t his e a r s m u s t b e p l a y i n g t r i c k s o n h im a n d
l i s t ened a g a i n . N o , i t w a s c e r t a i n l y G e n j o . S a m m i cou ld h a r d l y be l i eve it.
W i t h o u t a w o r d to a n y o n e , he set ou t w i t h a s ingle p a g e , p a s s e d t h e
G a t e G u a r d s ' h e a d q u a r t e r s , a n d left t h e pa l ace g r o u n d s b y t h e S u z a k u
G a t e . G e n j o w a s still s o m e w h e r e i n f ront o f h im . H e s t a r t e d d o w n S u -
z a k u A v e n u e . I t s o u n d e d a s t h o u g h t h e th ie f m u s t b e p l a y i n g for his o w n
p l e a s u r e i n t h e l o o k o u t t o w e r f u r t h e r on , b u t n o , t h a t w a s still no t it. A t
last S a m m i s t o p p e d u n d e r t h e R a s h o G a t e a t t h e o t h e r e n d o f t h e a v e n u e .
S o m e o n e w a s p l a y i n g G e n j o i n t h e g a t e ' s u p p e r s t o ry . T h i s w a s a n -
o t h e r m y s t e r y , b e c a u s e in a p l ace l ike t h a t t h e p l a y e r co u l d h a r d l y be
h u m a n . W h y , i t m u s t b e a d e m o n ! T h e m u s i c s t o p p e d , t h e n b e g a n a g a i n .
" W h o ' s t h a t u p t h e r e p l a y i n g G e n j o ? " ca l led S a m m i . " H i s M a j e s t y ' s
b e e n l o o k i n g for i t e v e r s i nce i t w a s mi s sed , a n d t o n i g h t I h e a r d i t all t h e
w a y u p a t t h e p a l a c e . I 've c o m e t o ge t i t ! "
T h e p l a y i n g s t o p p e d a g a i n , t h e n w i t h a s t a r t S a m m i no t i ced s o m e t h i n g
c o m i n g d o w n f rom up t h e r e . I t w a s G e n j o , b e i n g l o w e r e d a t t h e e n d o f a
r o p e . S a m m i n e r v o u s l y c a u g h t i t a n d t o o k i t b a c k t o t h e p a l a c e .
T h e e m p e r o r w a s t r e m e n d o u s l y re l ieved , b u t h e c e r t a i n l y f o u n d i t
8 8
a l a r m i n g t h a t G e n j o s h o u l d h a v e b e e n s to len by a d e m o n . As for S a m m i ,
e v e r y o n e w a s v e r y i m p r e s s e d w i t h w h a t h e h a d d o n e .
G e n j o is still an imper i a l t r e a s u r e . I t is l ike a l iving th ing , for w h e n
b a d l y p l a y e d o r a l l o w e d t o g a t h e r d u s t i t ge t s a n g r y a n d refuses t o s o u n d .
A n d o n c e , w h e n t h e p a l a c e b u r n e d d o w n a n d n o b o d y r e s c u e d it, Gen jo
g o t o u t i n t o t h e g a r d e n a w a y f rom t h e f lames all by itself.
b~ 5 .
THE RASHO GATE
O n c e a m a n c a m e u p f rom S e t t s u p r o v i n c e t o t h e Cap i t a l i n o r d e r t o
s t ea l . S i n c e i t w a s still d a y l i g h t w h e n h e a r r i v e d , h e hid ou t u n d e r t h e
R a s h o G a t e , t h e s o u t h e r n g a t e t o t h e c i ty . N o r t h w a r d , s t r a igh t t o w a r d
t h e p a l a c e c o m p o u n d , s t r e t c h e d S u z a k u A v e n u e . A t th i s h o u r i t w a s still
b u s t l i n g w i t h p e o p l e , a n d t h e m a n w a i t e d p a t i e n t l y u n d e r t he ga t e for t h e
c i ty t o q u i e t d o w n . T h e n h e h e a r d a l a rge g r o u p a p p r o a c h i n g t h e ga t e
f rom t h e s o u t h . T o a v o i d b e i n g seen , h e s tole u p t o t h e ga t e ' s t o p s to ry ,
w h i c h f o r m e d a r o o m .
A d i m l igh t w a s b u r n i n g i n t h e g l o o m . S t r a n g e ! He p e e r e d i n t h r o u g h
t h e l a t t i c e w o r k w i n d o w s a n d s a w s t r e t c h e d be fo re h im t h e c o r p s e o f a
y o u n g w o m a n . T h e l ight w a s b y h e r h e a d w h e r e a n a n c i e n t c r o n e w a s
r o u g h l y p i c k i n g o u t t h e c o r p s e ' s h a i r .
F o r all t h e f r i g h t e n e d th ie f k n e w , t h e c r o n e cou ld be a d e m o n or a
g h o s t , b u t h e d e c i d e d t o t r y g i v i n g h e r a s c a r e . H e o p e n e d t h e d o o r softly,
d r e w h is d a g g e r , a n d c h a r g e d i n w i t h a s h o u t . T h e terr i f ied c r o n e w r u n g
h e r h a n d s in a f ran t i c p l ea for m e r c y .
" W h o a r e y o u , o ld w o m a n , a n d w h a t a r e y o u d o i n g h e r e ? " s n a r l e d t h e
thief.
" M y m i s t r e s s d i ed , sir , a n d t h e r e w a s n o o n e t o d o t h e needful for her ,
so I b r o u g h t h e r up h e r e . Y o u see , sir , h e r h a i r i s l o n g e r t h a n she w a s
tal l , a n d I 'm p i c k i n g i t o u t to m a k e a w i g . P l ea se , sir, d o n ' t kill m e ! "
T h e th ie f t o o k t h e c o r p s e ' s c lo thes a n d t h e old w o m a n ' s , p i c k e d u p t h e
p i le o f loose ha i r , d a s h e d b a c k d o w n , a n d fled.
Y e s , t h e u p p e r s t o r y o f t h e R a s h o G a t e u s e d t o b e full o f h u m a n
s k e l e t o n s . I f p e o p l e c o u l d n ' t p r o v i d e a p r o p e r funera l t h e y w o u l d s o m e -
t i m e s j u s t l eave t h e c o r p s e u p t h e r e i n s t e a d .
6 Q .
THE SELFLESS THIEF
H a v i n g n o se t t l ed p l a c e t o l ive, a L o t u s S u t r a d e v o t e e n a m e d S h u n c h o
w a n d e r e d h e r e a n d t h e r e a s t h e sp i r i t m o v e d h i m . W h e n h e s a w s o m e o n e
i n p a i n , t h a t p a i n b e c a m e his o w n ; a n d t h e s a m e w i t h a n o t h e r ' s j oy .
T h e s igh t o f t h e C a p i t a l ' s t w o p r i s o n s , o n e i n t h e eas t o f t h e ci ty a n d
o n e i n t h e w e s t , c a u s e d S h u n c h o d e e p s o r r o w . H e u n d e r s t o o d t h a t t h e
p r i s o n e r s h a d b e e n s e n t e n c e d for t h e i r c r i m e s , b u t h e still w a n t e d t o h e l p
t h e m by p l a n t i n g i n t h e m t h e s eed o f fu tu re b u d d h a h o o d . O t h e r w i s e , i f
t h e y d i ed i n p r i s o n , t h e y w o u l d b e r e b o r n a m o n g t h e b e a s t s o r t h e s t a r v -
ing g h o s t s , o r e v e n w o r s e , s q u a r e l y i n hel l . He w o u l d h a v e t o c o m m i t a
c r i m e t o ge t h imse l f a r r e s t e d a n d sen t t o jail s o t h a t h e co u l d c h a n t t h e
S u t r a for t h e p r i s o n e r s .
S h u n c h o b r o k e i n t o a m a n s i o n , s to le a g o l d e n b o w l , a n d w e n t s t r a i g h t
t o a g a m b l i n g d e n t o s h o w t h e b o w l off. T h e g a m b l e r s w e r e s u r p r i s e d t o
r e c o g n i z e i t a s o n e t h a t h a d jus t b e e n r e p o r t e d s to len , a n d t h e t i p s o o n
r e a c h e d t h e a u t h o r i t i e s . S h u n c h o w a s a r r e s t e d , i n t e r r o g a t e d , a n d t h r o w n
i n ja i l . O f c o u r s e th i s w a s jus t w h a t h e w a n t e d . H e s t a r t e d r igh t i n
c h a n t i n g S u t r a for t h e i n m a t e s , w h o w e p t t o h e a r h im a n d r e v e r e n t l y
t o u c h e d t h e i r f o r e h e a d s t o t h e g r o u n d .
W h e n w o r d o f his i m p r i s o n m e n t r e a c h e d t h e l o rds a n d ladies o f t h e
c o u r t , t h e y i n f o r m e d t h e chief o f t h e Imper i a l Po l ice t h a t S h u n c h o w a s a
ho ly m a n a n d u r g e d his r e l ea se . T h e chief o f po l ice , for his p a r t , h a d a
d r e a m . T h e B o d h i s a t t v a F u g e n , s h i n i n g a n d r i d ing a w h i t e e l e p h a n t ,
c a m e t o t h e p r i s o n w i t h a b o w l o f r i c e . H e to ld t h e g u a r d s t h a t h e w a s
b r i n g i n g r i c e , a s h e d id e v e r y d a y , t o S h u n c h o w h o w a s i m p r i s o n e d t h e r e .
O n a w a k i n g , t h e ch ie f o f po l i ce h a d S h u n c h o re leased i m m e d i a t e l y .
A l t h o u g h he g o t h imse l f i n to jail ha l f a d o z e n t imes , S h u n c h o n e v e r
m a n a g e d t o s t a y t h e r e l o n g . T h e n o n e d a y t h e po l ice c a u g h t h im a g a i n ,
a n d th i s t i m e h a d a m e e t i n g a b o u t h i m . T h e y w e r e s u r e b y n o w t h a t h e
w a s a h a r d e n e d c r i m i n a l a n d t h a t t h a n k s t o r e p e a t e d re lease h e w a s
s imp ly e n j o y i n g free l i cense t o s t ea l . H e w o u l d h a v e t o b e dea l t w i t h m o r e
seve re ly . T h e y d e c i d e d t o c u t off h i s k n e e c a p s a n d m a k e s u r e h e s e r v e d
a g o o d l o n g s e n t e n c e . A c o r p s of officers m a r c h e d S h u n c h o off to o n e of
t h e imper i a l r i d i n g g r o u n d s t o e x e c u t e t h e p u n i s h m e n t , b u t S h u n c h o
c h a n t e d t h e L o t u s S u t r a s o m o v i n g l y t h a t t h e y d i s so lved i n t e a r s a n d let
h im g o .
A g a i n t h e ch ie f of po l i ce h a d a d r e a m . A beaut i fu l b o y in c o u r t d r e s s
9 0
to ld h i m t h a t S h u n c h o s to le o n l y in o r d e r t o ge t in to jail a n d save t h e
p r i s o n e r s t h e r e . " T h i s i s his s e v e n t h a r r e s t , " t h e b o y r e m i n d e d the
d r e a m e r . " H e m i g h t a s wel l b e t h e B u d d h a h imsel f !" T h e chief o f pol ice
w a s e v e n m o r e d e e p l y i m p r e s s e d t h a n be fo re .
I n t i m e S h u n c h o d i e d b y t h e h o r s e stal ls o n t he s a m e r id ing g r o u n d
w h e r e h e h a d o n c e n e a r l y c o m e t o grief. S i n c e t h e r e w a s n o o n e t o
look a f te r h i m , h i s b o d y lay t h e r e u n t e n d e d , b u t t he n e i g h b o r h o o d be -
g a n t o h e a r e v e r y n i g h t a vo ice c h a n t i n g t h e L o t u s S u t r a . N o b o d y k n e w
w h e r e i t w a s c o m i n g f rom. T h e n a n o t h e r ho ly m a n t o o k S h u n c h o ' s
s k e l e t o n a w a y d e e p in to t h e m o u n t a i n s , a n d t h e vo ice w a s n e v e r h e a r d
a g a i n .
6 7 .
AUTHORITY
T h e s e a s o n e d w a r r i o r F u j i w a r a n o C h i k a t a k a l ived i n K o z u k e p r o v i n c e .
O n c e a r o b b e r g o t c a u g h t i n C h i k a t a k a ' s h o u s e a n d w a s c l a p p e d in i rons
o n t h e s p o t . T h e n h e s l i p p e d free s o m e h o w , a n d s ince e s c a p e w a s impos -
s ib le , he t o o k C h i k a t a k a ' s l i t t le son h o s t a g e , d a s h e d in to a r o o m , p i n n e d
t h e b o y t o t h e f loor, a n d w a i t e d w i t h his d a g g e r po i sed a t t he ch i ld ' s
s t o m a c h .
C h i k a t a k a w a s a t h o m e a t t h e t i m e . " H e ' s t a k e n t h e y o u n g m a s t e r
h o s t a g e , s i r ! " c r i e d t h e r e t a i n e r w h o r u s h e d t o h im w i t h t h e r e p o r t .
W h e n C h i k a t a k a s a w w i t h h i s o w n eyes h o w t r u e th i s w a s , h is s ight
d i m m e d a n d h e t h o u g h t all w a s lost . I f o n l y h e cou ld get t he d a g g e r a w a y
f rom t h e m a n ! B u t t h e r o b b e r h a d t h e g l i t t e r ing b l ade p r e s s e d t o his son ' s
s k i n . " Y o u g e t a n y c l o s e r a n d I'll r u n h im t h r o u g h ! " h e s n a r l e d . I t w a s
n o t w o r t h t h e r i sk , n o i n d e e d !
" S t a y a w a y ! " C h i k a t a k a o r d e r e d his r e t a i n e r s . " J u s t k e e p a n eye o n
h i m f rom a d i s t a n c e ! I'll go a n d in fo rm t h e g o v e r n o r . "
T h e g o v e r n o r w a s M i n a m o t o n o Y o r i n o b u , a v e r y old fr iend i n d e e d
s ince C h i k a t a k a ' s m o t h e r h a d b e e n Y o r i n o b u ' s w e t n u r s e . H e l ived
n e a r b y . C h i k a t a k a b u r s t in on h im in a pan i c , b l u r t e d ou t t he s to ry , a n d
w e p t .
Y o r i n o b u s m i l e d . " I u n d e r s t a n d h o w y o u feel ," h e said, " b u t th is i s n o
t i m e for t e a r s . Y o u s h o u l d b e s t a n d i n g u p t o th i s fellow, n e v e r m i n d
w h e t h e r he ' s a m a n , a g o d , o r a d e m o n . D o n ' t y o u real ize y o u look an
awful fool, c a r r y i n g on th i s w a y like a b a b y ? H e ' s o n l y a little boy , y o u
k n o w ! Let h im be ki l led! That's t h e w a y a w a r r i o r t h i n k s . All th is t e n d e r
love for wife a n d c h i l d r e n jus t d r a g s a m a n d o w n . B e i n g fear less m e a n s
no t c a r i n g a b o u t y o u r o w n life o r y o u r family 's . B u t a n y w a y , I'll g o a n d
h a v e a l o o k . "
W i t h his s w o r d a t h is s ide , Y o r i n o b u s t r o d e off t o w a r d C h i k a t a k a ' s
h o u s e . T h e r o b b e r r e c o g n i z e d h im w h e n h e l o o k e d in to t h e r o o m . F a r
from t h r e a t e n i n g h im a s h e h a d C h i k a t a k a , t h e r o b b e r s imply g l o w e r e d
t o w a r d t h e floor, p o k e d his d a g g e r a t t h e b o y a little h a r d e r , a n d m a d e i t
p la in t h a t i f t h e g o v e r n o r c a m e a n y c lose r t h e b o y ( w h o w a s b a w l i n g
lus t i ly) w o u l d d ie .
" W e l l ? D i d y o u t a k e h im h o s t a g e t o k e e p y o u r s e l f al ive, o r d o y o u
p lan t o kill h i m ? " Y o r i n o b u a s k e d . " A n s w e r m e ! "
" H o w cou ld I pos s ib ly mean to kill h im, s i r ? " r ep l i ed t he r o b b e r g l o o m -
ily. " B u t I d o n ' t w a n t to d i e myself. I t h o u g h t t a k i n g h im m i g h t h e l p me
s t ay a l i v e . "
" I see . T h e n ge t r id o f t h a t d a g g e r ! You ' l l d o t h a t for me , w o n ' t y o u ?
I d o n ' t w a n t to see y o u h a v e to kill a ch i ld . Y o u k n o w the k i n d of m a n I
a m , I 'm s u r e . N o w , d r o p i t ! "
T h e r o b b e r t h o u g h t for a m o m e n t . " T h a n k y o u , s i r , " h e sa id . " I rea l ly
h a v e n o cho ice , d o I ? " H e t h r e w t h e d a g g e r a c r o s s t h e r o o m , lifted t h e
b o y to his feet, a n d let h im g o . T h e b o y r a n off.
Y o r i n o b u s t e p p e d b a c k in to t h e g a r d e n w h i l e o n e o f his m e n d r a g g e d
t h e r o b b e r o u t b y t h e co l la r . C h i k a t a k a a s s u m e d t h e g o v e r n o r w o u l d
e x e c u t e t h e fe l low o n t h e s p o t a n d let t h e d o g s h a v e his b o d y .
" F i n e , " sa id Y o r i n o b u . " H e let his h o s t a g e g o v e r y nicely . P o v e r t y
m a d e h im s tea l , a n d h e t o o k a h o s t a g e on ly t o s u r v i v e . W e n e e d n ' t ho ld
a n y of t h a t a g a i n s t h i m . W h e n I to ld h im to re lease his h o s t a g e , he d id .
H e ' s n o fool. Le t h im g o . "
" N o w t h e n , " h e w e n t o n t o t h e r o b b e r , "tell m e w h a t y o u n e e d . " T h e
r o b b e r w a s t oo d i s so lved i n t e a r s t o a n s w e r .
" G i v e h im s o m e food , " Y o r i n o b u o r d e r e d . " H e ' s a l r e a d y c o m m i t t e d
c r imes , a n d he m a y e n d up ki l l ing s o m e o n e af ter all. G e t a g o o d s t r o n g
w o r k h o r s e ou t o f t h e s t ab les , p u t a c h e a p s a d d l e on it, a n d b r i n g i t h e r e . "
S o m e o n e w e n t for t h e h o r s e w h i l e Y o r i n o b u sen t s o m e o n e else for a n o ld
b o w a n d q u i v e r . W h e n t h e t h i n g s a r r i v e d , Y o r i n o b u p u t t h e q u i v e r o n
t h e m a n ' s b a c k a n d set h im o n t h e h o r s e , w i t h t en d a y s ' w o r t h o f p a r c h e d
r ice in a b a g s l u n g from his w a i s t .
" N o w ge t o u t o f h e r e ! " h e c o m m a n d e d . T h e m a n ga l loped a w a y a t t o p
s p e e d .
Oi M i t s u t o , a w r e s t l e r w h o l ived in t he p r o v i n c e o f Kai , w a s s t o c k y a n d
f ierce, i m m e n s e l y s t r o n g , a n d w o n d e r f u l l y swift o f foot. In c h a r a c t e r a n d
p h y s i q u e he w a s a m o d e l for h is p ro fe s s ion .
M i t s u t o ' s y o u n g e r s is ter , a s l ende r , p r e t t y w o m a n in h e r late t w e n t i e s ,
l ived a s h o r t w a y f rom h e r b r o t h e r . O n c e a f leeing r o b b e r s t o r m e d in to
h e r h o u s e , d r e w his d a g g e r , a n d t o o k h e r h o s t a g e .
A s e r v a n t r a n w i t h t h e n e w s t o M i t s u t o , w h o r e m a i n e d u n t r o u b l e d .
" H e m u s t be a rea l c h a m p i o n to h a v e t a k e n her h o s t a g e , " w a s all he
w o u l d s a y . T h e p u z z l e d s e r v a n t r a n b a c k t o t h e h o u s e a n d p e e r e d i n
t h r o u g h a c r a c k . T h e r e lay his m i s t r e s s d r e s s e d in a th in m a u v e r o b e a n d
a p i n k t r o u s e r - s k i r t l ined w i t h g r e e n . T h e m a n , h u g e a n d t e r r ib l e , h a d
h e r c l a m p e d b e t w e e n his legs f rom b e h i n d a n d w a s h o l d i n g the po in t o f
h is g r e a t d a g g e r t o h e r s t o m a c h . H e r left h a n d w a s ove r h e r face a n d she
w a s c r y i n g . H e r r i g h t h a n d w a s t o y i n g w i t h s o m e a r r o w shafts w h i c h lay
s c a t t e r e d o n t h e f loor . W h e n s h e p i c k e d u p a t o u g h b a m b o o shaft a n d
r a n its e n d a l o n g t h e b o a r d s , t h e shaft w o u l d b r e a k l ike ro t t en w o o d . T h e
r o b b e r d o u b t e d t h a t M i t s u t o h imse l f cou ld b r e a k a n a r r o w shaft like tha t ,
e v e n i f he b a s h e d a t i t w i t h an i ron h a m m e r . Afra id he m i g h t be t o rn to
p i e c e s t o o , he t i m e d his m o v e a s bes t he cou ld a n d f l ed , on ly t o be c a u g h t ,
b o u n d , a n d h a u l e d off t o M i t s u t o .
M i t s u t o a s k e d h im w h y h e h a d r u n a n d l a u g h e d w h e n h e h e a r d t he
s t o r y . " Y o u ' d n e v e r h a v e g o t t e n y o u r d a g g e r in to h e r , " h e sa id . " S h e ' d
h a v e t o r n y o u r a r m off. Y o u w e r e l u c k y she d i d n ' t . E v e n I cou ld h a n d l e
y o u w i t h ea se , b u t she ' s a s s t r o n g a s t w o o f m e . S h e looks like a p r e t t y
s l ip of a t h i n g , y e s , b u t I'll n e v e r bea t he r . I t ' s a s h a m e she ' s a w o m a n , i t
r ea l ly is. I f s h e w e r e a m a n , n o b o d y w o u l d s t a n d a c h a n c e aga ins t h e r . "
T h e r o b b e r a l m o s t d i ed . H e h a d p i c k e d q u i t e a h o s t a g e .
" I s u p p o s e I o u g h t to kill y o u , " M i t s u t o w e n t on , " a n d I w o u l d i f y o u ' d
e v e r b e e n a rea l d a n g e r t o m y s is ter . H o w r igh t y o u w e r e t o get o u t ! S h e
c a n b r e a k a s t a g ' s a n t l e r s o v e r h e r k n e e , y o u k n o w , like a d e a d t w i g . "
M i t s u t o b r u s q u e l y t h r e w t h e r o b b e r ou t t h e d o o r .
G 8 .
THE WRESTLER'S SISTER
6 9 .
TO SOOTHE THE SAVAGE BREAST
A hichiriki L< a .una// /'til .nirpruungty lota) reet) iiLUrnmenl math of bamboo.
A musician named Mochimitsu was on his way home from a trip to Tosa province when, at a harbor in Aki, he was attacked by pirates. Having no skill at arms, he was quite unable to defend himself and was sure he was going to be killed.
He had taken refuge on top of his ship's cabin. At the last moment he took out his hichirikiand shouted, "You pirates, listen to me! I'm defense- less, as you can see. Help yourselves to anything you want! But I'd just like you to hear this piece on the hichiriki. I've been working on it for years. It'll be something for you to remember today by!"
"All right, men!" shouted the pirates' leader. "Hold it! We're going to listen to some music!"
When the pirates had quieted down, the weeping Mochimitsu began to play. This was the last time he would ever make music, and he poured his whole soul into the piece. The beautiful sound of his instrument floated far out over the waves and filled the bay where the ship was moored. It was just like a scene in an old tale.
The pirates listened in perfect silence. When the music was over, their leader loudly declared, "I came because I wanted your ship, but your playing has brought tears to my eyes. I couldn't possibly harm you now! "
The pirates rowed away.
9 4
THE BUDDHA WITH LOTS OF HANDS
I n t h e s u m m e r o f 1278 a n e p i d e m i c s t r u c k t h e E a s t a n d m a n y p e o p l e
d i e d . A b o y I k n e w wel l c a u g h t t h e s i c k n e s s . As he lay t h e r e he c r ied ou t
t h a t s o m e c h i l d r e n w e r e t o r m e n t i n g h im, a n d c o m p l a i n e d t h a t h e felt
awfu l . S e v e r a l m o n k s t h e n c h a n t e d t h e D a r a n i o f T h o u s a n d - A r m e d K a n -
n o n for h i m . T h e y h a d o n l y r e p e a t e d i t t w e n t y - o n e t imes w h e n h e ex-
c l a i m e d , " A b u d d h a w i t h lots o f h a n d s c a m e ou t o f t he t e m p l e a n d hit
t h o s e c h i l d r e n o n t h e h e a d ! T h e y r a n a w a y t o t h e n o r t h , a n d t h e y w e r e
a n g r y a n d c r y i n g . T h e b u d d h a c h a s e d t h e m a w a y ! " T h e n h e w a s wel l
a g a i n .
I s a w th i s w i t h m y o w n e y e s .
7 1 •
THE PROTECTOR SPIRIT
L o r d M o t o t s u n e , t h e c h a n c e l l o r , o n c e c a u g h t a n i l lness t h a t w a s go ing
r o u n d a n d h a d h e a l i n g r i t es d o n e for himself. All t he b e s t - k n o w n m o n k s
c r o w d e d in to h i s m a n s i o n , w h i c h r a n g w i t h t h e d in o f the i r c h a n t i n g .
N o m o n k f rom G o k u r a k u j i w a s cal led, t h o u g h his l o r d s h i p h a d
f o u n d e d t h e t e m p l e himself ; b u t o n e G o k u r a k u j i m o n k w h o k n e w h o w
m u c h h e o w e d M o t o t s u n e , a n d w h a t a fix h e w o u l d b e i n s h o u l d M o t o -
t s u n e d ie , w e n t t o t h e m a n s i o n a n y w a y w i t h t h e S u t r a o f t he B e n e v o l e n t
K i n g . F i n d i n g t h e p l a c e c r o w d e d a n d noisy , he sat off in a d i s t an t co r r i -
d o r a n d b e g a n c h a n t i n g t h e s a c r e d t ex t . N o o n e pa id a n y a t t en t i o n t o
h i m .
7 ° •
F o u r h o u r s l a t e r H i s L o r d s h i p a s k e d for t h e m o n k b y n a m e a n d w a s
to ld y e s , h e h a d b e e n s e e n o u t b y t h e m i d d l e g a t e . W h e n M o t o t s u n e
ac tua l ly s en t for h i m , his a t t e n d a n t s w o n d e r e d w h a t h e co u l d poss ib ly
w a n t w i t h s u c h a n o b o d y .
T h e G o k u r a k u j i m o n k c a m e i n a n d sa t a t t h e e d g e o f t h e r o o m , b e h i n d
t h e r o w s o f p r e l a t e s , b u t M o t o t s u n e w a s no t c o n t e n t till h e h a d t h e
G o k u r a k u j i m o n k b y h i m . S i n c e s o far h e h a d b e e n t o o w e a k e v e n t o
s p e a k , h is a t t e n d a n t s w e r e a m a z e d t o see h im g o t o s o m u c h t r o u b l e .
" I d r e a m e d t h a t f iends w e r e af ter m e , " M o t o t s u n e to ld t he m o n k , "till
a y o u n g b o y c a m e f rom t h e m i d d l e g a t e a n d bea t t h e m off w i t h his staff.
T h e y all fled. T h e b o y sa id he w a s a p r o t e c t o r sp i r i t w h o s e r v e d you, a n d
he to ld me y o u ' d b e e n c h a n t i n g t h e S u t r a o f t h e B e n e v o l e n t K i n g for m e .
I w o k e u p feel ing m u c h b e t t e r a n d I w a n t e d t o t h a n k y o u p e r s o n a l l y . "
M o t o t s u n e b o w e d to t h e m o n k , ca l led for a r o b e from a r a c k n e a r b y , a n d
p u t i t o v e r t h e m o n k ' s s h o u l d e r s w i t h his o w n h a n d s . " B e s u r e y o u k e e p
p r a y i n g for m e w h e n y o u ge t h o m e ! " h e b e g g e d .
T h e m o n k , w h o m n o o n e h a d n o t i c e d w h i l e h e c h a n t e d s o d e v o t e d l y i n
his r e m o t e c o r r i d o r , w i t h d r e w from t h e m a n s i o n c o v e r e d w i t h g lo ry .
7 2 •
THE FLYING STOREHOUSE
O n c e a m o n k f rom a r e m o t e p a r t o f J a p a n w e n t t o ge t p r o p e r l y o r d a i n e d
a t Toda i j i i n N a r a . A f t e r w a r d s h e d e c i d e d t o s t ay on , r a t h e r t h a n r e t u r n
t o his p r i m i t i v e h i n t e r l a n d , a n d p r a y e d t o t h e G r e a t B u d d h a o f Todai j i t o
h e l p h im c h o o s e w h e r e t o l ive. A t t h a t m o m e n t h e n o t i c e d M o u n t Shig i
l o o m i n g in t h e d i s t a n c e t o w a r d t h e s o u t h w e s t . He se t t l ed t h e r e , bu i l t a
little c h a p e l , a n d t o o k up t h e a sce t i c life. S o o n a fine litt le image of
B i s h a m o n m a t e r i a l i z e d for his m o d e s t a l t a r .
T h e m o n k ' s b e g g i n g b o w l w o u l d fly d o w n e v e r y d a y for a l m s to a r i ch
m a n w h o l ived b e l o w t h e m o u n t a i n , a n d e v e r y d a y t h e r ich m a n w o u l d
fill it. B u t o n e d a y t h e r i ch m a n h a p p e n e d to be w o r k i n g in his b ig
s t o r e h o u s e w h e n t h e b e g g i n g b o w l a r r i v e d . " B o t h e r t h a t g r e e d y b o w l ! "
he m u t t e r e d , a n d i n s t e a d of filling it, t o s s e d i t in to a c o r n e r . T h e b o w l
w a i t e d pa t i en t l y , b u t e v e n t u a l l y t h e m a n t id ied u p a n d left, l o c k i n g t h e
s t o r e h o u s e d o o r b e h i n d h i m . H e h a d fo rgo t t en all a b o u t t h e b o w l .
T h e s t o r e h o u s e b e g a n t o t r e m b l e a n d s h a k e , m u c h t o t h e h o u s e h o l d ' s
9 6
a m a z e m e n t , till i t s h o o k itself loose a n d h o v e r e d , v i b r a t i n g , a foot off the
g r o u n d . " O f c o u r s e ! " t h e r i ch m a n rea l i zed . " O f c o u r s e ! I t m u s t b e tha t
b o w l ! I left i t in t h e r e ! " M e a n w h i l e t h e b o w l s q u e e z e d its w a y out , got
u n d e r t h e s t o r e h o u s e , a n d c a r r i e d i t off a h u n d r e d feet up in t he a i r .
T h e r e w a s a n u p r o a r b e l o w . T h e r ich m a n cou ld on ly follow t o see
w h e r e h i s s t o r e h o u s e w o u l d g o , a n d e v e r y o n e else t r o o p e d i n confus ion
a f te r h i m . T h e s t o r e h o u s e f lew t o t h e t o p o f t h e m o u n t a i n a n d c a m e d o w n
w i t h a t h u d n e x t t o t h e m o n k ' s h u t .
T h e r ich m a n w a s c e r t a i n l y a w e d , b u t he still felt he s h o u l d say s o m e -
t h i n g . H e r e m i n d e d t h e m o n k h o w fai thfully h e n o r m a l l y filled t he b o w l
a n d e x p l a i n e d h o w t o d a y h e jus t h a p p e n e d t o h a v e s h u t i t t h o u g h t l e s s l y
in t h e s t o r e h o u s e . He e n d e d w i t h a p l ea for t h e r e t u r n o f his p r o p e r t y .
" T h i s i s all v e r y s t r a n g e , " t h e m o n k rep l i ed , " b u t n o w t h e s t o r e h o u s e
is h e r e I d o n ' t see h o w I can g ive it b a c k . I h a v e n o t h i n g like it myse l f
a n d I c a n c e r t a i n l y u s e it. B u t y o u ' r e w e l c o m e to t h e c o n t e n t s . "
" H o w a m I g o i n g t o ge t all t h a t r ice b a c k d o w n t h e m o u n t a i n ? T h e r e
a r e a t h o u s a n d s a c k s in t h e r e ! "
" T h a t ' s e a s y . I'll do i t for y o u . "
T h e m o n k h a d a s a c k l o a d e d o n t o t he b o w l , t h e n sen t t h e b o w l f l y i n g
in to t h e a i r . All t h e o t h e r s a c k s fol lowed af ter i t like a f lock of geese .
" W a i t ! " c r i e d t h e r i ch m a n . " D o n ' t r e t u r n t h e m all! K e e p a c o u p l e o f
h u n d r e d for y o u r s e l f ! "
T h e m o n k r e f u s e d o n t h e g r o u n d s t h a t h e w o u l d no t k n o w w h a t t o d o
w i t h s o m u c h r i ce .
" T h e n k e e p a c o u p l e o f d o z e n s a c k s a n y w a y , " t h e r ich m a n p l e a d e d ,
" a s m u c h a s y o u c a n u s e ! T h e y ' r e y o u r s ! "
T h e m o n k sa id th i s w a s still far t oo m u c h a n d re fused a g a i n . E v e r y
s ing le s a c k a r r i v e d i n g o o d o r d e r b a c k a t t he r ich m a n ' s h o u s e . T h e
m o n k ' s f ame s p r e a d far a n d w i d e .
A b o u t t h a t t i m e E m p e r o r D a i g o h a p p e n e d t o b e c o m e v e r y ill. All so r t s
o f p r a y e r s a n d r i t es t r i ed on his b e h a l f b r o u g h t h im no relief. F ina l ly an
official t h o u g h t o f t h e ho ly m a n o f M o u n t Sh ig i . " H e n e v e r c o m e s d o w n
f rom h is m o u n t a i n a t a l l , " t h e official r e p o r t e d . " H e h a s s u c h e x t r a o r d i -
n a r y p o w e r s , y o u see , t h a t h e c a n h a v e his b e g g i n g b o w l fly d o w n b y
i tself t o g e t h i m food, s o h e h a s w h a t h e n e e d s w i t h o u t g o i n g a n y w h e r e .
I f y o u s u m m o n h i m , Y o u r M a j e s t y , I t h i n k y o u will find t h a t he can c u r e
y o u . " T h e e m p e r o r a g r e e d a n d sen t for t h e ho ly m a n .
T h e m e s s e n g e r w a s a w e d , t oo , w h e n h e d e l i v e r e d t he imper ia l s u m -
m o n s . T h e m o n k j u s t a s k e d w h a t H i s M a j e s t y w a n t e d him for a n d g a v e
n o s ign o f m o v i n g . T h e m e s s e n g e r e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e e m p e r o r w a s ill a n d
t h a t h is p r a y e r s w e r e r e q u i r e d .
" I d o n ' t h a v e t o g o t o h i m , " t h e m o n k sa id . " I c a n heal h im per fec t ly
wel l f rom h e r e ! "
" B u t i f y o u d o , h o w will h e k n o w y o u ' r e t h e o n e h e h a s t o t h a n k ? "
" W h a t d i f fe rence d o e s i t m a k e w h e t h e r o r n o t h e k n o w s w h o c u r e d
h i m ? A s l o n g a s h e ' s c u r e d , t h a t ' s all t h a t m a t t e r s . "
" S t i l l , " t h e m e s s e n g e r ins i s ted , " t h e r e a r e a lot o f p e o p l e p r a y i n g for
h im a n d i t w o u l d b e b e t t e r t o b e c l ea r a b o u t w h o s e p r a y e r s w o r k e d . "
"All r igh t , t h e n , " t h e m o n k c o n c e d e d . "I ' l l s e n d m y sp i r i t - he lpe r , t h e
S w o r d G u a r d i a n . I f H i s M a j e s t y sees t h e sp i r i t in a d r e a m or v i s ion , he' l l
k n o w t h a t h e c o m e s f rom m e . T h e S w o r d G u a r d i a n w e a r s a c loak w o v e n
o f s w o r d s . As for m e , I 'm s t a y i n g h e r e . "
T h e m e s s e n g e r r e t u r n e d t o t h e C a p i t a l a n d r e p o r t e d w h a t t h e ho ly m a n
h a d sa id . T h r e e d a y s l a t e r t h e e m p e r o r w a s n a p p i n g i n b r o a d d a y l i g h t
w h e n h e s a w s o m e t h i n g g l i t t e r . H e rea l i zed i t m u s t b e t h e ho ly m a n ' s
g u a r d i a n sp i r i t . I n s t a n t l y h e felt pe r fec t ly we l l . T h e c o u r t w a s i m m e n s e l y
re l i eved a n d i m p r e s s e d w i t h t h e e v i d e n c e o f t h e m o n k ' s p o w e r s .
O n c e a g a i n a n imper i a l m e s s e n g e r m a d e his w a y t o M o u n t Shig i , th i s
t ime w i t h t h e offer o f r i ch r e w a r d s . " W o u l d y o u l ike to be a b i s h o p o r an
a r c h b i s h o p ? " t h e e m p e r o r ' s m e s s a g e r a n . " W o u l d y o u l ike a n e s t a t e t o
p r o v i d e i n c o m e for y o u r t e m p l e ? " B u t t h e m o n k sa id h e h a d n o u s e for
t i t les a n d p r o t e s t e d t h a t a n e s t a t e w o u l d b e far m o r e t r o u b l e t h a n i t w a s
w o r t h . "I ' l l j u s t s t a y a s I a m , " he d e c l a r e d , till t h e m e s s e n g e r g a v e up a n d
w e n t a w a y .
All t h a t w a s m a n y y e a r s a g o . T h e ho ly m a n ' s f lying s t o r e h o u s e i s still
on t h e m o u n t a i n , w i t h rel ics o f h im still ins ide , t h o u g h n o w i t i s c r u m b l i n g
w i t h a g e . T h o s e w h o a r e b lessed t o o b t a i n t h e smal les t f r a g m e n t o f i ts
w o o d m a k e i t i n to a b u d d h a l ike t h e m o n k ' s o w n , a n d a r e s u r e t o en joy
g o o d f o r t u n e , p e a c e , a n d e a s e . T h e m o n k ' s B i s h a m o n , t oo , i s still o n t h e
m o u n t a i n , a n d c o u n t l e s s p i l g r i m s p a y h o m a g e t o i t t h e r e .
7 3 •
NO RESPECT
S o o , o f M u d o j i on M o u n t Hie i , u s e d to p r a c t i c e r e g u l a r l y a t a t r ip le
wa te r fa l l j u s t n o r t h o f t h e m o u n t a i n , i n v o k i n g t h e r e t h e fiery F u d o . O n c e
h e p r a y e d t o L o r d F u d o : " P u t m e o n y o u r b a c k , t a k e m e t o t h e T o s o t s u
9 8
H e a v e n w h e r e M i r o k u , t h e F u t u r e B u d d h a , l ives! B r i n g m e t o t h e I n n e r
S a n c t u m f rom w h e r e , i n t h e ful lness o f t ime , M i r o k u will be b o r n in to
th i s w o r l d t o s a v e u s ! "
" T h a t ' s n o t e a s y , " F u d o a n s w e r e d , " b u t I'll t a k e y o u t h e r e i f y o u insist .
F i r s t , w a s h y o u r b u t t . "
S o o d u c k e d u n d e r t h e wa te r fa l l , m a d e s u r e his b u t t w a s c lean, go t u p
o n F u d o ' s h e a d , a n d f lew off t o t h e T o s o t s u H e a v e n . W h e n t h e y r e a c h e d
t h e g a t e t o t h e I n n e r S a n c t u m , h e s a w a b o v e i t t h e w o r d s , " L o t u s o f t he
W o n d e r f u l T e a c h i n g . "
" P e o p l e g o i n c h a n t i n g t h e S u t r a , " F u d o r e m i n d e d h im . " T h e L o t u s
S u t r a , y o u k n o w , t h e S u t r a o f t h e L o t u s o f t h e W o n d e r f u l T e a c h i n g . Y o u
c a n ' t ge t in i f y o u ' r e no t c h a n t i n g i t . "
S o o lifted his e y e s t o t h e b o u n d l e s s h e a v e n s . " D r a t ! " h e exc l a imed . " I
read t h e S u t r a , of c o u r s e , b u t I c a n ' t c h a n t i t n o w b e c a u s e I still don ' t
k n o w i t b y h e a r t ! "
" O h . T h a t ' s t o o b a d . T h e n I s u p p o s e y o u c a n ' t g o in. I'll jus t h a v e t o
t a k e y o u h o m e a g a i n . W e ' l l c o m e b a c k w h e n y o u h a v e t h e S u t r a d o w n . "
L o r d F u d o d r o p p e d S o o off a g a i n b y t h e wate r fa l l .
S o o w a s t e r r i b l y d i s a p p o i n t e d , b u t t h e y say h e d id m a s t e r t h e S u t r a i n
t h e e n d a n d g o t i n to t h e I n n e r S a n c t u m . T h e F u d o w h o took h im w a s , t o
be p r e c i s e , t h e o n e he h imse l f h a d m a d e , life-sized, a n d e n s h r i n e d i n his
t e m p l e .
S o o w a s k n o w n for his m i r a c l e s . O n e d a y the S o m e d o n o E m p r e s s fell
ill, t o r m e n t e d b y a n evil sp i r i t . W h e n s o m e o n e s u g g e s t e d S o o a s a n
o u t s t a n d i n g h e a l e r ("a d i sc ip le o f t h e g rea t E n n i n , y o u k n o w — he lives
on M o u n t H i e i " ) , t h e e m p r e s s s en t a m e s s e n g e r t o fetch h im .
W h e n S o o a r r i v e d , he w a i t e d a t t h e midd le ga t e o f t he m a n s i o n : a tall
m o n k m o r e l ike a d e m o n t h a n a m a n , w e a r i n g r o u g h c logs a n d a b a r k -
f iber h a b i t a n d c a r r y i n g a r o s a r y o f b ig s eeds . T h e e m p r e s s ' s a t t e n d a n t s
f o u n d h i m t h e r e . " G o o d n e s s ! " t h e y w h i s p e r e d t o each o t h e r . " W h a t a
t r a m p ! W e c a n ' t p o s s i b l y let h im in to H e r Ma je s ty ' s p r e s e n c e ! " T h e y
to ld h i m h e w o u l d h a v e t o p r a y f rom t h e v e r a n d a o u t s i d e t h e e m p r e s s ' s
r o o m , a n d w o r d d i r e c t l y from H e r M a j e s t y i m m e d i a t e l y co n f i rmed the
o r d e r .
S i n c e t h e e m p r e s s w a s s o m e d i s t a n c e a w a y , all S o o ac tua l ly h a d o f he r
w a s t h e g r o a n i n g t h a t c a m e t h r o u g h he r c u r t a i n s . O n h e a r i n g her , h e
b e g a n l o u d l y w o r k i n g his r i t e s . L o r d F u d o h imsel f s e e m e d p r e s e n t , a n d
a s h i v e r o f a w e g a v e t h e a t t e n d a n t s goosef lesh . S u d d e n l y t h e e m p r e s s
s h o t t h r o u g h h e r c u r t a i n s , all w r a p p e d u p a s s h e w a s i n t w o p ink robes ,
a n d c a m e ro l l ing o u t t o S o o o n t h e v e r a n d a .
T h e r e w a s a n u p r o a r . " O h ! M y lady! H o w awfu l ! O h p lease , Y o u r
G r a c e , p l ea se p u t h e r b a c k ! Y o u c a n g o r igh t u p t o h e r c u r t a i n s , o f c o u r s e
y o u c a n ! "
S o o w o u l d no t b u d g e . " W h y , I w o u l d n ' t t h i n k o f i t ! " h e sa id . " A p o o r
b e g g a r l ike m e w o u l d n ' t d a r e a p p r o a c h H e r M a j e s t y ! " F u r i o u s a t h a v i n g
b e e n d e n i e d d i r e c t a c c e s s t o t h e e m p r e s s i n t h e first p l ace , he h a d no
in t en t ion o f m o v i n g . O n t h e c o n t r a r y , r i g h t o u t t h e r e o n t h e v e r a n d a h e
ra i sed H e r M a j e s t y four o r five feet in to t h e a i r a n d g a v e h e r a g o o d
w h a c k . P a n i c - s t r i c k e n , h e r a t t e n d a n t s h u s t l e d t h e c u r t a i n s o v e r t o h ide
he r , w h i l e a t t h e s a m e t i m e c h a s i n g all t h e b y s t a n d e r s t h e y co u l d ge t a t
— p a s s i n g s e r v a n t s , l ad i e s - i n -wa i t i ng , g e n t l e m e n of t h e c o u r t — o u t of
s igh t . A l a s , t h e d a m a g e w a s a l r e a d y d o n e . E v e r y o n e h a d seen t h e e m -
p r e s s a s p la in a s p la in c o u l d b e .
S o o g a v e h e r a few m o r e w h a c k s a n d s c o o t e d h e r b a c k t o w h e r e s h e
h a d s t a r t e d o u t f rom, s o d e c o r o u s l y c o n c e a l e d . T h e n h e left. " O h , d o
wa i t a m o m e n t ! " t h e e m p r e s s ' s a t t e n d a n t s c r i ed ou t , b u t h e i g n o r e d t h e m .
" I ' v e b e e n s t a n d i n g a r o u n d t o o l o n g a s i t i s , " h e g r u m b l e d , " a n d m y b a c k
h u r t s . "
T h e e m p r e s s f o u n d t h a t t h e evil sp i r i t w a s n o w g o n e a n d t h a t s h e felt
pe r fec t ly we l l . S o o h a d b e e n s o i m p r e s s i v e t h a t h e soon go t a n imper i a l
p r o c l a m a t i o n a p p o i n t i n g h i m a b i s h o p . " N o w w h a t ' s a b e g g a r l ike me to
do w i t h a f ancy t i t le l ike t h a t ? " he m u t t e r e d , a n d sen t t h e m e s s e n g e r
p a c k i n g .
Af te r t h a t , S o o w a s c o n s t a n t l y b e i n g cal led t o heal p e o p l e i n K y o t o ,
b u t h e r e fused t o g o . H e w o u l d a l w a y s c o m p l a i n t h a t i n t h e C a p i t a l y o u
d o n ' t ge t a n y r e s p e c t .
7 4 •
THE INVISIBLE MAN
T h e r e o n c e l ived i n t h e C a p i t a l , no o n e r e m e m b e r s jus t w h e n , a h u m b l e
m a n w h o w a s d e v o t e d t o R o k k a k u d o , a ho ly t e m p l e d e d i c a t e d t o K a n -
n o n . H e of ten w e n t t h e r e o n p i l g r i m a g e .
O n t h e last n i g h t o f t h e y e a r h e w e n t o u t a l one o n a visit a n d c a m e
h o m e la te . J u s t a s h e w a s c r o s s i n g t h e H o r i k a w a B r i d g e w e s t w a r d , a l o n g
F i r s t A v e n u e , h e s a w a t r o u p e o f p e o p l e a p p r o a c h i n g w i t h t o r c h e s . N o
d o u b t a g r e a t l o rd w a s o n his w a y s o m e w h e r e . T h e m a n q u i c k l y h id
1 0 0
u n d e r t h e b r i d g e a n d s n e a k e d a look a s t h e c r o w d p a s s e d o v e r h e a d . T h e y
w e r e n o t h u m a n s a t all b u t frightful d e m o n s ! S o m e h a d a s ingle eye ,
s o m e h a d h o r n s , s o m e h a d lo ts o f a r m s , a n d s o m e h o p p e d a long o n on ly
o n e leg .
T h e m a n forgot w h e t h e r h e w a s a l ive o r d e a d a n d s tood roo t ed , wi t less ,
t o t h e s p o t . M e a n w h i l e t h e d e m o n s p a s s e d b y — all b u t o n e w h o w a s
t r a i l i n g b e h i n d a n d w h o m u t t e r e d , " T h e r e ' s a m a n a r o u n d h e r e ! " A n o t h e r
d e m o n sa id t h a t he d i d n ' t dee a n y m a n . " G e t h i m ! " s h o u t e d a t h i rd , a n d
t h e m a n t h o u g h t h e w a s lost .
O n e d e m o n c h a r g e d , c a u g h t h i m , a n d d r a g g e d h im u p . T h e o t h e r s
a g r e e d t h a t h e h a d d o n e n o t h i n g m u c h w r o n g a n d d e c i d e d t o let h im go,
b u t first fou r o r five o f t h e d e m o n s spa t in his face. T h e n t h e y w e n t the i r
w a y .
T h e m a n w a s h a p p y jus t n o t t o h a v e b e e n ki l led. H i s h e a d a c h e d n o w
a n d h e felt r a t h e r s t r a n g e , b u t h e w a s s o e a g e r t o ge t h o m e a n d tell his
wife all a b o u t i t t h a t he w e n t on a s fast a s he cou ld . W h e n he e n t e r e d his
h o u s e , h i s family n e v e r sa id a w o r d to h im, t h o u g h t h e y looked s t ra igh t
a t h i m , a n d t h e y d i d n o t a n s w e r w h e n h e s p o k e t o t h e m . E v e n w h e n h e
w e n t r i g h t u p t o t h e m t h e y s e e m e d no t t o k n o w a n y o n e w a s t h e r e . A t last
h e u n d e r s t o o d . T h e d e m o n s ' spi t h a d m a d e h im invis ib le .
W h a t a d i s a s t e r ! H e cou ld see a n d h e a r a s wel l a s ever , b u t n o o n e
c o u l d see o r h e a r him. He e v e n t r i ed e a t i n g s o m e of t h e food his family
h a d left ou t , b u t n o o n e n o t i c e d . T h e y , for t h e i r pa r t , w e r e s u r e b y the
t i m e d a w n c a m e t h a t h e h a d b e e n m u r d e r e d t h e p r e v i o u s n igh t .
S e v e r a l d a y s l a t e r t h e r e w a s still n o i m p r o v e m e n t . T h e m a n s t a y e d a t
R o k k a k u d o a n d b e g g e d K a n n o n for he lp . " Y e a r af ter y e a r I 've vis i ted
y o u a n d p u t m y t r u s t i n y o u , " h e p r a y e d . " N o w , p lease , g r a n t m e th is
b o o n : m a k e me vis ib le a s I u s e d to b e ! " He fed h imse l f f rom t h e mea l s o f
t h e o t h e r s o n r e t r e a t t h e r e a n d from t h e offer ings t h e y m a d e t o K a n n o n ,
y e t e v e n s o m e o n e r i g h t n e x t t o h im w o u l d n e v e r rea l ize h e w a s d o i n g so.
Af t e r t w o r e t r e a t p e r i o d s ( s e v e n d a y s e a c h ) , h e d r e a m e d o n e night ,
t o w a r d d a w n , t h a t a ho ly m o n k s tood bes ide h i m . " L e a v e he r e ea r ly i n
t h e m o r n i n g a n d d o a s t h e f i r s t p e r s o n y o u m e e t tel ls y o u , " t h e m o n k
o r d e r e d . T h e n t h e m a n w o k e u p .
He left a t d a w n a n d m e t a t t h e g a t e a w e i r d o x h e r d w i t h a h u g e ox .
" H e y , y o u ! " t h e o x h e r d ca l led . " C o m e w i t h m e ! " T h e m a n w a s re l ieved
t o g a t h e r t h a t h e w a s v is ib le aga in a n d g l ad ly fo l lowed the o x h e r d a s t he
d r e a m h a d i n s t r u c t e d h im to d o . Af te r ha l f a mile o r so, t h e y c a m e to an
i m p o s i n g g a t e . I t w a s c losed , b u t t h e o x h e r d t e t h e r e d his o x a n d s t a r t ed
t h r o u g h t h e c r a c k b e t w e e n t h e l eaves o f t h e g a t e — a c r a c k m u c h t o o
smal l for a n y o n e t o ge t t h r o u g h . " C o m e o n ! " h e o r d e r e d . " Y o u t o o ! "
" H o w am I s u p p o s e d t o ge t t h r o u g h a c r a c k l ike t h a t ? " t h e m a n
p r o t e s t e d .
" J u s t d o i t ! " T h e o x h e r d t o o k his h a n d a n d pu l l ed h im t h r o u g h . T h e y
w e r e on t h e g r o u n d s o f a b ig , p r o s p e r o u s m a n s i o n .
T h e y w a l k e d in to t h e h o u s e u n c h a l l e n g e d . In an i n n e r r o o m a girl w a s
ly ing ill, w i t h w o m e n s i t t ing a t t h e h e a d a n d foot o f h e r b e d w a t c h i n g
o v e r h e r . T h e o x h e r d g a v e t h e m a n a smal l mallet , sat h im d o w n b y t h e
gir l , a n d h a d h im h a m m e r h e r o n t h e h e a d a n d h i p s . A s h e d id so , t h e
girl hal f sat u p i n a g o n y . H e r p a r e n t s , w h o w e r e t h e r e too , to ld e a c h
o t h e r t h e e n d w a s n e a r a n d w e p t . S o m e o n e w a s c h a n t i n g a s u t r a .
A s e r v a n t w e n t to call a f a m o u s h e a l e r w h o sho r t l y a r r i v e d , sat d o w n
bes ide t h e gi r l , a n d i n t o n e d t h e H e a r t S u t r a . A t t h e s o u n d o f his vo ice ,
t he h a i r r o se o n t h e m a n ' s h e a d a n d h e s h i v e r e d w i t h a w e . T h e o x h e r d ,
m e a n w h i l e , e s c a p e d a s fast a s h e cou ld a n d d i s a p p e a r e d .
N e x t , t h e h e a l e r c h a n t e d F u d o ' s F i r e D a r a n i . T h e m a n s c r e a m e d a n d
his c l o t h e s b u r s t i n to f lames . S u d d e n l y he w a s p la in ly vis ible a g a i n for
t he w h o l e h o u s e h o l d to s ee : a m i s e r a b l e w r e t c h s e a t e d r igh t be s ide t h e
p a t i e n t . H e w a s q u i c k l y se ized , h u s t l e d o u t s i d e , a n d q u e s t i o n e d ; h e to ld
his s t o r y a s bes t he c o u l d . T h e h o u s e h o l d h a d difficulty be l i ev ing h im .
O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , t h e y w e r e v e r y h a p p y t o f i n d t h a t t he girl w a s n o w
pe r fec t ly we l l .
T h e h e a l e r a s s u r e d t h e m t h a t t h e m a n w a s no t t o b l a m e , a n d t h a t o n
t he c o n t r a r y h e h a d jus t b e e n merci ful ly b lessed b y the K a n n o n o f R o k -
k a k u d o . T h e y w e r e t o let h im g o . S o t h e y d r o v e t h e m a n from the i r d o o r ,
a n d h e r e t u r n e d h o m e t o tell h is family t he w h o l e a d v e n t u r e . T h o u g h
d i s t u r b e d by it, h is wife w a s awful ly g l ad to h a v e h im b a c k .
T h e o x h e r d h a d b e e n t h e fo l lower o f s o m e god , a n d i t w a s h e w h o h a d
b e e n p e r s u a d e d s o m e h o w t o pos se s s t h e girl a n d t o r t u r e her . Bo th s h e
a n d t h e m a n en joyed per fec t hea l th af ter t h a t . H o w power fu l t h e F i r e
D a r a n i is!
L o n g a g o t h e g r e a t m a s t e r E n n i n w e n t t o s t u d y t h e B u d d h a ' s T e a c h i n g
in C h i n a , so as to p a s s i t on to o u r o w n l and . In 845 he e n c o u n t e r e d
E m p e r o r W u - t s u n g ' s t e r r i b l e p e r s e c u t i o n o f B u d d h i s m . T e m p l e s w e r e
b e i n g r a z e d , a n d m o n k s a n d n u n s w e r e b e i n g se ized a n d kil led o r forced
b a c k i n t o lay life.
E n n i n w a s a l m o s t c a u g h t , t oo , w h e n he f l ed in to a hall o f t he t e m p l e
w h e r e h e w a s s t a y i n g . S o l d i e r s w e n t i n af ter h im . D e s p e r a t e , h e hid
a m o n g t h e s a c r e d i m a g e s , a n d t h e so ld ie r s w e r e s u r p r i s e d to find a n e w
F u d o a m o n g t h e b u d d h a s o n t h e a l t a r . T h e y w e r e a lso susp ic ious , h o w -
eve r , a n d w h e n t h e y lifted t h e F u d o d o w n i t t u r n e d b a c k in to E n n i n .
T h e y r e p o r t e d th i s a l a r m i n g t r a n s f o r m a t i o n t o t h e e m p e r o r w h o d e c i d e d
t h a t b e i n g a fore ign m o n k , E n n i n s h o u l d s imp ly be expe l led from C h i n a .
G r e a t l y r e l i eved , E n n i n f l e d for t h e b o r d e r . B e y o n d the d i s t an t m o u n -
t a i n s he c a m e to an i so la ted c o m p o u n d w i t h a h igh wal l a r o u n d it, p i e rced
by a s ing le g a t e . I t w a s g o o d to see a h u m a n dwe l l i ng . He l ea rned from
t h e g a t e k e e p e r t h a t t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t b e l o n g e d to a ce r t a in r ich m a n . T h e
g a t e k e e p e r a s k e d E n n i n w h o h e w a s .
" I ' m a J a p a n e s e m o n k a n d I c a m e to C h i n a to s t u d y the B u d d h a ' s
T e a c h i n g , " E n n i n r ep l i ed . " B u t n o w I 'm t r y i n g t o e s c a p e this t e r r ib le
p e r s e c u t i o n . "
T h e m a n r e m a r k e d t h a t h a r d l y a n y o n e e v e r c a m e t h e r e . " W h y no t s tay
a w h i l e ? " h e s u g g e s t e d . " W h e n t h i n g s h a v e q u i e t e d d o w n y o u can g o
b a c k t o s t u d y i n g . "
E n n i n a c c e p t e d g l ad ly . T h e g a t e k e e p e r locked the ga t e b e h i n d him a n d
led h im in to a b u s t l i n g c o m p o u n d filled w i t h bu i l d ings . He w a s g iven a
r o o m off to o n e s ide .
N e x t , he w e n t l o o k i n g for a g o o d p lace to p r a c t i c e his d e v o t i o n s . He
f o u n d no s ign o f B u d d h i s m or o f m o n k s , bu t in t h e b a c k , t o w a r d the
m o u n t a i n s , he h e a r d pitiful h u m a n g r o a n s c o m i n g from a b u i l d i n g . P e e r -
ing a n x i o u s l y t h r o u g h a c r a c k in t h e fence r o u n d t h e p lace , he s a w p e o p l e
t i ed u p a n d h u n g i n mid -a i r , w i t h j a r s b e l o w t h e m t o c a t c h t h e i r d r i p p i n g
b lood . H o r r i f i e d , h e ca l led t o a s k t h e m w h y t h e y w e r e b e i n g t o r t u r e d ,
b u t go t n o r ep ly . T h e n h e t r i ed a n o t h e r s p o t a n d h e a r d a n a n s w e r i n g
g r o a n .
B e y o n d t h e fence p e o p l e w e r e ly ing o n t h e g r o u n d , d e a t h l y pa l e a n d
e m a c i a t e d . E n n i n b e c k o n e d t o o n e a n d a s k e d a g a i n w h a t h a d b r o u g h t
t h e m t o th i s p a s s . T h e v i c t im s l i pped his w a s t e d a r m t h r o u g h t h e fence
a n d w i t h a bi t o f w o o d t r a c e d t h e fo l lowing m e s s a g e on t h e g r o u n d .
" T h i s i s D y e i n g C a s t l e , " t h e v i c t im w r o t e . " P e o p l e w h o c o m e h e r e a r e
f i r s t g i v e n a d r u g w h i c h d e p r i v e s t h e m o f s p e e c h , t h e n fed a n o t h e r w h i c h
fa t t ens t h e m . Af te r t h a t t h e y a r e h u n g u p a n d t h e i r sk in slit all o v e r s o
t h a t t h e i r b l o o d d r i p s o u t . T h e b l o o d i s u s e d t o d y e t i e -dyed stuffs, w h i c h
a r e so ld . All o f u s a r e b e i n g t o r t u r e d th i s w a y b e c a u s e w e d id no t k n o w
a b o u t t h e t r a p . Y o u will f i n d i n y o u r food d a r k g r a i n s l ike s e s a m e s e e d s .
T h e s e a r e t h e d r u g t h a t r o b s y o u o f s p e e c h . I f t h e y t r y t o feed t h e m t o
y o u , o n l y p r e t e n d t o ea t t h e m . G e t r id o f t h e m , a n d g r o a n i f a n y o n e t a l k s
t o y o u . T h e n e s c a p e a s fast a s y o u can , b u t no t t h r o u g h t h e g a t e b e c a u s e
i t i s l o c k e d a n d i m p a s s a b l e . "
E n n i n r e t u r n e d t o his r o o m , a n d a mea l w a s s o o n b r o u g h t h i m . I n t h e
food t h e r e w e r e b l a c k g r a i n s , w h i c h h e s l i p p e d in to t h e fold o f h i s r o b e
a n d l a t e r t h r e w a w a y . W h e n a s e r v a n t s p o k e t o h im, h e on ly g r o a n e d i n
r ep ly . T h e s e r v a n t w a s d e c e i v e d a n d g a v e E n n i n n e x t t h e d r u g t o fa t ten
h i m . E n n i n p r e t e n d e d t o ea t t h i s too , b u t d id no t . W h e n h e w a s a l o n e
aga in , h e t u r n e d t o t h e n o r t h e a s t a n d p r a y e d w i t h d e s p e r a t e i n t ens i ty t o
all t h e g o o d p o w e r s o f H ie i , h is h o m e m o u n t a i n a n d m o n a s t e r y i n J a p a n .
S u d d e n l y a l a r g e b l a c k d o g a p p e a r e d , c a u g h t E n n i n ' s s leeve in h i s
j a w s , a n d t u g g e d . E n n i n t h o u g h t i t be s t t o fol low. T h e d o g led h i m t o
w h e r e a b r o o k e n t e r e d t h e c o m p o u n d , a p lace he w o u l d n e v e r h a v e f o u n d
o n his o w n . O n c e h e w a s o u t s i d e , t h e d o g v a n i s h e d .
He r a n w h e r e v e r his legs w o u l d c a r r y h i m till he c a m e to a v i l lage
b e y o n d t h e m o u n t a i n s a n d d e s c r i b e d t o a c u r i o u s v i l lager w h o h e w a s
a n d w h e r e h e h a d b e e n . " H o w a w f u l ! " e x c l a i m e d t h e v i l lager . " T h a t ' s
D y e i n g C a s t l e ! N o o n e w h o g o e s i n t h e r e e v e r r e t u r n s . O n l y t h e B u d -
d h a ' s a id c o u l d p o s s i b l y h a v e g o t t e n y o u o u t ! Y o u m u s t b e a s a i n t ! " H e
i m m e d i a t e l y p r o s t r a t e d h imse l f be fo re E n n i n .
A t last E n n i n m a d e his w a y sec re t l y b a c k t o t h e C a p i t a l , a n d i n 8 4 6
E m p e r o r W u - t s u n g d i e d . T h e n e x t e m p e r o r h a l t e d t h e p e r s e c u t i o n , s o
t h a t E n n i n w a s a b l e t o c o m p l e t e his s t ay i n C h i n a p ro f i t ab ly a n d r e t u r n
to J a p a n w i t h a r i ch s t o r e o f h o l y w i s d o m .
1 0 4
7 ^ •
TAKEN IN
A n e w l y a p p o i n t e d d e p u t y v i c e r o y o f K y u s h u h a d m a n y ch i ld ren , b u t t he
las t o f t h e m w a s h i s f avor i t e : a b r i g h t a n d h a n d s o m e son n o w t w e n t y
y e a r s o ld . T h o u g h n o t f rom a w a r l i k e family, t h e y o u n g m a n w a s r e m a r k -
a b l y s t r o n g a n d b r a v e , a n d his p a r e n t s w e r e s o fond o f h im t h a t t h e y t o o k
h i m d o w n t o K y u s h u w i t h t h e m . M e a n w h i l e t h e d e p u t y v ice roy ' s ass i s -
t a n t , t h e g o v e r n o r o f C h i k u z e n , h a d a lovely t e e n a g e d a u g h t e r w h o m h e
a n d h i s wife l oved s o m u c h t h a t t h e y h a d t a k e n h e r d o w n t o K y u s h u , t o o .
T h e d e p u t y v i c e r o y w a s s o e a g e r for t h e t w o t o m a r r y t h a t h is a s s i s t an t
c o u l d h a r d l y re fuse , a n d o n a n a u s p i c i o u s d a y t h e p a i r w e r e h a p p i l y
u n i t e d . B u t t h e g r o o m h a d a l w a y s a s p i r e d t o a g o v e r n m e n t c a r e e r , a n d
h e n o w p l a n n e d t o g o u p t o t h e C a p i t a l . P a r t i n g from his wife w a s ou t o f
t h e q u e s t i o n , so he d e c i d e d t o t a k e h e r w i t h h i m — by l and , s ince t h e sea
r o u t e s e e m e d a b i t r i sky . He se t off w i t h a p a r t y o f t w e n t y p i c k e d re t a in -
e r s , a n d w i t h a t r a i n o f p a c k h o r s e s a n d o f s e r v a n t s on foot.
T h e y w e r e m a k i n g g o o d t i m e w h e n t h e y r e a c h e d I n a m i n o i n H a r i m a
p r o v i n c e , la te on a J a n u a r y a f t e r n o o n . A stiff w i n d w a s b l o w i n g , m ixed
w i t h s n o w . F r o m t h e m o u n t a i n s t o t h e n o r t h a m o n k r o d e t o w a r d t h e m ,
an i m p o s i n g fe l low in a r e d r o b e , v io le t t r o u s e r s , a n d s t r a w boo t s , c a r r y -
i n g a l a c q u e r e d w h i p . T h e s a d d l e on his sp i r i t ed h o r s e w a s inlaid wi th
m o t h e r - o f - p e a r l .
H e d i s m o u n t e d a n d b o w e d re spec t fu l ly t o t h e y o u n g m a n . " I h a v e long
s e r v e d H i s E x c e l l e n c y t h e g o v e r n o r o f C h i k u z e n , " h e sa id . " I h a p p e n e d
to h e a r , sir , t h a t y o u w e r e on y o u r w a y to t h e Cap i t a l , a n d s ince I live i n
t h e m o u n t a i n s n o r t h o f h e r e I c a m e to offer my hosp i ta l i ty , i f y o u do not
m i n d r o u g h i n g i t a b i t . " He w a s e v e r so po l i t e .
T h e y o u n g m a n ' s r e t a i n e r s all d i s m o u n t e d i n t u r n wh i l e t he y o u n g m a n
r e i n e d in h i s h o r s e . " I t ' s v e r y k i n d o f y o u , " he rep l i ed , " b u t I w a n t to get
t o K y o t o a s fast a s I c a n . I m a y r e t u r n to K y u s h u nex t y e a r , t h o u g h , a n d
I'll b e h a p p y t o vis i t y o u t h e n . "
B u t t h e m o n k w o u l d no t t a k e n o for a n a n s w e r . T h e s u n h a d a lmos t
s u n k b e h i n d t h e m o u n t a i n s b y n o w , a n d t h e r e t a i n e r s w e r e s o obv ious ly
e a g e r t o a c c e p t t h a t a t las t t h e y o u n g m a n y i e l d e d . T h e m o n k led t he w a y
w i t h a sat isf ied a i r , a s s u r i n g his g u e s t s t h a t t h e y h a d no t far to go .
T w o o r t h r e e mi les b r o u g h t t h e m t o a c o m p o u n d en t i r e ly s u r r o u n d e d
b y a h i g h w a l l . T h e m o n k t o o k t h e y o u n g c o u p l e s t r a igh t i n t o w h a t
a p p e a r e d t o b e l iv ing q u a r t e r s o n t h e s o u t h s ide o f t h e c o m p o u n d , a n d
h a d r e f r e s h m e n t s s e r v e d t h e m w h i l e t he h o r s e s w e r e f o d d e r e d . T h e ser-
v a n t s a n d r e t a i n e r s , m e a n w h i l e , w e r e g iven l o d g i n g s a g o o d w a y off.
Af te r a l ively a n d l u x u r i o u s feast t h e c o u p l e , a l o n e b u t for a m a i d or
t w o , l o o s e n e d t h e i r c l o t h e s a n d lay d o w n . T h e m a i d s h a d en joyed t h e m -
selves freely a n d w e r e n o w as l eep , b u t t h e c o u p l e w e r e w i d e a w a k e .
S o m e h o w ill a t e a se , t h e y h a d h a r d l y e a t e n o r d r u n k . A s t h e y c h a t t e d
t h e y a s s u r e d e a c h o t h e r t e n d e r l y o f t h e i r love a n d w o n d e r e d , i n a
s t r a n g e l y g l o o m y m o o d , w h a t t h e i r j o u r n e y w o u l d y e t b r i n g t h e m . S l o w l y
t h e h o u r s p a s s e d .
I n t h e smal l h o u r s t h e y h e a r d w i t h misg iv ing foo t s t eps a p p r o a c h i n g
from w i t h i n t h e h o u s e . S u d d e n l y t h e d o o r b y t h e h e a d o f t h e i r b e d slid
o p e n . T h e y o u n g m a n j u m p e d u p b u t w a s se ized b y t h e h a i r a n d d r a g g e d
a w a y . S t r o n g t h o u g h h e w a s , i t h a d all h a p p e n e d t o o fast. H e h a d no t
even b e e n ab l e t o p i c k u p t h e s w o r d h e k e p t b y his p i l low.
T h e a s sa i l an t k n o c k e d a s h u t t e r o p e n a n d h a u l e d h im ou t o f t h e r o o m .
" K a n e o m a r u ! " h e ca l led . " A r e y o u r e a d y ? S e e t h a t y o u t a k e c a r e o f t h e
u s u a l ! "
" R i g h t ! " a n s w e r e d a n a s t y v o i c e . H a n d s se ized t h e y o u n g m a n ' s co l l a r
a n d h u s t l e d h im off.
T h e r e w a s a f enced a r e a i n o n e c o r n e r o f t h e c o m p o u n d , a n d t h e g a t e
in t h e fence o p e n e d o n t o a p i t t h i r t y feet d e e p w i t h h u n d r e d s o f s h a r p -
e n e d b a m b o o s t a k e s p l a n t e d a t t h e b o t t o m . Y e a r af ter y e a r t r a v e l e r s l ike
t h e y o u n g m a n , o n t h e i r w a y b a c k a n d for th t o t h e Cap i t a l , w e r e l u r e d
in, g i v e n w i n e t h a t left t h e m d e a d - d r u n k , t h e n t h r o w n in to t h e pi t w h i l e
t h e i r s imi la r ly d r u n k r e t a i n e r s w e r e s t r i p p e d o f e v e r y t h i n g t h e y o w n e d .
S o m e r e t a i n e r s w e r e ki l led, w h i l e o t h e r s , t h e m o r e p r o m i s i n g o n e s , w e r e
p r e s s e d in to s e rv i ce . T h i s w a s t h e t r a p t h e y o u n g m a n a n d his p a r t y h a d
fallen i n to .
K a n e o m a r u d r a g g e d t h e y o u n g m a n t o t h e fence, o p e n e d t h e g a t e , a n d
p r o p e l l e d h im t h r o u g h it, b u t t h e y o u n g m a n c l u n g t o a g a t e p o s t a n d
cou ld no t be b u d g e d f u r t h e r . K a n e o m a r u go t on t h e pit s ide o f h im
a n d p u l l e d . T h e r e w a s a s l igh t inc l ine d o w n f rom t h e g a t e . T h e y o u n g
m a n shif ted his w e i g h t a n d g a v e a p o w e r f u l s h o v e w h i c h sen t K a n e o m a r u
h u r t l i n g in to t h e p i t . T h e n h e c losed t h e g a t e a n d s tole u n d e r t h e v e r a n d a
o f t h e h o u s e .
A t last h e w a s ab l e t o t h i n k . H e c o u l d t ry t o a r o u s e his r e t a i n e r s , b u t
t h e y w e r e u n c o n s c i o u s w i t h d r i n k , a n d bes ides , t h e r e w a s a m o a t b e t w e e n
h im a n d t h e m a n d t h e b r i d g e w a s d r a w n . I n s t e a d , h e c r e p t u n d e r t h e
floor o f t h e r o o m w h e r e h e h a d j u s t b e e n . H e h e a r d t h e m o n k c o m e i n t o
his wife .
" N o d o u b t y o u ' l l b e s h o c k e d t o h e a r m e confess i t , " sa id t h e m o n k ,
1 0 6
" b u t in t h e d a y l i g h t , w h e n t h e w i n d b l e w y o u r veil as ide , I c a u g h t a
g l i m p s e o f y o u r face a n d n o w I c a n t h i n k on ly o f y o u . F o r g i v e m e . " H e
slid i n to b e d b e s i d e h e r .
" B e f o r e I s t a r t e d up to t h e C a p i t a l , I m a d e a v o w to abs t a in for o n e
h u n d r e d d a y s , " t h e wife r ep l i ed . " T h e r e a r e jus t t h r e e d a y s left. W h e n
t h o s e t h r e e d a y s a r e ove r , I'll d o a n y t h i n g y o u s a y . "
" W h a t I h a v e i n m i n d wil l b r i n g y o u far m o r e mer i t t h a n t h a t ! "
" T h e m a n w h o w a s e v e r y t h i n g t o m e h a s v a n i s h e d be fo re m y eyes , a n d
I c a n ' t p r e v e n t y o u d o i n g w h a t e v e r y o u w a n t w i t h m e . I c an ' t refuse y o u
i n t h e e n d , y o u k n o w t h a t . Y o u ' v e n o n e e d t o b e s o i m p a t i e n t . " S h e w a s
h o l d i n g h i m off.
C o n c e d i n g s h e h a d a p o i n t , t h e m o n k w e n t a w a y .
" T h a t h u s b a n d o f m i n e w o n ' t d ie a shamefu l d e a t h ! " t he w o m a n m u r -
m u r e d t o herself, a n d t h e y o u n g m a n u n d e r t h e floor, r ag ing , h e a r d he r .
He p u s h e d a s l iver o f w o o d up t h r o u g h a c r a c k b e t w e e n the f l oo rboa rds ,
r i gh t i n f ront o f he r , a n d w h e n she s a w i t she k n e w s h e h a d b e e n r igh t .
S h e w a g g l e d t h e s l iver a n d h e k n e w s h e h a d u n d e r s t o o d .
T h e m o n k k e p t c o m i n g b a c k t o t r y aga in , b u t she a l w a y s m a n a g e d t o
p u t h im off. W h e n he w a s finally g o n e , t h e wife s i lent ly o p e n e d a s h u t t e r
a n d h e r h u s b a n d c a m e o u t f rom u n d e r t h e floor in to t h e r o o m . Bo th b u r s t
i n to t e a r s a n d p r o m i s e d e a c h o t h e r t h a t i f t h e y w e r e t o die t h e y s h o u l d
d i e t o g e t h e r . T h e y o u n g m a n a s k e d w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d t o his s w o r d . " I
h id i t u n d e r t h e m a t t i n g w h e n y o u w e r e d r a g g e d a w a y , " she a n s w e r e d ,
a n d b r o u g h t i t o u t . I t w a s a r a y of h o p e a t las t .
S w o r d i n h a n d , t h e y o u n g m a n s tea l th i ly m a d e his w a y t o w a r d his
r e t a i n e r s . S e v e n or e igh t c a r v i n g b l o c k s s t ood bes ide a long fire pit a n d
t h e m o n k ' s m e n w e r e s p r a w l e d n e a r b y a m i d the s c a t t e r e d r e m a i n s o f
t h e i r d i n n e r , w i t h t h e i r b o w s , q u i v e r s , a r m o r , d a g g e r s , a n d s w o r d s bes ide
t h e m . T h e m o n k h imse l f w a s a s l e e p on his a r m r e s t . A pa i r o f t ab les before
h i m b o r e s i lve r vesse l s full o f t h e l eav ings from his mea l .
" H e l p m e n o w , O K a n n o n o f H a s e d e r a ! " t h e y o u n g m a n p r a y e d . " L e t
m e see m y p a r e n t s a g a i n ! " S i n c e t h e m o n k w a s s o u n e x p e c t e d l y s leep ing ,
he d e c i d e d to a t t a c k s t r a i g h t off, c u t off t h e m o n k ' s head , a n d die , for he
s a w n o c h a n c e o f e s c a p e . A t t h e f i r s t b l o w the m o n k cr ied o u t a n d ra i sed
his a r m s in fr ight , b u t t h e n e x t b l o w kil led h im.
T h e m o n k ' s m e n w e r e c e r t a i n l y m a n y , b u t K a n n o n m u s t rea l ly h a v e
p r o t e c t e d t h e y o u n g m a n b e c a u s e w h e n t h e y s a w the i r l e a d e r d e a d t h e y
t h o u g h t t h e y h a d b e e n i n v a d e d by a l a rge force. Bes ides , t h e y t h e m s e l v e s
h a d all b e e n c a u g h t a n d fo rced in to serv ice b y the m a n , a n d t h e y h a d n o
w i s h t o f i g h t for h i m . N o w h e w a s d e a d , i t d id no t o c c u r t o t h e m t o resis t .
I n s t e a d , t h e y all b l u r t e d a t o n c e , " / d i d n ' t do a n y t h i n g w r o n g ! I u sed t o
s e r v e L o r d S o - a n d - S o be fo re I fell in to th is t r a p ! " T h e y o u n g m a n pu t
o n a g o o d s h o w o f h a v i n g a m p l e r e i n f o r c e m e n t s b e h i n d h im, h e r d e d t h e m
all off, a n d l o c k e d t h e m u p .
I t w a s a l o n g w a i t till d a w n . W h e n d a y c a m e a t last , he a r o u s e d his
o w n r e t a i n e r s , w h o c a m e o u t d a z e d a n d r u b b i n g t h e i r eyes t o c lea r a w a y
the fumes o f last n i g h t ' s w i n e . T h e y s o b e r e d u p r i g h t a w a y w h e n t h e y
h e a r d w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d a n d w e n t t o look a t t h e pi t . T h e b a m b o o s t a k e s
d o w n a t t h e b o t t o m b r i s t l ed u p t h r o u g h c o r p s e s n e w a n d o ld . K a n e o -
m a r u , a l a n k y y o u t h c lad in a s ingle m i s e r a b l e w r a p a n d w i t h t h e c logs
still on his feet, lay t h e r e i m p a l e d , still t w i t c h i n g a l i t t le . T h e s c e n e m i g h t
a s we l l h a v e b e e n f rom hel l .
N o w t h e y o u n g m a n ca l led t h e m o n k ' s s e r v a n t s o u t aga in , a n d t h e y
con fe s sed all t h e t e r r i b l e t h i n g s t h e y h a d b e e n m a d e t o d o o v e r t he y e a r s .
T h e y w e r e no t p u n i s h e d s ince t h e y t h e m s e l v e s w e r e no t r e s p o n s i b l e . A
m e s s e n g e r w a s s e n t w i t h a r e p o r t for t h e e m p e r o r , w h o w a s g r e a t l y
i m p r e s s e d w i t h t h e y o u n g m a n ' s d e e d .
F ina l ly t h e y o u n g m a n h imse l f w e n t o n u p t o K y o t o , r e ce ived a n
official pos t , a n d f o u n d t h a t e v e r t h i n g w e n t for h im jus t a s h e h a d a l w a y s
h o p e d . H e a n d his wife s t a y e d w i t h e a c h o t h e r t h r o u g h all t h e t r ia l s a n d
j oys t h a t c a m e t h e i r w a y , a n d m u s t of ten h a v e t a l k e d o v e r t he i r m e m o r i e s
o f t h a t awfu l n i g h t . N o o n e e v e r d i s c o v e r e d a n y re la t ive o r o t h e r c o n n e c -
t ion o f t h e r o b b e r m o n k , s o for h i m t h e m a t t e r w a s c losed .
I t t o o k a w i s e a n d p r u d e n t m a n t o d o w h a t t h e y o u n g m a n d i d ! A n y o n e
w h o h e a r s t h i s s t o r y s h o u l d c o n s i d e r h imsel f w a r n e d no t t o s p e n d t h e
n igh t i n a p l a c e he d o e s n ' t k n o w . N o t e , too , t h a t t he y o u n g m a n c o u l d
h a v e d o n e n o t h i n g w i t h o u t K a n n o n ' s h e l p . N o t t h a t K a n n o n e v e r w i s h e s
t o kill , b u t a f te r all, t h e r o b b e r h a d ki l led m a n y p e o p l e himself, a n d
K a n n o n c o u l d h a r d l y a p p r o v e !
7 7 •
THE SACRIFICE
I n t h e p r o v i n c e o f M i m a s a k a t h e r e a r e t w o g o d s , C h u s a n a n d K o y a .
K o y a i s a s n a k e a n d C h u s a n a m o n k e y . E a c h y e a r , d u r i n g t h e a n n u a l
festival, t h e s e g o d s u s e d to be offered a live h u m a n , a n d t h e y h a d a l w a y s
g o t t e n t h e sacr if ice t h e y r e q u i r e d : a p r e t t y gir l w i t h a h a n d s o m e f igure,
l ong ha i r , a n d fine w h i t e s k i n .
O n e y e a r t h e c h o i c e fell o n t h e d a u g h t e r o f a c e r t a i n h o u s e h o l d . H e r
1 0 8
p a r e n t s w e r e h e a r t b r o k e n . Af te r all, t h e tie o f p a r e n t t o chi ld sp r ings
f rom a k a r m i c b o n d a l r e a d y long e s t ab l i shed in lives g o n e by, a n d even
an i l l - favored ch i ld will a l w a y s be d e a r , let a l one o n e as lovely in e v e r y
w a y a s th i s g i r l . T h e gir l , for h e r p a r t , k n e w t h a t soon she w o u l d neve r
see h e r m o t h e r a n d f a the r aga in , a n d s h e s p e n t h e r d a y s a n d n igh t s i n
t e a r s .
T h e n a h u n t e r f rom t h e eas t p a s s e d t h r o u g h t h e vi l lage . A s t r a n g e ,
f ierce m a n , h e w a s s o i m m e n s e l y s t r o n g t h a t h is a c c u s t o m e d p r e y w e r e
w i ld b o a r , w h i c h he ki l led a n d a t e a t wil l , t h i n k i n g n o t h i n g of it, t h o u g h
t o o r d i n a r y p e o p l e a n a n g r y b o a r i s t e r r i fy ing . T h e h u n t e r h a p p e n e d t o
s t o p a t t h e g i r l ' s h o u s e , a n d h e r f a the r m e n t i o n e d w h y the family w a s s o
s a d . " W h a t d i d s h e d o i n pas t l i ve s , " h e g r o a n e d , " t o h a v e been b o r n he r e
for t h i s ? W h a t a h o r r i b l e fa te! A n d I d o n ' t s ay so jus t b e c a u s e she ' s my
o w n d a u g h t e r , y o u k n o w . S h e ' s s o v e r y p r e t t y ! "
T h e h u n t e r t o o k all t h i s in. " T h e g o d s a r e h a r s h , " h e sa id . " B u t d o n ' t
offer h e r a t t h e fest ival . Le t me t a k e c a r e o f h e r i n s t ead . She ' l l d ie o t h e r -
w i s e . Y o u d o n ' t w a n t y o u r on ly d a u g h t e r cu t u p al ive a n d set a s mea t
b e f o r e t h e g o d , t h a t w o u l d b e t oo awfu l . G i v e h e r t o m e ! "
T h e f a the r w a s c o n v i n c e d . A n y t h i n g , af ter all, r a t h e r t h a n let his
d a u g h t e r d i e s o g h a s t l y a d e a t h . S o t h e h u n t e r w e n t t o t he gir l . S h e w a s
p r a c t i c i n g c a l l i g r a p h y , b u t w i t h a v e r y so r rowfu l air , a n d h e r s leeves
w e r e v i s ib ly w e t f rom w e e p i n g . W h e n she t u r n e d as ide a t his a p p r o a c h
a n d h id h e r face m o d e s t l y b e h i n d h e r ha i r , h e s a w t h a t i t too w a s w e t
w i t h t e a r s . H o w lovely s h e w a s ! S h e l o o k e d s o d i s t i n g u i s h e d tha t i t w a s
h a r d to be l i eve s h e w a s jus t a v i l l ager ' s ch i ld . He fell in love w i t h h e r a n d
d e c i d e d to t a k e h e r p l ace a t t h e sacr i f ice , t h o u g h i t m igh t m e a n his o w n
life.
" I h a v e a p l a n , " he to ld t h e g i r l ' s p a r e n t s . " W o u l d y o u be s o r r y t o die
for y o u r d a u g h t e r ? "
" O f c o u r s e n o t , " t h e y a n s w e r e d . " W h a t g o o d i s life t o u s w i t h o u t h e r ?
P l ea se d o a s y o u t h i n k b e s t . "
" I n t h a t ca se , s t r e t c h a s a c r e d r o p e r o u n d y o u r h o u s e a n d tell peop le
y o u ' v e b e g u n p u r i f y i n g y o u r d a u g h t e r for t he festival. D o n ' t let a n y o n e
in, a n d be q u i t e s u r e a l so to tell no o n e I 'm h e r e . "
H e s p e n t t h e n e x t few d a y s v e r y h a p p i l y w i t h t he gir l . M e a n w h i l e h e
c h o s e t h e t w o c l eve re s t o f h is d o g s , w h i c h h a d all s e r v e d h im well in t he
m o u n t a i n s for y e a r s , a n d t r a i n e d t h e m b y se t t ing t h e m d a y i n a n d d a y
o u t t o c a t c h a n d ea t m o n k e y s . S i n c e d o g s a n d m o n k e y s a r e na tu r a l
e n e m i e s , t h e t w o w o u l d soon a t t a c k a n d kill a n y m o n k e y t h e y saw, a n d
in fact t h e y d e s t r o y e d a g r e a t m a n y . T h e h u n t e r for h is p a r t s p e n t a lot
o f t i m e s h a r p e n i n g his m u r d e r o u s d a g g e r a n d s w o r d . O f t e n he s ighed t o
t h e gi r l , " A h , w h a t l ink from pas t l ives can h a v e b r o u g h t u s t o g e t h e r , t o
m a k e m e n o w offer m y lite for y o u r s ? I 'm h a p p y t o d o it, b u t t h e t h o u g h t
o f p a r t i n g f rom y o u m a k e s m e s a d . " T h e girl a n s w e r e d i n w o r d s o f
g r a t i t u d e a n d af fec t ion .
At last t h e festival d a y c a m e , a n d t h e p r i e s t s a r r i v e d a t t h e h e a d o f a
l a rge t h r o n g to t a k e c h a r g e o f t h e v i c t im . T h e y b r o u g h t a long ches t ,
n e w l y m a d e , w h i c h t h e y slid i n to t h e g i r l ' s r o o m . " P u t t he offer ing ins ide
a s u s u a l , " t h e y o r d e r e d , " a n d s e n d h e r o u t t o t h e g o d . "
Ins t ead , i t w a s t h e h u n t e r w h o go t in, w i t h his d o g s . " L i s t e n , y o u two , "
he said, " I ' ve g iven y o u a g o o d life la te ly a n d n o w it 's y o u r t u r n to look
ou t for mt. U n d e r s t a n d ? " H e p a t t e d t he i r h e a d s a n d t h e y w h i n e d b a c k ,
t h e n lay d o w n o n e i t h e r s ide o f h im . N e x t h e h a d t h e w e a p o n s h e h a d s o
carefu l ly s h a r p e n e d laid i n t h e c h e s t t o o . F ina l ly t h e lid w a s s e c u r e d w i t h
s t r ip s o f c lo th , a n d t h e k n o t s w e r e sea led . W i t h a n e x p r e s s i o n o f su i t ab l e
g r ie f on his face, t h e f a the r slid t h e c h e s t ou t aga in , a n d the p r i e s t s t o o k
it. T h e p r o c e s s i o n set off w i t h a g r e a t s h a k i n g of s p e a r s , bel ls , a n d
b r a n c h e s o f t h e jakaki t r e e d e a r to t h e g o d s , a n d w i t h a g r e a t c l a m o r
from t h o s e w h o w e n t c e r e m o n i a l l y be fo re i t t o c lea r t h e r o a d .
T h e girl l i s t ened t o t h e c o m m o t i o n a n d t h o u g h t o n c e m o r e o f t h e m a n
w h o h a d t a k e n h e r p l a c e i n t h e c h e s t . S h e w o n d e r e d fearfully w h a t h e r
p a r e n t s w o u l d d o i f a n y t h i n g w e n t w r o n g . Bu t t h e y a s s u r e d h e r t h a t i n
t h e face o f t h e g o d ' s h a r s h c o m m a n d t h e y t h e m s e l v e s w e r e q u i t e p r e p a r e d
t o d ie , a n d t h a t t h e y fea red n o t h i n g a t all .
T h e of fe r ing w a s c a r r i e d to t h e s h r i n e . All t h e p r i e s t s l ined up in f ront
o f it, i n o r d e r o f p r e c e d e n c e , a n d t h e chief p r ies t so l emn ly i n t o n e d t h e
d i v i n e i n v o c a t i o n . T h e n h e o p e n e d t h e s a n c t u a r y d o o r s , slid t h e c h e s t
ins ide , a n d c losed t h e d o o r s a g a i n .
T h e h u n t e r , m e a n w h i l e , h a d carefu l ly p i e r c e d a p e e p h o l e in t h e c h e s t
w i t h his d a g g e r . He n o w s a w be fo re h im, in t h e sea t o f h o n o r , a g i an t
m o n k e y e ight feet tall w i t h a r e d face a n d b u t t o c k s , a n d long, g lossy
w h i t e fur. T w o h u n d r e d l esse r m o n k e y s c r o w d e d a r o u n d i t o n e i t he r s ide ,
s o m e w i t h f lushed faces, s o m e w i t h e y e b r o w s exc i t ed ly ra i sed , a n d all
b a r k i n g a n d c h a t t e r i n g m a d l y . A h u g e c a r v i n g b o a r d a n d a long, l ong
knife lay be fo re t h e m ; a n d a r o u n d t h e b o a r d s t ood j a r s full o f salt , v i n e -
gar , a n d w i n e .
W h i l e t h e o t h e r s all c l u s t e r e d r o u n d , t h e g i an t m o n k e y a p p r o a c h e d t h e
ches t a n d u n d i d t h e k n o t s .
" G e t ' e m ! " t h e h u n t e r s h o u t e d . H i s d o g s b u r s t from t h e ches t , set t he i r
t e e th i n t h e g i an t , go t h im d o w n , a n d d r a g g e d h im a l o n g t h e floor. O u t
l e aped t h e h u n t e r r igh t b e h i n d t h e m , his b l a d e g l i t t e r ing l ike ice. H e
h a u l e d t h e g i an t o n t o t h e c a r v i n g b o a r d , p u t t h e s w o r d t o his neck , a n d
r o a r e d : " S c u m , th i s i s w h a t y o u ge t for ki l l ing a n d e a t i n g p e o p l e ! Y o u
listen to m e ! I 'm g o i n g to c u t off y o u r fi l thy h e a d a n d feed i t t o my d o g s ! "
1 1 0
T h e g i a n t m o n k e y ' s r e d face go t e v e n r e d d e r . H e b l i nked a n d g rea t
t e a r s ro l l ed f rom his eyes , w h i l e his l ips d r e w b a c k t o e x p o s e g l e a m i n g
t e e t h . T h o u g h he r u b b e d his h a n d s t o g e t h e r i n ab jec t e n t r e a t y , w i t h a
g h a s t l y e x p r e s s i o n , t h e h u n t e r g a v e h im n o q u a r t e r . "All t he se y e a r s
y o u ' v e b e e n e a t i n g y o u n g w o m e n a n d l eav ing p e o p l e c h i l d l e s s ! " h e bel-
l o w e d . " N o w y o u r h e a d ' s c o m i n g off for it! J u s t y o u t ry e a t i n g me\" H e
s t r u c k a s a v a g e b l o w , b u t t h e g i a n t m o n k e y ' s h e a d d id no t roll qu i t e so
eas i ly . M e a n w h i l e t h e t w o d o g s h a d c h a s e d t h e o t h e r s in to t he t r ees ,
w h e r e t h e y sa t s h r i e k i n g s o f rant ica l ly t h a t t he m o u n t a i n s r a n g a n d the
e a r t h s e e m e d r e a d y t o spl i t .
N e x t , t h e g o d p o s s e s s e d o n e o f t h e s h r i n e p r i e s t s . " N e v e r , n e v e r m a k e
me a l ive of fe r ing a g a i n ! " he h o w l e d . " T h e p r a c t i c e m u s t s t o p ! I 've
l e a r n e d , o h h o w I 've l e a r n e d no t t o kill h u m a n s ! A n d d o n ' t h a r m t h e m a n
w h o d i d th i s t o m e o r p u n i s h t h e family t h a t w a s s u p p o s e d t o p r o v i d e t h e
o f fe r ing! I'll p r o t e c t t h e m a n d t h e i r d e s c e n d a n t s fo rever ! B u t q u i c k l y
n o w , p l e a s e , b e g th i s m a n for my life! I 'm in t e r r i b l e d a n g e r ! "
T h e p r i e s t s a n d t h e i r fo l lowers r u s h e d in to t h e s a n c t u a r y a n d p l e a d e d
w i t h t h e h u n t e r t o des i s t . " W e u n d e r s t a n d , " t h e y c r ied , " b u t p lease ,
p l e a s e r e l e a s e t h e g o d ! H e ' s p r o m i s e d no t t o d o i t a g a i n ! "
" D o n ' t j u s t let h im g o ! " t h e h u n t e r r e t o r t e d . " H e ' s a m u r d e r e r , a n d
I 'm g o i n g t o t e a c h h i m a t h i n g o r t w o a b o u t s u f f e r i n g ! " A s h e s h o w e d n o
s ign o f r e l e n t i n g , t h e m o n k e y ' s h e a d s e e m e d a s g o o d a s off. T h e chief
p r i e s t m a d e e v e r y p r o m i s e h e c o u l d t h i n k o f a n d t h e g o d s w o r e tha t h e
w o u l d n e v e r , n e v e r d o i t a g a i n .
At las t t h e h u n t e r g a v e in . "All r igh t , all r i g h t , " he said, " jus t m a k e
s u r e y o u d o n ' t ! " T h e m o n k e y w e n t f ree.
W h e n i t w a s all ove r , t h e h u n t e r r e t u r n e d t o t h e g i r l ' s h o u s e a n d l ived
o n h a p p i l y a s h e r h u s b a n d . S i n c e h e w a s ac tua l ly o f n o b l e s tock , h e m a d e
a n e x c e l l e n t m a t c h .
Af t e r t h a t , i t w a s b o a r o r d e e r w h i c h s e r v e d a s live offer ings t o t he
g o d .
7 8 •
THE LURE
A f ine y o u n g m a n o f t h e h i g h e s t b i r t h ( a c a p t a i n o f t h e Pa lace G u a r d s ,
let u s s a y ) o n c e m a d e a s e c r e t p i l g r i m a g e t o K i y o m i z u , w h e r e he s p o t t e d
a v e r y p r e t t y g i r l . S h e w a s beau t i fu l ly d r e s s e d , a n d t o t h e cap t a in s h e
w a s o b v i o u s l y o f g e n t l e b i r t h . S h e t o o s e e m e d to be t h e r e on a s ec re t
p i l g r i m a g e .
H e w a t c h e d h e r w o r s h i p i n n o c e n t l y be fo re t h e a l t a r . I n h e r ea r ly
t w e n t i e s , s h e w a s b y far t h e lovel ies t y o u n g w o m a n h e h a d e v e r s een .
W h o c o u l d s h e b e ? H e w a s g o i n g t o b e c o u r t i n g he r , t h e r e w a s n o d o u b t
a b o u t t h a t , a n d w a s a l r e a d y d e e p l y i n love . W h e n s h e left t h e t e m p l e , h e
h a d a p a g e fol low h e r .
T h e c a p t a i n w a s h o m e a g a i n w h e n t h e p a g e r e t u r n e d t o r e p o r t . " I
f o u n d o u t w h e r e s h e l ives , s i r , " he sa id . " T h e h o u s e i sn ' t i n t h e ci ty a t all ,
b u t in t h e hills s o u t h of K i y o m i z u , ju s t n o r t h of M o u n t A m i d a . I t ' s a fine,
p r o s p e r o u s - l o o k i n g p l a c e . T h e w o m a n w i t h h e r n o t i c e d m e b e h i n d t h e m
a n d a s k e d w h a t I t h o u g h t I w a s d o i n g . I to ld h e r I w a s jus t o b e y i n g my
m a s t e r , b e c a u s e h e ' d s e e n h e r l a d y a t t h e t e m p l e a n d h a d to ld m e t o find
ou t w h e r e s h e l ived. T h e w o m a n sa id n e x t t i m e I c a m e t h a t w a y I s h o u l d
b e s u r e t o s t o p b y . "
G r e a t l y e n c o u r a g e d , t h e c a p t a i n s e n t a l e t t e r t o w h i c h t h e girl r ep l i ed
v e r y s w e e t l y . S e v e r a l s u c h e x c h a n g e s fo l lowed, a n d i n o n e le t te r t h e girl
w r o t e t h a t l iv ing a s s h e d i d b a c k i n t h e m o u n t a i n s she rea l ly co u l d no t g o
in to t h e c i ty . " B u t d o c o m e h e r e , " s h e a d d e d . " I ' m s u r e t h e r e ' s n o h a r m
in o u r t a l k i n g t h r o u g h a s c r e e n . "
D e s p e r a t e t o see h e r a g a i n , t h e c a p t a i n r o d e off ga i ly a t d u s k w i t h jus t
t w o a t t e n d a n t s : a g r o o m a n d t h e u sua l p a g e . N e e d l e s s t o say , h e d id n o t
a d v e r t i s e his d e p a r t u r e .
W h e n t h e y a r r i v e d , t h e p a g e a n n o u n c e d t h e m a n d the o l d e r w o m a n
inv i t ed t h e m t o fo l low h e r in . T h e c o m p o u n d w a s s u r r o u n d e d b y a
s t o u t e a r t h e n wa l l p i e r c e d b y h i g h g a t e s a n d d i v i d e d b y a d e e p t r e n c h
w i t h a b r i d g e o v e r it. T h e w o m a n h a d t h e c a p t a i n ' s a t t e n d a n t s a n d
h o r s e s s t o p a t a l o d g e s h o r t o f t h e b r i d g e , t h e n led t h e c a p t a i n h i m -
self o n a c r o s s . A m o n g t h e m a n y b u i l d i n g s o n t h e o t h e r s ide w a s w h a t
s e e m e d to be a g u e s t pav i l ion . T h e c a p t a i n e n t e r e d to find h imse l f in
a beau t i fu l ly a p p o i n t e d a p a r t m e n t , c o m p l e t e w i t h folding s c r e e n s , a
c u r t a i n o f s t a t e , v e r y n ice m a t s on t h e floor, a n d b l i n d s d i v i d i n g off
t h e m a i n r o o m . F o r a m o u n t a i n r e t r e a t , t h e p l a c e w a s t h o r o u g h l y im-
p r e s s i v e .
T h e e v e n i n g w a s wel l a l o n g b y n o w a n d t h e girl he r se l f a p p e a r e d . T h e
c a p t a i n w e n t s t r a i g h t i n b e h i n d h e r c u r t a i n s a n d lay d o w n w i t h h e r . B y
t h e t i m e t h e y h a d m a d e love h e k n e w s h e w a s infini tely m o r e beau t i fu l i n
his a r m s t h a n s h e e v e r h a d b e e n a t a d i s t a n c e .
A s t h e y t a l k e d , t h e c a p t a i n let h e r k n o w h o w m u c h h e loved he r . B u t
s h e s e e m e d v e r y d o w n c a s t a n d a p p a r e n t l y w a s e v e n w e e p i n g , t h o u g h she
t r i ed t o h i d e it. N o t u n d e r s t a n d i n g , h e a s k e d h e r w h y . S h e on ly a n s w e r e d
t h a t s h e h a d j u s t t h o u g h t o f s o m e t h i n g sad , w h i c h p u z z l e d t h e c a p t a i n
1 1 2
still m o r e . " B u t w e love e a c h o t h e r n o w ! " h e sa id . " Y o u s h o u l d n ' t h ide
t h i n g s f rom m e ! W h a t ' s t h e m a t t e r ? W h a t i s i t ? "
" I t i sn ' t t h a t I d o n ' t want to tell y o u , " s h e rep l ied , " b u t oh , I c an ' t b e a r
t o ! " S h e w e p t all t h e m o r e .
" S p e a k ! Tel l m e ! A m I g o i n g t o d ie s o m e h o w ? "
" O h , I miutt tell y o u ! Y o u see , I 'm t h e d a u g h t e r of s o - a n d - s o w h o used
to l ive in t h e C a p i t a l . W h e n my p a r e n t s d ied I w a s left an o r p h a n . T h e
m a s t e r of t h i s h o u s e i s a b e g g a r o u t c a s t e w h o m a t r e m e n d o u s s t r o k e of
f o r t u n e h a d a l r e a d y b r o u g h t t o live h e r e . H e a b d u c t e d me , a n d n o w h e
s ee s t o m y e v e r y n e e d a n d d r e s s e s m e i n t h e bes t . F r o m t ime t o t ime h e
s e n d s me off on p i l g r i m a g e to K i y o m i z u , w h e r e m e n see me a n d fall i n
love w i t h me j u s t a s y o u d i d . I l u r e t h e s e m e n h e r e a s I d id y o u , a n d
w h i l e I s l e ep t h e o u t c a s t e t h r u s t s a s p e a r d o w n from the cei l ing. I g u i d e
t h e p o i n t t o t h e m a n ' s c h e s t a n d t h e s p e a r r u n s h im t h r o u g h . W h e n he ' s
d e a d , h e ' s s t r i p p e d o f his c l o the s . H i s a t t e n d a n t s i n t h e lodge on the o t h e r
s ide o f t h e m o a t a r e all m u r d e r e d a n d s t r i p p e d too , a n d t h e h o r s e s a r e
s t o l e n . I 've d o n e th i s tw ice a l r e a d y , a n d all I h a v e to look f o r w a r d to i s
m o r e o f t h e s a m e . S o th i s t i m e I 'm g o i n g t o t a k e t h e s p e a r po in t in s t ead
o f y o u a n d d i e myself. R u n a w a y ! I 'm s u r e y o u r a t t e n d a n t s a r e d e a d . O h ,
t o t h i n k t h a t I'll n e v e r see y o u a g a i n ! " S h e s o b b e d a s t h o u g h h e r hea r t
w o u l d b r e a k .
T h e c a p t a i n ' s m i n d ree led , b u t h e m a n a g e d t o g a t h e r e n o u g h w i t s t o
say , " H o w h o r r i b l e ! A n d y o u ta lk o f d y i n g for m e ! N o , no , t h a n k y o u ,
b u t I c a n ' t e s c a p e b y myse l f a n d leave y o u b e h i n d ! We ' l l g o t o g e t h e r ! "
" Y e s , I 've l o n g e d for t h a t t o o , m a n y t i m e s . B u t i f he d o e s n ' t feel flesh
u n d e r h i s s p e a r he ' l l b e d o w n i n s t a n t l y t o see w h a t ' s w r o n g . I f w e ' r e b o t h
g o n e , we ' l l b o t h b e c a u g h t a n d ki l led. N o , p lease , s ave y o u r s e l f a n d d o
p i o u s w o r k s for t h e g o o d o f my sou l . I c a n ' t go on c o m m i t t i n g these
m o n s t r o u s c r i m e s ! "
" H o w c a n m y g o o d w o r k s e v e r r e p a y t h e d e b t I'll o w e y o u ? Bu t all
r i gh t , I'll g o . "
" T h e y ' l l h a v e t a k e n u p t h e b r i d g e o v e r t h e t r e n c h af ter y o u c ro s sed it.
G o o u t t h e d o o r t h e r e a n d m a k e y o u r w a y a l o n g the n a r r o w b a n k b e y o n d
t h e t r e n c h till y o u g e t to a litt le o p e n i n g in t h e o u t e r wal l , w h e r e t he
b r o o k c o m e s in . Y o u c a n s q u e e z e o u t t h r o u g h t h a t . A h , i t 's t ime ! W h e n
t h e s p e a r c o m e s d o w n , I'll p u t i t t o my o w n ches t a n d let i t s t a b me to
d e a t h . "
A l r e a d y t h e s o u n d o f vo ices , t e r r i fy ing n o w b e y o n d d e s c r i p t i o n , cou ld
be h e a r d e l s e w h e r e i n t h e h o u s e . W e e p i n g , t he cap t a in d r e w on a s ingle
r o b e , t u c k e d t h e s k i r t s up in to his be l t for ease o f m o v e m e n t , a n d stole
o u t t h e d o o r . H e g o t a l o n g t h e b a n k a n d ou t t h r o u g h t h e o p e n i n g . S o far,
s o g o o d . B u t w h e r e w a s h e t o h e a d n o w ? H e s i m p l y r a n i n t h e d i r e c t i o n
h e h a p p e n e d t o b e facing, a n d a s h e d id s o h e h e a r d foo ts teps r u n n i n g
b e h i n d h im . T h e y w e r e af ter h i m ! H e g l a n c e d b a c k i n p a n i c . I t w a s his
p a g e .
" W h e r e d id you c o m e f r o m ? " he c r i ed in relief.
" A s s o o n a s y o u w e r e g o n e t h e y t o o k a w a y t h e b r i d g e , s i r , " t h e b o y
r ep l i ed . " T h a t w a s a b a d s ign , so I go t o u t o v e r t h e wa l l . W h e n I g a t h e r e d
t h e y ' d ki l led t he g r o o m , I w o n d e r e d w h a t t h e y m i g h t h a v e d o n e w i t h you,
so i n s t e a d of g e t t i n g a w a y I h id in a t h i c k e t to see w h a t m i g h t h a p p e n .
W h e n I h e a r d s o m e o n e r u n n i n g , I h o p e d i t m i g h t be y o u , sir , a n d I
fo l lowed t o m a k e s u r e . "
" I h a d no idea s u c h a h o r r o r w a s poss ib le , I j u s t h a d no i d e a ! " t h e
c a p t a i n g r o a n e d a s t h e y r a n o n t o g e t h e r t o w a r d t h e ci ty.
O n r e a c h i n g t h e r i v e r a t a b o u t t h e level o f Fifth A v e n u e , t h e y l o o k e d
b a c k a n d s a w a g r e a t fire. H a v i n g t h r u s t d o w n his spea r , t h e o u t c a s t e
h a d a s s u m e d he h a d ki l led his i n t e n d e d v i c t im . B u t he e x p e c t e d t h e girl
t h e n t o say s o m e t h i n g . A l a r m e d b y h e r s i lence , h e c a m e d o w n t o see w h a t
w a s w r o n g . H e f o u n d t h e girl d e a d a n d t h e m a n g o n e . O b v i o u s l y t h e r e
w o u l d soon be p e o p l e t h e r e to a r r e s t h im, so he h a d set fire to all t h e
b u i l d i n g s a n d fled.
O n c e b a c k a t h o m e t h e c a p t a i n s w o r e his p a g e t o s i lence a n d n e v e r
b r e a t h e d a w o r d o l w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d . E v e r y y e a r h e c o m m i s s i o n e d
s o l e m n B u d d h i s t r i tes , a n d t h o u g h h e n e v e r r evea l ed w h o t h e y w e r e for
t h e y m u s t h a v e b e e n for t h e girl w h o h a d d ied t o save h im .
In t h e e n d , r u m o r o f t h e i n c i d e n t d id ge t ou t a n d s o m e o n e bui l t a
t e m p l e w h e r e t he h o u s e h a d s t o o d ; in fact, i t 's still t h e r e .
I t all g o e s to s h o w t h a t y o u s h o u l d n ' t let a lovely w o m a n s w e e p y o u
of! s o m e w h e r e y o u d o n ' t k n o w .
7 9 •
JUST LIKE A BIRD
As a y o u n g m a n T a d a a k i r a , an officer o f t h e I m p e r i a l Pol ice , q u a r r e l e d
w i t h s o m e local t o u g h s b e l o w K i y o m i z u T e m p l e . T h e t o u g h s h a d t he i r
s w o r d s d r a w n a n d w e r e o u t t o s u r r o u n d a n d kill T a d a a k i r a i f t h e y cou ld .
H e t oo b a r e d his s w o r d a n d b r o k e a w a y u p t o t h e m a i n hal l . W h e n still
m o r e t o u g h s c a m e af te r h im, he fled in to t h e hal l .
1 1 A
N o w K i y o m i z u T e m p l e i s bui l t o u t f rom a s t e e p hil lside a n d s t a n d s on
a s t r u c t u r e o f h u g e w o o d e n p i l l a r s . F r o m t h e o p e n p la t fo rm before t he
t e m p l e y o u look o u t o v e r t h e t r e e t o p s . T a d a a k i r a se ized o n e o f t h e g rea t
s h u t t e r s t h a t p r o t e c t t h e t e m p l e f rom w i n d a n d ra in , d a s h e d ou t c l u t c h i n g
i t u n d e r his a r m , a n d h u r l e d h imse l f off in to t he va l ley be low . T h e w i n d
c a u g h t t h e s h u t t e r . He sa i led l ike a b i r d d o w n to a gen t l e l a n d i n g a n d
d i s a p p e a r e d w i t h all p o s s i b l e s p e e d .
T h e t o u g h s w a t c h e d i n a r o w f rom t h e ra i l ing a b o v e . T h e y cou ld not
be l i eve t h e i r e y e s . _
F O X E S
8 o .
ENOUGH LS ENOUGH!
T h e foxes w h i c h in fes ted t h e h o u s e a n d g r o u n d s o f M a j o r C o u n s e l o r
Y a s u m i c h i ' s o ld m a n s i o n w e r e a l w a y s m a k i n g mischief, bu t s ince t h e y
n e v e r r ea l ly d i d a n y h a r m Y a s u m i c h i let t h e m a t t e r p a s s . T h e y got n a u g h -
t i e r a n d n a u g h t i e r a s t h e y e a r s w e n t by , t h o u g h , unt i l o n e d a y h e angr i ly
d e c i d e d t h a t e n o u g h w a s e n o u g h . T h o s e foxes w o u l d h a v e t o g o .
He a n n o u n c e d a g r a n d fox h u n t t o his h o u s e h o l d , for t he nex t d a y .
T h e s e r v a n t s w e r e t o b r i n g b o w s a n d a r r o w s , s t i cks , o r w h a t e v e r w e a p -
o n s t h e y c o u l d d e v i s e , a n d f lush o u t e v e r y last o n e . T h e y w o u l d s u r r o u n d
t h e h o u s e , a n d m e n w o u l d b e p o s t e d no t on ly o n t h e g a r d e n wal l b u t o n
t h e r o o f a s wel l , a n d e v e n i n t h e s p a c e b e t w e e n the cei l ing o f t he r o o m s
a n d t h e roof. E v e r y fox t h a t s h o w e d itself w o u l d b e ki l led.
N e a r d a w n on t h e fateful d a y Y a s u m i c h i h a d a d r e a m . A w h i t e - h a i r e d
old m a n , l o o k i n g r a t h e r l ike a n a g e d men ia l , w a s k n e e l i n g u n d e r t h e
t a n g e r i n e t r e e i n t h e g a r d e n , b o w i n g respec t fu l ly t o h im .
" W h o a r e y o u ? " a s k e d Y a s u m i c h i .
" S o m e o n e w h o h a s l ived h e r e i n th i s m a n s i o n for m a n y y e a r s , s i r , " t he
o ld m a n a n s w e r e d n e r v o u s l y . " M y fa the r l ived h e r e be fo re me , sir, a n d
by n o w I h a v e m a n y c h i l d r e n a n d g r a n d c h i l d r e n . T h e y ge t in to a lot o f
mischief , I 'm a f ra id , a n d I 'm a l w a y s af ter t h e m to s t o p , b u t t h e y n e v e r
l is ten. A n d n o w , sir , y o u ' r e u n d e r s t a n d a b l y fed up w i t h u s . I g a t h e r t h a t
y o u ' r e g o i n g to kill us all . B u t I j u s t w a n t y o u to k n o w , sir, h o w s o r r y I
a m t h a t t h i s i s o u r last n igh t o f life. W o n ' t y o u p a r d o n u s , o n e m o r e t i m e ?
I f w e e v e r m a k e t r o u b l e aga in , t h e n o f c o u r s e y o u m u s t ac t a s y o u t h i n k
bes t . B u t t h e y o u n g o n e s , s i r— I 'm jure they ' l l u n d e r s t a n d w h e n I exp l a in
t o t h e m w h y y o u ' r e s o u p s e t . W e ' l l d o e v e r y t h i n g w e can t o p r o t e c t y o u
from n o w on , i f o n l y y o u ' l l forg ive us , a n d we ' l l be s u r e t o let y o u k n o w
w h e n a n y t h i n g g o o d i s g o i n g t o h a p p e n ! "
T h e old m a n b o w e d a g a i n a n d Y a s u m i c h i a w o k e . W h e n the s k y h a d
l i gh t ened , h e go t u p a n d l o o k e d o u t s i d e . U n d e r t h e t a n g e r i n e t r e e sa t a
ha i r l e s s o ld fox w h i c h , a t t h e s ight o f h i m , s l u n k u n d e r t h e h o u s e .
T h e p e r p l e x e d Y a s u m i c h i g a v e u p h i s fox h u n t . T h e r e w a s n o m o r e
t r o u b l e s o m e mischief, a n d e v e r y h a p p y e v e n t a r o u n d t h e h o u s e w a s a n -
n o u n c e d by a fox 's s h a r p b a r k .
8 i .
THE LOVING FOX
A m a n w a s o n c e w a l k i n g a t twi l igh t a l o n g S u z a k u A v e n u e i n K y o t o w h e n
h e m e t a n e x t r a o r d i n a r i l y beau t i fu l w o m a n . S h e s e e m e d h a p p y e n o u g h
to let h i m s t r i k e up a c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h he r , a n d from close up he f o u n d
h e r e v e n m o r e a l l u r i n g . U n a b l e e v e n t o imag ine le t t ing t h e o p p o r t u n i t y
p a s s , h e filled h e r e a r s w i t h s o m a n y s w e e t n o t h i n g s t h a t h e soon v e r y
n e a r l y h a d w h a t h e b u r n e d for.
T h e w o m a n t r i ed t o ho ld h im off. " N o w t h a t w e ' v e g o t t e n th i s f a r , "
s h e sa id , " I ' d l ike so m u c h t o go all t h e w a y ! B u t y o u see , i f we do y o u ' l l
d i e . "
M u c h t o o e x c i t e d t o l is ten, t h e m a n k e p t p r e s s i n g h imse l f o n h e r unt i l
s h e g a v e in. " I r ea l ly c a n ' t r e fuse y o u , " s h e sa id , " s i nce y o u insis t s o
u r g e n t l y . V e r y wel l t h e n , I'll d o w h a t e v e r y o u w i s h a n d d ie i n y o u r p l ace .
I f y o u w a n t t o s h o w m e g r a t i t u d e , c o p y t h e L o t u s S u t r a a n d d e d i c a t e i t
for m e . "
T h e m a n s e e m e d no t t o t a k e h e r se r ious ly , a n d h e finally c o n s u m m a t e d
his d e s i r e . T h e y lay in e a c h o t h e r ' s a r m s all n igh t long , c h a t t i n g l ike old
lovers . A t d a w n t h e w o m a n go t u p a n d a s k e d t h e m a n for his fan. " I
m e a n t w h a t I sa id , y o u k n o w , " s h e to ld h im, " I ' m g o i n g t o d ie i n s t ead o f
1 1 6
8 2 .
TOUCHED IN THE HEAD
K a y a no Yoshifuj i l ived in t h e vi l lage o f A s h i m o r i in B i t chu p r o v i n c e . He
h a d m a d e a f o r t u n e t r a d i n g in i m p o r t e d C h i n e s e co ins .
In t h e fall o f 8 9 6 , Yoshi fu j i ' s wi fe w e n t up to t he Cap i t a l , l eav ing him
all a l o n e . He w a s far t o o r a n d y a fel low to s t a n d th is for long . O n e
e v e n i n g a t tw i l igh t , he w a s o u t for a s trol l w h e n he s p o t t e d a lovely y o u n g
gir l h e h a d no t s een be fo re , a n d w a n t e d h e r r igh t a w a y . S h e t r i ed t o r u n
w h e n h e g r a b b e d a t he r , b u t h e c a u g h t h e r a n d a s k e d w h o she w a s . V e r y
s w e e t l y , s h e a n s w e r e d , " N o b o d y . "
" C o m e t o m y p l a c e , " said Yoshifuj i .
" O h n o , sir, I c o u l d n ' t ! " S h e t r i ed a g a i n to pull a w a y .
" T h e n w h e r e d o y o u l ive? I'll g o h o m e w i t h y o u . "
" O v e r t h e r e . " S h e set off w i t h Yoshifuj i bes ide her , k e e p i n g a g o o d
h o l d on h e r . I t w a s no t far, a n d t h e h o u s e w a s lovely. W h a t a s u r p r i s e t o
find a p l ace l ike th i s so c lose b y ! M a l e a n d female s e r v a n t s c lu s t e r ed
r o u n d t o g r e e t t h e i r m i s t r e s s , a n d Yoshifuj i rea l ized tha t t he girl w a s t he
d a u g h t e r o f t h e h o u s e .
T h e t w o s lep t t o g e t h e r t h a t n igh t , t o Yoshifuj i ' s de l igh t . T h e nex t
m o r n i n g a m a n w h o m Yoshifuj i u n d e r s t o o d t o be t h e gir l ' s fa ther c a m e
in . " Y o u w e r e a l w a y s m e a n t t o c o m e h e r e , " h e said, " a n d n o w y o u m u s t
s t a y ! " T h e gir l w a s e v e r s o n ice t o h im, a n d h e w a s s o t a k e n w i t h h e r
t h a t he forgot all a b o u t his wi fe . As for his h o u s e a n d ch i ld ren , he n e v e r
g a v e t h e m a t h o u g h t . H e a n d t h e girl p l e d g e d each o t h e r e t e r n a l love.
Yoshi fu j i ' s h o u s e h o l d a s s u m e d , w h e n h e first d i s a p p e a r e d , t ha t h e w a s
j u s t c a t t i n g a r o u n d a s u s u a l ; b u t a s t h e h o u r s p a s s e d a n d h e failed t o
r e t u r n , t h e y b e g a n t o w o r r y . " W h a t a l u n a t i c ! " t h e y g r u m b l e d . " W e ' l l
y o u . I f y o u w a n t proof, g o in to t h e pa l ace g r o u n d s a n d look a r o u n d the
B u t o k u H a l l . You ' l l s e e . " T h e n s h e left.
A t d a y l i g h t t h e m a n w e n t t o t h e B u t o k u Hal l a n d found t h e r e a fox
ly ing d e a d w i t h his fan o v e r its face. H e w a s v e r y s o r r y . E v e r y seven
d a y s a f te r t h a t he f in ished a c o p y of t h e L o t u s S u t r a a n d d e d i c a t e d i t for
t h e fox 's sou l . O n t h e n igh t fo l lowing t h e fo r ty -n in th d a y h e d r e a m e d
tha t s h e c a m e t o h im, s u r r o u n d e d b y ange l s , a n d told h im tha t t h a n k s t o
t he p o w e r o f t h e T e a c h i n g s h e w a s t o b e b o r n in to t he To r i H e a v e n .
h a v e to look lo r h i m ! " S e r v a n t s s en t i n t h e m i d d l e o f t he n ight t o c o m b
the n e i g h b o r h o o d t u r n e d u p n o t h i n g . Y e t Yoshifuj i co u l d no t h a v e g o n e
far s ince he h a d b e e n d r e s s e d on ly casua l ly a n d all his c lo thes w e r e still
a t h o m e . By d a y b r e a k e v e r y l ikely p lace h a d b e e n s e a r c h e d i n va in . T h e
h o u s e h o l d w a s a t a loss . I f he w e r e y o u n g , he m i g h t h a v e b e c o m e a m o n k
in a m o m e n t of folly, or e v e n ki l led himself, b u t su r e ly no t a t h is a g e . I t
w a s v e r y s t r a n g e .
M e a n w h i l e Yoshifuj i w a s c o m f o r t a b l y ins ta l led i n his n e w h o m e a n d
his l ady w a s p r e g n a n t . Af te r s h e h a d a n easy de l ive ry , t h e t w o g r e w
c lose r t h a n eve r . T i m e flew b y . Yoshifuj i h a d no t a c a r e in t he w o r l d .
B a c k a t his o ld h o m e , t h e y n e v e r found h i m . H i s b r o t h e r s a n d his on ly
son T a d a s a d a , af f luent m e n all, w e r e v e r y upse t , a n d w a n t i n g a t least t o
find his b o d y t h e y b a n d e d t o g e t h e r , felled a t r e e , a n d c a r v e d an i m a g e of
E l e v e n - H e a d e d K a n n o n jus t Yoshifuj i ' s h e i g h t . W h e n t h e s t a t u e w a s
d o n e , t h e y p r o s t r a t e d t h e m s e l v e s be fo re i t a n d p r a y e d to find t h e c o r p s e .
Be i t n o t e d , t oo , t h a t f rom t h e d a y o f Yoshifuj i ' s d i s a p p e a r a n c e t h e y h a d
b e e n ca l l ing t h e B u d d h a ' s N a m e a n d r e a d i n g s u t r a s t o g u i d e Yoshifuj i ' s
soul t o w a r d t h e n e x t life.
S u d d e n l y a m a n w i t h a s t ick a r r i v e d a t Yoshifuj i ' s n e w h o u s e . W h i l e
t h e w h o l e h o u s e h o l d fled in t e r r o r , t h e m a n p o k e d his s t ick in to Y o s h i -
fuji's b a c k a n d d r o v e h i m t h r o u g h a t i gh t p a s s a g e w a y to t h e o u t s i d e .
T h i s w a s t h e t h i r t e e n t h e v e n i n g af ter Yoshifuj i ' s d i s a p p e a r a n c e . T h e
p e o p l e a t h is o ld h o m e w e r e still s h a k i n g the i r h e a d s o v e r w h a t h a d
h a p p e n e d w h e n a s t r a n g e l y d a r k , m o n k e y l i k e c r e a t u r e c r a w l e d o u t f rom
u n d e r t h e s t o r e h o u s e n e a r b y . W h a t cou ld i t b e ? T h r o u g h t h e j a b b e r o f
t he e x c i t e d o n l o o k e r s c a m e a vo ice say ing , " I t ' s m e ! " I t w a s Yoshifuj i .
E v e n T a d a s a d a f o u n d i t h a r d t o be l ieve , b u t t h e r e w a s n o d o u b t a b o u t
t h e v o i c e . T a d a s a d a j u m p e d d o w n from t h e v e r a n d a a n d b r o u g h t his
f a the r u p in to t h e h o u s e .
Yoshifuji e x p l a i n e d h o w d e s p e r a t e he h a d b e e n for a w o m a n w h i l e his
wife w a s g o n e a n d h o w h e h a d m a r r i e d a fine g e n t l e m a n ' s d a u g h t e r . N o w
he h a d a litt le b o y . " H e ' s so p r e t t y I c a r r y h im in my a r m s all t he t i m e ! "
Yoshifuj i d e c l a r e d . " H e ' s m y heir , y o u k n o w . Y o u ' r e o n l y n u m b e r t w o
from n o w on , T a d a s a d a . T h a t ' s b e c a u s e I t h i n k so m u c h of his m o t h e r . "
" W h e r e u t h i s lit t le b o y ? " a s k e d T a d a s a d a .
" W h y , o v e r t h e r e , " Yoshifuj i a n s w e r e d , p o i n t i n g a t t h e s t o r e h o u s e .
T h i s w a s s t r a n g e n e w s . Yoshifuj i l o o k e d t e r r i b ly th in a n d sick, a n d h e
h a d on t h e s a m e c l o t h e s a s w h e n he h a d v a n i s h e d . A s e r v a n t sen t t o look
u n d e r t h e s t o r e h o u s e f o u n d lots of foxes, w h i c h fled in all d i r ec t i ons .
T h a t w a s w h e r e Yoshifuj i h a d b e e n . O b v i o u s l y a fox h a d t r i c k e d h im.
H e h a d m a r r i e d t h e fox a n d w a s n o l o n g e r i n his r igh t m i n d .
A holy m o n k a n d a y i n - y a n g d i v i n e r w e r e ca l led i m m e d i a t e l y to pur i fy
1 1 8
Yoshifuj i , b u t a f te r r e p e a t e d a b l u t i o n s he still w a s no t t he m a n he h a d
o n c e b e e n . I t w a s o n l y l a t e r t h a t h e finally c a m e b a c k t o himself, a n d h e
w a s h o r r i b l y e m b a r r a s s e d . T h e t h i r t e e n d a y s h e h a d s p e n t u n d e r t he
s t o r e h o u s e h a d s e e m e d t o h im like t h i r t e e n y e a r s , a n d t h e few inches o f
c l e a r a n c e b e t w e e n t h e g r o u n d a n d t h e floor o f t h e b u i l d i n g h a d looked t o
h i m l ike a s t a t e l y h o m e . T h e foxes h a d d o n e all t h i s . T h e m a n w i t h t h e
s t i ck w a s a n e m a n a t i o n o f t h e K a n n o n Yoshifuj i ' s b r o t h e r s a n d son h a d
c a r v e d .
Yoshi fu j i l ived on in g o o d h e a l t h a n o t h e r d e c a d e a n d d ied in his s ix ty-
first y e a r .
8 3 .
YAM SOUP
I n h i s y o u t h G e n e r a l T o s h i h i t o b e l o n g e d t o t h e r e g e n t ' s h o u s e h o l d . O n e
y e a r , a f te r t h e r e g e n t ' s N e w Y e a r b a n q u e t , h e a n d t h e o t h e r s w h o h a d
s e r v e d t h e b a n q u e t w e r e a l l o w e d to ea t up all t h e l eav ings . S i r Goi , a
g e n t l e m a n i n t h e r e g e n t ' s se rv ice , sa t w i t h t h e m s l u r p i n g lef tover y a m
s o u p . T h o u g h t h e fifth r a n k (go-i) he b o r e w a s no t m u c h to boas t of, S i r
G o i t h o u g h t i t v e r y fine. " A h , " he s i ghed , s m a c k i n g his l ips, " I can n e v e r
ge t e n o u g h o f t h a t s tuff !"
" R e a l l y ? " sa id T o s h i h i t o . " Y o u still h a v e n ' t h a d e n o u g h ? "
" N o i n d e e d ! "
" T h e n I'll see t h a t y o u ge t y o u r fill."
" T h a n k y o u , " m u r m u r e d S i r G o i .
A f ew d a y s l a t e r T o s h i h i t o a p p e a r e d a t S i r Go i ' s l o d g i n g a n d invi ted
h i m for a b a t h .
S i r G o i a c c e p t e d , " I am a b i t i t chy th i s e v e n i n g , " he a d m i t t e d . " B u t
I 've n o c o n v e y a n c e . "
" D o n ' t w o r r y , " sa id T o s h i h i t o , " I ' v e b r o u g h t y o u a n a g t o r i d e . "
" W o n d e r f u l , w o n d e r f u l ! " S i r G o i ro se t o g o . H e h a d o n a t a t t e r e d
l i g h t - b l u e outf i t w i t h r e n t s a n d g a p s h e r e a n d t h e r e , a n d no t even p r o p e r
u n d e r w e a r u n d e r his t r o u s e r s . T h e e n d o f his s h a r p n o s e w a s red , a n d
t h e d r o p q u i v e r i n g t h e r e s h o w e d t h a t h e h a d no t w i p e d i t for s o m e t ime .
T h o u g h his s a s h d a n g l e d r a g g e d l y f rom u n d e r t h e b a c k o f his o u t e r r o b e ,
he m a d e no a t t e m p t to fix it. All in all he w a s q u i t e a s igh t .
T h e i n c o n g r u o u s p a i r r o d e e a s t w a r d t o w a r d t h e K a m o Rive r . S i r G o i
d id no t h a v e a s ing le m i s e r a b l e b o y w i t h h im, bu t T o s h i h i t o h a d t h r e e :
o n e t o c a r r y his w e a p o n s , o n e t o lead his h o r s e , a n d o n e t o d o w h a t e v e r
else w a s n e e d e d . T h e y h a d c r o s s e d t h e r ive r a n d w e r e n e a r i n g t h e foot o f
t h e p a s s o v e r in to O m i w h e n S i r G o i f i n a l l y a s k e d w h e r e t h e y w e r e g o i n g .
T o s h i h i t o a s s u r e d h im t h a t t h e y h a d no t far t o g o a n d k e p t r e p e a t i n g
t h e s e a s s u r a n c e s a s t h e y p a s s e d Y a m a s h i n a .
" W h a t ' s g o i n g o n ? " S i r G o i ins i s ted , baff led. " Y o u k e e p te l l ing m e it 's
j u s t a h e a d a n d h e r e w e a r e pas t Y a m a s h i n a ! "
" J u s t a lit t le f u r t h e r ! I t ' s on jus t a l i t t l e ! " a n s w e r e d T o s h i h i t o as t h e y
c r o s s e d t h e p a s s .
S i r G o i h a d o n c e b e e n t o see a m o n k w h o m T o s h i h i t o k n e w ou t t h a t
w a y , a t M i i d e r a , a n d h e t h o u g h t p e r h a p s t h e y w e r e t o h a v e t he i r b a t h
t h e r e . B u t i t w a s c r a z y to c o m e so far for a b a t h , a n d bes ides , t h e y w e r e
n o w h e r e n e a r a b a t h a n y w a y . " W h e r e i s t h i s b a t h o f y o u r s ? " S i r G o i
d e m a n d e d t o k n o w .
" T o tell t h e t r u t h , " T o s h i h i t o confessed , " I ' m t a k i n g y o u u p t o t h e
J a p a n S e a coas t , t o T s u r u g a . "
" Y o u ' r e m a d ! I f y o u ' d to ld me from t h e s t a r t I 'd a t least h a v e t a k e n
s o m e m e n w i t h m e ! "
" Y o u ' v e a s g o o d a s a t h o u s a n d m e n , " l a u g h e d T o s h i h i t o , " a s l ong a s
y o u h a v e me I "
O n t h e s h o r e o f L a k e B i w a T o s h i h i t o sp ied a fox. " T h e r e ' s m y m e s s e n -
g e r ! " h e c r i e d a n d g a v e c h a s e . T h e fox r a n h a r d , bu t T o s h i h i t o go t i t
c o r n e r e d , t h e n d o v e a t i t a n d c a u g h t its h i n d legs . H i s h o r s e d id no t look
l ike m u c h b u t i t w a s a r e m a r k a b l e a n i m a l . I t h a d no t t a k e n long to c a t c h
t h a t fox.
T o s h i h i t o he ld t h e fox d a n g l i n g in front o f h im, a n d S i r Go i m a n a g e d
t o c a t c h u p i n t i m e t o h e a r h im say, " F o x , y o u ' r e g o i n g u p t o T o s h i h i t o ' s
h o u s e i n T s u r u g a t o n i g h t a n d y o u r e g o i n g t o say : ' T h e m a s t e r i s b r i n g i n g
a s u r p r i s e g u e s t h o m e from t h e C a p i t a l . He w a n t s his m e n to m e e t h im a t
t en t o m o r r o w m o r n i n g a t T a k a s h i m a . T h e y ' r e t o b r i n g t w o s a d d l e d
h o r s e s . ' I f y o u d o n ' t de l ive r t h a t m e s s a g e , y o u ' l l b e s o r r y . Y o u ' v e go t
mag ic p o w e r s , I k n o w , a n d y o u ' d b e t t e r ge t y o u r s e l f t h e r e r igh t a w a y ! "
T h e n T o s h i h i t o let t h e fox g o .
" W h a t a n o d d m e s s e n g e r ! " r e m a r k e d Si r G o i .
" J u s t y o u w a t c h , " T o s h i h i t o sa id . " H e ' l l g o . "
S u r e e n o u g h , t h e fox r a n s t r a i g h t off, g l a n c i n g b a c k aga in a n d a g a i n .
" T h e r e h e g o e s ! " c r i ed T o s h i h i t o , a n d t h e fox v a n i s h e d a s h e s p o k e .
T h e y s t o p p e d t h a t n igh t o n t h e r o a d a n d set off a g a i n f i r s t t h i n g t h e
n e x t m o r n i n g . A t t en t h e y s a w t h i r t y r i d e r s a p p r o a c h i n g . S i r Go i w a s
I 2 0
w o r r i e d , b u t T o s h i h i t o a s s u r e d h im t h e y w e r e his m e n . F o r S i r Goi , i t
w a s all a m y s t e r y .
T h e r i d e r s d i s m o u n t e d be fo re t h e m . " Y o u s e e ? " t h e y said t o each
o t h e r . " O u r m a s t e r ' s rea l ly c o m i n g ! "
T o s h i h i t o g r i n n e d a n d a s k e d h o w t h e y h a d found ou t .
" I n a v e r y s t r a n g e w a y , s i r , " t h e s e n i o r r e t a i n e r a n s w e r e d .
" D i d y o u b r i n g t h e h o r s e s ? "
" Y e s , sir , b o t h o f t h e m . "
S i n c e t h e m e n h a d food, T o s h i h i t o a n d Si r Go i d i s m o u n t e d t o o a n d
a t e . T h e s e n i o r r e t a i n e r to ld t h e m a b o u t t h e p r e v i o u s e v e n i n g .
" A r o u n d e igh t o ' c lock , sir , H e r L a d y s h i p felt a s h a r p pa in in h e r ches t .
S h e w a s v e r y a g i t a t e d a n d w a n t e d t o call a hea le r . T h e n she s u d d e n l y
sa id , ' D o n ' t w o r r y , m a d a m , I 'm j u s t a fox. I m e t H i s L o r d s h i p t o d a y on
t h e s h o r e o f L a k e B i w a , on his w a y from K y o t o . I t r i ed t o r u n a w a y b u t
he c a u g h t me a n d sa id to tell y o u he' l l be h e r e t o m o r r o w w i t h a g u e s t .
H e w a n t s h i s m e n t o m e e t h im w i t h t w o s a d d l e d h o r s e s a t t en t o m o r r o w
m o r n i n g a t T a k a s h i m a . He t h r e a t e n e d me i f I d i d n ' t ge t h e r e before t h e
d a y w a s o v e r . I h o p e t h e m e n will l eave r igh t a w a y ! I f t h e y ' r e la te , I'll
suffer for i t . ' S h e w a s t e r r i b l y u p s e t , sir , b u t o n c e s h e h a d g iven the
m e s s a g e s h e c a m e b a c k t o herself . W e left r i gh t a w a y a n d c a m e a s fast a s
w e c o u l d . "
T o s h i h i t o smi l ed a n d g l a n c e d a t S i r G o i , w h o w a s feeling t e r r ib ly
c o n f u s e d . T h e n t h e y h u r r i e d o n a n d a r r i v e d a t d u s k . T h e h o u s e h o l d w a s
a m a z e d . S i r G o i g o t off h i s h o r s e a n d h a d a look a t t he h o u s e . I t w a s
v e r y n i c e . T o s h i h i t o h a d a l r e a d y g iven h im a g o o d r o b e to w e a r ove r his
t h in c l o t h i n g , b u t still h e w a s awfu l ly h u n g r y a n d co ld . N o w t h e r e w a s a
b ig w a r m f i r e , a n d soft m a t s t o sit o n . W h e n r e f r e s h m e n t s w e r e se rved ,
S i r G o i felt e n t i r e l y c o m f o r t a b l e . T h e n h e w a s b r o u g h t t h r e e pa le -ye l low
si lk r o b e s , l u x u r i o u s l y p a d d e d , a n d a s k e d so l ic i tous ly w h e t h e r h e h a d not
b e e n co ld o n t h e r o a d . H e w a s fairly s w e p t a w a y .
Af te r e v e r y o n e h a d e a t e n a n d se t t l ed d o w n , T o s h i h i t o ' s f a the r - in - l aw
c a m e in . " W h a t a w a y t o a r r i v e ! " h e c o m p l a i n e d . " T h e m e s s e n g e r y o u
s e n t w a s i n s a n e , a n d y o u r wife w a s v e r y ill. Y o u ' r e m a d ! "
T o s h i h i t o l a u g h e d . " I j u s t w a n t e d t o see w h a t w o u l d h a p p e n , " h e
a n s w e r e d . " T h e fox d id c o m e , d i d n ' t h e ! "
" M a d ! " t h e f a t h e r - i n - l a w r e p e a t e d w i t h a c h u c k l e . " I s th is t he gen t l e -
m a n y o u b r o u g h t w i t h y o u ? "
" Y e s . H e s a y s h e ' s n e v e r h a d his f i l l o f y a m s o u p , s o I 've b r o u g h t h im
h e r e t o m a k e s u r e h e g e t s i t . "
" I m a g i n e n e v e r h a v i n g g o t t e n e n o u g h of a s imple t h i n g like t h a t ! "
j o k e d t h e f a t h e r - i n - l a w .
" H e to ld m e w e w e r e jus t g o i n g t o t a k e a b a t h ! " c h i m e d i n S i r G o i
l ight ly .
T h e y c h a t t e d on till a t last T o s h i h i t o ' s f a the r - in - l aw re t i r ed for t h e
n igh t .
S i r G o i w e n t t o t h e r o o m w h e r e h e g a t h e r e d h e w a s t o s leep , a n d f o u n d
laid ou t for h im a n igh t r o b e seve ra l i n c h e s t h i c k w i t h p a d d i n g . H i s o w n
th in g a r m e n t w a s pitiful b y c o m p a r i s o n , a n d i n a n y case s o m e t h i n g else
s e e m e d to be l iv ing in i t b e c a u s e he go t i t chy s p o t s e v e r y t ime he w o r e it.
So he t o o k i t off a n d p u t t h e n i g h t r o b e on o v e r t he t h r e e pa l e -ye l low
o n e s . N e v e r h a v i n g k n o w n s u c h c o m f o r t , h e felt a s t h o u g h h e w e r e
f loa t ing .
S o o n h e w a s s w e a t i n g . All a t o n c e s o m e o n e m o v e d bes ide h im . W h o
cou ld i t b e ?
" I w a s a s k e d t o r u b y o u r feet, s i r , " sa id a y o u n g w o m a n ' s vo ice .
S h e s e e m e d v e r y n ice , a n d h e c u d d l e d h e r aga ins t h im t o k e e p off a n y
d ra f t .
S u d d e n l y a vo i ce o u t s i d e s h o u t e d , " L i s t e n , y o u p e a s a n t s ! E a c h o f y o u ,
t o m o r r o w m o r n i n g a t six, b r i n g in a y a m five feet long a n d t h r e e i n ch es
t h i c k ! " T h e o r d e r s o u n d e d a b s u r d . S i r G o i jus t s n u g g l e d in to b e d .
A t d a w n he h e a r d a c o m m o t i o n i n t h e y a r d , a n d w h e n he finally go t
u p a n d o p e n e d t h e s h u t t e r s , h e s a w four o r five l a rge m a t s laid o u t s i d e .
H e c o u l d no t i m a g i n e w h a t t h e y w e r e for. M e a n w h i l e a p e a s a n t c a m e i n
w i t h w h a t l o o k e d l ike a log o v e r his s h o u l d e r a n d laid i t on t h e g r o u n d .
A n o t h e r p e a s a n t r i g h t b e h i n d h im b r o u g h t t h e s a m e , a n d t h e n a n o t h e r .
T h e t h i n g s w e r e t h r e e i nches th ick , all r igh t , a n d b y t en o 'c lock t h e y w e r e
p i led a s h i g h a s t h e roof. E v e r y p e a s a n t a r o u n d h a d b r o u g h t i n his y a m .
S i r G o i ' s m i n d r ee l ed .
N e x t , m e n m a r c h e d in s h o u l d e r i n g half a d o z e n h u g e c a u l d r o n s g o o d
for h u n d r e d s o f g a l l o n s e a c h . T h e y d r o v e s t a k e s i n to t he g r o u n d a n d set
t h e c a u l d r o n s u p i n a r o w . O n c e m o r e S i r Go i ' s m i n d w a s b o g g l e d . T h e n
c a m e a c r o w d of p r e t t y g i r l s , all in w h i t e silk a n d c a r r y i n g freshly m a d e
w o o d e n b u c k e t s . T h e y e m p t i e d t he i r b u c k e t s in to t h e c a u l d r o n s . W e r e
t h e y g o i n g t o h e a t b a t h w a t e r ? N o , S i r G o i no t i ced t h a t t h e b u c k e t s he ld
no t w a t e r b u t s w e e t v i n e s y r u p . A d o z e n y o u n g m e n p i c k e d u p l o n g
k n i v e s a n d set t o w o r k p e e l i n g a n d s l ic ing t h e y a m s . S i r Go i g r a s p e d t h a t
t h e y w e r e m a k i n g y a m s o u p , b u t h e d id no t w a n t a n y . I n fact, h e d id no t
l ike t h e t h o u g h t o f y a m s o u p a t all .
T h e y a m s o u p w a s bo i l i ng m e r r i l y a w a y a n d t h e c o o k s r e p o r t e d i t w a s
r e a d y . " S e r v e i t up t h e n ! " c r i ed T o s h i h i t o . W i t h a m o n s t r o u s me ta l ladle
t h e y s l o shed a ga l lon or t w o in to a h u g e b o w l a n d w i t h a " P l e a s e , s i r , "
offered i t to S i r G o i .
1 2 2
H e c o u l d n o t e v e n ge t t h r o u g h his first s e r v i n g a n d confessed h e h a d
h a d e n o u g h . E v e r y o n e l a u g h e d . " T h a n k s t o y o u , s i r , " t h e y said, " w e ' v e
all h a d lo ts o f y a m s o u p ! "
J u s t t h e n T o s h i h i t o s p o t t e d a fox p e e r i n g a t t h e m r o u n d a c o r n e r .
" L o o k ! " h e e x c l a i m e d . " T h e r e ' s m y m e s s e n g e r ! F e e d h i m ! " S o t h e y fed
t h e fox y a m s o u p too , a n d h e a t e u p all h e go t .
All in all, T o s h i h i t o c a r r i e d t h r o u g h his p r a n k in a w o n d e r f u l l y o p e n -
h e a r t e d w a y . A m o n t h or so l a t e r S i r Go i left aga in for t he Cap i t a l ,
b u r d e n e d t h i s t i m e w i t h r o b e s for b o t h da i ly a n d formal w e a r , w i t h
l e a t h e r c h e s t s full o f bo l t s o f c o t t o n a n d silk, a n d , need less to say, w i t h
t h e beau t i fu l b e d c l o t h e s he h a d s lept in t h e first n igh t . All th is w a s
a l r e a d y l o a d e d o n t o his s a d d l e d h o r s e w h e n T o s h i h i t o s a w him off.
T o s h i h i t o d id no t h a v e m u c h r a n k , b u t i t jus t s h o w s h o w wel l a m a n
c a n do a n y w a y w h e n he i s wel l e s t ab l i shed a n d l iked in his o w n local i ty .
8 4 .
THE EVICTION
T h e M i n i s t e r M i y o s h i no K i y o y u k i , a m a n o f e x t r a o r d i n a r y in te l l igence
a n d l e a r n i n g , w a s e x p e r t e v e n i n y i n - y a n g lo re . H a v i n g n o h o u s e o f his
o w n , he l o c a t e d a r u i n o u s o ld m a n s i o n t h a t s t ood n e a r t he c ros s ing o f
Fi f th a n d H o r i k a w a a v e n u e s i n K y o t o a n d b o u g h t t he p lace , even t h o u g h
n o o n e w o u l d l ive i n i t b e c a u s e i t w a s wel l k n o w n t o b e h a u n t e d . T h e n ,
o v e r h i s r e l a t i v e s ' s t r e n u o u s ob j ec t i ons , he p r e p a r e d t o m o v e i n on an
a s t ro log i ca l l y su i t ab l e d a y .
T h e r i g h t d a y t u r n e d o u t t o b e t h e t w e n t i e t h o f t h e s ix th m o o n . Kiyo-
y u k i b e g a n his m o v e i n a n u n u s u a l w a y b y s e t t i ng o u t i n his c a r r i a g e
a b o u t s ix in t h e e v e n i n g , t a k i n g o n l y a s t r a w m a t w i t h h im .
T h e h o u s e w a s s o o ld t h a t y o u c o u l d n ' t even g u e s s its age , wh i l e its
g a r d e n w a s full o f p i n e s , m a p l e s , a n d c h e r r y t r e e s s o a n c i e n t t h a t t h e y
c e r t a i n l y m u s t h a v e h a d t r e e sp i r i t s l iv ing i n t h e m . Vines , n o w jus t beg in -
n i n g t o r e d d e n w i t h fall, c l a m b e r e d e v e r y w h e r e , a n d the m o s s t h a t cov-
e r e d t h e g r o u n d h a d no t b e e n s w e p t for y e a r s . K i y o y u k i h a d the s h u t t e r s
r a i s e d . T h e i n t e r i o r p a r t i t i o n s w e r e all w a r p e d a n d t o r n . H e h a d a c o r n e r
o f t h e f loor c l e a n e d u p a n d s p r e a d ou t t h e m a t h e h a d b r o u g h t . T h e n h e
h a d a l a m p lit a n d lay d o w n on t h e m a t facing s o u t h . W h e n his
c a r r i a g e h a d b e e n p u t a w a y in t h e c a r r i a g e h o u s e , he d i smis sed all h is
s e r v a n t s a n d o x - d r i v e r s w i t h i n s t r u c t i o n s t o c o m e b a c k t h e nex t d a y .
K i y o y u k i d o z e d off, still fac ing s o u t h . In t h e m i d d l e of t h e n igh t he
w a s a w a k e n e d by a so r t of r u s t l i n g in t h e l a t t i c e w o r k ce i l ing a n d s a w a
face s t i c k i n g o u t f rom e a c h c r o s s i n g o f t h e la t t ice . All t h e faces w e r e
d i f fe ren t . W h e n h e c a l m l y w e n t o n look ing , t h e y d i s a p p e a r e d . N e x t , for ty
or fifty r i d e r s , e a c h a foot tall , c l a t t e r e d a c r o s s t h e f loor f rom w e s t to eas t .
K i y o y u k i k e p t w a t c h i n g .
A c lose t d o o r o p e n e d a n d o u t c a m e a v e r y d i s t i n g u i s h e d t h o u g h t i ny
l ady all i n d a r k b r o w n , w i t h h e r h a i r d o w n o v e r h e r s h o u l d e r s . T h e
de l i c ious s cen t of m u s k filled t h e a i r as s h e kne l t be fo re h im . A r e d fan
hid m o s t o f h e r face, b u t t h e f o r e h e a d t h a t p e e p e d a b o v e i t w a s w h i t e
a n d t h e e y e s e l e g a n t l y l ong . T h e w a y j u s t t h e pup i l s m o v e d a s s h e g l a n c e d
t o e i t h e r s ide w a s b o t h d igni f ied a n d s in i s te r . W a t c h i n g he r , h e a s s u m e d
t h a t t h e res t o f h e r face m u s t b e v e r y p r e t t y , b u t a s she p r e p a r e d t o g o
s h e m o v e d t h e fan a s i d e a m o m e n t . L o a n d b e h o l d , h e r nose w a s b r i g h t
r ed , a n d c r o s s e d p a i r s o f l o n g s i lver fangs p r o t r u d e d from t h e c o r n e r s o f
h e r m o u t h ! T h i s d id g ive h i m a bi t o f a s h o c k , b u t she m e a n w h i l e h a d
v a n i s h e d in to t h e c lose t a n d c losed t h e d o o r .
I t w a s n e a r l y d a w n n o w , b u t t h e r e w a s a b r i g h t m o o n . K i y o y u k i w a s
ly ing t h e r e a s a l e r t a n d u n t r o u b l e d a s e v e r w h e n an old m a n in a l ight-
b lue r o b e c a m e i n f rom t h e d i m g a r d e n o u t s i d e , kne l t , b o w e d v e r y low,
a n d re spec t fu l ly he ld a l e t t e r fo r th .
" W h a t h a v e y o u go t t o say t o m e ? " a s k e d K iyoyuk i s h a r p l y .
T h e old m a n a n s w e r e d in a litt le vo ice , " I ' m h e r e to let y o u k n o w , sir ,
t h a t we c o n s i d e r i t v e r y w r o n g o f y o u to c la im possess ion o f a h o u s e
w h i c h h a s b e e n o u r s for m a n y y e a r s , a n d t h a t w e wi sh t o r eg i s t e r a
v i g o r o u s p r o t e s t . "
" Y o u d o n ' t k n o w w h a t y o u ' r e t a l k i n g a b o u t . P e o p l e often b u y h o u s e s
f rom o n e a n o t h e r . I t ' s pe r fec t ly n o r m a l . B u t you insist on d i s r u p t i n g th i s
p r o c e s s b y f r i g h t e n i n g a w a y a n y o n e w h o w a n t s t o live h e r e a n d b y
o c c u p y i n g t h e p l a c e y o u r s e l v e s . Y o u s h o u l d b e a s h a m e d . Real d e m o n s
k n o w r igh t f rom w r o n g a n d a r e pe r fec t ly s t r a igh t a b o u t it. T h a t ' s w h a t
m a k e s t h e m f r i gh t en ing . B u t all y o u do i s inv i te t h e p u n i s h m e n t o f
h e a v e n . W h y , y o u ' r e o n l y a t r i b e o f o ld foxes! G i v e me a s ingle h a w k or
d o g a n d I 'd h a v e h im ea t y o u all . G o tell t h a t t o y o u r f r i e n d s ! "
" Y o u ' r e pe r f ec t ly r igh t , sir , pe r fec t ly r igh t . B u t w e ' v e l ived h e r e so
long, y o u see . W e w a n t e d y o u t o k n o w h o w w e feel. I 'm no t i n t h e hab i t
o f f r i g h t e n i n g p e o p l e . T h e c u l p r i t s , I 'm afra id , a r e a c o u p l e o f y o u n g s t e r s .
I try to c o n t r o l t h e m , sir , b u t t h e y ' r e a l w a y s up to t he i r t r i c k s . I f y o u ' r e
g o i n g to m o v e in h e r e , t h o u g h , sir, I rea l ly d o n ' t k n o w w h a t w e ' r e t o d o .
1 2 4
W e ' v e n o w h e r e to g o . Or a t least , t h e on ly p lace i s a v a c a n t lot by t he
m a i n g a t e o f t h e A c a d e m y . M a y w e h a v e y o u r p e r m i s s i o n t o m o v e t h e r e ,
s i r ? "
" T h a t s o u n d s l ike a v e r y g o o d i d e a , " K i y o y u k i a n s w e r e d . " Y o u migh t
a s we l l ge t s t a r t e d . "
T h e o ld m a n s h o u t e d a n o r d e r a n d forty o r f i f t y voices s h o u t e d as sen t .
Af t e r d a y b r e a k K i y o y u k i ' s h o u s e h o l d c a m e t o fetch him h o m e aga in .
H e t h e n w e n t a b o u t t h e b u s i n e s s o f h a v i n g the h o u s e r e m o d e l e d a n d
m a d e m o r e u p - t o - d a t e . N o t h i n g specia l h a p p e n e d w h i l e h e l ived t h e r e .
J o k a n , a h o l y m o n k o n M o u n t Hie i , h a d s p e n t e v e r y n igh t for y e a r s
c h a n t i n g a n i n v o c a t i o n ca l led t h e S o n s h o D a r a n i . W h o e v e r h e a r d him
w a s s t r u c k w i t h a w e .
O n e n i g h t a n I m m o r t a l n a m e d Y o s h o flew o v e r J o k a n s dwel l ing ,
h e a r d J o k a n s vo ice , a n d c a m e d o w n t o t h e ra i l ing ou t s ide his r o o m .
S t a r t l e d , J o k a n a s k e d w h o i t w a s . Y o s h o a n s w e r e d i n a th in , r e e d y voice
l ike a m o s q u i t o ' s b u z z i n g , a n d J o k a n r e c o g n i z e d h im as a fo rmer d isc ip le .
H e o p e n e d t h e d o o r a n d Y o s h o flew ins ide .
T h e t w o t a l k e d o v e r o ld t i m e s till t h e I m m o r t a l felt i t w a s t ime to leave .
B u t t h e c o m p a n y o f a m o r t a l m a n h a d w e i g h e d him d o w n , a n d he found
h e c o u l d no t r i se . " W o u l d y o u m o v e t h e incense b u r n e r o v e r h e r e ? " h e
a s k e d , a n d J o k a n d id so . Y o s h o m o u n t e d the s m o k e a n d sai led u p in to
t h e s k y .
J o k a n h a d a l w a y s w o n d e r e d a b o u t his s t u d e n t ' s d i s a p p e a r a n c e , a n d
n o w h e u n d e r s t o o d . H e w e p t w i t h e m o t i o n tha t Y o s h o s h o u l d have c o m e
t o see h im a g a i n .
8 5 .
INCENSE SMOKE
8 6 .
THE BLESSING
A d e v o u t m o n k w h o l ived by t h e K u z u River , a t t h e foot o f M o u n t H i r a ,
t ook n o g r a i n a n d a t e on ly wi ld g r e e n s . O n c e h e d r e a m e d a ho ly b e i n g
to ld h im, " T h e r e ' s a n I m m o r t a l o n M o u n t H i r a a n d h e c h a n t s t he L o t u s .
G o a n d ge t h is b l e s s i n g . "
T h o u g h h e c l i m b e d M o u n t H i r a r igh t a w a y , i t w a s on ly af ter d a y s o f
h u n t i n g t h a t he h e a r d far, far off a c h a n t i n g vo ice . He w a s e x h a u s t e d ,
a n d t h e d a y n e a r l y d o n e , w h e n h e finally d i s c o v e r e d a cave u n d e r a n
o v e r h a n g i n g c r a g . T h e g r e a t p i n e be fo re i t w a s s h a p e d like a b r o a d ,
con ica l ha t . P e e r i n g in, he s a w t h e I m m o r t a l . H i s b o n e s h a d no flesh on
t h e m a n d his on ly r o b e w a s m o s s .
" W h o a r e y o u ? " t h e I m m o r t a l a s k e d . " N o o n e h a s eve r b e e n h e r e
b e f o r e . "
" I live by t h e K u z u R ive r , a n d a d r e a m to ld me to ge t y o u r b l e s s i n g . "
" T h e n first k e e p a w a y f rom me for a w h i l e . T h e s m o k e o f t h e h u m a n
w o r l d m a k e s m y e y e s s t i ng a n d w a t e r . C o m e t o m e i n seven d a y s . "
T h e m o n k r e t r e a t e d t w e n t y y a r d s o r s o from the cave , w h i l e t h e Im-
m o r t a l c h a n t e d t h e S u t r a d a y a n d n igh t . H i s vo ice w a s d e e p l y m o v i n g ,
a n d t h e m o n k felt a s t h o u g h all t h e s ins h e h a d c o m m i t t e d t h r o u g h
b e g i n n i n g l e s s t i m e w e r e m e l t i n g a w a y . T h e dee r , t he b e a r s , t h e m o n k e y s ,
a n d all t h e o t h e r c r e a t u r e s o f f ea the r a n d fur b r o u g h t t h e I m m o r t a l n u t s
a n d s eeds , a n d t h e I m m o r t a l h a d a m o n k e y g ive t he m o n k s o m e , t o o .
S e v e n d a y s la te r t h e m o n k a p p r o a c h e d t h e c a v e .
" I u s e d to be a m o n k a n d a s c h o l a r , " t h e I m m o r t a l said, " a n d I d id my
bes t t o m a s t e r t h e a p p r o v e d d o c t r i n e s . B u t I r e a d i n t he L o t u s S u t r a , ' H e
will r e g r e t it, w h o d o e s no t t a k e th i s S u t r a to h e a r t , ' a n d I be l ieved it.
T h e S u t r a sa id to p r a c t i c e in a p lace a p a r t , so I d id . T h e n my k a r m a
led me to th i s c ave , a n d I left t h e h u m a n w o r l d a l t o g e t h e r . W i t h t h e
eye o f t h e O n e T e a c h i n g I see t h i n g s far off, a n d w i t h t h e e a r o f C o m -
p as s ion I h e a r all s o u n d s . I 've b e e n to t h e h e a v e n w h e r e t h e F u t u r e
B u d d h a l ives, a n d I 've h e a r d t h e B u d d h a s p e a k . T h e p i n e she l t e r s m e
from hea t a n d w i n d . S t a y w i t h m e , s ince y o u r o w n k a r m a h a s b r o u g h t
y o u h e r e ! "
T h e a w e d m o n k d e a r l y w a n t e d t o say y e s , b u t h e k n e w t h a t a life
l ike t h a t w a s b e y o n d h i m . In s t ead , h e p r o s t r a t e d h imse l f a n d s ta r t -
e d for h o m e . T h e I m m o r t a l ' s p o w e r b r o u g h t h im t o t h e K u z u Rive r i n
a d a y .
1 2 6
8 7 .
ANOTHER FLYING JAR
A h e r m i t o n c e bu i l t a smal l h u t on t h e u p p e r Kiyo tak i River , not far
n o r t h o f K y o t o . W h e n h e w a s t h i r s t y , h e w o u l d s e n d his w a t e r j a r f l y i n g
d o w n t o t h e s t r e a m a n d i t w o u l d b r i n g h im b a c k all t he w a t e r h e n e e d e d .
A s t h e y e a r s w e n t by , h e of ten t h o u g h t p r o u d l y t o h imsel f t ha t t h e r e
c o u l d h a r d l y b e a m o r e a c c o m p l i s h e d h e r m i t a n y w h e r e .
O n e d a y h e w a s s u r p r i s e d t o see a n o t h e r w a t e r j a r f l y d o w n from
u p s t r e a m , d r a w w a t e r , a n d l eave , a n d h e w o n d e r e d j ea lous ly w h o else
c o u l d be p e r f o r m i n g th i s feat. W h e n t h e j a r c a m e aga in , he fol lowed i t a
few mi le s u p s t r e a m to a h u t — q u i t e a l a rge o n e , w i t h a nice little chape l
o f i ts o w n . T h e p l ace b r e a t h e d p u r i t y , ho l iness , a n d p e a c e . Before t he hu t
w a s an o r a n g e t r e e w i t h a p a t h r o u n d it, w o r n by t h e i n h a b i t a n t a s he
c i r c l ed t h e t r e e c h a n t i n g his s u t r a s .
P e e r i n g i n t h r o u g h t h e w i n d o w , t h e h e r m i t s a w a d e s k s t r e w n w i t h
s u t r a sc ro l l s a n d a r o o m filled w i t h t h e s m o k e of p e r p e t u a l i n c e n s e . A
s a i n t l y - l o o k i n g m o n k a t least s e v e n t y y e a r s old w a s s l eep ing p r o p p e d o n
an a r m r e s t , w i t h a f i v e - p r o n g e d va j ra in his h a n d .
T o t e s t t h i s v e n e r a b l e old m a n , t h e h e r m i t b e g a n t h e Spell o f t he F i re
R e a l m . F l a m e s i n s t a n t l y s p r a n g u p a n d l i cked a t t h e h u t . Still a s leep , t h e
o ld m a n p i c k e d u p a w a n d a n d s p r i n k l e d t h e four d i r e c t i o n s w i t h ho ly
w a t e r . T h e f l a m e s w e n t ou t , b u t b y n o w t h e h e r m i t ' s o w n r o b e w a s
b u r n i n g f iercely a n d h e h o w l e d i n t e r r o r , a t w h i c h t h e old m a n o p e n e d
h i s e y e s a n d s p r i n k l e d h i s v i s i to r a s we l l . T h e f l a m e s v a n i s h e d .
" W h a t h a p p e n e d ? " t h e old m a n a s k e d .
T h e h e r m i t e x p l a i n e d h imse l f a n d d e s c r i b e d his little tes t . " P l e a s e for-
g ive m e ! " h e b e g g e d . "I ' l l s e r v e y o u fo reve r a s y o u r d i s c i p l e ! " Bu t t h e
o ld m a n s e e m e d t o h a v e n o i dea w h a t h e w a s t a l k i n g a b o u t .
T h e h e r m i t h a d b e c o m e puffed u p w i t h p r i d e a n d t h e B u d d h a , d i s -
p l e a s e d , h a d s h o w n h i m for his edif icat ion a l a r ho l ie r sa in t — or so a t
l eas t p e o p l e s a y .
8 8 .
THE WIZARD OF THE MOUNTAINS
En no Gydja founded Japan \i mountain ajcetk
tradition. The Peacock King u< an Esoteric Buddhuit deity.
E n n o G y o j a , o r E n t h e Asce t i c , l ived i n E m p e r o r M o m m u ' s r e ign . H e
w a s from t h e K a t s u r a g i r e g i o n o f Y a m a t o p r o v i n c e .
H e lost h is f a the r w h e n h e w a s t w o a n d w a s b r o u g h t u p en t i r e ly b y his
m o t h e r a t t h e i r family h o m e . A t t h e a g e o f t h i r ty - fou r , h e t u r n e d t h e
h o u s e i n to a t e m p l e a n d r e spec t fu l ly e n s h r i n e d t h e r e an e ight - foot - ta l l
i m a g e o f M i r o k u w h i c h h e h imse l f h a d m a d e o u t o f e a r t h . T h e n h e g a v e
t h e t e m p l e to t h e c o u r t a n d w e n t t o l ive in a c a v e in t h e K a t s u r a g i
M o u n t a i n s , w e a r i n g c l o t h e s m a d e o f b a r k a n d e a t i n g p ine n e e d l e s .
T h o u g h h e n e v e r w e n t i n to t h e w o r l d o r m i x e d w i t h p e o p l e , h e p r a c t i c e d
n o n e t h e l e s s as a l a y m a n r a t h e r t h a n as a m o n k .
F r o m t h e K a t s u r a g i M o u n t a i n s y o u c a n look s o u t h e a s t a c r o s s t o t h e
O m i n e r a n g e . E n n o G y o j a r o a m e d t h e r e , t o o . O n e d a y i n O m i n e h e
g l i m p s e d S h a k a P e a k f rom far off a n d w a s s t r u c k b y its u n u s u a l fo rm.
T h e m o u n t a i n c l ea r ly h a d p o w e r . U p c lose i t w a s even m o r e i m p r e s s i v e .
En no G y o j a f o u n d t h e r e , h a n g i n g from a t r e e , a n ine-foot - ta l l s k e l e t o n
w i t h a bel l in i ts left h a n d a n d a s i n g l e - p r o n g e d va j ra in its r i gh t . T h e
s k e l e t o n ' s g r i p o n t h e s e t w o i m p l e m e n t s w a s l ike i ron , a n d E n n o G y o j a
w a s u n a b l e t o p r y t h e m loose .
So s t r a n g e a d i s c o v e r y i n s p i r e d h im to v i g o r o u s faith. T h a t n i g h t he
d r e a m e d t h a t t h e M i r o k u h e s o d e e p l y r e v e r e d ( t h e o n e h e h a d m a d e for
his t e m p l e ) sa id t o h im, " F o r s even o f y o u r p a s t l ives y o u w e r e a n asce t i c
o n th i s m o u n t a i n . T h e s k e l e t o n y o u f o u n d i s y o u r o w n . I f y o u w a n t t h e
bell a n d t h e va j ra , c h a n t t h e M a n t r a o f t h e P e a c o c k K i n g . "
E n n o G y o j a w e n t a w a y t o l e a rn t h e m a n t r a , a n d a c q u i r e d s u p e r h u m a n
p o w e r s a s s o o n a s h e b e g a n c h a n t i n g it. H e c o u l d n o w fly t h r o u g h s p a c e
w h e r e v e r h e w a n t e d o n a f i v e - c o l o r e d c l o u d . W h e n h e r e t u r n e d t o S h a k a
P e a k , h e f o u n d t h e bell a n d va j r a o n t h e g r o u n d b e l o w t h e t r e e . T h e
ske l e ton w a s g o n e .
N o r t h o f S h a k a P e a k , i n t h e s a m e r a n g e , r ises G o l d e n P e a k . T h i s
s a c r e d m o u n t a i n i s a c t u a l l y t h e n o r t h e a s t c o r n e r o f V u l t u r e P e a k i n I n d i a
w h e r e t h e B u d d h a p r e a c h e d t h e L o t u s S u t r a . I n 552 , d u r i n g t h e re ign o f
E m p e r o r K i m m e i , i t b r o k e off a n d f lew t h o u s a n d s of l e a g u e s on a w h i t e
c l oud t o l a n d h e r e i n J a p a n . W h e n M i r o k u c o m e s in to o u r w o r l d a s t h e
1 2 8
n e x t b u d d h a , 5 , 6 7 0 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 y e a r s f rom n o w , t h e ea r th will b e c o v e r e d
w i t h g o l d ; a n d all t h e go ld for th i s p u r p o s e i s s t o r e d in G o l d e n P e a k .
T h a t i s w h y t h e m o u n t a i n ' s g r ave l a n d r o c k s a r e gold , a n d w h y the
m o u n t a i n b e a r s t h a t n a m e .
S e e i n g h o w p o w e r f u l G o l d e n P e a k w a s , E n n o G y o j a w a n t e d i t t o have
a g o d w h o c o u l d h e l p s e n t i e n t b e i n g s t o w a r d sa lva t ion . After he h a d
p r a y e d for a t h o u s a n d d a y s , Z a o G o n g e n rose from t h e e a r t h . S ince Z a o
G o n g e n l o o k e d r a t h e r l ike t h e B o d h i s a t t v a J i z o , v e r y qu ie t a n d k ind , E n
n o G y o j a w o n d e r e d h o w a g o d l ike t h a t co u l d poss ib ly save d e l u d e d
b e i n g s i n t h e sinful a g e s t o c o m e . As t h e t h o u g h t c ro s sed his mind , t he
peace fu l , J i z o - l i k e f igure d i s a p p e a r e d in to t h e sky .
E n n o G y o j a p r a y e d a n e w , a n d th i s t i m e Z a o G o n g e n b u r s t forth i n a
w r a t h f u l fo rm, b r a n d i s h i n g a t h r e e - p r o n g e d va j ra in his r ight h a n d , a n d
s t a n d i n g in t h e fierce p o s e o f c r u s h i n g d e m o n s . F ina l ly impres sed , En no
G y o j a m a d e a n i m a g e o f h im a n d e n s h r i n e d i t o n t h e m o u n t a i n . I n t ime
Z a o G o n g e n a p p e a r e d l ike th i s o n m o u n t a i n s t h r o u g h o u t J a p a n . H o w
g r e a t a g o d En no G y o j a h a d cal led fo r th !
N e x t , En no G y o j a w e n t i n to r e t r e a t i n a cave i n t h e s e s a m e m o u n t a i n s ,
a n d h i s m a g i c b r o u g h t s u p e r n a t u r a l b e i n g s t o s e rve h im a n d b r i n g h im
w a t e r a n d f i r e w o o d . H e a lso s p e n t y e a r s g o i n g r o u n d J a p a n , v is i t ing
M o u n t Fuji , M o u n t A s a m a , a n d all t h e o t h e r s a c r e d m o u n t a i n s . S o m e -
t i m e s h e a l so v i s i ted t h e P a l a c e o f t h e I m m o r t a l s a n d r o a m e d the I m m o r -
t a l s ' m a r v e l o u s r e a l m .
E v e n t u a l l y E n n o G y o j a d e c i d e d h e w a n t e d a s t o n e b r i d g e from the
K a t s u r a g i M o u n t a i n s t o G o l d e n P e a k , o n e t h a t h is fo l lowers cou ld c ros s ;
a n d h e c o m m a n d e d t h e g o d H i t o k o t o n u s h i t o bu i ld it.
S o m e t w o c e n t u r i e s be fo re , w h e n E m p e r o r Y u r y a k u c a m e t o Ka t su rag i
to h u n t , H i t o k o t o n u s h i h a d r i d d e n b e s i d e h im all d a y in t he gu ise of a
l o r d l y m a n ; a n d w h e n t h e e m p e r o r a s k e d his u n k n o w n c o m p a n i o n w h o
he w a s , H i t o k o t o n u s h i r e p l i e d s imply , " t h e g o d o f K a t s u r a g i , " t h e n v a n -
i s h e d . N o r m a l l y , t h o u g h , t h e g o d w a s s o ug ly t h a t h e w a s e m b a r r a s s e d
to be seen in d a y l i g h t , a n d as a r e su l t w o u l d w o r k on the b r i d g e on ly a t
n i g h t . T h i s m a d e E n n o G y o j a a n g r y . H e ins is ted t h a t H i t o k o t o n u s h i
w o r k a l so d u r i n g t h e d a y . W h e n t h e g o d re fused , t h e fur ious G y o j a
b o u n d h i m w i t h a spel l a n d left h im at t h e b o t t o m of a r a v i n e . T h a t i s
w h y t h e r o c k b r i d g e n e v e r w a s bui l t .
S o o n a f t e r w a r d s , a y o u n g a t t e n d a n t o f E m p e r o r M o m m u b e g a n t o
s p e a k v o l u b l y a n d s t r a n g e l y u n d e r t h e in f luence o f a g o d w h o identif ied
h i m s e l f u n d e r q u e s t i o n i n g a s H i t o k o t o n u s h i o f K a t s u r a g i . T h e g o d w e n t
o n t o a c c u s e E n n o G y o j a o f u s i n g his mag ic p o w e r s t o foment rebe l l ion .
" I f he i s n o t s t o p p e d , " w a r n e d t h e g o d , " t h e r e will be w a r ! "
T h e a s t o n i s h e d e m p e r o r i m m e d i a t e l y sen t t h e G y o j a a n o r d e r t o a p p e a r
before h im, b u t t h e G y o j a i g n o r e d it. N e x t , t h e e m p e r o r sen t so ld ie r s t o
a r r e s t h im, bu t t h e G y o j a s i m p l y f l e w u p a n d d i s a p p e a r e d . T h e so ld i e r s
r e t a l i a t ed b y c a p t u r i n g his m o t h e r a n d t a k i n g h e r b a c k t o t h e e m p e r o r
i n s t e a d . T h i s b r o u g h t E n n o G y o j a t o t h e p a l a c e r igh t a w a y , a n d h i s
i n n o c e n t m o t h e r w a s r e l e a s e d a n d sen t h o m e .
E n n o G y o j a w a s ex i l ed t o O s h i m a i n t h e p r o v i n c e o f Izu, a l o n g t h e
coas t o f S a g a m i B a y . D u r i n g t h e d a y h e b e h a v e d h imse l f a n d s t a y e d
w h e r e h e h a d b e e n p u t , b u t a t n i g h t h e f lew t h r o u g h t h e a i r a n d r o a m e d
t h e s u m m i t o f M o u n t Fuji . H i t o k o t o n u s h i go t b a c k a t h im by aga in
p o s s e s s i n g t h e imper i a l a t t e n d a n t a n d a c c u s i n g t h e G y o j a o f w a n d e r i n g
w h e r e v e r he p l e a s e d in c o n t e m p t o f t h e imper i a l wil l . H i t o k o t o n u s h i
d e m a n d e d t h a t t h e G y o j a b e p u t t o d e a t h .
T h e e m p e r o r t o o k th i s d e n u n c i a t i o n s e r ious ly a n d sen t a so ld ie r t o
e x e c u t e t h e s e n t e n c e . B u t w h e n t h e so ld i e r r e a c h e d O s h i m a a n d d r e w his
b o w t o s h o o t t h e G y o j a , t h e b o w b r o k e ; a n d w h e n h e lifted his s w o r d t o
s t r i ke t h e G y o j a , t h e s w o r d b r o k e t o o . N e x t t h e G y o j a a s k e d for t h e
s w o r d , a n d t h e so ld i e r g a v e i t t o h i m . Before h a n d i n g i t b a c k , t h e asce t ic
l i cked i t t h r e e t i m e s . T h e so ld i e r n o w r ead , e n g r a v e d o n t h e s w o r d , t h e
n a m e o f t h e g o d o f M o u n t Fuj i . O v e r c o m e w i t h a w e , h e r e t u r n e d t o t h e
e m p e r o r w i t h his r e p o r t , a n d t h e e m p e r o r , finally r ea l i z ing t h a t E n
n o G y o j a w a s n o o r d i n a r y m a n , p a r d o n e d h im a n d reca l led h im t o t h e
C a p i t a l .
B y n o w , t h o u g h , E n n o G y o j a n o l onge r k n e w w h a t w o u l d h a p p e n
n e x t a n d w a s fed u p w i t h J a p a n . S o ins tead , h e p u t h is m o t h e r i n a b o w l
a n d set off to C h i n a a c r o s s t en t h o u s a n d l eagues of sky , r i d i n g on a f ive-
c o l o r e d c l o u d . I n C h i n a , too , h e t o u r e d e v e r y s a c r e d p e a k a n d c o n s o r t e d
w i t h t h e I m m o r t a l s . I n fact, a J a p a n e s e m o n k w h o m the e m p e r o r h a d
sen t t o C h i n a t o s t u d y B u d d h i s m r a n in to h im a n d s p e n t s o m e t i m e
t a l k i n g t o h i m . T h e m o n k r e p o r t e d th i s m e e t i n g w h e n h e go t b a c k t o
J a p a n , m u c h t o t h e a s t o n i s h m e n t o f t h e c o u r t s ince i t w a s t h e n a l m o s t
imposs ib l e for a n y o n e t o t r ave l t o C h i n a w i t h o u t imper i a l a u t h o r i z a t i o n .
I n t h e m e a n t i m e , E n n o G y o j a ' s f i g h t w i t h H i t o k o t o n u s h i w a s no t q u i t e
ove r . T h e last e p i s o d e i nvo lved t h e m o n k T a i c h o from E c h i z e n p r o v i n c e ,
a g r e a t a sce t i c w h o s e p o w e r s w e r e a c k n o w l e d g e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e r e a l m .
T a i c h o w a s t h e vesse l o f t h e g o d o f H a k u s a n , o r W h i t e M o u n t a i n , i n
K a g a p r o v i n c e ; for t h e g o d of ten p o s s e s s e d T a i c h o a n d s p o k e t h r o u g h
h im.
T a i c h o t o o set ou t on a p i l g r i m a g e to all t h e ho ly m o u n t a i n s o f J a p a n .
H a v i n g h e a r d t h a t t h e K a t s u r a g i a n d O m i n e r a n g e s w e r e p a r t i c u l a r l y
p o w e r f u l , h e f i r s t c l i m b e d K a t s u r a g i a n d s p e n t t h e n i g h t c h a n t i n g s u t r a s
t h e r e for t h e g o d .
W h e n h e d o z e d off, t h e g o d t o o k th i s c h a n c e t o s p e a k t o h im . " E n n o
1 3 0
G y o j a h a s b o u n d me w i t h a s p e l l , " he c o m p l a i n e d , " a n d he ' s left me a t
t h e b o t t o m o f t h e r a v i n e . I 'm suf fe r ing h o r r i b l y . P lease , Y o u r G r a c e , use
y o u r p o w e r t o free m e a n d heal m y p a i n ! " I n his d r e a m T a i c h o s a w tha t
t h e g o d w a s i m p r i s o n e d in a m o s s y b o u l d e r .
O n w a k i n g h e w e n t s t r a i g h t d o w n in to t h e r a v i n e a n d found the bou l -
d e r . I t w a s t i gh t l y i m p r i s o n e d b y w i s t e r i a a n d o t h e r v ines . T a i c h o could
see h o w m u c h t h e g o d m u s t be suffer ing , a n d felt s o r r y for h im . Bu t
w h e n he t r i e d a spel l t o loosen t h e v ines , t h e Gyoja , w h o m r u m o r p l aced
i n C h i n a , s u d d e n l y a p p e a r e d , r o a r i n g a n d g l a r i n g a t h im in fury. T h e
f r i g h t e n e d T a i c h o g a v e u p a n d left t he m o u n t a i n immed ia t e ly .
P e r h a p s E n n o G y o j a s t a y e d o n i n K a t s u r a g i . A t a n y ra te , h e w a s
e v e n t u a l l y c o m m a n d e d in a d r e a m to go to M o u n t M i n o o in t he p r o v i n c e
of S e t t s u w h e r e , h i g h on t h e m o u n t a i n , t h e r e i s a magni f icen t wa te r fa l l .
E n n o G y o j a w a s p e r f o r m i n g his p r a c t i c e s b y th i s fall w h e n t h e l e g e n d a r y
B u d d h i s t s a g e N a g a r j u n a , w h o m w e i n J a p a n call Ryu ju Bosa t su , d e -
s c e n d e d f rom t h e h e a v e n s , g a v e h im t h e W a t e r o f P u r e K n o w l e d g e , a n d
sa i led up a g a i n i n to t h e s k y a g a i n on a c loud . T h i s mi rac l e i n sp i r ed the
G y o j a t o b u i l d on t h e s p o t a t e m p l e , w h i c h he ca l led M i n o o d e r a . He
s t a y e d a t M i n o o a l o n g t ime , a n d finally rose i n to t he h e a v e n s a t t he age
of 104 .
N o o n e e v e r t r i ed t o free H i t o k o t o n u s h i a g a i n .
8 9 .
AN AWFUL FALL
An asce t i c a t a m o u n t a i n t e m p l e in Y a m a t o p r o v i n c e o n c e d e c i d e d tha t
f rom n o w o n h e w o u l d ea t o n l y p i n e n e e d l e s . H e w a s q u i t e h a p p y t o give
u p r ice a n d t h e o t h e r g r a i n s , a n d i n fact m u c h p r e f e r r e d th is a u s t e r e diet ,
b e c a u s e h e h a d h e a r d t h a t th i s w a s t h e w a y o t h e r s i n t he pas t h a d m a d e
t h e m s e l v e s i n t o I m m o r t a l s w h o c o u l d fly.
Af t e r t w o o r t h r e e y e a r s o f n o t h i n g b u t p i n e need le s , t h e asce t ic real ly
d i d feel v e r y l igh t . H e b e g a n te l l ing his d isc ip les t h a t h e w o u l d soon b e
a n I m m o r t a l t o o , a n d w a s s o s u r e o f s u c c e s s tha t h e sec re t ly p r e p a r e d t o
fly u p in to t h e s k y . W h e n t h e m o m e n t s e e m e d a t h a n d , h e a n n o u n c e d his
c o m i n g a s c e n s i o n a n d g a v e a w a y his hu t a n d all his b e l o n g i n g s .
H e k n e w t h a t w h e n h e t o o k t o t h e a i r h e w o u l d find h imsel f c lo thed i n
t h e r o b e o f a n I m m o r t a l , s o h e p u t o n n o t h i n g b u t t h e s imples t a n d m o s t
a b b r e v i a t e d w r a p ; for, h e sa id , h e n o w n e e d e d n o t h i n g m o r e . T h e n h e
s t r o d e for th w i t h his w a t e r j a r (h i s last a n d m o s t p r i z e d p o s s e s s i o n ) s l u n g
f rom his w a i s t .
A l a rge c r o w d h a d g a t h e r e d t o w a t c h h im go t o t h e L a n d o f t h e
I m m o r t a l s . W h e n all t h e s p e c t a t o r s w e r e in p l ace , he c l i m b e d to a s p u r
o f r o c k t h a t j u t t e d f rom t h e m o u n t a i n s i d e . " O f c o u r s e , I 'd r a t h e r g o
s t r a i g h t u p , " he e x p l a i n e d , " b u t s ince all t h e s e p e o p l e a r e h e r e I s u p p o s e
I rea l ly o u g h t to g ive t h e m a g o o d look at a p r o p e r I m m o r t a l in a c t i o n .
So first I'll g l ide d o w n from h e r e to t h o s e p i n e s a n d l and on a b r a n c h . "
I t w a s for ty o r fifty feet d o w n to t h e t o p s o f t h e p i n e s . T h e asce t ic d o v e
off h e a d first a n d t h e c r o w d r o a r e d . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , h is b o d y w a s h e a v i e r
t h a n he e x p e c t e d , a n d his s t r e n g t h far less . M i s s i n g his t a r g e t en t i re ly , he
c r a s h e d t o t h e g r o u n d . T h o u g h s h a k e n , t h e c r o w d r e m a i n e d conf iden t
(a f te r all, h e m u s t s u r e l y h a v e k n o w n w h a t h e w a s d o i n g ! ) t h a t a t a n y
m o m e n t h e w o u l d r ise a g a i n i n to t h e a i r .
A c t u a l l y he h a d s m a s h e d i n t o a r o c k . H i s w a t e r j a r w a s i n s m i t h e r e e n s
a n d s o w a s he , o r v e r y n e a r l y . H i s hor r i f i ed d isc ip les d e s p e r a t e l y ca l led
his n a m e b u t g o t n o r e p l y . S i n c e h e w a s a t least still b r e a t h i n g , t h o u g h ,
t h e y h a u l e d h i m b a c k t o his h u t w h i l e t h e c r o w d d i s p e r s e d , l a u g h i n g
de r i s ive ly .
H e s u r v i v e d i n t h e e n d , b u t w a s s o t w i s t e d a n d b r o k e n t h a t h e c o u l d
h a r d l y e v e n s t a n d . H e h a d t o t a k e b a c k t h e h u t a n d pos se s s ions h e h a d
s o b r a v e l y g i v e n a w a y , a n d l ived o n c r o o k e d a n d h o p e l e s s .
N o t e v e r y o n e g e t s t o b e a n I m m o r t a l .
9 o .
THE RICEPOOP SAINT
A ho ly asce t i c i n t h e re ign o f E m p e r o r M o n t o k u h a d long a g o g iven up
all g r a i n , w h i c h w a s a v e r y difficult a n d v i r t u o u s t h i n g t o d o . He a t e p i n e
n e e d l e s i n s t e a d . T h e e m p e r o r h e a r d a b o u t h im a n d inv i t ed h im t o c o m e
a n d live i n t h e imper i a l g a r d e n . I n t i m e t h e e m p e r o r c a m e to r e v e r e t h e
asce t ic d e e p l y .
O n e d a y s o m e b r a s h y o u n g c o u r t i e r s w e r e j o k i n g a m o n g t h e m s e l v e s
w h e n t h e y d e c i d e d t o g o a n d h a v e a look a t th i s f a m o u s asce t i c . T h e
1 3 2
fe l low c e r t a i n l y l o o k e d i m p r e s s i v e , a n d the y o u n g lo rds p r o s t r a t e d t h e m -
se lves be fo re h i m . T h e n t h e y bo ld ly a s k e d h im, " H o l y m a n , h o w m a n y
y e a r s h a s i t b e e n s ince y o u g a v e u p e a t i n g g r a i n ? A n d h o w old a r e y o u ,
a n y w a y ? "
" I ' m s e v e n t y , " t h e a sce t i c r ep l i ed , " a n d I g a v e up g ra in in my y o u t h .
T h a t m u s t be fifty y e a r s a g o o r so , I s u p p o s e . "
O n e o f t h e y o u n g g e n t l e m e n n o w b e g a n t o w o n d e r w h a t a m a n ' s feces
w o u l d look l ike i f he t o o k no g r a i n . T h e y w o u l d h a v e to be a bit u n u s u a l .
He t o o k his f r i ends off t o s n e a k a p e e k in to t h e asce t ic ' s p r ivy . W h a t t h e y
s a w w a s full o f r ice . H o w c o u l d th i s b e ?
B a c k t h e y w e n t t o t h e a sce t i c ' s hu t , a n d w h i l e h e w a s g o n e lo r m o m e n t ,
t h e y ro l l ed up t h e m a t he h a d b e e n s i t t ing o n . T h e r e w a s a hole i n the
f l o o r u n d e r i t a n d t h e e a r t h b e l o w h a d b e e n d i s t u r b e d . T h e y w e r e o n t o
s o m e t h i n g . A little d i g g i n g r e v e a l e d a s ack of w h i t e r ice . " W e l l , w e l l ! "
t h o u g h t t h e y o u n g lo rds , p u t t i n g e v e r y t h i n g b a c k a s i t h a d b e e n .
W h e n t h e h o l y m a n r e t u r n e d t h e y b r o k e in to b r o a d g r i n s . "R icesh i t
s a i n t ! R i c e s h i t s a i n t ! " t h e y c h a n t e d , r o a r i n g w i t h l a u g h t e r . T h e mort i f ied
a sce t i c f l e d a n d w a s n e v e r h e a r d o f a g a i n .
9 1 •
WHAT THE STORM WASHED IN
L a t e o n e s p r i n g , in H i t a c h i p r o v i n c e , t h e r e w a s a terr if ic s t o r m , a n d in
t h e c o u r s e o f a fu r ious n i g h t a h u m a n c o r p s e w a s w a s h e d up on the
b e a c h . I t w a s m o r e t h a n fifty feet long , a n d even t h o u g h i t w a s half
b u r i e d in t h e s a n d , all y o u c o u l d see of a r i d e r p a s s i n g by on the o t h e r
s ide o f i t w a s t h e t ip o f t h e r i d e r ' s b o w . T h e h e a d w a s g o n e , a s w e r e t he
r i g h t a r m a n d t h e left leg. N o d o u b t t h e y h a d b e e n ea ten b y the c r e a t u r e s
o f t h e d e e p . W h a t a b e i n g th i s m u s t h a v e been w h e n al ive a n d w h o l e !
S i n c e t h e b o d y lay on its f ront , i t w a s h a r d to be s u r e w h e t h e r i t w a s a
m a n o r a w o m a n , b u t t h e overa l l s h a p e s u g g e s t e d a w o m a n .
T h e d i s c o v e r y c r e a t e d a s e n s a t i o n . P e o p l e c a m e from far a w a y to see
O D D I T I E S
t he p r o d i g y a n d t o offer o n e t h e o r y o r a n o t h e r a b o u t its o r ig in . O n e
l e a r n e d m o n k d e c l a r e d t h a t t h e r e w a s n o t h i n g i n t h e w o r d s o f t h e B u d d h a
to s u g g e s t t h a t t h e i n h a b i t a n t s o f a n y o f t he l a n d s i n o u r w o r l d a r e g i a n t s ;
h e cou ld on ly s u p p o s e t h a t th i s i m p r e s s i v e s p e c i m e n m u s t b e l o n g t o t h e
r ace o f W a r r i n g D e m o n s w h o a r e sa id s o m e t i m e s t o live a t t he b o t t o m o f
t h e sea .
M e a n w h i l e t h e p rov inc i a l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n h a d d e c i d e d t h e y h a d t o r e -
p o r t so u n u s u a l a find t o t h e c o u r t , a n d t h e y w e r e a b o u t t o do so w h e n
the local p e o p l e p r o t e s t e d . "If we r e p o r t i t , " t h e y sa id , " a c o u r t e m i s s a r y
will be d o w n h e r e for a look, a n d we ' l l h a v e no e n d o f t r o u b l e a n d
e x p e n s e e n t e r t a i n i n g h i m . N o , i t w o u l d b e m u c h b e t t e r t o h u s h t h e w h o l e
t h i n g u p . " S o i n t h e e n d t h e g o v e r n o r k e p t t h e d i s c o v e r y qu ie t .
As t h e d a y s w e n t by , t h e p r o c e s s e s o f d e c o m p o s i t i o n set i n a n d p e o p l e
for h u n d r e d s o f y a r d s a r o u n d h a d t o e v a c u a t e t he i r h o u s e s . T h e s t e n c h
w a s jus t t o o m u c h .
O f c o u r s e , t h e g o v e r n o r to ld t h e w h o l e s t o r y w h e n h e go t b a c k t o t h e
C a p i t a l .
9 2 •
SEA DEVILS
E i g h t d a y s i n to t h e s e v e n t h m o o n of 1171 a sh ip p u t in to O k i I s l and in
t h e p r o v i n c e o f Izu . T h e i s l a n d e r s a s s u m e d t h a t i t h a d b e e n b l o w n in by
a s t o r m a n d w e n t to h a v e a look .
T h e s h i p r o d e s e v e n t y o r e i g h t y y a r d s of fshore . A s t he i s l a n d e r s
w a t c h e d , t h e dev i l s on b o a r d let d o w n r o p e s a n d m o o r e d i t on all four
s ides t o r o c k s o n t h e sea b o t t o m . T h e n e igh t dev i l s j u m p e d in to t he sea
a n d s h o r t l y e m e r g e d o n l a n d . T h e i s l a n d e r s offered t h e m food a n d mil let
w i n e . T h o u g h t h e y n e v e r sa id a w o r d , t h e devi l s a te a n d d r a n k like
h o r s e s .
T h e dev i l s w e r e e igh t o r n ine feet tall, w i t h wi ld a n d t a n g l e d ha i r .
T h e i r b o d i e s w e r e b l ack i sh a n d ha i r l ess , a n d t he i r eyes a s r o u n d a s
m o n k e y s ' eyes . A p a r t f rom s o m e s e a w e e d t h e y h a d w r a p p e d a r o u n d the i r
w a i s t s t h e y w e r e n a k e d , bu t all s o r t s o f p i c t u r e s w e r e d r a w n o n t he i r
sk in , w i t h a so r t of ou t l i ne f rame a r o u n d e a c h . E a c h devi l c a r r i e d a g o o d
l ong staff.
1 3 4
A devi l a s k e d t o see o n e o f t h e i s l a n d e r s ' b o w a n d a r r o w s . W h e n the
i s l a n d e r h e s i t a t e d , t h e devi l ki l led h im w i t h o n e b l o w o l his staff. T h e
dev i l s t h e n s t r u c k e igh t o t h e r s , o f w h o m four d ied wh i l e four, t h o u g h
w o u n d e d , s u r v i v e d . N e x t , t h e dev i l s b e l c h e d fire from the i r s ides . T h i n k -
ing t h e y w e r e all g o i n g t o b e ki l led, t h e i s l ande r s t o o k ou t t he b o w s a n d
a r r o w s b e l o n g i n g t o t h e g o d o f t he i r s h r i n e a n d p r e p a r e d t o de fend
t h e m s e l v e s . A t t h i s p o i n t t h e dev i l s w e n t b a c k in to t he sea a n d s w a m
u n d e r w a t e r o u t t o t h e i r s h i p . T h e n t h e y sai led a w a y aga ins t t he w i n d .
O n t h e f o u r t e e n t h d a y o f t h e t e n t h m o o n , a r e p o r t o n t h e inc iden t w a s
f o r w a r d e d to t h e p r o v i n c i a l g o v e r n m e n t , t o g e t h e r w i t h a sash t h a t o n e o f
t h e dev i l s h a d d r o p p e d . T h e y say t h e sash i s n o w in t he t r e a s u r y o f
S a n j u s a n g e n d o , t h e f a m o u s t e m p l e i n K y o t o .
9 3 •
THE DANCING MUSHROOM
F o u r o r five w o o d c u t t e r s f rom t h e Cap i t a l o n c e w e n t in to t he m o u n t a i n s
n o r t h o f t h e c i ty a n d , a s f o r t u n e w o u l d h a v e it, go t lost . T h e y w e r e
p u z z l i n g o v e r w h i c h w a y t o g o w h e n t h e y h e a r d p e o p l e c o m i n g d o w n the
h i l l s ide . W h o c o u l d t h e y b e ? F o u r o r five n u n s , s i n g i n g a n d d a n c i n g the i r
w a y a l o n g , a s jo l ly a s y o u p l ea se . T h e w o o d c u t t e r s t ook fr ight . Real n u n s
w o u l d n e v e r b e h a v e th i s w a y ! T h e y c o u l d n ' t b e h u m a n ! N o , t h e y m u s t
b e t e n g u , o r d e m o n s o f s o m e so r t !
T h e n u n s m a d e s t r a i g h t for t h e w o o d c u t t e r s w h o , de sp i t e the i r a l a rm ,
m a n a g e d t o a s k t h e e s t i m a b l e lad ies w h y t h e y w e r e c a r r y i n g o n t h a t w a y ,
a n d w h y o n t o p o f e v e r y t h i n g else t h e y w e r e c o m i n g d o w n from h igh o n
t h e m o u n t a i n .
" O h d e a r , all o u r d a n c i n g a n d s i n g i n g m u s t h a v e r a t h e r f r igh tened
y o u ! " t h e n u n s r ep l i ed . " Y o u see , w e ' r e n u n s from s u c h - a n d - s u c h a
c o n v e n t . W e all w e n t i n to t h e m o u n t a i n s t o p ick f lowers for t he a l t a r a n d
t h e n go t c o m p l e t e l y lost . W h e n w e no t i ced s o m e m u s h r o o m s , w e rea l ized
w e w e r e h u n g r y . O f c o u r s e w e rea l i zed t h e m u s h r o o m s m i g h t b e po i son-
o u s , b u t w e d e c i d e d w e m i g h t a s we l l g o a h e a d a n d ea t t h e m a s s t a rve .
T h e y t a s t e d g o o d . T h e n w e b e g a n d a n c i n g . W e d i d n ' t mean t o d a n c e , y o u
see , w e jus t f o u n d o u r s e l v e s d o i n g it. W e w e r e q u i t e s u r p r i s e d ! "
T h e s t a r t l e d w o o d c u t t e r s n o w no t i ced h o w h u n g r y t h e y w e r e . T h e
n u n s h a d k e p t t h e i r le f tover m u s h r o o m s . " W h y , r a t h e r t h a n s t a r v e , "
t h o u g h t t h e m e n , " w e m i g h t a s wel l b e g s o m e off t h e n u n s a n d eat t o o ! "
S o t h e y d id .
A s soon a s t h e y h a d e a t e n t h e m u s h r o o m s t h e y f o u n d t h e m s e l v e s d a n c -
ing . N u n s a n d w o o d c u t t e r s d a n c e d a n d l a u g h e d t o g e t h e r , a n d w h e n t h e
d r u n k e n n e s s p a s s e d t h e y w e n t t he i r s e p a r a t e w a y s , t h o u g h t b y w h a t
p a t h s n o o n e k n o w s . E v e r s ince , t h a t m u s h r o o m h a s b e e n ca l led maitakc,
t h e " d a n c i n g m u s h r o o m . "
All in all, t h e i n c i d e n t is a bi t o d d . We h a v e th i s maitake t oo , in o u r
o w n t ime , b u t t h e p e o p l e w h o ea t i t d o n ' t a l w a y s d a n c e . O n b a l a n c e t h e
s t o r y i s d u b i o u s , a s e v e n t h e y w h o tell i t r e ad i ly confess .
9 A •
THE BEST-LAID PLANS . . .
T h e r e o n c e l ived a n old m o n k w h o w a s t h e a b b o t o f t he t e m p l e a t G o l d e n
P e a k . I n t h o s e d a y s ( a l t h o u g h n o l o n g e r ) t h e s en io r m o n k o f t h e m o u n -
ta in go t a p p o i n t e d a b b o t , a n d th i s o n e h a d been a m o n k l o n g e r t h a n a n y
of h i s c o l l e a g u e s .
T h e n e x t m o n k i n l ine of ten w i s h e d his s u p e r i o r w o u l d h u r r y u p a n d
die , b u t b e i n g a s t u r d y o ld fel low t h e a b b o t g a v e no sign of p o p p i n g off.
I n fact, a t p a s t e i gh ty h e w a s o b v i o u s l y m o r e ha le a n d h e a r t y t h a n a n y o n e
h a d a r i g h t to be e v e n a t s e v e n t y , a n d t h e s u c c e s s o r k n e w all t o o wel l
t h a t he h imse l f w a s n o w in his s e v e n t i e t h y e a r . " W h y , I co u l d a c t u a l l y
die a n d never be a b b o t ! " t h e s u c c e s s o r g r o a n e d to himself. " I c a n ' t j u s t
h a v e h im m u r d e r e d . S o m e o n e w o u l d b e b o u n d t o find o u t . I'll h a v e t o
po i son h i m ! "
O f c o u r s e t h e s u c c e s s o r w a s af ra id o f h o w t h e B u d d h a m i g h t feel a b o u t
th is , b u t t h e t e m p t a t i o n w a s t oo g r e a t a n d h e b e g a n t o t h i n k a b o u t w h a t
kind o f p o i s o n to u s e . W h a t po i son w a s rea l ly d e a d l y ? Wel l , t h e r e w a s a
t oads too l ca l led " g r e a t b e y o n d " t h a t w a s s u r e t o kill a n y o n e w h o a t e it.
He w o u l d g a t h e r p l e n t y o f g r e a t b e y o n d s , m a k e a rea l ly de l i c ious d i sh o f
t h e m , a n d feed t h e m t o t h e a b b o t a s o r d i n a r y m u s h r o o m s . T h a t w o u l d
t a k e c a r e o f h im . " A n d t h e n / ' / / b e a b b o t , " t h e s u c c e s s o r g l o a t e d .
I t w a s fall. H e w e n t s t r a i g h t off b y h imse l f i n to t h e m o u n t a i n s , g a t h -
e r e d lots o f g r e a t b e y o n d s , a n d a t d u s k b r o u g h t t h e m b a c k t o his hu t .
I 3 6
T h e n h e c u t t h e m u p in to a po t , s e a s o n e d t h e m nicely, a n d m a d e t h e m u p
in to a v e r y a t t r a c t i v e s t e w .
T h e n e w d a y h a d h a r d l y d a w n e d w h e n h e sen t a d isc ip le t o invi te t he
a b b o t o v e r r i g h t a w a y . T h e a b b o t a r r i v e d , l e a n i n g o n his c a n e . "Yes t e r -
d a y I w a s g i v e n s o m e beau t i fu l m u s h r o o m s , " t h e s u c c e s s o r exp la ined ,
" s o I m a d e a s t e w o f t h e m a n d t h o u g h t y o u s h o u l d h a v e s o m e . I t ' s w h e n
y o u ' r e o ld t h a t y o u a p p r e c i a t e de l icac ies l ike t h i s ! "
T h e a b b o t smi led , n o d d e d , a n d sa t d o w n . H i s hos t m a d e r ice, h e a t e d
u p t h e g r e a t b e y o n d s t e w , a n d set t h e m b o t h be fo re h im . T h e a b b o t a t e
h e a r t i l y . A s for t h e hos t , h e a t e m u s h r o o m s h e h a d p r e p a r e d s epa ra t e ly .
T h e y e n d e d t h e i r m e a l w i t h a ho t d r i n k . " W e l l , t h a t ' s i t , " t h o u g h t t h e
s u c c e s s o r , a n d w a i t e d a n x i o u s l y for t h e old b o y t o s t a r t a c t i n g c r a z y a n d
g o i n g m a d w i t h a h e a d a c h e . B u t n o t h i n g h a p p e n e d . I t w a s v e r y o d d .
T h e n t h e a b b o t ' s t o o t h l e s s m o u t h b r o k e in to a g r in . " B e s t b a t c h o f g r e a t
b e y o n d s I e v e r t a s t e d ! " he d e c l a r e d .
H e h a d k n o w n ! T h e s u c c e s s o r s tole s p e e c h l e s s f rom t h e r o o m w h i l e
t h e a b b o t w e n t o n h o m e . T h e a b b o t h a d b e e n en joy ing g r e a t b e y o n d s for
y e a r s , t h o u g h o f c o u r s e t h e s u c c e s s o r h a d no t k n o w n th i s , a n d h a d n e v e r
b e e n p o i s o n e d b y t h e m . S o t h e w h o l e c l eve r p l a n w e n t w r o n g .
q 5 .
REAL FLAMES AT LAST!
W h e n a n e i g h b o r ' s h o u s e c a u g h t fire a n d t h e w i n d t h r e a t e n e d t o c a r r y
t h e f lames to his o w n , Y o s h i h i d e , a p a i n t e r o f b u d d h a s , r a n ou t in to t he
s t r e e t . He left ins ide a p a i n t i n g o f F u d o he h a d b e e n w o r k i n g on , no t t o
m e n t i o n h i s wi fe a n d c h i l d r e n , w h o a t t h e t i m e w e r e no t even fully
c l o t h e d . H e fo rgo t all a b o u t t h e m a n d w a s q u i t e satisfied t o h a v e g o t t e n
o u t himself .
Y o s h i h i d e ' s o w n h o u s e w a s s o o n s m o k i n g a n d b u r n i n g , b u t h e jus t
w a t c h e d f rom a c r o s s t h e s t r ee t , i g n o r i n g the n e i g h b o r s w h o r u s h e d i n
h o r r o r t o h e l p h i m . A s h e w a t c h e d his h o u s e g o u p , h e n o d d e d a g r e e m e n t
f rom t i m e to t ime , o r smi l ed . " W h a t a s igh t ! All t h e s e y e a r s I 've b e e n
p a i n t i n g t h e m w r o n g ! " h e finally m u t t e r e d .
O n e o f t h e n e i g h b o r s to ld h im h e w a s c r a z y . " S o m e spi r i t m u s t h a v e
g o t t e n i n t o y o u ! " h e sa id .
" S p i r i t ? " a n s w e r e d Y o s h i h i d e . " O h n o , it 's t h e f lames . F o r y e a r s I 've
b e e n p a i n t i n g t h e f l a m e s o f L o r d F u d o ' s h a l o all w r o n g . N o w I see h o w
t h e y b u r n . W h a t a s i gh t ! Y o u ' r e no t a p a i n t e r so y o u w o u l d n ' t u n d e r -
s t a n d . " H e l a u g h e d m o c k i n g l y .
T h e F u d o h e p a i n t e d n e x t i m p r e s s e s e v e r y o n e , n o w a s t h e n .
9 6 .
THE PAINTED HORSE
T h e p a i n t e r K a n a o k a m a d e m a n y p i c t u r e s for r e t i r e d E m p e r o r U d a ' s
p a l a c e , a n d t h e bes t o f all w a s o n e of a h o r s e p a i n t e d on a wa l l . T h a t
h o r s e w o u l d ge t ou t o f t h e p a i n t i n g e v e r y n igh t a n d ea t h is w a y t h r o u g h
t h e n e i g h b o r i n g fields. N o o n e c o u l d f igure ou t w h a t w a s d o i n g all t h e
d a m a g e unt i l finally s o m e o n e n o t i c e d t h a t e v e r y d a y t h e r e w a s fresh m u d
o n the p a i n t e d h o r s e ' s h o o v e s , a n d p u t t w o a n d t w o t o g e t h e r . K a n a o k a
p r o m p t l y s c r a p e d off t h e h o r s e ' s e y e s . N o t h i n g b o t h e r e d t h e fields af ter
t h a t .
G O L D E N P E A K
A N D T H E O M I N E
M O U N T A I N S
9 7 •
A MODEL DEMON
N i c h i z o led t h e life o f a w a n d e r i n g h e r m i t i n t h e O m i n e M o u n t a i n s . O n e
d a y on a r e m o t e t ra i l he m e t a seven- foo t - ta l l , d a r k - b l u e d e m o n w i t h r ed
ha i r l ike f lames, a s l e n d e r n e c k , a g r o s s l y p r o t r u d i n g b r e a s t b o n e , a swol -
len bel ly , a n d s k i n n y s h a n k s . T h e d e m o n t u r n e d t o N i c h i z o b e s e e c h i n g l y
a n d b e g a n t o w e e p .
1 3 8
N i c h i z o a s k e d i t h o w i t h a d g o t t e n t h a t w a y . " F o u r o r f i v e h u n d r e d
y e a r s a g o I w a s a m a n , " t h e d e m o n s o b b e d , " b u t t h e n m y g r u d g e aga ins t
s o m e o n e I h a t e d m a d e me l ike t h i s . Y e s , I m u r d e r e d him a n d his sons ,
h is g r a n d s o n s , h is g r e a t - g r a n d s o n s , a n d his g r e a t - g r e a t - g r a n d s o n s too ,
a n d n o w t h e r e ' s no o n e left for me to kill. I f on ly I k n e w w h e r e t h e y w e r e
r e b o r n , I 'd m u r d e r t h e m all o v e r a g a i n . M y r a g e b u r n s a s f i e r c e l y a s ever ,
b u t m y e n e m y ' s d e s c e n d a n t s a r e g o n e ! N o w I 'm a lone w i t h t he pa in o f
t h i s f i re t h a t n o t h i n g will e x t i n g u i s h . I f I 'd n e v e r felt th i s w a y I migh t
e v e n h a v e b e e n b o r n in to p a r a d i s e , b u t h a t e h a s b r o u g h t m e a n e t e r n i t y
of su f fe r ing . A g r u d g e a g a i n s t s o m e o n e else is j u s t l ike a g r u d g e aga ins t
y o u r s e l f . I w i s h I 'd k n o w n , I o n l y w i s h I 'd k n o w n ! "
T h e d e m o n ' s t e a r s swe l l ed to a flood as i t s p o k e , a n d f lames l e aped
f rom t h e t o p o f i ts h e a d . S u d d e n l y i t t u r n e d a n d fled fu r the r in to t h e
m o u n t a i n s .
N i c h i z o felt s o r r y for i t a n d p r a y e d t h e bes t he k n e w h o w t h a t i t migh t
suffer less .
9 8 .
THE RIVER OF SNAKES
N i c h i z o ' s m a s t e r , l ike his d i sc ip le , p r a c t i c e d i n t h e O m i n e M o u n t a i n s ,
a n d he n e v e r left h is r e m o t e re fuge t o visit t h e p r o f a n e w o r l d . F o r y e a r s
he c h a n t e d t h e D a r a n i o f T h o u s a n d - A r m e d K a n n o n in a d e e p val ley
t o w a r d t h e s o u t h e r n e n d o f t h e r a n g e .
He h a d f o u n d t h e va l ley a f te r a l ong s t r u g g l e d o w n s lopes th i ck w i t h
d w a r f b a m b o o . Af t e r a s s u m i n g a t f i r s t t h a t i t w a s w a t e r l e s s , h e s a w w a t e r
a f te r al l ; b u t t h e " w a t e r " t h e n t u r n e d o u t t o be a m a s s o f h u g e s n a k e s
w h o s e u n d u l a t i n g b a c k s f rom a d i s t a n c e r e s e m b l e d a s t r e a m . T h e y
s e e m e d t o h a v e c a u g h t t h e i n t r u d e r ' s scen t o n t h e w i n d b e c a u s e t h e y
lifted t h e i r h e a d s i n t h e a i r a s he a p p r o a c h e d .
T h e i r b a c k s w e r e d a r k b l u e - g r e e n a n d t he i r t h r o a t s a l u s t r o u s c r imson ,
w h i l e t h e i r e y e s g l i t t e r e d l ike p o l i s h e d b r o n z e b o w l s a n d t he i r t o n g u e s
f l i cke red l ike f l ames . T h e asce t i c t h o u g h t h e w a s lost a n d s c r a m b l e d b a c k
u p t h e s t e e p s lope , p u l l i n g h imse l f a l o n g a s bes t h e co u l d b y the t o u g h
d w a r f b a m b o o s t e m s . H e m a d e s u c h s low p r o g r e s s t h a t ho t , fetid s e r p e n t
b r e a t h w a s s o o n g u s t i n g u p a t h im from b e l o w . A n y m o m e n t h e w o u l d
be d e v o u r e d , i f he d i d no t b l a c k ou t f i r s t a n d d ie from t h e h o r r i b l e smel l .
S o m e t h i n g w a s c o m i n g d o w n t h e s lope t o w a r d h im, a l t h o u g h h e w a s
t o o d a z e d b y t h e s t e n c h t o b e a b l e t o tell w h a t i t w a s . T h e t h i n g se ized
his a r m a n d s l u n g h im r o u g h l y a c r o s s its s h o u l d e r s . Ter r i f ied , he felt o v e r
t h e c r e a t u r e w i t h his free h a n d b u t f o u n d n o t h i n g r e a s s u r i n g . I t w a s
c l ea r ly a d e m o n a n d w o u l d o n l y be h a u l i n g h im off t o ea t h i m . H i s last
t h o u g h t be fo re h e p a s s e d o u t w a s t h a t t o d a y , o n e w a y o r a n o t h e r , h e
w o u l d d ie .
T h e d e m o n r a c e d u p hill a n d d o w n d a l e till i t p u t d o w n its b u r d e n o n
a d i s t a n t p e a k . T h e asce t i c c a m e t o a n d e x p e c t e d t h e e n d , b u t s ince
n o t h i n g h a p p e n e d h e a s k e d t h e d e m o n t imid ly w h a t i t w a s . " I ' m t h e
d e m o n K u h a n d a , " i t a n s w e r e d . A t las t t h e a sce t i c o p e n e d his eyes . N a k e d
b u t for a lo inc lo th , t h e c r e a t u r e w a s t en feet ta l l . I ts b l a c k sk in g l i s t ened
l ike l a c q u e r a n d its r e d h a i r b r i s t l ed s t r a i g h t u p . S u d d e n l y i t t u r n e d a w a y
a n d v a n i s h e d .
T h e asce t i c r ea l i zed t h a t h is o w n d e v o t i o n t o T h o u s a n d - A r m e d K a n -
n o n m u s t h a v e s a v e d h im, b e c a u s e o n l y T h o u s a n d - A r m e d K a n n o n co u l d
h a v e c o m e t o his a id . T h e t h o u g h t b r o u g h t t e a r s t o his eyes a n d h e
p r o s t r a t e d himself in t h a n k s .
H e set off t o w a r d t h e n o r t h e a s t , all t h e w h i l e c h a n t i n g t h e d a r a n i , till
he c a m e to a wa te r f a l l t u m b l i n g a g o o d f i f ty feet f rom a m o n g the c r a g s .
I t w a s s o beau t i fu l t h a t h e s t o p p e d a w h i l e t o a d m i r e it. T h e m o s s o n the
r o c k s b e s i d e i t w a s espec ia l ly lovely . All a t o n c e a b o u l d e r m a n y y a r d s
a c r o s s r o s e f rom t h e poo l a t t h e b a s e o f t he fall, t h r u s t t w e n t y feet i n to
t h e a i r , t h e n s a n k a g a i n . S h o r t l y i t rose a n d s u b s i d e d a s be fo re . T h e
asce t i c w a t c h e d t h e cyc le s eve ra l t i m e s w i t h m o u n t i n g a s t o n i s h m e n t till
h e s a w t h a t t h e r o c k w a s a c t u a l l y a h u g e s n a k e w h i c h f i l l e d t h e poo l a n d
w h i c h w a s lifting its h e a d in to t h e p o u n d i n g w a t e r s o f t he fall. T h e s n a k e
m u s t h a v e b e e n t h e r e s o l o n g ! D e s p i t e his fear a n d l oa th ing , h e w a s
t o u c h e d b y c o m p a s s i o n for t h e s n a k e ' s suf fer ing , a n d h e r ec i t ed m a n y
s u t r a s for i t a n d ca l led of ten on T h o u s a n d - A r m e d K a n n o n be fo re he w e n t
his w a y .
9 9 •
THE WINE SPRING
O n c e a m o n k p a s s i n g t h o u g h t h e O m i n e M o u n t a i n s lost his w a y a n d
f o u n d himself h e a d i n g d o w n in to a to ta l ly u n k n o w n va l ley . In t h e val ley
w a s a l a rge v i l lage .
1 A 0
H e w a s l o o k i n g f o r w a r d t o a s k i n g w h e r e h e w a s , b u t first h e c a m e t o
a roo fed s p r i n g . T h e g r o u n d all a r o u n d i t w a s p a v e d w i t h s t o n e . W h e n
he w e n t for a w e l c o m e d r i n k , he f o u n d t h a t t h e w a t e r w a s all y e l l o w . I t
t u r n e d o u t a c t u a l l y t o b e w i n e .
W h i l e he p u z z l e d o v e r t h i s a m a z i n g d i s c o v e r y , a c r o w d o f v i l lagers
g a t h e r e d a n d w a n t e d t o k n o w w h o h e w a s . H e e x p l a i n e d h o w h e h a p -
p e n e d t o b e t h e r e .
" C o m e w i t h m e , " o n e sa id . T h e m o n k fol lowed unwi l l ing ly , w o n d e r i n g
w h e r e t h e y w e r e off t o a n d w h e t h e r he w o u l d be ki l led. T h e y got t o a
l a r g e , p r o s p e r o u s h o u s e a n d a g e n t l e m a n c a m e ou t t o mee t t h e m . H e t o o
a s k e d t h e m o n k t o e x p l a i n h imse l f a n d t h e m o n k to ld his s t o ry a s be fore .
T h e g e n t l e m a n inv i t ed h i m in, fed h im, a n d t u r n e d h im o v e r t o a y o u n g
m a n w h o w a s t o e s c o r t h im t o " t h e u sua l p l a c e . " A p p a r e n t l y t he gen t l e -
m a n w a s t h e m a y o r . T h e m o n k q u a k e d t o i m a g i n e w h a t " t h e usua l p l a c e "
m i g h t be , b u t t h e r e w a s n o e s c a p e .
T h e y o u n g m a n led h i m t o a d e s e r t e d spo t i n t h e m o u n t a i n s w h e r e h e
a n n o u n c e d t h a t h e h a d b r o u g h t h im t h e r e t o kill h im . " P e o p l e h a v e
w a n d e r e d in to t h e vi l lage a s y o u d id severa l t imes i n t h e p a s t , " h e ex-
p l a i n e d . " W e ' v e a l w a y s ki l led t h e m b e c a u s e w e ' r e afraid they ' l l t a lk a b o u t
u s i n t h e w o r l d o u t s i d e . N o o n e o u t t h e r e h a s a n y idea o u r vi l lage even
ex i s t s , y o u s e e . "
T h e m o n k ' s m i n d froze, b u t i n t e a r s h e m a n a g e d t o r e m i n d t h e y o u n g
m a n t h a t b e i n g a m o n k h e fo l lowed t h e p a t h o f t h e B u d d h a a n d w a s
d e d i c a t e d t o t h e w e l f a r e o f all . T h a t w a s w h y h e h a d b e e n pas s ing
t h r o u g h t h e s e m o u n t a i n s i n t h e first p l a c e . " Y o u h a v e no idea o f t h e
sacr i f ices I 've m a d e , o f l a b o r s I 've p e r f o r m e d in p u r s u i t o f my g o a l ! " he
w e n t o n . " A n d n o w y o u ' r e g o i n g t o kill m e jus t b e c a u s e I lost m y w a y !
Of c o u r s e I 'm g o i n g to d ie i n t h e e n d , I k n o w . E v e r y o n e is. T h a t ' s no t
w h a t I m i n d . I t ' s j u s t t h a t i t 's s u c h an awful sin for you to kill a b l ame less
m o n k ! P l e a s e , p l ea se , w o n ' t y o u let m e l i v e ? "
" I s e e , " t h e y o u n g m a n r ep l i ed . " Y e s , I 'd like to let y o u g o . Bu t I 'm so
a f ra id o f w h a t w o u l d h a p p e n i f y o u t a l k e d a b o u t u s o u t s i d e ! "
" O h , b u t I won't t a lk a b o u t y o u , of c o u r s e I w o n ' t . A m a n va lues his
life m o r e t h a n a n y t h i n g a n d h e n e v e r forge ts w h a t h e o w e s s o m e o n e
w h o ' s s a v e d h i m ! "
" W e l l , all r i gh t . Y o u ' r e a m o n k . I can see t h a t . I'll let y o u go , as long
as y o u 11 k e e p th i s k n o w l e d g e to your se l f . I can jus t p r e t e n d I kil led y o u . "
T h e m o n k s w o r e e v e r y w a y h e k n e w h o w t h a t h e w o u l d k e e p his
m o u t h s h u t , a n d t h e y o u n g m a n , w i t h m a n y r epe t i t i ons o i h is cau t ion ,
s h o w e d h i m t h e p a t h b a c k t o t h e o u t s i d e w o r l d . O n e last t ime the m o n k
b o w e d t o h i s b e n e f a c t o r , a s s u r i n g h im t h a t h e w o u l d n e v e r forget his
k i n d n e s s a s l o n g a s h e l ived. T h e n w i t h t e a r s o f e m o t i o n o n b o t h s ides
t he t w o p a r t e d , a n d t h e m o n k fo l lowed t h e t ra i l till i t r e jo ined t h e n o r m a l
p a t h t h r o u g h t h e m o u n t a i n s .
I n d u e c o u r s e h e go t b a c k t o t h e vi l lage h e h a d s t a r t e d f rom. O f c o u r s e
h e h a d s w o r n h imse l f t o s i l ence m a n y t i m e s ove r , b u t h e w a s a g r e a t
t a l k e r a n d w a s s o o n s p o u t i n g t h e w h o l e s t o r y t o e v e r y o n e . T h e g e n e r a l
r e a c t i o n w a s "Te l l m e a n o t h e r ! " b u t h e d e s c r i b e d t h e vi l lage a n d t h e
s p r i n g o f w i n e i n s u c h e l o q u e n t de ta i l t h a t s o m e h igh - sp i r i t ed y o u t h s
d e c i d e d t o c h e c k . I t w o u l d b e o n e t h i n g i f t h o s e v i l l agers w e r e g o d s o r
d e m o n s , b u t a p p a r e n t l y t h e y w e r e j u s t p e o p l e . T h e y co u l d no t b e a s s c a r y
as all t h a t .
H a l f a d o z e n of t h e s t r o n g e s t y o u n g b r a v e s set ou t , e ach a r m e d w i t h a
b o w , a r r o w s , a n d a c l u b , a n d t h e m o n k w e n t w i t h t h e m . Seve ra l o lde r ,
m o r e r e s p o n s i b l e p e o p l e t r i ed t o s t o p t h e m , w a r n i n g t h e m no t t o e n g a g e
a c o m p l e t e l y u n k n o w n c o m m u n i t y o n t h e i r o w n g r o u n d , b u t t h e h o t h e a d s
pa id n o a t t e n t i o n . T h e m o n k ' s e l o q u e n c e h a d fired t he i r i m a g i n a t i o n s .
T h e p a r e n t s a n d re l a t ives w h o r e m a i n e d b e h i n d w e r e v e r y w o r r i e d .
T h e p a r t y d i d no t r e t u r n t h a t d a y o r t h e nex t . I n fact, t h e y n e v e r c a m e
b a c k a t all . N o o n e v o l u n t e e r e d t o g o af ter t h e m . A m i d l a m e n t a t i o n s , t h e
m a t t e r w a s d r o p p e d . N o d o u b t t h e w h o l e p a r t y h a d b e e n m a s s a c r e d .
T h a t m o n k h a d rea l ly d i s t i n g u i s h e d h imsel f w i t h all his ta lk . H e w o u l d
h a v e d o n e b e t t e r t o l eave wel l e n o u g h a lone , a n d his a u d i e n c e w o u l d
h a v e d o n e b e t t e r still t o i g n o r e his p r a t t l e !
1 o o .
VERY HIGH IN THE MOUNTAINS
T h e m o n k Gie i s p e n t h is life r o a m i n g from p r o v i n c e to p r o v i n c e , v i s i t ing
e v e r y ho ly si te in t h e l a n d . In his t r a v e l s he m a d e a p i l g r i m a g e to K u m a n o
a n d from t h e r e p a s s e d n o r t h w a r d in to t h e O m i n e M o u n t a i n s .
H e w a s h e a d e d for G o l d e n P e a k , b u t go t s o lost o n t h e w a y t h a t h e
cou ld no l o n g e r tell eas t from w e s t . A g o o d b las t on t h e c o n c h he h a d
s l u n g a t his w a i s t go t no a n s w e r . N e x t he c l i m b e d a p e a k for a b e t t e r
v i ew, b u t all he c o u l d see f rom t h e t o p w a s va l ley af ter d im va l ley .
Af te r t en d a y s Gie i w a s s o d e s p e r a t e t h a t h e b e g g e d t h e b u d d h a o f his
p o r t a b l e a l t a r to lead h im b a c k to c iv i l iza t ion . As he p r a y e d he c a m e to a
1 A 2
h a n d s o m e w o o d w i t h a p r e t t y litt le h o u s e ins ide it, s u r r o u n d e d by a b r o a d
g a r d e n s t r e w n w i t h w h i t e s a n d . T h e s h r u b s w e r e a s g r e e n a s g r e e n cou ld
be , a n d i t w a s a m a r v e l to see f lowers b l o o m i n g e v e r y w h e r e a m i d a
p r o f u s i o n o f r i pe b e r r i e s a n d frui t .
W h a t a c h e e r i n g s igh t ! In t h e h o u s e a m o n k no o l d e r t h a n t w e n t y w a s
c h a n t i n g t h e L o t u s S u t r a in a s u b l i m e vo ice t h a t t o u c h e d the d e p t h s o f
Gie i ' s b e i n g . E a c h c h a p t e r w a s a s e p a r a t e scro l l . As soon a s t he m o n k
h a d f in i shed o n e a n d laid i t on his d e s k , t h e scrol l w o u l d r ise in to t he air ,
rol l i tself b a c k up c o v e r a n d all, t ie its o w n c o r d s nea t ly , a n d set t le b a c k
d o w n . Sc ro l l b y scro l l , t h e m o n k w e n t t h r o u g h the w h o l e S u t r a . Giei w a s
a w e d a n d f r i g h t e n e d .
T h e h o l y m a n s t o o d u p . H e d id no t h ide his a s t o n i s h m e n t o n see ing his
v i s i to r . " N o h u m a n h a s e v e r b e e n h e r e b e f o r e , " h e sa id . " I ' m s o high i n
t h e m o u n t a i n s t h a t I s e l d o m e v e n h e a r t h e b i r d s s ing ing in t he va l leys .
W h o a r e y o u ? "
Gie i e x p l a i n e d t h a t he w a s a m o n k a n d lost . T h e ho ly m a n inv i ted him
in, a n d s o m e beau t i fu l a c o l y t e s s e r v e d h im a de l ic ious meal t ha t m a d e
h i m forge t all a b o u t h u n g e r a n d s t a r v a t i o n . H e a s k e d the ho ly m a n h o w
l o n g h e h a d l ived h e r e a n d w h y h e l a c k e d n o t h i n g .
" I ' v e b e e n h e r e e i g h t y y e a r s , " t h e ho ly m a n a n s w e r e d . " O n c e I w a s a
m o n k o n M o u n t H ie i , b u t I 'm s o r r y t o say t h e r e w a s a little t r o u b l e
b e t w e e n m e a n d m y m a s t e r a n d h e re fused t o k e e p m e w i t h him a n y
l o n g e r . I c o u l d n ' t t h i n k o f a n y t h i n g else t o d o b u t g o r o a m i n g . O f c o u r s e
I w a s y o u n g a n d s t r o n g t h e n , a n d I w o r s h i p p e d a t all t he ho ly p laces .
W h e n I go t o ld I t o o k re fuge in t h e s e m o u n t a i n s , a n d I 've b e e n h e r e eve r
s ince , w a i t i n g for d e a t h . "
G ie i l i s t ened w i t h g r o w i n g a m a z e m e n t . " Y o u say n o o n e c o m e s h e r e , "
h e ins i s t ed , " b u t y o u h a v e t h r e e beau t i fu l aco ly te s s e r v i n g y o u . S u r e l y
y o u c a n ' t b e s e r i o u s ! "
" T h e S u t r a i tself s ays , 'Ce les t i a l b o y s will c o m e t o s e rve t he o n e w h o
u p h o l d s th i s S u t r a . ' I s i t r ea l ly so s t r a n g e ? "
" Y o u s a y y o u ' r e old , b u t as far as I c a n see y o u ' r e in t he f lower o f
y o u t h . A r e y o u s u r e y o u ' r e te l l ing m e y o u r real a g e ? "
" T h e S u t r a s ays , ' H e w h o h e a r s th i s S u t r a will n e v e r b e ill, n o r will h e
g r o w o ld a n d d i e . ' I 'm o n l y te l l ing y o u t h e t r u t h . "
W h e n t h e h o l y m a n to ld Gie i i t w a s t i m e for h im to leave, Giei s p o k e
o f t h e su f fe r ing h e h a d j u s t g o n e t h r o u g h , a n d r e m i n d e d t h e ho ly m a n o f
his s t a r v e d a n d w e a k e n e d c o n d i t i o n . H e a s s u r e d t h e ho ly m a n t h a t h e
w a n t e d to s e r v e h i m for t h e res t of his life.
" I t ' s no t t h a t I d i s l ike y o u , " t h e ho ly m a n a n s w e r e d . " B u t I 've s p e n t all
t h e s e y e a r s far a w a y f rom p e o p l e , a n d t h a t ' s w h y I h a v e t o insist t h a t y o u
g o . I f y o u w a n t t o s t ay o n e n igh t a n d n o m o r e , y o u m u s t p r o m i s e m e y o u
w o n ' t m o v e o r m a k e a s o u n d . ' ' Gie i p r o m i s e d a n d go t h imsel f ou t o f s igh t .
S o o n a f te r d a r k a n ee r ie litt le b r e e z e s p r a n g u p . F r o m his h i d i n g p l ace
Gie i w a t c h e d s u p e r n a t u r a l b e i n g s a r r i v e in all s o r t s o f e x t r a o r d i n a r y
fo rms . S o m e h a d t h e h e a d s o f h o r s e s , o x e n , o r b i r d s , w h i l e s o m e w e r e
s h a p e d like d e e r . T h e y c r o w d e d in w i t h offer ings o f incense , f lowers ,
n u t s , fruit , a n d d r i n k , a n d a f te r p l a c i n g all t h e s e g o o d t h i n g s before t h e
h u t t h e y p r o s t r a t e d t h e m s e l v e s i n pe r fec t o r d e r w i t h p a l m s p r e s s e d t o -
g e t h e r . S u d d e n l y o n e a m o n g t h e m r e m a r k e d , " S t r a n g e ! I t ' s d i f ferent h e r e
t o n i g h t ! I smel l m a n ! " Gie i w a s so u p s e t he m o v e d , b u t t h e ho ly m a n
c a m e to his r e s c u e by i n t o n i n g t h e S u t r a a n d k e p t i t up all n igh t long . A t
d a w n h e e n d e d b y d e d i c a t i n g t h e mer i t o f h is c h a n t i n g t o all be ings , a n d
t h e b i z a r r e c o m p a n y d i s p e r s e d .
Giei c r e p t o u t a n d a s k e d w h e r e all t h e c r e a t u r e s h a d c o m e from. T h e
ho ly m a n r e m i n d e d h im t h a t t h e B u d d h a says i n t h e S u t r a , " I f t h e r e i s
no o n e to h e a r t h e L a w , t h e n I wil l s e n d celes t ia l be ings , d r a g o n k ings ,
e a r t h sp i r i t s , a n d d e m o n s t o b e t h e c o n g r e g a t i o n . "
T h o u g h r e a d y t o leave n o w , Gie i still d id no t k n o w t h e w a y . T h e ho ly
m a n to ld h im t o g o s t r a i g h t s o u t h . H e p u t a w a t e r j a r o u t s i d e t he h o u s e ,
a n d i t r o se in to t h e a i r a n d h e a d e d s lowly s o u t h w a r d . Giei fo l lowed i t for
h o u r s to a m o u n t a i n t o p , w h e r e he l o o k e d d o w n a n d s a w a l a rge vi l lage
b e l o w h i m . T h e j a r s o a r e d in to t h e s k y a n d d i s a p p e a r e d . Gie i rea l i zed
t h a t h e w a s b a c k w h e r e h e h a d s t a r t e d f rom. H e to ld t h e v i l lagers , w i t h
t e a r s o f e m o t i o n , h o w h e h a d m e t t h e I m m o r t a l , a n d all w h o h e a r d h im
b o w e d t h e i r h e a d s i n a w e .
N o h u m a n e v e r f o u n d t h e I m m o r t a l ' s r e t r e a t a g a i n .
1 A A
1 O 1 .
THE GOD OF FIRE AND THUNDER
This is a true vision. The statesman Sugawara no
Michizane (845-903) was exited unjustly by Emperor
Daigo in 901 and soon died, heartbroken. When
disasters began to oeeur, people believed that hi)
vengefulghost was causing them. Within twenty yean,
Michizane had been posthumously reinstated and promoted,
and in 959 the great Kitano Shrine, even now a Kyoto
landmark, was built for his spirit. The god's name id
still known as Ten/in. Students pray to him
for success in their examinations.
T h i s is w h a t t h e V e n e r a b l e N i c h i z o w r o t e in t h e Account of a Vu<it to the
Afterworld, w h i c h he set d o w n in 9 4 1 , s h o r t l y af ter t h e even t .
I w a s b o r n in t h e C a p i t a l . E a r l y in 9 1 6 I s h a v e d my h e a d a n d took
r e l i g ious v o w s a t a t e m p l e in t h e O m i n e M o u n t a i n s . I w a s t h e n in my
twe l f t h y e a r .
F o r s ix y e a r s I led an asce t ic life, t a k i n g no sal t o r g r a i n , a n d on ly left
t h e m o u n t a i n s w h e n I h e a r d my m o t h e r w a s suf fer ing from a l ong i l lness
a n d ca l l i ng c o n s t a n t l y for m e . I w e n t to K y o t o to see h e r in t he s p r i n g o f
9 2 1 , t h e n r e t u r n e d t o t h e m o u n t a i n s . S i n c e t h e n 1 h a v e c o n t i n u e d go ing
i n t o t h e m o u n t a i n s e v e r y s p r i n g . T h i s i s t h e t w e n t y - s i x t h y e a r I h a v e
d o n e s o .
M e a n w h i l e m a n y d i s a s t e r s h a v e t r o u b l e d t h e r e a l m . I g a t h e r t h a t p e o -
p l e h a v e n o t e d m a n y s t r a n g e d r e a m s , a n d t h a t t h i n g s h a v e se ldom g o n e
a s t h e y s h o u l d . T h e m o v e m e n t s o f t h e h e a v e n l y b o d i e s a n d the s igns o f
y i n a n d y a n g h a v e c o n s t a n t l y a n n o u n c e d m i s f o r t u n e . T h a t i s w h y I d e -
c i d e d t o s e e k d i v i n e h e l p . I w e n t d e e p e r t h a n e v e r in to t he m o u n t a i n
w i l d e r n e s s a n d r e d o u b l e d m y effor ts , for m y o w n s a k e a n d for t h e s a k e
o f t h e p e a c e a n d p r o s p e r i t y o f t h e r e a l m . I v o w e d to fast, k e e p si lent , a n d
c o n t e m p l a t e t h e B u d d h a for t h r e e t i m e s seven d a y s .
A t m i d d a y o n t h e f i r s t o f t h e e i g h t h m o o n o f 9 4 1 , w h i l e I w a s a b s o r b e d
i n m y r i t e , I b e g a n t o b u r n w i t h h e a t . M y t h r o a t a n d t o n g u e d r i e d u p a n d
my w i n d p i p e c lo sed . K n o w i n g t h a t I c o u l d no t s p e a k or call for he lp , I
w e p t a n d s i m p l y s t r u g g l e d for b r e a t h . T h e n m y b r e a t h i n g s t o p p e d a n d I
d i e d .
I left my c a v e , c a r r y i n g my s u t r a scro l l s as I a l w a y s do w h e n I go in to
t he m o u n t a i n s , a n d l o o k e d a r o u n d t o see w h a t d i r e c t i o n t o t a k e . A s I d id
so , a h e r m i t m o n k a p p e a r e d i n t h e c a v e . He h a d a g o l d e n jar a n d p o u r e d
m e s o m e w a t e r f rom it. T h e w a t e r ' s de l i c ious t a s t e f i l l e d m e .
T h e h e r m i t sa id , " I a m S h u K o n g o S h i n , t h e D i v i n e V a j r a - B e a r e r .
F r o m m y c a v e I g u a r d t h e B u d d h a S h a k a ' s T e a c h i n g . Y o u r d e v o t i o n all
t h e s e y e a r s h a s i m p r e s s e d m e , v e n e r a b l e m o n k , a n d I b r o u g h t y o u th i s
w a t e r f rom t h e H i m a l a y a s . "
T h e celes t ia l a c o l y t e s w i t h h im b r o u g h t in all so r t s o f de l icac ies , h e a p e d
t h e m o n t o l a rge lo tus l eaves , a n d s e r v e d t h e m t o m e . T h e h e r m i t ex-
p l a i n e d t h a t t h e a c o l y t e s w e r e t h e T w e n t y - E i g h t G o d s w h o p r o t e c t t h e
e so t e r i c a d e p t .
J u s t t h e n a n o b l e m o n k d e s c e n d e d f rom a p e a k to t h e w e s t a n d he ld
ou t h is left h a n d for m e t o t a k e . H e led m e s t r a igh t u p t h e p e a k , w h i c h
w a s t h o u s a n d s o f feet d e e p in s n o w . F r o m t h e t o p o f t he m o u n t a i n I s a w
all t h e w o r l d s s p r e a d o u t b e l o w .
T h e m o u n t a i n w a s v e r y beau t i fu l . I ts flat s u m m i t w a s i m m a c u l a t e , a n d
a g o l d e n r a d i a n c e s h o n e e v e r y w h e r e . To t h e n o r t h rose a g o l d e n p r o m i -
n e n c e w i t h a t h r o n e on i t m a d e of t h e seven t r e a s u r e s : gold , s i lver , lapis
lazuli , r o c k c r y s t a l , j a d e , co ra l , a n d a g a t e .
T h e m o n k sa t o n t h i s t h r o n e . " I a m Z a o G o n g e n , a form o f S h a k a , " h e
sa id . " T h i s i s t h e P a r a d i s e o f G o l d e n P e a k . Y o u h a v e on ly a few y e a r s
left t o l ive. G i v e y o u r all t o bu i ld up m e r i t ! "
I a n s w e r e d t h a t life itself m e a n t n o t h i n g to m e . " B u t h a v i n g c h o s e n a
s p o t to do j u s t a s y o u s a y , " I c o n t i n u e d , " I n o w f ind my life i s nea r ly o v e r
b e f o r e I 've a c h i e v e d my g o a l ! P lease tell me h o w m a n y y e a r s I h a v e left.
W h a t b u d d h a s h o u l d I s e rve , w h a t r i te s h o u l d I do so a s t o p r o l o n g my
l i f e?"
T h e m o n k t o o k a t ab l e t , w r o t e e igh t c h a r a c t e r s on it, a n d g a v e i t t o
m e . I r e a d , S U N S T O R E N I N E N I N E Y E A R S M O N T H S K I N G
G U A R D .
" S o n of t h e B u d d h a , " he sa id , " y o u r life is l ike a c l o u d t h a t c a t c h e s a
m o m e n t on t h e m o u n t a i n , t h e n dr i f ts off a n d me l t s i n to t h e s k y . I t i s
easi ly lost . B u t p r a c t i c e in t h e m o u n t a i n s will l e n g t h e n it, w h i l e l iv ing
a m o n g m e n w o u l d m a k e y o u lazy a n d w o u l d c u t i t s h o r t . S U N a n d
S T O R E ( N I C H I Z O ) m e a n t h e b u d d h a a n d t h e r i te y o u k n o w . Before ,
y o u r n a m e w a s D o k e n , b u t n o w y o u m u s t t a k e y o u r n e w n a m e , N i c h i z o ,
w h i c h c o m e from th i s b u d d h a a n d th i s r i t e . N I N E N I N E i s t h e a g e y o u ' l l
live t o . Y E A R S a n d M O N T H S m e a n t i m e . K I N G a n d G U A R D m e a n
y o u ' l l b e p r o t e c t e d . Y o u r n e w m a s t e r i s G o h o B o s a t s u , t h e P r o t e c t o r o f
t h e L a w . Y o u ' v e a l r e a d y v o w e d be fo re y o u r f i r s t t e a c h e r t o o b s e r v e t he
1 4 6
r u l e s o f B u d d h i s t c o n d u c t , b u t t h e P r o t e c t o r o f t he L a w will a d m i n i s t e r
t h e v o w t o y o u a g a i n . "
T h e r e w a s a b r i l l i an t b u r s t o f r a i n b o w l ight . T h e m o n k said, " B e h o l d
D a i j o Ten j in , t h e G r e a t Celes t ia l S t a t e s m a n ! "
I n s t a n t l y a n u m b e r l e s s m u l t i t u d e a p p r o a c h e d from the void a b o v e the
m o u n t a i n s t o t h e w e s t . I t m i g h t h a v e b e e n a n e m p e r o r ' s e n t h r o n e m e n t
p r o c e s s i o n . S e r v a n t s a n d r e t a i n e r s o f spec ies u n k n o w n , i n u n h e a r d - o f
f o rm s , f locked e n d l e s s l y p a s t . Te r r i f y ing to look at , s o m e r e s e m b l e d va j ra
g u a r d i a n s , o t h e r s t h u n d e r g o d s o r d e m o n k i n g s . E a c h w a s a r m e d t o t he
t e e t h w i t h q u i v e r a n d b o w , s p e a r , sc imi ta r , a n d staff.
D a i j o Ten j in w a s g o i n g t o p a s s o n b y w h e n h e no t i ced m e . " C o m e ,
g o o d h e r m i t , " h e said t o m e , " I w a n t t o s h o w y o u m y cas t le . I'll b r i n g
y o u b a c k h e r e a f t e r w a r d s . Wil l t h a t b e all r i g h t ? "
Z a o G o n g e n sa id I c o u l d g o . I go t up b e h i n d Da i jo Tenj in on his w h i t e
h o r s e , a n d a f te r h u n d r e d s o f l e a g u e s we c a m e to a vas t l ake . In t h e midd le
of t h e l ake w a s a l a rge i s l and a h u n d r e d l eagues w i d e , w i t h a s q u a r e da is
on i t s i x t e e n feet on a s ide . A lo tus f lower rose from the c e n t e r of t he
d a i s , a n d a j e w e l - t o w e r a b o v e i t e n s h r i n e d t h e L o t u s S u t r a . To t h e east
a n d w e s t h u n g t h e W o m b - S t o r e R e a l m a n d t h e V a j r a - R e a l m m a n d a l a s .
E v e r y t h i n g w a s i n d e s c r i b a b l y beau t i fu l .
T h e n I l o o k e d to t h e n o r t h a n d s a w a g r e a t c i tadel br i l l iant w i t h l ight .
I t w a s D a i j o Ten j in ' s c a s t l e . D a i j o Ten j in ' s c o u n t l e s s t r a in p o u r e d into i t
a n d s t o o d g u a r d .
" I a m t h e S u g a w a r a n o M i c h i z a n e w h o o n c e l ived i n y o u r l a n d , " Dai jo
Ten j in s a id t o m e . " T h e T h i r t y - T h r e e H e a v e n s k n o w m e a s N i p p o n Dai jo
I t o k u T e n , t h e Ce les t i a l S t a t e s m a n o f G r e a t M a j e s t y from J a p a n . T h e
p a i n of p a r t i n g f rom t h o s e o n e loves , w h e n I first e n c o u n t e r e d it, d id not
l e ave m e u n m o v e d ; a n d t h a t i s w h y I n o w b u r n t o t o r m e n t t he e m p e r o r
a n d h i s m i n i s t e r s , t o w o u n d t h e p e o p l e , a n d t o smi te t he r ea lm . I g o v e r n
all s i c k n e s s e s a n d all c a l ami t i e s .
" I first t h o u g h t to t u r n to th i s vengefu l p u r p o s e all t he t e a r s I shed
w h i l e I l ived, b e c a u s e t h e y w o u l d s u r e l y o v e r w h e l m t h e l and a n d leave i t
a faceless o c e a n . Af t e r t h i r t y - t w o y e a r s I e s t ab l i shed my o w n land a n d
bu i l t a cas t l e for myself . M e a n w h i l e g r e a t s a in t s w e r e s p r e a d i n g the
E s o t e r i c t e a c h i n g s , t e a c h i n g s w h i c h for me h a v e a l w a y s h a d a g rea t
a p p e a l , a n d so t h e r a g e I o n c e felt l a rge ly r e c e d e d . T h e n all t he en-
l i g h t e n e d E m a n a t i o n s a n d B o d h i s a t t v a s , i n t he i r g o o d n e s s a n d m e r c y ,
n a m e d e v e n me a g o d . S o m e o f t h e s e E m a n a t i o n s live on m o u n t a i n -
t o p s a n d i n fores t s , o t h e r s o n t h e b a n k s o f r ive r s o r o n t h e s h o r e o f
t h e sea , a n d all b e n t t h e i r s u p e r n a t u r a l w i s d o m t o c a l m i n g a n d c o m -
fo r t i ng m e . T h a t i s w h y I still h a v e no t v is i ted a n y d i r e c a t a s t r o p h e on
J a p a n . B u t m y fo l lowers , w h o n u m b e r 168,000 evil de i t ies , w o r k the i r
mischief e v e r y w h e r e . E v e n I c a n n o t r e s t r a i n t h e m , still less c o u l d a n y
o t h e r g o d . "
I said to h im, " E v e r y o n e in my c o u n t r y cal ls y o u Celes t ia l G o d o f F i r e
a n d T h u n d e r , a n d w e r e v e r e y o u a s w e d o t h e B u d d h a S h a k a himself .
W h y a r e y o u still s o a n g r y ? "
" I a m y o u r l a n d ' s i m p l a c a b l e e n e m y , " h e a n s w e r e d . " W h o i n J a p a n
h o n o r s m e ! T h e n a m e o f m y m e s s e n g e r i s V e n o m o u s K i n g o f t h e Celes t ia l
E s s e n c e s of F i r e a n d T h u n d e r . N e v e r , n e v e r will I forget , till I myse l f
r e a c h e n l i g h t e n m e n t , t h e w r o n g s d o n e me all t h o s e y e a r s a g o ! I shal l see
t h a t w h o e v e r he ld a pos t a t c o u r t w h i l e I l ived i s w o u n d e d a n d s t r u c k
d o w n . B u t t o d a y I a c k n o w l e d g e y o u m y m a s t e r a n d I m a k e y o u th i s
p r o m i s e . S h o u l d a n y o n e h a v e faith i n y o u , p a s s o n m y w o r d s , m a k e a n
i m a g e o f m e , call my n a m e a n d p r a y d e v o u t l y t o m e , t h e n , g o o d m o n k , I
will g r a n t h is d e s i r e for y o u r s a k e . B u t I see t h a t y o u a r e no t to live l ong .
R e d o u b l e y o u r e f for t s ! N e v e r r e l a x ! "
" Z a o G o n g e n g a v e me th i s t a b l e t , " I said, " b u t I d o n ' t q u i t e u n d e r s t a n d
it. W o u l d y o u tell m e w h a t i t m e a n s ? "
Da i jo Ten j in e x p l a i n e d , " S U N ( N I C H I ) m e a n s t h e C o s m i c B u d d h a
D a i N I C H I , G r e a t S U N . S T O R E ( Z O ) m e a n s t h e W o m b - S T O R E M a n -
da l a . N I N E N I N E m e a n s e i g h t y - o n e : e i g h t y - o n e Y E A R S a n d e i g h t y -
o n e M O N T H S . K I N G ( O ) m e a n s Z a O G o n g e n . G U A R D m e a n s
p r o t e c t i o n . A s l o n g a s y o u d e v o t e y o u r s e l f t o t he B u d d h a D a i n i c h i
a n d d o t h e g r e a t r i te o f t h e W o m b - S t o r e M a n d a l a , y o u will live e i g h t y -
o n e y e a r s . I f y o u p r a c t i c e t h e r i te t ru ly , a s t h e B u d d h a rea l ly t a u g h t it,
y o u r life will be f u r t h e r l e n g t h e n e d to n i n e t y - n i n e y e a r s , w h i l e lax i ty will
s h o r t e n i t b y n i n e t y - n i n e m o n t h s . A t a n y r a t e , Z a o G o n g e n will w a t c h
o v e r y o u . N o w a d o p t y o u r n e w n a m e , N i c h i z o , a n d p r a c t i c e w i t h t i re less
e n e r g y . "
W h e n h e h a d f in ished s p e a k i n g , I w e n t b a c k t o G o l d e n P e a k a n d to ld
Z a o G o n g e n w h a t I h a d seen a n d h e a r d .
Z a o G o n g e n rep l i ed , " I w a n t e d y o u t o k n o w the s o u r c e o f t h e evils
t h a t afflict t h e w o r l d . T h a t ' s w h y I s en t y o u t h e r e . "
T h e n h e w e n t o n t o r e p e a t t h a t N i p p o n Dai jo Ten j in i s S u g a w a r a n o
M i c h i z a n e , a n d t h a t Ten j in ' s fo l lowers n u m b e r 168 ,000 . H e d e s c r i b e d
t he i r m a n y n o x i o u s fo rms a n d t h e w a y t h e y d o h a r m e v e r y w h e r e i n t h e
r e a l m . " T h e o l d e r g o d s a r e p o w e r l e s s t o s t o p t h e m , " h e c o n t i n u e d . " I n
t h e s u m m e r o f 9 3 0 , y o u k n o w , l i g h t n i n g s t r u c k t h e e m p e r o r ' s o w n pa l ace
a n d ki l led L o r d M a r e y o a n d seve ra l o t h e r s ; a n d i t w a s th i s m e s s e n g e r ,
t h e V e n o m o u s K i n g o f F i r e a n d T h u n d e r , w h o d id it. H e r o a s t e d t h e
flesh a n d v i s c e r a o f o u r o w n E m p e r o r D a i g o s o t h a t t h e e m p e r o r d ied ,
a n d he set fire t o t e m p l e s l ike H o r y u j i , Toda i j i , a n d o t h e r s . Yes , t h a t t o o
w a s t he V e n o m o u s K i n g ' s w o r k . A n d all t h o s e c r i m e s t h e evil g o d s com-
1 4 8
mit , all t h a t m u r d e r a n d d e s t r u c t i o n , a r e c h a r g e d t o E m p e r o r D a i g o a lone
a s t h o u g h h e w e r e t h e sea all r i ve r s e m p t y in to .
" T h e p o w e r o f t h e K i n g o f F i r e a n d T h u n d e r i s equa l t o m y o w n , w i t h
all m y fo l lower s . S o m e t i m e s h e m a k e s m o u n t a i n s c r u m b l e a n d s h a k e s t he
e a r t h , o r d e s t r o y s fo r t r e s ses a n d w r e a k s h a v o c far a n d w i d e . S o m e t i m e s
h e m a k e s s t o r m w i n d s b l o w a n d s e n d s d o w n to r r en t i a l r a in s w h i c h c a u s e
d a m a g e a n d c a s u a l t i e s . S o m e t i m e s h e c r e a t e s e p i d e m i c s a n d d i seases
w h i c h kill p e o p l e be fo re t h e i r t ime , o r f o m e n t s t r e a s o n a n d rebe l l ion . B u t
t h e g o d H a c h i m a n a n d I k e e p h im in c h e c k , so t h a t a t least he can ' t do
e x a c t l y a s h e p l e a s e s . "
W h e n Z a o G o n g e n h a d f in ished, h e to ld m e h o w t o ge t b a c k aga in ,
a n d I r e t u r n e d to my c a v e . T h e n I r ev ived . I t w a s four in t he m o r n n g on
t h e t h i r t e e n t h d a y o f t h e e i g h t h m o o n o f 941. T h i r t e e n d a y s h a d p a s s e d
s ince I e n t e r e d t h e g a t e s of d e a t h .
I m u s t a d d , t oo , t h a t in t h e v is ion I h a d w h i l e I w a s w i t h i n t h o s e ga tes ,
Z a o G o n g e n s h o w e d me hel l . I c a m e t h e r e t o an i ron cave w i t h a s h a c k
w o v e n o f g r a s s e s i n s ide it. T h e four m e n in t h e s h a c k l o o k e d like a s h e s
a n d e m b e r s . O n e h a d o n a r o b e t h a t b a r e l y c o v e r e d his s h o u l d e r s a n d the
o t h e r t h r e e w e r e n a k e d . T h e y w e r e s q u a t t i n g o n g l o w i n g coa ls .
A hel l - f iend to ld m e t h a t t h e o n e w i t h t h e r o b e o n w a s E m p e r o r D a i g o ,
t h e s o v e r e i g n o f m y o w n l and , a n d t h a t t h e o t h e r s w e r e t h e e m p e r o r ' s
m i n i s t e r s . W h e n t h e e m p e r o r s a w me , h e b e c k o n e d t o m e .
" I a m E m p e r o r D a i g o o f J a p a n , " h e sa id . " I suffer i n th is i ron cave
b e c a u s e D a i j o Ten j in i n h i s w r a t h b u r n s t e m p l e s a n d h u r t s sen t i en t
b e i n g s , a n d b e c a u s e t h e r e t r i b u t i o n for all h is c r i m e s falls on m e ; for I
myse l f a m t h e s o u r c e o f his r a g e . Da i jo Tenj in , m e a n w h i l e , has f o r t una t e
k a r m a w h i c h h a s m a d e h im a g o d . Y e s , t h e r e a r e five ma jo r offenses my
f a the r a n d I c o m m i t t e d t o w a r d h i m , a n d c o u n t l e s s lesser o n e s . B u t a b o v e
all , I am t h e o n e w h o , by s e n d i n g h i m un jus t ly in to exi le , a r o u s e d the
w r a t h h e n o w vis i ts o n t h e w h o l e l a n d . T h a t i s w h y m y a g o n y i s end le s s .
O p a i n ! O t o r m e n t ! T a k e my w o r d s b a c k to J a p a n , tell t h e e m p e r o r
w h a t I a m suf fer ing , ge t h im t o h e l p m e ! H a v e t h e r e g e n t a n d the minis -
t e r s o r d e r p u r i f i c a t i o n s o n m y behalf, h a v e t h e m erec t ten t h o u s a n d ho ly
i m a g e s for m e ! "
T h a t i s t h e e n d o f t h e V e n e r a b l e N i c h i z o ' s a c c o u n t . M a n y o t h e r w o n d e r s
a r e a t t r i b u t e d t o h i m . F o r e x a m p l e , he o n c e d u g i n t he e a r t h a n d found a
v a j r a - h a n d l e d bell w h i c h he r e c o g n i z e d as o n e he h imsel f h a d o w n e d in a
p r e v i o u s life. A n d o n c e h e p r a y e d a t t h e s h r i n e o f t h e g o d o f M a t s u n o o
t o k n o w w h i c h B u d d h a t h e g o d c a m e f rom. T h e r e w a s a v io lent t h u n d e r -
s t o r m a n d d a r k n e s s fell. T h e n a vo ice from ins ide t h e s a n c t u a r y said,
" T h e B u d d h a B i b a s h i . " T h e a w e d N i c h i z o w e n t f o r w a r d a n d c a m e be fo re
an a n c i e n t m a n w h o h a d t h e face o f a ch i ld .
W h e n N i c h i z o d i ed h e left n o b o d y b e h i n d .
1 0 2 .
THE GOLD OF GOLDEN PEAK
A m a n w h o s e t r a d e w a s b e a t i n g go ld i n to foil l ived on S e v e n t h A v e n u e
i n K y o t o . O n e d a y h e set off o n p i l g r i m a g e t o G o l d e n P e a k : t he m o u n t a i n
w h e r e M i r o k u , t h e F u t u r e B u d d h a , i s sa id t o h a v e s t o r e d all t h e go ld
t h a t will m a k e t h e w o r l d s h i n e a g a i n w h e n h e c o m e s .
A t a p l ace on t h e m o u n t a i n ca l led O r e s l i d e , he s p o t t e d w h a t l o o k e d
l ike a n u g g e t a n d chee r fu l ly h id i t u n d e r his coa t . B a c k a t h o m e he me l t ed
i t d o w n , a n d s ince i t w a s rea l go ld i t g l i t t e r ed a n d g l e a m e d . He w a s
a m a z e d . A s far a s h e k n e w , t h e r e s h o u l d h a v e been t h u n d e r , o r a n
e a r t h q u a k e , o r a t least a c l o u d b u r s t w h e n he t ook the go ld , b u t n o t h i n g
h a d h a p p e n e d . " W e l l , " he t h o u g h t , "I ' l l u s e i t myself ."
T h e go ld w e i g h e d n e a r l y t w o p o u n d s , a n d the c r a f t s m a n bea t i t i n to
s e v e n o r e igh t t h o u s a n d s h e e t s o f foil. T h e y m a d e a t h i c k rol l . He w a s
l o o k i n g for a b u y e r to t a k e t h e w h o l e lot w h e n he h e a r d t h a t an officer o f
t h e I m p e r i a l Po l i ce w a s p l a n n i n g t o d o n a t e a n e w b u d d h a t o Toji , a n d
w o u l d p r o b a b l y w a n t a lot o f go ld foil for t h e s t a t u e . So off he w e n t w i t h
h i s g o l d t o t h e g e n t l e m a n ' s h o u s e .
T h e g e n t l e m a n w a n t e d t o k n o w h o w m u c h foil his v i s i tor h a d . " S e v e n
o r e igh t t h o u s a n d s h e e t s , " t h e c r a f t s m a n rep l i ed .
" A r e t h e y w i t h y o u ? "
" Y e s , s i r . "
T h e shee t s w e r e pe r fec t a n d t h e i r co lo r w a s beaut i fu l . B u t e a c h o n e ,
w h e n u n r o l l e d , t u r n e d o u t t o h a v e " G o l d e n P e a k " o n i t i n t i ny c h a r a c t e r s .
" W h a t d o e s th i s m a r k m e a n ? " t h e g e n t l e m a n a s k e d .
" T h e r e ' s n o m a r k o n t h e m , sir . H o w c o u l d t h e r e b e ? "
" B u t t h e r e UK L o o k h e r e ! "
I n d e e d t h e r e w a s . T h e c r a f t s m a n w a s s p e e c h l e s s .
" S o m e t h i n g ' s no t r i g h t , " sa id t h e g e n t l e m a n . H e h a d a n u n d e r l i n g
c a r r y t h e go ld w h i l e he m a r c h e d t h e c r a f t s m a n off t o t he chief o f pol ice .
T h e chief h a d t h e c r a f t s m a n t a k e n o u t t o t h e r i v e r b a n k a n d p u t t o t he
q u e s t i o n .
1 5 0
T h e y t ied h im to a p o s t a n d w h i p p e d h im till his b a c k w a s a s red a n d
w e t a s n e w l y w a s h e d r e d silk, t h e n t h r e w h im i n p r i s o n . I n t en d a y s h e
w a s d e a d . T h e go ld , t h e y say , w a s r e t u r n e d t o G o l d e n P e a k a n d p u t b a c k
w h e r e i t h a d c o m e f rom. No o n e e v e r t h o u g h t o f m a k i n g off w i t h i t aga in .
In t h e s p r i n g o f 9 3 0 , t h e m o n k J o s u w a s in his r o o m a t Toji, r e a d i n g a
s u t r a , w h e n a l a r g e t u r t l e c a m e in. J o s u t h o u g h t th i s odd , b u t w a s s o
a b s o r b e d t h a t h e h a r d l y g a v e t h e t u r t l e a s e c o n d g l a n c e . S u d d e n l y t h e r e
w a s a flash of l i g h t n i n g a n d a c l ap of t h u n d e r , a n d the tu r t l e rose up in to
t h e s k y .
T h e n e x t d a y t h e G o d o f F i r e a n d T h u n d e r a p p e a r e d t o J o s u . " I
w a n t e d t o t a lk t o y o u y e s t e r d a y , " h e sa id , " b u t y o u w o u l d n ' t even look
a t m e ! I w a s q u i t e a n n o y e d . "
"All I s a w y e s t e r d a y w a s a b ig t u r t l e , " a n s w e r e d J o s u . " I h a d no idea
t h e t u r t l e w a s a g o d . I a d m i t , t h o u g h , t h a t I w a s s u r p r i s e d w h e n i t rose
i n to t h e s k y . "
" I ' m su f fe r ing for m y evil a t t i t u d e i n t h e p a s t , " t h e g o d said . " N o w
look a t m y real f o r m ! "
H e s h o w e d h imse l f a s h e rea l ly w a s . T h e u p p e r p a r t o f his b o d y
p r e c i s e l y r e s e m b l e d t h e t h u n d e r g o d s y o u see i n p a i n t i n g s , b u t from the
w a i s t d o w n h e w a s a s a l m o n .
" B e l o w t h e w a i s t I a l w a y s feel a s t h o u g h I 'm b u r n i n g , " said t he g o d .
A n d he a d d e d , " I n t h e s ix th m o o n I t h i n k I'll go t o t he p a l a c e . " T h e n he
d i s a p p e a r e d .
L i g h t n i n g d i d s t r i ke t h e p a l a c e in t h e s ix th m o o n o f 930 a n d kil led
s e v e r a l g e n t l e m e n .
i o 4 -
THE CATCH
A p o o r m a n f rom K o g a c o u n t y in O m i p r o v i n c e h a d no l ive l ihood a t all,
b u t his wife m a n a g e d to m a k e a l iv ing by h i r i n g he rse l f ou t as a w e a v e r .
In t ime , h a v i n g finally m a n a g e d to w e a v e a bol t of c lo th for herself, s h e
to ld h e r h u s b a n d to t a k e i t t o Y a b a s e h a r b o r on L a k e B i w a a n d t r a d e i t
t h e r e for fish. In t h e i r o w n vi l lage he w o u l d be ab l e to e x c h a n g e t h e fish
for seed r ice . " T h a t w a y , " s h e sa id , " w e c a n cu l t iva te a little l and th i s
y e a r . "
T h e m a n t o o k t h e c lo th t o Y a b a s e a n d a s k e d t h e f i she rmen t o c a t c h
h im s o m e fish, b u t all t h e y go t w a s o n e b ig t u r t l e . T h e y w e r e g o i n g t o kill
it, b u t t h e m a n w a s s o r r y for i t a n d a s k e d to b u y i t i n s t ead o f t he fish he
h a d o r d e r e d . T h e f i s h e r m e n g l a d l y a c c e p t e d t he b a r g a i n .
" T u r t l e s live a l o n g t i m e , " sa id t h e m a n to t h e t u r t l e , " a n d l ike all l iv ing
t h i n g s , t h e y c e r t a i n l y v a l u e t h e i r l ives . I k n o w I 'm p o o r , b u t I 'm g i v i n g
u p th i s c lo th a n y w a y t o s a v e y o u . " T h e n h e let t he t u r t l e g o i n t h e l a k e .
H e c a m e h o m e e m p t y - h a n d e d , a n d w h e n his wife found ou t w h y , s h e
s c o l d e d h im merc i l e s s ly . S o o n he fell ill a n d d ied , a n d his b o d y w a s
a b a n d o n e d b y t h e r o a d s i d e . T h r e e d a y s la te r h e r ev ived .
T h e g o v e r n o r o f Iga h a p p e n e d t o b e p a s s i n g b y jus t t h e n , o n his w a y
to his p r o v i n c e . S e e i n g t h e m a n s h o w i n g s igns o f life, he k i n d l y b r o u g h t
h im w a t e r a n d p o u r e d i t i n to his m o u t h be fo re g o i n g o n . W h e n t h e m a n ' s
wife h e a r d w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d , s h e c a m e t o c a r r y h im b a c k h o m e .
T h i s i s t h e s t o r y he to ld . " W h e n I d i e d , " he sa id , "off icers se ized me
a n d m a r c h e d m e off t o a b r o a d p la in w h e r e w e c a m e t o t h e g a t e o f t h e
off icers ' h e a d q u a r t e r s . T h e s p a c e i n f ront o f t he b u i l d i n g w a s c r o w d e d
w i t h p e o p l e , b o u n d a n d he lp l e s s . I w a s t e r r ib ly f r i gh t ened . B u t t h e n a
v e r y n i c e - l o o k i n g little m o n k c a m e o u t . H e said h e w a s J i z o a n d to ld t h e
officers t h a t he o w e d me a d e b t of g r a t i t u d e . ' T o benefi t s en t i en t b e i n g s I
w a s in L a k e B i w a , ' he sa id , ' in t he fo rm of a l a rge t u r t l e . A f i she rman
w h o h a d c a u g h t m e w a s a b o u t t o kill m e w h e n th i s m a n t o o k p i ty o n m e .
H e b o u g h t m e a n d p u t m e b a c k i n t h e l ake . Y o u m u s t let h im g o . ' A n d
t h e y d i d .
" T h e little m o n k to ld m e t o g o h o m e n o w , a n d t o d o g o o d a n d s h u n all
evi l . W h i l e h e w a s s h o w i n g m e t h e w a y ou t , a v e r y p r e t t y y o u n g w o m a n
s t u m b l e d b y w i t h h e r a r m s t i ed b e h i n d h e r . T w o d e m o n s w e r e b e a t i n g
h e r a n d d r i v i n g h e r a l o n g . I a s k e d h e r w h e r e s h e w a s f rom. S h e w e p t a s
she to ld me h e r f a the r w a s t h e ch ie f p r i e s t o f a s h r i n e in M u n a k a t a c o u n t y
1 5 2
i n t h e p r o v i n c e o f C h i k u z e n . S h e h a d s u d d e n l y b e e n s e p a r a t e d from h e r
p a r e n t s a n d h a d s t a r t e d all a l o n e d o w n a d a r k p a t h , d r i v e n o n b y d e m o n s .
I t w a s s u c h a s a d s t o ry , a n d I a s k e d t h e little m o n k w h e t h e r s o m e t h i n g
c o u l d n ' t be d o n e for h e r . ' M y o w n life i s ha l f o v e r , ' I sa id . ' I d o n ' t h a v e
t o o m a n y y e a r s left. B u t th i s gir l i s still y o u n g a n d h a s a long fu ture a h e a d
o f h e r . C a n ' t s h e be r e l ea sed i n s t e a d o f m e ? ' T h e little m o n k told me I
w a s v e r y k i n d to sacr i f ice myse l f t h e w a y I d id for o t h e r s , a n d tha t i t w a s
a w o n d e r f u l t h i n g . He sa id he w o u l d a sk to h a v e us both r e leased , a n d a t
a w o r d from h i m t h e d e m o n s let t h e gir l go too . T h e girl c r ied for joy a n d
t h a n k e d m e g ra t e fu l ly , t h e n w e n t h e r w a y . "
S o o n t h e m a n w e n t t o look for t h e y o u n g w o m a n h e h a d me t i n hell .
H e f o u n d t h e s h r i n e s h e h a d m e n t i o n e d , a n d the chief pr ies t rea l ly d id
h a v e a d a u g h t e r w h o , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e s e r v a n t s , h a d r ecen t ly d ied a n d
t h e n c o m e b a c k t o life a g a i n . O n r e c e i v i n g t h e m a n ' s m e s s a g e a b o u t his
e x p e r i e n c e i n hel l , s h e c a m e o u t a s fast a s s h e cou ld . S h e w a s t h e s a m e
g i r l , a n d s h e r e c o g n i z e d h i m t o o . B o t h w e p t a s t h e y t a lked o v e r t he i r
e x p e r i e n c e .
T h e m a n w e n t b a c k h o m e t h e n , b u t b o t h h e a n d the y o u n g w o m a n
c o n t i n u e d t o s e r v e J i z o w i t h g ra te fu l d e v o t i o n .
l o 5 .
THE GRATEFUL TURTLE
F u j i w a r a n o Y a m a k a g e , w h o l ived i n E m p e r o r D a i g o ' s re ign , loved bes t
a m o n g all h is c h i l d r e n a beau t i fu l lit t le s o n . T h e b o y ' s s t e p m o t h e r s e e m e d
t o love h i m e v e n m o r e t h a n h i s f a the r d id , a n d th i s p l eased Y a m a k a g e s o
m u c h t h a t h e of ten let h e r t a k e c a r e o f t h e ch i ld .
In t i m e Y a m a k a g e w a s n a m e d v i c e r o y of K y u s h u , a n d he set sail in a
l i t t le c o n v o y of s h i p s , w i t h all h is family, to t a k e up the pos t . I t d id no t
w o r r y h i m t h a t h e a n d t h e b o y w e r e t r a v e l i n g i n di f ferent sh ips s ince t he
b o y w a s w i t h h i s s t e p m o t h e r . Ac tua l ly , t h o u g h , t h e s t e p m o t h e r h a d b e e n
w o n d e r i n g all a l o n g h o w t o ge t r id o f t h e ch i ld . A l o n g the K y u s h u coas t
s h e f inally p i c k e d h i m u p , he ld h im o v e r t h e g u n w a l e a s t h o u g h t o let h im
re l i eve himself , a n d t h e n , p r e t e n d i n g t o ad jus t h e r hold , d r o p p e d h im in to
t h e sea . T h e c o n v o y w a s m o v i n g b r i sk ly u n d e r full sail a n d h a d g o n e
s o m e w a y b e f o r e s h e c r i e d o u t t h a t t h e y o u n g m a s t e r h a d fallen ove r -
b o a r d .
Y a m a k a g e n e a r l y j u m p e d o v e r b o a r d h imse l l . He sen t m e n i n a d i n g h y
t o look for his son , t h e n s t o p p e d t h e c o n v o y a n d s w o r e h e w o u l d g o n o
f a r t h e r till h e k n e w w h e t h e r h e w a s t o h a v e t h e b o y b a c k , d e a d o r a l ive .
T h e m e n r o w e d a b o u t all n igh t i n v a i n . T h e n a t d a w n , a s l ight w a s
b e g i n n i n g t o s p r e a d o v e r t h e sea, t h e y s a w s o m e t h i n g smal l a n d w h i t e
b o b b i n g far oft on t h e w a v e s . I t l o o k e d l ike a gul l , a n d t h e y w e r e su r -
p r i s e d t h a t i t d id no t f l y a w a y a s t h e y r o w e d c loser . T h e y found i t w a s
t he boy , r i d ing t h e b a c k o f a h u g e t u r t l e a n d mer r i l y s p l a s h i n g a t t h e
w a v e s w i t h his h a n d s . W i t h s ighs o f rel ief t h e y lifted h im in to t h e d i n g h y ,
a n d t h e t o r t o i s e slid in to t h e d e e p .
" H e r e ' s t h e y o u n g m a s t e r , s i r ! " t h e y c r i ed i n t r i u m p h w h e n t h e y go t
b a c k t o Y a m a k a g e ' s s h i p a n d h a n d e d t h e b o y b a c k t o his fa ther . Y a m a -
k a g e w e p t for joy . T h e s t e p m o t h e r w e p t too , i n d i s m a y , t h o u g h s h e p u t
on t h e bes t s h o w o f h a p p i n e s s s h e c o u l d . S h e d i sgu i sed h e r feel ings so
wel l t h a t i t n e v e r e v e n o c c u r r e d t o Y a m a k a g e t o s u s p e c t he r .
E x h a u s t e d , Y a m a k a g e lay d o w n i n b r o a d d a y w h i l e t he c o n v o y sai led
on , a n d d r e a m e d t h a t a h u g e t u r t l e lifted its h e a d from t h e sea . I t s e e m e d
to w a n t t o s p e a k to h i m . W h e n he r e a c h e d t h e s ide o f t h e sh ip , i t sa id ,
" H a v e y o u f o r g o t t e n ? A y e a r o r t w o a g o a c o r m o r a n t f i she rman c a u g h t
m e o n t h e coas t no t far f rom t h e Cap i t a l , a n d y o u b o u g h t m e from h im
a n d let m e g o a g a i n . I 'd b e e n w o n d e r i n g eve r s ince h o w t o r e p a y y o u r
k i n d n e s s , a n d w h e n y o u sa i led I t h o u g h t I migh t a t least see y o u to w h e r e
y o u w e r e g o i n g . Las t n i g h t I s a w t h e y o u n g m a s t e r ' s s t e p m o t h e r p i ck h im
u p , ho ld h im o v e r t h e ra i l ing , a n d d r o p h im in to t he sea . I c a u g h t h im on
m y she l l . W a t c h t h a t w o m a n carefu l ly i n t h e f u t u r e ! "
T h e t u r t l e d r e w its h e a d b a c k in to t h e w a t e r a n d d i s a p p e a r e d , a n d
Y a m a k a g e w o k e u p . H e r e m e m b e r e d h o w h e h a d g o n e o n p i l g r image t o
t h e g r e a t s h r i n e a t S u m i y o s h i a n d h a d seen a c o r m o r a n t f i she rman c o m -
ing t o w a r d h im in a b o a t . T h e h e a d of a l a rge t u r t l e h a d b e e n s t i ck ing up
o v e r t h e g u n w a l e a n d t h e t u r t l e ' s e y e s h a d m e t h is . H e h a d p i t i ed t h e
c r e a t u r e so m u c h t h a t he h a d t r a d e d his o w n c loak lor i t a n d let i t go in
t h e sea . T h i s w a s t h e s a m e t u r t l e ! H e w a s v e r y t o u c h e d . T h e n h e r eca l l ed
w i t h l o a t h i n g h o w t h e s t e p m o t h e r h a d m a d e s u c h a spec t ac l e o f h e r grief.
H e has t i ly b r o u g h t t h e litt le b o y a b o a r d his o w n s h i p a n d w a s careful
even af ter h e a r r i v e d t o k e e p t h e s t e p m o t h e r a w a y from h im. T h e s t e p -
m o t h e r rea l i zed t o h e r s o r r o w t h a t h e h a d u n d e r s t o o d .
W h e n Y a m a k a g e r e t u r n e d t o K y o t o , h e m a d e t h e b o y in to a m o n k a n d
g a v e h im t h e re l ig ious n a m e N y o m u , " A s N o t h i n g , " b e c a u s e h a v i n g al-
r e a d y d i e d o n c e , a s i t w e r e , t h a t w a s w h a t t he b o y w a s . N y o m u s e r v e d
R e t i r e d E m p e r o r U d a a n d a c h i e v e d a h igh eccles ias t ica l r a n k . H e e n d e d
u p l o o k i n g af ter his s t e p m o t h e r , w h o h a d n o son o f h e r o w n , for t h e res t
o f h e r life. H o w e m b a r r a s s e d s h e m u s t h a v e b e e n !
1 5 A
1 O 6 .
URASHIMA THE FISHERMAN
Y o u n g U r a s h i m a l ived in T a n g o p r o v i n c e , i n t h e vi l lage o f T s u t s u g a w a .
O n e d a y i n t h e fall o f 4 7 7 (it w a s E m p e r o r Y u r y a k u ' s r e ign ) , h e r o w e d
o u t a l o n e on t h e sea t o f i sh . Af te r c a t c h i n g n o t h i n g for t h r e e d a y s a n d
n i g h t s , he w a s s u r p r i s e d t o f i nd t h a t he h a d t a k e n a f i ve - co lo red t u r t l e .
H e g o t t h e t u r t l e i n to t h e b o a t a n d lay d o w n t o s l eep .
W h e n t h e t u r t l e c h a n g e d in to a dazz l i ng ly lovely gir l , t he mystif ied
U r a s h i m a a s k e d h e r w h o s h e w a s .
" I s a w y o u h e r e , a l o n e a t s e a , " s h e a n s w e r e d w i t h a smile , " a n d I
w a n t e d s o m u c h t o t a lk t o y o u ! I c a m e o n the c l o u d s a n d the w i n d . "
" B u t w h e r e d i d y o u c o m e from, t h e n , o n t h e c l o u d s a n d w i n d ? "
" I ' m an I m m o r t a l a n d I live i n t h e sky . D o n ' t d o u b t m e ! O h , be k ind
a n d s p e a k t o m e t e n d e r l y ! "
U r a s h i m a u n d e r s t o o d s h e w a s d iv ine , a n d all his t ea r o f h e r mel ted
a w a y .
"I ' l l love y o u a s l o n g a s t h e s k y a n d e a r t h l a s t , " s h e p r o m i s e d h im, " a s
l o n g as t h e r e ' s a s u n a n d a m o o n ! B u t tell m e , will y o u h a v e m e ? "
" Y o u r w i s h i s m i n e , " h e a n s w e r e d . " H o w c o u l d I not love y o u ? "
" T h e n lean o n y o u r o a r s , m y d a r l i n g , a n d t a k e u s t o m y E t e r n a l
M o u n t a i n ! "
S h e to ld h i m to c lose his e y e s . In no t ime t h e y r e a c h e d a la rge is land
w i t h e a r t h l ike j a d e . W a t c h t o w e r s o n i t s h o n e d a r k l y , a n d pa l aces
g l e a m e d l ike g e m s . I t w a s a w o n d e r no eye h a d seen a n d no e a r h a d eve r
h e a r d tell o f b e f o r e .
T h e y l a n d e d a n d s t ro l l ed on h a n d in h a n d to a sp l end id m a n s i o n ,
w h e r e s h e a s k e d h i m t o w a i t ; t h e n she o p e n e d t h e ga t e a n d w e n t in.
S e v e n y o u n g g i r l s s o o n c a m e ou t o f t h e ga t e , te l l ing each o t h e r a s t h e y
p a s s e d h im t h a t h e w a s T u r t l e ' s h u s b a n d ; a n d e ight gi r ls w h o c a m e af ter
t h e m t o l d e a c h o t h e r t h e s a m e . T h a t w a s h o w h e l e a r n e d h e r n a m e .
H e m e n t i o n e d t h e g i r l s w h e n s h e c a m e b a c k ou t . S h e sa id t h e seven
w e r e t h e s e v e n s t a r s o f t h e P l e i ades , a n d t h e e ight t he c lus t e r o f Alde -
b a r a n . T h e n s h e led h i m in s ide .
H e r f a the r a n d m o t h e r g r e e t e d h im w a r m l y a n d inv i ted h im t o sit
d o w n . T h e y e x p l a i n e d t h e d i f fe rence b e t w e e n the h u m a n a n d t h e d iv ine
w o r l d s , a n d t h e y let h im k n o w h o w g l a d th is r a r e m e e t i n g b e t w e e n the
g o d s a n d a m a n h a d m a d e t h e m . He t a s t e d a h u n d r e d f r ag ran t de l icac ies
a n d e x c h a n g e d c u p s o f w i n e w i t h t h e g i r l ' s b r o t h e r s a n d s i s te rs . Y o u n g
gir l s w i t h g l o w i n g faces f locked t o t h e h a p p y g a t h e r i n g , w h i l e t h e g o d s
s a n g t h e i r s o n g s s w e e t l y a n d c l ea r ly a n d d a n c e d w i t h fluid g r a c e . T h e
feast w a s a t h o u s a n d t i m e s m o r e beau t i fu l t h a n a n y eve r en joyed by
m o r t a l s in the i r far-off l a n d .
U r a s h i m a n e v e r n o t i c e d t h e s u n g o i n g d o w n , b u t a s twi l igh t c a m e o n
t h e I m m o r t a l s all s l i p p e d a w a y . H e a n d t h e m a i d e n , n o w a lone , lay d o w n
i n e a c h o t h e r ' s a r m s a n d m a d e love . T h e y w e r e m a n a n d wife a t last .
F o r t h r e e y e a r s he forgot his o ld life a n d l ived in p a r a d i s e w i t h t h e
I m m o r t a l s . T h e n o n e d a y he felt a p a n g o f l o n g i n g for t h e vi l lage w h e r e
h e h a d b e e n b o r n a n d t h e p a r e n t s h e h a d left b e h i n d . Af te r t ha t , h e
mi s sed t h e m m o r e e a c h d a y .
" D a r l i n g , " sa id his wife , " y o u h a v e n ' t l o o k e d y o u r s e l f la te ly. W o n ' t
y o u tell m e w h a t ' s w r o n g ? "
" T h e y s a y t h e d y i n g fox t u r n s t o w a r d his lair a n d t h e lesser m a n longs
to go h o m e . I 'd n e v e r be l i eved it, b u t n o w I k n o w it 's t r u e . "
" D o y o u w a n t t o g o b a c k ? "
" H e r e I am in t h e l a n d of t h e g o d s , far f rom all my family a n d f r i ends .
I s h o u l d n ' t feel t h i s w a y , I k n o w , b u t I c an ' t h e l p b e i n g h o m e s i c k for
t h e m . I w a n t s o m u c h t o g o b a c k a n d see m y m o t h e r a n d f a t h e r ! "
H i s wife b r u s h e d a w a y h e r t e a r s . " W e g a v e ou r se lve s t o each o t h e r
f o r e v e r ! " s h e l a m e n t e d . " W e p r o m i s e d w e ' d b e a s t r u e a s go ld o r t h e
r o c k s o f t h e m o u n t a i n s ! H o w c o u l d a litt le h o m e s i c k n e s s m a k e y o u w a n t
t o l eave m e ? "
T h e y w e n t for a w a l k h a n d in h a n d , s ad ly t a l k ing i t all ove r . F ina l ly
t h e y e m b r a c e d , a n d w h e n t h e y s e p a r a t e d t he i r p a r t i n g w a s sea led .
U r a s h i m a ' s p a r e n t s - i n - l a w w e r e s ad t o see h im g o . H i s wife g a v e h im
a j e w e l e d b o x . " D e a r e s t , " s h e sa id , "if y o u d o n ' t forget me a n d find y o u
w a n t t o c o m e b a c k , t h e n g r i p th i s b o x h a r d . B u t y o u m u s t n ' t o p e n it,
e v e r . "
He go t i n to his b o a t a n d t h e y to ld h im to c lose his eyes . I n no t ime he
w a s a t T s u t s u g a w a , his h o m e . T h e p l ace l o o k e d en t i re ly d i f ferent . H e
r e c o g n i z e d n o t h i n g t h e r e a t all .
" W h e r e ' s U r a s h i m a ' s family — U r a s h i m a t h e f i s h e r m a n ? " he a s k e d a
v i l lager .
" W h o a r e y o u ? " t h e v i l l age r a n s w e r e d . " W h e r e a r e y o u f rom? W h y
a r e y o u l o o k i n g for a m a n w h o l ived l o n g a g o ? Y e s , I 've h e a r d old p e o p l e
m e n t i o n s o m e o n e n a m e d U r a s h i m a . H e w e n t o u t a l o n e o n t h e sea a n d
n e v e r c a m e b a c k . T h a t w a s t h r e e h u n d r e d y e a r s a g o . W h a t d o y o u w a n t
w i t h h im n o w ? "
B e w i l d e r e d , U r a s h i m a r o a m e d t h e vi l lage for t en d a y s w i t h o u t f inding
a n y s ign o f family o r o ld f r i ends . A t last he s t r o k e d t h e b o x his d iv ine
1 5 6
l a d y h a d g i v e n h im a n d t h o u g h t o f h e r ; t h e n , fo rge t t ing his r ecen t p r o m -
ise, he o p e n e d it. Before his e y e s h e r f r ag ran t form, b o r n e by the c louds
a n d t h e w i n d , f l o a t e d u p a n d v a n i s h e d in to t h e b lue sky . H e u n d e r s t o o d
h e h a d d i s o b e y e d h e r a n d w o u l d n e v e r see h e r a g a i n . All h e cou ld d o w a s
g a z e a f te r he r , t h e n p a c e w e e p i n g a l o n g t h e s h o r e .
W h e n h e d r i e d his t e a r s , h e s a n g a b o u t h e r far, c l oud -g i rd l ed rea lm.
T h e c l o u d s , h e s a n g , w o u l d b r i n g h e r t h e m e s s a g e o f his love. H e r swee t
vo i ce a n s w e r e d h i m , a c r o s s t h e v a s t n e s s o f t h e sky, e n t r e a t i n g him neve r
to forge t h e r . T h e n a last s o n g b u r s t from h im as he s t r u g g l e d w i t h his
loss : " M y love , w h e n a f te r a n igh t o f long ing , d a y d a w n s a n d I s t a n d a t
my o p e n d o o r , I h e a r far-off w a v e s b r e a k i n g on the s h o re s o f y o u r
p a r a d i s e ! "
I f o n l y he h a d n ' t o p e n e d t h a t j e w e l e d b o x , p e o p l e h a v e said s ince , he
c o u l d h a v e b e e n w i t h h e r a g a i n . B u t t h e c l o u d s hid he r p a r a d i s e from
h im a n d left h im n o t h i n g b u t h is grief.
1 0 7 .
THE GRATEFUL CRAB
A gir l in Y a m a s h i r o p r o v i n c e h a d s e r v e d K a n n o n faithfully eve r s ince she
w a s a ch i ld , d e v o u t l y fas t ing on K a n n o n ' s spec ia l d a y ( t h e e i g h t e e n t h o f
e a c h m o o n ) a n d c h a n t i n g t he K a n n o n S u t r a . S h e w a s s o sweet and k ind
t h a t w h e n s h e s a w a m a n a b o u t to kill a c r a b she t ook p i ty on t h e
c r e a t u r e , b o u g h t it, a n d let i t g o .
M e a n w h i l e h e r f a the r w e n t o u t t o w o r k his field a n d found a s n a k e
b e g i n n i n g to s w a l l o w a frog. He d id his bes t to get t h e frog a w a y from
t h e s n a k e b u t w a s d i s a p p o i n t e d to find t h a t he co u l d no t ge t i t ou t o f t h e
s n a k e ' s m o u t h . " L e t t h a t frog g o ! " h e c o m m a n d e d . "I ' l l g ive y o u m y
d a u g h t e r i f y o u d o ! "
T h e s n a k e l o o k e d h im i n t h e eye , t h e n d i s g o r g e d the frog, w h i c h
h o p p e d a w a y in to t h e b u s h e s . T h e f a r m e r w i s h e d h e h a d k e p t his m o u t h
s h u t , b e c a u s e t h e s n a k e s e e m e d t o h a v e t a k e n him a t his w o r d , bu t i t w a s
t o o l a t e .
T h a t n i g h t a g e n t l e m a n c a m e t o t h e d o o r . " I ' m h e r e ' for w h a t y o u
p r o m i s e d m e th i s m o r n i n g , " h e sa id . T h e horr i f ied f a r m e r h a r d l y k n e w
w h a t t o say , b u t he m a n a g e d to a s k t h e m a n to c o m e b a c k in a l ew d a y s .
T h e m a n a g r e e d a n d w e n t a w a y . W h e n t h e n t h e f a r m e r to ld his d a u g h t e r ,
s h e w a s s o f r i g h t e n e d t h a t s h e hid a t t h e b o t t o m o f h e r b e d a n d re fused
t o c o m e o u t .
A few d a y s la te r t h e s n a k e w a s b a c k , th i s t ime as a s n a k e a n d no t as a
m a n . I t k n e w pe r fec t ly wel l w h e r e t h e girl w a s , a n d i t s l i t he red t o h e r
r o o m a n d b e a t o n t h e d o o r w i t h its ta i l . T h e p o o r gir l d e s p e r a t e l y c h a n t e d
t he K a n n o n S u t r a till a lit t le K a n n o n a foot tall a p p e a r e d to h e r a n d to ld
h e r no t t o be a f ra id .
I n t h e m i d d l e o f t h e n igh t h u n d r e d s o f c r a b s i n v a d e d t h e h o u s e , w e n t
for t h e s n a k e , a n d t o r e i t t o p i eces w i t h t h e i r c l a w s . T h e n t h e y v a n i s h e d .
K a n n o n s p r o t e c t i o n h a d a l l o w e d t h e c r a b t h e girl h a d s a v e d t o e x p r e s s
its g r a t i t u d e .
In O w a r i p r o v i n c e a gir l o f e l even o r t w e l v e w a s o u t g a t h e r i n g g r e e n s in
t h e fields w h e n a f a r m e r w o r k i n g n e a r b y n o t i c e d h e r flat on t h e g r o u n d .
H e t h o u g h t h e h a d b e t t e r i nves t i ga t e . A five-foot s n a k e w a s a b o u t t o
w r a p itself a r o u n d h e r . T h e f a r m e r r a n for his h o e to bea t i t off w i th , b u t
D E S I R E
1 0 8 .
YOUNG LUST
I 5 8
t h e s n a k e , n o w v e r y c lose t o t h e g i r l ' s h e a d , s u d d e n l y f l i n c h e d , s l i the red
a w a y , a n d v a n i s h e d . W h e n t h e f a r m e r got b a c k , t he girl w a s u n c o n s c i o u s .
H e k e p t ca l l ing h e r till s h e c a m e t o a n d h e cou ld a sk w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d .
" S u c h a w o n d e r f u l , h a n d s o m e b o y w a s jus t h e r e ! " she sa id . " H e told
me to lie d o w n a n d I d id . I 'd h a v e d o n e a n y t h i n g he a s k e d ! Bu t t h e n for
s o m e r e a s o n h e g o t f r i g h t e n e d a n d r a n a w a y . "
T h e f a r m e r w a n t e d t o k n o w w h e t h e r s h e h a d a n a m u l e t o n her . S h e
sa id n o , b u t he s e a r c h e d h e r all t h e s a m e . In t h e e n d he found she h a d
t i ed up h e r h a i r w i t h a bi t o f p a p e r t h a t h a d t h e S o n s h o D a r a n i on it.
T h i s i s s u p p o s e d to h a v e h a p p e n e d in t h e 1260s o r ear ly 1270s.
1 0 9 .
THE PRETTY GIRL
A y o u n g m o n k s e r v e d a v e r y d i s t i n g u i s h e d m a s t e r . O n e d a y h e w e n t wi th
his m a s t e r t o M i i d e r a , t h e g r e a t t e m p l e n e a r L a k e B iwa . I t w a s a s u m m e r
a f t e r n o o n . He soon felt s l eepy , a n d in t h e s p a c i o u s r e s idence his m a s t e r
w a s v i s i t i ng he h a d no t r o u b l e f ind ing a qu ie t spo t for a n a p .
H e d r e a m e d t h a t a beau t i fu l gir l c a m e a n d m a d e the most wonde r fu l
love t o h i m . W h e n he w o k e u p , he d i s c o v e r e d a f ive-foot- long s n a k e nex t
to h im, a n d w a s on his feet i n fr ight be fo re he rea l ized t he s n a k e w a s
d e a d . I ts m o u t h w a s o p e n . N e x t , h e s a w h e w a s w e t i n front w h e r e h e
h a d e j a c u l a t e d . T h e beau t i fu l gir l w h o h a d m a d e love t o him mus t have
b e e n t h e s n a k e . H o r r i f i e d , h e p e e r e d in to t h e s n a k e ' s m o u t h a n d s a w
t r a c e s o f t h e s e m e n w h i c h t h e s n a k e h a d a p p a r e n t l y spit ou t .
H e m u s t h a v e h a d a n e r e c t i o n w h i l e h e s lept , a n d the s n a k e h a d seen
i t a n d t a k e n his p e n i s i n its m o u t h . T h a t w a s w h e n h e had h a d the d r e a m
a b o u t t h e g i r l . H i s e j acu la t ion h a d b e e n too m u c h for t he s n a k e a n d i t
h a d d i e d . W h a t a w e i r d a n d awfu l t h i n g t o h a v e h a p p e n ! H e w e n t r ight
a w a y t o w a s h his p e n i s t h o r o u g h l y , i n s ec re t .
H e w a n t e d t o conf ide i n s o m e o n e , b u t kep t qu ie t b e c a u s e h e k n e w tha t
i f he d id he w o u l d e n d up b e i n g k n o w n as " t h e m o n k w h o d id i t w i t h a
s n a k e . " Stil l , h e w a s d i s t u r b e d e n o u g h b y the inc iden t t o ta lk a b o u t i t t o
a m o n k w h o w a s a c lose f r iend o f h is . H i s fr iend w a s v e r y s y m p a t h e t i c .
C l e a r l y y o u s h o u l d n ' t fall a s l e e p w h e r e t h e r e ' s n o o n e else a r o u n d . It 's
t r u e , t h o u g h , t h a t n o t h i n g specia l h a p p e n e d t o t he m o n k a f t e r w a r d s .
T h e y say a c r e a t u r e wil l d ie i f i t s w a l l o w s a m a n ' s s e m e n , a n d a p p a r e n t l y
it 's t r u e . T h e m o n k w a s no t q u i t e himself, e i the r , for s o m e t ime .
T h e s t o r y w a s p a s s e d o n b y t h e f r iend the m o n k t a l k e d to .
1 1 o .
MESMERIZED
O n e s u m m e r d a y a y o u n g w o m a n w a l k i n g w e s t a l o n g K o n o e A v e n u e i n
K y o t o , on t h e s o u t h s ide o f t h e s t r ee t , a p p a r e n t l y felt a s u d d e n u r g e to
re l ieve herself, for s h e s q u a t t e d a g a i n s t t h e e a r t h e n wal l s h e w a s p a s s i n g
a n d d id jus t t h a t . H e r litt le gir l a t t e n d a n t p a u s e d d i sc ree t ly t o wa i t .
I t w a s fairly ea r ly in t h e m o r n i n g . T h e little girl k n e w h e r m i s t r e s s
m u s t h a v e f in ished, b u t t i m e k e p t p a s s i n g a n d t h e y o u n g w o m a n n e v e r
m o v e d . A n h o u r w e n t b y . T h e gir l ca l led t o h e r mi s t r e s s i n va in . A n o t h e r
h o u r . T h e s u n w a s c l i m b i n g t o w a r d n o o n . N o t h i n g the little gir l c o u l d
say go t a n y r e p l y . F i n a l l y s h e b u r s t i n to t e a r s .
A m a n r i d i n g by w i t h a l a rge c o m p a n y of fo l lowers s a w t h e little gir l
c r y i n g a n d s e n t s o m e o n e t o a s k h e r w h a t w a s t h e m a t t e r . T h e girl to ld
h i m , p o i n t i n g t o h e r m i s t r e s s w h o w a s still t h e r e w i t h h e r sk i r t s t u c k e d
u p , s q u a t t i n g a g a i n s t t h e wa l l .
" H o w l o n g h a v e y o u b e e n h e r e ? " a s k e d t h e r i d e r himself.
" S i n c e ea r ly m o r n i n g , s i r , " t he gir l s o b b e d . " S h e ' s b e e n l ike t h a t for
h o u r s . "
I t c e r t a i n l y w a s s t r a n g e . T h e r i d e r d i s m o u n t e d a n d e x a m i n e d t h e
y o u n g w o m a n ' s face. S h e w a s a s pa le a s d e a t h .
" W h a t i s i t ? " h e a s k e d h e r . " A r e y o u s ick? H a s th i s e v e r h a p p e n e d t o
y o u b e f o r e ? "
T h e w o m a n sa id n o t h i n g , b u t t h e girl a s s u r e d h i m t h a t t h i s w a s t h e
first t i m e .
T h e r i d e r c o u l d see t h e w o m a n w a s no t o f t h e c o m m o n e s t c lass , w h i c h
m a d e h im feel all t h e m o r e s o r r y for h e r . He t r i ed lifting h e r t o h e r feet,
b u t s h e w a s r ig id .
H a p p e n i n g to g l a n c e o v e r a t t h e wal l , t h e r i d e r no t i ced jus t ins ide a
hole t h e h e a d o f a l a rge s n a k e w h i c h w a s s t a r i n g s t r a i g h t a t t h e w o m a n .
I t m u s t h a v e seen h e r r e l i ev ing herself, felt lus t for he r , a n d m e s m e r i z e d
h e r . T h a t w a s w h y s h e w a s s t u c k .
1 6 0
H a v i n g g r a s p e d th i s , t h e r i d e r d r e w his s w o r d a n d p l a n t e d i t before
t h e ho l e w i t h t h e c u t t i n g e d g e t o w a r d t h e s n a k e . T h e n h e h a d his m e n
p i c k t h e w o m a n u p b o d i l y a n d c a r r y h e r a w a y . S u d d e n l y t he s n a k e
h u r l e d i tself l ike a s p e a r f rom t h e hole , cu t a foot of its l eng th in t w o on
t h e s w o r d , a n d d i e d . W h a t s t r a n g e a n d f r igh ten ing c r e a t u r e s s n a k e s a r e !
T h e m a n r e m o u n t e d h i s h o r s e w h i l e a fo l lower r e t r i eved his s w o r d .
Still w o r r i e d a b o u t t h e w o m a n , he a s s i g n e d s o m e o f his m e n to s t ay w i t h
h e r . In a l i t t le w h i l e s h e b e g a n to be ab l e to w a l k aga in , w i th s o m e o n e
s u p p o r t i n g he r , j u s t l ike a p e r s o n w h o h a s b e e n v e r y ill.
i l l .
RED HEAT
A p a i r o f m o n k s , o n e o ld a n d o n e y o u n g a n d h a n d s o m e , w e r e o n the i r
w a y t o K u m a n o . O n r e a c h i n g M u r o c o u n t y , no t far from the i r goa l , t h e y
f o u n d l o d g i n g w i t h a y o u n g w i d o w w h o l ived all a lone , a s ide from the
c o m p a n y of a few m a i d s .
T h e w i d o w n o t e d t h e y o u n g e r m o n k ' s g o o d looks , a n d des i r e m a d e h e r
t r e a t h im we l l . Af te r d a r k t h e t w o m o n k s r e t i r ed , b u t i n t he m i d d l e o f the
n i g h t s h e s to le t o t h e y o u n g e r o n e ' s b e d a n d lay d o w n bes ide h im. W h e n
h e w o k e u p i n a l a r m , s h e d id h e r bes t t o ca lm h im . " I d o n ' t n o r m a l l y
h a v e p e o p l e to s t a y , " s h e sa id , " b u t I k n e w I w a n t e d y o u as soon as I
s a w y o u t o d a y . T h a t ' s w h y I a s k e d y o u i n a n d t h a t ' s w h y I 'm h e r e . I 'm a
w i d o w , y o u see . P l e a s e b e n ice t o m e ! "
T h e m o n k j u m p e d u p , p r o t e s t i n g t h a t h e h a d v o w e d long a g o t o r ema in
c h a s t e , a n d h e r e m i n d e d h e r t h a t h e h a d c o m e a l ong w a y t o m a k e th is
p i l g r i m a g e . " I f I s u d d e n l y b r e a k my v o w , we ' l l b o t h suffer for i t ! " he
c r i e d . " S t o p ! P l e a s e forge t y o u r d e s i r e s ! "
H i s refusal o n l y s t u n g h e r t o a n g e r . All n igh t she t w i n e d herse l f r o u n d
h i m , t h o u g h h e m a n a g e d b o t h t o h u m o r h e r a n d t o p u t h e r off. " I t ' s no t
t h a t I r ea l ly w a n t to re fuse y o u , " he e x p l a i n e d . " A s soon as I 've spen t a
few d a y s a t K u m a n o I'll b e b a c k , a n d t h e n I'll d o w h a t e v e r y o u w a n t ,
be l i eve m e ! " F i n a l l y s h e a c c e p t e d his p r o m i s e a n d w e n t a w a y . A t d a w n
t h e m o n k a n d h i s c o m p a n i o n se t off.
T h e l o v e - s t r u c k w i d o w c o u n t e d t h e d a y s a n d p r e p a r e d t o rece ive t h e
h a n d s o m e m o n k o n his r e t u r n , b u t h e w a s f r igh tened a n d t ook c a r e t o g o
b a c k a n o t h e r w a y . S h e go t w o r r i e d w h e n h e failed t o c o m e a n d b e g a n
q u e s t i o n i n g t h e p e o p l e p a s s i n g o u t s i d e o n t h e r o a d . O n e p i lg r im sa id y e s ,
a p a i r o f m o n k s l ike t h a t , o n e old a n d o n e y o u n g , h a d left K u m a n o severa l
d a y s be fo re . T h e w i d o w p a n i c k e d w h e n i t d a w n e d o n h e r t h a t t h e y h a d
a v o i d e d h e r h o u s e a l t o g e t h e r . S h e r u s h e d h o m e i n a r a g e , s h u t he r se l f u p
i n s i lence i n h e r r o o m , a n d q u i c k l y d i ed . E v e n a s h e r m a i d s w e r e m o u r n -
ing he r , a foul s n a k e , i m m e n s e l y long , s u d d e n l y i s sued from h e r r o o m ,
left t h e h o u s e , a n d s l i t h e r e d d o w n the r o a d a w a y f rom K u m a n o . T h e
t r a v e l e r s i t p a s s e d w e r e te r r i f ied .
U p a h e a d , t h e t w o m o n k s h e a r d t h a t a h u g e s n a k e w a s r a c i n g t h e i r
w a y o v e r hill a n d d a l e a n d c a t c h i n g u p w i t h t h e m fast. T h e y k n e w r igh t
a w a y w h o t h e s n a k e rea l ly w a s , a n d t h e y fled for t he i r l ives t o seek re fuge
a t Dojoj i . H a v i n g h e a r d t h e i r s t o ry , t h e m o n k s o f t h e t e m p l e d e c i d e d t o
h e l p . T h e y he ld a counc i l , t h e n let d o w n the i r bell o v e r t h e y o u n g m o n k
a n d b a r r e d t h e g a t e .
T h e s n a k e soon c a m e , go t eas i ly o v e r t h e b a r r e d g a t e , s l i the red a few
t imes a r o u n d t h e c o m p o u n d , t h e n w e n t s t r a i g h t for t h e hall w i t h t h e bel l .
W h e n t h e d o o r c o l l a p s e d u n d e r its fu r ious b l o w s , t he s n a k e d a r t e d ins ide
a n d w r a p p e d itself r o u n d t h e bel l . I t s t a y e d t h a t w a y for h o u r s , b e a t i n g
on t h e t o p o l t h e bel l w i t h its tail , till d e s p i t e t he i r fear t h e m o n k s
s u r r o u n d e d t h e hal l a n d o p e n e d t h e d o o r s o n all four s ides t o w a t c h . T h e
s n a k e lifted its h e a d . I ts t o n g u e f l ickered a n d t e a r s o f b lood s t r e a m e d
f rom its e y e s . T h e n i t f l ed in t h e d i r ec t i on i t h a d c o m e f rom. T h e bell
g l o w e d r e d - h o t f rom its foul, b u r n i n g b r e a t h , a n d t h e m o n k s c o u l d no t
e v e n ge t n e a r i t till t h e y h a d d a s h e d i t w i t h w a t e r t o cool i t d o w n . W h e n
t h e y finally lifted i t t h e y f o u n d t h a t n o t h i n g , no t e v e n b o n e s , w a s left o f
t he m o n k in s ide . T h e r e w a s o n l y a l i t t le h e a p o f a s h e s . T h e m o n k ' s o l d e r
c o m p a n i o n w e p t a s h e t o o k h i s l eave .
L a t e r on , t h e a b b o t o f Dojoj i d r e a m e d o f a n e v e n l a r g e r s n a k e . " I a m
t h e m o n k w h o hid i n t h e be l l , ' ' i t s a id . " O n c e t h a t evil w o m a n h a d b e c o m e
a s n a k e s h e t o o k me p r i s o n e r a n d m a d e me h e r s . N o w I suffer h o r r i b l y
in th i s awful s n a k e b o d y a n d I c a n ' t s a v e myse l f f rom my p a i n . W h e n I
w a s a l ive , I d e v o t e d myse l f t o t h e L o t u s S u t r a . P lease , Y o u r G r a c e , s h o w
m e m e r c y a n d p u t a n e n d t o m y t o r m e n t . Pur i fy yourse l f , c o p y t h e
' R e v e l a t i o n o f t h e B u d d h a ' s E t e r n a l Life ' c h a p t e r o f t h e S u t r a , a n d d e d i -
ca t e i t for b o t h o f u s s n a k e s . O h , s a v e u s f rom th i s a g o n y ! " T h e s n a k e
t h e n w e n t a w a y a n d t h e d r e a m e r a w o k e .
T h e a b b o t c o p i e d t h e c h a p t e r i n q u e s t i o n a n d ca l led t h e m o n k s o f t h e
t e m p l e t o g e t h e r for a d a y - l o n g c e r e m o n y to d e d i c a t e i t for t h e t w o s n a k e s .
S o o n he d r e a m e d a g a i n . T h i s t i m e a m o n k a n d a w o m a n c a m e to Dojoj i
t o g e t h e r , all smi les . T h e y p r o s t r a t e d t h e m s e l v e s be fo re t h e a b b o t a n d to ld
1 6 2
h i m t h a t t h a n k s t o his k i n d n e s s t h e y w e r e r id n o w o f t he i r s n a k e bod ie s
a n d h a p p y a t las t . " F o r , " sa id t h e w o m a n , " I h a v e b e e n b o r n in to t he
T o r i H e a v e n . " " A n d I , " sa id t h e m a n , " h a v e g o n e u p t o t h e T o s o t s u
H e a v e n . " A n d w i t h t h e s e w o r d s t h e y f lew u p in to t h e sky .
T h e T o r i H e a v e n i s w h e r e t h e g r e a t g o d T a i s h a k u h a s his pa lace a t t he
t o p o f S h u m i s e n , t h e c o s m i c m o u n t a i n ; a n d t h e T o s o t s u H e a v e n i s t he
e v e n h i g h e r r e a l m w h e r e M i r o k u , t h e F u t u r e B u d d h a , wa i t s t o b e b o r n
i n t o o u r w o r l d .
1 1 2 .
LOVESICK
Sick w i t h love for a b o y , a gir l in K a m a k u r a confessed h e r t r o u b l e to he r
m o t h e r . T h e m o t h e r , w h o k n e w t h e b o y ' s p a r e n t s , i m m e d i a t e l y a r r a n g e d
for h i m to visi t h e r d a u g h t e r s o m e t i m e s , b u t he all b u t i g n o r e d t h e girl
a n d h a r d l y e v e r c a m e . I n t h e e n d t h e girl d i ed . H e r g r i e v i n g p a r e n t s pu t
h e r a s h e s in a b o x a n d p r e p a r e d to s e n d t h e m off to a ce r t a in t e m p l e in
S h i n a n o .
N e x t , t h e b o y b e c a m e ill t o o , a n d w e n t s o t h o r o u g h l y m a d tha t h e h a d
to be s h u t up in a l i t t le r o o m . H e a r i n g h im ta lk in t h e r e , his p a r e n t s
p e e k e d in t h r o u g h a c r a c k . He w a s t a l k i n g to a l a rge s n a k e .
W h e n t h e b o y d i ed , h is b o d y w a s p l a c e d in a coffin, for bur ia l on t he
m o u n t a i n n e a r b y . A t t h e funera l a l a rge s n a k e w a s found coi led a r o u n d
h i s b o d y , r i g h t i n t h e coffin, a n d t h e t w o w e r e b u r i e d t o g e t h e r .
B e f o r e s e n d i n g t h e i r d a u g h t e r ' s a s h e s t o S h i n a n o , t he gir l ' s p a r e n t s
o p e n e d t h e b o x t o t a k e o u t s o m e w h i c h t h e y w a n t e d t o depos i t i n a t e m p l e
i n K a m a k u r a . T h e y d i s c o v e r e d t h a t t h e i r d a u g h t e r ' s b o n e s h a d t u r n e d
in to l i t t le s n a k e s , o r w e r e i n t h e p r o c e s s o f d o i n g so .
T h e y t o l d t h e w h o l e s t o r y t o t h e p r i e s t t h e y a s k e d t o p r a y o v e r t h e
r e m a i n s , a n d t h e p r i e s t p a s s e d i t on to his co l l eagues . I t h a p p e n e d in t he
1270s , w i t h i n t h e las t t en y e a r s . I k n o w t h e n a m e s o f t he p e o p l e invo lved
b u t w o u l d r a t h e r n o t r e c o r d t h e m h e r e .
P A R A D I S E
i i 3 .
GONE, BODY AND SOUL
A m o n k n a m e d Y a k u r e n o n c e l ived in N y o h o j i , a t e m p l e in S h i n a n o
p r o v i n c e . N o t b e i n g fo rmal ly o r d a i n e d he h a d a family, b u t he still s p e n t
his life c o n t i n u a l l y c h a n t i n g t h e A m i d a S u t r a .
O n e d a y h e to ld his s o n a n d d a u g h t e r t ha t h e w o u l d n e e d t o w a s h a n d
p u t o n c l ean c l o t h e s b e c a u s e t o m o r r o w h e w a s g o i n g t o b e b o r n in to t h e
L a n d o f Bl iss . T h e c h i l d r e n q u i c k l y go t t h i n g s r e a d y for h im a n d a t
n ightfa l l , fully p r e p a r e d , h e e n t e r e d his chape l a l o n e . " Y o u m a y o p e n t h e
c h a p e l d o o r a t d a y l i g h t t o m o r r o w , " h e w a r n e d t h e m , " b u t no t b e f o r e . "
W e e p i n g , t h e y s p e n t t h e n igh t by t h e c h a p e l i n vigil. N e a r d a y b r e a k a
m u s i c no t o f th i s w o r l d s o u n d e d from w i t h i n t he chape l , a n d t h e y t h o u g h t
t h e y m u s t b e d r e a m i n g . W h e n the s k y l i gh tened , t h e y o p e n e d t h e d o o r .
T h e i r f a the r ' s b o d y w a s g o n e a n d s o w a s his c o p y o f t h e A m i d a S u t r a .
T h e n e w s b r o u g h t t h e n e i g h b o r s r u n n i n g , a n d t h e g r i e v i n g c h i l d r e n
to ld t h e m a b o u t t h e m u s i c . F ina l ly i t d a w n e d o n e v e r y o n e t h a t Y a k u r e n
h a d g o n e t o p a r a d i s e i n his o w n b o d y . T h e y all s h e d t e a r s o f joy a n d a w e .
N o w , r e b i r t h i n to t h e L a n d o f Bliss i s no t u n k n o w n , b u t t h o s e w h o
a c h i eve i t l eave t he i r b o d i e s b e h i n d as a s ign . S i n c e Y a k u r e n ' s b o d y w a s
g o n e , o n e m i g h t c o n c l u d e t h a t h e h a d jus t s l i pped off t o s o m e m o u n t a i n
t e m p l e ; y e t h is c h i l d r e n h a d b e e n t h e r e all t h e t ime a n d co u l d test ify t h a t
t he d o o r o f t h e c h a p e l h a d n e v e r o p e n e d . I n o t h e r w o r d s , Y a k u r e n rea l ly
h a d r e a c h e d p a r a d i s e i n t h e f l e sh , a s t h e u n e a r t h l y m u s i c s e e m e d to
conf i rm. S o m e p e o p l e , t h o u g h , h a v e w o n d e r e d w h e t h e r t he e a r t h g o d s
d i d n ' t j u s t m a k e off w i t h t h e b o d y on t he i r o w n a n d leave i t i n t h e so r t o f
p u r e s p o t w h e r e t h e b o d y o f a sa in t m i g h t p r o p e r l y b e l o n g .
1 6 A
1 1 4 •
PARADISE IN THE PALM OF THE HAND
T w o s c h o l a r - m o n k s n a m e d C h i k o a n d R a i k o o n c e l ived a t Gango j i i n t he
o ld cap i t a l o f N a r a . A l t h o u g h t h e y h a d a l w a y s l ived a n d w o r k e d t o g e t h e r ,
R a i k o i n t h e e n d s t o p p e d s t u d y i n g a n d n e v e r p i c k e d u p his b o o k s aga in .
He j u s t l ay t h e r e in s i l ence . C h i k o , for his p a r t , w a s a d e e p l y wise m a n
w h o l oved s c h o l a r s h i p , a n d i n t i m e his l e a r n i n g w a s r e c o g n i z e d b y all.
W h e n R a i k o d i ed , C h i k o m o u r n e d his o ld fr iend. I t d i s t u r b e d h im t h a t
R a i k o h a d b e e n s i lent a n d idle for s o m a n y y e a r s , a n d h e w o n d e r e d w h a t
his n e x t life w o u l d b e ; b u t he w i t h e l d j u d g m e n t on R a i k o ' s fate b e c a u s e
he k n e w t h a t g o o d a n d ill a r e h a r d for o u r l imited m i n d s t o f a thom. In
t i m e h e d e c i d e d t o t r y t o find ou t w h e r e R a i k o h a d g o n e .
He d r e a m e d he f o u n d R a i k o in a p l ace so beau t i fu l t h a t i t s e e m e d like
p a r a d i s e , a n d a s k e d R a i k o i n s u r p r i s e w h e r e t h e y w e r e . " T h i s i s t he L a n d
o f B l i s s , " R a i k o r ep l i ed . " Y o u r p r a y e r s h a v e b r o u g h t y o u h e r e , bu t n o w
t h a t y o u ' v e s e e n me y o u 11 h a v e to go b a c k . T h i s i s no p lace for y o u . "
" B u t I w a n t t o b e b o r n in to p a r a d i s e t o o , " C h i k o p r o t e s t e d . " W h y
m u s t I g o b a c k ? "
" B e c a u s e y o u ' v e d o n e n o t h i n g t o d e s e r v e s t a y i n g . "
" Y e t y o u yourse l f , w h e n y o u w e r e al ive, d id n o t h i n g a t all! H o w d id
you g e t h e r e ? "
" D o n ' t y o u s e e ? " R a i k o e x p l a i n e d . " M y l o n g i n g for b i r th h e r e w a s
p e r f e c t l y p u r e . H a v i n g no o t h e r t h o u g h t , I sa id n o t h i n g . In e v e r y p h a s e
o f da i l y l iv ing I s a w t h e c o u n t e n a n c e o f L o r d A m i d a a n d the b e a u t y o f
his p a r a d i s e , so I j u s t lay qu ie t ly , t h i n k i n g of n o t h i n g else . A n d he re I
a m . Y o u k n o w all a b o u t t h e s c r i p t u r e s b u t y o u r m i n d i s i n t u rmoi l a n d
y o u h a r d l y d e s e r v e a b i r t h l ike t h i s . "
" T h e n w h a t c a n I d o t o b e s u r e o f p a r a d i s e ? " c r ied C h i k o i n t e a r s .
" I t i sn ' t for me to say . A s k L o r d A m i d a himself ." R a i k o led his friend
b e f o r e t h e l o r d .
C h i k o p r o s t r a t e d h imse l f a n d r e v e r e n t l y r e p e a t e d his q u e s t i o n .
" Y o u m u s t c o n t e m p l a t e t h e B u d d h a ' s c o u n t e n a n c e a n d t h e b e a u t y o f
p a r a d i s e , " A m i d a sa id .
" B u t t h e s p l e n d o r o f all I see h e r e i s m o r e t h a n my eyes o r my m i n d
c a n t a k e in! H o w c a n I c o n t e m p l a t e t he se t h i n g s w i t h t h e eyes o f an
o r d i n a r y m a n ? "
L o r d A m i d a lifted his r igh t h a n d , a n d C h i k o s a w in t h e p a l m a t i n y
p a r a d i s e . T h e n h e w o k e u p . H e i m m e d i a t e l y h a d a p a i n t e r t r a n s c r i b e
w h a t he h a d seen , a n d all h is life he c o n t e m p l a t e d t h a t image till he t o o
p a s s e d o n t o t h e L a n d o f Bliss . La t e r , h is d w e l l i n g w a s r e n a m e d G o k u -
r a k u b o , o r P a r a d i s e Ha l l , a n d t h e p a i n t i n g still h a n g s t h e r e i n g r e a t
h o n o r .
i i 5 .
NO COMPROMISE
G e n d a y u , w h o l ived in S a n u k i p r o v i n c e , w a s a fierce h u n t e r a n d ki l ler .
D a w n o r d u s k h e w a s o u t i n t h e w i l d s af ter d e e r a n d fowl, o r f ishing;
a n d t h e d a y r a r e l y p a s s e d w h e n h e d id no t c h o p off s o m e o n e ' s h e a d , a r m ,
o r leg. H e k n e w n o t h i n g a b o u t k a r m a o r re l ig ious faith, a n d n a t u r a l l y
on ly h a t e d a n d s h u n n e d h o l y m e n . In a w o r d , he w a s a m e n a c e , a n d
p e o p l e w e r e te r r i f ied o f h i m .
H e w a s c o m i n g h o m e o n e d a y from h u n t i n g d e e r i n t h e m o u n t a i n s w i t h
s o m e of his b a n d w h e n he no t i ced a c r o w d in front of a b u i l d i n g a n d
a s k e d w h a t t h e p e o p l e w e r e d o i n g . H i s m e n to ld h im the p lace w a s a
t e m p l e a n d t h a t a m o n k w a s p r e a c h i n g t h e r e . " P r e a c h i n g , " t h e y ex-
p l a i n e d , " m e a n s of fer ing t h e b u d d h a s a s e r m o n on t h e ho ly s u t r a s , for
t h e benef i t of all b e i n g s . "
" O h y e s , I 've h e a r d a b o u t t h a t , " sa id G e n d a y u , " b u t I 've n e v e r a c t u a l l y
seen it. I'll go a n d h e a r w h a t he ' s go t t o say . Y o u wa i t h e r e . "
H e a n d his m e n d i s m o u n t e d . T h e m e n h a t e d t o i m a g i n e w h a t t h e i r
m a s t e r w a s u p t o a n d w e r e a f ra id h e w a s g o i n g t o t o r m e n t t h e p r e a c h e r .
W h e n G e n d a y u c a m e in to t h e t e m p l e , s o m e o f t he c o n g r e g a t i o n s i m p l y
fled. H e s h o v e d his w a y t h r o u g h t h e res t , w i t h t h e p e o p l e p a r t i n g be fo re
h im like g r a s s e s in a ga le , till he c a m e to t h e p r e a c h e r a n d g l a r e d in to his
eyes .
" P r e a c h e r , " h e sa id , " I w a n t t o k n o w w h a t y o u ' v e b e e n s ay ing . A n d
ta lk s e n s e . I f y o u d o n ' t , y o u ' l l w i s h y o u h a d . " H e b r a n d i s h e d his d a g g e r .
T h e f r i gh t ened p r e a c h e r t h o u g h t h e w a s lost a n d his m i n d w e n t b l ank ,
b u t h e w a s w i s e e n o u g h t o call o n t h e B u d d h a for h e l p before h e a n -
s w e r e d .
" W e s t w a r d from h e r e , " h e a n s w e r e d , " b e y o n d m a n y o t h e r w o r l d s , i s
1 6 6
t h e p l a c e w h e r e a b u d d h a l ives . T h i s b u d d h a ' s n a m e i s A m i d a . H i s k ind -
n e s s i s w i d e a n d d e e p . Y o u m a y h a v e b e e n t h e w o r s t o f s i nne r s , b u t i f
y o u r e p e n t a n d call h is N a m e j u s t o n c e he ' l l c o m e t o fetch y o u a n d you ' l l
b e r e b o r n i n t o h i s L a n d o f Bliss w h e r e y o u ' l l b e a b u d d h a t o o . "
" I f t h i s b u d d h a of y o u r s i s as k i n d as all t ha t , t h e n I s u p p o s e he
w o u l d n ' t t u r n m e a w a y e i t h e r . "
" O f c o u r s e n o t . "
" S o i f I call h i s N a m e he ' l l a n s w e r ? "
" Y e s , i f y o u call h i m s i n c e r e l y . "
" W h a t p e o p l e d o e s th i s b u d d h a l ike b e s t ? "
" H e d o e s n ' t re jec t a n y o n e , b u t p a r e n t s can ' t h e l p lov ing t he i r o w n
c h i l d r e n m o s t a n d s o h e d o e s s l igh t ly p r e f e r his o w n d i sc ip l e s . "
" W h a t ' s a d i s c i p l e ? "
" A n y m o n k w h o ' s s h a v e d his h e a d l ike m e . L a y m e n a n d l a y w o m e n can
be h i s d i s c ip l e s t o o , b u t i t 's e v e n b e t t e r i f y o u ' r e a m o n k or a n u n . "
" T h e n s h a v e m y h e a d , " c o m m a n d e d G e n d a y u .
" O h d e a r ! " t h e p r e a c h e r e x c l a i m e d . " I t ' s w o n d e r f u l t o h e a r y o u say
t h a t , b u t y o u see , I c a n ' t j u s t do i t all o f a s u d d e n . I f y o u ' r e s e r ious y o u
s h o u l d first g o h o m e , t a l k i t o v e r w i t h y o u r family, a n d p u t y o u r affairs
i n o r d e r . "
" Y o u call y o u r s e l f a d i sc ip le o f t h i s b u d d h a a n d y o u c la im he tells only
t h e t r u t h , " G e n d a y u g r o w l e d . " Y o u s a y h e loves his d i sc ip les . W h a t d o
y o u m e a n b y t u r n i n g a r o u n d n o w a n d te l l ing m e t o d o i t later! Y o u d o n ' t
s e e m t o u n d e r s t a n d , d o y o u ? " G e n d a y u d r e w his d a g g e r a n d cu t off his
o w n t o p k n o t a t t h e r o o t s .
T h e p r e a c h e r w a s s p e e c h l e s s a n d a c l a m o r b u r s t from t h e c o n g r e g a -
t i o n . G e n d a y u ' s m e n h e a r d it. O b v i o u s l y t he i r m a s t e r h a d d o n e s o m e -
t h i n g , a n d t h e y r u s h e d t o t h e t e m p l e r e a d y t o fight. G e n d a y u s t o p p e d
t h e m w i t h a r o a r .
" H o w d a r e y o u c o m e b e t w e e n m e a n d p a r a d i s e ! " h e b e l l o w e d . " T h i s
m o r n i n g a s u s u a l I w a s w a n t i n g m o r e m e n , b u t n o w , a s far a s I 'm con -
c e r n e d , y o u c a n all ge t o u t a n d g o w h e r e v e r y o u p lease . I 'm no t k e e p i n g
a n y of y o u ! "
T h e m e n d e c i d e d t h e i r m a s t e r h a d g o n e m a d . S o m e spi r i t m u s t h a v e
p o s s e s s e d h i m . T h e y s o b b e d a n d h o w l e d a n d rol led o n the floor, b u t
G e n d a y u q u i c k l y p u t a s t o p to t h e i r no i se . T h e n he offered his t o p k n o t
t o t h e B u d d h a , h e a t e d w a t e r a s fast a s h e cou ld , w a s h e d his h e a d , a n d
c a m e t o t h e p r e a c h e r a g a i n .
" S h a v e m e p r o p e r l y ! " h e o r d e r e d . "You ' l l b e s o r r y i f y o u d o n ' t . "
" S i n c e y o u i n s i s t , " t h e p r e a c h e r rep l i ed , " I ' m s u r e I 'd b e w r o n g no t t o
s h a v e y o u . Y e s , i t 'd c e r t a i n l y be a s i n . " T h o u g h still afraid, he c a m e d o w n
from his sea t , s h a v e d G e n d a y u ' s h e a d , a n d a d m i n i s t e r e d t h e a p p r o p r i a t e
v o w s . G e n d a y u ' s m e n s h e d u n r e s t r a i n e d t e a r s o f grief.
H a v i n g p u t o n a m o n k ' s s to le , G e n d a y u t r a d e d his q u i v e r a n d b o w for
t h e d e v o t e e ' s l i t t le g o n g , w h i c h h e h u n g a r o u n d his n e c k . " N o w I 'm g o i n g
t o g o w e s t , " h e sa id . "I ' l l k e e p ca l l ing A m i d a a n d b e a t i n g th i s g o n g till h e
a n s w e r s . N o m o o r , n o m o u n t a i n , r iver , o r sea will t u r n m e b a c k . " A n d
off h e w e n t s h o u t i n g , " H e y , A m i d a B u d d h a ! H e y , h e y ! " W h e n his m e n
m o v e d t o fol low h im, h e a c c u s e d t h e m o f g e t t i n g i n his w a y a n d k e p t
b e a t i n g his g o n g till t h e y g a v e u p .
G e n d a y u d id jus t w h a t h e said h e w o u l d : h e w e n t s t r a i g h t w e s t , ca l l ing
A m i d a a n d b e a t i n g t h e g o n g . W h e n h e c a m e t o a r ive r h e d id no t look
for a ford , a n d he d i d no t t r y to find a w a y r o u n d w h e n a m o u n t a i n ro se
in f ront o f h im . S t u m b l i n g , falling, he p u s h e d s t r a igh t a h e a d till a t s u n -
d o w n h e r e a c h e d a t e m p l e , w h e r e h e e x p l a i n e d t o t h e p r i e s t w h a t h e w a s
d o i n g . " N o w I 'm g o i n g o v e r t h o s e m o u n t a i n s t o t h e w e s t , " h e c o n t i n u e d .
" C o m e a n d find me in s e v e n d a y s . I'll t ie t h e g r a s s e s t o g e t h e r as I go to
m a r k t h e w a y . D o y o u h a v e a n y t h i n g t o e a t ? I f y o u d o , ju s t g ive m e a
l i t t l e . "
T h e p r i e s t g a v e h i m p l e n t y o f p a r c h e d r ice , b u t G e n d a y u , p r o t e s t i n g
t h a t i t w a s t o o m u c h , t o o k o n l y a t iny a m o u n t , w h i c h he w r a p p e d in
p a p e r a n d p u t in t h e fold o f his r o b e . T h e n he s t a r t e d off. " B u t t h e s u n i s
d o w n ! " t h e p r i e s t ca l l ed af ter h im . " S t o p h e r e for t he n igh t , a t l e a s t ! "
G e n d a y u s e e m e d no t t o h a v e h e a r d .
S e v e n d a y s l a t e r t h e p r i e s t set ou t . T h e trai l w a s m a r k e d a n d led o v e r
t h e m o u n t a i n s , b e y o n d w h i c h ro se still a n o t h e r r a n g e . L o o k i n g w e s t w a r d
from a p e a k , t h e p r i e s t s a w t h e sea .
At last t h e p r ies t c a m e to a fo rked t r ee o v e r l o o k i n g the o c e a n . G e n d a y u
w a s s i t t ing u p i n t h e fork , b e a t i n g his g o n g a n d ca l l ing , " H e y , A m i d a !
Hey, h e y ! " H e to ld t h e p r i e s t t h a t h e h a d m e a n t t o g o o n w e s t t o t h e
sea . " B u t A m i d a a n s w e r s me h e r e , " he e x p l a i n e d , " so I s t ayed a n d n o w I
jus t k e e p ca l l ing t o h i m . "
" W h a t d o y o u m e a n , h e a n s w e r s y o u ? " a s k e d t h e pr ies t , w h o c o u l d
m a k e n o t h i n g o f th i s .
" W e l l , I'll cal l . You ' l l h e a r h im for you r se l f . " A n d G e n d a y u s h o u t e d ,
" H e y , A m i d a ! W h e r e a r e y o u ? "
" H e r e I a m ! " r ep l i ed an a w e s o m e vo ice f rom t h e d e p t h s o f t h e sea .
" D i d y o u h e a r t h a t ? "
T h e p r i e s t h a d h e a r d i t a n d d i s so lved , o v e r c o m e , i n t e a r s o f joy a n d
a w e . G e n d a y u w e p t t o o . " H u r r y h o m e n o w , " h e said, " a n d c o m e b a c k i n
s even d a y s t o see w h a t ' s h a p p e n e d t o m e . "
" D o n ' t y o u w a n t a n y t h i n g ? I b r o u g h t y o u s o m e p a r c h e d r i c e . "
1 6 8
" N o , n o , t h a n k y o u , I still h a v e t h e r ice y o u g a v e m e . " T h e p r ies t cou ld
in fact see t h e litt le p a c k e t o f r ice , w r a p p e d jus t as i t h a d b e e n w h e n
G e n d a y u left h i s t e m p l e . H e w e n t a w a y .
W h e n h e c a m e a g a i n , G e n d a y u w a s still i n t he t r e e facing t h e wes t ,
b u t t h i s t i m e he w a s d e a d . A beau t i fu l lo tus f lower h a d b l o o m e d from his
m o u t h , a n d t h e w e e p i n g p r i e s t p i c k e d it. I t o c c u r r e d t o h im t h a t h e s h o u l d
b u r y G e n d a y u , b u t he d e c i d e d af ter all t o leave h im s ince G e n d a y u
p r o b a b l y w o u l d h a v e p r e f e r r e d s i m p l y t o feed t h e b i rd s a n d b e a s t s .
G e n d a y u h a d c e r t a i n l y g o n e t o p a r a d i s e .
THE FAILURE
O n c e a ho ly m a n d e c i d e d t o t r a d e his b o d y for p a r a d i s e by p l u n g i n g in to
t h e w a t e r s o f t h e K a t s u r a R i v e r n e a r K y o t o . H e p r e p a r e d h imsel f for th is
by d o i n g t h e L o t u s C o n f e s s i o n r i te for a h u n d r e d d a y s a t Gidar in j i , a
t e m p l e i n t h e c i ty . P i l g r i m s f locked f rom far a n d n e a r t o w o r s h i p h im,
a n d a c o n s t a n t s t r e a m o f g e n t l e w o m e n ' s c a r r i a g e s rol led t o w a r d the t em-
ple p a s t a n e q u a l l y c o n s t a n t s t r e a m leav ing .
T h e h o l y m a n , a s l igh t fe l low of a b o u t t h i r t y , w o u l d no t look a n y o n e
in t h e e y e . I n s t e a d , he k e p t his eyes hal f -c losed a s t h o u g h falling a s l eep .
N o w a n d a g a i n h e w o u l d call A m i d a ' s N a m e a l o u d , b u t o t h e r w i s e on ly
h i s l ips m o v e d . A p p a r e n t l y h e w a s r e p e a t i n g t h e N a m e t h e n , t oo . S o m e -
t i m e s he w o u l d h e a v e a s u d d e n s igh a n d s w e e p his g a z e o v e r t he faces
a r o u n d h i m . H a v i n g c o m e p rec i s e ly i n t h e h o p e o f look ing in to his eyes ,
t h e p i l g r i m s a t s u c h m o m e n t s w o u l d p u s h a n d s h o v e ru th less ly s o a s not
t o mis s a n y c h a n c e o f d o i n g so .
E a r l y i n t h e m o r n i n g on t h e a p p o i n t e d d a y t h e holy m a n , w e a r i n g a
p a p e r r o b e a n d s to le , e n t e r e d t h e t e m p l e ' s ma in hal l . All t he m o n k s , w h o
w e r e a l r e a d y in s ide , filed o u t a h e a d o f h i m . He go t in to a w a i t i n g ca r t
a n d t h e p r o c e s s i o n m o v e d off. T h o u g h his lips w e r e m o v i n g , i t w a s
i m p o s s i b l e t o m a k e o u t w h a t h e w a s s ay ing . H e w o u l d no t look a n y o n e
in t h e eye , a n d f rom t i m e to t i m e he w o u l d h e a v e a b ig s igh .
T h e c r o w d a l o n g his w a y k e p t s h o w e r i n g him w i t h g o o d - l u c k r ice,
w h i c h m a d e h im c r y o u t n o w a n d aga in , " O w ! I t ' s g e t t i n g i n m y eyes
a n d n o s e ! I f y o u w a n t to be k i n d , p u t y o u r r ice in a b a g a n d s e n d i t t o
m y t e m p l e ! " A t th i s t h e m o s t i g n o r a n t o n l o o k e r s w o u l d r u b t he i r h a n d s
i n p i o u s w o r s h i p , b u t t h o s e w i t h a litt le m o r e w i t w o u l d m u t t e r , " W h a t ' s
h e ta lki n g a b o u t ? H e ' s a b o u t t o g ive u p his b o d y a n d g o t o p a r a d i s e , a n d
he ' s c o m p l a i n i n g a b o u t r ice g e t t i n g i n his eyes a n d n o s e ? I sn ' t t h e r e
s o m e t h i n g t u n n y a b o u t t h a t ? "
F ina l ly t h e c a r t r e a c h e d t h e K a t s u r a R ive r . M o r e p e o p l e h a d g a t h e r e d
t o w i t n e s s t h e ho ly m a n ' s p a s s i n g , a n d t o s h a r e its b less ing , t h a n t h e r e
w e r e s t o n e s o n t h e r i v e r b e d . T h e c a r t d r e w u p t o t h e w a t e r a n d s t o p p e d .
" W h a t t i m e i s i t ? " t h e h o l y m a n a s k e d . T h e m o n k s w i t h h im to ld h i m
i t w a s n e a r l y s ix . " T h e n i t ' s a bi t e a r ly for g o i n g to p a r a d i s e , " t h e ho ly
m a n r ep l i ed . "I ' l l w a i t till s u n d o w n . "
T h o s e o f t h e s p e c t a t o r s w h o h a d c o m e f rom t h e fa r thes t off co u l d no t
w a i t a n d left. T h e c r o w d t h i n n e d o u t . B u t s o m e w e r e d e t e r m i n e d t o
w a t c h to t h e e n d . O n e o f t h e m , a m o n k , r e m a r k e d w h a t a s t r a n g e i dea i t
w a s t h a t t h e r e s h o u l d b e a n y p r o p e r t i m e for g o i n g t o p a r a d i s e .
F ina l ly t h e ho ly m a n , n a k e d e x c e p t for a lo inc lo th , t u r n e d to t h e w e s t
a n d w a l k e d in to t h e r ive r . H e i n s t a n t l y t r i p p e d o n a m o o r i n g r o p e a n d
f l o u n d e r e d a b o u t w i t h o u t e v e n b e i n g ab l e t o p l u n g e all t h e w a y in. W h e n
a d i sc ip le d i s e n t a n g l e d h i m , he t u m b l e d in h e a d f i r s t , m a k i n g d e s p e r a t e
g l u b - g l u b n o i s e s . A m a n s t a n d i n g in t h e r iver himself, to ge t a b e t t e r
v i ew, se ized his h a n d a n d p u l l e d h im u p .
T h e ho ly m a n j u s t s t o o d t h e r e , w i p i n g his face a n d s p i t t i n g o u t all t h e
w a t e r h e h a d s w a l l o w e d . T h e n h e t u r n e d t o his s av io r a n d w r u n g his
h a n d s ab jec t ly . " H o w c a n I e v e r t h a n k y o u ? " h e m u r m u r e d . "I ' l l s i ng
y o u r p r a i s e s i n p a r a d i s e ! "
W h e n h e c l i m b e d b a c k u p o n t o t h e b a n k , t he c r o w d a n d all t h e y o u n g
s c a m p s w h o h a d j o i n e d i t p i c k e d u p t h e s t o n e s t h a t lay s o t h i ck ly u n d e r
t he i r feet a n d b e g a n p e l t i n g h im w i t h t h e m . Still n a k e d , he fled d o w n -
s t r e a m , b u t t he c r o w d p o u r e d af ter h im a n d s t o n e d h im till h is h e a d w a s
all b l e e d i n g .
i i 7 .
LETTERS FROM PARADISE
A holy m a n in T a n g o p r o v i n c e d e s i r e d r e b i r t h in to t h e L a n d o f Bliss. N o t
t h a t he w a s a l o n e i n th i s w i s h , b u t he a s p i r e d so f i e r ce ly t o p a r a d i s e tha t
o t h e r s ' p i e ty pa l ed in c o m p a r i s o n .
O n t h e last d a y o f t h e y e a r h e w o u l d w r i t e o n a p iece o f p a p e r : " C o m e
1 7 0
t o m e b e f o r e t h e d a y i s o v e r . D o no t fa i l !" T h e n h e w o u l d h a v e a n acoly te
d e l i v e r t h e l e t t e r t o h im t h e fo l lowing d a w n , be fo re he go t up for t he
e a r l y m o r n i n g l i t any .
" K n o c k o n m y d o o r , " h e w o u l d tell t h e aco ly t e . "I ' l l a sk w h o ' s t h e r e ,
a n d y o u ' l l say , ' A m e s s e n g e r f rom A m i d a B u d d h a i n t he L a n d o f Perfect
Bliss , w i t h a l e t t e r for y o u ! ' " T h e n he w o u l d go to b e d .
A t d a w n t h e o b e d i e n t aco ly t e w o u l d k n o c k a t t h e d o o r o f his hu t .
" W h o ' s t h e r e ? " t h e ho ly m a n w o u l d call .
"A m e s s e n g e r f rom A m i d a B u d d h a in t he L a n d of Bliss, w i th a le t ter
for y o u ! "
T h e ho ly m a n w o u l d s t u m b l e for th , w e e p i n g w i t h joy. " W h a t d o e s i t
s a y ? " h e w o u l d c ry , a n d r e v e r e n t l y i n spec t t he w r i t i n g . N e x t h e w o u l d
co l l apse , o v e r c o m e w i t h d e v o u t e m o t i o n .
T h i s h a p p e n e d e v e r y y e a r . T h e aco ly t e w h o p l a y e d the m e s s e n g e r got
q u i t e g o o d a t t h e p a r t .
E v e n t u a l l y a n e w g o v e r n o r w a s p o s t e d t o t he p r o v i n c e a n d c a m e t o
r e v e r e t h e h o l y m a n d e e p l y . O n e d a y t h e ho ly m a n vis i ted h im t o enlist
h is h e l p in a n e w a n d w o r t h y p ro jec t : a p a g e a n t of A m i d a ' s w e l c o m e to
t h e sou l . T h e r e w o u l d b e mus i c i ans , a n d d a n c e r s c o s t u m e d a n d m a s k e d
a s A m i d a , t h e b o d h i s a t t v a s , a n d all t h e sa in t s . T h e g o v e r n o r g lad ly
p l e d g e d his s u p p o r t , g a i n e d t h e c o o p e r a t i o n of o t h e r local ly inf luent ial
p e o p l e , a n d set a b o u t g e t t i n g m u s i c i a n s a n d d a n c e r s from t h e Cap i t a l .
H i s e n t h u s i a s m p l e a s e d t h e ho ly m a n v e r y m u c h . "At t he p a g e a n t I'll
r ea l ly be l i eve L o r d A m i d a i s c o m i n g for m e , " he d e c l a r e d , " a n d I'll d i e ! "
" W e l l , we l l , p e r h a p s y o u wil l , w h o k n o w s ? " m u r m u r e d the g o v e r n o r ,
w h o d i d no t q u i t e k n o w w h a t t o say .
T h e d a y c a m e a n d t h e beau t i fu l p a g e a n t b e g a n . T h e holy m a n himself
lit t h e i n c e n s e . T h e t w o b o d h i s a t t v a s K a n n o n a n d Seishi c a m e forth, w i t h
a d r u m m e r b e h i n d t h e m l e a d i n g t h e j o y o u s hos t o f celest ial mus i c i ans ,
a n d a p p r o a c h e d t h e ho ly m a n : K a n n o n to offer his soul a g o l d e n t h r o n e
to r i de to p a r a d i s e on , a n d Se ish i to she l t e r t h e soul w i t h a j ewe led c a n o p y
o n t h e w a y t h e r e . H e a v e n l y m u s i c filled t h e a i r .
T h e h o l y m a n w a s seen t o w e e p a n d call A m i d a ' s ho ly N a m e w h i l e
t h e y c a m e on , b u t w h e n K a n n o n he ld for th t h e g o l d e n t h r o n e h e d id not
r e s p o n d . H e s e e m e d t o o o v e r c o m e t o m o v e . Ac tua l ly , t h o u g h , h e h a d jus t
d i e d . O f c o u r s e t h e cas t d id no t rea l ize th i s , w h a t w i t h t he mus i c a n d the
e x c i t e m e n t , a n d t h e y w e n t o n va in ly offer ing h im t h e c a n o p y a n d the
t h r o n e i n t h e h o p e t h a t h e w o u l d say o r d o s o m e t h i n g . W h e n t h e y finally
w e n t a w a y , t h e h o l y m a n s t a y e d a s mo t ion l e s s a s ever . H i s a l a r m e d
d i sc ip l e s s h o o k h i m a n d f o u n d h e w a s a l r e a d y stiff.
A t las t e v e r y o n e u n d e r s t o o d t h a t he h a d ac tua l ly g o n e to r eb i r th i n t he
L a n d o f Bliss , a n d t h e y w e p t .
l l 8 .
NOT EXACTLY THE LAND OF BLISS
A h e r m i t w h o s e o n l y p r a c t i c e w a s ca l l ing A m i d a ' s N a m e had l ived for
y e a r s i n t h e I b u k i M o u n t a i n s o f M i n o p r o v i n c e . H e w a s ca l l ing t h e N a m e
o n e n igh t w h e n he h e a r d a vo ice from t h e h e a v e n s say ing , " Y o u h a v e
d e v o u t l y t r u s t e d m e a n d h a v e ca l led m y N a m e c o u n t l e s s t imes . E a r l y
t o m o r r o w a f t e r n o o n , a t t h e h o u r o f t h e S h e e p , I p r o m i s e I will c o m e a n d
w e l c o m e y o u in to m y W e s t e r n P a r a d i s e . D o n o t s t o p ca l l ing u p o n m e ! "
T h e h e r m i t r e d o u b l e d his d e v o t i o n s . H e w a s h e d , lit i ncense , s c a t t e r e d
f lowers , a n d sa t d o w n w i t h his d i sc ip le s fac ing t h e w e s t so t h e y co u l d all
call ou t t h e N a m e t o g e t h e r .
W h e n t h e t i m e c a m e , t h e r e w a s a g l e a m i n t h e w e s t . A m i d a a p p e a r e d
i n g lo ry l ike t h e full a u t u m n m o o n b r e a k i n g t h r o u g h c louds , a n d t h e
h e r m i t w a s b a t h e d i n t h e s u b l i m e r a y s t h a t s t r e a m e d f rom b e t w e e n his
e y e b r o w s . F l o w e r s f loa ted d o w n f rom t h e sky . T h e h e r m i t p r o s t r a t e d
h imse l f w i t h s u c h f e rvo r t h a t w h e n his f o r ehead t o u c h e d t h e g r o u n d his
b e h i n d ro se h igh in t h e a i r . T h e c o r d o f his r o s a r y all b u t s n a p p e d w i t h
t h e v i g o r o f h i s i n v o c a t i o n s . T h e n K a n n o n a d v a n c e d a m o n g d o w n y p u r -
p le c l o u d s to offer h im a l o tu s t h r o n e . T h e h e r m i t c r e p t r e v e r e n t l y for-
w a r d , m o u n t e d t h e t h r o n e , a n d sa i led a w a y w e s t w a r d . H i s d i sc ip les w e p t
w i t h j o y a n d a w e a s t h e y w a t c h e d h im g o .
A w e e k o r so la te r , t h e s e r v a n t s a t t h e h e r m i t a g e d e c i d e d i t w a s t i m e
t o m a k e t h e m o n k s a b a t h a n d w e n t i n to t h e m o u n t a i n s t o c u t f i r ewood .
W h e n t h e y c a m e to a g r e a t c r y p t o m e r i a g r o w i n g o v e r a wa te r fa l l , t h e y
h e a r d c r i es f rom h igh in t h e t r e e . A m o n k w a s up t h e r e , t i ed n a k e d to a
b r a n c h . O n e p a r t i c u l a r l y g o o d c l i m b e r d i s c o v e r e d t h a t t h e m o n k w a s
t he i r m a s t e r w h o h a d sa i led a w a y t o p a r a d i s e . H e w a s t i ed t o t h e t r e e
w i t h v i n e s .
" M a s t e r ! " t h e hor r i f i ed s e r v a n t c r i ed a s h e b e g a n w o r k i n g o n t h e
v ines . " W h a t h a p p e n e d ? "
" H e p r o m i s e d h e ' d b e b a c k for m e a n y m i n u t e , " t h e h e r m i t b a b b l e d ,
" a n d h e to ld m e t o s t ay r igh t h e r e ! D o n ' t y o u g o u n t y i n g m e ! " T h e
s e r v a n t u n t i e d h im a n y w a y . " A m i d a B u d d h a ! " his m a s t e r s c r e a m e d , " th i s
m a n i s k i l l ing m e ! "
I n t h e e n d t h e y go t h im d o w n a n d t ook h im b a c k t o t h e h e r m i t a g e . I t
w a s a t r a g e d y . H e h a d c o m p l e t e l y lost h is m i n d , a n d t w o o r t h r e e d a y s
l a t e r he d i e d . S i m p l e a s he w a s , a t e n g u h a d t r i c k e d h i m .
1 7 2
T E N G U ,
B O A R ,
A N D
B A D G E R
i i 9 .
ONE LAST SHOWER OF PETALS
In E m p e r o r D a i g o ' s r e ign , l ong a g o , t h e r e w a s a b ig p e r s i m m o n t ree n e a r
t h e sh r ine on Fif th A v e n u e . W h e n a b u d d h a a p p e a r e d i n t he t ree , s h i n i n g
a n d s c a t t e r i n g t h e lovel ies t f lowers , all K y o t o c r o w d e d r o u n d for a look
a n d a r e v e r e n t b o w . Y o u c o u l d no t ge t i n o n e ho r se , c a r r i a g e , o r s p e c t a t o r
m o r e .
Af t e r a w e e k or so , i t o c c u r r e d to t h e M i n i s t e r o f t h e Righ t t h a t no
g e n u i n e b u d d h a w o u l d a p p e a r i n t h e s e la t te r , d e g e n e r a t e d a y s . H e de -
c i d e d th i s m u s t b e s o m e s o r t o f t e n g u misch ie f a n d t h o u g h t h e w o u l d
h a v e a look for himself .
He go t h imse l f up in full c o u r t d r e s s a n d w e n t i n a c e r e m o n i a l c a r n a g e
w i t h a w h o l e t r a i n o f a t t e n d a n t s . T h e c r o w d p a r t e d a t his a p p r o a c h . H e
h a d t h e ox u n h i t c h e d a n d t h e c a r r i a g e shaf ts p r o p p e d up for a long s tay,
t h e n sa t t h e r e s t a r i n g a t t h e b u d d h a ' s b r a n c h . H e n e v e r b l i nked o r
g l a n c e d a s i d e . Af t e r a c o u p l e of h o u r s t h e b u d d h a let go a little s h o w e r
of f lower p e t a l s a n d a b u r s t o f l ight , b u t in t h e e n d t h e min i s t e r ' s re len t -
less g a z e w a s t o o m u c h . S u d d e n l y a b ig kes t re l w i t h a b r o k e n w i n g fell
off t h e b r a n c h a n d lay he lp less ly f l a p p i n g o n the g r o u n d . S o m e boys
d a s h e d u p a n d ki l led it.
" S u r e e n o u g h ! " sa id t h e m i n i s t e r t o h imsel f a s h e left. T h e peop le w e r e
d e e p l y i m p r e s s e d .
1 3 O .
INSPIRING, UNFORTUNATELY
T h e p e o p l e o f E m p e r o r Reize i ' s r e ign w e r e b u z z i n g o v e r a s p a t e o f t e n g u
misch ie f w h e n a m o n k f rom M o u n t Hie i s t a r t e d h o m e af ter a little t r i p
d o w n t o t h e c i ty . W a l k i n g b a c k t o w a r d t h e m o u n t a i n a l o n g Kitaoji A v e -
n u e , he c a m e to a p a c k of b o y s b e a t i n g a f i e rce - look ing old k i te t h e y h a d
c a u g h t . H e s co lded t h e m s h a r p l y . " W h y d o y o u w a n t t o h u r t t h e p o o r
b i r d ? " he a s k e d . T h e y sa id t h e y w e r e k i l l ing i t for its f ea the r s .
T h e m o n k felt so s o r r y for t h e k i te t h a t he t r a d e d his fan for i t to t h e
b o y s a n d let i t g o . T h e g o o d d e e d m a d e h im r a t h e r p l ea sed w i t h himself.
A bi t f a r t h e r on , w h e r e t h e p a t h s t a r t e d up t h e m o u n t a i n , a funny ,
m o n k i s h - l o o k i n g old fel low p o p p e d ou t o f t h e b u s h e s a n d c a m e p a n t i n g
af ter t h e m o n k . T h o u g h t h e m o n k d i d his bes t t o av o i d h im, t h e o ld
fellow ins is ted on a c c o s t i n g h im a n d t h a n k i n g h im effusively for h a v i n g
s a v e d his life.
" I d o n ' t k n o w w h a t y o u ' r e t a l k i n g a b o u t , " t he m o n k a n s w e r e d c a u -
t ious ly . " W h o a r e y o u ? "
" Y o u r e m e m b e r m e , o f c o u r s e y o u d o ! I 'm the o n e t he b o y s w e r e b u s y
m u r d e r i n g o n Kitaoj i A v e n u e ! H o w c a n I e v e r t h a n k y o u ? I f t h e r e ' s a n y
w i s h of y o u r s I c a n m a k e c o m e t r u e , a n y little w i sh a t all, jus t tell m e .
I 've go t a few m a g i c p o w e r s , y o u see , a n d I 'm s u r e I can do s o m e t h i n g
n ice for y o u ! "
C o n f u s e d b y th i s a s t o n i s h i n g offer, t h e m o n k hes i t a t ed , b u t t h e old
fel low ins i s ted till he finally r ep l i ed , " W e l l , I d o n ' t rea l ly have a n y spec ia l
w i s h e s a n y m o r e , y o u k n o w . I 'm s e v e n t y n o w , af ter all, a n d I 've lost a n y
in t e re s t in fame or f o r t u n e . I h a t e to t h i n k w h e r e I'll be b o r n nex t t ime ,
y e s , b u t I d o n ' t s u p p o s e t h e r e ' s a n y t h i n g y o u can do a b o u t that. So I
d o n ' t q u i t e k n o w w h a t to say . Stil l , I of ten imag ine h o w w o n d e r f u l i t
m u s t h a v e b e e n w h e n t h e B u d d h a p r e a c h e d the L o t u s S u t r a o n V u l t u r e
P e a k , a n d I w i s h I cou ld h a v e b e e n t h e r e t o o . C o u l d y o u p e r h a p s g ive
me a v i s ion of t h e s c e n e ? "
" O f c o u r s e I c a n ! " t h e old fellow c r i ed . " I ' m a v e t e r a n a t s h o w s l ike
t h a t ! " H e led t h e m o n k s o m e d i s t a n c e u p t h e hi l ls ide. " N o w , " h e said,
"c lose y o u r e y e s a n d o p e n t h e m aga in w h e n y o u h e a r t h e B u d d h a p r e a c h -
ing. B u t be ca re fu l ! D o n ' t ge t c a r r i e d a w a y a n d i m a g i n e t h a t i t 's all rea l !
I'll be in t e r r i b l e t r o u b l e i f y o u d o . "
T h e old fel low c l i m b e d f a r t h e r up t h e hill. In a m o m e n t t he m o n k
h e a r d t he B u d d h a ' s vo ice p r o c l a i m i n g t h e T e a c h i n g a n d o p e n e d his eyes .
1 7 A
1 2 1 .
NO FOOL, THE HUNTER
A s e a s o n e d h e r m i t , d e v o t e d to t h e L o t u s S u t r a , o n c e l ived on M o u n t
A t a g o jus t n o r t h w e s t o f K y o t o . T h o u g h he n e v e r left his hu t , he did not
s t a r v e , for a h u n t e r w h o l ived n e a r b y a n d r e v e r e d h im often b r o u g h t h im
food .
T h e g r o u n d h e s t o o d o n w a s lap is lazuli b l u e ; t h e t r ee s w e r e all m a d e o f
go ld , s i lver , a n d j e w e l s ; a n d s t r a i g h t in f ront o f h im sat t he B u d d h a ,
f l a n k e d b y M o n j u a n d F u g e n , o n his Lion T h r o n e . A n infinite hos t o f
a d o r i n g s a in t s , b o d h i s a t t v a s , a n d g o d s c l u s t e r e d a r o u n d the B u d d h a ,
b e f o r e w h o m sa t all t h e g r e a t d i sc ip les w h o a p p e a r i n t he s c r i p t u r e s .
S i x t e e n k i n g s , e a c h t h e s o v e r e i g n o v e r a vas t r e a lm , w e r e t o u c h i n g the i r
j e w e l e d c r o w n s t o t h e e a r t h i n h o m a g e , w h i l e f lowers o f four k i n d s
f loa ted d o w n f rom t h e sky , e x q u i s i t e f r a g r a n c e s p e r f u m e d the air , a n d
a n g e l s filled t h e h e a v e n s w i t h celest ia l mus i c . T h e T e a c h i n g t h a t p o u r e d
f rom t h e B u d d h a ' s m o u t h w a s i m m e a s u r a b l y s t i r r i ng a n d p r o f o u n d .
A t first t h e m o n k w a s s i m p l y a w e d b y t h e old fel low's a m a z i n g skill ;
b u t e v e r y w o n d e r , e v e r y m i r a c u l o u s t o u c h , c o n s p i r e d t o p e r s u a d e h im
t h a t t h i s v i s ion rea l ly w a s t h e m o m e n t l ong a g o w h e n the l iving B u d d h a
p r e a c h e d , a n d h e w a s q u i c k l y s w e p t a w a y . T e a r s o f ecs ta t ic joy s p r a n g
to h i s e y e s . T h e n , lost i n a d o r a t i o n , he p r e s s e d his p a l m s toge the r , g r e e t e d
t h e B u d d h a a l o u d , a n d t h r e w h imse l f p r o s t r a t e o n t he g r o u n d .
S u d d e n l y t h e m o u n t a i n r o a r e d , a n d t h e vis ion v a n i s h e d a s t h o r o u g h l y
a s a d r e a m w h e n t h e d r e a m e r w a k e s . T h e m o n k , a lmos t i n s h o c k , found
h i m s e l f a s be fo re on t h e w i ld m o u n t a i n s i d e . All he cou ld do w a s t o s t a r t
w a l k i n g a g a i n .
H e h a d no t g o n e far be fo re t h e old fellow w a s b a c k , c o m p l a i n i n g
b i t t e r l y . "I told you no t to ge t c a r r i e d a w a y ! " he s co lded . " Y o u promued\
O h , h o w could y o u g o b a c k o n y o u r w o r d l ike t h a t ? Y o u r faith w a s s o
s t r o n g t h a t i t b r o u g h t all t h e G u a r d i a n s a n d P r o t e c t o r s d o w n , a n d w h e n
t h e y s a w my s h o w h a d t a k e n i n a t r u e be l i eve r t h e y g a v e me an awful
b e a t i n g . All m y c o l l e a g u e s w h o w e r e h e l p i n g m e w e r e f r igh tened t o d e a t h
a n d g o t a w a y as fast a s t h e y c o u l d . O h , I w i s h I 'd jus t left wel l e n o u g h
a l o n e ! "
T h e n h e d i s a p p e a r e d .
T h e h u n t e r h a d no t b e e n a r o u n d for a l ong t ime w h e n o n e d a y h e
t u r n e d up w i t h a s ack o f d r i e d r ice , a n d t h e re l ieved h e r m i t m e n t i o n e d
t h a t h e h a d b e e n g e t t i n g w o r r i e d . T h e n h e to ld t he h u n t e r a b o u t s o m e -
t h i n g w o n d e r f u l t h a t h a d b e e n h a p p e n i n g . " P e r h a p s it 's b e c a u s e I 've b e e n
h o n o r i n g t h e S u t r a so faithfully all t h e s e y e a r s , I d o n ' t k n o w , " he said,
" b u t t h e B o d h i s a t t v a F u g e n h a s b e e n c o m i n g h e r e e v e r y n igh t o n his
w h i t e e l e p h a n t . S t a y th i s e v e n i n g a n d a d o r e h im w i t h m e ! "
T h e h u n t e r w a s i m p r e s s e d e n o u g h t o say h e w o u l d , b u t h e t o o k t h e
t r o u b l e t o q u e s t i o n t h e h e r m i t ' s b o y s e r v a n t . " W h a t ' s t h e h e r m i t t a l k i n g
a b o u t ? " h e a s k e d . " H a v e y o u see F u g e n t o o ? "
" Y e s , ce r t a in ly , hal f a d o z e n t i m e s , " t h e b o y rep l i ed .
W a i t i n g e a g e r l y b e h i n d t h e h e r m i t , t h e h u n t e r w o n d e r e d w h e t h e r h e
t o o w o u l d see F u g e n . I t w a s t h e t w e n t i e t h o f t h e n in th m o o n , wel l in to
fall, a n d the n igh t w a s long . At last , pa s t m i d n i g h t a r a d i a n c e as of t h e
r i s ing m o o n s h o n e o v e r t h e p e a k s t o t h e east , a n eer ie w i n d b l e w d o w n
the m o u n t a i n , a n d t h e h u t w a s filled w i t h l ight a s t h o u g h i l lumined b y
r ays from afa r . T h e B o d h i s a t t v a F u g e n , m o u n t e d o n his e l e p h a n t , r o d e
t o w a r d t h e m a n d h a l t e d be fo re t h e hu t .
T h e h e r m i t w o r s h i p p e d th i s v is ion w i t h t e a r s o f joy . " A n d y o u , " h e
a s k e d t h e h u n t e r , " d o y o u see h im t o o ? "
" I n d e e d I d o , " r ep l i ed t h e h u n t e r , " a n d so d o e s t h e b o y . T h i s i s ex -
t r a o r d i n a r y ! "
Still t h e h u n t e r w a s p u z z l e d . H e qu i t e u n d e r s t o o d t h a t t he h e r m i t , w i t h
all h i s y e a r s o f d e v o t i o n t o t h e S u t r a w h e r e F u g e n f igures so p r o m i n e n t l y ,
m i g h t be g iven s u c h a b l e s s ing . B u t he cou ld no t u n d e r s t a n d w h y t h e
b o y , a n d w h y h e h imse l f w h o k n e w s o little a b o u t t he se t h i n g s a n d w h o
a b o v e all ki l led a n i m a l s for a l iving, s h o u l d see t h e vis ion t o o . So he
d e c i d e d t h e r e w a s n o r e a s o n w h y h e s h o u l d no t tes t th i s F u g e n .
F i t t i n g a n a r r o w t o t h e s t r i ng , h e t o o k a im ove r t h e h e r m i t ( w h o w a s
p r o s t r a t e i n a d o r a t i o n ) , d r e w to t h e full, a n d let fly. T h e a r r o w s e e m e d
t o s t r ike t h e b o d h i s a t t v a ' s ches t a n d t h e l ight w e n t ou t . S o m e t h i n g w e n t
c r a s h i n g d o w n h i l l t h r o u g h t h e b r u s h .
" W h a t h a v e y o u d o n e ? " c r i ed t h e h e r m i t i n a n a g o n y o f d i s t r e s s .
T h e h u n t e r e x p l a i n e d . " I f i t rea l ly h a d b e e n F u g e n , " h e sa id , " t h e
a r r o w c o u l d n ' t h a v e d o n e a n y d a m a g e . S o i t m u s t h a v e b e e n s o m e
m o n s t e r . "
At d a w n t h e y fo l lowed a t rai l o f b l o o d a h u n d r e d y a r d s to t h e b o t t o m
o f t h e r a v i n e , w h e r e t h e y f o u n d a h u g e b a d g e r ly ing d e a d w i t h a n a r r o w
t h r o u g h its ches t .
Sa in t ly t h o u g h h e w a s , t he h e r m i t w a s i g n o r a n t too , a n d s o h a d been
o p e n t o d e c e p t i o n . T h e h u n t e r , o n t he o t h e r h a n d , h a v i n g his wi t s a b o u t
h im, h a d ki l led t he b a d g e r a n d e x p o s e d its h o a x .
1 2 2 .
A m a n n a m e d S u k e y a s u w a s o n his w a y d o w n from the Cap i t a l t o T a m b a
p r o v i n c e w h e n , a f te r a d a y of h u n t i n g , he s o u g h t she l t e r in an old c h a p e l .
A v i l l age r f rom n e a r b y w a r n e d h im t h a t t h e chape l w a s h a u n t e d a n d tha t
p e o p l e w h o s t a y e d t h e r e d i s a p p e a r e d , b u t S u k e y a s u pa id n o a t t en t ion
a n d m a d e h imse l f a s m u c h a t h o m e a s h e cou ld . W h a t wi th t he b l o w i n g
s n o w a n d t h e s p o o k y s t o ry , h o w e v e r , h e d id no t feel t o o co mfo r t ab l e .
T h e r e w a s a b a b b l e of ee r ie vo ices o u t s i d e . P e e r i n g t h r o u g h a hole in
a s l i d ing p a n e l , o u t i n to t h e g a r d e n w h i t e w i t h s n o w , he s a w the d a r k ,
i nd i s t i nc t s h a p e of a m o n k as tall as t h e roof. T h e n a s k i n n y , ha i ry a r m
s n a k e d in t h r o u g h t h e ho le a n d felt o v e r his face. S u k e y a s u j u m p e d a n d
t h e a r m w i t h d r e w .
S u k e y a s u lay d o w n in a ball to wa i t , fac ing t h e ho le . T h e nex t t ime the
h a i r y a r m c a m e t h r o u g h h e g r a b b e d it, a n d p r o v e d t o o s t r o n g for w h a t -
e v e r w a s n o w s t r u g g l i n g t o ge t its a r m b a c k . Lif t ing ou t t he w h o l e pane l ,
he s t e p p e d o u t on t h e p o r c h o f t h e c h a p e l w i t h t h e pane l still b e t w e e n
h im a n d t h e o w n e r o f t h e a r m . T h e n h e t i p p e d t h e pane l a w a y from him
a n d j u m p e d o n t o it. T h e c r e a t u r e m a y h a v e looked a s tall a s t h e roof, bu t
i t h a d to be v e r y smal l i n d e e d to f i t u n d e r t h e p a n e l , especia l ly w i t h
S u k e y a s u s i t t i ng t r i u m p h a n t l y on t o p o f it! T h e a r m w a s s k i n n i e r t h a n
e v e r .
F ina l l y t h e c r e a t u r e let ou t a s q u e a k . S u k e y a s u h a d o n e of his m e n
s t r i k e a l ight , a n d he found he h a d c a u g h t an old b c 4 g e r . He g a v e i t to
his m e n to look a f te r unt i l he c o u l d s h o w i t off to t he v i l lagers in t he
m o r n i n g , b u t t h e m e n jus t r o a s t e d i t a n d a t e it. By m o r n i n g only t he head
w a s left. S u k e y a s u e x h i b i t e d i t t o t h e v i l l agers a n y w a y .
N o t h i n g h a u n t e d t h e c h a p e l a f te r t h a t .
EXPERT HELP
An asce t i c t r a v e l i n g in t h e n o r t h o n c e c a m e a t s u n d o w n to a m o u n t a i n
v i l lage a n d a s k e d for l o d g i n g . N o o n e w o u l d h a v e h im, bu t t he vi l lagers
to ld hi m a b o u t an o ld c h a p e l d o w n in t he val ley w h e r e he cou ld go i f he
w a n t e d . " T h e y s a y t e n g u live t h e r e , t h o u g h , " t he v i l lagers r e m a r k e d .
1 7 6
1 2 3 .
THE HAIRY ARM
B e i n g a m a s t e r o f spe l l s , t h e asce t ic w a s s u r e he w o u l d c o m e to no
h a r m a n d w e n t d o w n to t h e c h a p e l . Ac tua l ly , t h o u g h , h e wcui a f ra id , a n d
h e t o o k c a r e t o h ide u p o n t h e a l t a r b e h i n d t h e b u d d h a . L a t e t h a t n igh t
h e h e a r d p e o p l e c o m i n g d o w n t h e m o u n t a i n a n d w a s f r igh tened e n o u g h
to m a k e t h e p a s s o f invis ibi l i ty . T h e n he he ld his b r e a t h a n d w a t c h e d .
I n c a m e t w o o r t h r e e d o z e n y o u n g a c o l y t e s c a r r y i n g a p a l a n q u i n w i t h
a p l u m p a n d d i s t i n g u i s h e d m o n k ins ide . W h e n t h e y o u n g fel lows h a d p u t
t he i r s u p e r i o r d o w n , h e to ld t h e m t o g o o u t s i d e a n d p lay . T h e y all c la t -
t e r e d nois i ly ou t a n d b e g a n w r e s t l i n g , d a n c i n g , a n d c a v o r t i n g a b o u t .
" H e l l o t h e r e , r e v e r e n d ! " ca l led t h e m o n k chee r i ly .
" O h n o ! " g r o a n e d t h e a sce t i c , for d e s p i t e his p a s s o f invisibi l i ty h e
o b v i o u s l y cou ld still be s e e n .
" Y o u d i d n ' t do y o u r p a s s r igh t , I 'm af ra id . T h a t ' s w h y I c a n still see
y o u . C o m e h e r e . I'll s h o w y o u . "
T h e asce t i c c a m e ou t , a t i ny bit r e a s s u r e d , a n d the m o n k s h o w e d h im
h o w to do i t p r o p e r l y . " I d i d n ' t w a n t t h o s e id io ts t o see t h i s , " he sa id ,
" t h a t ' s w h y I s e n t t h e m o u t s i d e . "
T h e asce t ic w e n t b a c k b e h i n d t h e b u d d h a a n d t r i ed a g a i n .
" Y o u ' r e d o i n g f i n e ! " ca l led t h e m o n k . " I c an ' t see y o u a n y m o r e ! " H e
ca l led t h e a c o l y t e s b a c k in, a n d t h e y a m u s e d t h e m s e l v e s i n t h e c h a p e l
a w h i l e . T h e n t h e w h o l e p a r t y s t a r t e d b a c k u p the m o u n t a i n .
A h e a l e r a n d his m e d i u m w e r e ca l led t o t a k e ca r e o f s o m e o n e w h o h a d
b e e n p o s s e s s e d by a sp i r i t . As soon as t h e h e a l e r h a d g o t t e n t h e sp i r i t
o v e r i n to t h e m e d i u m , i t e x p l a i n e d , " C u r s e s a r e n ' t rea l ly my line a t al l!
I 'm jus t a fox w h o h a p p e n e d to c o m e by . I live w i t h my little o n e s ove r
a m o n g t h e t o m b s , a n d t h e y ' r e h u n g r y . I c a m e b e c a u s e I t h o u g h t y o u
migh t h a v e food h e r e . I f y o u ' l l g ive me s o m e r ice c a k e s I'll be on my
w a y . "
T h e h o u s e h o l d s e r v e d up a n ice p l a t t e r o f r ice c a k e s , w h i c h the me-
H E A L I N G I I
1 2 ^ .
RICE CAKES
1 7 8
d i u m a t e w i t h h a p p y e x c l a m a t i o n s a b o u t h o w de l i c ious t h e y w e r e . " T h a t
w o m a n ! " t h e p e o p l e g r u m b l e d . " S h e jus t faked the possess ion t o get
t h o s e c a k e s ! "
" N o w i f you'11 be k i n d e n o u g h to g ive me s o m e p a p e r , " t he fox con t in -
u e d , "I ' l l w r a p up t h e res t a n d be off w i t h t h e m to my fami ly ."
T h e m e d i u m care fu l ly w r a p p e d u p t h e c a k e s a n d pu t t h e m in to t he
f ront fold o f h e r r o b e , w h e r e t h e y m a d e a g o o d b u l g e all t he w a y up to
h e r b o s o m .
" N o w d i s m i s s m e , " sa id t h e fox. "I ' l l b e g o i n g . "
" B e g o n e t h e n , b e g o n e ! " t h e h e a l e r o r d e r e d .
T h e m e d i u m s t o o d u p a n d i n s t an t l y co l l apsed . W h e n she got u p aga in
a litt le l a t e r t h e r e w a s n o t h i n g in t h e fold of h e r r o b e .
I t w a s v e r y s t r a n g e h o w t h o s e r ice c a k e s h a d d i s a p p e a r e d .
1 2 5 .
A MEMORABLE EMPRESS
T h e e x q u i s i t e l y beau t i fu l S o m e d o n o E m p r e s s w a s t he r e g e n t ' s d a u g h t e r
a n d t h e m o t h e r o f E m p e r o r M o n t o k u . A t o n e t ime she w a s p e r s e c u t e d
a n d m a d e ill by an evil sp i r i t , a n d a l t h o u g h t h e hol ies t m o n k s a n d mos t
p o w e r f u l h e a l e r s w e r e ca l led i n t o i n t e r v e n e , n o t h i n g t h e y d id b r o u g h t
h e r a n y relief.
N o w a c e r t a i n h e r m i t l ived h igh in t h e K a t s u r a g i M o u n t a i n s of Y a m a t o
p r o v i n c e , o n a p e a k n a m e d K o n g o s e n . W h e n h e w a s h u n g r y , h e h a d his
b e g g i n g b o w l f ly d o w n to t h e foot o f t h e m o u n t a i n to get h im food, a n d
he s e n t h is w a t e r j a r t o t h e s t r e a m to fill i tself w h e n he w a s th i r s ty . T h e
w o n d e r s he w o r k e d s p r e a d his fame far a n d w i d e till i t r e a c h e d the ea r s
o f t h e e m p e r o r a n d his f a the r - i n - l aw , t h e r e g e n t . T h e y d e c i d e d t h a t t he
h e r m i t s h o u l d p r a y for t h e e m p r e s s a n d i s sued a n o r d e r tha t h e b e
b r o u g h t t o c o u r t .
T h e h e r m i t d id his bes t t o re fuse , b u t i t w a s h a r d to t u r n d o w n a d i rec t
s u m m o n s f rom t h e e m p e r o r a n d h e finally w e n t . H i s p r a y e r s ce r ta in ly
w o r k e d , b e c a u s e h e h a d n o s o o n e r b e g u n t h a n o n e o f t he e m p r e s s ' s
l a d i e s - i n - w a i t i n g w e n t q u i t e m a d a n d b e g a n u t t e r i n g s t r a n g e cr ies . N e x t ,
a sp i r i t p o s s e s s e d h e r a n d s h e r a n a b o u t s c r e a m i n g . T h e h e r m i t r e d o u b l e d
his ef for ts , b o u n d t h e w o m a n w i t h his spel ls , a n d t h r e a t e n e d the possess -
ing p o w e r till an old fox s t a g g e r e d ou t f rom t h e b r e a s t o f h e r r o b e , in no
c o n d i t i o n t o r u n a w a y . T h e h e r m i t h a d t h e fox t ied u p a n d i n f o r m e d t h e
r egen t , w h o w a s e n o r m o u s l y r e l i eved . I n a d a y o r t w o t h e e m p r e s s w a s
pe r fec t ly we l l .
T h e r e g e n t w a s s o p l e a s e d t h a t h e ins i s t ed o n h a v i n g t h e h e r m i t s t ay
a w h i l e l o n g e r a t c o u r t . I t w a s s u m m e r . O n e d a y w h e n t h e e m p r e s s w a s
w e a r i n g no m o r e t h a n a n e a r l y t r a n s p a r e n t g o w n , a g u s t o f w i n d lifted
h e r c u r t a i n s a n d t h e h e r m i t c a u g h t a brief g l i m p s e o f he r . T h i s w a s no t
t h e sor t o f s ight he w a s u s e d t o , a n d t h e v is ion of so lovely a w o m a n
m a d e his h e a r t p o u n d a n d his i n n a r d s c r u m b l e to d u s t . In a w o r d , he fell
hope le s s ly in love w i t h t h e e m p r e s s .
P a s s i o n b u r n e d in h im l ike fire a n d c a u s e d h im t e r r i b l e a g o n y . U n a b l e
to t h i n k o f a n y t h i n g else , he a t last lost his r e a s o n , se ized an u n g u a r d e d
m o m e n t , d a r t e d t o t h e e m p r e s s t h r o u g h h e r c u r t a i n s , a n d he ld h e r t igh t .
T h e horr i f ied e m p r e s s b r o k e in to a s w e a t o f t e r r o r b u t w a s no t s t r o n g
e n o u g h t o res i s t .
W h i l e t h e h e r m i t s t r o v e w i t h m i g h t a n d ma in t o c o n s u m m a t e his of-
fense, t h e l a d i e s - i n - w a i t i n g s a w h i m a n d ra i sed t h e a l a r m . T h e p h y s i c i a n
a s s i g n e d b y t h e e m p e r o r t o c a r e for h is wife h a p p e n e d t o b e i n a t t e n d a n c e
n e a r b y a n d t h e c l a m o r b r o u g h t h im r u n n i n g . H e a r r i v e d jus t a s t h e
h e r m i t c a m e o u t a g a i n , a n d c a u g h t h i m . N e x t h e i n fo rmed H i s M a j e s t y ,
w h o o f c o u r s e w a s fu r ious a n d t h r e w t h e h e r m i t i n to p r i s o n .
T h e p r i s o n e r w o u l d s p e a k w i t h n o o n e . H e on ly lifted his e y e s t o
h e a v e n , s o b b i n g , a n d p r a y e d t o d ie a n d b e c o m e a d e m o n . " I n t h a t f o r m , "
he c o n t i n u e d , " m a y I a c h i e v e w i t h th is e m p r e s s , w h i l e s h e still l ives, t h e
i n t i m a c y I c r a v e ! " H i s ja i le rs h e a r d h im a n d w a r n e d t h e r e g e n t , w h o , i n
a fr ight , r e p o r t e d t h e m a t t e r to t h e e m p e r o r . H i s M a j e s t y t h o u g h t i t safest
t o p a r d o n t h e h e r m i t a n d s i m p l y r e t u r n h im t o his m o u n t a i n .
F a r f rom fo rge t t i ng his lus t , t h e h e r m i t b a c k o n K o n g o s e n p l e a d e d
w i t h t h e b u d d h a s t o b r i n g h im a n d t h e e m p r e s s t o g e t h e r . W h e n h e rea l -
ized t h a t s u c h a t h i n g w a s imposs ib l e in th i s life, he r e so lved to b e c o m e a
d e m o n af ter all . Af te r fas t ing for o v e r t en d a y s , he d i ed a t last o f s t a r v a -
t ion . I n s t a n t l y he c h a n g e d in to a d e m o n : n a k e d , ba ld , e igh t feet tall , a n d
w i t h b l ack , g l i s t e n i n g sk in . H i s e y e s w e r e l ike b r a s s b o w l s a n d his g a p i n g
m o u t h b r i s t l ed w i t h kni fe l ike t e e th , w h i l e s h o r t t u s k s c r o s s e d e a c h o t h e r
f rom t h e c o r n e r s o f h is u p p e r a n d l o w e r j a w s . S t u c k i n t h e r ed lo inc lo th
t h a t w a s his o n l y g a r m e n t , he c a r r i e d a d e m o n ' s mal le t .
I n th i s gu i s e he s u d d e n l y s t o o d by t h e e m p r e s s ' s c u r t a i n s , i n b r o a d
day l igh t a n d p la in ly vis ible t o a n y o n e . P e o p l e c o w e r e d i n t e r r o r o r f l e d ,
w h i l e t h e l a d i e s - i n - w a i t i n g fa in ted o r s imp ly g r o v e l e d o n t h e f l o o r a n d
hid u n d e r t h e i r r o b e s .
M e a n w h i l e h e a d d l e d t h e e m p r e s s ' s b r a i n s s o t h o r o u g h l y t h a t she we l -
c o m e d h i m w i t h smi les a n d led h im t o lie d o w n w i t h he r b e h i n d h e r
c u r t a i n s . All t h e l a d i e s - i n - w a i t i n g cou ld h e a r w a s t h e d e m o n tel l ing the i r
m i s t r e s s h o w fiercely h e h a d w a n t e d he r , a n d t he i r mis t ress g iggl ing i n
r e p l y . T h e n t h e y all r a n a w a y .
W h e n t h e d e m o n left, a r o u n d s u n d o w n , t h e l ad ies - in -wai t ing r u s h e d
b a c k t o t h e i r m i s t r e s s w o n d e r i n g w h a t h a d b e c o m e o f he r . S h e looked
t h e s a m e as e v e r . In fact, d e s p i t e t h e o d d g l eam in h e r eye she s eemed
n o t t o k n o w t h a t a n y t h i n g specia l h a d h a p p e n e d .
O n h e a r i n g o f th i s fresh inc iden t , H i s M a j e s t y w a s less f r igh tened b y
t h e d e m o n t h a n w o r r i e d a b o u t w h a t m i g h t h a v e h a p p e n e d t o his wife.
T h e d e m o n n o w c a m e da i ly i n jus t t h e s a m e w a y . T h e e m p r e s s n e v e r
s h o w e d a n y fear , a l t h o u g h s h e c e r t a i n l y w a s i n n o o r d i n a r y s t a t e o f m ind ,
a n d s h e t r e a t e d h im e a c h t i m e s imp ly a s a lover . T h e pa lace ladies a n d
g e n t l e m e n w h o s a w w h a t w a s g o i n g o n w e r e v e r y s o r r y .
N e x t , t h e d e m o n p o s s e s s e d s o m e o n e t o d e c l a r e tha t h e w a s " g o i n g t o
ge t t h a t p h y s i c i a n for w h a t h e d id t o m e . " T h e terr i f ied phys i c i an soon
d r o p p e d d e a d , a n d all four o f h is s o n s a lso w e n t m a d a n d d ied .
B y th i s t i m e t h e e m p e r o r a n d t h e r e g e n t w e r e bes ide t h e m s e l v e s a n d
ca l l ed i n t h e hol ies t m e n t h e y cou ld find t o s u b d u e the d e m o n . P e r h a p s
th i s w o r k e d , b e c a u s e for s o m e t ime t h e d e m o n s t o p p e d c o m i n g a n d t h e
e m p r e s s r e c o v e r e d a little of h e r f o r m e r self.
T h e e m p e r o r w a s o f c o u r s e k e p t i n fo rmed , a n d h e w a s s o p l eased tha t
he d e c i d e d t o go a n d see h e r . S i n c e i t w a s an u n u s u a l l y t o u c h i n g visit ,
t h e w h o l e c o u r t a t t e n d e d h im a s h e w e n t . H e sat w i t h h e r a n d told her ,
i n t e a r s , h o w s o r r y h e w a s a b o u t t h e w h o l e affair. S h e herse l f w a s m o v e d
a n d in fact s e e m e d q u i t e h e r o ld self.
J u s t t h e n t h e d e m o n b u r s t i n a n d m a d e s t r a igh t for t he e m p r e s s ' s
p r i v a t e , c u r t a i n e d e n c l o s u r e . T h e e m p r e s s h u r r i e d t o join h im a s usua l ,
a s t h o u g h i t w a s t h e m o s t n a t u r a l t h i n g in t h e w o r l d . In a m o m e n t t he
d e m o n r u s h e d o u t a g a i n , s t r i k i n g t e r r o r in to e v e r y min is te r , nob le , a n d
official p r e s e n t . T h e e m p r e s s fo l lowed. A n d t h e r e , i n t he s ight o f t h e m
all, t h e p a i r b r a z e n l y p e r f o r m e d a n u n s p e a k a b l e ac t . W h e n i t w a s o v e r
t h e d e m o n left, a n d t h e e m p r e s s s t o o d up a n d w i t h d r e w . At a loss for
w h a t t o t h i n k , say , o r d o , t h e e m p e r o r r e t u r n e d t o his pa l ace .
Le t n o b l e lad ies t h e n t a k e h e e d a n d a l low n o such he rmi t t o a p p r o a c h
t h e m ! T h i s s ad s t o r y s h o u l d s e r v e a s a d i r e w a r n i n g to all .
1 2 6 .
QUITE A STINK
E m p e r o r E n ' y u h a d b e e n ill for a l o n g t ime , a n d s ince a sp i r i t w a s c a u s i n g
t h e t r o u b l e , all t h e g r e a t e s t h e a l e r s o f t h e t i m e h a d b e e n ca l led in t o do
t he i r bes t . N o t h i n g h a d w o r k e d , t h o u g h , a n d t h e e m p e r o r w a s b e g i n n i n g
to be a f ra id .
F ina l ly s o m e o n e to ld h im a b o u t a n asce t i c w h o h a d b e e n p r a c t i c i n g for
y e a r s o n K o z e n , t h e m o u n t a i n n e a r N a r a . " H e ' s bui l t u p s u c h p o w e r tha t
h e c a n s t o p wi ld a n i m a l s i n m i d - r u n w i t h his spel ls , a n d b r i n g d o w n b i r d s
from t h e s k y , " t h e i n f o r m a n t w e n t o n . " S u m m o n h im, Y o u r M a j e s t y !
He'll h e l p y o u ! "
T h e asce t i c c a m e a s fast a s he c o u l d . All t h e w a y to Uji, a b o u t half t he
j o u r n e y , f lowers f loa ted d o w n on h im f rom t h e s k y — a s ight t h a t b o g g l e d
t h e m i n d o f e v e r y o n e w h o s a w it. (Af t e r Uji t h e r e w e r e n o m o r e f l ower s . )
T h e e m p e r o r ca l led h im i n a s s o o n a s h e go t t o t he pa l ace a n d h a d h im
beg in his i n c a n t a t i o n s . In a l m o s t no t ime H i s M a j e s t y felt pe r fec t ly we l l .
S o m e o f t h e g r e a t m o n k s a n d hea l e r s w h o s e i n t e r v e n t i o n h a d failed
f o u n d th i s i n s t a n t s u c c e s s a bi t o d d . A m o n g the d o u b t e r s w e r e five m e n
w h o h a d jus t w o r k e d t o g e t h e r i n a p a r t i c u l a r l y power fu l F u d o r i te .
" F o r y e a r s w e ' v e t r u s t e d i n t h e B u d d h a a n d p r a c t i c e d his T e a c h i n g , "
o n e o f t h e five c o m p l a i n e d . " D a y af ter d a y w e ' v e p r a y e d w i t h h e a r t a n d
soul for H i s M a j e s t y , a n d still w e ' v e failed. W h o u< th is a sce t i c? W h a t ' s
he d o n e to ge t s u c h q u i c k s u c c e s s ? P e r h a p s he rea l ly i s m o r e p o w e r f u l
t h a n a n y o n e o f us , b u t he can ' t be m o r e power fu l t h a n all five o f u s p u t
t o g e t h e r ! I t d o e s n ' t m a k e s e n s e ! "
H a v i n g s o m e m o r e r i t es t o p e r f o r m , t h e five t ook t h e occas ion t o ge t
n e a r t h e a sce t i c f rom K o z e n a n d t o d i r e c t s o m e specia l i n c a n t a t i o n s r igh t
a t h i m .
T h e asce t ic w a s s e a t e d b y himself, en t i r e ly s u r r o u n d e d b y c u r t a i n s . I n
a m o m e n t t h e y h e a r d a v i g o r o u s s c r a b b l i n g a n d s c r a t c h i n g no ise from
ins ide t h e c u r t a i n s , a n d a d i s g u s t i n g s t ink o f d o g s h i t filled t h e r o o m . T h e
n o b l e s p r e s e n t w e r e hor r i f ied , a n d s o w a s H i s Ma je s ty , b u t t h e five
m o n k s c o u l d tell t h a t t h e t r u t h a b o u t t h a t asce t ic w a s n o w b e g i n n i n g t o
c o m e o u t . T h e y r e d o u b l e d t he i r effor ts .
S u d d e n l y t h e a sce t i c h u r t l e d ou t t h r o u g h his c u r t a i n s a n d c r a s h e d t o
t h e floor, w h e r e h e lay s p r a w l e d o n his b a c k . " H e l p ! " h e s h r i e k e d . " G o o d
s i rs , s a v e m e , p l e a s e ! All t h e s e y e a r s on K o z e n I 've w o r s h i p p e d the t e n g u
a n d p r a y e d t o t h e m t o m a k e m e f a m o u s . A n d i t w o r k e d , y o u k n o w ,
1 8 2
b e c a u s e I w ca l l ed h e r e to t h e p a l a c e ! B u t w h a t an awful m i s t a k e i t
w a s ! I 've l e a r n e d my lesson n o w , y e s I h a v e ! P lease save me , oh p l e a s e ! "
T h e five m o n k s w e r e q u i t e sat isf ied. As for t h e e m p e r o r , his first
t h o u g h t w a s t o a r r e s t t h e m a n a n d t h r o w h im i n jail, b u t h e c h a n g e d his
m i n d a n d o n l y o r d e r e d h im b a n i s h e d from the C a p i t a l . T h e ascet ic w a s
g l a d e n o u g h t o m a k e h imse l f s c a r c e . S o m e l a u g h e d t o w a t c h him go ,
w h i l e s o m e j u s t w i s h e d t h e y c o u l d ge t t he i r h a n d s o n h im. H e h a d been
t r e a t e d l ike a B u d d h a in p e r s o n w h e n he c u r e d the e m p e r o r , bu t he m a d e
a v e r y s o r r y s igh t as he fled.
1 2 7 .
THE MASTER
T h o u g h e x p e r t i n s c h o l a r s h i p a n d i n t h e m y s t e r i e s o f t h e faith, t h e m o n k
Y o s h i n f rom M o u n t H ie i f o u n d h imse l f p a s s e d o v e r for p r o m o t i o n y e a r
a f t e r y e a r i n favor o f y o u n g e r a n d less e x p e r i e n c e d m o n k s , a n d b e c a m e
so d i s a p p o i n t e d t h a t he e v e n t u a l l y left t h e m o u n t a i n a n d w a n d e r e d off
t o w a r d Iyo p r o v i n c e . O n t h e w a y h e s t o p p e d a t A k a s h i , a h a r b o r i n
H a r i m a .
A n e p i d e m i c h a d af fec ted e v e r y h o u s e h o l d a r o u n d A k a s h i . Yosh in
f o u n d t h e v i l l age r s s c u r r y i n g a b o u t . T h e y to ld h im a b o u t t he s i ckness ,
a n d e x p l a i n e d t h a t a m o n k a n d s t ro l l ing d i v i n e r h a d c o m e b y a n d p r o m -
ised t h e m h e c o u l d s t o p it . T h e y w e r e n o w h u r r y i n g a r o u n d , o n his
i n s t r u c t i o n s , t o d i s t r i b u t e t h e t h i n g s e v e r y o n e w o u l d n e e d t o t a k e p a r t i n
t h e r i t e .
Y o s h i n w a s s h o c k e d t h a t s u c h a c h a r l a t a n s h o u l d p r e y o n t he se p o o r
gu l l ib le p e o p l e , b u t h e d e c i d e d t o join t h e m t o see w h a t w o u l d h a p p e n .
T h e r i te w a s t o b e t h e n e x t m o r n i n g . A t d a w n Y o s h i n d r e s s e d i n his
s e r v a n t ' s c l o t h e s ( fo r n o m o n k o f his s t a t ion w o u l d t rave l a l o n e ) a n d
h e l p e d t h e v i l l age r s c a r r y t h e s u p p l i e s t o t h e b e a c h . T h e s e i nc luded half
a d o z e n n e w b u c k e t s , w h i t e a n d g l u t i n o u s r ice , s o y b e a n s , c o w p e a s , fruit
a n d n u t s , g i n g e r , smal l a n d l a rge e a r t h e n w a r e b o w l s , c lean s t r a w m a t s ,
h a n d w o v e n c lo th , s t o u t c r y p t o m e r i a po les , fine p a p e r , oil, a n d m a n y
o t h e r t h i n g s . W h e n all t h e s u p p l i e s w e r e a t h a n d , t h e d i v i n e r p r e p a r e d
t h e r i t ua l s i te on a fine b r o a d s t r e t c h of s a n d .
He s e w e d s e v e r a l w i d t h s o f c lo th i n to a c u r t a i n , w h i c h he h u n g on the
p o l e s so as to s c r e e n off a fairly l a rge s p a c e , t h e n p l a n t e d dhikimi b r a n c h e s
( w h i c h a r e a l w a y s offered t o sp i r i t s ) a r o u n d t h e ins ide o f t he c u r t a i n .
N e x t , he laid o u t four m a t s in a s q u a r e so t h a t t h e y faced in t h e four
d i r e c t i o n s , l e av ing a s m a l l e r s q u a r e o l s a n d in t h e m i d d l e . Af te r carefu l ly
s m o o t h i n g th i s s q u a r e he d r e w on it, w i t h a l ong th in s t ick, a beaut i fu l
p i c t u r e o f t h e c o m p l i c a t e d W o m b - R e a l m M a n d a l a . T h e e a r t h e n w a r e
b o w l s w e r e l ined u p o n the m a t s , filled w i t h ho ly w a t e r o r h e a p e d w i t h
fruit, n u t s , a n d r i ce . H e e n d e d b y l igh t ing l a m p s a t t he four c o r n e r s o f
t h e e n c l o s u r e , c u t t i n g p a p e r s t r e a m e r s , a n d a t t a c h i n g e ight o f t h e m t o
e a c h o f t h e e n c l o s u r e ' s fou r s ides . F ina l ly he a n d his a s s i s t an t s p u t on
p u r e w h i t e r i tua l r o b e s .
W i t h e v e r y t h i n g n o w r e a d y t h e d i v i n e r b e g a n the d e d i c a t i o n r i te for
t h e W o m b - R e a l m . H e w a s v e r y p r e c i s e . A s s u m i n g t h a t n o o n e p r e s e n t
w o u l d u n d e r s t a n d w h a t h e w a s d o i n g , h e d id no t b o t h e r t o concea l t h e
officiant 's n o r m a l l y s ec re t h a n d g e s t u r e s , a n d Y o s h i n co u l d tell h e k n e w
exac t l y w h a t h e w a s d o i n g .
F o r Y o s h i n , t h e v e r y e x i s t e n c e o f s u c h a m a n w a s a r eve la t ion . E v e r y
de ta i l w a s pe r fec t . E a c h o f t h e h u n d r e d v i l l agers a t t e n d i n g w a s p r o p e r l y
b a t h e d a n d pur i f i ed . E v e n t h e c h i l d r e n h a d t he i r rosa r i e s a n d w e r e c o m -
ple te ly a b s o r b e d i n i n v o k i n g t h e b u d d h a s . Y o s h i n h a d w i t n e s s e d m a n y
s u c h r i tes o n M o u n t Hie i , b u t h e h a d n e v e r seen o n e s o me t i cu lous ly
d o n e . H e w a s s o f a sc ina t ed t h a t h e d e c i d e d t o b e c o m e the d i v i n e r ' s
d i sc ip l e .
W h e n t h e W o m b - R e a l m d e d i c a t i o n w a s over , t he d i v i n e r g a t h e r e d u p
e v e r y t h i n g in t h e e n c l o s u r e a n d p u t i t a s ide , i n c l u d i n g even t h e p a p e r
s t r e a m e r s a n d t h e dhikimi, t h e n t o o k a n e w set o f t h e s a m e t h i n g s a n d
m a d e e x a c t l y t h e s a m e p r e p a r a t i o n s a s be fore . O n the s m o o t h e d c e n t r a l
s q u a r e o f s a n d h e d r e w a n o t h e r m a n d a l a , th i s t ime t h e V a j r a - R e a l m , a n d
d e d i c a t e d i t j u s t a s ca re fu l ly . A t t h e e n d he d i s m a n t l e d e v e r y t h i n g inc lud-
ing t h e c u r t a i n , h e a p e d i t all on t h e first pile, a n d set t h e pile on fire.
S o o n e v e n t h e b u c k e t s a n d w a t e r d i p p e r s w e r e a s h e s . T h e r e w a s n o t h i n g
left e x c e p t t h e w h i t e g a r m e n t s t h e d i v i n e r a n d his a s s i s t an t s h a d o n . T h e
a w e d v i l l agers s a w c lea r ly t h a t t h e d i v i n e r w a n t e d n o t h i n g for himself.
Y o s h i n w a s d e t e r m i n e d t o m e e t t h e m a n a n d w a i t e d af ter e v e r y o n e
h a d g o n e for t h e r igh t m o m e n t t o a p p r o a c h h im .
H a v i n g f inished t i d y i n g u p , t h e d i v i n e r p u t on a s t r a w c loak a n d
s t a r t e d off, for he w a s no t s t a y i n g in t h e v i l lage . Y o s h i n c h o s e t h a t
m o m e n t t o a c c o s t h i m a n d a s k h im w h o h e w a s .
" I ' m no t a pea san t , " t h e d i v i n e r rep l ied , " t h o u g h o u t h e r e in t h e c o u n t r y
they all a s s u m e I 'm o n e ! " A d i s t u r b e d e x p r e s s i o n c a m e over his face as
he s p o k e , a n d he s u d d e n l y t u r n e d a n d fled. I n his h u r r y he even left his
b a g g a g e b e h i n d .
Y o s h i n w a s v e r y s o r r y . B a c k i n t h e vi l lage h e f o u n d ou t t h a t a s soon
1 8 4
as t h e r i te w a s o v e r , e v e r y o n e ly ing s ick in t h e h o u s e s h a d s h a k e n off the
fever a n d r e c o v e r e d . T h e v i l l agers w e r e r u n n i n g a r o u n d exc i t ed ly w i t h
t h e n e w s . I n fact, t h e e p i d e m i c d i s a p p e a r e d tha t d a y not on ly from the
v i l lage b u t f rom t h e w h o l e p r o v i n c e . T h e d i v i n e r h a d w o r k e d a mi rac le .
Y o s h i n h u n t e d for h i m e v e r y w h e r e , b u t n e v e r found h im aga in .
1 2 8 .
A SIMPLE CURE
L o r d K i n s u e w a s still r e la t ive ly j u n i o r a t c o u r t ( t h o u g h la ter h e b e c a m e
c h a n c e l l o r ) w h e n h e w a s s t r i c k e n w i t h ma la r i a . H a v i n g h e a r d o r a L o t u s
S u t r a a sce t i c n a m e d Eij i tsu w h o l ived n e a r K y o t o a n d w a s said t o b e
e x p e r t a t c u r i n g s u c h fevers , K i n s u e a g r e e d t o g o a n d seek his he lp . Alas ,
h e h a d no t q u i t e r e a c h e d Ei j i t su ' s t e m p l e w h e n his fever r e t u r n e d , ear l ie r
t h a n e x p e c t e d . I t w a s t o o late for h im t o t u r n b a c k . H e s t r u g g l e d on,
b r o u g h t u p h i s c a r r i a g e u n d e r t he t e m p l e eaves , a n d a s k e d t o see t he
a s c e t i c .
T h r o u g h an a c o l y t e Eij i tsu p r o t e s t e d t h a t he h a d b e e n e a t i n g a lot o f
g a r l i c la te ly , b u t K i n s u e a n s w e r e d t h a t h e w a n t e d t o see t h e aco ly te ' s
m a s t e r , ga r l i c o r n o ga r l i c , a n d t h a t h e w a s i n n o cond i t i on t o g o h o m e .
Ei j i t su h a d his s h u t t e r s o p e n e d a n d n e w m a t s s p r e a d o n the floor, a n d
K i n s u e w a s led i n s ide .
M e a n w h i l e Ei j i t su c l e a n s e d h imse l f a n d soon c a m e forth, tall, g a u n t ,
a n d d i s t i n g u i s h e d , t o m e e t h is g u e s t . H e e x p l a i n e d t h a t h a v i n g c a u g h t a
b a d co ld h e w a s e a t i n g ga r l i c o n a d o c t o r ' s a d v i c e . " B u t t he L o t u s S u t r a
i s a b o v e c o n s i d e r a t i o n s o f p u r i t y o r i m p u r i t y , " h e a d d e d , " so m y b r e a t h
w o n ' t m a t t e r . I'll c h a n t t h e S u t r a for y o u . You ' l l be all r i g h t . "
K i n s u e w a s ly ing d o w n . Ei j i tsu r u b b e d t h e b e a d s o f his r o s a r y t o g e t h e r
a s h e a p p r o a c h e d h im, a n d his w h o l e m a n n e r i n sp i r ed conf idence . T h e n
he t o o k K i n s u e ' s h e a d in his h a n d s , laid i t on his lap , a n d b e g a n c h a n t i n g .
K i n s u e w a s a w e d . He h a d n e v e r k n o w n so ho ly a feeling. Eij i tsu s r e so-
n a n t , s l igh t ly h o a r s e vo ice w a s d e e p l y m o v i n g , a n d a s h e c h a n t e d g r e a t
t e a r s s t r e a m e d f rom h is e y e s . K i n s u e ' s fever v a n i s h e d a n d he felt re -
n e w e d . Be fo re h e left h e p l e d g e d Eij i tsu e n d u r i n g g r a t i t u d e a n d devo t ion ,
a n d a f t e r t h a t E i j i t su ' s h e a l i n g p o w e r s a c q u i r e d w i d e s p r e a d fame.
t
O n c e a m a n h a d a k ind a n d beaut i fu l wife w h o m he loved v e r y m u c h .
O n e n i g h t t h e y w e r e s l e e p i n g s ide b y s ide w h e n h e d r e a m e d his d e a r wife
said to h im, "Af te r all th i s t i m e w e ' v e b e e n t o g e t h e r , I 'm g o i n g far a w a y
a n d w o n ' t see y o u a n y m o r e . B u t I'll l eave y o u s o m e t h i n g t o r e m e m b e r
me by . L o v e i t i n s t e a d of m e ! "
W h e n h e w o k e u p , h e w a s v e r y u p s e t . H i s wife w a s g o n e , rea l ly g o n e .
I t w a s a c a t a s t r o p h e . By his p i l low lay a b o w w h i c h h a d ce r t a in ly no t
b e e n t h e r e be fo re . I t m u s t be t h e m e m e n t o s h e h a d s p o k e n of. W o u l d she
e v e r c o m e b a c k ? H e w a i t e d , b u t n o , s h e n e v e r a p p e a r e d . H o w h e mis sed
h e r ! A n d t h e b o w — i t m i g h t wel l be s o m e d e m o n in d i sgu i se a n d he w a s
afraid of it. B u t in t h e e n d he d e c i d e d he h a d n o t h i n g to lose a n d b e g a n
k e e p i n g i t by h im, s t r o k i n g i t as h is m e m o r y l inge red on his wife .
M o n t h s p a s s e d . O n e d a y t h e b o w , w h i c h w a s b y h im a s u sua l , s u d -
d e n l y t u r n e d in to a w h i t e b i rd , w h i c h flew a w a y t o w a r d t h e s o u t h . A s t o n -
i shed , he set ou t t o fol low i t a s i t s k i m m e d t h e c l o u d s . W h e n he r e a c h e d
the p r o v i n c e of Kii, t h e b i rd t u r n e d in to a h u m a n .
A BELOVED WIFE, A BOW, A WHITE BIRD
1 2 9 .
1 8 6
" J u s t a s I t h o u g h t ! " sa id t h e m a n t o himself. " T h a t w a s n o o r d i n a r y
b o w , i t w a s a m a g i c fo rm of s o m e t h i n g e l s e ! "
T h e n he w e n t h o m e a g a i n , w i t h on his lips a s o n g a b o u t t h e s t r a n g e n e s s
of it a l l .
I 3 o .
THE UNKNOWN THIRD
T s u n e z u m i n o Y a s u n a g a , w h o s e r v e d P r i n c e K o r e t a k a , w a s o n c e sent u p
n o r t h t o K o z u k e p r o v i n c e t o col lect t a x e s from a n es ta te t he p r i n c e o w n e d
t h e r e . M o n t h s la ter , o n his w a y b a c k t o K y o t o , h e s t o p p e d a t t he F u w a
b a r r i e r i n t h e p r o v i n c e o f M i n o .
Y a s u n a g a h a d left h is y o u n g wife a t h o m e a n d h a d missed he r all t h e
t i m e h e w a s g o n e . N o w h e s u d d e n l y y e a r n e d for h e r m o r e s h a r p l y t h a n
e v e r a n d w o n d e r e d w h e t h e r s o m e t h i n g migh t h a v e h a p p e n e d t o he r .
R e s o l v i n g to h u r r y on first t h i n g t h e n e x t m o r n i n g , he lay d o w n in t he
s h e l t e r p r o v i d e d a t t h e b a r r i e r a n d w e n t t o s l eep .
He d r e a m e d he s a w a m a n o f t h e s e r v a n t c lass c o m i n g from the d i r ec -
t ion o f K y o t o , c a r r y i n g a t o r c h . He h a d a w o m a n w i t h h im . W h e n the
p a i r r e a c h e d t h e she l t e r , h e s a w the w o m a n w a s his wife . W h a t a s h o c k !
T h e r e s h e w a s o n t h e o t h e r s ide o f t he wa l l .
P e e r i n g t h r o u g h a ho le in t h e wal l , he s a w t h e m b r i n g o v e r a ket t le ,
c o o k r ice , a n d ea t . H i s wife h a d a p p a r e n t l y t a k e n u p w i t h th is m a n i n his
a b s e n c e . Y a s u n a g a ' s s t o m a c h c h u r n e d , h i s h e a r t p o u n d e d , a n d his m i n d
w e n t i n to t u r m o i l , b u t h e k e p t w a t c h i n g . Af te r t he i r meal t h e y lay d o w n
i n e a c h o t h e r s a r m s a n d b e g a n m a k i n g love . T h e s ight d r o v e him wi ld
a n d h e r u s h e d o u t . T h e r e w a s n o fire. T h e r e w a s n o o n e t h e r e a t all. H e
w o k e u p .
I t h a d b e e n a d r e a m , t h e n . Rea l ly w o r r i e d n o w a b o u t his wife, Y a s u -
n a g a set off a t d a w n w i t h all p o s s i b l e s p e e d . To his g r e a t relief he found
his wife safe a n d s o u n d a t h o m e .
S h e g r e e t e d h im w i t h joy . " Y o u k n o w , " s h e said, " las t n igh t I d r e a m e d
a m a n I 'd n e v e r s e e n b e f o r e c a m e a n d t a l k e d me in to go ing off w i t h h im.
I d o n ' t k n o w w h e r e i t w a s we w e n t , b u t a n y w a y , a t nightfall we lit a fire
a n d c o o k e d r ice . Af te r d i n n e r w e w e n t in to s o m e sor t o f c a b i n a n d lay
d o w n t o g e t h e r . T h e n s u d d e n l y y o u b u r s t in, a n d h e a n d I b o t h p a n -
i cked . T h a t w a s w h e n I w o k e u p . I 've b e e n w o n d e r i n g a b o u t t h a t d r e a m
e v e r s ince , a n d n o w h e r e y o u a r e ! "
Y a s u n a g a to ld h e r a b o u t hut d r e a m a n d w h a t i t h a d d o n e t o h i m . " Y o u
w o u l d n ' t be l i eve h o w fast I go t h e r e ! " he sa id .
H o w e x t r a o r d i n a r y t h a t t h e y s h o u l d h a v e d r e a m e d , s i m u l t a n e o u s l y ,
c o m p l e m e n t a r y d r e a m s !
i 3 i .
AN IMAGE IN A FLAME
K o c h u j o , a y o u n g l ady w h o s e r v e d t h e e m p r e s s , w a s v e r y p r e t t y a n d
gracefu l , a n d s o n ice t oo t h a t all t h e o t h e r l ad ies loved h e r d e a r l y . T h o u g h
she h a d n o r e g u l a r g e n t l e m a n f r iend, F u j i w a r a n o T a k a t s u n e , t h e g o v e r -
n o r o f M i n o , d id visi t h e r a g o o d dea l .
O n c e w h i l e K o c h u j o w a s l o o k i n g af ter t h e e m p r e s s , d r e s s e d i n pa le
violet o v e r a p i n k u n d e r r o b e , a p r ec i s e image of h e r a p p e a r e d in t he f lame
o f a l a m p n e a r b y . H e r c o s t u m e , h e r hai r , h e r face, h e r look a s s h e he ld
h e r h a n d b e f o r e h e r m o u t h — each deta i l w a s per fec t . T h e o t h e r y o u n g
ladies w e r e a m a z e d a t t h e r e s e m b l a n c e a n d c l u s t e r e d r o u n d t o c h a t t e r
a n d s t a r e . N o t o n e o f t h e m w a s e x p e r i e n c e d e n o u g h t o k n o w w h a t
n e e d e d t o b e d o n e .
K o c h u j o t o o k i t b a d l y w h e n s h e w a s to ld . " U g h ! " s h e c r i ed . " Y o u
d i d n ' t p u t i t o u t ? Y o u jus t k e p t s t a r i n g a t it? H o w e m b a r r a s s i n g ! " B u t
w h e n t h e o l d e r l ad ies o f t h e h o u s e h o l d f o u n d ou t , t h e y w e r e w o r r i e d .
T h o s e g i r l s s h o u l d h a v e let s o m e o n e r e s p o n s i b l e k n o w r igh t a w a y ! In -
s t ead , t h e y h a d jus t t r i m m e d t h e l a m p a s u sua l a n d left i t a t t h a t .
T h r e e w e e k s o r s o la te r , for n o a p p a r e n t r e a s o n , K o c h u j o b e g a n t o r u n
a fever . F o r a d a y or t w o s h e k e p t to h e r r o o m , t h e n felt so ill t h a t s h e
w e n t h o m e .
W h e n L o r d T a k a t s u n e c a m e b y t o let h e r k n o w t h a t h e w o u l d b e g o i n g
a w a y briefly, a lit t le k i t c h e n m a i d to ld h im w h e r e s h e h a d g o n e . H e w e n t
s t r a igh t t o h e r h o u s e . T h e m o o n w a s s i n k i n g t o w a r d t h e w e s t . W h e n
K o c h u j o c a m e ou t t o h im, h e f o u n d h e r c u r i o u s l y p a t h e t i c , w h i l e she t o o
s e e m e d c o n s t r a i n e d a n d a c t e d a litt le d i s t a n t . T a k a t s u n e w e n t in a n d lay
d o w n w i t h he r , b u t a c t u a l l y he felt l ike l eav ing .
T h e y t a l k e d all n i g h t . By d a w n T a k a t s u n e f o u n d i t h a r d t o say g o o d -
1 8 8
bye , a n d h e w o r r i e d a b o u t h e r all t h e w a y h o m e . A s soon a s h e got t h e r e ,
he s en t h e r a n o t e t o tell h e r h o w c o n c e r n e d he w a s a n d p r o m i s e d he
w o u l d b e b a c k t o see h e r s o o n . T h e n h e l inge red t o wa i t for he r a n s w e r .
H e r r e p l y c o n s i s t e d o f o n e w o r d , " T o r i b e n o . " W h y , t h a t w a s t he n a m e
o f t h e b u r n i n g g r o u n d w h e r e t he d e a d w e r e t a k e n ! D e e p l y t r o u b l e d ,
T a k a t s u n e s l i p p e d t h e n o t e i n u n d e r his c lo th ing , aga ins t his hea r t . T h e n
he s t a r t e d off. He k e p t t a k i n g ou t t h e no t e all t he w a y a l o n g t o e x a m i n e
it. W h a t beau t i fu l w r i t i n g s h e h a d ! Af te r b e i n g d e t a i n e d a t his des t ina t ion
for s o m e t ime , h e go t a w a y a s s o o n a s h e co u l d a n d h u r r i e d back , t h i n k i n g
o f h e r c o n s t a n t l y . O n r e a c h i n g the C a p i t a l , h e w e n t d i rec t ly t o he r h o u s e .
S h e h a d d i e d t h e p r e v i o u s n igh t a n d t h e y h a d t a k e h e r t o T o r i b e n o .
L o r d T a k a t s u n e s feel ings c a n easi ly be i m a g i n e d .
Y e s , w h e n s o m e o n e ' s i m a g e a p p e a r s in a f lame, t he t h i n g to do i s to
t r im off t h a t p a r t o f t h e b u r n e d w i c k a n d h a v e t h e p e r s o n s w a l l o w it.
A n d it 's a g o o d t h i n g t o p r a y h a r d , t o o . T h e y o u n g ladies h a d n ' t k n o w n
h o w d a n g e r o u s a s igh t t h e y h a d seen , a n d t he i r i g n o r a n c e c a u s e d K o c h u -
jo ' s d e a t h .
1 3 2 .
THE FORSAKEN LADY
F u j i w a r a n o M o r o i e w a s i nvo lved w i t h t h e m e e k e s t a n d swee te s t o f
l ad ie s . N o r e p r o a c h h e m i g h t h a v e d e s e r v e d e v e r p a s s e d h e r l ips. T h o u g h
he d i d his b e s t t o avo id h u r t i n g he r , official d u t i e s s o m e t i m e s k e p t h im
b u s y , a n d t h e n t h e r e w e r e t h o s e inev i t ab le e v e n i n g s w h e n a pa s s ing
affect ion w o u l d d e t a i n h i m . I n t h e e n d h e d id no t ac tua l ly s p e n d m a n y
n i g h t s w i t h he r , a n d s h e c a m e i n h e r i n n o c e n c e t o a s s u m e t h a t h e did no t
rea l ly love h e r . S h e b e g a n k e e p i n g h e r d i s t ance , a n d the m o r e she d id s o
t h e m o r e t h e y d r i f t ed a p a r t . N o t t h a t t h e y d i s l iked each o the r , b u t t h e
gu l f b e t w e e n t h e m k e p t w i d e n i n g unt i l M o r o i e s t o p p e d vis i t ing h e r a l to-
g e t h e r .
S ix m o n t h s l a t e r M o r o i e h a p p e n e d t o p a s s he r h o u s e . O n e o f h e r
w o m e n , o n h e r w a y b a c k from a n e r r a n d , no t iced him a n d to ld t he lady
h e h a d jus t g o n e b y . " A h , w h e n w a s i t t h a t h e used t o visit u s ? " t h e
w o m a n w e n t o n t o m u s e . " I t b r o u g h t b a c k s o m a n y m e m o r i e s t o see
h i m ! "
T h e l a d y sen t a m e s s e n g e r af ter M o r o i e . " A s k h im to c o m e in for a
m o m e n t , " s h e sa id . " I h a v e s o m e t h i n g t o tell h i m . "
W h e n h e go t t h e m e s s a g e , M o r o i e rea l i zed w i t h a s t a r t w h e r e h e w a s .
H e a l i g h t e d from his c a r r i a g e a n d e n t e r e d t h e h o u s e .
T h e l a d y w a s s e a t e d be fo re a b o x o f s u t r a scrol ls , c h a n t i n g t h e L o t u s
S u t r a . S h e w a s t o o beau t i fu l ly d r e s s e d to h a v e jus t t id ied herse l f up in a
h u r r y t o r ece ive h i m . M o r o i e s a w h e r w i t h n e w eyes a n d co u l d no t
i m a g i n e w h y h e h a d d r o p p e d h e r . O h , t o m a k e h e r s t o p c h a n t i n g a n d
w h i s k h e r o i l t o b e d ! B u t t h e m o n t h s o f s e p a r a t i o n h a d m a d e h im a litt le
shy , a n d he t r i ed i n s t e a d t o e n g a g e h e r i n c o n v e r s a t i o n . S h e d id no t
r e s p o n d , t h o u g h h e r l o o k s s u g g e s t e d s h e w o u l d ta lk w i t h h im a s m u c h a s
h e l iked w h e n s h e h a d f in ished. H e r face w a s s imply e n t r a n c i n g . I f on ly
h e cou ld b r i n g b a c k t h e pa s t , h e t h o u g h t , h e w o u l d ce r t a in ly d o so .
H o p e l e s s l y in love n o w , a n d s w e a r i n g to h imsel f a t h o u s a n d t imes o v e r
t h a t h e w o u l d n e v e r neg lec t h e r a g a i n , M o r o i e w a i t e d . H e k e p t a s s u r i n g
h e r t h a t h e h a d n e v e r w a n t e d t o lose he r , b u t she still w o u l d no t a n s w e r .
W h e n s h e go t t o t h e s e v e n t h scrol l , s h e b e g a n r e p e a t i n g t he M e d i c i n e
K i n g c h a p t e r un t i l s h e h a d b e e n t h r o u g h i t a l m o s t t h r e e t imes .
M o r o i e lost p a t i e n c e . " W h a t ' s t h e m e a n i n g o f t h i s ? " h e c o m p l a i n e d .
" B e d o n e w i t h i t! I h a v e so m u c h to tell y o u ! "
A s h e s p o k e s h e c a m e t o t h e p a s s a g e t h a t p r o m i s e s sa lva t ion t o w o m e n ,
e v e n in t h e s e l a t t e r , u n h a p p y d a y s : " S h e will go , w h e n h e r life i s ove r , to
t h e L a n d o f Bliss w h e r e A m i d a r e igns a m o n g his sa in t s , a n d s h e will
dwe l l in a b l u e lo tus , u p o n a j e w e l e d t h r o n e . " T e a r s w e r e s t r e a m i n g from
h e r e y e s .
" W h a t L < t h i s ? " M o r o i e c r i ed . " H a v e y o u g o n e p i o u s o r s o m e t h i n g , l ike
a n u n ? "
S h e t u r n e d h e r b r i m m i n g g a z e t o his , a s t h o u g h d e w h a d t o u c h e d h e r
frost, y e t a s h a d o w s e e m e d to fall b e t w e e n t h e m . H o w c rue l s h e m u s t
h a v e t h o u g h t h im all t h e s e m o n t h s ! M o r o i e t oo b r o k e d o w n . W h a t i f h e
s h o u l d n e v e r see h e r a g a i n ! C o u l d h e live w i t h o u t h e r ? T h e q u e s t i o n
w o u l d no t l eave h im, a n d h e s h i v e r e d w i t h f o r e b o d i n g .
H e r s u t r a d o n e , t h e l ady b e g a n f inger ing a n a l o e s w o o d r o s a r y t r i m m e d
w i t h a m b e r , a n d lost he r se l f i n p r a y e r . W h e n s h e lifted h e r h e a d aga in ,
so s t r a n g e a look c a m e o v e r h e r face t h a t M o r o i e f l inched. " I a s k e d y o u
i n , " s h e b e g a n , " b e c a u s e I w a n t e d t o see y o u o n e m o r e t ime . N o w m y
a n g e r a n d h u r t . . . " H e r vo ice s t o p p e d . S h e w a s d e a d .
M o r o i e c o u l d no t be l i eve it. T h e first t i m e he ca l led , n o b o d y h e a r d
h i m . F ina l ly a m a i d l o o k e d i n a n d a s k e d w h a t w a s t h e m a t t e r . M o r o i e
s imp ly sa t t h e r e . T h e m a i d q u i c k l y lost h e r c o m p o s u r e too , a n d n o w o n -
d e r . As a s ingle s t r a n d o f ha i r b r e a k s , t he l a d y w a s g o n e . M o r o i e cou ld
no t v e r y wel l s t ay on b e c a u s e i f he w e r e to do so t h e po l lu t ion o f d e a t h
1 9 0
w o u l d ob l ige h im to go in to sec lus ion a f t e r w a r d s . As he left, he r face w a s
all he c o u l d see .
I t w a s n o t l o n g b e f o r e M o r o i e s i c k e n e d a n d d ied . S o m e s u p p o s e d i t
w a s t h e l a d y ' s g h o s t t h a t t o o k h im . In fact, t h o s e close t o M o r o i e m a y
e v e n h a v e h a d r e a s o n t o b e s u r e .
O t h e r p e o p l e a s s u m e d t h a t s ince t h e l ady h a d all bu t d ied w i t h t he
L o t u s S u t r a o n h e r l ips, s h e m u s t h a v e g o n e o n t o p a r a d i s e . Bu t it 's a lso
t r u e t h a t s h e d i e d w i t h d e e p r e s e n t m e n t a g a i n s t M o r o i e i n h e r hea r t , a n d
w h i l e l o o k i n g s t r a i g h t a t h i m . S u r e l y t h e sin o f b o t h w a s v e r y g r a v e .
i 3 3 .
5HE DIED LONG AGO
A K y o t o m a n , t o o p o o r t o m a k e e n d s mee t , l e a r n e d o n e d a y w i t h su rp r i s e
t h a t a g e n t l e m a n he k n e w h a d b e e n a p p o i n t e d g o v e r n o r o f a d i s t an t
p r o v i n c e . H e w e n t s t r a i g h t t o t h e n e w g o v e r n o r ' s r e s i d e n c e , exp l a ined
h i s s i t u a t i o n , a n d offered his s e rv ices i n a n y c a p a c i t y w h a t e v e r . T h e
g e n t l e m a n w a s p l e a s e d t o e n g a g e his o ld a c q u a i n t a n c e o n the spo t .
T h e m a n a n d his love ly y o u n g wife h a d a l w a y s b e e n in sepa rab l e ,
d e s p i t e t h e h a r d s h i p s o f p o v e r t y ; b u t n o w t h a t h e w a s g o i n g s o far
a w a y he left h i s wife for a n o t h e r , r i c h e r one , w h o no t on ly p r o v i d e d for
his j o u r n e y b u t c a m e w i t h h im a n d t o o k v e r y g o o d c a r e o f h im in his
p r o v i n c e .
I n t i m e , h o w e v e r , h e b e g a n t o miss his f i r s t wife b a d l y . H e cou ld h a r d l y
s t o p h imse l f f rom r u s h i n g b a c k t o t h e Cap i t a l , a n d h e t o r m e n t e d himsel f
e n d l e s s l y w i t h s p e c u l a t i o n a b o u t h o w t h i n g s m i g h t g o i f h e d id . M e a n -
w h i l e his m a s t e r ' s t e r m of office e n d e d , a n d he set ou t w i t h his m a s t e r for
K y o t o .
H o w b i t t e r l y h e n o w r e g r e t t e d h a v i n g left his f i r s t wife! H e p r o m i s e d
h i m s e l f t h a t h e w o u l d g o d i r e c t l y t o h e r w h e n h e r e a c h e d t h e ci ty. T h e
w a y s e e m e d u n b e a r a b l y l ong . O n a r r i va l h e r u s h e d t o h e r h o u s e , found
t h e g a t e o p e n , a n d w e n t in.
E v e r y t h i n g h a d c h a n g e d . T h e h o u s e s e e m e d u n i n h a b i t e d a n d w a s fall-
i ng to r u i n . A w a v e of a n g u i s h s w e p t o v e r h im as he g a z e d a t t he deso la -
t ion , lit up a s i t w a s by an a u t u m n m o o n jus t f ive d a y s off t he full. T h e
n i g h t w a s chi l ly , t o o . H e felt v e r y s ad .
In t h e h o u s e he f o u n d his wife ly ing all a lone , ju s t w h e r e s h e h a d lain
i n t h e old d a y s . S h e s h o w e d no s ign o f a n g e r w h e n he c a m e in, g r e e t i n g
h im in s t ead w i t h joy. " H o w d id y o u ge t h e r e ? " s h e a s k e d . " W h e n d id
y o u ge t b a c k ? "
H e to ld h e r h o w h e h a d l o n g e d for h e r a n d p r o m i s e d t h a t f rom n o w
on t h e y w o u l d live t o g e t h e r a g a i n . "I ' l l ge t all t h e t h i n g s I 've b r o u g h t
w i t h m e d e l i v e r e d h e r e t o m o r r o w , " h e sa id , " a n d I'll get m y m e n m o v e d
h e r e t o o . I jus t w a n t e d t o let y o u k n o w r igh t a w a y , t o n i g h t . " S h e l o o k e d
v e r y h a p p y . Af te r t a l k i n g till la te a b o u t t h e pas t , t h e y finally lay d o w n in
each o t h e r ' s a r m s . " H a v e y o u n o s e r v a n t a t a l l ? " h e a s k e d . S h e e x p l a i n e d
tha t s h e h a d b e e n t oo p o o r t o k e e p o n e . H e k n e w t h a t h e r p l igh t w a s his
fault, a n d p i ty for h e r m i n g l e d in his t h o u g h t s w i t h d i sgus t a t w h a t he
h a d d o n e . I t w a s n e a r l y d a w n w h e n t h e y fell a s leep , w i t h t he s h u t t e r s
still o p e n .
S u n l i g h t s t r e a m i n g full in to t h e r o o m w o k e t h e m a n u p . T h e w o m a n i n
his a r m s w a s d r i e d sk in o v e r d e a d b o n e s . I n h o r r o r he l eaped to his feet,
d e s p e r a t e l y h o p i n g i t w a s a h a l l u c i n a t i o n . B u t n o : w h a t h a d o n c e b e e n a
w o m a n w a s n o w a l o n g - d e a d c o r p s e .
H e d r e s s e d i n f ran t ic h a s t e a n d b u r s t in to t he n e i g h b o r ' s little h o u s e .
" W h e r e ' s t h e w o m a n w h o u s e d t o live n e x t d o o r ? " h e s h o u t e d . " T h e r e ' s
n o o n e t h e r e ! "
" S h e ? O h , h e r h u s b a n d left h e r a n d w e n t off t o s o m e p r o v i n c e , a n d
s h e w a s s o h u r t s h e go t s i c k , " t he n e i g h b o r rep l ied . " S h e h a d n o o n e t o
t a k e c a r e o f h e r a n d th i s pas t s u m m e r s h e d ied . O f c o u r s e , t h e r e w a s n o
o n e t o d i s p o s e o f t h e b o d y e i the r , so she ' s still t h e r e . P e o p l e a r e af ra id t o
g o n e a r t h e p l ace . T h a t ' s w h y it 's e m p t y a n d g o i n g t o r u i n . "
Ter r i f i ed t h o u g h h e w a s , t h e r e w a s n o t h i n g fu r the r h e co u l d say o r d o ,
a n d h e w e n t his w a y .
i 3 4 .
I SAW IT IN A DREAM
M a g a r i n o T s u n e k a t a l ived i n O w a r i p r o v i n c e w i t h his wife a n d w a s v e r y
c o m f o r t a b l y off. Af te r m a n y y e a r s o f m a r r i a g e he fell in love w i t h a n o t h e r
w o m a n . H i s wife m a d e q u i t e a fuss a b o u t th i s , as a w o m a n migh t be
e x p e c t e d t o d o , b u t he c o u l d no t g ive his m i s t r e s s u p . He t r i ed all so r t s
1 9 2
of d o d g e s to k e e p s e e i n g h e r in sec re t , b u t h is wife h a d spies ou t after
h im, a n d a n y r e p o r t t h a t h e w a s w i t h his mis t r e s s w o u l d li terally give h e r
fits.
O n c e T s u n e k a t a h a d b u s i n e s s i n t h e Cap i t a l a n d s p e n t some t ime
p r e p a r i n g for his t r i p . T h e d a y be fo re h e w a s d u e t o leave h e w a s ove r -
c o m e b y t h e d e s i r e t o see his m i s t r e s s . S i n c e his wife 's f i e r c e j ea lousy
m a d e i t i m p o s s i b l e for h i m to go o p e n l y , he a n n o u n c e d ins t ead tha t he
w a s w a n t e d b y t h e p rov inc i a l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n .
A t his m i s t r e s s ' s h o u s e , h e a n d his m i s t r e s s t a l k e d a w h i l e i n b e d . W h e n
t h e y e v e n t u a l l y fell a s l e e p , he d r e a m e d t h a t his wife b u r s t in on t h e m .
" A h , t h e r e y o u a r e w i t h t h a t w o m a n a g a i n ! " she s c r e a m e d . " T h a t ' s all
y o u e v e r d o n o w a d a y s , lie a r o u n d w i t h h e r ! Y o u w i t h y o u r i n n o c e n t face
a n d y o u r s m o o t h l ies! " S h e w e n t on l ike t h a t for a wh i l e , t h e n fell on him
a n d t h r u s t he r se l f v io l en t ly b e t w e e n h im a n d his m i s t r e s s . A t th i s T s u n e -
k a t a w o k e u p .
F r i g h t e n e d a n d con fused , h e s t a r t e d h o m e a s soon a s h e cou ld , a n d
b y d a y b r e a k w a s b a c k w i t h his wi fe . " I t ' s rea l ly t o o b a d ! " h e c o m -
p l a i n e d . " H e r e I 'm a b o u t to l eave , a n d t h e y h a d to call me in for a
m e e t i n g ! I c o u l d n ' t ge t a w a y a n d so I h a d no s leep a t all. W h a t a t h i n g
t o d o t o m e ! "
" E a t y o u r b r e a k f a s t , " r a s p e d his wi fe . H e r ha i r w a s br i s t l ing s t r a igh t
u p , t h e n ly ing flat, t h e n b r i s t l i ng s k y w a r d a g a i n .
" T h a t ' s so r t o f s c a r y , " h e r e m a r k e d .
" Y o u ' r e d i s g u s t i n g ! " his wife r e t o r t e d . " Y o u w e r e o v e r a t h e r p lace
las t n igh t , l o v i n g h e r u p . I t ' s w r i t t e n all o v e r y o u r face . "
" W h o to ld y o u t h a t ? "
"I s a w i t c l e a r as a bell , y o u p ig . I s a w i t in a d r e a m . "
" Y o u did! Y o u s a w wbatl"
" O h , I k n e w w h e n y o u left y e s t e r d a y e v e n i n g t h a t t h a t w a s w h e r e y o u
w e r e h e a d e d . D u r i n g t h e n i g h t I d r e a m e d I w e n t t o h e r h o u s e . T h e r e y o u
w e r e s n u g g l e d u p w i t h he r , c h a t t i n g a w a y . I l i s tened . ' S o y o u ' v e g iven
h e r u p , h a v e y o u ? ' I t h o u g h t . ' W e l l t h e n , w h a t a r e y o u d o i n g i n bed w i t h
h e r ? ' B a h ! I d o v e in b e t w e e n y o u a n d b o t h o f y o u j u m p e d up in a p a n i c . "
T s u n e k a t a w a s d u m b f o u n d e d . " W e l l , w h a t d id I s a y ? " h e a s k e d .
H i s wife r e p e a t e d e v e r y w o r d h e h a d sa id . T s u n e k a t a himself h a d
d r e a m e d t h e w h o l e t h i n g , v e r y p rec i se ly . H e w a s ter r i f ied . H e k e p t his
o w n d r e a m t o himself , h o w e v e r , a n d on ly r evea l ed t he w h o l e awful inci-
d e n t l a t e r on , to a f r iend .
J u s t t h i n k w h a t k i n d o f sp i r i tua l s t a t e t h e wife m u s t h a v e been in!
J e a l o u s y i s a v e r y g r a v e s in . S o m e s u p p o s e she m u s t h a v e e n d e d up
t u r n i n g in to a s n a k e .
S N A K E S
i 3 5 .
THE SNAKE CHARMER
T h e m u s i c i a n S u k e m i t s u w a s i m p r i s o n e d for neg lec t o f d u t y in a s t o r e -
h o u s e b e l o n g i n g to t h e M i n i s t e r o f t h e Left. T h e a s s o r t m e n t o f c r e a t u r e s
a n d c r e e p y - c r a w l i e s t h a t i n h a b i t e d t h e p lace f r igh tened S u k e m i t s u q u i t e
e n o u g h a l r e a d y , b u t t h e n i n t h e m i d d l e o f t h e n igh t ( th i s w a s e x a c t l y
w h a t he h a d b e e n m o s t af ra id o f ) a h u g e s n a k e a p p e a r e d . I ts h e a d w a s
like a l ion 's , i ts eyes w e r e l ike b r o n z e b o w l s , a n d its t o n g u e , t h r e e feet
long, f l i ckered m e n a c i n g l y . A l r e a d y t h e s n a k e ' s va s t j a w s w e r e y a w n i n g
w i d e t o s w a l l o w h im w h e n , hal f d e a d w i t h fear, h e m a n a g e d t o pul l o u t
his flute a n d p l a y a p a s s a g e from t h e d a n c e Genjoraku.
T h e s n a k e s t o p p e d , lifted its h e a d h igh in t h e air , a n d l i s t ened a w h i l e .
T h e n i t s l i t he red a w a y .
1 9 A
i 3 6 .
THE TUG-OF-WAR
T h e w r e s t l e r A m a n o T s u n e y o l ived i n T a n g o p r o v i n c e . I n t he s u m m e r
h e l iked t o s t ro l l b y t h e r i v e r t h a t r a n n e a r his h o u s e , a n d w a s d o i n g s o
o n e d a y , w i t h a smal l b o y b e s i d e h im, w h e n he p a u s e d u n d e r a t r ee by a
d e e p p o o l .
T h e poo l w a s b l u e - g r e e n a n d f r igh ten ing b e c a u s e y o u co u l d not see
t h e b o t t o m . T s u n e y o w a s g a z i n g a t t h e r u s h e s a r o u n d i t w h e n h e no t i ced
a l a r g e r i p p l e d a r t f rom t h e o p p o s i t e b a n k s t r a igh t t o w a r d h im . W h a t
c o u l d i t p o s s i b l y b e ? W h e n the r ipp le r e a c h e d his s ide , a s n a k e lifted its
h e a d f rom t h e w a t e r . I t w a s a v e r y b ig o n e i n d e e d , j u d g i n g r rom the size
o f t h e h e a d , a n d i t s t a r e d a t T s u n e y o so h a r d t h a t he n e r v o u s l y s t e p p e d
b a c k a l i t t le . T h e n i t v a n i s h e d a g a i n i n to t he poo l .
T h e r i p p l e d a r t e d off to t h e far s ide a n d a swell o f w a t e r c a m e rol l ing
b a c k . T h e s n a k e ' s tail r o s e f rom t h e pool a n d t h r a s h e d its w a y t o w a r d
T s u n e y o , w h o w a i t e d , c a lmly n o w , t o see w h a t i t w o u l d d o . W h e n the
tail h a d w r a p p e d itself t w i c e a r o u n d his legs, t he s n a k e b e g a n to pul l . I t
w a n t e d t o d r a g h im in to t h e p o o l ! T s u n e y o p l a n t e d his feet m o r e firmly,
b u t t h e s n a k e w a s s o s t r o n g t h a t t he t ee th o f his h igh c logs b r o k e a n d h e
felt s u r e h e w o u l d b e d r a g g e d d o w n . O n c e m o r e h e d u g i n his feet, bu t
t h e s n a k e t u g g e d s o h a r d t h a t t h e y s imp ly p l o w e d t h r o u g h t h e ea r t h ,
l e a v i n g a f u r r o w seve ra l i n c h e s d e e p . T s u n e y o w a s jus t p u t t i n g up a last,
d e s p e r a t e effort , w h e n t h e s n a k e s n a p p e d i n t w o a n d b lood s t a ined the
s u r f a c e o f t h e p o o l . H e p u l l e d u p t h e tail half, u n w o u n d it, a n d w a s h e d
h i s legs i n t h e p o o l . T h e a t t a c k h a d left inde l ib le m a r k s .
B y th i s t i m e T s u n e y o ' s s e r v a n t s h a d r u s h e d u p , a n d h e h a d t h e m w a s h
t h e w o u n d s w i t h w i n e . T h e n t h e y i n s p e c t e d t h e s n a k e ' s tail half. H u g e
w a s t h e o n l y w o r d for t h e c r e a t u r e . T h e b o d y w a s a g o o d foot th ick
w h e r e i t h a d b r o k e n . I t t u r n e d o u t t h a t t h e s n a k e h a d w r a p p e d its h e a d
e n d , on t h e o p p o s i t e b a n k , a r o u n d a t h i c k t i e e - r o o t to g ive itself a b e t t e r
ho ld . E v e n s o T s u n e y o h a d p r o v e d t h e s t r o n g e r , a n d the s n a k e h a d
s n a p p e d i n s t e a d . T h e h e a d e n d , still c l ing ing a s t igh t ly a s eve r t o t h e root ,
s e e m e d no t t o h a v e r ea l i zed w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d . Imag ine h o w i t m u s t
h a v e b e e n fee l ing!
B u t h o w s t r o n g h a d t h e s n a k e rea l ly b e e n ? T s u n e y o s m e n t ied a r o p e
r o u n d t h e i r m a s t e r ' s legs a n d ten o f t h e m pul led on it. T s u n e y o said the
s n a k e h a d t u g g e d h a r d e r t h a n t h a t . T h r e e m e n w e r e a d d e d , t h e n five, b u t
t h e y still w e r e no t e n o u g h . F ina l ly s ix ty m e n t ook t h e r o p e , a n d T s u n e y o
d e c i d e d t h a t y e s , t h a t w a s h o w t h e s n a k e h a d pu l l ed . I n o t h e r w o r d s
( c o n s i d e r i n g t h a t T s u n e y o h a d not b e e n d r a g g e d d o w n b y t h e s n a k e )
T s u n e y o h a d t h e s t r e n g t h o f a b o u t a h u n d r e d m e n .
That w a s t h e k i n d o f w r e s t l e r we u s e d to h a v e in t h e old d a y s .
i 5 7 .
AS DEEP AS THE SEA
A profess iona l k e e p e r o f h a w k s o n c e fo l lowed an e s c a p e d b i rd d e e p in to
t he m o u n t a i n s till he sp i ed a h a w k ' s nes t in a tall t r e e . T h i s w a s a w e l c o m e
find. H e m a r k e d t h e p l ace , w e n t h o m e aga in , a n d r e t u r n e d a t t he r igh t
t ime t o ge t t h e y o u n g h a w k s .
I t w a s a wi ld a n d d e s o l a t e spo t , a n d t h e t r ee l eaned o v e r a b o t t o m l e s s
r a v i n e . T h e nes t o f y o u n g h a w k s w a s h igh i n its b r a n c h e s , a n d t h e
p a r e n t s w e r e c i r c l ing r o u n d it. W h a t s p e c i m e n s the p a r e n t s w e r e ! N o
d o u b t t h e y o u n g w o u l d b e jus t a s i m p r e s s i v e . B e n t o n c a t c h i n g t h e m , t h e
m a n h a r d l y e v e n k n e w h e w a s c l i m b i n g t h e t r ee .
J u s t s h o r t o f t h e nes t , a b r a n c h b r o k e u n d e r him a n d h e p l u m m e t e d
in to a n o t h e r t r e e g r o w i n g s t r a i g h t ou t o f t h e cliff b e l o w . H e h u n g o n
t h e r e , m o r e d e a d t h a n a l ive , b e t w e e n a y a w n i n g c h a s m a n d a s h e e r wa l l
o f r o c k .
T h o u g h his s e r v a n t s a s s u m e d h e h a d fallen in to t h e r a v i n e a n d b e e n
ki l led, t h e y t h o u g h t t h e y h a d b e t t e r m a k e s u r e . C l ing ing p r e c a r i o u s l y t o
t h e e d g e of t h e cliff, t h e y p e e r e d o v e r in to t h e d e p t h s . All t h e leaves in
t he w a y h id t he i r m a s t e r f rom t h e m , a n d t h e y go t n o t h i n g for t h e i r
t r o u b l e b u t a spell o f d i zz ine s s . T h e y cou ld on ly go h o m e a n d in fo rm
the i r m a s t e r ' s wife a n d c h i l d r e n , w h o w e p t a t t h e n e w s . T h e family
w a n t e d a t least t o see for t h e m s e l v e s w h e r e t h e b o d y lay, b u t t h e s e r v a n t s
c r ied , " N o , n o , w e c a n ' t e v e n r e m e m b e r t h e w a y , a n d bes ides , it 's n o use
y o u r g o i n g ! G o o d n e s s k n o w s h o w d e e p t h a t r a v i n e is! W e d id o u r bes t
t o find h im d o w n t h e r e , b u t w e c o u l d n ' t see a n y t h i n g a t a l l ! " S o n o o n e
even w e n t b a c k t o look .
T h e m a n sa t on a t i ny l edge a b o u t t h e size of a d i n n e r t r ay , c l ing ing to
t he t r e e a n d k e e p i n g v e r y still. T h e s l igh tes t m o v e m e n t , a n d h e w o u l d b e
d a s h e d t o p i eces o n t h e r o c k s b e l o w . T h e r e w a s n o t h i n g h e co u l d d o . B u t
a l t h o u g h his b u s i n e s s w a s r a i s i ng h a w k s , h e h a d c h a n t e d t h e K a n n o n
S u t r a e v e r s ince his c h i l d h o o d a n d h e t r u s t e d i n K a n n o n ' s m e r c y . N o w
h e ca l led o n K a n n o n t o save h im a n d b e g a n t o c h a n t .
1 9 6
W h e n h e go t t o t h e p a s s a g e , " H i s v o w t o save suffer ing be ings i s a s
d e e p a s t h e s e a , " h e t h o u g h t h e h e a r d s o m e t h i n g rus t l ing u p from the
b o t t o m o f t h e r a v i n e . W h a t c o u l d i t b e ? W i t h infinite cau t ion h e p e e r e d
d o w n a n d s a w a n e n o r m o u s s n a k e a t least t w e n t y feet long s l i the r ing
s t r a i g h t u p t o w a r d h i m . I t w a s g o i n g t o ea t h im, o r a t least t h a t w a s t he
o n l y e x p l a n a t i o n t h a t m a d e s e n s e . N o w he w a s really f r igh tened , a n d
b e g g e d K a n n o n f rom t h e b o t t o m o f his h e a r t t o save h im from this awful
d a n g e r .
T h e s n a k e m a d e n o a t t e m p t t o s w a l l o w h im w h e n i t r e a c h e d his seat .
O n t h e c o n t r a r y , i t j u s t k e p t g o i n g . Its on ly t h o u g h t s e e m e d t o b e t o
c l i m b u p a n d o u t o f t h e r a v i n e . P e r h a p s h e co u l d h a n g o n t o i t s o m e h o w
a n d g o u p w i t h i t! H e d r e w t h e d a g g e r f rom his bel t , p l u n g e d i t in to t he
s n a k e t o m a k e a h a n d h o l d , a n d let h imsel f b e d r a w n u p a n d o v e r t he
e d g e of t h e cliff. As he slid off he t r i ed to t a k e ou t t h e d a g g e r , bu t i t w a s
t o o f i rmly p l a n t e d . T h e s n a k e p u l l e d a w a y from h im a n d s l i the red off
t o w a r d t h e n e x t r a v i n e w i t h t h e d a g g e r still s t u c k in its b a c k .
D e l i r i o u s w i t h relief, t h e m a n t r i ed t o r u n h o m e , bu t s i t t ing mot ion less
for s e v e r a l d a y s , w i t h o u t food o r w a t e r , h a d m a d e h im so w e a k t h a t i n
fact h e c o u l d o n l y b a r e l y d r a g h imse l f b a c k t o his h o u s e . T h e h o u s e h o l d
w a s in t h e m i d d l e of a m e m o r i a l r i te lo r h im w h e n he s t a g g e r e d in,
c a u s i n g m o m e n t a r y p a n d e m o n i u m . H e w e p t a s h e to ld t h e m his e x t r a o r -
d i n a r y e x p e r i e n c e . T h e n h e a t e a n d s lept s o u n d l y .
T h e n e x t m o r n i n g h e go t u p ea r ly , w a s h e d his h a n d s , a n d o p e n e d the
t e x t o f t h e K a n n o n S u t r a h e a l w a y s r e a d . H i s d a g g e r , t he o n e h e h a d
p l u n g e d in to t h e b a c k o f t h e s n a k e , w a s p l a n t e d i n t he text a t t h e w o r d s
" H i s v o w t o s a v e su f fe r ing b e i n g s i s a s d e e p a s t he s e a . "
i 3 8 .
WHAT THE SNAKE HAD IN MIND
A w o m a n on h e r w a y up t o h e a r t h e m o n t h l y p r e a c h i n g a t U r i n ' i n , a
t e m p l e in n o r t h e r n K y o t o , h a d c o m e to a s t one b r i d g e — jus t a small s lab
o v e r a t i n y b r o o k — w h e n a n o t h e r , y o u n g e r w o m a n w a l k i n g a l o n g the
b r o o k s t e p p e d o n t h e s l ab a s s h e c r o s s e d a n d o v e r t u r n e d it. W h e r e i t h a d
b e e n t h e first w o m a n w a s s u r p r i s e d to see, all coi led u p , a little spo t t ed
s n a k e .
T h e s n a k e s lowly u n w o u n d itself a n d set off a f ter t h e y o u n g w o m a n
w h o h a d o v e r t u r n e d its s t o n e . T h i s w a s i n t r i g u i n g . P e r h a p s t he s n a k e
w a s a n g r y a t h a v i n g b e e n d i s t u r b e d a n d w a n t e d t o ge t e v e n . T h e o l d e r
w o m a n w a s c u r i o u s e n o u g h t o set o u t af ter it.
T h e y o u n g w o m a n t h e s n a k e w a s fo l lowing d id look r o u n d s o m e t i m e s ,
b u t s e e m e d t o s u s p e c t n o t h i n g . N o o n e p a s s i n g b y d id e i the r . A p p a r e n t l y
on ly t h e o l d e r w o m a n cou ld see t h e s n a k e .
I n t ime t h e y r e a c h e d U r i n ' i n . T h e y o u n g w o m a n c l i m b e d t h e s t eps a n d
sat d o w n o n t h e w o o d e n floor w h i l e t h e s n a k e t o o go t u p t h e s t eps a n d
w r i g g l e d to h e r s ide . Still no o n e s a w i t o r r a i s e d t h e a l a r m .
W h e n t h e p r e a c h i n g w a s o v e r t h e y o u n g w o m a n left, a n d t h e s n a k e
w i t h he r . T h e o l d e r w o m a n s t a y e d b e h i n d t h e m o n t h e w a y b a c k . I n t h e
s o u t h e r n d i s t r i c t o f t h e c i ty t h e w o m a n e n t e r e d a h o u s e t h a t s e e m e d to
b e h e r s , a n d t h e s n a k e fo l lowed.
T h e s n a k e w a s un l ike ly t o d o a n y t h i n g d u r i n g the day , b u t t h e o l d e r
w o m a n w a s d e t e r m i n e d t o b e o n h a n d for w h a t e v e r migh t h a p p e n t h a t
n igh t . S h e w e n t u p t o t h e h o u s e , e x p l a i n e d t h a t s h e h a d jus t a r r i v e d from
the c o u n t r y a n d h a d n o w h e r e to s tay , a n d b e g g e d for a n igh t ' s l odg ing .
S h e h a d a s s u m e d all a l o n g t h a t t he y o u n g w o m a n w a s t he o w n e r , b u t i n
fact i t w a s a n old l a d y w h o inv i t ed h e r in. S h e found the y o u n g w o m a n
s i t t ing on t h e r a i s ed f loor w i t h t h e s n a k e coi led a t t h e foot of a pi l lar ,
g a z i n g a t h e r . T h e y o u n g w o m a n w a s t a l k i n g a b o u t " t h e m a n s i o n , " a n d
i t s e e m e d c l e a r t h a t s h e w a s in se rv ice s o m e w h e r e .
W h e n t h e s u n set a n d d a r k n e s s fell, t h e v is i tor cou ld n o l o n g e r see t h e
s n a k e , s o s h e p r o p o s e d s p i n n i n g h e m p i n e x c h a n g e for t h e old l ady ' s
hosp i t a l i t y . F o r th i s s h e w o u l d n e e d l ight . T h e old l ady g lad ly a c c e p t e d
h e r offer a n d lit a l a m p . As t h e v i s i to r s p u n , s h e l o o k e d a r o u n d he r . T h e
y o u n g w o m a n s e e m e d t o h a v e lain d o w n t o s leep . N o d o u b t t h e s n a k e
w o u l d go to h e r n o w — b u t i t d id no t . T h e v is i tor felt she o u g h t to m e n t i o n
the s n a k e , b u t d e c i d e d s h e w o u l d o n l y m a k e t r o u b l e for herself i f she d id
a n d s o k e p t s i lent . T h e e v e n i n g w o r e o n till a t last t h e l a m p w e n t o u t .
T h e r e w a s n o t h i n g t o d o b u t g o t o b e d .
N e x t m o r n i n g t h e v i s i to r w o k e u p w i t h a s t a r t , a n x i o u s t o k n o w w h a t
m i g h t h a v e h a p p e n e d d u r i n g t h e n igh t . Af te r g e t t i n g u p q u i t e no rma l ly ,
t he y o u n g w o m a n to ld t h e o ld l ady s h e h a d h a d a n o d d d r e a m , a n d t h e
old l ady ins i s ted on h e a r i n g it.
" L a s t n i g h t , " sa id t h e y o u n g w o m a n , " I d r e a m e d s o m e b o d y s tood b y
m y p i l low. S h e w a s h u m a n from t h e wa i s t u p , b u t f rom t h e wa i s t d o w n
s h e w a s a s n a k e . S h e w a s beau t i fu l , t h o u g h , a n d th i s i s w h a t s h e said to
m e . ' O n c e I h a t e d s o m e o n e so m u c h t h a t I t u r n e d in to a s n a k e a n d s p e n t
m a n y long a n d lone ly y e a r s u n d e r t he s t o n e s l ab o f a b r i d g e . Y e s t e r d a y
y o u o v e r t u r n e d t h e s t o n e a n d s a v e d m e . I felt so g lo r ious ly free t h a t I
w a n t e d t o t h a n k y o u p r o p e r l y . T h a t ' s w h y I fo l lowed y o u t o t he t emple
1 9 8
a n d h e a r d t h e B u d d h a ' s m o s t r a r e a n d w o n d e r f u l T e a c h i n g . T h a t i n t u r n
c a n c e l e d m y s ins , a n d n o w I'll soon b e r e b o r n i n h u m a n form. Y o u ' v e
m a d e me so h a p p y ! In r e t u r n I'll m a k e s u r e t h a t y o u r life goes well a n d
y o u f i n d a g o o d h u s b a n d . ' A n d t h a t w a s t h e e n d o f m y d r e a m . "
B o t h l i s t e n e r s w e r e a s t o n i s h e d , a n d t h e v is i tor confessed w h o she
rea l ly w a s a n d w h y s h e w a s t h e r e . S h e a n d t h e y o u n g w o m a n b e c a m e
fast f r i ends a n d s a w e a c h o t h e r of ten .
T h e y o u n g w o m a n d id d o wel l , t oo , b e c a u s e she m a r r i e d a v e r y
w e a l t h y m a n , a j u n i o r s t e w a r d in a g r e a t h o u s e h o l d . E v e r y t h i n g w e n t for
h e r e x a c t l y a s s h e w i s h e d .
l 3 g .
RED PLUM BLOSSOMS
In t h e w e s t o f t h e C a p i t a l l ived a m a n of s o m e r a n k in t he w o r l d . H i s
o n l y d a u g h t e r , a s w e e t a n d love ly gir l , w r o t e a beaut i fu l h a n d by the t ime
s h e r e a c h e d h e r t e e n s , a n d h e r skill a t p o e t r y w a s pee r l e s s . N o t on ly tha t ,
s h e w a s a l so an e x p e r t m u s i c i a n a n d p l a y e d t h e koto p a r t i c u l a r l y wel l .
T h e fami ly ' s l a rge m a n s i o n i n c l u d e d severa l b a r k - t h a t c h e d pavi l ions ,
c u r i o u s l y a n d h a n d s o m e l y m a d e . P r e t t y s t r e a m s r a n t h r o u g h a g a r d e n
w h i c h w a s a l w a y s beau t i fu l , i f n o t w i t h s p r i n g f lowers t h e n w i t h t he
l e aves o f fall. A n d w h i l e t h e g i r l ' s p a r e n t s t h o u g h t on ly o f he r , t he girl
h e r s e l f w a s lost i n de l igh t o v e r t h e f lowers a n d l eaves .
T h e g a r d e n h a d p l ace s w h e r e c h e r r y b l o s s o m s o p e n e d i n t he mis ts o f
s p r i n g , a n d w h e r e t h e w e e p i n g w i l l o w f r o n d s ' n e w g r e e n s w a y e d del i -
c ious ly i n t h e b r e e z e ; w h i l e e l s e w h e r e t h e co lo r ed a u t u m n leaves h o v e r e d
i n l a y e r s o f b r o c a d e , a n d c h r y s a n t h e m u m s o f m a n y h u e s l eaned u n d e r
t h e i r b u r d e n o f d e w b e n e a t h t h e tall hagi p l a n t s ' f ea the ry c u r v e s . Ye t t he
gir l l o v e d a b o v e all t h e r e d - f l o w e r i n g p l u m .
S h e p l a n t e d a r e d p l u m t r e e n e a r h e r r o o m , a n d w h e n i t b l o o m e d she
o p e n e d h e r s h u t t e r s t o g a z e on i t r a p t u r o u s l y , all a lone . T h e f r ag rance
i n t o x i c a t e d h e r so m u c h t h a t s h e s t a y e d t h e r e all d a y . S h e let n o t h i n g else
g r o w n e a r h e r p l u m a n d w o u l d no t h a v e b i r d s nes t ing i n its b r a n c h e s .
W h e n t h e f l o w e r s fell, s h e g a t h e r e d t h e fallen pe ta l s in a l a c q u e r e d bowl
t o en joy t h e i r s c e n t a w h i l e l o n g e r ; a n d o n w i n d y d a y s s h e even s p r e a d
m a t s t o col lec t t h e m a s t h e y f lu t t e red d o w n , s o a s t o m a k e s u r e t h e y w e r e
n o t b l o w n a w a y a n d lost . W h e n t h e pe ta l s w e r e w i t h e r e d a t last, s h e
m i x e d t h e m i n t o h e r i n c e n s e t o s a v e t h e v e r y last o f t he i r s w e e t smell .
In t ime s h e fell ill a n d g r e w r a p i d l y w o r s e , d e s p i t e h e r p a r e n t s ' l a m e n -
t a t i ons . Before l ong she w a s g o n e . H e r m o t h e r a n d f a the r h a d t o b id h e r
farewel l fo rever , a n d c o u l d n e v e r look a t t h e p l u m t r ee af ter t h a t w i t h o u t
a p a n g of s o r r o w .
O n e d a y a litt le s n a k e a p p e a r e d u n d e r t h e t r ee . T h o u g h i t s e e m e d
o r d i n a r y e n o u g h , i t c a m e a g a i n t h e n e x t s p r i n g a n d s t ayed w r a p p e d
a r o u n d t h e t r e e . W h e n t h e pe t a l s b e g a n t o fall, i t p i c k e d t h e m u p o n e b y
o n e i n its m o u t h a n d h e a p e d t h e m t o g e t h e r . Rea l i z ing t h a t i t co u l d o n l y
b e t he i r d a u g h t e r herself, t h e p a r e n t s g r i e v e d a f resh . All t h e y co u l d d o
w a s t o call i n t w o ho ly m o n k s a n d h a v e t h e m e x p o u n d t h e L o t u s S u t r a
u n d e r t h e t r e e , o n e c h a p t e r a d a y in t he t i m e - h o n o r e d fashion, for t h e
g o o d o f t he i r d a u g h t e r ' s sou l .
T h e s n a k e , w h i c h n e v e r left t h e spo t , h e a r d all t he p r e a c h i n g . O n t h e
f i f t h d a y t h e m o n k s s p o k e o n t h e c h a p t e r i n w h i c h t h e S e r p e n t P r i n c e s s
offers t h e B u d d h a a p r i c e l e s s p e a r l a n d p a s s e s s t r a igh t in to N i r v a n a .
U n d e r t h e p l u m t r e e , t h e litt le s n a k e d i ed . T h o s e w h o s a w its p a s s i n g
w e p t .
L a t e r t h e f a the r d r e a m e d a b o u t his d a u g h t e r . A t f i r s t s h e w a s d r e s s e d
i n t o r n a n d f i l t hy c l o t h e s a n d l o o k e d v e r y d o w n c a s t . Bu t a ho ly m a n c a m e
t o h e r a n d h a d h e r t a k e off h e r r a g s . H e r skin u n d e r n e a t h w a s g o l d e n
a n d g l o w i n g , l ike t h e sk in o f a b u d d h a , a n d the ho ly m a n d r e s s e d h e r in
r ich r o b e s a n d a p r i e s t ly s to le . F ina l ly he ra i sed h e r up a n d t h e y f loated
a w a y t o g e t h e r on a p u r p l e c loud .
T h a t w a s t h e e n d o f t h e d r e a m . T h e gi r l ' s sa lva t ion w a s t h e S u t r a ' s
gift.
O n c e a th ie f g o t i n to a s h o p in t h e W e s t e r n M a r k e t a n d t h e Imper ia l
Pol ice s u r r o u n d e d t h e p l ace , i n t en t o n c a p t u r i n g h i m . T h e i r c o m m a n d e r
r o d e a m o n g t h e m fully a r m e d , i n fo rmal h e a d d r e s s a n d pa le g r e y c loak .
R O B B E R S I I
1 4 ° •
THE ENIGMA
2 0 0
W h e n a f reed c o n v i c t b e a r i n g a s p e a r w a s pos t ed to s t a n d a t t he d o o r
o f t h e s h o p , t h e th ie f s i gna l ed to h im t h r o u g h a c r a c k t h a t he shou ld c o m e
c lose r . " G o tell y o u r c o m m a n d e r t o ge t off his h o r s e a n d c o m e h e r e , " t he
th ie f sa id . " I h a v e s o m e t h i n g to tell h im in p r i v a t e . "
T h e f reed c o n v i c t r e p o r t e d th i s m e s s a g e , a n d the c o m m a n d e r m o v e d
t o o b e y , o v e r his m e n ' s s t r e n u o u s ob j ec t i ons . " N o , I 'd be t t e r look in to
t h i s , " w a s all h e w o u l d say a s h e d i s m o u n t e d a n d s t a r t e d lo r t h e d o o r .
T h e thief o p e n e d i t a n d inv i t ed t h e c o m m a n d e r in, c los ing a n d bo l t ing
i t a g a i n w h e n h e w a s ins ide . T h e m e n w e r e fur ious . " H e r e w e ' v e go t h im
s u r r o u n d e d ! " t h e y s p u t t e r e d . " W e c a n ' t poss ib ly miss h im! A n d n o w H i s
L o r d s h i p h a s to w a l k r i g h t in a n d ge t himself shu t up for a nice little
c h a t . T h i s i s i n s a n e ! "
S h o r t l y t h e d o o r o p e n e d a g a i n . T h e c o m m a n d e r e m e r g e d , go t b a c k o n
his h o r s e , a n d r o d e u p t o his m e n . " T h e r e ' s m o r e t o th is b u s i n e s s t h a n
m e e t s t h e e y e , " he a n n o u n c e d . " W e ' l l h a v e to ho ld off till I g ive a r e p o r t
t o H i s M a j e s t y . " H e h e a d e d s t r a i g h t for t h e pa lace , l eav ing his m e n t o
s t a n d g u a r d .
" T h a t ' s r i g h t , " h e sa id w h e n h e r e t u r n e d , " w e can ' t a r r e s t h im . G o
b a c k t o h e a d q u a r t e r s . T h o s e a r e H i s M a j e s t y ' s o r d e r s . "
T h e m e n o b e y e d . T h e i r c o m m a n d e r s t a y e d o n a lone unt i l finally, after
d a r k , h e w e n t t o t h e d o o r a n d a n n o u n c e d t h e e m p e r o r ' s dec i s ion . T h e
th ie f b u r s t i n to l o u d a n d u n r e s t r a i n e d s o b b i n g .
Af te r t h e c o m m a n d e r w a s g o n e , t h e th ie f s tole ou t a n d d i s a p p e a r e d
in to t h e n i g h t . N o o n e e v e r f o u n d o u t w h o h e w a s o r w h y h e h a d b e e n
p a r d o n e d .
1 4 1 •
WASPS
A q u i c k s i l v e r d e a l e r in K y o t o h a d g o t t e n r ich from his b u s i n e s s . He
t r a v e l e d r e g u l a r l y b a c k a n d for th to Ise p r o v i n c e w i t h a t r a in of a
h u n d r e d h o r s e s o r m o r e , all l o a d e d w i t h silk a n d co t t on c lo th , t h r e a d ,
r ice , a n d o t h e r s u c h g o o d s , a n d he n e v e r t ook wi th h im m o r e t h a n a few
b o y s t o d r i v e t h e a n i m a l s . A s old a g e a p p r o a c h e d , h e h a d n e v e r suffered
a s ing le loss f rom fire or f lood a n d , still m o r e r e m a r k a b l y , h a d n e v e r lost
a s ing le s h e e t of p a p e r to t h i e v e s .
T h i s w a s e x t r a o r d i n a r y b e c a u s e t h e p e o p l e o f Ise a r e pe r fec t ly c a p a b l e
o f r o b b i n g t h e i r o w n p a r e n t s . F r i e n d a n d foe, r ich a n d p o o r s p e n d t h e i r
t ime s c h e m i n g t o bi lk e a c h o t h e r , a n d t h e y d o no t hes i t a t e t o p l u n d e r t h e
w e a k t o a d d t o t h e i r o w n f o r t u n e . F o r s o m e r e a s o n t h e qu i cks i l ve r m e r -
c h a n t w a s a b o u t t h e o n l y v ic t im t h e y h a d no t y e t d e s p o i l e d .
N o w , t h e r e w a s a r o b b e r b a n d o n e h u n d r e d s t r o n g w h i c h l u r k e d i n
t h e S u z u k a M o u n t a i n s o n t h e w e s t e r n b o r d e r o f t he p r o v i n c e a n d y e a r
af ter y e a r p r e y e d o n all w h o p a s s e d t h a t w a y . T h e y w o u l d seize e v e r y -
t h i n g o f va lue ( p r i v a t e o r imper i a l p r o p e r t y , i t m a d e no d i f fe rence ) , t h e n
kill t h e u n h a p p y t r a v e l e r s . E v e n t h e g o v e r n m e n t i n K y o t o h a d b e e n
u n a b l e t o s u p p r e s s t h e m .
D u r i n g t h e h e i g h t o f t h e i r d e p r e d a t i o n s t h e qu i cks i l ve r m e r c h a n t c a m e
t h a t w a y aga in , t r a v e l i n g o u t o f Ise t o w a r d t h e Cap i t a l w i t h his u s u a l
t r a in o f a h u n d r e d w e l l - l a d e n h o r s e s a n d p r o t e c t e d on ly by his y o u t h f u l
d r i v e r s . H e e v e n h a d w o m e n w i t h h im, a n d all t h e food, e tc . , t h a t t h e y
r e q u i r e d .
T h e r o b b e r s s p o t t e d t h e c a r a v a n w i t h g lee . I t s l e ade r w a s o b v i o u s l y
soft i n t h e h e a d , a n d t h e y i n t e n d e d t o a p p r o p r i a t e t h e r i ches he w a s so
i n n o c e n t l y p a r a d i n g b e f o r e t h e m . I n t he d e p t h s o f t h e m o u n t a i n s t h e y
a m b u s h e d h im f rom f ront a n d r e a r . T h e terr i f ied d r i v e r s fled. Af te r
r o u n d i n g u p t h e p a c k h o r s e s , t h e r o b b e r s s t r i p p e d the w o m e n o f all t h e i r
c l o t h e s a n d s h o o e d t h e m off i n to t h e w i l d s . A s for t h e m e r c h a n t , w h o w a s
r i d i n g a m a r e , he b a r e l y m a n a g e d to ge t a w a y a n d s c r a m b l e up a h i g h
hill . T h e r o b b e r s w a t c h e d h im g o b u t d e c i d e d h e w a s a h o p e l e s s case
a n y w a y a n d no t w o r t h c h a s i n g . I n s t ead , t h e y h e a d e d d o w n in to t h e va l ley
t o d i v i d e t h e b o o t y . E v e r y o n e w a s wel l p l ea sed a n d felt h e h a d c o m e
easi ly e n o u g h b y his s h a r e .
M e a n w h i l e t h e m e r c h a n t o n his hill w a s s t a r i n g aloft a n d be l lowing ,
" W h e r e a r e y o u ? W h e r e a r e y o u ? H u r r y ! " I n a n h o u r o r s o a h u g e ,
m u r d e r o u s w a s p t h r e e i n c h e s l o n g c a m e d r o n i n g d o w n from t h e s k y in to
a tall t r e e n e a r b y . T h e m e r c h a n t r e d o u b l e d his e x h o r t a t i o n s to h a s t e .
T h e n a long , t h i ck , r e d d i s h c l o u d a p p e a r e d in t h e sky .
T h e r o b b e r s w e r e jus t p u t t i n g a w a y t h e i r spoi ls . T h e c l o u d d e s c e n d e d
in to t h e i r va l ley a n d t h e w a s p i n t h e t r ee fo l lowed. T h e c l o u d w a s w a s p s .
H u n d r e d s o f w a s p s o v e r w h e l m e d e a c h r o b b e r a n d s t u n g h im t o d e a t h .
T h e n t h e c loud g a t h e r e d o n c e m o r e , rose , a n d v a n i s h e d in to t h e d i s t a n c e .
T h e q u i c k s i l v e r m e r c h a n t w e n t d o w n in to t h e va l ley i n his t u r n a n d
found t h e r e t h e w h o l e h o a r d o f b o o t y t he r o b b e r s h a d s t o r e d u p o v e r t he
y e a r s : a h u g e n u m b e r o f b o w s , q u i v e r s , h o r s e s , s a d d l e s , a r t i c les o f clo th -
ing, a n d m a n y o t h e r t h i n g s . He r e t u r n e d w i t h i t all t o K y o t o , even r i c h e r
t h a n be fo re .
2 0 2
H i s s e c r e t w a s t h a t he b r e w e d w i n e a t h o m e a n d fed i t all t o his w a s p s ,
w h i c h i n m a n y o t h e r w a y s t o o h e t r e a t e d w i t h t he g r ea t e s t c o n s i d e r a t i o n .
M o s t r o b b e r s k n e w th i s a n d left h is p r o p e r t y a l o n e . T h e s e m a r a u d e r s
h a d b e e n d o n e i n b y t h e i r o w n i g n o r a n c e .
i 4 a .
WITHOUT EVEN A FIGHT
S a k a n o u e no H a r u z u m i , a v e t e r a n w a r r i o r , l ived in t he p r o v i n c e of Kii.
H a v i n g b u s i n e s s in t h e C a p i t a l he set off, b u t no t w i t h o u t be ing fully
a r m e d a n d a c c o m p a n i e d b y e q u a l l y w e l l - a r m e d r e t a ine r s , for h e feared
an a t t a c k by a p a r t i c u l a r e n e m y of h i s .
L a t e t h a t n i g h t h e w a s p a s s i n g t h r o u g h t h e s o u t h e r n d is t r ic t o f t he
C a p i t a l w h e n h e m e t a p a r t y o f c o u r t n o b l e s o n h o r s e b a c k . S e r v a n t s w e r e
g o i n g o s t e n t a t i o u s l y be fo re t h e m t o c lea r t h e w a y . T h e r e w a s n o d o u b t
a b o u t w h a t h a d t o b e d o n e . H a r u z u m i d i s m o u n t e d . " L a y d o w n y o u r
b o w s ! " h e o r d e r d his m e n , w h o p r o m p t l y o b e y e d . T h e n t h e y all w a i t e d
w i t h t h e i r f o r e h e a d s p r e s s e d t o t h e e a r t h .
H a r u z u m i w a s jus t t h i n k i n g t h e l o rds m u s t h a v e g o n e b y w h e n he , like
e v e r y o n e o f his m e n , felt a h e a v y h a n d on his n e c k . He tw i s t ed his h e a d
r o u n d in s u r p r i s e . T h e r i d e r s he h a d t a k e n for n o b l e s w e r e ins t ead half a
d o z e n a r m e d a n d a r m o r e d m e n w i t h a r r o w s r e a d y t o t h e s t r ing . " M o v e
a n d y o u ' r e d e a d ! " o n e b a r k e d .
T h e y w e r e b a n d i t s , a n d H a r u z u m i h a d fallen s t r a igh t in to t he i r t r a p .
H e w a s fu r ious w i t h himself, a n d m i s e r a b l e too , b u t u n d e r t h r e a t o f
i n s t a n t d e a t h h e cou ld o n l y d o a s t h e b a n d i t s o r d e r e d . T h e y s t r i p p e d h im
a n d his m e n o f e v e r y g a r m e n t t h e y h a d on , o f t he i r b o w s a n d q u i v e r s , o f
t h e i r h o r s e s a n d s a d d l e s , o f t h e i r s w o r d s a n d d a g g e r s , a n d even o f the i r
s h o e s .
H a r u z u m i k n e w t h a t i f h e h a d b e e n o n g u a r d aga ins t t h e m t h e y w o u l d
h a v e h a d t o kill h im to ge t a w a y w i t h th i s , a n d he felt s u r e he w o u l d h a v e
p u t up a g o o d e n o u g h f i gh t t o c a p t u r e t he b a n d i t s s o m e h o w himself. Bu t
t h e y h a d t r i c k e d h i m w i t h t h e i r c h a r a d e in to l ay ing d o w n his o w n a r m s
a n d w a i t i n g pol i te ly , w i t h b o w e d h e a d , t o b e r o b b e d . I t w a s t o o m u c h .
H i s f i g h t i n g c a r e e r w a s c u r s e d . H a r u z u m i g a v e u p the p rofess ion o f a r m s .
14 3 .
THE TEMPLE BELL
O n e d a y a n a n c i e n t m o n k t u r n e d u p a t K o y a d e r a i n Se t t su p r o v i n c e a n d
e x p l a i n e d t o t h e a b b o t t h a t h e w a s o n his w a y u p from the w e s t e r n
p r o v i n c e s t o w a r d t h e C a p i t a l . " B u t I 'm s o old t h a t I 'm all w o r n o u t , " h e
c o n t i n u e d . " I jus t c a n ' t go o n ! P e r h a p s y o u w o n ' t m i n d i f I res t a t y o u r
t e m p l e for a w h i l e . Do y o u s u p p o s e t h e r e ' s a n y w h e r e I co u l d s t a y ? "
" I c a n ' t t h i n k o f a p l ace o f f h a n d , " t h e a b b o t r ep l i ed . " I f y o u s t ay in t h e
ga l l e ry a r o u n d t h e m a i n hal l , y o u ' l l b e e x p o s e d t o t h e w e a t h e r a n d y o u ' l l
ge t s i c k . "
"Well , h o w a b o u t t h e bell t o w e r ? I t ' s c o m p l e t e l y e n c l o s e d , af ter all."
" F i n e , t h a t ' s a g o o d i d e a , " sa id t h e a b b o t . " I t ' s all y o u r s . A n d i t w o u l d
be n ice i f y o u ' d r i n g t h e bel l , t o o . "
T h e old m o n k l o o k e d p l ea sed , a n d t h e a b b o t led h im s t r a igh t t o t h e
bell t o w e r . " H e r e ' s t h e bel l r i n g e r ' s m a t , " h e sa id . " M a k e y o u r s e l f a t
h o m e . "
W h e n t h e a b b o t r a n in to t h e r e g u l a r bell r inge r , h e to ld him a b o u t t h e
old m o n k w h o h a d c o m e w a n d e r i n g i n a n d d e s c r i b e d h o w h e h a d in-
s ta l led t h e fel low u n d e r t h e bel l . " H e says he' l l t a k e ca r e o f r i n g i n g i t , "
t h e a b b o t w e n t o n , " s o y o u can t a k e i t ea sy wh i l e he ' s h e r e . " T h e bell
r i n g e r d id no t c o m p l a i n .
F o r t w o d a y s t h e a n c i e n t t r a v e l e r r a n g t h e bell . O n t h e m o r n i n g o f t h e
t h i r d d a y t h e bell r i n g e r t h o u g h t h e w o u l d jus t g o a n d see h o w t h e fel low
w a s d o i n g . " H e l l o ! " h e ca l led a t t h e b a s e o f t h e t o w e r . " A r e y o u t h e r e ? "
A n d h e s q u e e z e d ins ide .
T h e old m o n k , a m a z i n g l y tall , lay s p r a w l e d ou t full l eng th , w r a p p e d in
a m i s e r a b l e g a r m e n t . He w a s d e a d . T h e bell r i n g e r bea t a fast r e t r e a t a n d
w e n t t o find t h e a b b o t .
" T h e old b o y ' s d e a d , " h e s t a m m e r e d . " W h a t a r e w e g o i n g t o d o ? "
T h e a b b o t w e n t s t r a i g h t t o c h e c k th i s awful n e w s . I t w a s t r u e . T h e
m o n k w a s d e a d . H e c losed t h e d o o r t o t h e bell t o w e r a n d w a r n e d t h e res t
o f t h e t e m p l e ' s m o n k s .
" C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s ! " t h e y g r o w l e d b a c k a t h im . " I t w a s s o t h o u g h t f u l o f
y o u t o let h im s t a y ! N o w y o u ' v e go t t h e w h o l e t e m p l e p o l l u t e d ! " B u t i t
w a s t o o la te n o w t o b e a n g r y . T h e y s a w t h e y w o u l d h a v e t o ge t s o m e
v i l lagers t o c o m e a n d t a k e t h e b o d y a w a y .
U n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e v i l lage ' s s h r i n e festival w a s nea r , a s t he v i l lagers
q u i c k l y p o i n t e d o u t . " W e jus t c a n ' t g o a n d ge t o u r s e l v e s p o l l u t e d n o w , "
t h e y sa id . N o o n e w o u l d t o u c h t h e c o r p s e , a n d n o o n c a m e w h i l e t he
m o n k s w e n t o n f r e t t ing a b o u t w h a t i n t h e w o r l d t o d o .
O u t o f n o w h e r e , t w o m e n a p p e a r e d , a b o u t t h i r t y y e a r s old a n d d r e s s e d
i n l igh t g r e y c l o a k s t h a t d a r k e n e d t o w a r d t h e b o t t o m , w i t h b r o a d , conical
h a t s h a n g i n g r o u n d t h e i r n e c k s a g a i n s t t he i r b a c k s . T h e i r sk i r t s w e r e
t u c k e d u p for e a s i e r m o v e m e n t , a n d t h e y h a d s w o r d s s tuck i n the i r bel ts .
C e r t a i n l y t h e y w e r e h u m b l e m e n , b u t t h e y s e e m e d a le r t a n d p l ea san t .
T h e y w e n t s t r a i g h t t o t h e m o n k s ' d o r m i t o r y a n d a s k e d w h e t h e r b y a n y
c h a n c e a n old m o n k w a s s t o p p i n g n e a r b y .
T h e m o n k s to ld t h e m a tall o ld m o n k h a d s p e n t t h e last co u p l e o f d a y s
i n t h e b a s e o f t h e bel l t o w e r , b u t sa id t h e y g a t h e r e d t h a t th i s m o r n i n g he
h a d j u s t b e e n f o u n d d e a d . T h e t w o m e n b u r s t i n to t e a r s o f s h o c k a n d
grief. T h e y e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e o ld m o n k h a d b e e n t he i r fa ther . " H e ' d
g o t t e n s t u b b o r n in his o ld a g e , " t h e y sa id , " a n d we h a d a little q u a r r e l . I t
w a s n o t h i n g , rea l ly , b u t h e s t o r m e d off a n d d i s a p p e a r e d . W e ' r e from
A k a s h i c o u n t y i n H a r i m a . Af te r h e ' d g o n e w e split u p t o find h im, a n d
w e ' v e b e e n l o o k i n g for h im e v e r s ince . W e ' r e no t penn i l e s s , y o u k n o w .
We o w n a g o o d dea l o f r ice l a n d a n d y o u c a n find r e t a i n e r s o f o u r s even
in t h e n e i g h b o r i n g c o u n t y . We ' l l h a v e a look for ou r se lves , a n d i f he ' s
r ea l ly d e a d we ' l l b u r y h im th i s e v e n i n g . "
T h e a b b o t t o o k t h e m t o t h e bell t o w e r a n d w a i t e d ou t s ide wh i l e t h e y
w e n t in . " O h fa the r , h e r e y o u a r e ! " t h e y c r i ed w h e n t h e y s a w the old
m o n k ' s face. T h e n t h e y ro l led o n the g r o u n d a n d w e p t a l o u d . T h e sight
w a s t o o m u c h for t h e a b b o t , w h o w a s soon w e e p i n g too . " O u r q u a r r e l
w a s n o t h i n g , " t h e y m o u r n e d , " b u t y o u w e r e a n old m a n a n d jus t w o u l d n ' t
g ive in! O f f y o u w e n t t o h ide from u s a n d e n d e d u p he re , i n t he midd le
o f n o w h e r e . A n d w e w e r e n ' t e v e n w i t h y o u w h e n y o u d i e d ! " T h i s t h o u g h t
b r o u g h t on a fresh p a r o x y s m of t e a r s . F ina l ly t h e y said t h e y w o u l d go to
p r e p a r e for t h e funera l a n d c losed t h e d o o r o f t he bell t o w e r b e h i n d t h e m .
W h e n t h e a b b o t d e s c r i b e d t h e s c e n e t o his co l l eagues , t h e y w e p t t oo .
W e l l a l o n g in t h e e v e n i n g s o m e for ty o r fifty p e o p l e a r r i v e d , w i t h m u c h
no i se a n d c o m m o t i o n , a n d b r o u g h t o u t t h e old m o n k ' s b o d y . Q u i t e a few
w e r e a r m e d . T h e m o n k s k e p t wel l a w a y from t h e bell t o w e r . F a r from
g o i n g t o w a t c h t h e p r o c e e d i n g s , t h e y w e r e all s o af ra id t h a t t h e y shu t
t h e m s e l v e s up in t h e i r r o o m s . As a resu l t , t h e y o n l y h e a r d the m o u r n e r s
c a r r y t h e b o d y t o a p i n e w o o d severa l h u n d r e d y a r d s off, up aga ins t t he
hi l l s ide b e h i n d t h e t e m p l e . T h e m o u r n e r s s p e n t t h e n igh t b e a t i n g g o n g s
a n d c h a n t i n g t h e B u d d h a ' s N a m e , d i s p e r s i n g o n l y a t d a w n .
F o r t h e t h i r t y d a y s t h e po l lu t ion l a s ted no t even the bell r i nge r r a n g
t h e bel l , a n d n o o t h e r m o n k w e n t n e a r t h e bell t o w e r e i the r . A t last, w h e n
i t w a s finally safe to do so , t h e bell r i n g e r s r e t u r n e d to t h e t o w e r to c lean
u p . T h e g r e a t bel l w a s g o n e .
T h e bell r i n g e r r a n t o s p r e a d th i s la tes t o u t r a g e t o t h e res t o f t h e
t e m p l e , a n d t h e m o n k s t r o o p e d o u t to see for t h e m s e l v e s . I t w a s a fact:
t h e bell h a d b e e n s to l en . W h y , t h o s e p e o p l e m u s t h a v e p l a n n e d t h e w h o l e
funera l j u s t s o t h e y c o u l d s teal t h e bel l ! T h e m o n k s t h o u g h t t h e y h a d
b e t t e r c h e c k t h e funera l s i te .
Of f t h e y all w e n t , w i t h s o m e p e o p l e from t h e vi l lage, t o t h e p i n e w o o d .
T h e t h i e v e s h a d c h o p p e d up a b ig p ine t r e e to m a k e a fire a r o u n d t h e bell
a n d mel t i t d o w n , a n d t h e r e w e r e b i t s o f b r o n z e all o v e r t h e p l ace . T h e y
h a d b r o u g h t off q u i t e a n o p e r a t i o n ! U n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e r e w a s n o w a y t o
find o u t w h o t h e y h a d b e e n . T h e m o n k s cou ld o n l y r e s ign t h e m s e l v e s t o
t he i r loss .
E v e r s ince , K o y a d e r a h a s b e e n w i t h o u t a bel l .
1 4 4 •
THE DEAD MAN WAKES
B e i n g a p ro fes s iona l , t h e r o b b e r H a k a m a d a r e n a t u r a l l y e n d e d up in jai l .
H e w a s r e l ea sed u n d e r a g e n e r a l a m n e s t y . H a v i n g n o w h e r e t o g o t h e n ,
a n d n o t h i n g else t o t u r n his h a n d to , h e w e n t u p t o O s a k a P a s s a n d
p l a y e d d e a d , s t a r k n a k e d , b e s i d e t h e t ra i l . T h e p a s s i n g t r a v e l e r s c l u s t e r e d
r o u n d a n d , n o t i c i n g t h a t h e w a s no t w o u n d e d , c h a t t e r e d t o each o t h e r
a b o u t h o w h e m i g h t h a v e d i e d .
A l o n g from K y o t o c a m e an a r m e d w a r r i o r on a g o o d h o r s e , fo l lowed
by a t r o u p e o f s e r v a n t s a n d r e t a i n e r s . T h e w a r r i o r s a w t h e c r o w d ,
s t o p p e d , a n d sen t o n e o f his m e n t o find ou t w h a t t h e y w e r e g a w k i n g a t .
T h e m a n r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e y w e r e p u z z l i n g o v e r a d e a d m a n w i t h o u t a
w o u n d o n h im . T h e w a r r i o r o r d e r e d his fo l lowers b a c k in to p r o p e r for-
m a t i o n a n d r o d e o n . H e s t a r e d a t t h e c o r p s e a s h e p a s s e d .
T h e c r o w d c l a p p e d t he i r h a n d s a n d l a u g h e d . " A fine w a r r i o r you a r e , "
t h e y t a u n t e d h im, " w i t h all t h a t t r a in o f y o u r s , to be s q u e a m i s h a b o u t a
b o d y ! " T h e w a r r i o r i g n o r e d t h e m .
I n t i m e t h e c r o w e d d i s p e r s e d . T h e r e w a s n o o n e left a r o u n d H a k a m a -
d a r e w h e n a n o t h e r w a r r i o r c a m e a l o n g . H e h a d n o t r a in o f s e r v a n t s a n d
r e t a i n e r s , b u t h e w a s wel l a r m e d . H e w e n t r igh t u p t o t h e b o d y . " P o o r
m a n ! " h e sa id . " I w o n d e r w h a t y o u d i ed of. I d o n ' t see a n y w o u n d . " H e
p o k e d a t t h e c o r p s e h e r e a n d t h e r e w i t h t h e t ip o f h is b o w . S u d d e n l y t he
d e a d m a n se ized t h e b o w , l e aped u p , pu l l ed t h e w a r r i o r d o w n from his
h o r s e , d r e w t h e m a n ' s o w n d a g g e r , a n d ki l led h im .
2 0 6
" B e t t e r b e m o r e carefu l n e x t t i m e ! " said H a k a m a d a r e .
I n n o t i m e H a k a m a d a r e h a d the slain m a n ' s c lo thes off a n d w a s w e a r -
ing t h e m himself . N e x t h e se ized the w a r r i o r ' s w e a p o n s , j u m p e d o n his
h o r s e , a n d g a l l o p e d a w a y t o w a r d t h e eas t . H e h a d a l r e a d y a r r a n g e d a
r e n d e z v o u s w i t h a d o z e n o r t w o o f t h e conv ic t s w h o h a d b e e n re leased
w i t h h i m , a n d h e t o o k a n y l a t e c o m e r o n a s a s e r v a n t . T h e b a n d s w e p t
a l o n g , r o b b i n g e v e r y o n e t h e y m e t o f c lo th ing , m o u n t s , a n d w e a p o n s .
T h e s e w e r e d i s t r i b u t e d a m o n g t h e n a k e d b a n d i t s unt i l i t w a s t w e n t y o r
t h i r t y w e l l - a r m e d d e s p e r a d o s w h o r o d e e a s t w a r d a l o n g the r o a d , a n d n o
o n e t h e y e n c o u n t e r e d c o u l d s t a n d aga ins t t h e m .
T h a t ' s w h a t a m a n l ike t h a t wil l do i f y o u g ive h im half a c h a n c e . J u s t
g e t c lose e n o u g h for h im t o t o u c h y o u , a n d w a t c h o u t ! T h e first w a r r i o r ,
t h e o n e w h o r o d e r e s o l u t e l y by , t u r n e d o u t t o h a v e b e e n a fellow n a m e d
T a i r a n o S a d a m i c h i . E v e r y o n e w h o h e a r d t h e s t o r y n o d d e d a p p r o v a l o f
h i s a c t i o n . I t h a d b e e n w i s e o f h im to p a s s on , d e s p i t e his la rge t r a in . A n d
w h a t a fool he h a d b e e n , t h e o n e w h o , w i t h o u t a s ingle fol lower by him,
h a d g o n e r igh t u p t o t h e b o d y !
1 4 5 .
COVED
L a t e o n e fall H a k a m a d a r e , t h e n o t o r i o u s b a n d i t chief ta in , felt he n e e d e d
s o m e n e w c l o t h e s a n d d e c i d e d t o g o l o o k i n g for t h e m . I t w a s t he midd le
o f t h e n i g h t a n d t h e t o w n w a s q u i e t . Y o u co u l d ba r e ly see t he m o o n .
A l o n g c a m e a m a n w e a r i n g a c o m p l e t e , f irst-class outfi t . He w a s s a u n t e r -
ing d o w n t h e p a t h p l a y i n g t h e f lute .
" T h a t ' s t h e o n e ! " t h o u g h t t h e b a n d i t . " H e ' s c o m e t o g ive m e his
c l o t h e s ! "
H a k a m a d a r e w a s a b o u t t o j u m p his v ic t im w h e n h e s u d d e n l y felt
a f ra id , a n d fo l lowed t h e m a n i n s t e a d . T h e m a n g a v e n o sign o f k n o w i n g
a n y o n e w a s b e h i n d h i m . H e j u s t s t ro l l ed a l o n g p l a y i n g his flute. T o test
h i m , H a k a m a d a r e s t a r t e d r u n n i n g w i t h h e a v y s t e p s .
T h e m a n t u r n e d a r o u n d b u t d id no t s t o p p lay ing . H a k a m a d a r e r e -
t r e a t e d , u n a b l e t o b r i n g h imse l f t o a t t a c k . H e t r ied t he s a m e t h i n g ove r
a n d ove r , b u t t h e m a n n e v e r go t f lus te red . " T h i s i s a n o d d o n e ! " t h o u g h t
H a k a m a d a r e .
H a l f a mile o r so f u r t h e r on , H a k a m a d a r e d e c i d e d he h a d to ac t . He
d r e w his s w o r d a n d c h a r g e d . T h e m a n s t o p p e d p l ay ing , s t ood still, a n d
t u r n e d t o face h i m . " W h o a re y o u ? " h e a s k e d . H a k a m a d a r e w a s c o w e d .
I n sp i te o f h imse l f h e p l o p p e d d o w n o n t h e g r o u n d .
" W h o a r e y o u ? " t h e m a n r e p e a t e d . H a k a m a d a r e co u l d tell i t w a s
use less t o r u n .
" I ' m a b a n d i t , " he a n s w e r e d .
" W h a t ' s y o u r n a m e ?
" H a k a m a d a r e . "
" O h yes , " said t he m a n , " I ' v e h e a r d o f y o u . You ' re t o u g h . C o m e w i t h
me ." He w e n t on a g a i n , p l a y i n g his f lute . H a k a m a d a r e fol lowed l ike a
d e m o n c a u g h t b y s o m e g o d .
T h e y c a m e t o t h e m a n ' s h o u s e . H e t u r n e d o u t t o b e t h e f amous w a r r i o r
Y a s u m a s a , t h e f o r m e r g o v e r n o r o f S e t t s u p r o v i n c e . Y a s u m a s a inv i ted
H a k a m a d a r e i n a n d g a v e h im a t h i c k l y p a d d e d coa t . " W h e n y o u n e e d
c l o t h e s , " h e sa id , " jus t c o m e t o m e . D o n ' t g o a t t a c k i n g p e o p l e y o u k n o w
n o t h i n g a b o u t . Y o u c o u l d m a k e a b ig m i s t a k e . "
T h e a w e s t r u c k H a k a m a d a r e to ld th i s s t o r y t h e nex t t ime h e w a s
a r r e s t e d .
A m o u n t a i n t e m p l e in T a j i m a p r o v i n c e w a s o v e r a c e n t u r y o ld . No o n e
w e n t n e a r i t b e c a u s e i t w a s h a u n t e d by d e m o n s , b u t o n e d a y a p a i r o f
m o n k s , o n e old a n d o n e y o u n g , h a p p e n e d b y jus t a f ter s u n d o w n , a n d
s ince t h e y d id no t k n o w t h e p lace t h e y d e c i d e d t o s t ay t h e r e .
Af te r d a r k t h e y se t t l ed d o w n o n o p p o s i t e s ides o f t h e a l t a r . I n t h e
m i d d l e o f t h e n igh t s o m e t h i n g b a s h e d its w a y t h r o u g h t h e wa l l . T h e
c r e a t u r e s t a n k h o r r i b l y a n d w h e e z e d a n d s n o r t e d l ike a n ox, b u t i n t he
d a r k n e s s t h e y cou ld n o t see it. I t a t t a c k e d t h e y o u n g e r m o n k , w h o , i n his
2 0 8
f r ight , r e c i t e d t h e L o t u s S u t r a a n d fe rven t ly p r a y e d t o b e s p a r e d . S u d -
d e n l y i t d r o p p e d h i m , fell o n t h e o l d e r m o n k , a n d b e g a n d e v o u r i n g h im.
T h e v i c t im s c r e a m e d h o r r i b l y , b u t n o o n e s a v e d h im a n d the d e m o n a te
h i m u p .
T h e y o u n g e r m o n k w a s s u r e t h e d e m o n w o u l d n o w b e b a c k for him.
H e c l a m b e r e d u p o n t h e a l t a r ( t h e r e b e i n g n o o t h e r re fuge) , t h r e w his
a r m s r o u n d o n e o f t h e d iv in i t i es , a n d b e g g e d for he lp , t h e n w e n t o n
i n w a r d l y r e c i t i n g t h e L o t u s . W h e n t h e d e m o n d id c o m e af ter h im, h e
n e a r l y f a in t ed w i t h t e r r o r b u t h is c o n c e n t r a t i o n n e v e r w a v e r e d . H e h e a r d
t h e d e m o n c r a s h t o t h e f loor i n f ront o f t h e a l ta r .
T h e r e w a s d e a d s i l ence . T h e m o n k a s s u m e d the d e m o n w a s w a i t i n g
for h i m t o b e t r a y h imse l f b y s o m e sl ight noise , s o h e h a r d l y d a r e d even
t o b r e a t h e . W i t h his a r m s a r o u n d t h e s t a tue , a n d still m e n t a l l y rec i t ing
t h e L o t u s , h e w a i t e d for d a w n . I t s e e m e d like y e a r s . W h e n d a y c a m e a t
last , h e f o u n d h e h a d b e e n e m b r a c i n g the d iv ine g u a r d i a n B i s h a m o n .
B e f o r e t h e a l t a r an o x - h e a d e d d e m o n lay cu t i n t h r e e , a n d t h e b l a d e o f
B i s h a m o n ' s s p e a r w a s r ed w i t h b lood .
1 A 7 •
A PLEA FROM HELL
T a t e y a m a , a m o u n t a i n i n E t c h u p r o v i n c e , h a s b e e n k n o w n s ince a n t i q u i t y
for i ts he l l s . T h e r u g g e d , s w e e p i n g l a n d s c a p e t h e r e i s deso la t e , a n d c o u n t -
less b o i l i n g s p r i n g s g u s h f rom d e e p fissures in t h e r av ines . E v e n a h u g e
b o u l d e r r e s t i n g o n o n e o f t h e s e c r a c k s m a y b e set r o c k i n g b y the w a t e r
t h a t s u r g e s u p i r res i s t ib ly a r o u n d its b a s e . T h e hea t i s t e r r ib l e , a n d y o u
c o m e e v e n t u a l l y to a c o l u m n of e n d l e s s fire. In o n e va l ley of th i s hell ish
w a s t e t h e r e is a wa te r f a l l o v e r a h u n d r e d feet h igh t h a t looks l ike a vas t
e x p a n s e o f w h i t e c lo th .
O n e p e a k o f t h e m o u n t a i n i s n a m e d M o u n t T a i s h a k u b e c a u s e t h e y say
t h a t i s w h e r e L o r d T a i s h a k u a n d t h e officials o f t he u n d e r w o r l d g a t h e r
a n d j u d g e t h e d e e d s o f s e n t i e n t b e i n g s . P e o p l e have a l w a y s be l ieved tha t
m o s t o f t h e s i n n e r s i n J a p a n e n d u p falling in to t h e hel ls o f T a t e y a m a .
O n c e a m o n k of M i i d e r a c a m e to T a t e y a m a in t h e c o u r s e of a difficult
p i l g r i m a g e t o t h e h o l y p l a c e s o f t h e r ea lm, a n d w h i l e h e w a s w a l k i n g
a m o n g t h e hel ls h e m e t a y o u n g w o m a n . T h e s ight o f h e r f r igh tened him
b e c a u s e in a r e m o t e spo t l ike t h a t s h e cou ld on ly be a d e m o n , a n d he
b e g a n t o r u n a w a y . B u t s h e cal led t o h im, a s s u r e d h im t h a t s h e w a s no t
a d e m o n , a n d to ld h im t h a t he n e e d no t be a f ra id . S h e h a d s o m e t h i n g to
tell h im .
" M y h o m e , " s h e sa id , " w a s i n G a m o c o u n t y o f O m i p r o v i n c e , w h e r e
m y p a r e n t s still l ive. M y fa the r m a k e s his l iv ing c a r v i n g b u d d h a - i m a g e s
ou t o f w o o d . W h e n I w a s a l ive , my food a n d c l o t h i n g c a m e from t h e s e
i m a g e s , a n d t h a t ' s w h y af ter d e a t h I fell in to a hell w h e r e I suffer h o r r i b l e
a g o n y . P lease , i n y o u r c o m p a s s i o n , tell m y m o t h e r a n d fa ther w h a t ' s
h a p p e n e d t o m e ! H a v e t h e m c o p y t h e L o t u s S u t r a for m e a n d save m e
from t h e s e t o r m e n t s ! "
" Y o u say y o u ' r e suf fe r ing i n h e l l , " t h e m o n k rep l i ed , " b u t a p p a r e n t l y
y o u ' r e still free t o a p p e a r t o m e . H o w i s th i s p o s s i b l e ? "
T h e y o u n g w o m a n e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h i s w a s K a n n o n s d a y , t h e e igh -
t e e n t h d a y o f t h e m o o n . " W h e n I w a s a l i v e , " s h e w e n t on , " I m e a n t t o
s e rve K a n n o n a n d r e a d t h e K a n n o n c h a p t e r o f t h e L o t u s S u t r a . A n d e v e n
t h o u g h I k e p t p u t t i n g off a c t u a l l y d o i n g it, j u s t o n c e on an e i g h t e e n t h d a y
I d id pur i fy myse l f a n d call on K a n n o n . T h a t ' s w h y e a c h m o o n , on t h e
e i g h t e e n t h d a y , K a n n o n c o m e s a n d suffers in my p lace for a d a y a n d a
n igh t . T h e n I c a n l eave m y hell a n d w a n d e r f ree ly ." W h e n she h a d
f in ished s p e a k i n g , s h e v a n i s h e d .
T h e m o n k w e n t s t r a i g h t t o O m i t o find ou t w h e t h e r all th i s w a s t r u e .
I n G a m o c o u n t y h e f o u n d t h e y o u n g w o m a n ' s p a r e n t s , a n d t h e y w e p t t o
h e a r t h e n e w s h e b r o u g h t t h e m . W h e n h e h a d g o n e , t h e y lost n o t i m e i n
c o p y i n g a n d d e d i c a t i n g t h e S u t r a for t he i r d a u g h t e r .
L a t e r t h e f a the r d r e a m e d t h a t s h e c a m e t o him beaut i fu l ly d r e s s e d ,
g r e e t e d h im w i t h h e r p a l m s p r e s s e d t o g e t h e r , a n d to ld h im h o w s h e h a d
left t h e hell o n T a t e y a m a b y t h e p o w e r o f K a n n o n . N o w , s h e sa id , s h e
h a d b e e n b o r n in to t h e T o r i H e a v e n . T h e m o n k h a d jus t t h e s a m e h a p p y
d r e a m .
1 4 8 .
THE VOICE FROM THE CAVE
H a v i n g o n e m o r n i n g s o m e u r g e n t b u s i n e s s to look af ter a t t h e office, a
s e c r e t a r y in t h e H i g o p rov inc i a l g o v e r n m e n t r o d e off f i r s t t h ing , all a lone .
He n o r m a l l y c o v e r e d t h e half -mile o r so q u i c k l y , b u t th is t ime he go t lost
a n d c a m e o u t o n a b r o a d p la in . H e h a d n o i dea w h e r e h e w a s .
2 1 0
By s u n d o w n , a f te r c r o s s i n g t h e p la in all d a y , he still h a d not seen a
s ing le h o u s e w h e r e he m i g h t s p e n d t h e n igh t . H o w he longed for a
v i l l age! At last he g l i m p s e d , f rom t h e t o p of a r ise , t he c o r n e r of a wel l -
m a d e roof.
" I s a n y o n e h o m e ? " h e s h o u t e d w h e n h e r e a c h e d the house , for the
p l a c e s e e m e d awfu l ly q u i e t . " P l e a s e c o m e t o t he d o o r ! W h a t ' s t h e n a m e
o f t h i s p l a c e ? "
" W h o a r e y o u ? " ca l led a w o m a n ' s vo ice from ins ide . " C o m e o n i n ! "
H e r vo i ce f r i g h t e n e d t h e s e c r e t a r y . H e ca l led b a c k tha t h e w a s lost,
a n d in t o o m u c h o f a h u r r y to s t o p . " I j u s t w a n t to k n o w w h e r e I a m ! "
h e w e n t o n . " W o n ' t y o u p l ea se tell m e ? "
" W a i t a m i n u t e ! I'll be r i g h t o u t ! "
Te r r i f i ed , t h e s e c r e t a r y w h e e l e d his h o r s e r o u n d a n d ga l loped a w a y a s
fast a s he c o u l d .
" H e y ! " s h o u t e d t h e w o m a n a s s h e e m e r g e d . " W a i t ! "
H e g l a n c e d b a c k . S h e w a s a s tall a s t he roo f a n d h e r eyes w e r e g l e a m -
ing . " T h a t ' s i t ! " h e t h o u g h t . " I t w a s a d e m o n ' s h o u s e ! " H e frant ical ly
w h i p p e d h i s h o r s e o n .
" W h e r e d o y o u t h i n k y o u ' r e g o i n g ? " s h e b e l l o w e d . " S t o p r igh t t h e r e ! "
T h e s e c r e t a r y n e a r l y w e n t m a d w i t h fear b e c a u s e she w a s af ter h im
n o w , t en feet tall a n d w i t h eyes a n d a m o u t h t h a t s p o u t e d dazz l ing flashes
o f fire. T h e m o u t h g a p e d w i d e to s w a l l o w h i m . He a lmos t fa inted a n d fell
off h i s h o r s e , b u t still m a n a g e d s o m e h o w to p r a y , " K a n n o n , save me, oh
s a v e m e n o w ! "
W h e n his h o r s e s t u m b l e d a n d fell, h e w a s t h r o w n c lear . N o d o u b t h e
w o u l d b e e a t e n a n y s e c o n d . W i t h o u t e v e n k n o w i n g w h a t h e w a s d o i n g
h e d a s h e d in to a b u r i a l c a v e n e a r b y , a n d t h e d e m o n c a m e p o u n d i n g af ter
h i m . " W h e r e a r e y o u ? " i t r o a r e d . " Y o u w e r e t h e r e jus t a m o m e n t a g o ! "
T h e n i t h a l t e d a n d b e g a n d e v o u r i n g his h o r s e . O b v i o u s l y h e w o u l d b e
n e x t , u n l e s s b y a n y u n l i k e l y c h a n c e i t rea l ly d id no t k n o w w h e r e h e w a s .
H e w e n t o n p r a y i n g t o K a n n o n w i t h all his h e a r t .
H a v i n g f in i shed t h e h o r s e , t h e d e m o n c a m e t o t h e m o u t h o f t he cave .
"All r i g h t , " i t sa id , " t h i s m a n w a s s u p p o s e d to be my meal for t o d a y . W h y
h a v e y o u t a k e n h im a w a y from m e ? Y o u ' r e a l w a y s p l ay ing m e n a s t y
t r i c k s l ike th i s a n d I 've h a d e n o u g h ! " I t k n e w w h e r e h e w a s , all r igh t .
" O h n o , h e ' s m i n e a n d I 'm k e e p i n g h i m , " g r o w l e d a voice from fu r the r
b a c k i n t h e c a v e . " Y o u go t t h e h o r s e . W h a t m o r e d o y o u w a n t ? "
I t w a s all o v e r n o w , t h e s e c r e t a r y w a s q u i t e su re o f t h a t . N o t on ly w a s
t h a t h o r r i b l e d e m o n r i g h t o u t s i d e t h e cave , b u t a n even m o r e ho r r ib l e
o n e w a s i n s ide it . All h is p r a y e r s to K a n n o n w e r e in va in , a n d in a
m o m e n t h e w o u l d b e d e a d . W e l l , h e p r o b a b l y h a d n o t h i n g t o b l a m e b u t
h is o w n awfu l k a r m a f rom p a s t l ives .
T h e d e m o n o u t s i d e k e p t p l e a d i n g a n d c o m p l a i n i n g , b u t t o n o ava i l .
F ina l ly i t left, still g r u m b l i n g . N o w t h e s e c r e t a r y e x p e c t e d to be d r a g g e d
in to t h e m o n s t e r ' s la i r a n d e a t e n .
" Y o u w e r e g o i n g t o m a k e a mea l for t h a t d e m o n t o d a y , " sa id t h e vo ice ,
" b u t y o u p r a y e d s o d e v o u t l y t o K a n n o n t h a t y o u ' v e b e e n s p a r e d . K e e p
u p y o u r faith af ter th i s a n d c h a n t t h e L o t u s S u t r a . D o y o u k n o w w h o I
a m ? "
T h e s e c r e t a r y sa id n o .
" I ' m no d e m o n . A ho ly m a n o n c e l ived in th i s c a v e . On t o p o f t h e
m o u n t a i n n e a r b y he bui l t a t o w e r a n d e n s h r i n e d t h e L o t u s S u t r a in it.
T h e t o w e r a n d t h e S u t r a itself h a v e l o n g s ince c r u m b l e d a w a y a n d t h e r e ' s
n o t h i n g left b u t myo, o r ' w o n d e r f u l , ' t h e f i r s t w o r d of t h e S u t r a ' s t i t le .
I 'm t h a t myo. I 've a l r e a d y s a v e d n ine h u n d r e d a n d n i n e t y - n i n e p e o p l e
from t h a t d e m o n a n d y o u ' r e t h e o n e - t h o u s a n d t h . G o h o m e n o w . N e v e r
g ive u p y o u r faith i n t h e B u d d h a a n d y o u r d e v o t i o n t o t h e L o t u s ! "
A d iv ine b o y c a m e ou t o f t h e c a v e to see t he s e c r e t a r y h o m e . W e e p i n g ,
t he s e c r e t a r y p r o s t r a t e d himself i n g r a t i t u d e a n d a d o r a t i o n , t h e n fo l lowed
t h e b o y t o t h e g a t e o f h is o w n h o u s e , w h e r e t h e b o y v a n i s h e d . T h e
s e c r e t a r y p r o s t r a t e d h imse l f o n c e m o r e be fo re w a l k i n g in. I t w a s t h e
m i d d l e o f t h e n i g h t . H e to ld his family e v e r y t h i n g t h a t h a d h a p p e n e d t o
h i m , a n d t h e y w e r e v e r y , v e r y g l ad t o h a v e h im b a c k !
1 4 9 •
INCORRIGIBLE
T o s h i y u k i , a r e s p e c t e d p o e t a n d ca l l i g r aphe r , h a d such beaut i fu l h a n d -
w r i t i n g t h a t p e o p l e w e r e a l w a y s a s k i n g h im t o c o p y t h e L o t u s S u t r a for
t h e m . T h e y t o o k i t for g r a n t e d t h a t T o s h i y u k i ' s e l egan t r e n d i t i o n o f t h e
s a c r e d t ex t w o u l d h e l p t h e m t o w a r d a b e t t e r life nex t t i m e . T o s h i y u k i
h a d c o p i e d t h e S u t r a t w o h u n d r e d t i m e s th i s w a y w h e n h e s u d d e n l y d ied .
N o t r ea l i z ing w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d , h e o n l y k n e w t h a t h e h a d b e e n
a b r u p t l y se ized a n d d r a g g e d off. H e w a s o u t r a g e d a n d co u l d no t u n d e r -
s t a n d h o w a n y o n e , e v e n t h e e m p e r o r , cou ld do s u c h a t h i n g to a m a n o f
his s t a n d i n g .
" W h a t h a v e I d o n e t o d e s e r v e t h i s ? " h e a s k e d t h e officer w h o h e
t h o u g h t h a d a r r e s t e d h im .
" W h o k n o w s ? " t h e officer r ep l i ed . " I w a s o r d e r e d t o g o a n d ge t y o u ,
2 1 2
a n d t h a t ' s w h a t I 'm d o i n g . C o m e t o t h i n k o f it, h a v e y o u been m a k i n g
cop i e s o f t h e L o t u s S u t r a ? "
T o s h i y u k i sa id h e h a d .
" H o w m u c h o f t h i s c o p y i n g w a s for y o u r s e l f ? "
" N o n e . I t ' s all b e e n for o t h e r p e o p l e . I m u s t h a v e d o n e a co u p l e of
h u n d r e d S u t r a s . "
" T h a t ' s it, t h e n . T h e r e h a v e b e e n c o m p l a i n t s a n d I s u p p o s e t he case
h a s c o m e u p . "
T h a t w a s all T o s h i y u k i c o u l d ge t ou t o f h im. T h e y m a r c h e d on in
s i l ence .
S o o n t h e y m e t a force o f t w o h u n d r e d w a r r i o r s , w e a r i n g g r i m ba t t le
a r m o r a n d r i d i n g s t r a n g e , t e r r i b l e h o r s e s . T h e eyes i n the i r g h a s t l y faces
f l ashed l ike l i g h t n i n g a n d t he i r m o u t h s w e r e l ike fire. T o s h i y u k i a lmos t
f a in ted w i t h fear, b u t t h e officer forced h im b a c k to his feet a n d t h e y
w e n t on , w i t h t h e so ld i e r s be fo re t h e m .
" W h o a r e they!" T o s h i y u k i m a n a g e d t o s t a m m e r .
" D o n ' t y o u k n o w ? T h e y ' r e t h e p e o p l e w h o h a d y o u w r i t e ou t t he
S u t r a . T h e y w e r e c o u n t i n g o n t h e mer i t g e t t i n g t h e m r e b o r n i n h e a v e n
o r a t leas t g i v i n g t h e m a n o t h e r t r y a s h u m a n s . Bu t y o u — y o u w e r e e a t i n g
fish a n d e n j o y i n g w o m e n all t h e t i m e y o u d id y o u r c o p y i n g . Y o u n e v e r
pur i f i ed your se l f . O n t h e c o n t r a r y , y o u h a d y o u r m i n d o n n o t h i n g b u t
t h e l ad ie s . S o t h e y h a d n o m e r i t w h a t e v e r f rom y o u r w o r k a n d w e r e b o r n
i n s t e a d in to t h e s e fierce, w a r l i k e fo rms . T h e y ' r e s o a n g r y t h e y w a n t
r e v e n g e , a n d t h a t ' s w h y t h e y ' v e b e e n d e m a n d i n g t h a t y o u b e cal led in.
T o tell t h e t r u t h , i t w a s n ' t a c t u a l l y y o u r t i m e y e t , b u t t h e y ins i s t ed . "
T o s h i y u k i felt a s t h o u g h a knife h a d g o n e t h r o u g h him a n d his hea r t
f roze . " W h a t a r e t h e y g o i n g t o d o t o m e ? " h e a s k e d .
" O b v i o u s l y t h e y ' r e g o i n g t o c u t y o u u p w i t h t hose s w o r d s a n d d a g g e r s
o f t h e i r s i n to t w o h u n d r e d li t t le p ieces , a n d each o f t h e m i s g o i n g to k e e p
o n e . E v e r y p i ece wil l be y o u , fully c o n s c i o u s , so you'11 suffer h o r r i b l y a n y
t i m e a n y o n e o f t h e m t o r t u r e s t h e p iece he ' s go t . Oh y e s , you ' l l find i t
w o r s e t h a n a n y t h i n g y o u c a n i m a g i n e ! "
" W h a t c a n I d o t o b e s p a r e d ? "
" I ' v e n o i d e a , " t h e officer r ep l i ed . " I c a n ' t see w h a t w o u l d save y o u . "
T o s h i y u k i w a s n e a r l y o u t o f his m i n d w i t h t e r r o r .
O n t h e y w e n t till t h e y c a m e t o a g r e a t r ive r r u n n i n g a s b lack a s t he
b l a c k e s t i nk . T o s h i y u k i a s k e d w h a t t h e s e s t r a n g e , i nky w a t e r s migh t be .
" D o n ' t y o u u n d e r s t a n d ? " t h e officer a n s w e r e d . " T h i s i s t h e ink from
all t h e L o t u s S u t r a c o p i e s y o u m a d e . A s u t r a cop ied w i t h p u r e h e a r t i s
a c c e p t e d i n s t a n t l y in to t h e p a l a c e o f t h e D r a g o n King w h o g u a r d s t he
B u d d h a ' s T e a c h i n g . B u t cop i e s m a d e l ike y o u r s , w i t h defi led mind a n d
f i l t hy b o d y , a r e t h r o w n a w a y i n t he f i e l d s , a n d t h e ink w a s h e s off i n t h e
ra in till it m a k e s a r i v e r . "
" O h p lease , p l e a s e , " s o b b e d T o s h i y u k i , "is t h e r e n o h e l p for me , n o t h -
ing I c a n d o ? "
" I ' m s o r r y , I m i g h t poss ib ly be ab l e to do s o m e t h i n g for y o u i f y o u r sin
w e r e a c o m m o n p l a c e o n e , b u t I 'm af ra id it 's u n s p e a k a b l e . You ' l l ge t no
r e p r i e v e . "
J u s t t h e n a frightful f i end c h a r g e d u p , g r o w l e d a t t h e officer t h a t he
h a d b e e n s low b r i n g i n g t h e p r i s o n e r in, g r a b b e d T o s h i y u k i b y t h e neck ,
a n d m a r c h e d h im off. T h e y c a m e to a g r e a t g a t e t h r o u g h w h i c h c o u n t l e s s
o t h e r s , d r a g g e d l ike T o s h i y u k i , o r b o u n d , o r i n i rons , w e r e p o u r i n g from
e v e r y d i r e c t i o n till i t w a s h a r d l y pos s ib l e e v e n to p a s s . Ins ide t h e g a t e ,
t h e t w o h u n d r e d w a r r i o r s w h o m T o s h i y u k i r e c o g n i z e d all t o o wel l w e r e
g l a r i n g a t h im w i t h f i e ry e y e s a n d l i ck ing t h e i r l ips in g r i m a n t i c i p a t i o n .
T o s h i y u k i w a s f ran t ica l ly c u d g e l i n g his b r a i n s for a w a y ou t w h e n t h e
f i e n d w h o w a s d r a g g i n g h im w h i s p e r e d i n his ea r , " M a k e a v o w t o c o p y
the S u t r a o f G o l d e n L i g h t ! " As t h e y w e n t i n t h r o u g h the ga t e , T o s h i y u k i
v o w e d t o c o p y t h e S u t r a o f G o l d e n L igh t b y w a y o f a t o n e m e n t .
H e w a s h a u l e d i n t o s t a n d be fo re t h e c o u r t o f E m m a , t he k i n g o f hel l .
" I s th i s T o s h i y u k i ? " a bailiff g r o w l e d . A n o t h e r bailiff d e m a n d e d to k n o w
w h y , c o n s i d e r i n g t h e h u g e n u m b e r o f c o m p l a i n t s l o d g e d aga ins t h i m ,
T o s h i y u k i h a d b e e n s o s l o w t o a p p e a r .
" I b r o u g h t h im s t r a i g h t h e r e , sir , af ter I se ized h i m , " said t h e a r r e s t i n g
officer.
" W h a t w a s i t y o u d id u p t h e r e i n t h e w o r l d ? " t h e y a s k e d T o s h i y u k i .
" N o t h i n g , rea l ly . I j u s t w r o t e o u t t h e L o t u s S u t r a for p e o p l e w h o a s k e d
m e to . I m a d e t w o h u n d r e d c o p i e s . "
" A c t u a l l y , " t h e y to ld h im, " y o u r l i fe-span h a d a little m o r e to r u n , b u t
y o u ' v e b e e n b r o u g h t i n b e c a u s e o f c o m p l a i n t s t h a t y o u c o p i e d t h e S u t r a
w h i l e y o u w e r e u n c l e a n . O u r o r d e r s a r e t o de l ive r y o u t o y o u r a c c u s e r s
s o t h e y c a n d i s p o s e o f y o u a s t h e y see f i t . "
T h e t w o h u n d r e d so ld i e r s p r e p a r e d t o t a k e c h a r g e o f t he i r v ic t im.
" B u t I m a d e a v o w , " p r o t e s t e d T o s h i y u k i , s h u d d e r i n g w i t h fear, " t o
d e d i c a t e to t h e B u d d h a a c o p y o f t h e S u t r a o f G o l d e n L igh t , a n d I w a s
se ized be fo re I c o u l d fulfill it. It 'll be a t e r r i b l e sin if I d o n ' t go t h r o u g h
w i t h it, o n e I cou ld n e v e r a t o n e fo r . "
T h i s b r o u g h t t h e bailiffs u p s h o r t . T h e y d e c l a r e d t h a t i f th i s w e r e t r u e
t h e w h o l e a r r e s t h a d b e e n a m i s t a k e , a n d t h e y o r d e r e d T o s h i y u k i ' s c la im
c h e c k e d in t h e g r e a t R e g i s t e r o f D e e d s . T h e s e c r e t a r y o f t h e c o u r t o f hell
leafed t h r o u g h t h e r e g i s t e r a n d r e a d off e v e r y last d e e d o f T o s h i y u k i ' s .
T h e y w e r e all s ins . O n l y a t t h e last spli t s e c o n d , w h e n h e h a d g o n e
2 1 4
t h r o u g h t h e e n t i r e list, d id h e finally a n n o u n c e , " Y e s , it 's t r u e . T h e e n t r y
i s h e r e a t t h e v e r y e n d . "
" W e l l , t h e n , " t h e y to ld T o s h i y u k i , "we ' l l h a v e t o set y o u free. G o
a c c o m p l i s h y o u r v o w a n d c o n t i n u e y o u r life a s y o u t h i n k b e s t . "
T h e g r i m h o s t o f t w o h u n d r e d , t h a t ju s t n o w h a d felt t he i r h a n d s nea r ly
o n h i m , s u d d e n l y v a n i s h e d . T o s h i y u k i r e t u r n e d t o life.
F o r t w o d a y s his wife a n d c h i l d r e n h a d b e e n m o u r n i n g him w h e n all
a t o n c e h e o p e n e d his e y e s a n d w a s b a c k . J o y f u l l y t h e y g a v e h im s o m e -
t h i n g h o t t o d r i n k , a n d i t w a s o n l y t h e n t h a t he finally u n d e r s t o o d he h a d
b e e n d e a d . I n h i s m i n d h e s a w aga in e v e r y t h i n g h e h a d jus t w i t n e s s e d a s
t h o u g h re f l ec ted in t h e c l ea re s t o f m i r r o r s , a n d he reso lved to c o p y a n d
d e d i c a t e t h e S u t r a o f G o l d e n L igh t , p r o p e r l y pur i f ied th is t ime, jus t a s
s o o n a s h e s h o u l d b e h imse l f a g a i n .
In t i m e he r e c o v e r e d fully a n d h u r r i e d to h a v e a c r a f t s m a n p r e p a r e a
scrol l o f p a p e r t o r ece ive t h e s u t r a . B u t a t t he s a m e t ime his t h o u g h t s
b e g a n w a n d e r i n g aga in , a n d i t w a s no t t o w a r d t h e B u d d h a a n d the
s c r i p t u r e s t h a t t h e y r o a m e d . H e w a s q u i c k l y a b s o r b e d i n r o m a n t i c visi ts
a n d fanc ies , a n d w o r r i e d o n l y a b o u t h o w t o w r i t e t he n ices t poss ib le
v e r s e s . S o t h e m o n t h s a n d y e a r s f lew b y w i t h o u t his eve r c o p y i n g the
s u t r a un t i l h is life r e a c h e d its a l lo t t ed t e r m a n d he p a s s e d a w a y .
A few y e a r s l a t e r t h e p o e t Ki no T o m o n o r i h a d a d r e a m . T h e r e c a m e
t o h i m o n e w h o m h e u n d e r s t o o d t o b e T o s h i y u k i , a l t h o u g h fearfully
c h a n g e d f rom w h a t T o s h i y u k i h a d o n c e b e e n a n d te r r i fy ing t o look a t .
" A v o w I m a d e t o w r i t e o u t a n d d e d i c a t e t h e S u t r a o f G o l d e n Light
g a i n e d me a r e p r i e v e , " t h e a p p a r i t i o n said, " a n d I w a s r e t u r n e d to life.
B u t my h e a r t s t a y e d a s f r ivo lous a s be fo re a n d I finally d ied w i t h o u t eve r
c o p y i n g t h e s u t r a . F o r t h i s I 'm n o w suffer ing t h e mos t ho r r ib l e t o r t u r e s .
H a v e p i t y on m e , f ind t h e p a p e r I h a d p r e p a r e d for t he su t r a , t a k e i t to a
c e r t a i n m o n k a t M i i d e r a , a n d h a v e h im m a k e t h e c o p y a n d the d e d i c a -
t i o n ! " T h e n i t s c r e a m e d .
T o m o n o r i a w o k e s o a k e d i n s w e a t . D a w n h a d b a r e l y b r o k e n w h e n h e
h u r r i e d off o n h i s e r r a n d . H e f o u n d the p a p e r a n d soon w a s k n o c k i n g a t
t h e m o n k ' s d o o r . T h e m o n k w a s g lad t o see h im b e c a u s e , a s h e exp l a ined ,
he h a d b e e n on t h e p o i n t o f s e n d i n g a m e s s e n g e r t o T o m o n o r i ' s h o u s e .
T o m o n o r i a s k e d w h y , c o n c e a l i n g for t h e m o m e n t his o w n r e a s o n for
h a v i n g c o m e , a n d t h e m o n k r e l a t e d t h e p r e c i s e c o u n t e r p a r t t o T o m o n o r i ' s
d r e a m . T o s h i y u k i h a d a p p e a r e d t o h im, told h im t h a t T o m o n o r i w o u l d
b e ab l e t o find t h e p a p e r , a n d a s k e d h im t o c o p y a n d d e d i c a t e t h e s u t r a .
T h e m o n k ' s d r e a m , l ike T o m o n o r i ' s , h a d e n d e d w i t h a h o r r i b l e s c r e a m .
T o m o n o r i a n d t h e m o n k w e p t b i t t e r ly o v e r T o s h i y u k i ' s awful fate, a n d
T o m o n o r i p r o d u c e d t h e p a p e r w i t h a n e x p l a n a t i o n o f h o w h e h a d c o m e
to b r i n g it.
T h e m o n k d id e x a c t l y a s T o s h i y u k i h a d a s k e d . W h e n t h e t w o d r e a m e d
o f T o s h i y u k i a g a i n , he s e e m e d in far b e t t e r sp i r i t s . He to ld t h e m t h a t t h e
mer i t t h e y h a d g a i n e d for h im h a d g r e a t l y l i g h t e n e d his suf fer ing .
1 5 o .
THE PIRATE'S STORY
A v e r y old a n d p i o u s m o n k w h o l ived i n S e t t s u p r o v i n c e o n c e h e a r d
s o m e o n e m e n t i o n a n e n c o u n t e r w i t h p i r a t e s , a n d th i s i n s p i r e d h im t o tell
his o w n s to ry .
" W h e n I w a s y o u n g , " he r e l a t e d , " I h a d a v e r y g o o d life. I h a d all t h e
food a n d c l o t h i n g I c o u l d p o s s i b l y w a n t a n d e v e r y d a y I sai led t h e sea .
' A d m i r a l R o k u r o ' t h e y ca l led m e . I w a s a p i r a t e .
" O n c e I w a s o u t a m o n g t h e i s l ands off t he coas t o f Ak i a n d t h e r e
w a s n ' t a n o t h e r vesse l in s igh t , w h e n up r o w e d a s h i p . A n i c e - l o o k i n g
fel low in his m i d - t w e n t i e s s e e m e d to be h e r m a s t e r , a n d all I cou ld see
b e s i d e h i m w e r e a c o u p l e o f sa i lo rs . We l l , I t h o u g h t , t h e r e m u s t be s o m e
p r e t t y w o m e n on b o a r d t o o . I cou ld see a bit r o u n d t h e b l i nds o v e r t h e
c a b i n w i n d o w s , a n d I cou ld m a k e o u t pi les o f t r u n k s . O h , s h e w a s
c e r t a i n l y l o a d e d , a n d all b u t de fense less . A y o u n g m o n k w a s u p o n t h e
c a b i n r o o f c h a n t i n g t h e L o t u s S u t r a .
" N o m a t t e r h o w I m a n e u v e r e d , t h a t sh ip s t ayed w i t h m e . T h e y s e e m e d
t o h a v e no idea w h a t I w a s . T h a t m a d e me w o n d e r m o r e t h a n eve r , so I
ha i led h e r . T h e m a s t e r sa id h e w a s b o u n d for t h e Cap i t a l o n u r g e n t
b u s i n e s s , h a v i n g p u t o u t f rom t h e p r o v i n c e o f S u o . H e h a d a t t a c h e d
h imse l f to me b e c a u s e he f ea red p i r a t e s . He m u s t h a v e b e e n a bi t soft in
t h e h e a d .
" ' I ' m no t g o i n g t h e C a p i t a l , ' I s h o u t e d b a c k . ' I ' m h e r e to r e n d e z v o u s
w i t h a n o t h e r s h i p a n d t h e n I 'm h e a d i n g for S u o myself. Y o u ' d b e t t e r find
a vesse l b o u n d y o u r w a y ! ' He sa id all r igh t , b u t he w o u l d n ' t find o n e till
t o m o r r o w , a n d m e a n w h i l e h e ' d jus t s t ick w i t h m e . H e a n c h o r e d r igh t b y
us in t h e lee of an i s l and .
" T h e o p p o r t u n i t y w a s g o l d e n a n d m y m e n w e r e d e t e r m i n e d t o ge t the i r
h a n d s o n t h a t c a r g o . Y o u c a n i m a g i n e t h e i r a m a z e m e n t a n d h o r r o r w h e n
w e b o a r d e d . W e w e r e t o s s ing e v e r y o n e o v e r t h e s ide , m e n a n d w o m e n
a l ike , w h e n t h e m a s t e r o f t h e s h i p b e g a n p l e a d i n g w i t h me , s h e d d i n g
g r e a t b ig t e a r s . ' T a k e e v e r y t h i n g I h a v e , ' he b e g g e d , ' b u t p lease , p lease
2 1 6
s p a r e my life! My old m o t h e r i n t h e Cap i t a l i s d y i n g a n d she ' s sent me
w o r d s h e w a n t s s o m u c h t o see m e a g a i n ! T h a t ' s w h y I 'm o n m y w a y a s
fast a s I c a n g o ! ' He w a s l o o k i n g me s t r a igh t i n t h e eye a s he s p o k e , a n d
w r i n g i n g his h a n d s . B u t I to ld my m e n t h e y w e r e n ' t t o t a k e a n y sob
s t o r i e s . ' O v e r he g o e s w i t h t h e r e s t ! ' I o r d e r e d . He still kep t his eyes on
m i n e , t h o u g h , w h i l e b ig t e a r s ro l led d o w n his c h e e k s , a n d I felt s o r r y for
h i m . Y e s , I k n e w i t w a s c rue l , b u t I h a d my w a y s , a n d I cou ldn ' t see w h y
I s h o u l d d o h im a n y f avor s . O v e r b o a r d h e w e n t .
" O v e r t h e s ide t o o w e n t t h a t little m o n k from t h e cab in roof, f rant ical ly
c l u t c h i n g t h e S u t r a he h a d in a b a g s l u n g r o u n d his neck . B u t he s t ayed
af loat , l if t ing t h e s u t r a b a g h igh o u t o f t h e w a t e r . In fact he w a s f loat ing
h i g h e r a n d h i g h e r , a n d i t s e e m e d h e w o u l d n e v e r s ink . H e s h o u l d h a v e
d r o w n e d b y n o w . W e s t a r t e d b a s h i n g h im o v e r t h e h e a d a n d j a b b i n g him
in t h e b a c k w i t h t h e s t e e r i n g oa r , b u t he still f loated as h igh as ever ,
h o l d i n g t h e S u t r a in t h e a i r . I c o u l d n ' t u n d e r s t a n d it. T h e n I s a w severa l
beau t i fu l c h i l d r e n in t h e w a t e r w i t h h im, fore a n d aft, e a c h c a r r y i n g a
s l e n d e r w h i t e staff. O n e w a s h o l d i n g his h e a d u p w h i l e a n o t h e r s u p p o r t e d
t h e h a n d t h a t c a r r i e d t h e S u t r a .
" M y m e n ins i s t ed t h e y s a w n o c h i l d r e n , b u t / co u l d see t h e m . T h e y
w e r e k e e p i n g h im af loat . I w a s b e g i n n i n g to feel l ike s a v i n g h im, n o w , so
I g a v e h im t h e e n d o f a po le a n d h a u l e d h im b a c k to t h e sh ip . My m e n
g r u m b l e d a bi t , b u t I g o t h im a b o a r d . T h e c h i l d r e n w e r e n ' t t h e r e a n y
m o r e .
" W h e n I q u e s t i o n e d h im, he sa id he w a s on his w a y to t he Cap i t a l
b e c a u s e a t h o m e h e ' d n e v e r b e e n ab l e t o ge t p r o p e r l y o r d a i n e d . T h e
m a s t e r o f t h e s h i p h a d offered t o t a k e h im a l o n g a n d h a d p r o m i s e d t o
h a v e h i m o r d a i n e d by a m o n k f r iend of h is . I a s k e d h im w h o those
c h i l d r e n h a d b e e n , t h e o n e s w h o h a d he ld h im u p , b u t h e said h e h a d n o
i dea w h a t I w a s t a l k i n g a b o u t .
" ' W e l l , ' I t o ld h im, ' o n e w a s s u p p o r t i n g t he h a n d y o u w e r e h o l d i n g
t h e S u t r a w i t h . A n y w a y , w h y w e r e y o u s o b u s y ho ld ing the S u t r a u p
w h e n y o u k n e w y o u ' d s o o n d r o w n ? ' ' I k n e w I w a s g o i n g t o d r o w n , ' h e
a n s w e r e d , ' b u t t h a t d i d n ' t rea l ly m a t t e r . I jus t w a n t e d t o k e e p t h e S u t r a
d r y as l o n g as I c o u l d . I t ' s t r u e my a r m d i d n ' t get t i red , in fact i t felt v e r y
l ight a n d s e e m e d to ge t l o n g e r a n d longe r . E v e n t h e n I rea l ized i t w a s
s o m e h o w t h e S u t r a ' s p o w e r t h a t w a s d o i n g it. T h a n k y o u for s av ing m y
life. ' A n d h e w e p t .
" I w a s d e e p l y i m p r e s s e d . I a s k e d h im w h e t h e r h e w o u l d t u r n b a c k
n o w o r w h e t h e r h e w o u l d g o o n t o t h e Capi ta l a n d ge t his o r d i n a t i o n ,
a n d I p r o m i s e d to t a k e h im i f he w a s g o i n g o n . He sa id no , he d idn ' t feel
l ike g e t t i n g o r d a i n e d a n y m o r e , he jus t w a n t e d to go h o m e . So I offered
t o t ake h im t h a t w a y , t o o . B u t I h a d t o a sk a g a i n w h o w e r e t hose b e a u t i -
ful c h i l d r e n I 'd seen , a n d I w a s so o v e r c o m e t h a t I w a s c r y i n g myself .
' I ' v e c h a n t e d t h e L o t u s S u t r a c o n s t a n t l y e v e r s ince I w a s s ix , ' h e a n -
s w e r e d , ' even w h e n I w a s b a d l y f r igh tened , so I s u p p o s e t h e g o d s w h o
p r o t e c t t h e S u t r a m u s t h a v e b e e n w i t h m e . '
" T h a t w a s w h e n m y e y e s w e r e o p e n e d t o t h e B u d d h a ' s n o b l e t r u t h .
R igh t t h e r e I d r o p p e d m y q u i v e r , m y d a g g e r , a n d m y s w o r d a n d r e so lved
to go w i t h t h a t m o n k a n d lead a ho ly life. I go t a lit t le food t o g e t h e r for
us to t a k e , b u t t h e res t o f t h e spoi ls I left to my m e n . T h e y t h o u g h t I 'd
g o n e m a d , o f c o u r s e . T h e y w e r e c o n v i n c e d s o m e d e m o n h a d g o t t e n in to
me a n d t h e y d id t h e i r be s t t o m a k e me forget t he w h o l e t h ing , b u t I p a i d
n o a t t e n t i o n . Of f I w e n t w i t h t h e m o n k t o t h e m o u n t a i n t e m p l e w h e r e his
t e a c h e r l ived, a n d t h e r e , i n s p i r e d b y t h e m e m o r y o f m y c r i m e s a n d o f
t h o s e d i v i n e c h i l d r e n , I b e c a m e a m o n k myself. E v e r s ince t h e n I 've
c h a n t e d t h e S u t r a t o o . "
i 5 i .
A LITTLE LESSON
T w o ho ly m e n o n c e l ived a t a m o u n t a i n t e m p l e . O n e , J i h o , w a s d e v o t e d
t o t h e L o t u s S u t r a a n d t h e o t h e r , J i k o n , t o t he S u t r a o f D i a m o n d W i s -
d o m . T h e i r h u t s s t o o d a few h u n d r e d y a r d s a p a r t .
J i k o n h a d v is ib ly p u t t h e p o w e r o f his s u t r a in to ac t ion , b e c a u s e his
mea l s c a m e to h im all by t h e m s e l v e s a n d he n e v e r h a d to g ive t h e m a
t h o u g h t . J i h o , on t h e o t h e r h a n d , g o t all h is p r o v i s i o n s from t h e faithful
w h o v is i ted h im a n d w a s far f rom wel l off. Puffed up w i t h p r i d e a t h is
success , J i k o n a s s u m e d t h a t t h a n k s t o t h e s u t r a h e s e r v e d , a n d t h a n k s t o
t h e s u p e r i o r i t y o f h is o w n p r a c t i c e , t h e ange l s a n d p r o t e c t o r g o d s w e r e
w a t c h i n g o v e r h im d a y a n d n i g h t ; w h e r e a s t h a t L o t u s fel low w a s w a s t i n g
his t i m e on a s u t r a o f lesser s t a t u r e a n d h a d in a n y case less mer i t , so t h a t
t he p r o t e c t o r s c o u l d no t b e b o t h e r e d w i t h h im .
J i k o n w a s e n t e r t a i n i n g t h e s e ug ly t h o u g h t s w h e n J i h o ' s a co ly t e h a p -
p e n e d b y . J i k o n t o o k t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o a d v e r t i s e his o w n p o w e r a n d
v i r t u e . " A n d w h a t a r e your m a s t e r ' s p o w e r s ? " h e i n q u i r e d .
" H e d o e s n ' t h a v e a n y , " t h e b o y a n s w e r e d . " H e jus t m a n a g e s w i t h w h a t
p e o p l e b r i n g h i m . "
2 1 8
J i h o ' s o n l y c o m m e n t w a s , " H e ' s q u i t e r igh t o f c o u r s e , qu i t e r i gh t . "
T h e r e c a m e a d a y w h e n J i k o n go t n o food. H e go t n o n e the nex t d a y
e i t he r . B y s u n d o w n o n t h e t h i r d d a y h e w a s no t on ly h u n g r y a n d
f r i gh t ened , b u t a l so a n g r y w i t h S u b h u t i , t he B u d d h a ' s chief disciple i n
t h e s u t r a h e s e r v e d . T h a t n i g h t h e d r e a m e d t h a t a n old m o n k , w i th his
r i g h t s h o u l d e r b a r e i n t h e I n d i a n fashion, c a m e t o h im a n d said, " I ' m
S u b h u t i . Y o u m a y s e r v e t h e D i a m o n d W i s d o m S u t r a , b u t s o far y o u ' r e
n o m o d e l o f w h a t i t t e a c h e s . T h a t ' s w h y the an g e l s b r i n g y o u n o t h i n g .
W h a t m a k e s y o u t h i n k y o u ' v e a n y r igh t t o c o m p l a i n ? "
" B u t t h e n , w h o ' s b e e n p r o v i d i n g m y f o o d ? " a s k e d J i k o n .
" Y o u r food? O h , t h a t ' s f rom J i h o . H e ' s k ind e n o u g h t o t a k e p i ty o n
y o u a n d h e s e n d s y o u t h e food w h i c h t h e p r o t e c t o r g o d s o f t he L o t u s
b r i n g h i m . B u t y o u ' r e s o s t u p i d y o u ' v e g o t t e n all puffed u p a b o u t i t a n d
y o u ' v e s l a n d e r e d J i h o i n s t e a d . Y o u ' d b e t t e r g o t o h im r igh t a w a y a n d
con fe s s y o u r f au l t . "
W h e n J i k o n w o k e u p , h e b i t t e r ly r e g r e t t e d his b e h a v i o r . H e w e n t
s t r a i g h t t o J i h o ' s hu t , p r o s t r a t e d himself, a n d b e g g e d his p a r d o n . " B u t
w h y , " h e a s k e d , " h a v e y o u sen t m e n o food jus t t h e s e last few d a y s ? "
J i h o smi l ed . " I ' m af ra id I s i m p l y forgot t o a sk t h e p r o t e c t o r s to b r i n g
y o u a n y , " h e a n s w e r e d . A n d his aco ly t e set t h e d i n n e r h e h a d jus t m a d e
b e f o r e J i k o n .
O n c e J i k o n w a s h o m e a g a i n , t h e mea l s c a m e a s before . J i k o n g a v e u p
his p r i d e a n d b e c a m e J i h o ' s fo l lower . I n t ime the t w o p a s s e d a w a y to -
g e t h e r a n d w e r e w e l c o m e d b y all t h e sa in t s in to p a r a d i s e .
O n e e v e n i n g s o m e m o n k s o n M o u n t Hie i d e c i d e d i t w o u l d b e fun t o
m a k e r ice d u m p l i n g s . A y o u n g aco ly te p r i c k e d up his e a r s a t t he i r ta lk ,
b u t t h o u g h t h e h a d b e t t e r no t look a s t h o u g h h e w e r e w a i t i n g u p for t h e
d u m p l i n g s . I n s t e a d , he w e n t off in to a c o r n e r a n d p r e t e n d e d to go to
s l eep . E v e n t u a l l y a f lu r ry o f ac t iv i ty a n n o u n c e d t h a t t h e d u m p l i n g s w e r e
r e a d y .
T h e b o y felt p r e t t y s u r e t h e y w o u l d w a k e h im n o w , a n d a t last , t h a n k
g o o d n e s s , a m o n k d id call h im . I f he a n s w e r e d r igh t a w a y , t h o u g h , t h e y
w o u l d k n o w h e h a d b e e n ly ing a w a k e all t h e t i m e . Brave ly , h e s t ee led
h imse l f to be p a t i e n t till t h e y ca l led h im a g a i n .
" N o w , n o w , d o n ' t b o t h e r h i m ! " c h i d e d a n o t h e r vo ice . " H e ' s j u s t a
ch i ld a n d h e ' s fast a s l e e p ! "
W h a t a l e t d o w n ! T h e r e w a s n o s e c o n d call . All h e h e a r d w a s c h e w i n g
a n d t h e s m a c k i n g o f l ips . F ina l ly he c o u l d s t a n d i t no l o n g e r . A g e s af ter
t he o n e call h e p i p e d u p , " Y e s ? W h a t i s i t ? "
T h e m o n k s r o a r e d w i t h l a u g h t e r .
i 5 3 .
THE POT-HEADED DEMON
T h e b o y a c o l y t e s a t t h e g r e a t B u d d h i s t t e m p l e s a r e p o p u l a r w i t h t h e
m o n k s , w h o a r e s o m e t i m e s s o r r y t o see t h e m o r d a i n e d a n d t h e i r b e a u t y
t a r n i s h e d b y p la in , du l l r o b e s .
At a so r t o f fa rewel l p a r t y be fo re an aco ly te ' s o r d i n a t i o n , o n e of t h e
m o n k s b e c a m e v e r y d r u n k . In his be fudd l ed ga ie ty he r e a c h e d for a
t h r e e - l e g g e d c a u l d r o n t h a t h a p p e n e d t o b e h a n d y , t h e n s t u c k his h e a d
in to i t so t h a t he c o u l d d a n c e a s a t h r e e - h o r n e d , p o t - h e a d e d d e m o n . H i s
nose w a s a bi t in t h e w a y b u t he s q u a s h e d i t d o w n , go t h is h e a d in, a n d
p e r f o r m e d t o t h e c o m p a n y ' s u p r o a r i o u s a p p l a u s e .
W h e n his d a n c e w a s ove r , h e t r i ed t o ge t t h e c a u l d r o n off. T h e fest ive
m o o d w a s d a m p e n e d w h e n h e d i s c o v e r e d h e c o u l d no t , a n d t h e m o n k s
b e g a n w o n d e r i n g w h a t t o d o . T h e y t r i ed c o a x i n g a n d t u g g i n g t h e cau l -
d r o n , b u t b l o o d jus t r a n d o w n t h e fe l low's neck , w h i c h swel led till h e
cou ld h a r d l y b r e a t h e . T h e c o u l d no t b r e a k t h e c a u l d r o n , e i the r , a n d t h e
awful c l a n g i n g ins ide i t w h e n t h e y t r i ed w a s m o r e t h a n t h e fellow co u l d
b e a r .
F ina l ly t h e y g a v e u p , t h r e w a c lo th o v e r t h e c a u l d r o n ' s p r o j e c t i n g legs,
g a v e t h e m o n k a staff to lean on , a n d led h im by t h e h a n d to a phys i c i an
i n t o w n . All t he w a y t h e r e t h e p e o p l e s t a r e d a n d s t a r e d .
H e l o o k e d v e r y p e c u l i a r s i t t ing t h e r e i n f ront o f t h e phys i c i an . W h e n
2 2 0
he t r i ed t o ta lk , h is vo i ce w a s so muffled tha t no o n e cou ld m a k e ou t
w h a t h e w a s s a y i n g .
" M y b o o k s h a v e n o t h i n g a b o u t a case l ike t h i s , " t he phys ic ian de -
c l a r e d . " T h e r e ' s n o ora l t r a d i t i o n o n t h e sub jec t e i t h e r . "
S o t h e y t o o k h i m b a c k t o t h e t e m p l e , w h e r e his re la t ives a n d his a g e d
m o t h e r g a t h e r e d w i t h t e a r s a n d g r o a n s a t h is b e d s i d e . I t w a s imposs ib le
t o tell w h e t h e r h e e v e n h e a r d t h e m o r no t .
F ina l l y s o m e o n e p o i n t e d o u t t h a t t h e m o n k ' s life a t least cou ld be
s a v e d , t h o u g h he m i g h t lose his e a r s a n d nose i n t he p r o c e s s . T h e idea
w a s s i m p l y t o pu l l a s h a r d a s poss ib l e . T h e y careful ly l ined the c a u l d r o n
w i t h s t r a w , t o k e e p t h e me ta l a w a y from his face, a n d pul led till t h e y
p r a c t i c a l l y t o r e his h e a d off. Of f c a m e t h e c a u l d r o n w i t h t he nose a n d
e a r s , l e a v i n g o n l y b l a n k ho le s .
i 5 4 .
RIOTOUS LIVING
Z 6 y o , t h e fifth s o n o f M a j o r C o u n s e l o r T s u n e s u k e , w a s such a n i m p r e s -
s ive m o n k t h a t p e o p l e t h o u g h t h im a l iving b u d d h a . H e had d o n e the
g r e a t p i l g r i m a g e t h r o u g h t h e O m i n e M o u n t a i n s twice , a n d i n s o m e o f his
r i t es h e c o n j u r e d u p v i s ions o f s n a k e s , d r a g o n - h o r s e s , a n d o t h e r b i za r r e
c r e a t u r e s . Y o u c o u l d h e a r a c t o r s a n d m u s i c i a n s c a r r y i n g o n a t his h o u s e
f rom t w o h u n d r e d y a r d s a w a y , a n d y o u n g g u a r d s from the pa lace o r
f rom p r i v a t e h o u s e h o l d s w e r e a l w a y s w a n d e r i n g i n a n d ou t a n d m a k i n g
a g r e a t n o i s e . P e d d l e r s w o u l d c o m e a r o u n d sel l ing sadd les , s w o r d s , a n d
p r a c t i c a l l y a n y t h i n g else , a n d s ince Z 6 y o pa id w h a t e v e r p r i ce t h e y a s k e d ,
t h e a r e a o u t s i d e his g a t e w a s a ve r i t ab l e m a r k e t . E v e r y l u x u r y in t he
w o r l d w a s h i s t o en joy .
Z o y o w a s d e e p l y i n v o l v e d w i t h a y o u n g w i z a r d w h o m h e h a d o n c e
s e e n d a n c e , to l o u d a p p l a u s e , a t a r i c e - p l a n t i n g festival. H o p e l e s s l y in
love , he h a d q u i c k l y d e c i d e d t h a t i f he w a n t e d the b o y w i t h h im all t h e
t i m e h e w o u l d h a v e t o m a k e h im in to a m o n k . " I d o n ' t k n o w , " t he b o y
sa id , " I ' d r a t h e r s t a y as I am for a w h i l e . " Bu t Z o y o , i n c a p a b l e of le t t ing
t h e m a t t e r d r o p , k e p t a f te r h im till v e r y r e luc t an t ly h e a g r e e d .
N o w , i t w a s a d r e a r y d a y a n d t h e s p r i n g ra in w a s p o u r i n g end less ly
d o w n . Z o y o a s k e d a s e r v a n t w h e t h e r t he boy ' s old c lo thes w e r e still
a r o u n d s o m e w h e r e .
" Y e s , Y o u r G r a c e , t h e y ' r e still i n t h e s t o r e r o o m , " t h e s e r v a n t r ep l i ed .
" T h e n b r i n g t h e m h e r e . "
T h e c l o t h e s w e r e b r o u g h t a n d Z o y o to ld t h e b o y t o p u t t h e m on .
" B u t I'll look f u n n y i n t h e m n o w ! " t h e b o y p r o t e s t e d .
" P u t t h e m o n ! " r e p e a t e d Z o y o i n a t o n e t h a t d i s c o u r a g e d a r g u m e n t .
T h e b o y w e n t off i n to a c o r n e r a n d c h a n g e d . H e c a m e o u t w e a r i n g his
d a n c e r ' s b i r d h e a d d r e s s , a n d i n fact l o o k e d exac t l y a s he h a d before Z o y o
m a d e a m o n k o f h i m . Z o y o ' s face c r i n k l e d up a t t h e s ight a s t h o u g h he
w a s g o i n g t o c r y ; a n d t h e b o y t oo , s t a n d i n g be fo re his m a s t e r , s u d d e n l y
l o o k e d v e r y s e r i ous .
" D o y o u r e m e m b e r t h e s t e p s o f y o u r Hajkirite d a n c e ? " Z o y o a s k e d .
" N o , I 'm af ra id no t . B u t I do r e m e m b e r a little of Katcuawara b e c a u s e
I r e h e a r s e d i t so m u c h . "
T h e b o y b e g a n to d a n c e , l e a p i n g gracefu l ly a b o u t t h e little r o o m like a
b i rd . Z o y o let ou t a h o w l o f a n g u i s h a n d b u r s t in to t e a r s .
" C o m e h e r e , " h e c o m m a n d e d . T h e b o y c a m e , a n d Z o y o fond led h im
t e n d e r l y . " W h y , o h w h y d i d I e v e r m a k e a m o n k o f y o u ? " h e g r o a n e d .
" I to ld y o u ! " sa id t h e b o y . " I to ld y o u y o u o u g h t t o w a i t ! "
Z o y o m a d e h i m u n d r e s s a n d led h im in to t h e nex t r o o m . G o o d n e s s
k n o w s w h a t h a p p e n e d af ter t h a t .
i 5 5 .
THE BOY WHO LAID THE GOLDEN STONE
A m o n k on M o u n t Hie i w a s a fine scho la r , b u t h a v i n g no p a t r o n he w a s
so p o o r t h a t he finally found i t imposs ib l e to s t ay on t h e m o u n t a i n .
I n s t ead , he m o v e d to a t e m p l e n a m e d U r i n ' i n in t h e n o r t h e r n p a r t o f
K y o t o . H e d id no t e v e n h a v e a n y p a r e n t s t o t u r n t o for h e l p . All h e co u l d
d o w a s g o e a c h m o n t h t o K u r a m a , a m o u n t a i n s a n c t u a r y no t far a w a y , t o
p r a y for d iv ine a id . He m a d e t h e s e p i l g r i m a g e s faithfully for severa l
y e a r s .
O n e d a y i n t h e m i d d l e o f t h e n i n t h m o o n , h e w e n t t o K u r a m a a s usua l ,
a c c o m p a n i e d by a s ingle , m i s e r a b l e litt le a co ly t e . On his w a y b a c k he
r e a c h e d t h e o u t s k i r t s o f t h e C a p i t a l j u s t a s t h e s u n set , b u t t h e m o o n w a s
so b r igh t t h a t he h u r r i e d o n . As he c a m e d o w n a little s t ree t n o r t h
2 2 2
of F i r s t A v e n u e , a h a n d s o m e b o y of a b o u t s ix teen , w e a r i n g a casual ly
b e l t e d w h i t e r o b e , fell i n b e s i d e h im . T h e b o y looked as t h o u g h he mus t
b e f rom s o m e t e m p l e a n d t h e m o n k found i t o d d t h a t h e h a d n o m o n k
w i t h h i m .
" W h e r e a r e y o u g o i n g , Y o u r R e v e r e n c e ? " a s k e d t h e boy .
" H o m e t o U r i n ' i n , " t h e m o n k rep l i ed .
" P l e a s e t a k e m e w i t h y o u ! "
" W e l l , I d o n ' t e v e n k n o w y o u a n d I 'm afraid I real ly s h o u l d n ' t . W h e r e
a r e you g o i n g , a n y w a y ? T o y o u r m a s t e r ' s h o u s e ? T o y o u r p a r e n t s ? I 'd b e
h a p p y t o t a k e y o u h o m e w i t h m e , o f c o u r s e , b u t I ha t e t o t h i n k w h a t
t r o u b l e I c o u l d ge t i n to for i t l a t e r o n ! "
" I u n d e r s t a n d h o w y o u feel, Y o u r R e v e r e n c e , bu t y o u see, ten d a y s
a g o my m a s t e r a n d I q u a r r e l e d , a n d I 've been w a n d e r i n g in a d a z e eve r
s i n c e . I d o n ' t h a v e a n y p a r e n t s b e c a u s e t h e y d ied w h e n I w a s y o u n g . So
I d e c i d e d t h a t if I c o u l d jus t find s o m e o n e to love me , I 'd follow h im
a n y w h e r e . "
" W e l l t h e n , I'll be g l a d to h a v e y o u . I t w o n ' t be my fault, af ter all, i f
t h e r e a r e r e p e r c u s s i o n s . B u t I 've n o o n e l iv ing w i t h me , y o u k n o w , excep t
t h i s p o o r ch i ld h e r e . I 'm afra id it'll be a v e r y dul l life for y o u . "
D e s p i t e t h e s e a n d s imi la r dut i fu l p r o t e s t a t i o n s w h i c h h e m a d e a s t h e y
w a l k e d a l o n g , t h e m o n k f o u n d t h e b o y s o beaut i fu l t h a t h e loved him
a l r e a d y , a n d h e w a s d e t e r m i n e d n o w t o g o a h e a d . W h e n t h e y r e a c h e d
U r i n ' i n he lit a l a m p a n d l o o k e d t h e b o y o v e r m o r e careful ly . W i t h his
w h i t e sk in a n d his p r e t t i l y r o u n d e d face h e w a s real ly a d o r a b l e , a n d
e x t r a o r d i n a r i l y d i s t i n g u i s h e d - l o o k i n g . W h a t a m a z i n g g o o d fo r tune ! T h i s
w a s n o c o m m o n e r ' s s o n . B u t t h e b o y re fused t o a n s w e r a n y q u e s t i o n s
a b o u t his f a the r .
T h e m o n k p r e p a r e d t h e b e d w i t h specia l c a r e , h a d t h e boy lie d o w n ,
a n d l ay d o w n h imse l f n e x t t o h im . Af te r c h a t t i n g a w h i l e b o t h fell a s l eep .
I n t h e m o r n i n g all t h e n e i g h b o r i n g m o n k s c a m e t o a d m i r e t he boy , b u t
t h e m o n k w a s no t a n x i o u s t o d i sp l ay h im a n d d id his bes t t o k e e p him
o u t o f s igh t . H i s g r o w i n g p a s s i o n for t h e b o y s u r p r i s e d h im.
T h a t e v e n i n g t h e m o n k c u d d l e d u p t o t h e b o y a n d b e g a n fondl ing h im.
T h e n a s t a r t l e d look c a m e o v e r his face. " I ' v e n e v e r t o u c h e d a n y w o m a n ' s
b o d y b u t m y m o t h e r ' s s ince t h e d a y I w a s b o r n , " h e said, " so I 'm not
q u i t e s u r e w h a t a w o m a n feels l ike , b u t y o u ' r e v e r y different from the
t e m p l e b o y s I 've b e e n w i t h b e f o r e ! I d o n ' t k n o w w h a t i t is, I jus t s eem to
me l t t o w a r d y o u . Are y o u a g i r l? Tell me i f y o u a r e . I 've w a n t e d y o u eve r
s i nce I f i r s t s a w y o u , a n d I j u s t c a n ' t u n d e r s t a n d i t o t h e r w i s e . "
" W h a t i f I were a g i r l ? " sa id t h e boy , smi l ing . " W o u l d n ' t y o u w a n t me
a n y m o r e ? "
" I f y o u ' r e a gir l a n d I k e e p y o u , p e o p l e a r e g o i n g to ta lk a lot a n d I
d o n ' t l ike t h e t h o u g h t o f t h a t o n e bi t . A n d h o w i s t h e B u d d h a g o i n g t o
feel? T h a t ' s e v e n w o r s e ! "
"I s u p p o s e i t L< p r e t t y b a d , as far t h e B u d d h a ' s c o n c e r n e d , i f i t 's my
b e i n g a gir l t h a t m a k e s y o u so fond o f m e ! B u t a n y w a y , o t h e r p e o p l e
w o n ' t see y o u w i t h a n y t h i n g b u t a b o y . Y o u m u s t a l w a y s ta lk t o m e a n d
b e h a v e w i t h m e a s y o u w o u l d w i t h a b o y . " T h e y o u n g p e r s o n s e e m e d
h igh ly a m u s e d .
" S o he u i a g i r l ! " t h o u g h t t h e m o n k , f r i gh t ened n o w a n d w i s h i n g he
h a d n e v e r g o t t e n h imse l f i n to t h i s . H e cou ld no t s e n d h e r a w a y , s h e w a s
jus t t oo d e a r , b u t h e a v o i d e d s l e e p i n g t o o c lose t o h e r a n d m a d e s u r e
t h e r e w a s a t least s o m e c l o t h i n g b e t w e e n t h e m . I n t h e e n d , t h o u g h , h e
c ou ld n o t h e l p b e i n g a m a n , a n d t h e y b e c a m e a lov ing c o u p l e in e v e r y
s ense o f t h e w o r d . T h e m o n k w a s s o h a p p y t h a t h e c o u l d h a r d l y be l ieve
it, w h i l e his n e i g h b o r s c o u l d no t i m a g i n e h o w a d e s t i t u t e fellow like h im
c ou ld e v e r h a v e g o t t e n h imse l f so de l i c ious a y o u n g m a n .
I n t i m e t h e " b o y " b e g a n feel ing u n w e l l a n d s t o p p e d ea t ing . T h e m o n k
c ou ld no t u n d e r s t a n d it. " I ' m p r e g n a n t , y o u s e e , " s h e e x p l a i n e d .
T h e m o n k ' s face fell. " O h n o ! " h e g r o a n e d . " T h i s i s awfu l ! F o r m o n t h s
n o w I 've b e e n p r e s e n t i n g y o u t o e v e r y o n e a s a b o y . W h a t a r e w e g o i n g
t o d o w h e n y o u h a v e a b a b y ? "
" J u s t b e h a v e a s t h o u g h n o t h i n g h a d h a p p e n e d . D o n ' t tell a n y o n e a n y -
t h i n g . A n d w h e n t h e t i m e c o m e s , k e e p q u i e t . "
T h e m o n k s p e n t t h e n e x t m o n t h s i n a n a g o n y o f a p p r e h e n s i o n . W h e n
t h e m o m e n t w a s f i n a l l y n e a r , t h e " b o y " l o o k e d v e r y sad a n d c r i ed all t h e
t i m e . T h e m o n k c r i ed t o o .
" O h , I h u r t d o w n t h e r e ! " s h e e x c l a i m e d . " I t h i n k t h e b a b y ' s c o m i n g ! "
T h e m o n k w e n t in to a p a r o x y s m of a g i t a t e d d i s t r e s s .
" D o n ' t ge t f l u s t e r e d , " sa id t h e " b o y . " " S p r e a d me a m a t in a s h e d
s o m e w h e r e . "
T h e m o n k s p r e a d a m a t in a s t o r a g e s h e d a n d she w e n t in to lie d o w n .
S o o n s h e g a v e b i r t h , a n d w h e n i t w a s o v e r s h e p u t h e r o u t e r r o b e o v e r
t h e ch i ld a n d n u r s e d it. N e x t , s h e s imp ly v a n i s h e d . T h e a s t o n i s h e d m o n k
c r e p t t o w h e r e t h e b a b y lay a n d r e m o v e d t h e r o b e .
I t w a s n o t a b a b y a t all b u t a b ig s t o n e . D e s p i t e t h e w a v e of fear a n d
r evu l s ion t h a t s w e p t o v e r h im, he b r o u g h t up a l ight for a b e t t e r look .
T h e s t o n e g l e a m e d g o l d . In fact, i t waj g o l d ! T h e " b o y " w a s g o n e a n d he
mi s sed h e r w i t h all h is h e a r t , b u t h e rea l i zed t h a t t he w h o l e t h i n g h a d
b e e n p l a n n e d for his benef i t by t h e B i s h a m o n o f K u r a m a . Af te r t h a t he
b r o k e off b i t s of t h e go ld to sell, a little a t a t ime , a n d l ived as c o m f o r t a b l y
a s he w i s h e d .
2 2 4
i 5 6 .
A g e n t l e m a n w h o l o n g e d a r d e n t l y for r e b i r t h in p a r a d i s e w a s afraid of
w h a t his b o d y m i g h t d o t o con fuse h im w h e n t h e t ime c a m e , s ince t he
b o d y i s t r e a c h e r o u s a t be s t . " I f I 'm v e r y i l l ," he ref lected, " m y last m o -
m e n t s w o n ' t go t h e w a y I h o p e a n d I w o n ' t ge t to p a r a d i s e . It'll be m u c h
eas i e r to k e e p my m i n d s t e a d y i f I d ie in p e r l e c t h e a l t h . " So he d e c i d e d
I 1 i 5 7 .
THE THIRST FOR PARADISE
CHERRY BLOSSOMS
A little a c o l y t e on M o u n t H ie i , fresh from t h e c o u n t r y , a r r i v e d w h e n the
c h e r r y t r e e s w e r e in full b l o o m . W h e n a c rue l w i n d sen t the pe ta l s flying,
t h e b o y b u r s t i n to t e a r s .
" W h a t m a k e s y o u c r y so , m y d e a r ? " a m o n k gen t l y c o m f o r t e d h im.
" A r e y o u s o r r y t o see t h e f lowers fall? Bu t f lowers n e v e r last, vou k n o w .
T h e y a l w a y s fall. Y o u s h o u l d n ' t c r y ! "
" W h o c a r e s w h e t h e r t h e y fall o r n o t ! " t he b o y s o b b e d . " N o t me! Bu t
i f t h e b a r l e y f l ower s in D a d d y ' s field b l o w a w a y there ' l l be no c r o p a n d
t h a t ' d be awfulV He b a w l e d all t h e h a r d e r .
So m u c h for that s w e e t ch i ld ' s sens i t ive feel ings.
t o b u r n a s a h u m a n l a m p , t h e w a y t h e B o d h i s a t t v a K iken d id i n t he L o t u s
S u t r a .
U n s u r e w h e t h e r h e c o u l d ac tua l ly b e a r t h e pa in , h o w e v e r , h e f i r s t
dev i s ed a t e s t : he p r e s s e d t w o r e d - h o t shove l b l a d e s aga ins t h is b o d y w i t h
his a r m s . S i n c e t h e p a i n w a s b e a r a b l e , h e c o n t i n u e d his p r e p a r a t i o n s .
T h e n h e rea l i zed t h a t t h i s c o u r s e w o u l d ac tua l ly b e all t o o easy . O n t h e
o t h e r h a n d , he d o u b t e d t h a t he c o u l d e v e r a c h i e v e i n th i s life t h e w i s d o m
a n d v i r t u e s i m p l y t o g o t o p a r a d i s e w i t h o u t t r y i n g , a n d h e w a s still
w o r r i e d a b o u t w h a t d o u b t s m i g h t assai l h im w h e n h e c a m e t o die n a t u -
ral ly .
A t t h i s p o i n t h e r e m e m b e r e d M o u n t F u d a r a k u , K a n n o n ' s p a r a d i s e .
M o u n t F u d a r a k u rea l ly ex is t s i n th i s w o r l d a n d i s access ib le in th is b o d y .
T h a t w a s w h e r e h e s h o u l d g o ! H e g a v e u p t r e a t i n g his b u r n s a n d set o u t
i n s t e a d for t h e coas ta l p r o v i n c e o f T o s a , w h e r e he go t a n e w b o a t a n d
p r a c t i c e d sa i l ing .
W h e n he felt r e a d y , he a s k e d a s e a m a n to w a r n h im as s o o n as a s t e a d y
b r e e z e s h o u l d se t i n f rom t h e n o r t h . W h e n t h e d a y c a m e , h e ho i s t ed his
sail a n d s t a r t e d s o u t h a l o n e . T h e r e w a s n o s t o p p i n g h im . H i s wife a n d
c h i l d r e n c o u l d o n l y w a t c h h im g o . T h e y w e p t a s h e v a n i s h e d o v e r t h e
h o r i z o n .
H i s u n b e n d i n g r e so lve a r o u s e d g r e a t a d m i r a t i o n a t t h e t ime . P e o p l e
felt s u r e t h a t he m u s t h a v e r e a c h e d his goa l .
i 5 8 .
THE CHANTING SKULL
I n E m p r e s s K o k e n ' s r e ign t h e m o n k E i k o l ived i n t h e vi l lage o f K u m a n o
i n Kii. H e h a d m o v e d t h e r e t o b r i n g t h e b l e s s ings o f t h e T e a c h i n g t o t h a t
r e m o t e s h o r e , a n d t h e v i l l agers r e v e r e d h im a s a b o d h i s a t t v a . E v e n t h e
e m p r e s s r e c o g n i z e d t h a t he w a s a sa in t .
E v e n t u a l l y a n o t h e r m o n k a r r i v e d b u t sa id n o t h i n g a b o u t w h e r e h e h a d
c o m e f rom. H i s o n l y p o s s e s s i o n s w e r e a L o t u s S u t r a in t i ny w r i t i n g , a
s i lver j u g , a n d a r o u g h s t r i n g c h a i r . F o r y e a r s h e w o r s h i p p e d b y E i k o ' s
s ide till o n e d a y , a s m y s t e r i o u s l y a s h e h a d a r r i v e d , h e a n n o u n c e d h e w a s
l eav ing . H e w a s g o i n g o v e r t h e m o u n t a i n s t o Ise, h e sa id , a n d h e left
E i k o his c h a i r . E i k o w a s t o u c h e d . H e g a v e t h e m o n k a g e n e r o u s p a r t i n g
gift o f p a r c h e d r ice a n d sen t t w o m e n w i t h h im t o k e e p h im c o m p a n y o n
2 2 6
t h e t ra i l . Af te r t h e f i r s t d a y , t h e m o n k g a v e t h e m e n his S u t r a , his r ice,
a n d his b e g g i n g b o w l a n d sen t t h e m h o m e . All h e k e p t w a s his s i lver j ug
a n d a l o n g r o p e .
T w o y e a r s la te r , s o m e v i l l agers w e r e i n t h e m o u n t a i n s a long the Ku-
m a n o R i v e r t o c u t t i m b e r for a b o a t w h e n t h e y h e a r d a far-off vo ice
cease less ly c h a n t i n g t h e L o t u s S u t r a . T h e a w e d v i l lagers looked for w h e r e
i t w a s c o m i n g f rom b u t f o u n d n o t h i n g . H a l f a y e a r la ter , t h e y w e r e b a c k
t o b r i n g o u t t h e i r b o a t a n d h e a r d t h e vo ice a g a i n . T h e y left t he i r boa t
w h e r e i t w a s a n d w e n t t o tell E i k o , w h o c a m e s t r a igh t b a c k t o t he
m o u n t a i n s w i t h t h e m .
Af t e r a l o n g s e a r c h E i k o d i s c o v e r e d a ske l e ton h a n g i n g aga ins t a cliff.
T h e m a n h a d t h r o w n h imse l f off t h e cliff af ter t y i n g each foot t o t he t o p
w i t h a r o p e , by n o w p rac t i c a l l y r o t t e d a w a y . N e a r b y lay a si lver jug ,
w h i c h E i k o r e c o g n i z e d a t o n c e . T h i s w a s h o w the m o n k h a d chosen t o
flee t h e s o r r o w s o f m o r t a l life. E i k o w e p t .
Af t e r t h r e e y e a r s E i k o w e n t b a c k t o t h e m o u n t a i n s a n d h e a r d t he voice
a g a i n . T h i s t i m e h e found t h e sku l l . Still u n c o r r u p t e d , t h e t o n g u e w a s
c h a n t i n g a s i t h a d w h e n t h e m o n k l ived. E i k o p r o s t r a t e d h imsel f before
i t a n d t o o k t h e l esson to h e a r t . He of ten r e m e m b e r e d his fr iend in his
p r a y e r s a f te r t h a t , a n d g a v e h imse l f en t i r e ly t o c h a n t i n g t h e L o t u s .
1 5 o, .
THE LITTLE GOD SAILS AWAY
D o k o , a m o n k a n d L o t u s d e v o t e e w h o l ived a t Tennoj i , conf ined himsel f
e a c h y e a r for t h e s u m m e r r e t r e a t a t K u m a n o . H e w a s o n his w a y b a c k
f rom K u m a n o w h e n , o n e e v e n i n g a t s u n d o w n , h e found h imse l f p a s s i n g
a l o n g t h e s h o r e i n M i n a b e c o u n t y o f t h e p r o v i n c e o f Kii; so he c a m p e d
on t h e s p o t u n d e r a l a rge t r e e .
In t h e m i d d l e o f t h e n igh t a lot o f h o r s e m e n r o d e up n e a r b y . W h o in
t h e w o r l d c o u l d t h e y b e ? D o k o h e a r d o n e call ou t , " A r e y o u t h e r e , y o u
o ld m a n u n d e r t h e t r e e ? "
" H e r e I a m ! " a n s w e r e d a vo ice .
D o k o w a s s u r p r i s e d t o l e a r n t h a t s o m e o n e else w a s u n d e r t he t r ee t oo .
" H u r r y u p , t h e n ! C o m e w i t h u s ! " t h e r ide r cal led a g a i n .
T h e vo i ce u n d e r t h e t r e e d e c l i n e d . " N o t ton igh t , I 'm a f r a id , " i t sa id .
" M y h o r s e ' s legs a r e b r o k e n a n d I c a n ' t r i de h i m . I'll h a v e to fix h im
t o m o r r o w o r f i n d a n o t h e r h o r s e . A n d I 'm jus t t oo old t o w a l k , y o u k n o w . "
T h e h o r s e m e n r o d e a w a y . A t d a w n t h e w o r r i e d D o k o c h e c k e d all
a r o u n d t h e t r e e . H e f o u n d n o t h i n g b u t t h e c r u m b l i n g i m a g e o f a r o a d
g o d , o b v i o u s l y v e r y o ld . I m a g e s like th i s w e r e s u p p o s e d to h a v e a m a n
p a r t a n d a w o m a n p a r t , b u t t h e w o m a n p a r t w a s mis s ing . I n front o f t h e
g o d w a s a vo t ive p l a q u e w i t h a p i c t u r e of a h o r s e on it. T h e legs w e r e
b r o k e n o f f D o k o rea l i zed t h a t i t w a s t h e g o d ' s vo ice t h a t h e h a d h e a r d
last n igh t . He t ied t h e p iece w i t h t he legs on i t b a c k in p lace w i t h s o m e
s t r i ng s o t h a t t he p i c t u r e w a s w h o l e a g a i n , t h e n s t a y e d t o see w h a t m i g h t
h a p p e n nex t .
T h a t n i g h t h e lay u n d e r t h e t r e e aga in a n d t h e r i d e r s c a m e a s be fo re .
T h i s t i m e t h e g o d go t o n his h o r s e a n d r o d e off w i t h t h e m . T o w a r d d a w n
D o k o h e a r d h im c o m e b a c k .
I n a m o m e n t a n old m a n c a m e t o D o k o a n d b o w e d . " H o l y m a n , " h e
said, " y o u r c u r i n g m y h o r s e a l l o w e d m e t o d o m y d u t y . I o w e y o u m o r e
t h a n I c a n e v e r r e p a y ! I 'm the r o a d g o d u n d e r th i s t r ee . All t h o s e r i d e r s
w e r e g o d s o f d i s e a s e . N o r m a l l y I c l ea r t h e w a y for t h e m as t h e y go
t h r o u g h t h e l and , a n d i f I d o n ' t go w i t h t h e m t h e y bea t a n d a b u s e me
c rue l ly . B u t n o w I 'm s u r e t h a t t h a n k s to y o u I c a n cas t off th i s p o o r
s h a p e o f m i n e a n d be r e b o r n in s o m e far n o b l e r f o r m . "
D o k o e x p r e s s e d his w o n d e r a n d p r o t e s t e d h e cou ld no t poss ib ly b r i n g
a b o u t a n y s u c h h a p p y c h a n g e . " H o l y m a n , " t h e g o d rep l ied , " s t a y u n d e r
th is t r e e for t h r e e d a y s , c h a n t i n g t h e L o t u s S u t r a . I'll l is ten, a n d by t h e
p o w e r o f t h e S u t r a I'll l eave th i s suf fe r ing b o d y a n d be r e b o r n in to t h e
L a n d o f B l i s s . " T h e n h e v a n i s h e d .
D o k o c o m p l i e d . F o r t h r e e d a y s a n d t h r e e n i g h t s h e c h a n t e d t h e L o t u s
S u t r a a n d o n t h e fou r th d a y the old m a n a p p e a r e d a g a i n . " B y y o u r
c o m p a s s i o n , ho ly m a n , " h e sa id , " I ' m l eav ing th i s b o d y fo rever a n d t a k -
ing on a m u c h b e t t e r o n e . I 'm g o i n g to be r e b o r n far a w a y to t he s o u t h ,
on M o u n t F u d a r a k u w h e r e t h e b l e s sed K a n n o n l ives, a s a fo l lower o f t h e
b o d h i s a t t v a . T h i s i s b e c a u s e I 've h e a r d t h e L o t u s . I f y o u w a n t p r o o f t h a t
I s p e a k t h e t r u t h , m a k e a litt le b o a t o u t o f b r a n c h e s , p u t my w o o d e n
image i n it, a n d l a u n c h t h e b o a t o n t h e sea . T h e n w a t c h w h a t h a p p e n s . "
A n d o n c e a g a i n t h e old m a n d i s a p p e a r e d .
D o k o m a d e t h e b o a t a n d laid t h e i m a g e i n it. T h e sea w a s pe r fec t ly
ca lm w h e n he p u t i t in t he w a t e r , a n d t h e r e w a s no t a b r e a t h o f w i n d ,
b u t t h e b o a t sai led s t r a i g h t t o w a r d t h e s o u t h . H a v i n g w a t c h e d i t g o ,
D o k o p r o s t r a t e d h imse l f t o w a r d i t till i t f aded f rom v i ew . M e a n w h i l e an
old m a n i n t h e vi l lage n e a r b y d r e a m e d h e s a w t h e r o a d god , n o w d e c k e d
in g lo ry , f lying a m i d s t r a i n s of h e a v e n l y m u s i c t o w a r d t h e s o u t h .
2 2 8
i Q o .
THE UNEARTHLY FRAGRANCE
B e i n g all a l o n e in t h e w o r l d , a n u n in C h i k u z e n p r o v i n c e , in K y u s h u ,
s o u g h t o u t a m o u n t a i n t e m p l e w h e r e s h e c o o k e d y e a r af ter y e a r for t he
s a in t ly m o n k w h o l ived t h e r e . S h e n e v e r s t o p p e d cal l ing A m i d a ' s holy
N a m e , a n d n o t d i s c r e e t l y e i the r , b e c a u s e s h e d id i t in a voice so p i e r c ing
t h a t i t w a s m o r e a s h r i e k t h a n a c h a n t . T h e m o n k ' s d isc ip les c a m e to ha t e
t h e no i s e a n d lost n o o p p o r t u n i t y t o s l a n d e r h e r t o the i r mas t e r , w h o
e v e n t u a l l y s e n t h e r a w a y .
H a v i n g n o w h e r e t o g o s h e w a n d e r e d t h e p la in , still ca l l ing A m i d a , till
a g o o d w o m a n inv i t ed h e r in . " W e h a v e a l a rge h o u s e h e r e , " t he w o m a n
to ld he r , " a n d l a rge g r o u n d s — p l e n t y o f r o o m for y o u to s t ay a n d go on
ca l l i ng t h e N a m e ! "
T h e n u n a c c e p t e d g lad ly , a n d w a s s o gra te fu l t o b e fed a n d k ind ly
c a r e d for t h a t s h e a s k e d for s o m e flax to sp in in r e t u r n . At first t he
w o m a n w o u l d no t h e a r o f t h e idea , b u t t h e n u n ins i s ted . T h e t h r e a d she
s p u n w a s s o f ine t h a t t h e w o m a n w a s d e e p l y t o u c h e d . " H e r e I 'd been
g l a d j u s t t o g ive y o u a p l a c e t o call t h e N a m e , " s h e exc la imed , " a n d n o w
y o u ' r e s p i n n i n g for m e s o l o v i n g l y ! "
Y e a r s l a t e r t h e n u n sa id o n e d a y t o t h e w o m a n , " T h e d a y af ter t o m o r -
r o w I 'm g o i n g to d i e . M a y I b a t h e i n p r e p a r a t i o n ? Y o u ' v e b e e n so k ind
t o m e all t h i s t i m e , a n d I w a n t t o s h o w y o u w h a t o u r last m o m e n t s can
b e . B u t d o n ' t tell a n y o n e ! " S h e w e p t a s she s p o k e . T h o u g h s a d d e n e d b y
th i s n e w s , t h e w o m a n k e p t t h e sec re t .
O n t h e d a y , t h e n u n b a t h e d a n d p u t o n a c lean r o b e , then sat d o w n
fac ing t h e w e s t a n d b e g a n ca l l ing t h e N a m e a s l o u d l y a s a l w a y s wh i l e t he
w o m a n w a t c h e d he r , respec t fu l ly , f rom a few feet a w a y . D a r k n e s s fell.
L a t e i n t h e n i g h t a n u n e a r t h l y l ight s h o n e o v e r t h e fields n e a r b y a n d the
w o m a n felt a f ra id ; b u t w h e n t h e a i r w a s filled w i t h a n i ndesc r ibab l e
f r a g r a n c e a n d a p u r p l e c l o u d f l oa t ed d o w n from t h e h e a v e n s t o e n v e l o p
t h e h o u s e , t h e w o m a n j o i n e d h e r vo ice t o t h e n u n ' s i n cal l ing t h e lord .
T h e n t h e n u n q u i e t l y t o u c h e d h e r h a n d s t o h e r fo rehead a n d passed
a w a y . T h e w o m a n h a d n e v e r seen a n y t h i n g s o m o v i n g , a n d w e p t a s she
p r o s t r a t e d he r se l f i n love a n d a w e .
A c e r t a i n w o r t h y m o n k w h o l a t e r l ived o n M o u n t K o y a w a s p a r t o f
t h e h o u s e h o l d a t t h e t ime , b e i n g o n l y a b o u t twe lve y e a r s old. T h e w o m a n
to ld h i m t h e s t o ry , a s s u r i n g h im t h a t a l t h o u g h she h a d no t seen A m i d a
B u d d h a a n d all t h e s a in t s a n d b o d h i s a t t v a s c o m i n g t o g ree t t he n u n ' s
soul , s h e c e r t a i n l y h a d seen t h e l ight a n d t h e p u r p l e c loud . I n fact, t h e
f r a g r a n c e o f t h e n u n ' s p a s s i n g h a d p e r f u m e d her , a n d s t a y e d w i t h h e r
fo rever af ter .
Y e s , i t 's t r u e t h a t t h o s e w h o a r e t o b e r e b o r n i n p a r a d i s e a l w a y s k n o w
b e f o r e h a n d w h e n t h e y a r e t o g o a n d a r e ab l e t o let o t h e r s k n o w . M a y
y o u too , w h o h e a r t h i s s to ry , b e filled w i t h faith a n d d e v o u t l y call t h e
N a m e , s o a s t o p a s s w h e n y o u r t i m e c o m e s in to t h e L a n d o f Bliss!
i 6 a .
A TWINGE OF REGRET
N o t m a n y y e a r s a g o a ho ly m a n ca l led R e n g e j o rea l i zed t h a t h e w a s
g r o w i n g w e a k e r a n d w e a k e r w i t h age , a n d t h a t d e a t h w a s no t far off.
S i n c e his g r e a t e s t h o p e w a s t o d ie w i t h his t h o u g h t s o n A m i d a ( for t h e n
h e w o u l d g o t o A m i d a ' s p a r a d i s e ) , h e d e c i d e d t h a t w h e n h e felt r e a d y h e
w o u l d t a k e n o c h a n c e s b u t e n d his o w n life b y d r o w n i n g .
T o r e n , a n old a n d e x p e r i e n c e d fr iend, i m m e d i a t e l y d i s a p p r o v e d .
" Y o u ' d b e a fool t o d o t h a t ! " h e w a r n e d . " O n t h e c o n t r a r y , y o u s h o u l d
k e e p ca l l ing t h e N a m e jus t a s l o n g a s y o u poss ib ly c a n b e c a u s e e v e r y d a y
t h e n will m e a n m o r e mer i t for y o u . "
W h e n R e n g e j o r e m a i n e d u n c o n v i n c e d , T o r e n g a v e i n a n d p r o m i s e d
t h a t h e w o u l d s t o p ob j ec t i ng . " W h a t will be , will b e ! " h e s ighed , a n d
h e l p e d R e n g e j o ge t r e a d y .
T h e n e w s o f w h a t R e n g e j o w a s g o i n g t o d o h a d q u i c k l y s p r e a d , a n d a
la rge , p i o u s c r o w d w a s w a i t i n g b y t h e K a t s u r a R i v e r t o w o r s h i p a n d t o
s h a r e in t h e b l e s s ing of his p a s s i n g . R e n g e j o found a d e e p s t r e t c h of t h e
s t r e a m , ca l led t h e N a m e loud ly , a n d a m o m e n t la te r p l u n g e d in. T o r e n ,
s t a n d i n g n e a r b y , w e p t for a f r iend he k n e w he w o u l d miss .
A few d a y s l a t e r T o r e n w a s t a k e n ill, a p p a r e n t l y u n d e r t h e in f luence
of a spir i t , a n d his s t a t e c a u s e d g r e a t a l a r m unt i l finally t h e spir i t d e c l a r e d
itself. " I am R e n g e j o , " i t sa id .
" I d o n ' t u n d e r s t a n d ! " T o r e n e x c l a i m e d . " W e w e r e f r iends for y e a r s
a n d y o u n e v e r h a d a n y t h i n g a g a i n s t m e ! Y o u d i ed s u c h a ho ly d e a t h ! I
n e v e r i m a g i n e d y o u ' d c o m e b a c k ! "
" Y o u t r i ed t o s t o p m e , y o u s e e , " t h e spir i t a n s w e r e d , " b u t y o u h a d n ' t
rea l ized h o w d e t e r m i n e d I w a s . N o w it 's all o v e r . W h a t I d id w a s jus t for
2 3 0
my sa lva t i on , n o t for a n y o n e else 's , a n d I d o n ' t m e a n to say tha t w h e n
t h e t i m e c a m e I h a d a n y w i s h t o pull b a c k . I real ly d o n ' t k n o w what
h a p p e n e d . B u t a t a n y r a t e , I w a s a b o u t to go in w h e n s u d d e n l y I d idn ' t
w a n t t o go t h r o u g h w i t h it. T h e r e w a s s u c h a c r o w d , t h o u g h , t ha t I d i d n ' t
see h o w I c o u l d v e r y wel l c h a n g e my m i n d . I l o o k e d a t y o u a n d o u r eyes
m e t . W h a t m y look m e a n t w a s , ' P l ea se s t o p m e ! ' B u t y o u d i d n ' t u n d e r -
s t a n d a n d y o u j u s t s e e m e d t o u r g e m e o n . I w a s s o a n g r y a s I w e n t u n d e r
t h a t I c o u l d n ' t p o s s i b l y h a v e g o n e to p a r a d i s e . N o w I 'm w a n d e r i n g in a
r e g i o n I n e v e r w a n t e d to see . I t ' s all my fault a n d I 'm no t b l a m i n g y o u ,
b u t i t ' s t h a t las t t w i n g e o f r e g r e t t h a t ' s b r o u g h t m e b a c k t o y o u . "
W h a t h a p p e n e d t o R e n g e j o s h o u l d s t a n d a s a w a r n i n g . T h e h u m a n
sp i r i t i s e lus ive , a n d o n e n e v e r k n o w s w h i c h w a y i t will t u r n .
Y I N - Y A N G
W I Z A R D R Y I I
1 6 2 .
DADDY, WHO WERE THOSE PEOPLE?
T h e y i n - y a n g d i v i n e r K a m o n o T a d a y u k i w a s t he equa l o f t he g r ea t e s t
m a s t e r s o f t h e pa s t , a n d i n c o m p a r a b l e i n his o w n t ime . H i s adv i ce a n d
s e r v i c e s w e r e v a l u e d h igh ly b o t h b y t h e c o u r t a n d b y p r i v a t e p a t r o n s .
T a d a y u k i w a s j u s t s e t t i n g o u t t o do a pur i f ica t ion w h e n fa ther ly affec-
t ion m a d e h i m d e c i d e t o t a k e a l o n g his n ine -yea r -o ld son Y a s u n o r i , w h o
sa t b e s i d e h i m all t h r o u g h t h e r i t e . W h i l e t h e y w e r e r i d ing h o m e in
T a d a y u k i ' s c a r r i a g e , lit t le Y a s u n o r i sa id , " D a d d y ? "
" Y e s ? "
" D a d d y , d u r i n g t h e pur i f i ca t ion I s a w lots o f p e o p l e . T h e y looked like
p e o p l e b u t t h e y w e r e n ' t , a n d t h e y w e r e v e r y s c a r y . T h e y a t e u p t he food
offer ings , t h e n t h e y go t o n t h e little b o a t s , c a r r i a g e s , a n d h o r s e s y o u ' d
laid o u t a n d t h e y all w e n t a w a y . W h a t w e r e t hey , D a d d y ? "
T a d a y u k i w a s a m a z e d . H e k n e w h e h a d a n u n u s u a l gift for t h e a r t , b u t
he h a d n e v e r s e e n s u p e r n a t u r a l b e i n g s w h e n he w a s a ch i ld . He h a d c o m e
to see t h e m o n l y g r a d u a l l y , a s his s t u d y p r o g r e s s e d . " Y a s u n o r i m u s t be a
g e n i u s i f h e c a n see t h e m jus t l ike t ha t , even n o w , " h e t h o u g h t . " H e m u s t
h a v e t h e s a m e gift t h a t p e o p l e h a d i n t h e A g e o f t h e G o d s , w h e n s u p e r -
n a t u r a l b e i n g s a n d m e n m i n g l e d q u i t e f ree ly ."
T a d a y u k i w a s r igh t . Y a s u n o r i g r e w u p t o b e a g r e a t m a s t e r , a n d his
c h i l d r e n a n d g r a n d c h i l d r e n f l o u r i s h e d i n t h e s a m e w a y .
O t s u k i n o M o c h i s u k e , t h e son o f t h e B u d g e t B u r e a u d i r ec to r , b e l o n g e d
to a d i s t i n g u i s h e d l ine o f s u c h officials. He w a s a lso e x t r e m e l y t a l e n t e d
a n d w o u l d c e r t a i n l y h a v e a t t a i n e d u n u s u a l p r o m i n e n c e i f h e h a d l ived.
U n f o r t u n a t e l y , he h a d r iva ls w h o felt t h a t he s t ood in t h e w a y o f t he i r
o w n a d v a n c e m e n t a n d t h e r e f o r e w a n t e d t o b e r id o f h im . After a n o rac l e ,
de l i ve red in his o w n h o m e , t o ld h im he h a d an e n e m y , he c o n s u l t e d a
y i n - y a n g d i v i n e r for a list o f d a y s w h e n he s h o u l d t a k e specia l p r e c a u -
t ions . O n t h e d a y s i n d i c a t e d b y t h e d i v i n e r h e b a r r e d his g a t e s e c u r e l y t o
t h e w o r l d .
H i s e n e m y sec re t l y c o m m i s s i o n e d a n o t h e r d i v i n e r t o s e c u r e his d e a t h
by m a g i c . " N a t u r a l l y we ' l l h a v e t o be c a u t i o u s wh i l e he ' s i n s e c l u s i o n , "
sa id t h e e n e m y m a g i c i a n , " b u t i f we w o r k t o g e t h e r a n d lay a c u r s e on
h im o n o n e o f t h o s e d a y s , i t 's s u r e t o w o r k . T a k e m e t o his h o u s e a n d ge t
h im to c o m e ou t . He w o n ' t o p e n his g a t e , o f c o u r s e , b u t I o n l y n e e d t o
h e a r his vo ice . I f I c a n jus t h e a r h i m ta lk , we ' l l ge t h i m . "
Of f t h e y w e n t t o M o c h i s u k e ' s h o u s e , w h e r e his e n e m y p o u n d e d fu-
r ious ly o n t h e g a t e . H e ins is ted t o t h e s e r v a n t w h o a n s w e r e d t h a t h e h a d
u r g e n t b u s i n e s s w i t h M o c h i s u k e a n d tha t , sec lus ion o r n o sec lus ion , h e
s h o u l d b e a l l o w e d t o s l ip i n s ide . T h e s e r v a n t r e p o r t e d th i s t o M o c h i s u k e ,
i 6 3 .
THE CUELSE
2 3 2
w h o a d a m a n t l y r e fused . " E v e r y o n e h a s a r igh t to look ou t for his o w n
s a f e t y , " he sa id , " a n d I d o n ' t w a n t t h a t fellow in h e r e . Tell h im to go
a w a y . "
"All r i g h t , " sa id t h e e n e m y , " b u t i f he w o n ' t o p e n the ga te , a t least he
c o u l d p u t h is h e a d o u t t h e litt le w i n d o w t h e r e . "
P e r h a p s i t w a s jus t M o c h i s u k e ' s k a r m a t o d ie , b e c a u s e t h a t i s exac t ly
w h a t h e d i d . H e p u t h is h e a d o u t t h e litt le w i n d o w a n d a s k e d his v is i tor
w h a t h e w a n t e d . A s h e d i d s o t h e d i v i n e r h e a r d his vo ice a n d s a w his
face , a n d laid o n h im t h e mos t p o w e r f u l c u r s e h e cou ld s u m m o n . S ince
t h e v i s i t o r a c t u a l l y h a d n o t h i n g t o say , h e co u l d on ly a n s w e r t h a t h e w a s
g o i n g d o w n t o t h e c o u n t r y a n d t h o u g h t M o c h i s u k e s h o u l d k n o w .
" H e m u s t b e m a d to h a v e ca l led m e ou t jus t to h e a r that," M o c h i s u k e
f u m e d a s h e d r e w his h e a d b a c k in.
S o o n his h e a d b e g a n t o a c h e , a n d i n t h r e e d a y s h e w a s d e a d .
T h e y s a y t h a t t h e m a n w h o c o m m i s s i o n e d t h e c u r s e d ied s h o r t l y after-
w a r d s u n d e r u n f o r t u n a t e c i r c u m s t a n c e s . I t w a s f r igh ten ing h o w his c u r s e
t u r n e d r i g h t b a c k o n h i m .
1 6 4 .
THE HARMLESS HAUNT
As a s c h o l a r , K i no H a s e o w a s so magn i f i cen t ly l e a r n e d t h a t he h a d no
r ival i n all t h e w o r l d . H o w e v e r , he k n e w n o t h i n g o f y i n - y a n g lo re .
A d o g k e p t j u m p i n g o v e r t h e wal l t o p iss i n H a s e o ' s g a r d e n , a n d H a s e o
w a s p u z z l e d e n o u g h t o c o n s u l t a y i n - y a n g d i v i n e r a b o u t it. He h o p e d t o
l e a r n w h e t h e r t h e d o g ' s d o i n g s b o d e d well o r ill.
T h e d i v i n e r d i v i n e d . " W e l l , there ' l l be a d e m o n in y o u r h o u s e on s u c h -
a n d - s u c h a d a t e , " h e a n n o u n c e d . " D o n ' t w o r r y , t h o u g h . T h i s d e m o n
d o e s n ' t h u r t p e o p l e o r p u t c u r s e s o n t h e m , o r a n y t h i n g like t h a t . T h e
t h i n g t o d o i s t o s h u t y o u r s e l f u p i n sec lus ion o n t h a t d a y . "
B y t h e t i m e t h e d a y c a m e , H a s e o h a d fo rgo t t en all a b o u t it. Sec lus ion
w a s t h e last t h i n g o n his m i n d . I n s t e a d , h e h a d his s t u d e n t s o v e r t o his
h o u s e t o c o m p o s e C h i n e s e p o e t r y . L e a r n e d m e t e r s , m e t a p h o r s , a n d
r h y m e s w e r e b l o s s o m i n g o n e v e r y p a g e w h e n s u d d e n l y a l u g u b r i o u s h o w l
i s s u e d f rom t h e c lose t n e a r b y . T h e a s s e m b l e d s c h o l a r s q u a k e d w h e r e
t h e y sa t . T h e n s o m e o n e c r a c k e d o p e n t h e c loset d o o r . A d e m o n b u r s t
for th . I t w a s t w o feet tall , w i t h a w h i t e b o d y a n d legs a n d a b l ack h e a d ,
a n d i t h a d a s ingle b l a c k h o r n . T h e y w e r e all f r i gh t ened ou t o f t he i r w i t s .
B u t o n e a m o n g t h e c o m p a n y , a w i s e a n d b r a v e m a n , k i c k e d a t t h e
d e m o n ' s h e a d as i t d a r t e d b y . T h e b l ack t h i n g fell off. W h y , t h e c r e a t u r e
w a s a w h i t e d o g , b a r k i n g a n d y a p p i n g l ike m a d ! T h e t h i n g o n its h e a d
h a d b e e n a b u c k e t . D u r i n g t h e n igh t t h e d o g h a d g o t t e n in to t h e c lose t
a n d e n d e d u p w i t h its h e a d s t u c k i n t h e b u c k e t , w h i c h w a s w h y its h o w l
h a d s o u n d e d s o w e i r d . T h e re l i eved s c h o l a r s b u r s t in to l a u g h t e r .
So i t h a d n ' t b e e n a d e m o n af ter all, b u t t h e d i v i n e r h a d seen i t as a
d e m o n b e c a u s e t h a t ' s w h a t t h e p e o p l e first t h o u g h t i t w a s . E v e r y o n e
a d m i r e d h o w t h e d i v i n e r h a d e v e n specif ied t h a t t h e d e m o n w a s n ' t g o i n g
to do a n y h a r m o r lay a n y c u r s e s . W h a t a m a s t e r l y ins ight that h a d b e e n !
O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , n o o n e t h o u g h t m u c h o f K i n o H a s e o . N o d o u b t h e
w a s v e r y l e a r n e d , b u t i t h a d n ' t b e e n v e r y c l eve r o f h im to forget all a b o u t
t he d i v i n e r ' s a d v i c e .
i 6 5 .
IN THE NICK OF TIME
A m o d e r a t e l y p i o u s old n o b l e m a n , n o w a m o n k , l ived in t h e s o u t h e r n
p a r t o f t he C a p i t a l . H e w a s w e a l t h y e n o u g h t o h a v e e v e r y t h i n g h e w a n t e d
in l i te. On r e c e i v i n g a c r y p t i c o r a c l e in his o w n h o u s e , he sen t for a y i n -
y a n g d i v i n e r n a m e d K a m o n o T a d a y u k i t o find o u t w h e t h e r t h e o rac l e
b o d e d wel l o r ill. T a d a y u k i d e t e r m i n e d t h a t o n s u c h - a n d - s u c h d a t e t h e
n o b l e m a n s h o u l d s t ay s t r i c t ly s e c l u d e d a t h o m e , o r r i sk b e i n g ki l led b y
r o b b e r s .
W h e n t h e d a y c a m e , t h e f r i gh t ened n o b l e m a n b a r r e d his g a t e a n d
a d m i t t e d n o o n e . F ina l ly t o w a r d e v e n i n g t h e r e w a s a p o u n d i n g o n t h e
g a t e . A t first t h e n o b l e m a n d id no t a n s w e r , b u t w h e n t h e p o u n d i n g
c o n t i n u e d he s en t s o m e o n e to find o u t w h o i t w a s a n d to let t h e v i s i to r
k n o w t h a t t h e m a s t e r o f t h e h o u s e w a s i n s t r ic t sec lus ion . T h e v i s i to r
ident if ied h imse l f a s T a i r a no S a d a m o r i , jus t b a c k from t h e far n o r t h e r n
p r o v i n c e o f M u t s u .
S a d a m o r i w a s a n old a n d c lose f r iend. H e p r o t e s t e d ( t h r o u g h the
s e r v a n t ) t h a t n i g h t h a d o v e r t a k e n h im on th i s last s t age o f his j o u r n e y
h o m e f rom t h e n o r t h a n d t h a t in a n y ca se a t a b o o m a d e i t i m p o r t a n t for
2 3 4
h im n o t t o a r r i v e h o m e t h a t n i g h t . " W h e r e else am I t o g o ? " he a s k ed .
" W h a t i s t h i s s ec lus ion o f y o u r s a b o u t ? "
T h e n o b l e m a n a n s w e r e d t h a t h e w a s k e e p i n g shu t u p o n a d iv ine r ' s
o r d e r s b e c a u s e o t h e r w i s e h e r i s k e d b e i n g m u r d e r e d b y r o b b e r s .
" I n t h a t c a s e , " r ep l i ed S a d a m o r i , " y o u s h o u l d b e h a p p y t o ask m e in.
H o w c o u l d y o u e v e n c o n s i d e r t u r n i n g m e a w a y ? "
T h i s m a d e s e n s e . "All r i g h t , " t h e n o b l e m a n a g r e e d , " b u t jus t y o u .
You ' l l h a v e t o s e n d all y o u r s e r v a n t s a n d r e t a i n e r s a w a y first. I 'm not
t a k i n g a n y c h a n c e s . "
S a d a m o r i c o m p l i e d wi l l ing ly . H e sen t his hos t w o r d tha t u n d e r t he
c i r c u m s t a n c e s he w o u l d no t e x p e c t his hos t t o g ree t h im pe r sona l l y to-
n i g h t . H e w o u l d m a k e h imse l f c o m f o r t a b l e i n t h e g u e s t w i n g a n d w o u l d
see his h o s t i n t h e m o r n i n g . S a d a m o r i t h e n a t e d i n n e r a n d w e n t t o b e d .
I n t h e m i d d l e o f t h e n igh t S a d a m o r i h e a r d s o m e o n e t ry t h e g a t e . T h e
r o b b e r s m u s t h a v e c o m e . H e a r m e d himself a n d w e n t t o h ide b y the
c a r r i a g e h o u s e . Y e s , i t c e r t a i n l y weu t h e r o b b e r s . T h e y go t t he ga t e o p e n
w i t h a s w o r d , c r o w d e d ins ide , a n d w e n t r o u n d to t h e s o u t h , front s ide o f
t h e m a n s i o n . S a d a m o r i s l i pped i n a m o n g t h e m . H e k e p t t h e m a w a y from
w h e r e h i s h o s t ' s v a l u a b l e s w e r e s t o r e d , s t e e r i n g t h e m ins tead t o w a r d a n
e m p t y p a r t o f t h e h o u s e .
" H e r e , h e r e ! " h e c r i e d . " T h i s i s t h e p lace t o b r e a k i n ! " T h e r o b b e r s o f
c o u r s e h a d n o i dea w h o h e w a s a n d w e r e a b o u t t o beg in w h e n S a d a m o r i
r e a l i z e d his f r iend m i g h t rea l ly be ki l led . He w o u l d h a v e t o shoo t t h e m
b e f o r e t h e y g o t in s ide . A t o u g h - l o o k i n g , a r m e d r o b b e r w a s r igh t nex t t o
h i m , b u t d e s p i t e his fear he h a d to ac t . He sho t t he fellow from b e h i n d .
T h e a r r o w w e n t all t h e w a y t h r o u g h a n d s t u c k ou t t h e o t h e r s ide .
" T h e y ' r e s h o o t i n g f rom b e h i n d u s ! " s h o u t e d S a d a m o r i . " L e t ' s ge t o u t ! "
H e d r a g g e d t h e b o d y ins ide .
" N o , t h a t w a s o n e o f U J s h o o t i n g ! " a n o t h e r r o b b e r c r ied b rave ly .
" N e v e r m i n d ! C o m e on , let 's g o i n ! "
S a d a m o r i d a s h e d u p b e h i n d h im a n d sho t h im s t r a igh t t h r o u g h the
m i d d l e . " T h e y ' r e s h o o t i n g , I tell y o u ! " he s h o u t e d . " W e h a v e t o ge t ou t
o f h e r e ! " He d r a g g e d t h e s e c o n d b o d y ins ide t o o a n d left i t s p r a w l e d by
t h e first .
F r o m ins ide t h e h o u s e h e b e g a n s h o o t i n g the h u m m i n g a r r o w s tha t
h u n t e r s u s e t o s t a r t g a m e . T h e r o b b e r s fled pel l -mell t o w a r d the g a t e .
S a d a m o r i k e p t s h o o t i n g a t t h e i r b a c k s a n d laid t h r e e r o b b e r s low before
t h e y e v e n r e a c h e d it. T h e r e s t o f t h e b a n d , w h i c h h a d s t a r t ed ou t a s t en
m e n , k e p t t r a v e l i n g . In t he e n d four m e n lay d e a d w i th in t he r a n g e o f
S a d a m o r i ' s a r r o w s , a n d a fifth, s h o t in t h e l o w e r b a c k a n d u n a b l e to r u n ,
lay c o l l a p s e d in t h e d i t ch a few h u n d r e d y a r d s b e y o n d it. T h e nex t
m o r n i n g t h e r e m n a n t s o f t h e b a n d w e r e a r r e s t e d .
J A P A N E
T h a t n o b l e m a n w a s v e r y l u c k y t o h a v e h a d L o r d S a d a m o r i s t o p b y . I t
w o u l d h a v e b e e n t h e e n d o f h im o t h e r w i s e . J u s t t h i n k w h a t w o u l d h a v e
h a p p e n e d i f he h a d rea l ly k e p t up his s ec lus ion !
ASTRIDE THE CORPSE
A m a n o n c e a b a n d o n e d his wife o f m a n y y e a r s a n d left h e r so grief-
s t r i c k e n t h a t s h e fell ill a n d d i ed . A las , s ince t h e p o o r w o m a n h a d no
p a r e n t s a n d n o c lose f r iends t h e r e w a s n o o n e t o t a k e h e r b o d y a w a y .
S h e jus t lay w h e r e s h e w a s . T h e n e i g h b o r s w h o p e e p e d i n t h r o u g h a
c r a c k w e r e f r i g h t e n e d t o see t h a t h e r ha i r d id no t fall o u t a n d h e r b o n e s
s t a y e d f i rmly k n i t t o g e t h e r ; a n d w h e n t h e y no t i ced t h a t t h e r e w a s a l w a y s
a l ight in t h e h o u s e , a n d a s o u n d of g r o a n i n g , t h e y go t so af ra id t h a t t h e y
r a n a w a y .
T h e h u s b a n d felt hal f d e a d w i t h fear w h e n h e h e a r d a b o u t all th i s .
" H o w a m I t o a v o i d t h e g h o s t ' s c u r s e ? " h e w o n d e r e d . " S h e d ied h a t i n g
me a n d she ' s b o u n d to ge t m e . " In his difficulty he s o u g h t h e l p from a
y i n - y a n g d i v i n e r .
T h e d i v i n e r a g r e e d t h a t th i s w a s a b a d s i tua t ion , b u t h e p r o m i s e d t o
d o his bes t . " P l e a s e b e a w a r e , t h o u g h , " h e c a u t i o n e d , " t h a t t he p r o c e d u r e
i s rea l ly t e r r i fy ing . I w a n t y o u to u n d e r s t a n d t h a t c lea r ly a t t h e o u t s e t . "
A t s u n d o w n t h e d i v i n e r led t h e h u s b a n d t o t h e c o r p s e ' s h o u s e . J u s t
l i s ten ing f rom o u t s i d e w a s e n o u g h t o m a k e t h e h u s b a n d ' s h a i r s t a n d o n
e n d , a n d t h e t h o u g h t o f g o i n g i n w a s rea l ly m o r e t h a n h e c o u l d b e a r , b u t
u n d e r t h e d i v i n e r ' s g u i d a n c e he w e n t i n af ter all . I t w a s t r u e : h is wife ' s
ha i r w a s still i n p l ace a n d h e r ske l e ton w a s still in tac t . T h e d i v i n e r sat
h im d o w n o n t h e s k e l e t o n ' s b a c k , g a v e h i m t h e h a i r t o ho ld , a n d w a r n e d
h im a t all co s t s no t to let go o f it. T h e n he r e a d s o m e spel ls , a n n o u n c e d
he w o u l d h a v e t o leave , a n d r e m i n d e d t h e h u s b a n d a g a i n t o e x p e c t a
t e r r i fy ing e x p e r i e n c e . T h e h u s b a n d , m o r e d e a d t h a n al ive, w a s left a l one
a s t r i de t h e c o r p s e c l u t c h i n g its ha i r .
D a r k n e s s fell. I n t h e m i d d l e o f t h e n igh t t h e c o r p s e s u d d e n l y said,
"Oof ! W h a t a w e i g h t ! " T h e n i t s t o o d u p a n d b e g a n t o r u n a r o u n d . " N o w
to go look for t h a t b r u t e ! " i t w e n t on , a n d c h a r g e d off. T h e h u s b a n d
n e v e r let g o o f t h e ha i r , a n d t h e c o r p s e e v e n t u a l l y r e t u r n e d t o t h e h o u s e
a n d lay d o w n a g a i n . T h e r e a r e n o w o r d s t o d e s c r i b e t h e h u s b a n d ' s t e r ro r ,
2 3 6
b u t h e k e p t ho ld o f t h e h a i r a n d s t a y e d o n t h e c o r p s e till t he c o c k s b e g a n
t o c r o w a n d t h e c o r p s e fell s i lent .
A t d a w n t h e d i v i n e r c a m e b a c k . H a v i n g m a d e s u r e t he h u s b a n d real ly
h a d k e p t h o l d o f t h e ha i r , h e r e a d s o m e m o r e spel ls o v e r t he c o r p s e , t h e n
t o o k t h e h u s b a n d o u t s i d e a n d to ld h im h e h a d n o t h i n g m o r e t o fear. T h e
h u s b a n d t h a n k e d h im w i t h t e a r s o f g r a t i t u d e . N o t h i n g eve r d id h a p p e n
to h i m .
T h i s h a p p e n e d no t all t h a t l o n g a g o , b e c a u s e t h e h u s b a n d ' s g r a n d c h i l -
d r e n a r e s u p p o s e d t o b e a l ive still, a n d s o a r e t h e d iv ine r ' s .
1 b 7 .
TWINLEAF
T h e l e g e n d a r y m u s i c i a n H a k u g a n o S a m m i s p e n t o n e b r igh t ly moonl i t
n igh t w a n d e r i n g u p a n d d o w n i n f ront o f t he S u z a k u G a t e , n e a r t he
p a l a c e , p l a y i n g h i s b a m b o o flute. A s h e d id s o a n o t h e r m a n a p p e a r e d ,
d r e s s e d jus t l ike S a m m i himself, a n d b e g a n t o p lay t o o . S a m m i could not
i m a g i n e w h o t h e l e l low w a s , b u t t h e t o n e o f his f l u t e w a s t ru ly d iv ine .
N e i t h e r m a n sa id a w o r d .
T h e t w o m e t a n d p l a y e d t h a t w a y e v e r y moonl i t n igh t . T h e s o u n d o f
t h e o t h e r ' s f l u t e w a s s o e x t r a o r d i n a r y t h a t S a m m i , d e v o u r e d b y cur ios i ty ,
a t last s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e y t r y e x c h a n g i n g t he i r i n s t r u m e n t s . T h e o t h e r
m a n wi l l ing ly d id so . S a m m i f o u n d t h a t h is f lu te w a s o f a qua l i ty u n -
k n o w n i n t h e w o r l d .
T h e t w o s a w e a c h o t h e r of ten e n o u g h , b u t s ince t he o t h e r n e v e r said
a n y t h i n g a b o u t w a n t i n g his f l u t e b a c k , S a m m i s imp ly k e p t it. Af te r S a m -
mi 's d e a t h , H i s M a j e s t y t o o k pos se s s ion o f t h e f l u t e a n d h a d all t h e bes t
p l a y e r s o f t h e t i m e t r y it. N o t o n e of t h e m c o u l d ge t a n o t e ou t o f it.
I n t i m e H i s M a j e s t y h a d t h e g r e a t f l u t i s t J o z o t r y t h e f lute. J o z o
p l a y e d i t a s beau t i fu l ly as S a m m i himself . " T h i s f lu te ' s f o r m e r o w n e r i s
s u p p o s e d t o h a v e g o t t e n i t a t t h e S u z a k u G a t e , " sa id H i s M a j e s t y , d e e p l y
i m p r e s s e d . " G o a n d p l a y t h e r e yourse l f , J o z o , a n d see w h a t h a p p e n s ! "
T h e n e x t moon l i t n i g h t J o z o w e n t t o t h e S u z a k u G a t e a n d b e g a n t o
p l ay . " A h a , a n o t h e r o n e ! " c r i ed a p l e a s e d vo ice from h igh in t h e g a t e ' s
u p p e r s t o r y . J o z o r e p o r t e d th i s t o t h e e m p e r o r , w h o rea l ized t h a t t h e
flute h a d b e l o n g e d to a d e m o n w h o l ived in t h e g a t e .
T h e e m p e r o r ca l led t h e f l u t e T w i n l e a f b e c a u s e i t h a d t w o leaves o n it,
o n e r e d a n d o n e g r e e n . L e g e n d h a s i t t h a t e v e r y m o r n i n g t h e t w o leaves
h a d fresh d e w o n t h e m .
L a t e r o n t h e f l u t e b e c a m e t h e p r o p e r t y o f L o r d M i c h i n a g a a n d w a s
e v e n t u a l l y d e p o s i t e d in t h e S u t r a Ha l l o f t h e B y o d o i n in Uji . S o m e o n e
w h o s a w i t m o r e r e c e n t l y n o t e d t h a t t h e r ed leaf h a d fallen off a n d t h a t ,
a las , t h e r e w a s no t a t r a c e o f d e w .
1 6 8 .
NO NIGHT TO BE OUT COURTING
In E m p e r o r D a i g o ' s r e ign a c e r t a i n M i n i s t e r of t h e R i g h t h a d a son
n a m e d T s u n e y u k i . T h e y o u n g m a n w a s b o t h ma jo r c o u n s e l o r a n d c o m -
m a n d e r o f t h e Left I n n e r G u a r d s , a v e r y p r o m i s i n g c o m b i n a t i o n t h a t
c lea r ly d e s t i n e d h im for t h e h ighes t p o s t s i n t h e imper ia l g o v e r n m e n t . He
w a s a l so h a n d s o m e a n d a m o r o u s , a n d a b s o r b e d l ike n o o t h e r i n d r e a m s
o f w o m e n . E v e r y n i g h t h e w a s off o n o n e r o m a n t i c e x p e d i t i o n o r a n o t h e r .
T h e m i n i s t e r ' s r e s i d e n c e w a s i n t h e w e s t e r n p a r t o f t h e C a p i t a l . T s u -
n e y u k i w a s in love w i t h a w o m a n in t he e a s t e r n p a r t o f t he c i ty a n d his
c o n s t a n t v is i t s t o h e r w o r r i e d his p a r e n t s a g r e a t dea l b e c a u s e t h e s t r ee t s
w e r e unsa fe af ter d a r k . A g a i n a n d a g a i n t h e y t r i ed i n va in t o k e e p h im a t
h o m e .
O n e n igh t he r o d e off a s u sua l , a c c o m p a n i e d by a s ingle m o u n t e d p a g e .
A s t h e y t r a v e l e d eas t pa s t t h e B i f u k u m o n ' i n G a t e , o n e o f t he s o u t h e r n
g a t e s i n to t h e pa l ace c o m p o u n d , t h e y s a w a no i sy c r o w d a p p r o a c h i n g
2 3 8
w i t h t o r c h e s . " W h o c a n t h e y b e ? " t h e y o u n g lo rd a s k e d . " W h e r e can w e
h i d e ? "
" I n o t i c e d w h e n I c a m e th i s w a y t o d a y t h a t t h e n o r t h ga t e t o t he
S h i n s e n G a r d e n w a s o p e n , " t h e p a g e rep l i ed . " L e t ' s g o in, m y lord, a n d
c lose t h e g a t e . Y o u c a n w a i t t h e r e till t h e y ' v e g o n e b y . "
T s u n e y u k i h u r r i e d l y d i s m o u n t e d a n d c r o u c h e d bes ide a g a t e p o s t .
T h e c r o w d s t a r t e d pas t . T h e t w o h a d k e p t t h e g a t e c r a c k e d open , a n d
w h e n t h e y s p i e d n o t p e o p l e b u t d e m o n s t h e y all b u t lost t he i r wi t s w i t h
t e r r o r . T h r o u g h t h e confus ion o f t he i r o w n p a n i c t h e y h e a r d a d e m o n
say , " H m m . I smel l a m a n ! I'll go c a t c h h i m . " S o m e t h i n g h u r t l e d t o w a r d
t h e m a n d T s u n e y u k i t h o u g h t h e w a s lost . T h e n i t r a n a w a y aga in .
" W h a t h a p p e n e d ? W h y d i d n ' t y o u ge t h i m ? " a n o t h e r c r i ed .
" I c o u l d n ' t ! " s h o u t e d T s u n e y u k i ' s w o u l d - b e assa i lan t .
" W h y n o t ? All r igh t , you g o af ter h i m ! " A n o t h e r d e m o n r u s h e d the
g a t e , o n l y t o t u r n a n d f l e e .
" W e l l ? W h e r e i s h e ? "
" I c o u l d n ' t t o u c h h im e i t h e r ! "
" W h a t ' s t h e m a t t e r w i t h y o u ? All r igh t , / ' / / d o i t ! " W i t h th is boas t t h e
s p e a k e r c h a r g e d . H e g o t c lo se r t h a n t h e o t h e r s , a n d his h a n d s w e r e
a l m o s t o n T s u n e y u k i ( w h o t h o u g h t th i s wcui t h e e n d ) w h e n he too s u d -
d e n l y f l e d .
" W h a t ' s w r o n g ? " a c h o r u s g r e e t e d h im.
" T h e S o n s h o D a r a n i ! H e ' s g o t t h e S o n s h o D a r a n i o n h i m ! "
S u d d e n l y all t h e t o r c h e s w e n t ou t . F o o t s t e p s r a n off in all d i r ec t i ons ,
t h e n t h e r e w a s s i l ence . T h e d a r k a n d qu ie t w e r e even m o r e eer i ly
f r i g h t e n i n g t h a n t h e d e m o n ' s assau l t , a n d the ha i r rose o n T s u n e y u k i ' s
h e a d . T h e n h e fa in ted .
A t last , m o r e d e a d t h a n al ive, he r e m o u n t e d his h o r s e a n d set ou t for
h o m e . B y t h e t i m e h e r e a c h e d his r o o m h e w a s ill, a n d h e co l lapsed w i t h
a h i g h fever . H i s f a the r s en t s o m e o n e to f i nd ou t w h e r e T s u n e y u k i h a d
b e e n , b u t l e a r n e d on ly t h a t t h e y o u n g m a s t e r h a d b e e n ou t late last n igh t .
F ina l ly t h e m i n i s t e r c a m e h imse l f a n d found his son ly ing he lp less i n b e d .
" W h a t i s i t ? " h e a s k e d , feel ing T s u n e y u k i ' s b o d y . I t w a s b u r n i n g ho t .
" O h s i r , " c r i e d T s u n e y u k i ' s n u r s e , " I j u s t d o n ' t k n o w w h a t t h e m a t t e r
c a n b e ! " B u t w h e n T s u n e y u k i h a d to ld his s t o ry t h e n u r s e exc la imed ,
" G r a c i o u s ! Las t y e a r m y b r o t h e r , w h o ' s a n exorc i s t , h a d m e w r i t e ou t
t h e S o n s h o D a r a n i a n d s e w i t i n to t h e co l la r o f t h e y o u n g m a s t e r ' s r o b e .
So i t rea l ly h a s p o w e r , t h e n ! I f i t h a d n ' t b e e n t h e r e , w h a t w o u l d h a v e
b e c o m e o f t h e y o u n g m a s t e r ? " S h e p r e s s e d h e r h a n d s t o T s u n e y u k i ' s
f o r e h e a d a n d b u r s t i n to t e a r s .
Af te r s eve ra l d a y s o f a fever w h i c h c a u s e d his p a r e n t s a n g u i s h e d
w o r r y , T s u n e y u k i b e g a n t o m e n d . A g l a n c e a t t h e c a l e n d a r s h o w e d t h a t
i t h a d b e e n t h e n igh t w h e n d e m o n s a r e k n o w n t o w a l k a b r o a d , a n d w h e n
for sa fe ty ' s s a k e y o u s h o u l d be careful t o s t a y a t h o m e .
O b v i o u s l y y o u s h o u l d a l w a y s h a v e t h e S o n s h o D a r a n i o n y o u . W h y ,
T s u n e y u k i h a d no t e v e n k n o w n i t w a s t h e r e !
i 6 5 •
LUMP OFF, LUMP ON
An old m a n h a d a b i g l u m p on t h e r igh t s ide of his face, as b ig as a b ig
t a n g e r i n e . I t m a d e h i m s o u g l y t h a t h e a v o i d e d o t h e r p e o p l e a n d i n s t e a d
w o r k e d a l o n e i n t h e m o u n t a i n s c u t t i n g w o o d . O n c e h e go t c a u g h t i n a n
awfu l s t o r m a n d h a d t o s t ay i n t h e m o u n t a i n s o v e r n i g h t .
N o o n e else w a s a r o u n d . H e h id , w i d e a w a k e a n d terr i f ied, i n a ho l l ow
t r e e . F e e l i n g as lone ly as he d id , he b r e a t h e d a sigh of relief w h e n he
h e a r d o t h e r p e o p l e c o m i n g . T h e n h e p e e k e d o u t s i d e . T h e c r o w d , a
h u n d r e d s t r o n g , w a s a h o r r i b l e s igh t . S o m e in i t w e r e r ed d r e s s e d in
g r e e n , s o m e w e r e b l a c k w i t h a r e d lo inc lo th , s o m e h a d o n e eye o r n o
m o u t h , a n d m o s t w e r e j u s t i n d e s c r i b a b l e . T h e y bui l t a fire a s b r i g h t a s
t h e s u n a n d m a d e a c i rc le r o u n d it, r i gh t in f ront o f t h e old m a n ' s t r e e .
H e w a s f r i g h t e n e d n e a r l y o u t o f h is w i t s .
O n e m o n s t e r , a p p a r e n t l y t h e chief, sat d o w n by t h e fire i n t h e p lace o f
h o n o r , a n d t h e r e s t sat i n t w i n r o w s to his r i g h t a n d left. N e x t , t h e y all
b e g a n d r i n k i n g a n d c a r r y i n g o n t h e w a y p e o p l e d o . A s t h e w i n e j a r w e n t
r o u n d a n d r o u n d , t h e ch ie f go t awful ly d r u n k . W h e n a y o u n g m o n s t e r
w i t h a t r a y m a d e his w a y s lowly u p t o t h e chief, m u m b l i n g s o m e t h i n g o r
o t h e r , t h e chief b u r s t o u t l a u g h i n g a n d w a v e d his c u p . T h e y rea l ly w e r e
jus t l ike p e o p l e ! T h e y o u n g m o n s t e r d a n c e d , a n d w h e n h e h a d f inished
a n o t h e r b e g a n . E a c h o n e t o o k his t u r n , r i gh t o n u p t o t h e s e n i o r m o n -
s t e r s , a n d i f s o m e d a n c e d b a d l y o t h e r s d a n c e d we l l . T h e old m a n co u l d
h a r d l y be l i eve his e y e s .
" T h i s i s t h e m o s t fun w e ' v e e v e r h a d ! " t h e chief d e c l a r e d . " N o w let 's
h a v e s o m e t h i n g rea l ly spec ia l ! "
G o o d n e s s k n o w s w h a t go t in to t h e old m a n t h e n — p e r h a p s some g o d
o r b u d d h a p u t h im u p t o i t — b u t h e s u d d e n l y w a n t e d t o ge t ou t t h e r e
a n d d a n c e . At first he c h e c k e d himself, b u t t h e m o n s t e r s h a d a fine
2 4 0
r h y t h m g o i n g a n d t h e t e m p t a t i o n w a s jus t t o o m u c h . O u t h e b u r s t from
his h o l l o w t r e e , w i t h his h a t d o w n o v e r his nose a n d a n a x e d a n g l i n g
f rom h is bel t , r i g h t b e f o r e t h e chief.
T h e m o n s t e r s j u m p e d u p . " W h a t ' s t h i s ? " t h e y c r i ed . T h e old m a n
l e a p e d h igh a n d s q u a t t e d low, h e t w i s t e d a n d w r i g g l e d all a r o u n d w i t h
h o o t s a n d s h o u t s o f " E i ! " a n d " H o ! " till e v e r y o n e b u r s t ou t l augh ing .
" W e ' v e b e e n h a v i n g t h e s e p a r t i e s for y e a r s , " c h u c k l e d t he chief, " b u t
no o n e l ike you h a s e v e r j o i n e d u s ! Be h e r e e v e r y t ime from n o w o n ! "
" S a y n o m o r e ! " c r i e d t h e old m a n . " I wi l l ! B u t i t w a s all s o s u d d e n
th i s t i m e t h a t I fo rgot h o w to e n d my d a n c e r igh t . I f y o u l iked me ton igh t ,
j u s t w a i t till y o u see m e d a n c e p r o p e r l y ! "
" Y o u w e r e w o n d e r f u l ! " t h e ch ie f ins i s ted . " M a k e s u r e y o u c o m e
a g a i n ! "
O n e o f t h e c h i e f ' s l i e u t e n a n t s w a s no t q u i t e c o n v i n c e d . " T h e old fel-
l o w ' s full o f p r o m i s e s , " he ob j ec t ed , " b u t I 'm no t so s u r e he will be b a c k .
W e ' d b e t t e r k e e p s o m e t h i n g o f his a s s e c u r i t y . "
T h a t s o u n d e d l ike a g o o d idea . T h e chief a s k e d w h a t t h e y shou ld t a k e .
T h e r e w a s a b u z z o f vo i ce s . " W h a t a b o u t t h e l u m p o n his f a c e ? " t h e
l i e u t e n a n t s u g g e s t e d . " A l u m p ' s g o o d luck a n d he'l l miss i t ."
" O h p l e a s e , " t h e o ld fel low b e g g e d , " t a k e m y eyes o r m y nose , b u t no t
m y l u m p ! I 've h a d i t for y e a r s ! Y o u ' r e t o o c r u e l ! "
" A h a ! " sa id t h e l i e u t e n a n t . " Y o u see? T h a t ' s w h a t w e n e e d ! "
A m o n s t e r s t e p p e d up t o t h e old m a n a n d t w i s t e d t h e l u m p off pa in -
less ly . " B e s u r e y o u ' r e a t o u r n e x t p a r t y ! " h e w a r n e d .
S o o n i t w a s d a w n a n d t h e b i r d s w e r e s ing ing . T h e m o n s t e r s w e n t
a w a y . T h e o ld m a n felt h is face a n d f o u n d t h a t t h e l u m p he h a d h a d for
s o l o n g w a s g o n e . H e forgot all a b o u t c u t t i n g w o o d a n d h u r r i e d h o m e t o
his a s t o n i s h e d wi fe .
N o w , t h e o ld m a n n e x t d o o r h a d a l u m p on t h e left s ide o f his face, a n d
w h e n h e s a w his n e i g h b o r ' s w a s g o n e h e w a n t e d t o k n o w h o w the old
fel low h a d d o n e it. " W h a t d o c t o r d id y o u g o t o ? " h e a s k e d . " P l e a s e tell
m e ! I c a n ' t s t a n d m i n e ! "
" I t w a s n ' t a d o c t o r , i t w a s a m o n s t e r . "
" W e l l , e i t h e r w a y , I'll j u s t d o w h a t e v e r y o u d id . S o w h a t d id y o u d o ? "
T h e first o ld m a n to ld his s t o r y a n d t h e s e c o n d l is tened careful ly . H e
w e n t t o h ide i n t h e h o l l o w t r e e , a n d s u r e e n o u g h the m o n s t e r s c a m e .
T h e y sa t i n a r i ng , d r a n k a n d c a r r i e d on , a n d r o a r e d , " W h e r e ' s t h a t old
m a n ? "
T h e s e c o n d old m a n w a s t e r r i b l y af ra id b u t h e s t a g g e r e d ou t a n y w a y .
" H u r r a y ! " t h e m o n s t e r s s h o u t e d , " H e r e h e i s ! "
"All r i g h t ! " sa id t h e chief. " N o w , d a n c e ! "
H e d a n c e d , b u t h is fa l te r ing s t eps h a d n o t h i n g i n c o m m o n w i t h his
n e i g h b o r ' s gleeful zes t .
" T h a t w a s t e r r i b l e , " t h e ch ie f g r u m b l e d . " G i v e h im b a c k his l u m p ! "
U p s t e p p e d a j u n i o r m o n s t e r . " H e r e ' s y o u r l u m p b a c k , " h e sa id a n d
s t u c k i t o n t h e o t h e r s ide . T h e old m a n h a d g o t t e n h imse l f t w o l u m p s
in s t ead o f o n e .
1 7 0 .
TAKE A GOOD LOOK!
L a t e o n e n igh t a m a n w a s s l eep ing w i t h a p r o s t i t u t e in a r o o m u n d e r
t h e fest ival r e v i e w i n g s t a n d o n F i r s t A v e n u e . T h e w i n d w a s h o w l i n g , t h e
ra in w a s p o u r i n g d o w n , a n d t h e a t m o s p h e r e w a s def ini te ly s p o o k y . S u d -
d e n l y a p a s s e r b y o u t s i d e on t h e a v e n u e s a n g , " N o t h i n g lasts , no , all t h i n g s
p a s s . . . "
" W h a t ' s that, I w o n d e r , " t h o u g h t t h e m a n a n d c r a c k e d o p e n t h e s h u t -
t e r to p e e k o u t . I t w a s a h o r s e - h e a d e d d e m o n as tall a s t h e roof.
F r i g h t e n e d , h e has t i ly c losed u p a g a i n a n d b a c k e d a s far b a c k i n t h e
r o o m a s h e cou ld , b u t t h e d e m o n r a i s ed t h e s h u t t e r a n d s t u c k its face in .
" T h a t w a s a g o o d look y o u go t a t m e , y e s , a v e r y g o o d look! " i t g r o w l e d .
T h e m a n d r e w his s w o r d a n d go t r e a d y t o s t r ike i f t h e d e m o n c a m e in,
w h i l e t h e w o m a n c o w e r e d b e s i d e h im .
" W e l l , t a k e a n o t h e r g o o d l o o k ! " said t h e d e m o n a n d w e n t its w a y .
T h e m a n d e c i d e d e v e r y f iend i n t h e w o r l d m u s t h a v e b e e n a b r o a d t h a t
n igh t . H e n e v e r s lep t u n d e r t h e r e v i e w i n g s t a n d o n F i r s t A v e n u e a g a i n .
A p o o r m a n o f E m p r e s s G e n s h o ' s r e ign , i n M i n o p r o v i n c e , g a t h e r e d
w o o d in t h e m o u n t a i n s to s u p p o r t his o ld fa ther . S ince his fa ther con-
s t a n t l y d e m a n d e d w i n e , he often w e n t off w i t h a g o u r d a t his belt to b u y
h i m all h e w a n t e d .
O n e d a y t h e m a n , o u t i n t h e m o u n t a i n s a s u sua l t o cu t w o o d , s l ipped
on a m o s s y r o c k a n d fell flat on his face. L o o k i n g up aga in , he no t i ced a
s p r i n g r u n n i n g f rom t h e r o c k . T h e w a t e r w a s t h e co lo r o f w i n e . H e
s c o o p e d up s o m e a n d t a s t e d it: i t wcu< w i n e , a n d de l ic ious too . After t ha t
h e c a m e e v e r y d a y for m o r e , m u c h t o his f a the r ' s de l igh t .
N e w s o f t h e s p r i n g r e a c h e d t h e e m p r e s s , w h o c a m e to see i t herse l f i n
t h e n i n t h m o o n o f 7 1 7 . T h e g o d s o f s k y a n d e a r t h h a d obv ious ly r ecog-
n i zed t h e m a n ' s pe r f ec t d e v o t i o n t o his f a the r a n d h a d m a d e the s p r i n g
for h i m as a r e w a r d . T h e e m p r e s s t ook t h e h in t a n d a p p o i n t e d h im
g o v e r n o r o f M i n o .
T h e s p r i n g w a s n a m e d Y o r o , o r " C h e r i s h - t h e - A g e d " sp r ing , a n d i n its
h o n o r t h e n a m e o f t h e r e i g n - p e r i o d t o o w a s c h a n g e d t o Y o r o .
1 7 2 .
THE BOTTOMLESS SACK
I k u e no Y o t s u n e , a j u n i o r p rov inc i a l official in E c h i z e n , s t a r t ed ou t in life
s o p o o r t h a t h e w a s a l m o s t s t a r v i n g . B u t w h e n h e p r a y e d for rel ief t o t h e
G o d d e s s Kich i jo t en he e n d e d up r ich — in fact, r ich far b e y o n d his n e e d s
o r even his d e s i r e s .
CHERLSH-THE-AGED SPRING
i 7 i .
P L E N T Y
2 4 2
S o o n af ter Y o t s u n e t u r n e d to Kich i jo ten for he lp , he h e a r d t h a t a
beaut i fu l w o m a n w a s a t h is g a t e a s k i n g for h i m . H e w o n d e r e d a s h e w e n t
ou t t o h e r w h o in t h e w o r l d s h e cou ld b e . S h e wtui beau t i fu l , a n d s h e g a v e
him a d i sh h e a p e d w i t h c o o k e d r ice .
" I g a t h e r y o u ' r e s t a r v i n g , ' ' s h e sa id . " E a t t h i s ! "
Y o t s u n e t o o k t h e r ice g l ad ly . J u s t a lit t le sat isf ied h im r igh t a w a y , a n d
h e h a r d l y e v e n felt h u n g r y a g a i n for s eve ra l d a y s . H e p u t t h e b o w l a w a y
a n d a t e t h e r ice a s s l o w l y a s he c o u l d , b u t w h e n i t w a s all g o n e a t last he
r e m a i n e d a s d e s t i t u t e a s be fo re . A g a i n h e p r a y e d t o Kichi jo ten , a n d t h e
w o m a n r e t u r n e d t o his g a t e . H e h u r r i e d o u t t o h e r a s fast a s h e co u l d g o .
S h e to ld h im s h e w a s awfu l ly s o r r y b u t th i s t i m e she cou ld no t h e l p
h im d i r ec t ly . " T a k e th i s r equ i s i t i on s l ip i n s t e a d , " s h e said, a n d h a n d e d
h im a p i ece of p a p e r .
Y o t s u n e r e a d : " R i c e : t h r e e b u s h e l s . "
" B u t w h e r e am I s u p p o s e d to get th i s r i c e ? " he a s k e d .
" C r o s s t h e m o u n t a i n s n o r t h o f h e r e till y o u r e a c h t h e h ighes t p e a k .
C l i m b t o t h e t o p a n d call ' S h u d a ! S h u d a ! ' S o m e o n e will a n s w e r y o u a n d
c o m e o u t t o g ive y o u t h e r i c e . "
Y o t s u n e d id a s h e w a s to ld . A t t h e t o p o f t h e h ighes t m o u n t a i n h e
ca l led " S h u d a ! S h u d a ! " a n d a frightful vo ice a n s w e r e d h im . T h e n s o m e -
t h i n g c a m e t o w a r d h i m . I t w a s a d e m o n w i t h a s ingle h o r n in t h e m i d d l e
of its f o r e h e a d a n d a s ingle eye , w e a r i n g a r ed lo inc lo th .
T h e d e m o n k n e l t be fo re Y o t s u n e . T h o u g h i t w a s a t e r r i fy ing c r e a t u r e ,
Y o t s u n e p l u c k e d up all h is c o u r a g e a n d a n n o u n c e d t h a t he h a d a r e q u i -
s i t ion s l ip . " I ' m s u p p o s e d t o ge t s o m e r i c e , " h e e x p l a i n e d .
" I ' m s u r e y o u a r e , " sa id t h e d e m o n a n d l o o k e d o v e r t h e d o c u m e n t . " I t
s ays t h r e e b u s h e l s , " he w e n t o n , " b u t one b u s h e l i s t h e q u a n t i t y I 've b e e n
to ld to g ive y o u . " He p u t a b u s h e l of r ice in a s ack a n d g a v e i t to Y o t s u n e ,
w h o t o o k i t h o m e .
W h e n Y o t s u n e h e l p e d h imse l f f rom t h e sack , t h e s ack filled itself b a c k
u p a g a i n . I t n e v e r r a n o u t . S o o n Y o t s u n e w a s r ich .
H a v i n g h e a r d a b o u t Y o t s u n e ' s s a c k o f r ice , t h e g o v e r n o r o f t h e p r o v -
ince s en t Y o t s u n e w o r d t h a t he w a n t e d to b u y i t i m m e d i a t e l y . As a
r e s i d e n t o f t h e p r o v i n c e Y o t s u n e cou ld no t re fuse . T h e de l i gh t ed g o v e r -
n o r g a v e h im o n e h u n d r e d b u s h e l s o f r ice for it. A t i ts n e w o w n e r ' s h o m e
the s ack refil led itself a s be fo re , a n d t h e g o v e r n o r w a s s u r e h e h a d ac -
q u i r e d a p r i ce le s s t r e a s u r e . B u t w h e n he h a d t a k e n ou t a full h u n d r e d
b u s h e l s , t h e r ice g a v e o u t a n d t h e s ack n e v e r filled u p a g a i n . T h e g o v e r -
n o r w a s v e r y a n g r y , b u t t h e r e w a s n o t h i n g h e cou ld d o a b o u t it. I n t he
e n d h e d e c i d e d h e w o u l d h a v e t o g ive t h e s ack b a c k t o Y o t s u n e .
A t Y o t s u n e ' s t h e s ack refil led itself a g a i n t h e w a y i t h a d a l w a y s d o n e ,
2 4 4
n o m a t t e r h o w m u c h r ice w a s t a k e n from it. H o w foolish t he g o v e r n o r
h a d b e e n ! H o w c o u l d h e pos s ib ly t a k e a l m o s t b y force from Y o t s u n e the
r e w a r d t h a t Y o t s u n e h a d m e r i t e d for his d e v o t i o n t o Kichi jo ten, a n d t h e n
e x p e c t t o en joy its b o u n t y h imse l f?
x 7 3 .
THE 5OLID GOLD CORPSE
A h u m b l e m a n o f t h e C a p i t a l h a d lost h is p a r e n t s , a n d h a v i n g no lord to
look t o e i the r , w a s v e r y p o o r . Bu t h e k n e w t h a t t h e K a n n o n o f H a s e d e r a
a n s w e r s p e o p l e ' s p r a y e r s , a n d h e cou ld no t be l ieve t h a t h e a lone w o u l d
b e e x c l u d e d f rom K a n n o n ' s g r a c e . D e s p i t e his difficult c i r c u m s t a n c e s , h e
se t off on foot to H a s e d e r a .
T h i s w a s h i s p l e a t o K a n n o n . " O K a n n o n , g r a n t m e , i n y o u r c o m p a s -
s ion , a lit t le e a se in th i s life! I t is n o t h igh pos i t ion I c r a v e , or b o u n d l e s s
w e a l t h . I o n l y b e g for a m o d e s t i n c o m e . S u r e l y my k a r m a from pas t l ives
h a s b r o u g h t t h i s p o v e r t y o n m e . O K a n n o n , t h e y say y o u r v o w t o he lp
s e n t i e n t b e i n g s i s s u p r e m e a m o n g t h e v o w s o f all t he b u d d h a s . H e l p me,
oh h e l p m e , p l e a s e ! ' ' I n t h i s sp i r i t he p r a y e d a t t he t e m p l e for severa l
d a y s b u t w e n t h o m e i n t h e e n d d i s a p p o i n t e d , w i t h o u t even h a v i n g h a d a
d r e a m .
T h o u g h h e w e n t o n m a k i n g t h e s a m e p i l g r i m a g e each m o n t h , h e still
g o t n o d r e a m . " W h y d o y o u insis t o n g o i n g t h e r e ? " his wife c o m p l a i n e d .
" T h e life we l ead i s m i s e r a b l e e n o u g h ! T h e y say a b u d d h a he lps on ly
t h o s e w h o s o m e h o w h a v e a l ink w i t h h i m . Y o u n e v e r ge t t h e least r e -
s p o n s e , n o m a t t e r h o w often y o u g o . O b v i o u s l y y o u h a v e n o l ink w i t h
th i s K a n n o n . Y o u m i g h t a s we l l g ive u p ! "
" I e x p e c t y o u ' r e r i g h t , " h e r h u s b a n d a n s w e r e d , " b u t I 've d e c i d e d t o
k e e p u p m y m o n t h l y p i l g r i m a g e s for t h r e e y e a r s . M y p r e s e n t life m a y b e
a loss , b u t a t leas t I c a n p r a y for s a lva t ion in t h e f u t u r e . "
A t t h e v e r y e n d o f t h e t h i r d a n d last y e a r he w e n t on his final p i lgr im-
a g e , f rom w h i c h h e r e t u r n e d w e e p i n g a t t h e t h o u g h t t h a t his r e w a r d i n
th i s life, for w h a t e v e r he m i g h t h a v e d o n e in t he pas t , w a s t o be b e y o n d
t h e r e a c h o f K a n n o n ' s k i n d n e s s . B y s u n d o w n h e h a d r e a c h e d N i n t h
A v e n u e . As he c o n t i n u e d on , g l o o m y a n d d e p r e s s e d , he met a b a n d o f
f reed c o n v i c t s , t h e k i n d w h o d o t h e lowes t j obs for t h e Imper i a l Pol ice .
T h e y se ized h im w i t h o u t w a r n i n g a n d i n f o r m e d h im, o v e r his p r o t e s t s ,
t h a t t h e y w a n t e d h im for cool ie l abo r . T h e y m a r c h e d h im n o r t h t o w a r d
t h e c e n t e r o f t h e c i ty .
T h i s w a s a n a s t y s h o c k . A t U c h i n o , n e a r w h e r e h e l ived, t h e y c a m e
a c r o s s a d e a d b o y . T h e m a n w a s o r d e r e d w i t h t h r e a t s a n d c u r s e s t o ge t
r id o f t h e b o d y o n t h e d r y r i v e r b e d . E x h a u s t e d a s h e w a s from w a l k i n g
all day , th i s rea l ly w a s t o o m u c h . E v e n on his w a y b a c k from t h e last o f
t h r e e y e a r s ' w o r t h o f p i l g r i m a g e s , thii h a d t o h a p p e n . Awful k a r m a w a s
t h e o n l y pos s ib l e e x p l a n a t i o n . H i s wife h a d b e e n a b s o l u t e l y r igh t . H e a n d
t h e K a n n o n o f H a s e d e r a h a d n o t h i n g t o d o w i t h each o t h e r . H e felt
awfu l . A n d t h e c o r p s e w a s so h e a v y t h a t he cou ld n o t ge t i t off t h e
g r o u n d , till t h e f reed c o n v i c t s s n a r l e d a t h i m so m e n a c i n g l y t h a t he jus t
m a n a g e d to p i ck i t up af ter all . T h e y fo l lowed r igh t b e h i n d h im so t h a t
h e h a d n o c h a n c e t o d r o p i t a n d r u n .
T h e c o r p s e w a s a m a z i n g l y h e a v y . He c o u l d not c a r r y i t t o t h e r i v e r b e d
by himself, a n d t h a t w a s final. P e r h a p s he cou ld ge t i t h o m e in s t ead , so
t h a t d u r i n g t h e n igh t he a n d his wife c o u l d b o t h t a k e i t w h e r e i t h a d t o
g o . T h e f reed c o n v i c t s sa id t h e y h a d n o ob jec t ion . So , m u c h t o his wife ' s
s u r p r i s e , h e a r r i v e d h o m e f rom H a s e d e r a w i t h a d e a d b o d y a n d s h e d
b i t t e r t e a r s a s h e e x p l a i n e d h o w h e h a d c o m e b y it.
" I to ld y o u s o , " sa id his wi fe . " W e l l , n o w we ' l l h a v e t o d o s o m e t h i n g
w i t h i t . " T h o u g h t h e y t r i ed to lift it, its w e i g h t w a s so e x t r a o r d i n a r y t h a t
no effort o f t h e i r s c o u l d m a k e i t s e e m m a n a g e a b l e . Bes ides i t w a s , a s t h e y
n o w no t i ced , o d d l y h a r d . T h e y p o k e d a t i t w i t h a s t ick . T h e su r face w a s
go ld , for g o o d n e s s ' s a k e ! N e x t t h e y lit a l a m p a n d b a n g e d on i t w i t h a
s t o n e . T h e ins ide w a s go ld t o o . T h e w h o l e c o r p s e w a s g o l d ! T h e y w e r e
s p e e c h l e s s . T h e K a n n o n o f H a s e d e r a h a d t a k e n p i ty o n t h e m af ter all .
T h e y h id t h e c o r p s e in t h e i r h o u s e , a n d t h e n e x t d a y s c r a p e d off a lit t le
go ld a n d sold it. A t last t h e y b e g a n d o i n g we l l . S o o n t h e y o u n g m a n w a s
w e a l t h y . S i n c e h e n o w h a d p r o p e r t y h e go t a g o o d pos t a n d s e r v e d t h e
c o u r t v e r y c a p a b l y . H o w w o n d e r f u l K a n n o n ' s b l e s s ings a r e !
Af te r a c q u i r i n g t h e g o l d e n c o r p s e t h e m a n d e v o t e d h imse l f t o H a s e d e r a
m o r e faithfully t h a n e v e r . H e n e v e r s a w t h e f reed conv ic t s a g a i n . P e r h a p s
t h e y h a d b e e n e m a n a t i o n s o f K a n n o n .
2 4 6
i 7 4 •
A FORTUNE FROM A WISP OF STRAW
A p o o r y o u n g m a n h a d n o p a r e n t s , lo rd , wife, o r c h i l d r e n a n d s o w a s
c o m p l e t e l y a l o n e ; a n d th i s m e a n t h e h a d n o s u p p o r t o r comfor t . S o h e
s o u g h t t h e a id o f K a n n o n a n d w e n t o n a p i l g r image t o H a s e d e r a , w h e r e
he p r o s t r a t e d h imse l f be fo re K a n n o n ' s ho ly p r e s e n c e . " I f my life i s to go
o n t h i s w a y I 'd r a t h e r s t a r v e t o d e a t h n o w , h e r e be fo re y o u ! " h e d e c l a r e d .
" B u t i f by c h a n c e t h e r e ' s h o p e for m e , I w o n ' t leave till y o u h a v e to ld me
so in a d r e a m . "
T h e m o n k s o f t h e t e m p l e w a n t e d t o k n o w w h a t h e w a s d o i n g . " Y o u
d o n ' t s e e m t o h a v e a n y f o o d , " t h e y sa id . " I f y o u g o o n jus t ly ing t h e r e
y o u ' l l p o l l u t e t h e t e m p l e " — for t h e y s a w t h a t he m i g h t d ie — " a n d t h a t
w o u l d b e a d i s a s t e r . W h o ' s y o u r sp i r i tua l a d v i s e r ? W h e r e d o y o u e a t ? "
" I ' v e n o t h i n g a n d n o o n e , " t h e y o u n g m a n a n s w e r e d . " H o w d o y o u
e x p e c t me to h a v e a sp i r i t ua l a d v i s e r ? I 've n o w h e r e to ge t food from a n d
n o o n e t o p i t y m e . I ea t w h a t K a n n o n k i n d l y p r o v i d e s , a n d for w h a t
sp i r i t ua l a d v i c e I g e t I re ly on K a n n o n t o o . "
T h e m o n k s d e c i d e d t h a t t h e y o u n g m a n w a s a n u i s a n c e w h o migh t
m a k e t r o u b l e for t h e t e m p l e . S i n c e h e w a s d e t e r m i n e d t o t h r o w himself
e n t i r e l y o n K a n n o n ' s m e r c y , t h e y t h o u g h t t h e y h a d b e t t e r t a k e t u r n s
b r i n g i n g h i m food .
H e a t e t h e food b u t s t a y e d w h e r e h e w a s unt i l t h r e e s e v e n - d a y r e t r e a t s
w e r e a l m o s t o v e r . J u s t be fo re t h e d a w n o f t h e t w e n t y - s e c o n d d a y h e
d r e a m e d t h a t s o m e o n e c a m e f rom b e h i n d K a n n o n ' s c u r t a i n . " Y o u h a v e
s o m e n e r v e , y o u k n o w , " t h e p e r s o n said, " a p p e a l i n g t o K a n n o n th is w a y
w i t h o u t e v e n c o n s i d e r i n g t h a t y o u r o w n p a s t k a r m a i s w h a t ' s m a d e y o u r
life so m i s e r a b l e . B u t y o u r p l e a i s t o u c h i n g , a n d K a n n o n has a little
r e m e d y for y o u . C l e a r o u t o f h e r e i m m e d i a t e l y . O n t h e w a y , t a k e w h a t -
e v e r y o u r h a n d c loses o n a n d k e e p it. N o w , g o ! "
T h e y o u n g m a n g a t h e r e d t h a t h e h a d b e e n d i smissed . H e s t r u g g l e d t o
his feet, w e n t for a final m e a l w i t h t h e m o n k s , a n d left. On his w a y ou t
t h e m a i n g a t e he t r i p p e d a n d fell flat on his face.
H e p i c k e d h imse l f u p a n d e x a m i n e d w h a t h e s o m e h o w h a d i n his h a n d .
I t w a s a s ing le w i s p o f s t r a w . T h i s w a s a bit d i s a p p o i n t i n g , b u t w h o w a s
h e t o q u e s t i o n K a n n o n ? H e w a l k e d on , tw i r l i ng t h e s t r a w b e t w e e n his
f inge r s .
S o o n a b i g hor se f ly c a m e b u z z i n g r o u n d his face. A l t h o u g h he t r ied
s h o o i n g i t off w i t h a b r a n c h , i t k e p t c o m i n g b a c k . So he c a u g h t it, t ied
o n e e n d o f t h e s t r a w r o u n d its m i d d l e a n d t h e o t h e r e n d t o t h e b r a n c h ,
a n d w e n t o n w i t h t h e c a p t i v e fly b u z z i n g be fo re h i m .
A c a r r i a g e full o f l ad ies h a p p e n e d by jus t t h e n , on t h e w a y to t h e
t e m p l e . A p r e t t y l i t t le b o y w a s p e e r i n g ou t t h e w i n d o w . " W h a t ' s t h a t t h e
m a n ' s g o t ? " c r i ed t h e b o y t o t h e s e r v a n t r i d i n g be s ide t h e c a r r i a g e . " G o
a n d ge t i t a n d g ive i t to mel"
T h e s e r v a n t a p p r o a c h e d t h e f l y - t a m e r . " G i v e m e t h a t t h i n g y o u ' v e go t
t h e r e , " h e sa id . " T h e y o u n g m a s t e r ' s a s k i n g for i t . "
" T h i s i s a p r e s e n t t o m e f rom K a n n o n , " t h e y o u n g m a n a n s w e r e d , " b u t
i f i t s t r i ke s y o u r litt le m a s t e r ' s f ancy he ' s w e l c o m e to i t . " He h a n d e d t h e
s e r v a n t t h e b r a n c h .
T h e ladies l iked t h e w a y h e h a d p a r t e d w i t h his t o y . " H e r e , " t h e y
ca l led t o h im, " ea t t h e s e w h e n y o u feel t h i r s t y ! " T h e y w r a p p e d u p t h r e e
b i g t a n g e r i n e s for h i m i n f i n e M i c h i n o k u p a p e r a n d h a d t h e s e r v a n t
d e l i v e r t h e m .
T h e w i s p o f s t r a w w a s n o w t h r e e b ig t a n g e r i n e s w h i c h t h e y o u n g m a n
c a r r i e d t i ed to a b r a n c h o v e r his s h o u l d e r .
N e x t , he m e t a b a n d o f m o u n t e d s e r v a n t s l o o k i n g af ter an a p p a r e n t l y
d i s t i n g u i s h e d l a d y w h o w a s o n foot, h a v i n g n o d o u b t m a d e a h u m b l e v o w
t o d o t h e p i l g r i m a g e t h a t w a y . A t t h e m o m e n t s h e w a s e x h a u s t e d a n d
b e g g i n g h e r s e r v a n t s i n va in for w a t e r . T h e s e r v a n t s w e r e s c u r r y i n g
a r o u n d l ook ing , b u t t h e r e w a s s i m p l y n o w a t e r t o b e found . " W h a t ' s
h a p p e n e d t o t h e s u p p l i e s ? " o n e o f t h e m s h o u t e d , b u t t h e s u p p l y h o r s e s
w e r e still far b e h i n d , o u t o f s igh t . W h e n t h e l ady fa in ted d e a d a w a y , t h e
a l a r m e d s e r v a n t s t r i ed e v e r y t h i n g t o r ev ive he r .
T h e y o u n g m a n c a m e q u i e t l y u p . " Y o u , " t h e y cal led, " y o u m u s t k n o w
w h e r e t h e r e ' s w a t e r ! I s t h e r e a n y d r i n k a b l e w a t e r n e a r b y ? "
H e a s k e d w h a t t h e m a t t e r w a s a n d t h e s e r v a n t s e x p l a i n e d .
" I ' m s o r r y , " he sa id . " T h e w a t e r ' s a g o o d d i s t a n c e off a n d it'll t a k e
t i m e t o ge t i t h e r e . H o w a b o u t t h e s e ? " H e offered t h e m his t h r e e b e a u t i -
fully w r a p p e d t a n g e r i n e s .
T h e s e r v a n t s fed t h e m e a g e r l y t o t h e i r m i s t r e s s , w h o e v e n t u a l l y o p e n e d
h e r eyes a n d a s k e d w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d .
" Y o u w e r e t h i r s ty , m a d a m , a n d y o u a s k e d for w a t e r . T h e n y o u fa in ted .
W e l o o k e d e v e r y w h e r e b u t w e s imp ly c o u l d n ' t f i n d a n y d r i n k i n g w a t e r .
T h e n th i s m a n c a m e a l o n g . H e u n d e r s t o o d a n d g a v e u s t h r e e t a n g e r i n e s ,
w h i c h w e fed t o y o u . "
" S o I fa in ted f rom th i r s t , d id I? I r e m e m b e r a s k i n g for w a t e r , b u t af ter
t h a t my m i n d i s a b l a n k . W i t h o u t t h e s e t a n g e r i n e s I m i g h t ju s t h a v e d ied
h e r e in t h e f i e lds . W h a t a k i n d m a n ! I s he still t h e r e ? "
" Y e s , m a d a m . "
2 4 8
"Te l l h i m to be p a t i e n t . I 'd l ike to do as m u c h for h im as his gene ros i ty
h a s d o n e for m e , b u t i t 's s o h a r d l ike th i s o n t h e r o a d . D o w e h a v e a n y
food? G i v e h i m s o m e t h i n g t o e a t ! "
T h e s e r v a n t s to ld t h e y o u n g m a n t o s t ay p u t a n d p r o m i s e d tha t w h e n
t h e s u p p l i e s g o t t h e r e he s h o u l d h a v e a mea l .
F ina l l y t h e s u p p l y h o r s e s a r r i v e d , a n d t he i r d r i v e r s go t r o u n d l y sco lded
for h a v i n g d r o p p e d so far b e h i n d . A c lo th e n c l o s u r e w a s pu t up a n d m a t s
w e r e s p r e a d . S i n c e t h e l a d y b a d l y n e e d e d res t , t h e c o m p a n y d e c i d e d t o
s t o p t h e r e a w h i l e , a l t h o u g h t h e p l ace w a s q u i t e i n c o n v e n i e n t . M e n w e r e
s en t t o fetch w a t e r , food w a s p r e p a r e d , a n d t h e y o u n g m a n got a v e r y
g o o d d i n n e r .
A s h e a t e h e w o n d e r e d w h a t t h e t a n g e r i n e s w e r e g o i n g t o t u r n in to .
All t h i s w a s K a n n o n ' s idea , a n d h e cou ld no t imag ine t h a t h e w o u l d c o m e
a w a y e m p t y - h a n d e d . S u r e e n o u g h , t h e s e r v a n t s soon b r o u g h t ou t t h r e e
bo l t s o f f ine w h i t e c lo th .
" G i v e h i m t h e s e , " sa id t h e l ady , a n d sen t h im th is m e s s a g e : " T h e joy
y o u r t a n g e r i n e s h a v e b r o u g h t me i s m o r e t h a n I can d e s c r i b e , b u t he r e
on t h e r o a d I c a n n o t do for y o u all I w o u l d w i s h . T h e s e a r e on ly a t o k e n
of my t h a n k s . I l ive in t h e C a p i t a l a t s u c h - a n d - s u c h a p l ace . C o m e t h e r e ,
a n d w h e n y o u d o y o u will h a v e y o u r full r e w a r d . "
T h e y o u n g m a n a c c e p t e d t h e gift w i t h p l e a s u r e . H i s w i s p o f s t r a w w a s
n o w t h r e e bo l t s o f c lo th , w h i c h h e p u t u n d e r his a r m a s h e c o n t i n u e d o n
t o w a r d K y o t o .
A t s u n d o w n he f o u n d l o d g i n g a t a h o u s e by t h e r o a d , a n d rose t he nex t
m o r n i n g w i t h t h e b i r d s t o p u r s u e his j o u r n e y . A s t h e s u n b e g a n t o c l imb
in t h e s k y he s a w a m a n r i d i n g a beaut i fu l h o r s e . " W h a t a m a r v e l o u s
a n i m a l ! " t h o u g h t t h e y o u n g m a n . " I t m u s t b e w o r t h a f o r t u n e ! "
S u d d e n l y t h e h o r s e t o p p l e d ove r , obv ious ly d y i n g . T h e a s t o n i s h e d
r i d e r s t o o d v a c a n t l y b e s i d e i t w h i l e his r e t a i n e r s r u s h e d to get its s add l e
off a n d t r i e d t o t h i n k o f w h a t t o d o . B u t a las , t h e h o r s e w a s n o w qu i t e
d e a d , a n d n o n e o f t h e i r v o l u b l e gr ie f c o u l d r e m e d y t h a t .
T h e i r m a s t e r m o u n t e d a p o o r s u b s t i t u t e w h i c h h a p p e n e d t o b e a t h a n d .
" W e l l , " he sa id , " t h e r e i t is . I 'm g o i n g o n . " He left a s e r v a n t b e h i n d w i t h
i n s t r u c t i o n s t o d o s o m e t h i n g a b o u t g e t t i n g t h e c a r c a s s ou t o f s ight .
T h e y o u n g m a n t h o u g h t h e k n e w w h y the ho r se h a d d i ed . H i s w i s p o f
s t r a w h a d t u r n e d in to t h r e e t a n g e r i n e s , t h e t a n g e r i n e s h a d t u r n e d in to
t h r e e b o l t s o f c lo th , a n d n o w , a p p a r e n t l y , t h e c lo th w a s g o i n g t o t u r n in to
a h o r s e for h i m .
H e l e a r n e d f rom t h e s e r v a n t t h a t t he h o r s e w a s from s o m e w h e r e u p
n o r t h . P e o p l e h a d offered h u g e s u m s for i t b u t t he s e r v a n t ' s m a s t e r had
k e p t h e s i t a t i n g to p a r t w i t h it. N o w i t w a s d e a d , a total loss. " I t h o u g h t I
migh t a t least t a k e its h i d e , " t h e s e r v a n t w e n t on , " b u t on t h e r o a d l ike
th is I d o n ' t e v e n k n o w w h a t I 'd do w i t h i t . "
" I s e e , " sa id t h e y o u n g m a n . " I t w a s a beaut i fu l h o r s e . W h a t a p i ty !
Y o u c e r t a i n l y c o u l d n ' t v e r y wel l d r y its h ide w h i l e y o u ' r e t r a v e l i n g , b u t /
c a n . W h y no t let m e h a v e i t ? " H e g a v e h im a bol t o f c lo th a n d t h e
s e r v a n t , g l ad of th i s windfa l l , r a n off w i t h i t w i t h o u t l o o k i n g b a c k , be fo re
t h e h ide ' s p u r c h a s e r c o u l d c h a n g e his m i n d .
T h e y o u n g m a n w a t c h e d h im g o , t h e n w a s h e d his h a n d s , t u r n e d t o -
w a r d H a s e d e r a , a n d p r a y e d for t h e h o r s e t o r ev ive . W h e n i t o p e n e d its
eyes , lifted its h e a d , a n d t r i ed to ge t u p , he g e n t l y h e l p e d i t t o s t a n d . H o w
p l ea sed h e w a s ! B u t s o m e s t r a g g l e r f rom t h e f o r m e r o w n e r ' s p a r t y m i g h t
still find h im, o r t h e f o r m e r o w n e r h imse l f m i g h t c o m e b a c k , so he led
t h e h o r s e in to h i d i n g a n d w a i t e d for i t t o r e c o v e r fully. T h e n he w e n t on
to a h o u s e , t r a d e d a n o t h e r bol t of c lo th for a b r id l e a n d a c h e a p s a d d l e ,
a n d r o d e his n e w m o u n t o n t o w a r d t h e C a p i t a l .
S u n s e t f o u n d h i m n e a r Uji, w h e r e h e pa id for d i n n e r , l o d g i n g , a n d
f o d d e r w i t h t h e last o f h is bo l t s o f c lo th . T h e nex t m o r n i n g he o n c e m o r e
r o s e ea r ly a n d w e n t o n his w a y .
N e a r t h e s o u t h e r n e d g e o f t h e ci ty he p a s s e d a h o u s e al ive w i t h b u s t l e
a n d e x c i t e m e n t . T h e o w n e r s e e m e d t o b e se t t ing ou t o n a l ong j o u r n e y .
T h e y o u n g m a n h a d a l r e a d y rea l i zed t h a t i f h e t o o k the h o r s e r igh t in to
t o w n s o m e o n e m i g h t r e c o g n i z e i t a n d a c c u s e h im o f theft , a n d h a d d e -
c i d e d a c c o r d i n g l y t h a t he s h o u l d sell it. T h i s m a n m i g h t n e e d a h o r s e .
D i s m o u n t i n g , h e r a n u p a n d p r o p o s e d t h e sa le .
T h e g e n t l e m a n had b e e n w a n t i n g a n o t h e r h o r s e a n d w h e n h e s a w th i s
o n e h e go t s o e x c i t e d h e h a r d l y k n e w w h a t t o d o . " J u s t n o w I 've n o silk
t o p a y y o u w i t h , " h e sa id . " W o u l d r ice a n d s o m e r ice l and i n T o b a d o
i n s t e a d ? "
T h e s e s o u n d e d f i n e , b u t t h e y o u n g m a n fe igned ind i f fe rence . " I t ' s silk
a n d c a s h I n e e d , " he a n s w e r e d . " A s I 'm t r a v e l i n g I d o n ' t k n o w q u i t e
w h a t I'll do w i t h r ice l and , b u t i f y o u rea l ly n e e d t h e h o r s e I'll be g l ad to
o b l i g e . "
T h e g e n t l e m a n p u t t h e h o r s e t h r o u g h its p a c e s a n d d e c l a r e d t h a t i t w a s
a s i m p r e s s i v e t o r i de a s t o look a t . H e g a v e t h e y o u n g m a n r ice a n d o v e r
six a c r e s o f r ice f i e ld s , a n d e v e n e n t r u s t e d h im w i t h t h e c a r e o f his h o u s e .
" K e e p i t as l o n g as I 'm g o n e , " he sa id . " Y o u c a n g ive i t b a c k i f I e v e r
r e t u r n to t h e C a p i t a l , a n d i f I d ie it 's y o u r s . I 've no c h i l d r e n so no o n e
will c o m e a r o u n d t o m a k e a n y c l a i m s . " A n d off h e w e n t .
T h e y o u n g m a n se t t l ed in a n d h i r e d a few l a b o r e r s f rom t h e n e i g h b o r -
h o o d . S i n c e i t w a s a b o u t p l a n t i n g t ime , he r e n t e d o u t ha l f h is l and t o
s o m e o n e else a n d h a d t h e o t h e r hal f cu l t i va t ed for himself. T h e t e n a n t ' s
2 5 0
half d id pe r fec t ly wel l , b u t his o w n y i e l d e d an i m m e n s e l y r ich ha rves t .
T h e n p r o p e r t y g a t h e r e d t o h im a s t h o u g h b l o w n i n o n e v e r y w i n d a n d h e
b e c a m e a v e r y w e a l t h y m a n . E v e n the h o u s e b e c a m e his, s ince he n e v e r
h e a r d from t h e o w n e r a g a i n .
H i s d e s c e n d a n t s f lou r i shed t oo , o r s o t h e y say.
t 7 5 .
"DOG'S HEAD" SILK
T h e t w o w i v e s o f a c o u n t y m a g i s t r a t e i n M i k a w a p r o v i n c e ra i sed silk-
w o r m s w h i c h y i e l d e d p l e n t y o f silk t h r e a d . T h e n for s o m e r eason all t he
s i l k w o r m s in t h e s e n i o r wife ' s c a r e d i ed , a n d s h e n e v e r m a n a g e d t o raise
a n y m o r e . As a r e su l t h e r h u s b a n d i g n o r e d he r , a n d his r e t a ine r s na tu -
ra l ly i m i t a t e d h i m . W i t h o u t v i s i to r s s h e l ived a sad life in he r poor , d r e a r y
h o u s e , a l o n e b u t for a p a i r of m a i d s .
At last s h e f o u n d a s ingle s i l k w o r m e a t i n g a m u l b e r r y leaf a n d a d o p t e d
it. I t g r e w l a r g e r a n d l a r g e r on t h e m u l b e r r y leaves s h e piled in to its box ,
a n d a t e all s h e g a v e it. S i n c e s h e h a d h a d no s i l k w o r m s for severa l y e a r s
n o w s h e c o u l d no t h e l p b e i n g fond of i t a n d looked af ter i t t ende r ly ,
t h o u g h t h e r e w a s litt le s h e cou ld ac tua l ly d o wi th just o n e .
O n e d a y h e r w h i t e d o g w a s s i t t ing in front o f h e r w a g g i n g its tail wh i l e
s h e h e a p e d leaves i n to t h e b o x a n d w a t c h e d t h e s i l k w o r m eat . S u d d e n l y
t h e d o g j u m p e d u p a n d a t e t h e w o r m . T h e w o m a n w a s b o t h a n g r y a n d
h e a r t b r o k e n , b u t i t h a d h a p p e n e d so fast t h a t she m a d e no a t t e m p t t o
p u n i s h t h e d o g . I n s t e a d s h e w e p t o v e r t h e s t r a n g e fate tha t m a d e i t
i m p o s s i b l e for h e r t o k e e p s i l k w o r m s .
M e a n w h i l e t h e d o g s n e e z e d a n d an inch o r t w o o f w h i t e silk f i lament
c a m e o u t e a c h nos t r i l . I n s u r p r i s e t h e w o m a n pu l l ed o n t h e m . T h e y go t
l o n g e r a n d l o n g e r — so l o n g t h a t s h e h a d to beg in w i n d i n g t h e m on a reel .
W h e n t h e reel filled u p , s h e t o o k a n o t h e r a n d t h e n a n o t h e r . T w o o r t h r e e
h u n d r e d ree ls l a t e r t h e f i lament w a s still c o m i n g . S h e w o u n d i t o n t o
b a m b o o po l e s a n d o n t o b u c k e t s till she h a d a t r e m e n d o u s w e i g h t of silk.
T h e f i lament o n l y g a v e o u t w h e n t h e d o g a t last co l lapsed a n d d ied . S h e
d e c i d e d t h a t t he g o d s a n d b u d d h a s m u s t h a v e t a k e n the form o f t he d o g
i n o r d e r t o h e l p he r , a n d s h e b u r i e d t he c r e a t u r e u n d e r a n old m u l b e r r y
t r e e in t h e field b e h i n d h e r h o u s e .
,J A P A N E S
I t w a s imposs ib l e to m a k e th i s silk f iner t h a n i t a l r e a d y w a s , b u t s h e
w a s fuss ing o v e r i t a n y w a y w h e n h e r h u s b a n d , off on an e r r a n d s o m e -
w h e r e , h a p p e n e d t o r i de b y h e r g a t e . S e e i n g h o w d e s e r t e d t h e h o u s e w a s ,
he felt s o r r y for h e r af ter all a n d d i s m o u n t e d . He found no o n e in t h e
h o u s e b u t his wife , w o r k i n g o v e r an e n o r m o u s q u a n t i t y o f silk. T h e silk
o b t a i n e d a t hu h o u s e w a s d a r k , l u m p y , a n d a l t o g e t h e r p o o r in qua l i ty ,
b u t th i s w a s a s w h i t e a s s n o w a n d a lmos t l u m i n o u s — far s u p e r i o r t o a n y
h e h a d e v e r s een . W h e n she to ld h im h o w s h e h a d g o t t e n such m a r v e l o u s
silk, he s a w h o w w r o n g he h a d b e e n to t r e a t p o o r l y a wife on w h o m t h e
g o d s a n d b u d d h a s smi led , a n d d e c i d e d t o s t ay w i t h h e r . H e n e v e r w e n t
b a c k to his o t h e r wife a g a i n .
T h e m u l b e r r y t r e e t he d o g w a s b u r i e d u n d e r soon b o r e c o c o o n s o f t h e
s a m e e x q u i s i t e si lk. T h e m a g i s t r a t e r e p o r t e d th i s t o t h e p rov inc ia l g o v e r -
nor , w h o r e p o r t e d i t t o t h e c o u r t . Af te r t h a t t h e silk k n o w n a s " d o g ' s
h e a d " h a s b e e n offered r e g u l a r l y to t he e m p e r o r . I t i s u s e d to w e a v e his
r o b e s .
S o m e p e o p l e t h i n k t h e s e c o n d wife ki l led t he s en io r wife ' s s i l k w o r m s
o n p u r p o s e , b u t n o o n e k n o w s for s u r e .
A VERY SURPRISED BODHISATTVA
T s u k u m a S p r i n g in S h i n a n o p r o v i n c e u s e d to be p o p u l a r for its ho t ,
med ic ina l w a t e r s . O n c e a v i l lager t h e r e d r e a m e d t h a t K a n n o n w o u l d
c o m e the nex t d a y a t n o o n to b a t h e i n t h e s p r i n g .
" H o w shal l w e r e c o g n i z e h i m ? " t h e d r e a m e r a s k e d , a n d go t t h e an -
s w e r : " H e will be a w a r r i o r t h i r t y y e a r s old w i t h a b lack b e a r d , a conical
O D D P A T H S
T O
S A L V A T I O N
2 5 2
ha t , a n d a d a r k c loak . H i s q u i v e r will be b lack a n d his b o w w r a p p e d in
l ea the r , a n d h i s c h a p s wil l be m a d e o f t h e s p o t t e d h ide t a k e n from a d e e r
in s u m m e r . He will be r i d i n g a r o a n h o r s e . T h a t i s h o w y o u will k n o w
t h e b o d h i s a t t v a . "
F i r s t t h i n g n e x t m o r n i n g t h e d r e a m e r to ld e v e r y o n e h e k n e w . T h e
w o r d s p r e a d , a n d s o o n a h u g e c r o w d h a d g a t h e r e d a t the s p r i n g . T h e y
m a d e s u r e t h e b a t h i n g w a t e r w a s fresh, c l e aned a n d t idied careful ly,
s t r e t c h e d a s a c r e d r o p e r o u n d t h e poo l , offered f lowers a n d incense , a n d
finally se t t l ed d o w n in p i o u s p a t i e n c e t o wa i t .
N o o n c a m e a n d w e n t . A b o u t t w o a w a r r i o r r o d e u p , prec ise ly like t he
o n e i n t h e d r e a m . T h e c r o w d rose a s o n e m a n a n d p r o s t r a t e d t hemse lves
be fo re h i m , t o u c h i n g t h e i r h e a d s t o t h e g r o u n d .
T h e a s ton i shed w a r r i o r cou ld no t imag ine w h a t w a s go ing on . H e t r ied
a s k i n g peop le , d o z e n s o f t h e m , b u t all t hey d id w a s k e e p b o w i n g to h im.
No o n e w o u l d tell h im a t h i n g . T h e n he s p o t t e d a m o n k w h o w a s b o w i n g
a n d p r o s t r a t i n g h imse l f l ike t h e res t .
" W h y a r e y o u all b o b b i n g u p a n d d o w n a t m e like t h a t ? " h e a s k e d i n
a r i ch c o u n t r y b r o g u e .
T h e m o n k to ld h i m a b o u t t h e d r e a m .
T h e w a r r i o r e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e o t h e r d a y h e h a d fallen from his ho r se
a n d b r o k e n h i s r i g h t a r m , a n d h a d c o m e t o heal his a r m i n t h e s p r i n g .
P e o p l e p o u r e d a f te r h im w h e r e v e r h e m o v e d , b o w i n g a n d c a r r y i n g o n
l ike m a d .
A t h i s w i t s ' e n d , he finally d e c i d e d t h a t he m u s t ac tua l ly be t h e b o d h i -
s a t t v a a n d m i g h t a s wel l b e c o m e a m o n k . T h r o w i n g d o w n his b o w ,
q u i v e r , s w o r d , a n d d a g g e r , h e cu t off h is h a i r a n d e n t e r e d re l ig ion . T h e
c r o w d w e p t w i t h d e v o u t e m o t i o n .
A t last s o m e o n e w h o k n e w h im b y s ight c r ied , " H e a v e n s , t h a t ' s M a s t e r
K a n f rom o v e r i n K o z u k e p r o v i n c e ! " S o t h e y g a v e him the n a m e K a n n o n ,
t h e b l e s s e d b o d h i s a t t v a ' s o w n .
i 7 7 .
THE AWAKENING
A y o u n g m o n k on M o u n t Hie i h a d meant t o s t u d y a f te r e n t e r i n g rel igion,
b u t e n d e d u p s o b u s y h a v i n g a g o o d t ime t h a t h e n e v e r ac tua l ly app l i ed
h imse l f a t al l . He h a d o n l y b a r e l y l e a rned a bi t o f t h e L o t u s S u t r a . S ince
he still p l a n n e d to s t u d y dome d a y , he often w e n t to p r a y for s cho l a r ly
s u c c e s s to t h e K o k u z o o f Hor in j i , a t e m p l e jus t w e s t o f t h e Cap i t a l , b u t
his p i l g r i m a g e s n e v e r i n s p i r e d h im t o d o a n y t h i n g i n p a r t i c u l a r . H e rea l ly
w a s a p r o p e r d u n c e .
H e k n e w th i s pe r fec t ly wel l , a n d i t b o t h e r e d h im s o m u c h t h a t o n e d a y
i n t h e n in th m o o n h e w e n t a g a i n t o H o r i n j i . J u s t be fo re s t a r t i n g b a c k , h e
fell in to c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h a n a c q u a i n t a n c e t h e r e , a n d t h e s u n s a n k l o w
w h i l e t h e t w o m o n k s t a l k e d . H e w a l k e d a s fast a s h e c o u l d w h e n h e d id
set off, b u t a t s u n d o w n he w a s still in t h e w e s t e r n p a r t of t h e c i ty . A
fr iend he t h o u g h t he m i g h t be ab l e t o s t ay w i t h i n t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d
t u r n e d ou t t o b e a w a y i n t h e c o u n t r y , a n d t h e r e w a s n o o n e h o m e b u t a
ma id left t o w a t c h t h e p l a c e . T h e n h e r e m e m b e r e d a n o t h e r a c q u a i n t a n c e
a n d w e n t l o o k i n g for his h o u s e .
O n t h e w a y h e c a m e t o a C h i n e s e - s t y l e g a t e w i t h a p r e t t y y o u n g
w o m a n s t a n d i n g b e s i d e it. S h e w a s w e a r i n g severa l l aye r s o f casua l c lo th -
ing a g a i n s t t h e chi l ly a i r . H e to ld h e r w h o h e w a s a n d w h e r e h e w a s
g o i n g , e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e s u n h a d set , a n d a s k e d i f he co u l d h a v e a n igh t ' s
l o d g i n g .
S h e h a d h im w a i t a n d p r o m i s e d h im a n a n s w e r shor t ly , t h e n w e n t i n to
t h e h o u s e . S o o n s h e w a s b a c k t o tell h im h e w a s w e l c o m e . H i s r o o m i n
t h e s e m i d e t a c h e d g u e s t w i n g c o n t a i n e d a p r e t t y s c r een , a n d t h e f loor w a s
s p r e a d w i t h severa l e l e g a n t l y t r i m m e d s t r a w m a t s . T h e l a m p w a s a l r e a d y
lit. He f inished off t o t h e last c r u m b a n d t h e last d r o p o f w i n e t h e n ice
d i n n e r t he y o u n g w o m a n b r o u g h t h im, a n d w a s w a s h i n g his h a n d s af ter -
w a r d s w h e n h e h e a r d s o u n d s from t h e n e i g h b o r i n g r o o m i n t h e ma in
b u i l d i n g . A d o o r slid o p e n a n d c u r t a i n s w e r e b e i n g set u p . A p p a r e n t l y
t he l ady o f t h e h o u s e w a n t e d t o ta lk t o h im .
S u r e e n o u g h , a w o m a n ' s vo ice ca l led o v e r t o ask h im w h o h e w a s . O n
h e a r i n g his a n s w e r , t h e l a d y p r e s s e d h im t o s t o p a t h e r h o u s e e v e r y t i m e
h e s h o u l d visit H o r i n j i . W h e n t h e d o o r b e t w e e n h im a n d h e r slid s h u t
aga in , a bi t of c u r t a i n go t c a u g h t in i t so t h a t i t d id no t c lose p r o p e r l y .
A t n ightfa l l t h e m o n k w e n t o u t s i d e . P a u s i n g be fo re t h e s h u t t e r s o n t h e
s o u t h s ide o f t h e h o u s e , he no t i ced a hole in o n e of t he p a n e l s a n d p e e r e d
t h r o u g h . A w o m a n w h o m he t o o k to be t h e l ady w a s ly ing w i t h a l ow
l a m p s t a n d b y he r , r e a d i n g a b o o k . S h e l o o k e d a b o u t t w e n t y y e a r s old
a n d w a s e x t r e m e l y beau t i fu l . H e r r o b e w a s o f f igured stuff, l ight m a u v e
a n d g r e e n , a n d h e c o u l d see t h a t h e r h a i r w a s l ong e n o u g h t o t ra i l a l o n g
the f loor b e h i n d h e r . T w o l ad i e s - i n -wa i t i ng w e r e ly ing be s ide h e r c u r -
t a ins , w i t h an o r d i n a r y m a i d a litt le f u r t h e r off. A p p a r e n t l y i t w a s t h e
m a i d w h o s e r v e d t h e l ady ' s mea l s a n d w h o g e n e r a l l y fe tched a n d c a r r i e d .
T h e r o o m h a d e v e r y t o u c h o f comfo r t a n d e l e g a n c e . A g o l d - s p r i n k l e d
l a c q u e r c o m b b o x a n d an i n k s t o n e b o x r e s t e d w i t h e a s y in formal i ty on a
2 5 4
t w o - t i e r e d set of she lves , w h i l e e x q u i s i t e i ncense s m o k e rose from a
b u r n e r .
G a z i n g a t t h e l a d y w h o w a s m i s t r e s s o v e r all th is , t h e m o n k forgot
e v e r y t h i n g e lse . H o w o n e a r t h , h e w o n d e r e d , cou ld his k a r m a have
b r o u g h t h im h e r e t o see h e r l ike th i s? S u d d e n l y t h e t h o u g h t o f l iving on
w i t h o u t l o v i n g h e r m a d e n o s e n s e a t all.
O n c e t h e h o u s e h o l d w a s i n b e d a n d the l ady herse l f a p p a r e n t l y as leep ,
h e o p e n e d t h e d o o r w h i c h h a d n e v e r q u i t e shu t , s l ipped in to t he room,
a n d l ay d o w n b e s i d e h e r . S h e w a s s l eep ing t o o s o u n d l y t o no t ice . H e r
f r a g r a n c e w a s i n d e s c r i b a b l y de l i c ious . Afra id t o w a k e he r u p a n d tell he r
h is fee l ings , t h o u g h t h a t i s w h a t he rea l ly w a n t e d to d o , he ins tead said a
p r a y e r , p u l l e d h e r r o b e o p e n , a n d fond led h e r b r e a s t s .
N o w s h e (lU) w a k e u p a n d d e m a n d e d t o k n o w w h o h e w a s . H e told
h e r .
" I t h o u g h t y o u w e r e d e v o u t , " s h e sa id . " T h a t ' s w h y I let y o u s tay . I 'm
c e r t a i n l y s o r r y I d i d . "
H e k e p t t r y i n g t o s n u g g l e u p t o he r , b u t she c l u t c h e d h e r r o b e a r o u n d
h e r a n d w o u l d h a v e n o t h i n g t o d o w i t h h im . T h i s d r o v e h im wild , bu t h e
d id n o t force h e r b e c a u s e h e feared b e i n g h e a r d .
" I d o n ' t n e c e s s a r i l y m e a n t o refuse y o u , " t he l ady w e n t on . " Y o u see,
my h u s b a n d d i e d in t h e s p r i n g o f last y e a r . A lot o f m e n h a v e c o u r t e d me
s ince t h e n , b u t I 've d e c i d e d no t t o e n c o u r a g e a n y o n e un les s h e h a s s o m e -
t h i n g spec ia l a b o u t h i m . T h a t ' s w h y I live a lone l ike th i s . I f I 'm to give
myse l f to a m o n k l ike y o u , I w a n t h im to be p a r t i c u l a r l y a c c o m p l i s h e d . I
might s ay y e s t o y o u , y o u k n o w . C a n y o u c h a n t t h e L o t u s S u t r a b y h e a r t ?
Do y o u h a v e a g o o d vo ice? I cou ld g ive p e o p l e t h e i m p r e s s i o n tha t I 'm
d e e p l y d e v o t e d t o t he L o t u s a n d all t h e t i m e b e i n b e d wi th y o u . W h a t
d o y o u s a y ? "
" I ' v e studied t h e L o t u s S u t r a , " t h e m o n k rep l ied , " b u t I d o n ' t have i t
b y h e a r t y e t . "
" I s i t difficult to m e m o r i z e ? "
" N o , n o t rea l ly . No d o u b t I'll m a s t e r i t s o o n e r o r la ter . I 'm s u r e it 's my
faul t t h a t I h a v e n ' t m a n a g e d i t y e t . I 've jus t s p e n t t o o m u c h t ime h a v i n g
fun w h e n I s h o u l d h a v e b e e n s t u d y i n g . "
" T h e n h u r r y b a c k t o y o u r m o u n t a i n a n d c o m e aga in w h e n y o u h a v e
t h e S u t r a b y h e a r t . T h e n w e c a n b e a s i n t i m a t e a s y o u l i k e . "
A t th i s t h e y o u n g m o n k ' s d e s i r e v a n i s h e d . A s soon a s t h e s k y b e g a n t o
l i gh t en , h e sa id g o o d - b y e t o t h e l ady a n d stole ou t o f h e r r o o m . S h e m a d e
s u r e he w a s p r o p e r l y fed be fo re he se t off.
H o m e a g a i n o n M o u n t H ie i h e found h e cou ld no t forget her , a n d h e
r e s o l v e d t o m e m o r i z e t h e S u t r a a s q u i c k l y a s poss ib le so he cou ld visit
h e r a g a i n . I t t o o k h im on ly t h r e e w e e k s . M e a n w h i l e h e w r o t e h e r of ten,
a n d r e c e i v e d w i t h e a c h r e p l y a h a m p e r c o n t a i n i n g food or a r o b e . As far
a s he c o u l d tell s h e rea l ly c a r e d for h im, a n d th is m a d e h im v e r y h a p p y .
N o w t h a t h e h a d t h e S u t r a b y h e a r t h e set ou t a s u sua l for Hor in j i ,
a n d o n t h e w a y b a c k s t o p p e d , a s before , a t t h e l ady ' s h o u s e . A g a i n s h e
h a d h im s e r v e d a mea l , t h e n c a m e ou t to s p e a k w i t h h im herself . L a t e in
t h e e v e n i n g t h e m o n k w a s h e d his h a n d s a n d b e g a n i n t o n i n g t h e S u t r a .
A l t h o u g h his vo ice w a s s t i r r i ng , i n his h e a r t h e h a r d l y k n e w h e w a s
c h a n t i n g a t all b e c a u s e he c o u l d t h i n k o f n o t h i n g b u t t h e l ady .
I n t h e n igh t , w h e n e v e r y o n e s e e m e d a s l eep , h e aga in slid o p e n the d o o r
in to t h e l ady ' s r o o m . N o o n e s a w h im . T h e lady , w h o m u s t h a v e b e e n
e x p e c t i n g h im, w o k e u p w h e n h e lay d o w n bes ide h e r . E a g e r l y h e b e g a n
i n s i n u a t i n g h imse l f u n d e r h e r r o b e , b u t s h e h u g g e d h e r c l o t h i n g t o h e r
a n d k e p t h e r d i s t a n c e .
" I ' v e s o m e t h i n g to a s k y o u , " s h e sa id , " s o l is ten to me first. T h i s i s
w h a t I t h i n k . Y o u h a v e t h e S u t r a b y h e a r t n o w , a n d w e c o u l d say t h a t ' s
e n o u g h a n d g o a h e a d a n d m a k e love . I f w e d id , a n d i f w e w e n t o n b e i n g
fond o f e a c h o t h e r , y o u cou ld ho ld y o u r h e a d h igh be fo re a n y o n e ; a n d I ,
for my p a r t , w o u l d be s t a i n e d far less by t a k i n g you for a lover t h a n by
c h o o s i n g a n y o r d i n a r y m a n . B u t I 'd b e s o r r y t o t h i n k t h a t m y lover w a s
o n e t o b e sat isf ied s i m p l y w i t h h a v i n g m e m o r i z e d t h e S u t r a . I 'd m u c h
r a t h e r y o u a t least w e n t t h r o u g h the m o t i o n s o f b e c o m i n g a p r o p e r
s c h o l a r . F r o m n o w o n y o u o u g h t t o b e g e t t i n g y o u r s e l f inv i t ed t o look
af ter n o b l e s a n d p r i n c e s , b u t t h e y w o n ' t call i n a m o n k w h o can ' t d o m o r e
t h a n c h a n t t h e S u t r a , o r k e e p h im in t he i r se rv ice e i the r . I t ' s lovely h a v i n g
y o u h e r e w i t h m e , a n d that'j t h e w a y I 'd l ike y o u t o b e w h e n w e ' r e
t o g e t h e r . N o w y o u see h o w I feel. I f y o u rea l ly love me , s t ay on t h e
m o u n t a i n lo r t h r e e y e a r s , s t u d y h a r d , a n d m a k e y o u r s e l f a s c h o l a r . C o m e
b a c k a f te r t h a t , a n d I 'm y o u r s . B u t un t i l t h e n w e rea l ly c a n ' t b e l ove r s .
I 'd r a t h e r d i e . I'll k e e p w r i t i n g t o y o u w h i l e y o u ' r e o n t h e m o u n t a i n , a n d
I'll t a k e c a r e o f y o u a s l ong a s y o u ' r e p o o r . "
T h e m o n k w a s m o v e d . H e k n e w i t w o u l d b e w r o n g t o force hea r t l e s s ly
a w o m a n w h o s p o k e s o t h o u g h t f u l l y o f h is o w n fu tu re , a n d w i t h h e r
ma te r i a l s u p p o r t h e w o u l d i n t h e e n d c o m m a n d r e c o g n i t i o n . T h e s e
t h o u g h t s p r o m p t e d h im t o r e n e w his a s s u r a n c e s o f love a n d t h e n t o
w i t h d r a w . I n t h e m o r n i n g a f te r b r e a k f a s t h e r e t u r n e d t o M o u n t H ie i .
H e t o r e i n to his s t u d i e s a n d n e v e r fa l te red a g a i n . T h e t h o u g h t o f see ing
h e r d r o v e h im o n l ike fire. B y t h e t ime t w o y e a r s h a d p a s s e d , h is s h a r p
in te l l igence h a d a l r e a d y g a i n e d h im r e c o g n i t i o n as a s c h o l a r . Af ter t h r e e
y e a r s n o o n e d o u b t e d his e x c e p t i o n a l l e a r n i n g . I n e v e r y scholas t ic d e b a t e
a t t h e pa l ace , for e x a m p l e , a n d in e v e r y set o f fo rmal d i s c o u r s e s on t he
2 5 6
L o t u s S u t r a , h e c o m p l e t e l y o u t s h o n e all his co l l eagues . O n M o u n t Hie i
t h e w o r d s p r e a d t h a t h e w a s b y far t h e mos t t a l e n t e d s cho la r o f his
g e n e r a t i o n .
D u r i n g t h o s e y e a r s t h e l a d y a s k e d af ter h im cons t an t l y , a n d h e r s u p -
p o r t m e a n t t h a t h e l ived for t h e m o s t p a r t a n u n t r o u b l e d life. W h e n the
t h r e e y e a r s w e r e o v e r h e w e n t a s be fo re t o Hor in j i a n d a t d u s k , o n t he
w a y b a c k , s t o p p e d a t h e r h o u s e .
H e h a d a l r e a d y let h e r k n o w h e w a s c o m i n g a n d w a s s h o w n t o his
u s u a l r o o m . T h e l a d y t a l k e d w i t h h im ind i rec t ly , t h r o u g h o n e o f h e r
w o m e n , a b o u t t h e las t t h r e e y e a r s . A p p a r e n t l y s h e h a d n e v e r to ld a soul
a b o u t h e r ea r l i e r , p r i v a t e e n c o u n t e r s w i t h h im, for s h e p r e s e n t l y let h im
k n o w , in a r a t h e r fo rmal t o n e , t h a t s h e w o u l d s p e a k to h im in p e r s o n .
T h e m o n k ' s h e a r t b e a t fas ter b u t he g a v e t h e m e s s a g e on ly a pol i te
a c k n o w l e d g m e n t . T h e m e s s e n g e r a s k e d h im t o fol low he r . O u t s i d e t he
c u r t a i n s t h a t s u r r o u n d e d t h e l ady ' s b e d , n e a r h e r p i l low, w a s a p r e t t y
m a t w i t h a r o u n d s t r a w c u s h i o n on it. A l ighted l a m p s tood b e h i n d a
s c r e e n . A s far a s t h e m o n k c o u l d tell t h e r e w a s o n e l a d y - i n - w a i t i n g s i t t ing
a t t h e foot o f t h e l ady ' s b e d . H e sat d o w n o n t h e c u s h i o n .
" I ' v e w o n d e r e d s o m u c h all t h e s e y e a r s h o w y o u ' v e b e e n g e t t i n g o n , "
t h e l a d y b e g a n . " A r e y o u a s c h o l a r n o w ? " H e r lovely vo ice c o n v e y e d
w a r m af fec t ion .
T h e m o n k t r e m b l e d w i t h n e r v o u s e x c i t e m e n t a s h e a n s w e r e d , "Wel l , I
c a n c l a im n o g r e a t a c h i e v e m e n t , b u t y e s , i t 's t r u e I 've b e e n p ra i s ed w h e n
I 've d e b a t e d o r l e c t u r e d h e r e a n d t h e r e . "
" T h a t ' s w o n d e r f u l . N o w I h a v e s o m e q u e s t i o n s for y o u . I'll a sk t h e m
b e c a u s e I feel y o u ' r e n o w a real t e a c h e r . I w o u l d n ' t d r e a m of p u t t i n g
t h e s e q u e s t i o n s t o s o m e o n e w h o c o u l d d o n o m o r e t h a n chant t he S u t r a . "
S h e w e n t t h r o u g h e a c h c h a p t e r o f t h e S u t r a , f rom t h e b e g i n n i n g ,
p o s i n g difficult q u e r i e s on t h e p o i n t s s h e felt she d id no t q u i t e u n d e r -
s t a n d , a n d h e a n s w e r e d h e r a s his s t u d i e s h a d t a u g h t h i m t o d o . W h e n
h a r d p r e s s e d he d e v e l o p e d i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s o f his o w n , o r b r o u g h t i n ap t
q u o t a t i o n s f rom t h e a n c i e n t s . T h e l ady w a s en t i r e ly sat isf ied. " H o w could
y o u p o s s i b l y l e a r n s o m u c h i n s o few y e a r s ? " s h e e x c l a i m e d . " Y o u m u s t
be a g e n i u s ! "
T h e m o n k for his p a r t w a s a m a z e d b y the l ady ' s o w n l ea rn ing . " S h e
m a y b e a w o m a n , " h e t h o u g h t t o himself, " b u t she ce r t a in ly k n o w s
t h e T e a c h i n g . I 'd n e v e r h a v e be l i eved i t poss ib le ! S h e ' s g o i n g to
b e w o r t h k n o w i n g ! A n y w a y , she ' s m a d e all t h e d i f ference for m y o w n
s t u d i e s . "
T h e y c h a t t e d till t h e m o n k finally lifted h e r c u r t a i n s a n d w e n t in. S h e
d i d n o t p r o t e s t a s h e l ay d o w n b e s i d e h e r .
" J u s t s t a y l ike t h a t a w h i l e , " s h e sa id ; s o t h e y lay t h e r e h o l d i n g h a n d s
a n d t a l k i n g s o m e m o r e . B u t h a v i n g w a l k e d t h a t d a y f rom M o u n t H ie i t o
Hor in j i a n d p a r t o f t h e w a y b a c k , t h e m o n k w a s t i r ed . H e soon dr i f ted
off a n d fell fast a s l e e p .
W h e n h e w o k e u p , h is first t h o u g h t w a s t h a t h e h a d s lept a n d t h a t h e
still h a d no t to ld h e r h o w m u c h h e loved he r . T h e n h e o p e n e d his e y e s .
H e w a s ly ing o n a c l u m p o f p a m p a s g r a s s w h i c h his w e i g h t h a d c r u s h e d .
W h a t a s h o c k ! A q u i c k g l a n c e a r o u n d to ld h im he w a s a l o n e in t h e m i d d l e
o f a m o o r , h e h a d n o i dea w h e r e . T h e r e w a s n o o n e i n s igh t . H i s h e a r t
bea t w i ld ly a n d his s t o m a c h c h u r n e d w i t h t e r r o r . W h e n h e s t ood u p h e
d i s c o v e r e d , s c a t t e r e d a r o u n d h im, t h e c l o t h i n g h e h a d t a k e n off t h e n igh t
b e f o r e . C l u t c h i n g i t t o h im, h e s t o o d s t a r i n g a t h is s u r r o u n d i n g s . H e n o w
r e c o g n i z e d t h e w a s t e w h i c h fo rms t h e e a s t e r n p a r t o f S a g a M o o r .
I t w a s n e a r l y d a w n a n d t h e r e w a s a b r i g h t m o o n . T h e a i r w a s v e r y
chi l ly s i nce i t w a s still o n l y ea r ly s p r i n g , a n d s h i v e r i n g h a d s o o n d r i v e n
e v e r y o t h e r t h o u g h t f rom his m i n d . H e h a r d l y k n e w w h e r e t o g o , b u t i f
Hor in j i w a s a s c lose a s h e t h o u g h t , h e cou ld s p e n d t h e res t o f t h e n i g h t
t h e r e . S t a r t i n g off a t a r u n , he f o r d e d t h e K a t s u r a R i v e r a t U m e z u ,
t h o u g h h e h a d t o b e careful no t t o b e s w e p t a w a y b y the c u r r e n t , w h i c h
c a m e u p t o his h i p s . F ina l ly h e r e a c h e d Hor in j i , s h a k i n g w i t h co ld . H e
w e n t s t r a i g h t t o t h e m a i n hall , p r o s t r a t e d h imsel f be fo re t h e a l ta r , a n -
n o u n c e d his p l igh t , a n d p r a y e d for h e l p . T h e n he fell a s l e e p .
He d r e a m e d t h a t a smal l a n d v e r y p r o p e r m o n k w i t h a b l u e - s h a v e n
h e a d c a m e from b e h i n d t h e c u r t a i n t h a t s c r e e n e d off t h e image o f t h e
B o d h i s a t t v a K o k u z o . " I t w a s n o fox o r b a d g e r t h a t c o n c o c t e d w h a t h a p -
p e n e d t o y o u t o n i g h t , " sa id t h e m o n k , " b u t I myself. Y o u ' r e v e r y b r i g h t ,
y o u k n o w , b u t y o u w e r e s o a d d i c t e d t o y o u r little p l e a s u r e s t h a t y o u
n e v e r s t u d i e d a n d s h o w e d no s ign o f e v e r b e c o m i n g a s cho la r . A t t h e
s a m e t ime y o u w e r e dissa t is f ied w i t h y o u r s e l f a n d often c a m e t o m e t o
p r a y for s c h o l a r l y t a l en t a n d a c h i e v e m e n t . F o r s o m e t i m e I w a s u n s u r e
h o w bes t t o a n s w e r y o u , b u t I s a w y o u w e r e d r a w n t o w o m e n a n d I
t h o u g h t I 'd u s e that t o i n sp i r e y o u . Y o u n e e d n ' t be af ra id . H u r r y b a c k t o
y o u r m o u n t a i n a n d s t u d y h a r d e r t h a n eve r . T h i s i s n o t ime for y o u t o res t
o n y o u r l a u r e l s . " T h e n t h e d r e a m w a s o v e r a n d h e w o k e u p .
I t d a w n e d o n h im t h a t for y e a r s K o k u z o h a d b e e n a p p e a r i n g t o h im a s
a w o m a n i n o r d e r t o s a v e h im, a n d h e w a s p r o f o u n d l y e m b a r r a s s e d . A t
d a y l i g h t h e r e t u r n e d t o M o u n t H ie i , w e e p i n g w i t h r e m o r s e for his o w n
w a n t o n b e h a v i o r , a n d d e d i c a t e d h imse l f m o r e s i n g l e m i n d e d l y t h a n e v e r
to his s t u d i e s . He rea l ly d id b e c o m e a f a m o u s s c h o l a r .
W h a t K o k u z o p l a n s will c o m e t o p a s s . A h , t h e beau t i fu l a n d nob le
d e e d !
2 5 8
i 7 8 .
THE LITTLE GOD'S BIG CHANCE
T h e m o n k D o m y o , a g r e a t lover , w a s h a v i n g a n affair w i t h t he famous
l a d y p o e t I z u m i S h i k i b u . D o m y o a lso h a p p e n e d t o c h a n t t he L o t u s Su t r a
v e r y i m p r e s s i v e l y .
O n c e h e w a s s p e n d i n g t h e n igh t w i t h Izumi S h i k i b u w h e n h e w o k e u p
a n d d e c i d e d t o c h a n t t h e S u t r a . H e h a d g o n e t h r o u g h all e ight scrolls a n d
w a s j u s t d o z i n g off a g a i n w h e n h e g l i m p s e d s o m e o n e o u t s i d e .
" W h o i s i t ? " h e ca l led .
" T h e o ld m a n w h o l ives a t t h e c r o s s i n g o f Fifth A v e n u e a n d N i sh i -no -
to in s t r e e t , " a vo i ce r ep l i ed .
" W h a t a r e y o u d o i n g h e r e ? "
"I ' l l n e v e r forget , t h r o u g h all t h e l ives I'll live, h o w y o u c h a n t e d the
S u t r a t o n i g h t ! "
" B u t I c h a n t t h e S u t r a all t h e t i m e . W h a t w a s s o special a b o u t to -
n i g h t ? "
T h e little r o a d g o d — for t h a t i s w h o he w a s — a n s w e r e d , " W e l l , y o u
see , w h e n y o u c h a n t t h e S u t r a all c lean a n d p u r e , t he g r e a t g o d s c r o w d
i n t o h e a r a n d a n o ld m a n like m e can ' t ge t a n y w h e r e n e a r y o u . Bu t th is
t i m e y o u d i d n ' t e v e n w a s h be fo re y o u b e g a n , s o t h e r e w a s n o o n e else
a r o u n d . T h a t ' s h o w I go t t o h e a r y o u . I'll n e v e r forget i t ! "
1 7 9 •
PIOUS ANTICS
T h o u g h o r ig ina l ly f rom a l ine o f y i n - y a n g m a s t e r s , t h e imper ia l s e c r e t a r y
Y o s h i s h i g e no Y a s u t a n e h a d b e e n a d o p t e d in to a family o f s cho l a r s . Bo th
k i n d l y a n d p e e r l e s s l y t a l e n t e d as a y o u t h , he m a t u r e d in to a s cho la r
w h o s e r v e d t h e c o u r t for m a n y y e a r s un t i l , a s o ld a g e a p p r o a c h e d , h e
b e g a n to l o n g for t h e r e l ig ious life. In t h e e n d he s h a v e d his h e a d a n d
b e c a m e a m o n k , a d i sc ip le of t h e sa in t ly K u y a . He t ook t h e re l ig ious
n a m e J a k u s h i n .
B e i n g a h o l y m a n n o w , a n d n a t u r a l l y w i s e a s wel l , J a k u s h i n w o n d e r e d
w h a t m i g h t b e t h e m o s t v i r t u o u s t h i n g t o d o n e x t . H e d e c i d e d t o m a k e
the B u d d h a access ib l e to all by b u i l d i n g a t e m p l e . S i n c e he k n e w he
cou ld no t do th i s w i t h o u t h e l p from his b r e t h r e n in t h e faith, he s t a r t e d
g o i n g a r o u n d so l ic i t ing c o n t r i b u t i o n s , a n d w h e n h e h a d e n o u g h t o t h i n k
a b o u t b u y i n g l u m b e r h e p i c k e d H a r i m a p r o v i n c e a s t h e p l ace t o look for
a s i te . He felt s u r e t h a t i n H a r i m a he cou ld ge t t he w o r k d o n e wel l by
p e o p l e s y m p a t h e t i c to his a im, a n d he d id in fact ge t a v e r y g o o d r e s p o n s e
t h e r e .
H e w a s r o a m i n g t h e p r o v i n c e o n e d a y w h e n h e c a m e t o a d r y , p e b b l y
r i v e r b e d a n d s a w a y i n - y a n g d i v i n e r in a p a p e r ha t p e r f o r m i n g a pur i f i -
ca t ion r i te . H e d i s m o u n t e d i n h a s t e .
" W h a t a r e y o u d o i n g ? " h e s h o u t e d .
"A pur i f i ca t ion! " t h e d i v i n e r ca l led b a c k .
" I c a n see t h a t ! B u t w h a t ' s y o u r ha t f o r ? "
" W e l l , t h e g o d s w h o ru l e o v e r pu r i f i ca t ions s h u n m o n k s , s o d u r i n g t h e
r i te I w e a r th i s ha t in o r d e r no t to look l ike a m o n k . "
J a k u s h i n let o u t a h o w l a n d j u m p e d o n t h e m a n , w h o co u l d o n l y d r o p
w h a t h e w a s d o i n g a n d s p l u t t e r ineffectual p r o t e s t s . T h e fellow w h o h a d
c o m m i s s i o n e d t h e r i te sat l o o k i n g on in d i s m a y .
J a k u s h i n s n a t c h e d t h e p a p e r ha t f rom t h e d iv ine r ' s h e a d a n d t o r e i t t o
p i e c e s . " H o w could you?" he c r ied , in t e a r s . " H o w co u l d you, a fo l lower
o f t h e B u d d h a , b r e a k t h e B u d d h a ' s c o m m a n d m e n t s a n d w e a r t h a t h a t
j u s t b e c a u s e t h e g o d s o f pur i f i ca t ion will be in jured i f y o u d o n ' t ? D o n ' t
y o u t h i n k y o u ' l l g o t o t h e lowes t hell for th i s? O h , h o w awful ! H e r e , kill
m e , ju s t kill m e ! " H e t u g g e d a t t h e d i v i n e r ' s s leeve all t h e w h i l e , w e e p i n g
pa the t i ca l l y .
" Y o u ' r e c o m p l e t e l y m a d ! " t h e d i v i n e r a n s w e r e d . " S t o p c r y i n g ! Y e s ,
y o u ' r e r igh t , o f c o u r s e . B u t I 've go t t o m a k e a l iv ing s o m e h o w a n d t h a t ' s
w h y I l e a r n e d th i s y i n - y a n g b u s i n e s s . H o w w o u l d I feed my family a n d
k e e p myse l f a l ive w i t h o u t it? I 've no real i n t e re s t in re l ig ion a n d I'll n e v e r
be a ho ly m a n . I j u s t look l ike a m o n k . S o m e t i m e s I t h i n k it 's t o o b a d ,
y e s , b u t w h a t c a n I d o ? "
" I f y o u ' r e t h a t p o o r I'll j u s t h a v e t o g ive y o u t h e m o n e y I 've co l l ec ted !
I s u p p o s e h e l p i n g o n e m a n t o w a r d e n l i g h t e n m e n t i s j u s t a s g o o d as
b u i l d i n g a t e m p l e . " J a k u s h i n sen t his d i sc ip les s t r a igh t off to fetch t he
funds . W h e n t h e y go t b a c k , h e g a v e t h e y i n - y a n g d i v i n e r e v e r y t h i n g a n d
left for t h e C a p i t a l .
L a t e r on J a k u s h i n w a s l iv ing a t N y o i , i n t h e hills eas t o f t h e Cap i t a l ,
w h e n h e r ece ived a n u r g e n t s u m m o n s from t h e R o k u j o P a l a c e . B o r r o w -
ing a f r iend ' s h o r s e , he set ou t e a r ly t h e nex t m o r n i n g . N o w , m o s t r i de r s
k e e p t h e i r m o u n t m o v i n g p u r p o s e f u l l y a h e a d . N o t s o J a k u s h i n , w h o let
2 6 0
t h e h o r s e go on o r no t a s i t p l e a s e d . N a t u r a l l y t he h o r s e soon s t o p p e d t o
g r a z e . J a k u s h i n s i m p l y w a i t e d , a n d s ince t h e h o r s e n e v e r d id ge t a m o v e
on , h e e n d e d u p s t u c k fo reve r i n t h e s a m e spo t . T h e g r o o m w h o c a m e
w i t h t h e h o r s e w a s s o i r r i t a t ed b y th is p e r f o r m a n c e tha t h e finally gave
t h e b e a s t a w h a c k on t h e r u m p . In a flash J a k u s h i n h a d d i s m o u n t e d a n d
se ized ho ld o f h i m .
" W h a t d i d y o u d o that for, e h ? " h e r o a r e d . " D o y o u t h i n k a n old m a n
l ike me r i d i n g h im m a k e s th i s h o r s e look silly? T h i s ho r se , I'll have y o u
k n o w , h a s b e e n m o t h e r a n d f a the r to me life af ter life for ages pas t .
P e r h a p s y o u d o n ' t t h i n k h e ' s b e e n m o t h e r a n d fa ther t o you, p e r h a p s
that'^ w h y y o u ' r e so m e a n . B u t th i s h o r s e h a s b e e n your m o t h e r a n d fa ther
as m u c h as h e ' s b e e n m i n e . W h y , i t 's jus t becaiuie he ' s loved y o u wi th a
p a r e n t ' s love t h a t h e ' s n o w a n a n i m a l ! S o m e t i m e s he ' s even suffered
d o w n a m o n g t h e s t a r v i n g g h o s t s a n d i n hel l . Yes , t h a t ' s exac t ly w h y he 's
a h o r s e in t h e first p l a c e : b e c a u s e as a p a r e n t he a l w a y s loved you, his
ch i ld . A n d t h e r e t h e p o o r t h i n g w a s , do h u n g r y , t r y i n g t o c r o p the lovely
g r e e n g r a s s t h a t l o o k e d t oo g o o d to miss , w h e n you, y o u lout , h a d t o go
a n d hi t h i m ! Mysel f , I 'm jus t so gra te fu l for all he ' s g iven me t h r o u g h all
t h o s e l ives . . . B u t y e s , i t 's t r u e , my legs w o n ' t c a r r y me a n y m o r e as I 'd
l ike , a n d if I h a v e to go s o m e w h e r e a little far off I c an ' t v e r y wel l w a l k .
A n d so h e r e I a m , p r e s u m i n g again on t h e p o o r beas t ' s k i n d n e s s . W h o
am / to ob jec t i f he w a n t s to ea t t h e g r a s s a l o n g t h e w a y ? Y o u ' r e a b r u t e ,
t h a t ' s w h a t y o u a r e , a b r u t e ! " J a k u s h i n b u r s t in to l oud s o b b i n g .
T h e g r o o m t h o u g h t all t h i s r a t h e r funny , b u t he d id not l ike to see t he
o ld m a n c r y . " Y o u ' r e q u i t e r igh t , sir , q u i t e r i g h t , " h e a n s w e r e d . " I m u s t
h a v e b e e n m a d t o hit t h e h o r s e . B u t w h a t c a n y o u e x p e c t from a p o o r
g r o o m l ike m e ? I h a d no idea w h y t h e h o r s e w a s b o r n a ho r se , y o u see!
F r o m n o w o n I'll g ive h im t h e r e s p e c t w e o w e o u r p a r e n t s , a n d b e
p r o p e r l y g r a t e f u l . "
F ina l l y J a k u s h i n go t b a c k o n t h e h o r s e , still sniffling a n d m u t t e r i n g ,
" O h , t h e p o o r , d e a r c r e a t u r e ! "
O n t h e y w e n t un t i l t h e y c a m e t o a ro t t en , w a r p e d old g r a v e - m a r k e r
s t a n d i n g b y t h e p a t h . J a k u s h i n go t all exc i t ed a n d d i s m o u n t e d a s q u i c k l y
a s h e c o u l d . T h e g r o o m , w h o c o u l d m a k e n o t h i n g o f this , r u s h e d u p t o
t a k e t h e b r i d l e . J a k u s h i n h a d h im lead the ho r se on a little fu r the r .
L o o k i n g b a c k , t h e g r o o m s a w J a k u s h i n p r o s t r a t e d full l eng th in a spot
w h e r e t h e p a m p a s g r a s s e s g r e w a litt le less th ick ly . W h e n J a k u s h i n go t
b a c k to his feet, he let d o w n his t r o u s e r - s k i r t ( he h a d h i t c h e d i t up for
t r a v e l i n g ) to p r e s e n t a c o r r e c t a p p e a r a n c e , t h e n p u t on t he p r ies t ly s tole
w h i c h a s e r v a n t h a d b e e n c a r r y i n g for h im . N e x t , he ad jus t ed his collar ,
s w e p t his p a l m s c e r e m o n i o u s l y t o g e t h e r , a n d b o w e d till h e w a s nea r ly
d o u b l e d o v e r — no t s t r a i g h t t o w a r d t h e g r a v e - m a r k e r , h o w e v e r , b u t a bit
to o n e s ide , l ike a g u a r d b o w i n g to a g r e a t p e r s o n a g e w h o m he d a r e no t
face d i r ec t ly ; a n d he t h r e w on ly s ide long g l a n c e s t o w a r d the object o f h is
d e f e r e n c e . F ina l ly h e w e n t u p t o t h e g r a v e - m a r k e r , b r o u g h t his h a n d s
p ious ly t o g e t h e r o n c e m o r e , a n d p r o s t r a t e d h imse l f r e p e a t e d l y till h is
f o r ehead k n o c k e d a g a i n s t t h e g r o u n d . All i n all, his b e h a v i o r w a s q u i t e
o d d .
J a k u s h i n w o u l d no t r e m o u n t unt i l t h e g r a v e - m a r k e r w a s ou t o f s igh t .
A n d s ince h e d id e x a c t l y t h e s a m e t h i n g for e v e r y g r a v e - m a r k e r h e c a m e
a c r o s s , he w a s g e t t i n g on a n d off his h o r s e t h e w h o l e w a y a l o n g . As a
resu l t , a t r i p t h a t s h o u l d h a v e t a k e n an h o u r o r so t o o k in s t ead f rom ea r ly
m o r n i n g t o late a f t e r n o o n . B y the t i m e t h e y a r r i v e d a t t h e R o k u j o P a l a c e ,
t he g r o o m w a s s w e a r i n g t o h imse l f t h a t h e w o u l d n e v e r , n e v e r g o a n y -
w h e r e w i t h that o ld fel low a g a i n .
A n o t h e r t ime , w h i l e J a k u s h i n w a s l iv ing a t I w a k u r a , he c a u g h t a chill
a n d go t a case o f v e r y loose b o w e l s . W h i l e he w a s in t h e p r i v y t h e m o n k
in t h e n e i g h b o r i n g h u t h e a r d a s o u n d l ike w a t e r s q u i r t i n g from a nozz l e
a n d felt s o r r y for t h e old m a n . T h e n h e h e a r d J a k u s h i n t a lk ing , a n d s tole
up to s p y t h r o u g h a ho le in t h e p r i v y wa l l .
A n old d o g w a s s i t t ing a c r o s s from J a k u s h i n , a p p a r e n t l y w a i t i n g for
h im t o ge t u p . J a k u s h i n w a s t a l k i n g t o t he d o g . " Y o u go t y o u r a n i m a l
b o d y , " h e w a s say ing , " b e c a u s e i n p a s t l ives y o u b e t r a y e d o t h e r s o r m a d e
t h e m ea t n a s t y t h i n g s . Y e s , a n d y o u c o v e t e d w h a t y o u w e r e n e v e r m e a n t
t o h a v e , a n d t h o u g h t m u c h t oo m u c h o f yourse l f . Y o u bel i t t led o t h e r s ,
y o u t r e a t e d y o u r p a r e n t s a s n o o n e e v e r s h o u l d , a n d y o u d id n o t h i n g b u t
awful t h i n g s . A n d t h a t ' s w h y y o u ' r e a d o g , y o u see, a n d w h y y o u w a i t
a r o u n d to eat s u c h filth. W h e n I think h o w in pas t l ives y o u ' v e b e e n my
m o t h e r o r fa ther , t i m e af ter t i m e ! A n d t h e s e d a y s especia l ly , w h e n m y
ins ides a r e n ' t r igh t a n d it 's c o m i n g o u t ju s t l ike w a t e r , y o u m u s t n ' t eat it,
no , y o u s imp ly m u s t n ' t ! I t h u r t s m e t o o m u c h ! T o m o r r o w , y o u ' l l see , I'll
g ive y o u s o m e t h i n g rea l ly n ice a n d you ' l l h a v e a s m u c h a s y o u w a n t ! "
G r e a t t e a r s ro l led d o w n his c h e e k s a s h e t a l k e d .
T h e n e x t d a y t h e n e i g h b o r sp ied o n J a k u s h i n aga in , c u r i o u s t o see
w h a t feast t h e d o g w o u l d ge t . O r d e r i n g his d i sc ip les to p r e p a r e a meal
for a g u e s t , J a k u s h i n h a d t h e m pile a g r e a t q u a n t i t y of r ice in to an
e a r t h e n w a r e d i sh a n d g a r n i s h i t g e n e r o u s l y w i t h v e g e t a b l e s . T h e n h e h a d
t h e m s p r e a d a m a t in t h e y a r d a n d set t h e d i sh ou t on it.
" C o m e ! " ca l led J a k u s h i n , s i t t ing d o w n b e s i d e t h e d i sh . " D i n n e r ' s
r e a d y ! " T h e d o g c a m e a n d a t e w h i l e J a k u s h i n r u b b e d his h a n d s t o g e t h e r
in glee , w e e p i n g for joy a n d m u t t e r i n g h o w i t d i d his h e a r t g o o d to see
t he d o g t u c k in. A las , t h e b ig y o u n g d o g w h i c h s o o n a r r i v e d d id not g o
2 6 2
f i r s t for t h e r i ce . I t a t t a c k e d t h e old d o g ins tead , b o w l e d i t over , a n d s a n k
its t e e t h i n to it. J a k u s h i n j u m p e d i n h o r r o r . " O h n o ! " h e c r i ed . " D o n ' t
do t h a t , pUtue\ I'll b r i n g y o u s o m e , t o o ! Please jus t eat t o g e t h e r n i ce ly ! "
A n d h e t r i ed t o s t o p t h e f i g h t . N a t u r a l l y t h e d o g s pa id n o a t t en t i on . T h e
r ice w a s s c a t t e r e d a n d t r a m p l e d in to t h e m u d , a n d all t he gobb l ing ,
s n a r l i n g , a n d s n a p p i n g b r o u g h t m o r e d o g s r u n n i n g i n from e v e r y w h e r e
un t i l a fu r ious me lee e n s u e d . J a k u s h i n fled b a c k to his hu t , u n a b l e to
b e a r t h e s igh t o f n a k e d i g n o r a n c e , a n g e r , a n d g r e e d .
T h e n e i g h b o r m o n k c h u c k l e d . " H e m a y b e w i s e , " h e t h o u g h t t o h im-
self, ' b u t h e d o e s n ' t k n o w d o g s . H e r e s p e c t s t h e m for w h a t t h e y m a y
h a v e b e e n i n p a s t l ives, b u t w h a t d o e s h e t h i n k t h e d o g s t hemse lves can
m a k e o f h i s r e s p e c t ? "
1 8 0 .
THE REPRIEVE
O n his w a y o n c e t o K y o t o , t h e Todai j i m o n k Z o m a n h a p p e n e d t o mee t a
p h y s i o g n o m i s t . S i n c e Z o m a n w a n t e d t o h a v e his f o r t u n e to ld a n y w a y , h e
w a s i n l u c k . T h e p h y s i o g n o m i s t d e c l a r e d t h a t Z o m a n w o u l d excel i n his
s t u d i e s b u t t h a t h e w o u l d no t live pas t for ty . " I f y o u w a n t t o live longer
t h a n t h a t , " he sa id , " a r o u s e a s ince re th i r s t for e n l i g h t e n m e n t . N o t h i n g
else wil l w o r k . "
T h e d i s t u r b e d Z o m a n i m m e d i a t e l y left Todai j i a n d re t i r ed to a cave on
M o u n t Kasag i , w h e r e he b e g a n a s t r ic t r eg ime o f ascet ic p r a c t i c e . E a r l y
e a c h m o r n i n g h e w o u l d b e s u r e t o call t he n a m e o f t he B o d h i s a t t v a J i z o .
In t h e fou r th m o o n of his t h i r t i e th y e a r , Z o m a n fell ill a n d w e a k e n e d
s l o w l y un t i l t h e soul left h is b o d y a n d he d ied . Severa l a n g r y officials,
d r e s s e d in g r e e n , c a m e to se ize h i m . Z o m a n cr ied ou t t h a t he w a s a
b l a m e l e s s a sce t i c w h o s e a c t i o n s a n d senses w e r e t h o r o u g h l y p u r e . " I n
C h i n a t h e r e w a s a hope l e s s ly evil m a n , " he p ro t e s t ed , " a n d w h e n he d ied
t h e f l ames of hell s u d d e n l y c h a n g e d in to a cool b r e e z e , jus t b e c a u s e he
h a d ca l led J i z o ' s n a m e ! T h e B u d d h a even c a m e t o w e l c o m e h im in to
p a r a d i s e ! I 've ca l led t h e n a m e too , a n d I 've e n t r u s t e d myse l f t o J i z o ' s
c o m p a s s i o n a t e v o w . D o e s n ' t t h a t m e a n a n y t h i n g ? I f i t doesn ' t , t h e n t he
c o m p a s s i o n a t e v o w s o f J i z o a n d o f all t h e b u d d h a s o f pas t , p r e sen t , a n d
fu tu r e a r e w o r t h l e s s ! "
" S o you s a y , " g r o w l e d t h e officers f rom hell , " b u t w e ' v e no p r o o f t h a t
y o u ' v e a n y c la im o n t h e b u d d h a s ' c o m p a s s i o n . "
" T h e c o m p a s s i o n a t e v o w s o i t he b u d d h a s a n d b o h i s a t t v a s mean s o m e -
t h i n g ! B u t i f y o u w o n ' t g r a n t I 'm r igh t , t h e n all t h e s u t r a s ' ta lk a b o u t t h e
b u d d h a s b e i n g rea l i s j u s t e m p t y c h a t t e r ! "
At th i s p o i n t a smal l m o n k , v e r y d i s t i n g u i s h e d - l o o k i n g a n d g iv ing off a
beau t i fu l l ight , s u d d e n l y a p p e a r e d . H a l f a d o z e n equa l l y d i m i n u t i v e
m o n k s w e r e a r o u n d h im, a n d s o m e t h r e e d o z e n m o r e w e r e r a n g e d t o
e i t he r s ide . T h e y p r e s s e d t he i r p a l m s t o g e t h e r s o l e m n l y i n g r e e t i n g .
" W e l l , t h a t ' s d i f f e r e n t ! " c r i ed t h e officers. " J i z o a n d his hos t o f sa in t s
h a v e c o m e t o fetch h i m ! We ' l l h a v e t o g ive h im u p ! " T h e y s a l u t e d t h e
ho ly c o m p a n y a n d w e n t a w a y .
" D o y o u k n o w m e ? " a s k e d t h e little m o n k . " I ' m the J i z o y o u ' v e in-
v o k e d e a c h m o r n i n g . I p r o t e c t y o u w i t h all m y p o w e r . Y o u w e r e ca l led
d o w n t o hell b e c a u s e y o u r k a r m a r e q u i r e d it, b u t n o w y o u can h u r r y
b a c k t o t h e w o r l d o f t h e l iving, p u t b e h i n d y o u all t he ca r e s t h a t b u r d e n
m e n , a n d fulfill y o u r h o p e for r e b i r t h in t he L a n d o f Bliss . You ' l l n e v e r
c o m e b a c k h e r e a g a i n . "
Z o m a n r e t u r n e d to life af ter h a v i n g b e e n d e a d a d a y a n d a n igh t . He
w e n t o n t o p r a c t i c e w i t h eve r g r e a t e r faith unt i l a t last w h e n h e w a s
n i n e t y y e a r s old , l ight o f s t e p a n d i n per fec t hea l th , he k n e w his t ime h a d
c o m e . H e sa t fac ing t h e w e s t w i t h p a l m s p r e s s e d t o g e t h e r i n p r a y e r ,
c h a n t i n g t h e B u d d h a ' s N a m e a n d ca l led o n J i z o unt i l h e p a s s e d in to
N i r v a n a .
i 8 i .
THE WATER SPIRIT
R e t i r e d E m p e r o r Y o z e i ' s p a l a c e c o m p o u n d w a s v e r y la rge , a n d af ter h e
d i e d t h e s t r ee t w e n o w k n o w a s Reize i ' in L a n e w a s pu t t h r o u g h it. T h e
n o r t h e r n p a r t w a s r a p i d l y bu i l t o v e r w i t h h o u s e s . O n l y t he s o u t h e r n
s ec t i on k e p t a few r e m i n d e r s o f t h e g a r d e n t h a t h a d o n c e b e e n t h e r e , a n d
o n e o f t h e s e w a s a p o n d .
O n e s u m m e r n i g h t a m a n s t r e t c h e d o u t o n t he v e r a n d a o f t h e fo rmer
p a l a c e ' s w e s t w i n g , t h e b u i l d i n g itself h a v i n g s u r v i v e d o n l y t o p a s s in to
t h e h a n d s o f c o m m o n e r s . As he lay t h e r e , an old m a n t h r e e feet tall c a m e
a n d felt o v e r his face. T o o f r igh tened t o m o v e , h e p r e t e n d e d h e w a s
a s l e e p un t i l t h e o ld m a n softly go t u p a n d w a l k e d a w a y . B y the b r igh t
l ight o f t h e m o o n a n d s t a r s h e w a t c h e d the old m a n g o t o t he e d g e o f t he
p o n d a n d v a n i s h . N o t h a v i n g b e e n d r e d g e d o r c l e aned w i th in l iving
m e m o r y , t h e p o n d w a s c h o k e d w i t h w a t e r w e e d s a n d looked t h o r o u g h l y
evi l . O n c e m o r e t h e m a n s h i v e r e d w i t h fear .
N i g h t a f te r n i g h t n o w t h e old m a n c a m e b a c k a n d felt o v e r t h e faces
o f t h o s e w h o w e r e s l e e p i n g n e a r b y . E v e r y o n e w h o even h e a r d t he s to ry
w a s t e r r i f i ed . F ina l l y a n o t h e r m a n s p o k e u p . "All r i g h t , " said he , "I ' l l
c a t c h t h a t f e l l o w ! " He lay d o w n a l o n e on t h e v e r a n d a w i t h a length o f
s t o u t r o p e b e s i d e h i m .
I t w a s a l o n g w a i t . P a s t m i d n i g h t , w h e n he h a d ac tua l ly b e g u n t o d o z e
off, he felt s o m e t h i n g co ld t o u c h his face. He leapt u p , b o u n d w h a t e v e r
i t w a s w i t h t h e r o p e , a n d t i ed i t t o t he ra i l ing r o u n d t h e v e r a n d a .
N e x t , he ca l l ed for l ight . T h e r e t he c r e a t u r e w a s , a little old m a n t h r e e
feet tall a n d d r e s s e d in pa l e y e l l o w , b l i n k i n g in t he g l a r e . He s e e m e d
2 6 4
W A T E R
a b o u t to e x p i r e . No q u e s t i o n i n g go t a n y a n s w e r ou t o f h im, bu t af ter a
w h i l e he smi led , g l a n c e d a r o u n d , a n d said in a th in , sad little vo ice ,
"Would y o u p l ea se b r i n g me a t u b o f w a t e r ? "
W h e n t h e y pu t a b ig t u b be fo re h im, he s t r e t c h e d ou t his n e c k to see
his re f lec t ion . " I ' m a w a t e r spir i t , y o u s e e , " he sa id , a n d co l l apsed w i t h a
sp la sh in to t h e t u b . T h e r e w a s n o t h i n g left o f h im, t h o u g h t h e t u b w a s
s u d d e n l y full to o v e r f l o w i n g . T h e r o p e f loated, still k n o t t e d , in t h e w a t e r .
T h e a s t o n i s h e d p e o p l e c a r r i e d off t h e t u b , t a k i n g c a r e no t to spill a
d r o p , a n d e m p t i e d i t i n to t he p o n d . T h e old m a n w a s n e v e r seen o r felt
a g a i n .
THE MASTER OF STREAMS AND FALLS
T h e r e m a r k a b l e C h u s a n , a m o n k o f Kofukuj i i n N a r a , w a s sa id by s o m e
to be s u p e r n a t u r a l . P e o p l e be l i eved he h a d ac tua l ly been b o r n from a
s t r e a m .
O n c e C h u s a n a n d severa l c o m p a n i o n s set off in a t ime of t e r r i b l e
d r o u g h t on a p i l g r i m a g e to t he E a s t . E v e n the s p r i n g s w h i c h n e v e r failed
h a d all g o n e d r y , a n d m a n y p e o p l e w e r e d y i n g o f th i r s t a n d s t a r v a t i o n .
P e o p l e c a m e from far off to ge t w a t e r f rom o n e s p r i n g in O m i p r o v i n c e
w h i c h still r a n c l e a r a n d s w e e t . W h e n a w o m a n o n h e r w a y b a c k from
this s p r i n g , w i t h a j a r o f w a t e r on h e r h e a d , p a s s e d C h u s a n on t h e t rai l ,
he a s k e d h e r for a d r i n k .
" Y o u ' r e a p r o p e r ho ly m a n , " s h e a n s w e r e d . " W h y d o n ' t y o u m a k e a
s p r i n g r igh t h e r e a n d ge t y o u r d r i n k y o u r s e l f ? I 've c a r r i e d th is w a t e r a
long w a y a n d I 've a lot f a r t he r to g o . I d o n ' t see w h y y o u s h o u l d h a v e to
b e g a n y off me] "
" Y o u ' r e r i g h t , " sa id C h u s a n , "I ' l l do t h a t . " He s t r o d e t o a r ock on the
hi l ls ide, d r e w his s w o r d , a n d s t r u c k off a c h u n k . C lea r , cool w a t e r g u s h e d
ou t . T h e local p e o p l e w e r e a m a z e d a t t he i r n e w s p r i n g .
C h u s a n a l so w e n t t o t h e N a c h i wa te r fa l l , w h e r e holy m e n have p r a c -
t iced s ince t i m e i m m e m o r i a l . T h e m o u n t a i n t o r r e n t t h e r e t u m b l e s g l eam-
ing w h i t e , four h u n d r e d feet d o w n a cliff to t h e va l ley floor. W h e n
1 8 2 .
2 6 6
C h u s a n c h a n t e d t h e H e a r t S u t r a a m i d t h e r o a r i n g a n d the sp ray , t he
w a t e r s r e v e r s e d t h e i r f l o w , a n d t h e l iv ing T h o u s a n d - A r m e d K a n n o n a p -
p e a r e d on t h e r o c k y l ip o f t h e falls.
Y e a r s l a t e r h e w e n t t o t h e M i n o o wa te r fa l l w h e r e E n n o Gyoja , t he
w i z a r d o f t h e m o u n t a i n s , o n c e m e t t h e I n d i a n sage N a g a r j u n a . T h e n
C h u s a n h i m s e l f t u r n e d in to T h o u s a n d - A r m e d K a n n o n , w e n t s t r a igh t u p
t h r o u g h t h e falls, a n d v a n i s h e d fo rever .
i 8 3 .
THE DRAGON CAVE
T h e D r a g o n C a v e a t M u r o i n Y a m a t o p r o v i n c e i s w h e r e t he D r a g o n
K i n g Z e n t a t s u l ives . H i s first h o m e w a s S a r u s a w a P o n d in N a r a , bu t a
l o n g t i m e a g o a n imper i a l c o n c u b i n e d r o w n e d herse l f i n t he p o n d a n d t h e
d r a g o n h a d t o e s c a p e t o t h e poo l a t K o z e n i n t he K a s u g a Hi l ls . T h e n
s o m e o n e d u m p e d a c o r p s e i n t h e K o z e n pool a n d the d r a g o n h a d t o f l e e
a g a i n , t h i s t i m e t o M u r o .
E v e n t u a l l y t h e V e n e r a b l e N i t t a i w e n t in to t he c a v e a t M u r o t o w o r s h i p
t h e d r a g o n . Af te r t h r e e o r four h u n d r e d y a r d s o f p i t ch d a r k n e s s , h e c a m e
o u t i n t o l ight a s b r i g h t a s d a y a n d s a w a p a l a c e . D a z z l i n g l y br i l l iant ,
j e w e l e d b l i n d s s w a y e d g e n t l y i n t h e b r e e z e a l o n g its s o u t h s ide , a n d he
g l i m p s e d b e h i n d t h e m a j a d e d e s k w i t h a c o p y of t h e L o t u s S u t r a on it.
A vo i ce f rom b e h i n d t h e b l i n d s a s k e d h im w h o h e w a s a n d w h a t h e
w a n t e d . N i t t a i g a v e his n a m e a n d sa id h e h a d c o m e t o w o r s h i p t h e
D r a g o n K i n g .
" Y o u m u s t n ' t l ook a t m e , " r ep l i ed t h e D r a g o n K i n g . " L e a v e the cave
a n d I'll m e e t y o u t h r e e h u n d r e d y a r d s b e y o n d i t ."
N i t t a i o b e y e d a n d w e n t t o w a i t . T h e D r a g o n K i n g rose from t h e e a r t h
be fo re h i m , fully a d o r n e d a n d c r o w n e d , till N i t t a i co u l d see his w h o l e
b o d y d o w n to t h e w a i s t . Af te r N i t t a i h a d c o n t e m p l a t e d h im for a wh i l e ,
t h e D r a g o n K i n g d i s a p p e a r e d .
N i t t a i bu i l t a s h r i n e on t h e s p o t a n d m a d e a s t a t u e o f t h e d r a g o n . T h e y
s a y i t i s still t h e r e . W h e n t h e m o n k s o f M u r o j i , t h e t e m p l e n e a r b y , p r a y
for r a in , t h e y c h a n t s u t r a s a t t h i s s h r i n e . W h e n t h e i r p r a y e r s w o r k , a
b l a c k c l o u d r i ses o v e r t h e D r a g o n C a v e a n d soon c o v e r s t he w h o l e sky .
T h e n i t r a i n s .
1 8 4 .
GOLD FROM THE DRAGON PALACE
A p o o r y o u n g m a n o f t h e C a p i t a l w a s so u n a b l e to m a k e a d e c e n t l iv ing
t h a t e v e r y m o o n o n K a n n o n ' s d a y , t h e e i g h t e e n t h , h e w o r s h i p p e d K a n -
n o n a n d v is i ted a s m a n y t e m p l e s a s h e c o u l d t o p r a y for h e l p . T h i s h a d
b e e n his c u s t o m for y e a r s .
O n e y e a r , i n t h e n i n t h m o o n , h e w a s g o i n g f rom t e m p l e t o t e m p l e a s
u s u a l w h e n h e p a s s e d t h r o u g h s o u t h e r n Y a m a s h i n a , w h i c h w a s litt le
i n h a b i t e d in t h o s e d a y s . In a d e s e r t e d s t r e t c h o f hills he m e t an o l d e r m a n
c a r r y i n g a foo t - long s p o t t e d s n a k e on t h e e n d o f a po le . As t h e y o u n g
m a n w a l k e d by , t h e l i t t le s n a k e m o v e d .
" W h e r e a r e y o u g o i n g ? " t h e y o u n g m a n a s k e d . T h e o l d e r m a n r ep l i ed
t h a t h e w a s o n his w a y t o t h e C a p i t a l a n d a s k e d t h e s a m e q u e s t i o n b a c k .
T h e y o u n g m a n e x p l a i n e d his p i l g r i m a g e a n d i n q u i r e d a b o u t t h e s n a k e .
" I ' v e a p u r p o s e for i t , " t h e o l d e r m a n a n s w e r e d .
" W o n ' t y o u let me h a v e i t? Ki l l ing ' s a s in . G i v e i t to me , for love of
K a n n o n . T h i s i s K a n n o n ' s d a y , a f te r a l l . "
" Y o u m a y ta lk o f K a n n o n , b u t K a n n o n p r o t e c t s p e o p l e a s we l l a s
s n a k e s . I n e e d th i s s n a k e . I d o n ' t p a r t i c u l a r l y w a n t to kill it, b u t I h a v e
t o l ive s o m e h o w . "
" W h a t d o y o u w a n t i t f o r ? "
" W e l l , y o u see , I m a k e t h e nyoi w a n d s t h a t m o n k s c a r r y w h e n t h e y
p r e s i d e at a r i te . T h e h e a d of a nyoi is c u r l e d l ike a fern shoo t a n d m a d e
o f ox h o r n . I n e e d t h e oil f rom th i s lit t le s n a k e to w o r k t h e h o r n in to t h e
r igh t s h a p e . "
" W h a t d o y o u d o w i t h y o u r nyoi t h e n ? "
" W h a t a q u e s t i o n ! I sell i t to a m o n k ! T h a t ' s my t r a d e ! "
" I s ee . Y o u n e e d t h e s n a k e , a n d I c e r t a i n l y can ' t a sk y o u to g ive i t t o
m e for n o t h i n g . W o u l d y o u t a k e m y coa t for i t ? "
T h e m a n a g r e e d a n d t h e e x c h a n g e w a s m a d e .
" W h e r e ' d y o u ge t t h e s n a k e ? " t h e y o u n g m a n a s k e d , a n d l e a r n e d t h a t
i t w a s from a p o n d n e a r b y . Af te r t h e o l d e r m a n h a d g o n e on , he t o o k t h e
s n a k e t o t h e p o n d , s c r a p e d t h e s a n d o f t h e b a n k d o w n a little t o w h e r e i t
w a s cool , a n d let t h e s n a k e g o . T h e s n a k e w e n t r igh t i n to t h e w a t e r . W i t h
his m i n d n o w a t res t , h e c o n t i n u e d his p i l g r i m a g e .
A few h u n d r e d y a r d s f u r t h e r on , a p r e t t y t w e l v e - y e a r - o l d gir l , v e r y
nicely d r e s s e d , c a m e t o w a r d h im . H e cou ld no t i m a g i n e w h a t she w a s
d o i n g in so lone ly a p l a c e .
2 6 8
" Y o u ' r e s o k i n d ! " s h e sa id . " I ' v e c o m e t o t h a n k y o u . "
" K i n d ? W h a t d o y o u m e a n ? "
" W h y , y o u s a v e d my life! W h e n I to ld my p a r e n t s t h e y said I s h o u l d
g o s t r a i g h t t o t h a n k y o u a n d tell y o u h o w gra te fu l t h e y a r e . T h a t ' s w h y
I 'm h e r e . "
H e r e a l i z e d th i s m u s t b e t h e s n a k e , a n d t h o u g h t o u c h e d h e w a s also
a f ra id . " W h e r e a r e y o u r p a r e n t s , t h e n ? " h e a s k e d .
" O v e r t h e r e . I'll t a k e y o u t o see t h e m ! " S h e led h im t o w a r d the p o n d .
H e w a s s o f r i g h t e n e d t h a t h e w o u l d g l ad ly h a v e r u n a w a y , b u t w h e n
s h e p r o m i s e d t h a t n o o n e w o u l d h u r t h im h e in s t ead fol lowed h e r r e luc -
t a n t l y t o t h e w a t e r ' s e d g e . S h e a s k e d h im t o w a i t w h i l e she a n n o u n c e d h e
w a s c o m i n g , t h e n v a n i s h e d . H i s m i n d ree led .
"I ' l l t a k e y o u n o w , " sa id t h e gir l , s u d d e n l y b a c k . " P l e a s e close y o u r
e y e s . "
H e d i d s o a n d w a s jus t feel ing h imse l f d r i f t ing off w h e n she to ld h im
to o p e n t h e m a g a i n . A magn i f i cen t g a t e , far finer t h a n a n y pa lace ga t e in
o u r l and , s t o o d be fo re h im . H a v i n g let h e r p a r e n t s k n o w h e w a s t h e r e ,
s h e c a m e o u t a g a i n a n d a s k e d h im t o fol low he r .
He o b e y e d t im id ly . I n s ide t h e g a t e ro se a dazz l ing pa lace m a d e o f
e v e r y p r e c i o u s me ta l a n d s t o n e . S h e led h im to a c en t r a l pavi l ion bui l t all
o f s h i n i n g m u l t i c o l o r e d j a d e , w i t h t he m o s t beaut i ful f loors a n d c u r t a i n s .
T h e p l a c e s e e m e d l ike p a r a d i s e .
O u t c a m e a g e n t l e m a n in his e a r ly s ixt ies , so d i s t i n g u i s h e d t h a t t h e
y o u n g m a n w a s q u i t e o v e r a w e d . " P l e a s e c o m e i n , " h e sa id .
F o r a m o m e n t t h e y o u n g m a n w o n d e r e d w h o h e w a s t a l k ing to .
" Y o u ' r e t o o k i n d , s i r , " h e finally r ep l i ed . " M a y I ? "
" O f course you m a y ! I d i d n ' t c o m e to g r e e t y o u for n o t h i n g ! C o m e i n ! "
W i t h g r e a t he s i t a t i on t h e y o u n g m a n d id so . H i s hos t to ld him w h a t a
j o y i t w a s t o w e l c o m e h im, i n v i e w o f t h e o u t s t a n d i n g k i n d n e s s o f w h a t
h e h a d d o n e .
" B u t I 've d o n e n o t h i n g , s i r ! " t h e y o u n g m a n p r o t e s t e d .
" T h e w o r l d k n o w s wel l e n o u g h h o w p a r e n t s love the i r c h i l d r e n , " the
g e n t l e m a n w e n t o n . " I ' v e a g o o d m a n y c h i l d r e n myself, a n d the y o u n g e s t
i s t h i s g i r l . T o d a y s h e w a n t e d to p l a y in t h e p o n d . O h , I t r ied to s t o p her ,
b u t s h e w o u l d n ' t l i s ten! T h e n s h e c a m e b a c k a n d told m e h o w she ' d b e e n
c a u g h t a n d w a s g o i n g t o b e ki l led w h e n y o u c a m e a l o n g a n d s a v e d her . I
c a n ' t tell y o u h o w gra te fu l I a m ! "
F ina l l y t h e y o u n g m a n g r a s p e d t h a t th i s w a s t he gir l ' s fa ther .
N e x t , t h e g e n t l e m a n h a d s o m e o v e r p o w e r i n g l y sp l end id s e r v a n t s se rve
a feast . As he a t e , he p r e s s e d his g u e s t so ins i s ten t ly to do so t o o t h a t t he
n e r v o u s y o u n g m a n let h imse l f be p e r s u a d e d . I t w a s a de l i c ious mea l .
" I ' m a D r a g o n K i n g , " t h e g e n t l e m a n b e g a n w h e n t h e d i s h e s w e r e
finally c l e a r e d a w a y , " a n d I 've l ived h e r e s ince t i m e o u t o f m i n d . W h a t
I 'd rea l ly l ike to g ive y o u in t h a n k s i s a W i s h i n g J e w e l , b u t I 'm af ra id
t h e p e o p l e o f J a p a n a r e t oo evil a t h e a r t a n d c a n ' t b e t r u s t e d w i t h o n e .
I 've s o m e t h i n g else for y o u in s t ead , t h o u g h . " He h a d a s e r v a n t fetch a
b o x f rom w h i c h he t o o k a r i ce c a k e t h r e e i n c h e s th ick , m a d e o f p u r e
go ld .
H e b r o k e t h e c a k e i n t w o a n d g a v e t h e y o u n g m a n half. " D o n ' t u s e
th i s up all a t o n c e , " he w a r n e d . " I f y o u b r e a k off a lit t le a s y o u n e e d it,
y o u ' l l b e q u i t e c o m f o r t a b l e t h e r e s t o f y o u r l i fe ."
T h e y o u n g m a n p u t t h e c a k e i n t h e fold o f his r o b e . A t t h e a p p r o p r i a t e
m o m e n t h e e x c u s e d himself, a n d t h e gir l t o o k h i m b a c k t o t h e g a t e . A g a i n
s h e to ld h im t o c lose his eyes . W h e n h e o p e n e d t h e m , t h e y w e r e b o t h
s t a n d i n g b y t h e p o n d . T h e girl sa id s h e w o u l d h a v e t o g o n o w a n d
p r o m i s e d h i m s h e w o u l d n e v e r forget h is k i n d n e s s . T h e n s h e d i s a p p e a r e d .
W h e n h e g o t h o m e , h i s family c l a m o r e d a b o u t h o w long h e h a d b e e n
g o n e . W h a t h e h a d t h o u g h t a n h o u r o r t w o h a d ac tua l ly b e e n seve ra l
d a y s !
H e to ld n o o n e a b o u t his g o l d e n c a k e b u t qu ie t ly b r o k e off b i t s a n d
e x c h a n g e d t h e m for w h a t h e n e e d e d . S i n c e t h e c a k e a l w a y s g r e w b a c k t o
its o ld size, no m a t t e r h o w m u c h he b r o k e off, he b e c a m e v e r y r i ch . All
h is life he s e r v e d K a n n o n fai thfully, a n d af ter he d i ed t h e g o l d e n c a k e
d i s a p p e a r e d . I t d i d n o t p a s s on t o his c h i l d r e n .
i 8 5 .
THE POND GOD TAKES A WIFE
A w o m a n in S h i m o s a p r o v i n c e of ten t o o k h e r s t e p d a u g h t e r , a gir l of
t w e l v e o r so , t o t h e e d g e o f a l a rge p o n d a n d a n n o u n c e d to t h e g o d o f t h e
p o n d t h a t t h e gir l w a s h i s t o m a r r y . S h e d id th is o n c e w h e n a ga le w a s
b l o w i n g a n d t h e p o n d w a s v e r y r o u g h . T h e girl w a s s o f r igh tened t h a t
h e r h a i r s t o o d o n e n d ; a n d w h a t w i t h t h e w i n d a n d w a v e s , a n d t h e
o m i n o u s d a r k n e s s o f t h e d a y , s h e fled h o m e a g a i n a s fast a s s h e cou ld go
w i t h t h e awful feel ing t h a t s o m e t h i n g w a s b e h i n d h e r .
D a s h i n g p a n i c - s t r i c k e n in to t h e h o u s e , s h e c l u t c h e d a t h e r fa ther a n d
b e g a n te l l ing h i m w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d . N e x t , h e r s t e p m o t h e r r a n i n jus t
2 7 0
a p p e a r e d .
C L O S E D
W O R L D S
A p o o r f a r m e r o n c e l ived in H a t a c o u n t y o f T o s a p r o v i n c e , a l o n g the
s o u t h e r n coas t o f S h i k o k u . H i s r ice field w a s in t he n e i g h b o r i n g p rov ince ,
n o t i n his o w n , b u t h e r a i s ed t h e s eed l i ngs a t h o m e a n d w h e n p l a n t i n g
t i m e c a m e h e p r e p a r e d t o t a k e t h e m t o his field b y boa t . H e a lso loaded
a b o a r d e v e r y t h i n g else he n e e d e d : a p l o w , a hoe , a s p a d e , c o o k i n g po t s ,
a n d food to feed himself , h is wife a n d ch i l d r en , a n d the l a b o r e r he m e a n t
t o h i r e .
W h e n t h e b o a t w a s r e a d y to sail , he a n d his wife w e n t to find a wi l l ing
l a b o r e r , l e a v i n g t h e i r l i t t le son a n d d a u g h t e r fast a s l eep o n b o a r d . T h e y
n e v e r b o t h e r e d t o m a k e t h e b o a t fast, s ince t h e y p l a n n e d no t t o be g o n e
long , b u t o n l y p u l l e d i t up a bit on t h e s h o r e .
THE ISLE OF MAN AND MAID
1 8 6 .
a h e a d o f a h u g e s n a k e . T h e s n a k e s t a r e d a t t he gir l , t h e t o n g u e in its h u g e
h e a d f l i cke r ing .
T h e f a the r w a s no g r e a t lo rd , bu t he w a s still q u i c k - w i t t e d . " S h e ' s my
d a u g h t e r , " h e to ld t h e s n a k e . " T h i s w o m a n h e r e i s jus t h e r s t e p m o t h e r
a n d s h e ' s go t n o r i g h t t o g ive h e r a w a y . I 'm t h e on ly o n e w h o can d o tha t
a n d I r e fuse . N o , a wi fe ' s b o u n d to do as h e r h u s b a n d says , a n d as far as
I 'm c o n c e r n e d she'd t h e o n e w h o ' s y o u r s , i f y o u w a n t he r . Go a h e a d , t ake
h e r ! "
W h i l e f a t h e r a n d d a u g h t e r m a d e t he i r e s c a p e , t he s n a k e s l i the red to -
w a r d t h e s t e p m o t h e r i n s t e a d a n d coi led a r o u n d he r . T h e y say she w e n t
m a d a n d b e g a n t u r n i n g in to a s n a k e herself .
T h e s t o r y w a s g o i n g a r o u n d o n e s u m m e r ten y e a r s o r s o ago , w h i c h
w o u l d be a b o u t 1270. R u m o r h a d i t t h a t on a ce r t a in d a y t h a t fall, b o t h
s n a k e s w o u l d r ise f rom t h e p o n d d u r i n g a t r e m e n d o u s s t o r m . T h e r e real ly
w a s a s t o r m on t h a t d a y too , b u t I n e v e r h e a r d w h e t h e r o r not t he s n a k e s
T h e b o a t f l o a t e d o n t h e r i s ing t i de . T h e n a b r e e z e s p r a n g u p a n d b l e w
it, a s t h e t ide e b b e d , far ou t t o w h e r e t h e w i n d w a s s t r o n g . N o w t h e b o a t
r a n a s t h o u g h u n d e r sail . W h e n t h e c h i l d r e n w o k e u p a n d s a w h o w far
t h e y h a d d r i f t ed f rom l and t h e y b e g a n t o c ry , b u t t h e y c o u l d no t s t o p t h e
w i n d t a k i n g t h e m w h e r e v e r i t w a n t e d t o b l o w .
T h e p a r e n t s b r o u g h t t h e i r l a b o r e r t o t h e s h o r e o n l y t o find t h e b o a t
g o n e . T h i n k i n g i t m i g h t h a v e c a u g h t in t h e lee s o m e w h e r e , t h e y ca l led
a n d cal led, a n d s e a r c h e d e v e r y inlet a n d c o v e w h e n t h e y go t n o a n s w e r .
I n t h e end , t h o u g h , t h e y h a d t o g ive u p .
T h e boa t w a s b l o w n o n t o a n i s l and far a w a y t o t h e s o u t h . Still c r y i n g ,
t h e c h i l d r e n d i s e m b a r k e d a n d t i ed i t u p . T h e r e w a s n o o n e o n t h e i s l and .
" W e i l j u s t h a v e t o d o t h e bes t w e c a n , " t h e y to ld e a c h o t h e r . " W e c a n
ea t a lit t le food e v e r y d a y for as l o n g as i t las ts , t h e n we ' l l j u s t s ee .
A n y w a y , let 's p l a n t t h e s e s eed l i ngs be fo re t h e y d i e . "
T h e y f o u n d a n ice p l ace for a field, w i t h a b r o o k n e a r b y , a n d m a d e
g o o d u s e o f t h e s p a d e a n d h o e t h a t h a d c o m e w i t h t h e m . N e x t , t h e y c u t
w o o d a n d bui l t a she l t e r . S i n c e o n e k i n d o f t r e e o r a n o t h e r w a s a l w a y s i n
fruit t h e y eas i ly s u r v i v e d till fall, w h e n t he i r l uck b r o u g h t t h e m a m u c h
r i c h e r h a r v e s t t h a n t h e y c o u l d h a v e h o p e d t o ge t i n J a p a n . T h e y carefu l ly
laid th i s h a r v e s t b y .
O n c e t h e t w o h a d g r o w n u p , t h e y s a w t h e y rea l ly h a d n o cho ice b u t t o
m a r r y . T h e i r m a n y c h i l d r e n m a r r i e d e a c h o t h e r i n t u r n till d e s p i t e i ts
g e n e r o u s s ize t h e i s l and w a s d o t t e d w i t h fields. I n fact, t h a t first p a i r h a d
s o m a n y d e s c e n d a n t s t h a t t h e i r i s l and c a n sca rce ly ho ld t h e m a n y m o r e ,
o r so p e o p l e say .
Imose - j ime , t h e Isle o f M a n a n d M a i d , i s s u p p o s e d to be o u t i n t h e
o c e a n s o u t h o f T o s a .
1 8 7 .
THE SNAKE AND THE CENTIPEDE
A b a n d of s e v e n m e n in K a g a p r o v i n c e c h o s e to live by f ishing on t h e
sea, r o w i n g t o g e t h e r i n t h e s a m e b o a t . A l t h o u g h f i she rmen , t h e y a l w a y s
w e n t wel l a r m e d w i t h b o w s a n d a r r o w s .
T h e y h a d r o w e d o u t o f s igh t o f l and o n e d a y w h e n a s u d d e n ga le hit
t h e m a n d b l e w t h e m f a r t h e r still. All t h e y c o u l d do w a s pul l i n the i r oa r s ,
2 7 2
g r o a n i n g t h a t t h e y w o u l d d ie , a n d let t h e w i n d t a k e t h e m w h e r e i t w o u l d .
E v e n t u a l l y t h e y s i g h t e d a l a rge i s land a h e a d . " A n i s l a n d ! " t h e y c r ied . " I f
w e c a n r e a c h i t w e c a n a t least s u r v i v e ! " T h e y s u c c e e d e d w i t h a t r e m e n -
d o u s effort , d i s e m b a r k e d , a n d d r e w t h e i r boa t safely u p o n the s h o r e .
T h e r e w a s a s t r e a m , a n d a p p a r e n t l y p l e n t y o f fruit on t h e t r ees . T h e y h a d
jus t s t a r t e d l o o k i n g for s o m e t h i n g to ea t w h e n t h e y s a w a h a n d s o m e m a n
c o m i n g t o w a r d t h e m . I t w a s a s u r p r i s e a n d a relief to find t h e is land
i n h a b i t e d .
" D o y o u r ea l i ze I b r o u g h t y o u h e r e ? " t h e m a n a s k e d .
" I d o n ' t k n o w w h a t y o u m e a n , " o n e o f t h e f i shermen a n s w e r e d . " A
ga l e b l e w u p w h i l e w e w e r e f ishing a n d s w e p t u s o u t t o sea . W e w e r e
v e r y g l a d to find th i s i s l and , I c a n tell y o u ! "
" Y e s , y o u see , I 'm t h e o n e w h o m a d e t h e w i n d b l o w . "
T h e f i s h e r m e n r ea l i zed th i s w a s n o o r d i n a r y h u m a n .
" B u t y o u m u s t b e t i r e d , " sa id t h e m a n a n d s h o u t e d t o w a r d the w o o d s ,
" C o m e ! B r i n g i t all d o w n ! "
W i t h a c l a t t e r o f foo t s t eps , b e a r e r s a r r i v e d c a r r y i n g a w i n e j a r a n d t w o
l a r g e c h e s t s full o f de l i c ious food. T h e e x h a u s t e d f i shermen a te h u n g r i l y
a n d d r a n k t h e i r fill o f w i n e . W h e n t h e y h a d f inished, t h e lef tovers w e r e
p u t b a c k i n t h e c h e s t s a n d se t a s ide for t h e nex t d a y .
" N o w , " s a id t h e m a n o f t h e i s l and w h e n t h e b e a r e r s h a d left, "I ' ll tell
y o u why I b r o u g h t y o u h e r e . T h e r e ' s a n o t h e r i s land b e y o n d th is one , a n d
t h e fel low w h o lives t h e r e i s a l w a y s a t t a c k i n g m e . H e w a n t s t o kill m e
a n d t a k e o v e r t h i s i s l and t o o . I 've fough t h im off so far, b u t t o m o r r o w
h e ' s c o m i n g a g a i n a n d o u r ba t t l e wil l b e dec i s ive . O n e o f u s will live a n d
t h e o t h e r wil l d i e . I b r o u g h t y o u h e r e t o ask for y o u r h e l p . "
" H o w m u c h o f a n a r m y d o e s h e h a v e ? " t h e f i she rman a s k e d . " H o w
m a n y s h i p s h a s he g o t ? W e ' l l f ight for y o u to t h e d e a t h i f n e e d be , s ince
w e ' r e h e r e . "
T h e m a n w a s p l e a s e d . " M y e n e m y d o e s n ' t h a v e h u m a n f o r m , " h e
e x p l a i n e d , " a n d I w o n ' t e i t h e r w h e n I fight h im . You ' l l see t o m o r r o w .
E v e r y t i m e h e ' s a t t a c k e d h e r e be fo re , I 've c o m e d o w n th is s lope t o k e e p
h i m b e l o w t h e wa te r f a l l o v e r t h e r e . I 've a l w a y t r i ed t o t u r n h im from the
b e a c h . B u t t o m o r r o w I 'm c o u n t i n g on you, so I 'm g o i n g to let h im u p .
He ' l l b e o n l y t o o e a g e r t o c l i m b , s ince he ge t s s t r o n g e r a s he ge t s h ighe r .
J u s t w a t c h us f ight a t first. W h e n I can ' t t a k e a n y m o r e I'll s ignal t o y o u
w i t h m y e y e s . T h e n s h o o t all y o u r a r r o w s in to h im, a n d p lease d o n ' t
m i s s ! B e r e a d y t o m o r r o w m o r n i n g . T h e ba t t l e will s t a r t a b o u t m i d d a y .
M a k e s u r e y o u ge t p l e n t y t o ea t ! A n d s t a n d o n th i s o u t c r o p o f rock
b e c a u s e he' l l b e c o m i n g f rom u p h e r e . " H a v i n g g iven t h e s e careful in-
s t r u c t i o n s , t h e m a n w i t h d r e w in to t h e d e p t h s o f t he i s land .
T h e f i s h e r m e n c u t s a p l i n g s a n d bui l t t h e m s e l v e s a she l te r , t h e n s h a r p -
e n e d t he i r a r r o w s a n d r e a d i e d t he i r b o w s t r i n g s . T h e y s p e n t t h e n igh t
t a l k i n g a r o u n d a fire. D a w n c a m e , a n d af ter a g o o d b r e a k f a s t t h e y l o o k e d
t o w a r d w h e r e t h e e n e m y w a s s u p p o s e d t o c o m e f rom. A s t e a d y ga le w a s
b l o w i n g , a n d t h e s t r a n g e l y m e n a c i n g sea n o w b e g a n t o g l o w . In s ide t h e
l ight t h e y s a w t w o la rge m a s s e s o f fire. T h e m o u n t a i n b e h i n d t h e m l o o k e d
jus t a s g h a s t l y . T h e g r a s s e s w e r e b e n d i n g low, t h e t r e e s w e r e w h i s t l i n g
i n t h e w i n d , a n d o n t h e m o u n t a i n s i d e a s wel l t h e y s a w t w i n m a s s e s o f
fire.
A c e n t i p e d e a h u n d r e d feet l ong c a m e s w i m m i n g in, s h i n i n g b lue on its
b a c k a n d r ed a l o n g its s ides . A b o v e t h e m a n equa l l y h u g e s n a k e w a s
b e g i n n i n g t o d e s c e n d , i ts t o n g u e f l icker ing . T h e s n a k e let h is e n e m y
c l imb , a s h e h a d sa id h e w o u l d , a n d w a t c h e d w i t h his h e a d a le r t ly r a i s ed
a s t h e c e n t i p e d e se ized his c h a n c e . T h e n t h e t w o frightful m o n s t e r s
p a u s e d , f ixing e a c h o t h e r w i t h a fur ious g l a r e .
T h e s e v e n f i she rmen o n t h e r o c k y o u t c r o p fitted a r r o w s t o t h e i r
b o w s t r i n g s a n d w a i t e d , t h e i r eyes o n t h e s n a k e .
T h e c e n t i p e d e c h a r g e d . B o t h c r e a t u e s t o r e a t each o t h e r till t h e y w e r e
c o v e r e d w i t h b l o o d , b u t t h e c e n t i p e d e , w i t h all its legs , a l w a y s s e e m e d to
be w i n n i n g . Af te r s e v e r a l h o u r s t h e e x h a u s t e d s n a k e finally g a v e a look
t h a t c l ea r ly m e a n t " N o w ! " T h e seven sho t t he i r a r r o w s d e e p in to t h e
c e n t i p e d e , f rom its h e a d to its tai l , t h e n t h e y h a c k e d a t its legs w i t h t he i r
s w o r d s till t h e m o n s t e r w a s he lp l e s s . O n c e t h e s n a k e h a d d i s e n g a g e d
itself, t h e f i she rmen a t t a c k e d still m o r e savage ly a n d ki l led it. T h e s n a k e
m e a n w h i l e s l i t he r ed a w a y .
S h o r t l y t he i r hos t r e t u r n e d in a s a d cond i t i on , l imping , b l eed ing , a n d
w o u n d e d all o v e r ; b u t h e b r o u g h t t h e m food a n d t h a n k e d t h e m a g a i n a n d
a g a i n . T h e y cu t up t h e c e n t i p e d e ' s b o d y , felled t r ee s for a h u g e bonf i re ,
a n d af ter b u r n i n g t h e g r i s ly r e m a i n s t h r e w t h e a s h e s a n d b o n e s far a w a y .
W h e n t h e j o b w a s d o n e , t h e m a n t h a n k e d t h e m aga in . " T h e r e ' s n o o n e
n o w t o d i s p u t e m y o w n e r s h i p o f t h e i s l a n d , " h e said, " a n d t h a t m a k e s m e
v e r y h a p p y . P l e n t y o f p l a c e s o n t h e i s land w o u l d m a k e g o o d r ice p a d d i e s ,
a n d even m o r e w o u l d d o for d r y fields. A n d t h e r e a r e s o m a n y fruit t r e e s !
Y e s , i t 's a f ine i s l and . G o m e a n d live h e r e ! "
" T h a t ' s a g o o d i d e a , " t h e f i s h e r m e n a n s w e r e d , " b u t w h a t a b o u t o u r
w i v e s a n d c h i l d r e n ? "
" B r i n g t h e m t o o ! "
" H o w can w e ge t t h e m h e r e ? "
" W h e n y o u c r o s s t o t h e m a i n l a n d I'll s e n d y o u a fo l lowing w i n d . A n d
w h e n y o u c o m e b a c k , wel l , t h e K u m a t a S h r i n e i n K a g a p r o v i n c e i s m y
s a n c t u a r y t oo , a n d i f y o u w o r s h i p t h e r e be fo re y o u set o u t you ' l l ge t b a c k
h e r e q u i t e sa fe ly . "
He sen t t h e m off w i t h e n o u g h food for t h e t r i p . As t h e y cas t off, a
2 7 4
w i n d b l e w d o w n f rom t h e i s l and a n d i n n o t i m e t h e y h a d c ro s sed t o t he
m a i n l a n d .
T h e y all w e n t h o m e a n d to ld t h e i r families w h e r e t h e y w e r e g o i n g n o w
a n d w h y . T h e n i n s e c r e t t h e y go t t h e m s e l v e s r e a d y , each p a r t y p r e p a r i n g
a b o a t l o a d e d w i t h s e e d s for all t h e c r o p s t h a t w o u l d g r o w . Final ly t h e y
v i s i t ed t h e K u m a t a S h r i n e t o r e p o r t t h e i r j o u r n e y t o t he g o d . A s soon a s
t h e y h a d b o a r d e d t h e i r b o a t s a fo l lowing w i n d a rose , a n d all t he boa t s
c r o s s e d s t r a i g h t o v e r t o t h e i s l and .
O n t h e i s l and t h e y c u l t i v a t e d p a d d i e s a n d d r y fields, a n d mul t ip l ied till
i t w a s h a r d l y p o s s i b l e t o c o u n t t h e m a n y m o r e . T h e is land i s cal led N e k o -
n o - s h i m a , C a t I s l a n d . O n c e a y e a r , t h e y say , t h e i s l ande r s sail t o t he
m a i n l a n d a n d w o r s h i p a t t h e K u m a t a S h r i n e . T h e vi l lagers t h e r e k n o w
t h e y a r e c o m i n g a n d w h y , a n d w o u l d g l a d l y visi t w i t h t h e m ; b u t they
neve r ac tua l ly m e e t t h e i s l ande r s b e c a u s e t h e i s l ande r s c o m e in d u r i n g
t h e n i g h t . T h e v i l l age r s find o n l y t h e i r offer ings t he nex t m o r n i n g , by
w h i c h t i m e t h e i s l a n d e r s h a v e left a g a i n . T h e s e a n n u a l visi ts still o c c u r
r e g u l a r l y . Y o u c a n see t h e i s l and , r i s ing g r e e n o n the w e s t e r n ho r i zon ,
f rom O m i y a i n N o t o p r o v i n c e .
O n c e a N o t o b o a t m a n w a s b l o w n ou t t o t h e i s land . A l t h o u g h the
i s l a n d e r s w o u l d no t let h im l and , t h e y a l l o w e d h im to tie up on the sho re
a n d b r o u g h t h im food . A w e e k or so la te r a f avorab le w i n d b r o u g h t h im
b a c k to N o t o . F r o m w h a t he h a d b e e n ab l e t o see, t h e r e w e r e a lot o f
h o u s e s on t h e i s l and , w i t h s t r e e t s b e t w e e n t h e m jus t a s i n t he Cap i ta l ,
a n d m a n y p e o p l e c o m i n g a n d g o i n g i n t h e s t r ee t s .
F o r t h a t m a t t e r , la te ly C h i n e s e sa i lo rs h a v e b e e n p u t t i n g in t o this
i s l and first, o n t h e i r w a y t o J a p a n . T h e i s l ande r s b r i n g t h e m food, a n d
t h e y s t o c k u p o n fish a n d a b a l o n e be fo re g o i n g o n t o T s u r u g a i n K a g a
p r o v i n c e . A p p a r e n t l y t h e i s l a n d e r s fo rb id t h e m even t o tell o t h e r p e o p l e
t h e i s l and i s t h e r e .
1 8 8 .
THROUGH THE WATER CURTAIN
A w a n d e r i n g m o n k c a m e to t h e p r o v i n c e o f H i d a w h e r e , d e e p i n t he
m o u n t a i n s , he g o t lost . F o l l o w i n g a faint t r a c k b u r i e d in d e a d leaves , he
finally c a m e to a w i d e , h igh wate r fa l l t h a t c a s c a d e d like a g r e a t c u r t a i n
d o w n a cliff. He cou ld no t go b a c k s ince he h a d no idea w h e r e he w a s ,
a n d in f ront off h im rose a t w o - h u n d r e d - f o o t wal l of r o c k . W h i l e p r a y i n g
to t h e B u d d h a for g u i d a n c e , he h e a r d foo t s teps b e h i n d h im . I t w a s a m a n
w i t h a load o f w o o d . T h o u g h t h e m o n k w a s re l i eved t o see h im, t h e m a n
l o o k e d s u r p r i s e d a n d u p s e t . " W h o a r e y o u ? W h e r e d o e s th i s p a t h g o ? "
a s k e d the m o n k , b u t t h e m a n w a l k e d s t r a i g h t pas t h im in to t h e wa te r fa l l
a n d v a n i s h e d .
A p p a r e n t l y he h a d b e e n a d e m o n , no t a m a n . T h e f r igh tened m o n k
d e c i d e d t h a t be fo re t h e d e m o n a t e h im h e w o u l d p l u n g e in to t h e wa te r fa l l
t oo , a n d d ie . " T h e n i t w o n ' t b o t h e r me i f he d o e s ea t m e ! " he sa id t o
himself .
P r a y i n g for a h a p p y r e b i r t h , he w a l k e d s t r a igh t a h e a d till w a t e r
p o u n d e d o n his face. T h e n h e w a s t h r o u g h . H e s u p p o s e d d r o w n i n g c a m e
n e x t , b u t in fact he still s e e m e d to be c o n s c i o u s . T h e wa te r fa l l rea l ly was
a t h in c u r t a i n , a n d t h e n a r r o w p a t h on t h e o t h e r s ide led on u n d e r t h e
m o u n t a i n . He w a s g l ad a t last to r e a c h a l a rge v i l lage .
T h e m a n w h o h a d p a s s e d h im n o w c a m e r u n n i n g t o w a r d h im, a h e a d
of a g e n t l e m a n in l ight b l u e - g r e e n formal d r e s s . T h e g e n t l e m a n has t i ly
inv i t ed t h e m o n k t o fol low h im h o m e . O n t h e w a y p e o p l e j o ined t h e m
from all d i r e c t i o n s a n d e a c h o n e a s k e d the m o n k h o m e . W h a t co u l d t h e y
all w a n t ? T h e g e n t l e m a n s i l enced t h e m . "We ' l l g o t o t h e m a y o r a n d let
h im d e c i d e w h o g e t s t h i s f e l l o w ! " h e sa id .
T h e c r o w d s w e p t t h e m o n k o n t o a l a rge h o u s e , w h e r e a n a g i t a t e d old
m a n c a m e o u t a n d a s k e d w h a t w a s g o i n g on . T h e first m a n the m o n k h a d
seen c o m p l a i n e d , " I ' m t h e o n e w h o led h im h e r e from J a p a n a n d n o w
this m a n h a s t a k e n h im o v e r ! " H e p o i n t e d a t t h e g e n t l e m a n i n b l u e -
g r e e n .
W i t h o u t d i s cus s ion t h e old m a n a w a r d e d t h e m o n k t o t h e g e n t l e m a n ,
w h o b e g a n l e a d i n g t h e m o n k a w a y . T h e c r o w d d i s p e r s e d .
T h e m o n k c o u l d o n l y t h i n k t h e y w e r e all d e m o n s , a n d t h a t t h i s o n e
w a s t a k i n g h im a w a y t o ea t h i m . H e b e g a n t o c ry . " J a p a n ! " h e t h o u g h t
in d e s p a i r . " W h e r e u th i s p l ace i f J a p a n i s so far a w a y ? "
T h e g e n t l e m a n n o t i c e d his e x p r e s s i o n . " P l e a s e d o n ' t w o r r y ! " h e sa id .
" I t ' s v e r y peacefu l h e r e , y o u k n o w . I p r o m i s e y o u y o u ' l l b e c o m f o r t a b l e .
Y o u w o n ' t h a v e a c a r e in t h e w o r l d . "
T h e g e n t l e m a n ' s h o u s e t u r n e d o u t t o be a little sma l l e r t h a n t h e o n e
t h e y h a d jus t left, b u t v e r y n ice a n d w i t h a l a rge staff o f s e r v a n t s a n d
r e t a i n e r s . T h e m o n k ' s a r r i va l c a u s e d a g r e a t s t i r . W h e n t h e g e n t l e m a n
inv i t ed h im in, h is p a c k , s t r a w c loak , ha t , a n d s t r a w b o o t s w e r e pol i te ly
t a k e n from h im a n d p u t a w a y .
" F o o d , p l e a s e ! " t h e g e n t l e m a n o r d e r e d , a n d a mea l w a s se rved . B u t
2 7 6
d e s p i t e t h e w e a l t h o f beau t i fu l ly p r e p a r e d c h i c k e n a n d fish, t he m o n k d id
n o t ea t . I n s t e a d h e o n l y sa t a n d s t a r e d .
H i s h o s t a s k e d h i m w h a t w a s t h e m a t t e r .
" I ' v e b e e n a m o n k all my life, y o u see, a n d I 've n e v e r e a t en a n y t h i n g
l ike t h i s . L o o k i n g is all I c a n d o . "
" I u n d e r s t a n d . B u t y o u ' r e w i t h u j n o w , y o u k n o w . You ' l l h a v e t o ea t
u p ! A n d a n o t h e r t h i n g . I h a v e a d a u g h t e r I love v e r y m u c h a n d she ' s
r e a d y t o b e m a r r i e d . S o y o u s h o u l d s t a r t l e t t ing y o u r h a i r g r o w , b e c a u s e
I w a n t h e r t o m a r r y you. Y o u c a n ' t l eave , a n y w a y . J u s t r e m e m b e r t o d o
a s I s a y ! "
T h e m o n k t h o u g h t he m i g h t be ki l led i f he s h o w e d a n y sign o f resis-
t a n c e , a n d t h e r e c e r t a i n l y w a s n o e s c a p e . " I ' m jus t no t used t o th is sor t
o f f o o d , " he a n s w e r e d , " b u t all r igh t , I'll eat i t . " As t h e t w o a te , t he m o n k
w o n d e r e d w h a t t h e B u d d h a c o u l d b e t h i n k i n g o f h im n o w , s ince h e h a d
v o w e d n e v e r t o ea t t h e f l e s h o f a n y l iv ing c r e a t u r e .
At n ight fa l l a v e r y p r e t t y gir l c a m e in, beaut i fu l ly d r e s s e d . H e r fa ther
p u s h e d h e r g e n t l y t o w a r d t h e m o n k . " S h e ' s y o u r s , " h e sa id . " F r o m n o w
o n y o u m u s t love h e r a s m u c h a s I d o . S h e ' s m y on ly d a u g h t e r , y o u
u n d e r s t a n d , s o y o u c a n i m a g i n e h o w d e e p l y I m e a n t h a t . " W i t h th is little
s p e e c h h e w i t h d r e w .
N o a r g u m e n t w a s p o s s i b l e . T h e m o n k ( f rom n o w o n h e will h a v e t o b e
" t h e y o u n g m a n " ) w e l c o m e d t h e gir l , a n d af ter t h a t t h e y w e r e m a n a n d
wi fe . T h e y o u n g m a n w a s a c t u a l l y v e r y h a p p y . H e w a s d r e s s e d i n t h e
bes t a n d s e r v e d w h a t e v e r food h e w a n t e d . T h i s n e w life w a s s o un l ike
his o ld o n e t h a t he p u t on a g o o d dea l o f w e i g h t . W h e n his ha i r w a s long
e n o u g h for a t o p k n o t he d i d i t up p r o p e r l y , a n d w i t h a r e s p e c t a b l e ha t on
he c u t a f ine f igu re . H i s wife t h o u g h t t h e w o r l d o f h im a n d he loved h e r
in r e t u r n .
Af t e r e igh t m o n t h s l ike th i s , t h e y o u n g w o m a n g r e w sad . H e r fa ther ,
o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , o n l y r e d o u b l e d his a t t e n t i o n s . " G o o d , g o o d , w e ' v e
g o t t e n s o m e f l e s h o n y o u ! " h e w o u l d say . " F a t t e n u p all y o u l i k e ! " H e
fed h i s s o n - i n - l a w s o of ten t h a t t h e y o u n g m a n k e p t p u t t i n g o n
w e i g h t . A s h e d i d s o h i s wife b e g a n t o h a v e f i t s o f w e e p i n g . W h e n t h e
y o u n g m a n a s k e d h e r w h y , s h e w o u l d a n s w e r on ly t h a t she felt sad ,
b u t w e p t m o r e a n d m o r e . T h e baff led y o u n g m a n p u t u p w i t h i t a s bes t
h e c o u l d .
O n e d a y h i s f a t h e r - i n - l a w e n t e r t a i n e d a vis i tor . L i s t e n i n g in d iscree t ly ,
h e h e a r d t h e v i s i t o r say , " T h a t ' s a n ice y o u n g m a n y o u ' v e go t ! Y o u m u s t
b e p l e a s e d t o h a v e y o u r d a u g h t e r s o wel l p r o v i d e d for . "
" I c e r t a i n l y a m ! " t h e g e n t l e m a n a n s w e r e d . " I f I d i d n ' t h a v e him, I
d o n ' t k n o w h o w I c o u l d s t a n d i t b y n o w . "
" I ju s t w i s h I cou ld ge t o n e myself ," said t h e v is i tor , r i s ing to g o . " I ' m
s u r e I'll b e m i s e r a b l e b y th i s t i m e n e x t y e a r . "
H a v i n g seen his g u e s t off, t h e g e n t l e m a n a s k e d sol ic i tous ly w h e t h e r
his s o n - i n - l a w h a d ea t en a n d m a d e s u r e a mea l w a s s e r v e d . T h e y o u n g
m a n ' s wife w e p t w h i l e h e a t e . T h e p u z z l e d y o u n g m a n k e p t t h i n k i n g
a b o u t w h a t t h e v i s i to r h a d sa id , a n d a l t h o u g h h e d id no t q u i t e u n d e r s t a n d
i t he w a s afra id . H i s wife r e s i s t ed e v e r y effort o f h is to c o a x an e x p l a n a -
t ion o u t o f her , t h o u g h s h e c l ea r ly w a n t e d t o s p e a k .
T h e vi l lage w a s b u s t l i n g w i t h p r e p a r a t i o n s for a fest ival . D e p r e s s e d
a s s h e w a s , t h e y o u n g m a n ' s wife n o w d id little m o r e t h a n c ry , a n d
s h e s e e m e d s o e s t r a n g e d f rom h im t h a t h e finally r e p r o a c h e d h e r . " I
t h o u g h t w e ' d a l w a y s b e t o g e t h e r i n joy a n d s o r r o w , " h e c o m p l a i n e d ,
" b u t y o u ' v e g o t t e n s o far a w a y ! Y o u ' r e t o o c r u e l ! " H e b u r s t in to a n g r y
t e a r s .
H i s wife s o b b e d a l o u d . " W h a t e v e r m a d e m e t h i n k I co u l d k e e p s i lent
till t h e v e r y e n d ? " s h e c r i ed . " T h e r e ' s so little t i m e left! O h , i f o n l y I
d i d n ' t love y o u ! "
" A m I g o i n g t o d i e ? W e l l , so a r e we all, s o m e t ime o r o t h e r . T h e r e
m u s t b e s o m e t h i n g e lse! Tell m e ! "
" Y o u see , we h a v e a s a c r e d ob l iga t ion h e r e t o g ive o u r g o d s l iv ing
h u m a n sacr i f ices . T h a t ' s w h y e v e r y o n e w a s s o a n x i o u s t o h a v e y o u w h e n
y o u c a m e . T h e y all w a n t e d y o u for t h e sacr if ice . E a c h y e a r it 's a n o t h e r
h o u s e h o l d ' s t u r n t o p r o v i d e t h e v ic t im, a n d i f n o o n e f rom o u t s i d e c a n b e
f o u n d t h e h o u s e h o l d h e a d h a s t o p r o v i d e his o w n son o r d a u g h t e r . I 'd
h a v e b e e n t h e v ic t im i f y o u h a d n ' t c o m e . O h , I w i s h I c o u l d t a k e y o u r
p lace af ter a l l ! "
" D o n ' t c r y ! " sa id h e r h u s b a n d . " P e r h a p s i t c o u l d b e w o r s e . Tell m e , i s
t h e v ic t im c a r v e d up before b e i n g offered t o t h e g o d s ? "
" N o , I d o n ' t t h i n k so . T h e v ic t im i s laid o u t n a k e d on a c u t t i n g b o a r d
a n d c a r r i e d ins ide t h e i n n e r s a n c t u a r y fence . T h e n e v e r y o n e l eaves . I
h e a r t h e g o d s c a r v e up t h e i r v ic t im t h e m s e l v e s . I f t h e v ic t im i s t h in o r
d i s p l e a s i n g i n a n y w a y , t h e y ' r e v e r y a n g r y . T h e n t h e c r o p s fail, p e o p l e
ge t s ick, a n d w e v i l l agers d o n o t h i n g b u t q u a r r e l . T h a t ' s w h y m y fa the r
h a s b e e n feed ing y o u s o of ten a n d m a k i n g y o u ga in w e i g h t . "
A t last t h e y o u n g m a n u n d e r s t o o d all t h e c a r e t h a t h a d b e e n l av i shed
o n h i m . " B u t t h e s e g o d s , " h e sa id , " w h a t s h a p e d o t h e y h a v e ? "
" T h e y ' r e s u p p o s e d t o b e m o n k e y s . "
"All r igh t , I h a v e an idea . C a n y o u ge t me a g o o d d a g g e r ? "
" O f c o u r s e I c a n , " h i s wife a n s w e r e d , a n d q u i c k l y d i d so .
T h e y o u n g m a n s h a r p e n e d i t carefu l ly a n d h id i t o n his b o d y . H e go t
m u c h l ivel ier n o w , a t e w i t h unfa i l ing a p p e t i t e , a n d w e n t o n fa t t en ing
2 7 8
nice ly . H i s f a t h e r - i n - l a w w a s p l ea sed , a n d e v e r y o n e i n t he vi l lage looked
f o r w a r d to a g o o d y e a r .
S e v e n d a y s b e f o r e t h e fest ival , c e r e m o n i a l r o p e s w e r e s t r e t c h e d a r o u n d
all t h e h o u s e s t o m a r k t h e s a c r e d occas ion , a n d t h e y o u n g m a n w a s m a d e
t o fast a n d u n d e r g o pu r i f i ca t ion . T h o u g h his wife c o u n t e d t he d a y s w i t h
t e a r s a n d g r o a n s , h e h imse l f s e e m e d u n t r o u b l e d . I n fact, h e comfor t ed
his wi fe so wel l t h a t e v e n s h e t o o k h e a r t a l i t t le.
O n t h e fest ival d a y h e w a s m a d e t o w a s h a n d p u t o n a beaut i ful r o b e .
H i s h a i r w a s c o m b e d a n d t i ed u p , a n d his s ide locks careful ly d r e s s e d . A
m e s s e n g e r c a m e f rom t h e s h r i n e a g a i n a n d aga in , m o r e impa t i en t each
t i m e . F i n a l l y t h e y o u n g m a n a n d t h e g e n t l e m a n r o d e ou t o n h o r s e s t o -
g e t h e r w h i l e t h e y o u n g wife s t a y e d b e h i n d , h i d i n g u n d e r h e r r o b e a n d
w e e p i n g i n s i l ence .
T h e s h r i n e w a s a r o w of s a n c t u a r i e s c o m p o s i n g a s ingle l a rge s t r u c t u r e
i n s ide a n i m p r e s s i v e l y f enced s a c r e d e n c l o s u r e . T h e c r o w d before t he
f ence w a s e a t i n g a fest ive m e a l . T h e y o u n g m a n w a s led to a h igh seat
a m o n g t h e m a n d s e r v e d food t o o . Af te r t h e c o m p a n y h a d ea t en a n d
d r u n k freely, t h e r e w a s d a n c i n g a n d m u s i c .
A t las t t h e y o u n g m a n w a s ca l led o n t o r ise . H e w a s u n d r e s s e d , his
h a i r w a s u n b o u n d , a n d h e w a s laid o n t h e c u t t i n g b o a r d w i t h a final,
s t r i c t o r d e r n e i t h e r t o m o v e n o r t o s p e a k . G r e e n sp r igs o f t h e s a c r e d
dakaki t r e e w e r e p l a n t e d a t t h e b o a r d ' s four c o r n e r s , a n d a s a c r e d c o r d
w i t h w h i t e s t r e a m e r s f l u t t e r i ng f rom i t w a s s t r u n g from sp r ig t o sp r ig .
H a v i n g c a r r i e d t h e b o a r d c e r e m o n i o u s l y t h r o u g h t h e fence a n d laid i t
b e f o r e t h e s a n c t u a r i e s , t h e b e a r e r s w i t h d r e w a n d c losed t h e ga t e b e h i n d
t h e m . T h e y o u n g m a n w a s all a l o n e . H e s tea l th i ly r e a c h e d for t h e d a g g e r
h i d d e n all t h i s t i m e b e t w e e n his t h i g h s .
W h e n t h e d o o r o f t h e ch ie f s a n c t u a r y c r e a k e d o p e n , t h e y o u n g m a n ' s
h a i r s t o o d o n e n d . O n e b y o n e t h e o t h e r d o o r s o p e n e d too . N e x t a
m o n k e y a s b ig a s a m a n c a m e r o u n d f rom b e h i n d t h e s h r i n e a n d c h a t t e r e d
a t t h e ch ie f s a n c t u a r y . T h e s a n c t u a r y c u r t a i n w a s s w e p t a s ide a n d ou t
c a m e a n o t h e r m o n k e y w i t h g l e a m i n g w h i t e t e e th , l a r g e r a n d fiercer t h a n
t h e f i r s t . " T h e y ' r e ju s t m o n k e y s a f te r a l l ! " t h o u g h t t h e y o u n g m a n w i t h
relief. M o r e m o n k e y s c a m e f rom t h e o t h e r s a n c t u a r i e s , a n d w h e n all w e r e
p r e s e n t t h e m e s s e n g e r m o n k e y r e c e i v e d c h a t t e r e d o r d e r s from the m o n -
k e y o f t h e ch ie f s a n c t u a r y . T h e s e i n s t r u c t i o n s o b v i o u s l y c o n c e r n e d t h e
v i c t im b e c a u s e t h e m e s s e n g e r m o n k e y n o w c a m e t o t h e c u t t i n g b o a r d ,
p i c k e d u p t h e l a r g e c o o k i n g c h o p s t i c k s a n d knife t h a t w e r e laid ou t for
h i m , a n d p r e p a r e d t o c a r v e .
T h e y o u n g m a n l e a p t u p a n d a t t a c k e d t h e chief m o n k e y w h o , t a k e n
c o m p l e t e l y b y s u r p r i s e , t o p p l e d o v e r b a c k w a r d s . A d a g g e r p i n n e d h im t o
t h e g r o u n d . " A r e y o u a g o d ? " t h e y o u n g m a n r o a r e d . T h e m o n k e y w r u n g
his h a n d s b e s e e c h i n g l y w h i l e all t h e o t h e r s f l ed a n d sat c h a t t e r i n g fu-
r ious ly in t h e t r e e t o p s .
T h e y o u n g m a n t ied u p t h e m o n k e y w i t h s o m e v ine s t h a t c a m e t o h a n d
a n d b o u n d h im to a pos t . T h e n w i t h his d a g g e r t o t h e pi t o f t h e m o n k e y ' s
s t o m a c h he c r ied , " W h y , y o u are j u s t a p la in m o n k e y ! A n d all t he se y e a r s
y o u ' v e b e e n ca l l ing y o u r s e l f a g o d a n d e a t i n g p e o p l e ! Now w h a t h a v e y o u
go t t o say for y o u r s e l f ? All r igh t , call ou t y o u r s o n s ! Cal l t h e m o u t !
Y o u ' r e d e a d i f y o u d o n ' t . Of c o u r s e i f y o u ' r e a g o d my knife w o n ' t h u r t
y o u . P e r h a p s I'll j u s t s t ick i t in y o u r bel ly a n d see w h a t h a p p e n s ! " A little
p r e s s u r e o n t h e b l a d e m a d e t h e m o n k e y s c r e a m a n d w r i n g his h a n d s
a g a i n . "All r i g h t , " sa id t h e y o u n g m a n , "cal l ou t y o u r s o n s ! "
T h e m o n k e y c h a t t e r e d a n d t h e m e s s e n g e r m o n k e y c a m e b a c k . S e n d i n g
h im for m o r e v ines , t h e y o u n g m a n first t ied u p t h e chief m o n k e y ' s t h r e e
s o n s , t h e n t h e m e s s e n g e r m o n k e y t o o . " Y o u w e r e g o i n g t o c a r v e m e u p , "
he sa id , " b u t I'll let y o u live i f y o u s t ay qu ie t . I will kill y o u , t h o u g h , i f
y o u e v e r c u r s e t h o s e p o o r , i g n o r a n t p e o p l e a g a i n o r eat t h e m ! "
H e led t h e m o n k e y s o u t t h e g a t e t h r o u g h t h e s h r i n e fence a n d t ied
t h e m t o t r e e s . N e x t , h e se t f i r e t o t h e s h r i n e w i t h e m b e r s from t h e r e c e n t
c o o k i n g f i r e s . T h e v i l lage w a s s o far off t h a t n o o n e k n e w , t h o u g h w h e n
f l a m e s l e a p e d from t h e s p o t t h e v i l l agers s a w t h e m a n d w o r r i e d . N o o n e
w e n t t o see w h a t w a s h a p p e n i n g b e c a u s e p e o p l e w e r e s u p p o s e d t o s t ay
a t h o m e for t h r e e d a y s af ter t h e fest ival .
T h e g e n t l e m a n w a s p a r t i c u l a r l y u p s e t a n d feared s o m e t h i n g h a d g o n e
v e r y w r o n g . H i s d a u g h t e r t o o w a s af ra id b e c a u s e she k n e w b e t t e r t h a n
h e r f a the r w h a t m i g h t h a v e c a u s e d the f l a m e s . T h e n the v ic t im h imse l f
a p p e a r e d in t h e v i l lage , c a r r y i n g a staff a n d d r i v i n g t h e t i e d - u p m o n k e y s
a h e a d o f h im . He w a s n a k e d b u t for a bel t o f v ine s w i t h a d a g g e r s t u c k
in it, a n d his loose h a i r f lowed o v e r his s h o u l d e r s . P e o p l e p e e p e d a t h i m
t h r o u g h e v e r y g a t e a l o n g t h e w a y . " H e ' s go t t he g o d s b o u n d a n d h e ' s
d r i v i n g t h e m a l o n g ! " t h e y c r i ed t o e a c h o t h e r . " W h y , o u r sacrificial
v ic t im w a s m o r e p o w e r f u l t h a n t h e g o d s ! A n d i f h e c a n d o th i s t o t h e
g o d s , j u s t t h i n k w h a t h e c a n d o t o u>A M a y b e he ' l l ea t u s ! " T h e v i l l agers
w e r e te r r i f ied .
A t h i s f a t h e r - i n - l a w ' s h o u s e t h e y o u n g m a n s h o u t e d for t h e g a t e t o b e
o p e n e d . S i l ence m e t h i s d e m a n d . " O p e n u p ! " h e s h o u t e d a g a i n . " I w o n ' t
h u r t y o u ! B u t i f y o u d o n ' t o p e n u p t h e r e will b e t r o u b l e . " H e k i c k e d a t
t h e g a t e .
T h e g e n t l e m a n h a d his d a u g h t e r g o o u t t o m e e t h e r h u s b a n d . " H e ' s
s t r o n g e r t h a n t h e g o d s , " h e sa id , " a n d I 'm af ra id h e m a y m e a n y o u h a r m .
B u t o p e n t h e g a t e a n d ta lk t o h i m . "
2 8 0
Fear fu l b u t h a p p y too , t h e gir l c r a c k e d t h e ga t e o p e n a n d the y o u n g
m a n p u s h e d i t w i d e . " L e t m e h a v e m y c l o t h e s , " h e sa id . S h e fe tched him
his t r o u s e r s , h i s c loak , a n d his ha t , a n d af ter t y ing the m o n k e y s fast t o
t h e h o u s e h e d r e s s e d . H e a lso h a d h e r b r i n g h im a q u i v e r a n d b o w . T h e n
he ca l led o u t h is f a t h e r - i n - l a w .
" I t ' s h o r r i b l e ! " he sa id . " T h e s e a r e monkeys y o u ' v e been cal l ing g o d s
a n d f e e d i n g p e o p l e t o all t h e s e y e a r s . L o o k ! T h i s i s M r . M o n k e y . Y o u
c a n k e e p h im t ied t o y o u r h o u s e , a n d i f a n y o n e d o e s a n y t o r m e n t i n g it 's
you, n o t M r . M o n k e y . B u t y o u ' v e h a d i t all b a c k w a r d s ! Wel l , y o u can be
s u r e t h e s e m o n k e y s w o n ' t t r o u b l e y o u a n y m o r e a s long a s I 'm h e r e ! "
H e p i n c h e d o n e o f t h e m o n k e y s ' e a r s . I t d id no t r eac t . T h e w h o l e t h i n g
w a s r a t h e r f u n n y . T h e m o n k e y s s e e m e d q u i t e t a m e ! Sl ight ly r e a s s u r e d ,
t h e g e n t l e m a n a g r e e d t h a t t h e y h a d h a d e v e r y t h i n g w r o n g . " F r o m n o w
o n you'll b e o u r g o d , " h e sa id , " a n d we ' l l d o w h a t e v e r y o u s a y ! " H e
r u b b e d his h a n d s t o g e t h e r i ng ra t i a t i ng ly .
T h e y o u n g m a n led h im off t o see t h e m a y o r , h e r d i n g the m o n k e y s
a l o n g . H i s k n o c k o n t h e g a t e aga in go t n o a n s w e r .
" O p e n u p ! " t h e g e n t l e m a n s h o u t e d . " I ' v e go t t o s p e a k t o y o u ! There ' l l
b e t r o u b l e o t h e r w i s e ! " T h i s t h r e a t b r o u g h t ou t t h e m a y o r , t r e m b l i n g w i t h
fear , t o o p e n u p . A t t h e s igh t o f t h e sacrificial v ic t im he t h r e w himself
p r o s t r a t e o n t h e g r o u n d . T h e y o u n g m a n led his m o n k e y s in to t he h o u s e
a n d s p o k e t o t h e m w i t h fury i n his eyes . " Y o u ' v e falsely cal led y o u r s e l v e s
g o d s , a n d e a c h y e a r y o u ' v e k i l led a n d ea t en a h u m a n be ing . N o w y o u ' r e
g o i n g t o m e n d y o u r w a y s ! " H e fitted a n a r r o w t o his b o w s t r i n g a n d t ook
a i m . T h e m o n k e y s s c r e a m e d i n ab jec t fear, a n d the m a y o r w a s s o a l a r m e d
t h a t h e a s k e d t h e g e n t l e m a n , " I s h e g o i n g t o kill us , t oo? Save u s ! "
" K e e p c a l m , " t h e g e n t l e m a n a n s w e r e d . " N o t h i n g will h a p p e n a s l ong
a s I 'm h e r e . "
"Al l r i g h t , " t h e y o u n g m a n w e n t on , " I w o n ' t h a v e y o u r l ives. Bu t i f
y o u e v e r s h o w y o u r s e l v e s h e r e aga in , a n d t r y a n y misch ie f aga ins t t he
p e o p l e , I p r o m i s e I'll s h o o t y o u . "
H e g a v e e a c h m o n k e y t w e n t y b l o w s o f his staff, t h e n sen t t he v i l lagers
t o s m a s h a n d b u r n w h a t w a s left o f t h e s h r i n e . N e x t , h e d r o v e t he
m o n k e y s o u t o f t h e v i l l age . T h e y r a n off, l imping , d e e p in to t h e m o u n -
t a i n s a n d w e r e n e v e r seen a g a i n .
N o w t h e g r e a t e s t m a n i n t h e v i l lage , t h e y o u n g m a n s t a y e d o n w i t h his
w i fe . T h e v i l l age r s w e r e a t h is b e c k a n d call . P e r h a p s h e to ld th is s t o ry
w h e n he c a m e b a c k to o u r l a n d for a sec re t visi t . S i n c e t h e p e o p l e b e y o n d
t h e wa te r f a l l h a d n o ca t t l e , h o r s e s , o r d o g s h e b r o u g h t t h e m p u p p i e s
( d o g s a r e g r e a t e n e m i e s o f m o n k e y s ) a n d foals for t h e m t o p u t t o w o r k ,
a n d t h e s e all m u l t i p l i e d . B u t a l t h o u g h h e s o m e t i m e s vis i ted o u r l and , n o
o n e f rom h e r e e v e r v i s i t ed h i s .
1 8 9 .
CANNIBAL ISLAND
A m a n from K y u s h u o n c e set off by boa t , w i t h a g o o d c r e w of m e n , to
t r a d e i n p a r t s u n k n o w n . O n t h e r e t u r n v o y a g e t h e sh ip ' s first landfal l
w a s a l a rge i s l and far off t h e s o u t h w e s t e r n coas t of K y u s h u . I t s e e m e d
i n h a b i t e d , a n d t h e c r e w w e r e all for p u t t i n g i n a n d t a k i n g o n s o m e
p r o v i s i o n s . W h e n , t h e y l a n d e d , s o m e w a n d e r e d off t o l ook o v e r t h e i s l and
w h i l e o t h e r s s c a t t e r e d t o r e p l e n i s h t he i r s u p p l y o f c h o p s t i c k s .
T h e s o o n h e a r d a l a rge g r o u p o f p e o p l e c o m i n g d o w n f rom t h e h e i g h t s
o f t h e i s l and . F o r all t h e y k n e w , t h e i s l a n d e r s cou ld b e d e m o n s . R u s h i n g
b a c k t o t h e s h i p , t h e y q u i c k l y p u t s o m e sea b e t w e e n t h e m s e l v e s a n d t h e
s h o r e .
M o r e t h a n a h u n d r e d n a t i v e s h o v e in to v i e w , d r e s s e d i n w h i t e w i t h
tall , n o d d i n g c a p s on t h e i r h e a d s . I t w a s a famil iar c o s t u m e . T h a n k
g o o d n e s s t h e y w e r e h u m a n s af ter al l! A p p a r e n t l y t h e r e w a s n o t h i n g t o
fear . Stil l , in so r e m o t e a spo t t h e s e fel lows cou ld easi ly be m u r d e r o u s
e n o u g h , a n d t h e r e c e r t a i n l y w e r e a lot o f t h e m . T h e m e n k e p t r o w i n g .
T h e i s l a n d e r s r e a c h e d t h e e d g e o f t h e w a t e r , s a w t h a t t h e b o a t w a s
r e t r e a t i n g , a n d c a m e s t r a i g h t o n in to t h e sea . B e i n g f ighters , t h e c r e w
w e r e wel l a r m e d . E v e r y m a n h a d a n a r r o w fitted t o t h e s t r i n g a s t h e y
w a r n e d t he i r p u r s u e r s off. T h e c o m p l e t e l y u n a r m e d i s l ande r s g l a r e d a t
t h e s h i p a m o m e n t i n s i lence , t h e n t u r n e d r o u n d a n d d i s a p p e a r e d a g a i n
u p o n t o t h e i s l and .
W h a t h a d t h e i s l a n d e r s h a d i n m i n d ? T h e c r e w d id no t rea l ly w a n t t o
find ou t , a n d s ince t h e i s l a n d e r s c o u l d pe r fec t ly wel l t r y c o m i n g af ter
t h e m aga in , t h e y fo l lowed t h e p r o m p t i n g o f t h e i r fear a n d r o w e d a w a y
for g o o d .
B a c k i n K y u s h u t h e y to ld e v e r y o n e t h e y m e t a b o u t t h e i n c i d e n t . A n
old m a n w h o h e a r d t h e s t o r y sa id t h e y h a d b e e n o n T o r a I s l and . A s far
a s h e k n e w , t h e i s l a n d e r s d id i n d e e d h a v e h u m a n form, b u t w e r e a c t u a l l y
c a n n i b a l s w h o w o u l d o v e r p o w e r a n y u n w a r y v i s i to r a n d kill a n d ea t h i m .
" Y o u b o y s d id wel l t o ge t a w a y from t h e r e , " h e d e c l a r e d . " I f t h e y ' d
g o t t e n a t y o u , y o u ' d h a v e all b e e n d e a d , a r m e d o r n o t ! " T h e m e n q u a k e d
af resh a t t h i s n e w s a n d w o n d e r e d a t t h e i r n a r r o w e s c a p e .
2 8 2
l a o .
NO NONSENSE!
T h e s p l e n d i d m a n s i o n o f T o r u , t h e M i n i s t e r o f t h e Left, w a s cal led
K a w a r a - n o - i n , o r R i v e r s i d e . T o r u w a s espec ia l ly p r o u d o f its e l a b o r a t e
g a r d e n . W h e n h e d i ed , h is he i r s offered t h e p lace t o R e t i r e d E m p e r o r
U d a .
L a t e o n e n i g h t U d a h e a r d s o m e o n e o p e n a s t o r e r o o m i n t he w e s t w i n g
a n d c o m e r u s t l i n g t o w a r d h i m . P e e r i n g in to t h e d a r k n e s s h e s a w , knee l -
ing n o w s o m e six feet a w a y , a g e n t l e m a n in e l e g a n t e v e r y d a y d r e s s ,
c a r r y i n g a c o u r t i e r ' s b a t o n a n d w e a r i n g a s w o r d in t h e m a n n e r of a v e r y
g r e a t l o r d .
" W h o a r e y o u ? " U d a a s k e d .
" T h e m a s t e r o f th i s h o u s e . "
" Y o u m e a n y o u ' r e t h e M i n i s t e r T o r u ? "
" Y e s , I a m . "
" W h a t d o y o u w a n t ? "
" W e l l , t h e h o u s e i s m i n e , a n d i f I m a y say so , y o u r l iving he r e t oo
m a k e s t h e p l a c e a b i t smal l for m e . I w o n d e r w h a t y o u s u g g e s t . "
" T h i s i s v e r y o d d , " sa id U d a , h is vo ice r i s ing w i t h a n g e r . " W h e n d id I
e v e r r o b a m a n o f h i s h o u s e ? I l ive h e r e b e c a u s e y o u r he i r s g a v e t he p lace
to me. Y o u r b e i n g a g h o s t d o e s n ' t m e a n y o u ta lk s ense . W h a t ' s all th i s
a b o u t ? "
T h e g h o s t v a n i s h e d i n s t a n t l y a n d w a s n e v e r seen a g a i n .
P e o p l e w e r e v e r y i m p r e s s e d w i t h H i s M a j e s t y ' s h a n d l i n g o f t h e inci-
d e n t . " N o o r d i n a r y m a n , " t h e y sa id , " c o u l d poss ib le h a v e a r g u e d s o
forceful ly w i t h a g h o s t ! "
H A U N T S I I
i 9 i .
QUITE A BIT OF NONSENSE
O n c e , R e t i r e d E m p e r o r U d a t o o k a c a r r i a g e r ide w i t h o n e o f his c o n s o r t s
t o h i s R i v e r s i d e P a l a c e . T h e v i e w f rom t h e r e w a s lovely, a n d t h a t n i g h t
t h e m o o n w a s v e r y b r i g h t . U d a h a d t h e m a t s f rom his c a r r i a g e s p r e a d
o u t i n o n e o f t h e r o o m s , t h e n h e a n d t h e c o n s o r t lay d o w n . T h e y w e r e
m a k i n g love w h e n a s t o r e r o o m d o o r o p e n e d a n d a vo ice s p o k e .
" W h o ' s t h e r e ? " U d a ca l led .
" T o r u , " sa id t h e v o i c e . " I w a n t y o u r c o n s o r t for n u . "
" Y o u w e r e j u s t a m i n i s t e r w h e n y o u w e r e a l i v e , " U d a r e t o r t e d . " I ' m
a n e m p e r o r . H o w d a r e y o u ? G o a w a y ! "
T h e g h o s t c l u t c h e d a t U d a , w h o w a s half d e a d w i t h fr ight . H i s s e r v a n t s
w e r e all t oo far a w a y t o h e a r h im c r y ou t . O n l y t h e litt le o x h e r d w a s
n e a r b y , t e n d i n g t h e o x from t h e c a r r i a g e w h i l e i t g r a z e d . U d a h a d h im
ge t t h e c a r r i a g e b r o u g h t r o u n d a n d h e l p e d his c o n s o r t in to it. S h e w a s
g h a s t l y pa l e a n d cou ld n o t e v e n s t a n d .
A s s o o n a s U d a g o t h o m e , h e sen t a n exorc i s t t o t a k e c a r e o f t h e g h o s t .
H e w a s v e r y l u c k y t h a t t h e g o d s w e r e still w a t c h i n g o v e r h im e v e n
t h o u g h h e h a d a b d i c a t e d . T h e r e w e r e s w o r d c u t s o n t h e s t o r e r o o m d o o r ,
m a d e b y t h e g o d s a s t h e y s l a s h e d a t T o r u ' s g h o s t a n d fo rced h im b a c k
ins ide .
1 9 2 .
ONE MOUTHFUL
L o n g a g o . R e t i r e d E m p e r o r Yoze i l ived in a h a u n t e d pa l ace in n o r t h e r n
K y o t o .
O n e n i g h t a g u a r d w a s a s l eep in t h e F i s h i n g Pavi l ion , a pav i l ion for
p a r t i e s a n d m o o n - v i e w i n g bu i l t o u t o v e r t h e l a rge g a r d e n p o n d . S u d d e n l y
he a w o k e to feel s k i n n y f ingers p l a y i n g l ight ly o v e r his face. F r i g h t e n e d
b y t h e ee r ie s e n s a t i o n , h e d r e w his s w o r d a n d se ized t h e i n t r u d e r . H e
h a d c a p t u r e d a m i s e r a b l e old m a n d r e s s e d all in pa l e b l u e .
" T h i s i s w h e r e / l ived a l o n g t i m e a g o , " t h e old m a n said dolefully.
" I ' m U r a s h i m a ' s y o u n g e r b r o t h e r , y o u k n o w , a n d I 've b e e n h e r e for
2 8 4
t w e l v e h u n d r e d y e a r s . P l ease let me g o ! I f on ly you ' l l bui ld me a sh r ine
a n d d o m e p r o p e r h o n o r , I'll wi l l ing ly p r o t e c t t he p l a c e ! "
" B u t i t i sn ' t j u s t up to me," t h e g u a r d rep l ied . "I ' l l h a v e to consu l t H i s
M a j e s t y a b o u t i t . "
" O h y o u wil l , wil l y o u ? " s n a r l e d t he old m a n . H e k i c k e d the g u a r d
h igh i n t h e a i r t h r e e t i m e s . T h e last t ime the g u a r d c a m e d o w n , a s l imp
as a r a g , he o p e n e d his m o u t h a n d s w a l l o w e d h im. At first he h a d loooked
q u i t e o r d i n a r y , b u t t h e n h e g r e w s o h u g e t h a t h e m a d e jus t o n e mouthfu l
of t h a t g u a r d .
1 o 3 .
SUDDENLY, HORSE DUNG
O n e e v e n i n g an imper i a l b a t h a t t e n d a n t ( a w o m a n ) w e n t off on a visit,
t a k i n g h e r l i t t le son A k o b o s h i a n d s o m e f r iends o f his a l o n g wi th her . As
tw i l i gh t fell t h e b o y s b e g a n a w r e s t l i n g g a m e o u t s i d e t h e h o u s e . S u d d e n l y
s o m e t h i n g l ike a h u g e c u r t a i n ( t h e y n e v e r d id ge t a g o o d look it) c a m e
d o w n o v e r t h e m from t h e wal l t h e y w e r e p l a y i n g u n d e r , a n d A k o b o s h i
d i s a p p e a r e d . T h e o t h e r b o y s r a n off, te r r i f ied . T h e y w e r e afraid to tell
a n y o n e w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d .
T h e w o m a n w a s v e r y u p s e t w h e n s h e missed h e r son a n d h u n t e d
e v e r y w h e r e for h im, b u t in v a i n . In t h e m i d d l e o f t he t h i r d n ight af ter his
d i s a p p e a r a n c e t h e r e w a s a k n o c k i n g on h e r g a t e . N o t d a r i n g to o p e n it,
s h e m a n a g e d t o c r y ou t , " W h o ' s t h e r e ? "
" W e w a n t t o g ive y o u b a c k y o u r s o n ! O p e n u p ! "
S h e w a s t o o f r i g h t e n e d t o o b e y . N e x t , s h e h e a r d voices o n h e r roof
a n d a r o a r o f l a u g h t e r . S o m e t h i n g fell, o r w a s t h r o w n , t o t he g r o u n d .
F i g h t i n g b a c k h e r t e r r o r , s h e lit a t o r c h a n d w e n t for a look . I t w a s
A k o b o s h i , ly ing l i m p a n d still. T h e on ly s ign of life in h im w a s t h a t he
b l i n k e d .
S h e ca l l ed a h e a l e r a n d his m e d i u m . W h e n the m e d i u m w e n t in to he r
t r a n c e , A k o b o s h i w a s s u d d e n l y c o v e r e d w i t h s o m e sor t o f b r o w n i s h stuff.
I t t u r n e d o u t t o be h o r s e d u n g , t h r e e bucke t fu l s o f it. A k o b o s h i n e v e r
to ld w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d t o h im, b u t h e r ev ived a n d w a s still al ive t en
y e a r s o r s o l a t e r .
T h i s h a p p e n e d a r o u n d 1215 . I go t th i s from s o m e o n e w h o w a s t h e r e a t
t h e t i m e .
1 9 A •
THE MONK IN WHITE ARMOR
N a k a k a n e , t h e g o v e r n o r o f O m i , w a s g o i n g e v e r y d a y t o h e l p his fa ther ,
L o r d M i t s u t o , bu i ld t h e Hojuj i t e m p l e . H e left t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n si te o n e
e v e n i n g af ter s u n d o w n , a n d d a r k n e s s fell w h i l e his c a r r i a g e w a s ro l l ing
a l o n g in t h e v ic in i ty o f Toj i . T h e r e w a s no o n e b e h i n d h im b e c a u s e all h i s
a t t e n d a n t s w e r e r u n n i n g o n a h e a d .
By t h e faint l ight o f t h e s t a r s N a k a k a n e s a w a m o n k in w h i t e a r m o r
w a l k i n g b e h i n d his c a r r i a g e . H o w v e r y o d d ! Lif t ing t h e c a r r i a g e ' s r e a r
b l i n d for a b e t t e r look , he t h o u g h t he r e c o g n i z e d o n e J i r o , a m o n k w h o m
his f a t h e r h a d d i s m i s s e d f rom his se rv ice a n d d r i v e n a w a y . P e r h a p s J i r o
w a s p l a n n i n g an a t t a c k . Still , i t w a s all v e r y s t r a n g e .
I n s t e a d o f w a r n i n g his a t t e n d a n t s , N a k a k a n e g r i p p e d t h e s w o r d t h a t
w a s k e p t i n t h e c a r r i a g e for e m e r g e n c i e s , j u m p e d d o w n , a n d faced t h e
m o n k .
" I s t h a t y o u , J i r o ? " h e ca l led t h r e a t e n i n g l y . " W h a t a r e y o u d o i n g
h e r e ? I d o n ' t l ike t h e look o f y o u ! " A n d he c h a r g e d .
T h e m o n k g r e w h u g e , t h e n s e e m e d t o v a n i s h . S u d d e n l y s o m e t h i n g
k n o c k e d N a k a k a n e ' s h a t off f rom a b o v e a n d lifted h i m u p b y t h e ha i r .
S l a s h i n g o v e r his h e a d w i t h t h e s w o r d , N a k a k a n e s t r u c k s o m e t h i n g sol id .
W h a t e v e r i t w a s let g o , a n d he fell t o t h e g r o u n d w i t h b l o o d all o v e r his
r o b e a n d his r igh t a r m .
H a v i n g n o idea w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d , N a k a k a n e ' s s e r v a n t s w e n t o n t o
L o r d M i t s u t o ' s h o u s e a s o r d e r e d . T h e y on ly rea l i zed t h e c a r r i a g e w a s
e m p t y w h e n t he i r m a s t e r failed t o ge t o u t o f it. B a c k t h e y w e n t t h e w a y
t h e y h a d c o m e , in g r e a t a l a r m , a n d d i s c o v e r e d N a k a k a n e in a field s o u t h
o f Toj i . H e w a s d e a d , s w o r d i n h a n d . T h e y c a r r i e d h im h o m e a n d h a d a
p r o t e c t i v e r i te d o n e o v e r h im for severa l d a y s un t i l he c a m e b a c k to life.
T h e R e t i r e d E m p e r o r a s k e d for t h e s w o r d , a n d i t e n d e d u p i n t h e
t r e a s u r y o f S a n j u s a n g e n d o .
2 8 6
O n e d a y w h e n t h e " S a g e M i n i s t e r " S a n e s u k e w a s still on ly a counse lo r ,
he d o z e d off in his c a r r i a g e on t h e w a y ou t o f t h e pa l ace . H o v e r i n g
b e t w e e n d r e a m a n d w a k i n g , he no t i ced a little m a n all in w h i t e c a t c h i n g
u p w i t h h im fast. O n r e a c h i n g t h e c a r r i a g e t h e little m a n lifted the r e a r
b l i n d . S a n e s u k e w a s i n d i g n a n t . " W h a t d o y o u w a n t ? " h e g r o w l e d . " I
d o n ' t l ike y o u . G o a w a y ! "
" I ' m f rom t h e k i n g o f h e l l , " t h e little m a n a n s w e r e d . " M y n a m e i s Lit t le
W h i t e H a i r s . " H e j u m p e d in to t h e c a r r i a g e , h o p p e d o n t o S a n e s u k e ' s
h e a d , a n d d i s a p p e a r e d .
B a c k a t h o m e S a n e s u k e l o o k e d in t he m i r r o r a n d s a w his first w h i t e
h a i r . H e h a d n e v e r b e e n m u c h i n t e r e r e s t e d i n rel igion before , b u t af ter
t h a t h e b e g a n t o t h i n k a b o u t t h e life t o c o m e .
1 Q 6 .
THE MAN WHO STOLE A DREAM
H i k i no M a k i b i t o , a c o u n t y m a g i s t r a t e ' s son in Bi tchu p r o v i n c e , w e n t to
see a d r e a m - r e a d e r a b o u t a p u z z l i n g d r e a m he h a d h a d . S i t t i ng c h a t t i n g
w i t h t h e w o m a n af te r s h e h a d g iven h e r r e ad ing , he h e a r d a p a r t y o f
p e o p l e a p p r o a c h i n g . I t w a s t h e p rov inc i a l g o v e r n o r ' s e ldes t son , a b o y of
s i x t e e n o r so , a c c o m p a n i e d by ha l f a d o z e n m e n .
T h e g o v e r n o r ' s son w a s v e r y h a n d s o m e . " I t th i s t h e d r e a m - r e a d e r
w o m a n ' s p l a c e ? " h e a s k e d his m e n , a n d t h e y to ld h im i t w a s . M a k i b i t o
D R E A M S
i 9 5 .
LITTLE WHITE HAIRS
r e t i r ed to an i n n e r r o o m a n d w a t c h e d t h r o u g h a ho le in t he wal l a s t h e
y o u n g m a n e n t e r e d , to ld his d r e a m , a n d a s k e d w h a t i t m e a n t . " T h a t ' s a
r e m a r k a b l e d r e a m , s i r , " t h e w o m a n r ep l i ed . " I t m e a n s y o u ' r e s u r e t o e n d
up as a m i n i s t e r a t c o u r t . Y e s i n d e e d , t h a t ' s a w o n d e r f u l d r e a m ! B u t be
carefu l n o w , sir , d o n ' t tell a n y o n e else a b o u t i t . " T h e y o u n g m a n l o o k e d
v e r y p l ea sed . O n l eav ing h e g a v e h e r his c loak .
M a k i b i t o e m e r g e d from t h e b a c k . " I h e a r i t 's poss ib le t o t a k e o v e r
s o m e o n e else 's d r e a m , " h e sa id . " W h y no t let m e h a v e t h a t y o u n g g e n t l e -
m a n ' s ? T h e g o v e r n o r will be off t o t h e C a p i t a l a g a i n o n c e his f o u r - y e a r
t e r m i s ove r , b u t I 'm y o u r n e i g h b o r a n d a l w a y s will be . Bes ides , m y
fa the r ' s t h e c o u n t y m a g i s t r a t e a n d y o u m i g h t a s wel l b e n ice t o m e . "
T h e w o m a n a g r e e d a n d to ld h im w h a t t o d o . " C o m e i n jus t a s t h e
y o u n g g e n t l e m a n d i d , " s h e sa id , " a n d tell m e his d r e a m exac t l y a s h e to ld
i t h imsel f . " M a k i b i t o cheer fu l ly imi t a t ed t h e g e n t l e m a n ' s e n t r a n c e a n d
n a r r a t i o n i n e v e r y de ta i l , a n d t h e w o m a n g a v e h im p r e c e s e l y t h e i n t e r p r e -
t a t i o n s h e h a d jus t g i v e n . M a k i b i t o r e m o v e d his c loak , g a v e i t t o he r , a n d
left.
Af te r t h a t he a p p l i e d h imse l f so s t u d i o u s l y to his b o o k s t h a t h is s cho l -
a r s h i p c a m e to t h e a t t e n t i o n o f t h e c o u r t . W h e n tes ted , he d id so wel l
t h a t he w a s s e n t t o s t u d y in C h i n a , r e t u r n i n g h o m e af ter a l ong a n d
fruitful s t ay t o f i n d f avo r w i t h t h e e m p e r o r . I n t ime h e w a s p r o m o t e d t o
min i s t e r .
So i t p a y s t o s tea l s o m e o n e e lse ' s d r e a m . T h e g o v e r n o r ' s son n e v e r go t
an official pos t a t all . H a d he k e p t h is d r e a m he w o u l d h a v e b e e n a
min i s t e r . Y o u s h o u l d k e e p y o u r d r e a m s t o you r se l f !
1 9 7 •
THE BUDDHA-OX
D u r i n g his t e n u r e a s g o v e r n o r o f E c h i z e n , T a i r a n o N a k a k a t a r ece ived
from his p r o v i n c e t h e gift of a b l a c k ox . Af te r r i d ing t h e a n i m a l for y e a r s ,
he a t last g a v e i t to a m o n k he k n e w a t K i y o m i z u in K y o t o , a n d t h e m o n k
in t u r n p a s s e d i t on to o n e M a s a n o r i w h o l ived in O t s u a t t h e s o u t h e r n
e n d o f L a k e B i w a .
W h e n t h e ho ly m a n o f S e k i d e r a b e g a n r e b u i l d i n g th i s v e n e r a b l e t e m p l e
f rom t h e r u i n s left by l o n g neg lec t , he f o u n d t h a t a l t h o u g h he h a d a g o o d
2 8 8
w a g o n to h a u l b u i l d i n g m a t e r i a l s in, he h a d no ox t o pull it. M a s a n o r i ,
n o t far a w a y i n O t s u , h e a r d o f t h e p r o b l e m a n d g a v e him the b lack ox .
T h e h o l y m a n p u t i t s t r a i g h t t o w o r k .
T h e ox h a d f in ished its j o b w h e n a g r e a t m o n k h a d a d r e a m . M y o s o n ,
o f M i i d e r a n e a r O t s u , d r e a m e d t h a t h e w e n t t o S e k i d e r a a n d found a
b l a c k o x t e t h e r e d be fo re t h e m a i n hal l . H e a s k e d w h a t i t w a s d o i n g t h e r e .
" I a m t h e B u d d h a K a s h o , " t h e o x itself r ep l i ed . " I c a m e t o S e k i d e r a i n
t h e fo rm o f a n o x t o h e l p t h e t e m p l e a n d s p r e a d the ho ly T e a c h i n g . "
T h e n M y o s o n w o k e u p .
He w a s so i m p r e s s e d t h a t in t h e m o r n i n g he sen t a d isc ip le to find ou t
w h e t h e r t h e r e r ea l ly w a s a b l ack ox a t S e k i d e r a , o n e used for hau l ing
c o n s t r u c t i o n m a t e r i a l s . T h e d i sc ip le r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e t e m p l e d id indeed
h a v e a b i g b l a c k ox w i t h r a t h e r f l a t t ened h o r n s . I t w a s t e t h e r e d in front
o f t h e h o l y m a n ' s l o d g i n g . A c c o r d i n g to t h e ho ly m a n , i t h a u l e d t he
m a t e r i a l s for r e b u i l d i n g t h e t e m p l e .
A m a z e d , M y o s o n set ou t on foot for S e k i d e r a w i t h a c r o w d of his mos t
d i s t i n g u i s h e d m o n k s . T h e o x w a s n o w h e r e t o b e seen , bu t t he ho ly m a n
e x p l a i n e d t h a t he h a d sen t i t up on t h e hi l ls ide t o g r a z e , a n d p r o m i s e d t o
h a v e i t f e t ched r i g h t a w a y . A c t u a l l y t h e o x c a m e d o w n the hi l ls ide b e h i n d
t h e m a i n hall e v e n as t h e b o y sen t for i t s t a r t e d u p . M y o s o n w a n t e d i t
c a u g h t , b u t t h i s p r o v e d imposs ib l e . A t last , filled w i t h p i o u s r e v e r e n c e ,
M y o s o n d e c l a r e d t h a t he w o u l d no t insist f u r the r . "I ' l l w o r s h i p i t from a
d i s t a n c e , w h e r e v e r i t m a y r o a m , " h e sa id , a n d p r o s t r a t e d h imsel f r epea t -
e d l y t o w a r d t h e o x . All t h e m o n k s w i t h h im d id t h e s a m e .
H a v i n g c i rc led t h e hal l t h r e e t imes c lockwi se , t h e ox lay d o w n in front
o f i t f ac ing t h e a l t a r . M y o s o n a n d his m o n k s c i r c u m a m b u l a t e d t he hall
t h r e e t i m e s i n t u r n . T h e m o r e s a i n t l y - l o o k i n g a m o n g t h e m w e r e all i n
t e a r s .
Af t e r M y o s o n left, n e w s o f t h e ox s p r e a d till e v e r y single i n h a b i t a n t o f
t h e C a p i t a l , all t h e g r e a t l o r d s a n d nob l e s , a n d even t h e r e g e n t h imsel f
w i t h his wi fe , c a m e to S e k i d e r a t o w o r s h i p it. S a n e s u k e , t h e M i n i s t e r o f
t h e R i g h t , w a s t h e o n l y o n e no t t o c o m e .
W h e n K i n ' s u e , t h e c h a n c e l l o r , m a d e t h e p i l g r image h e met such a p r e s s
o f c o m m o n e r s a t t h e t e m p l e t h a t he t h o u g h t i t unsafe to get ou t o f his
c a r r i a g e ( a s e v e n so g r e a t a m a n a s he w o u l d n o r m a l l y have d o n e ) before
e n t e r i n g t h e t e m p l e g r o u n d s . I n s t e a d , h e h a d his c a r r i a g e d r ive s t r a igh t
i n a n d u p t o t h e o x ' s s tal l . T h e o x s e e m e d d e e p l y of fended b y th i s sacr i -
lege b e c a u s e i t s u d d e n l y b r o k e its t e t h e r a n d bo l t ed for t h e hills. T h e
c h a n c e l l o r g o t o u t a t o n c e a n d b u r s t i n to t ea r s a t t h e t h o u g h t tha t his
c o n d u c t h a d d i s p l e a s e d t h e o x a n d m a d e i t r u n a w a y .
P e r h a p s m o v e d b y his hea r t fe l t r e p e n t a n c e , t h e o x soon c a m e s lowly
b a c k d o w n t h e h i l l s ide a n d lay d o w n a g a i n i n its stal l . T h e chance l lo r fed
i t g r a s s h e h a d g a t h e r e d w i t h his o w n h a n d s ; a n d w h e n i t a t e t h e g r a s s ,
a l t h o u g h c lea r ly no t v e r y h u n g r y , he c o v e r e d his face w i t h his s leeve a n d
s o b b e d . S o d id e v e r y o n e l o o k i n g o n .
Af t e r t h e m a s s p i l g r image h a d c o n t i n u e d for four o r five d a y s , t h e ho ly
m a n d r e a m e d t h a t t he o x s p o k e t o h im . " M y w o r k a t th i s t e m p l e i s d o n e
n o w , " i t sa id , " a n d in t h e e v e n i n g o f t h e d a y af ter t o m o r r o w I'll be g o i n g
h o m e . " T h e ho ly m a n w e p t w h e n h e w o k e u p , a n d q u i c k l y r e p o r t e d t h e
d r e a m t o M y o s o n . M y o s o n t o o w a s i n t e a r s . H e to ld t he ho ly m a n t h a t
s o m e o n e a t M i i d e r a h a d h a d t h e s a m e d r e a m .
W o r d o f th is fresh d e v e l o p m e n t b r o u g h t even g r e a t e r t h r o n g s t o S e k i -
d e r a . O n the day , all t h e m o n k s o f M i i d e r a a n d M o u n t H ie i w e r e t h e r e ,
a n d t h e s u r r o u n d i n g hills r a n g w i t h t h e i r c h a n t i n g o f t he A m i d a S u t r a .
T h e s c e n e reca l led n o t h i n g s o m u c h a s t h a t o t h e r d a y s o l o n g a g o w h e n
t h e B u d d h a S h a k y a m u n i lay d y i n g , s u r r o u n d e d b y all t h e c o u n t l e s s g r i ev -
ing b e i n g s w h o loved h i m .
A s t h e d a y w o r e o n a n d t h e o x still l o o k e d q u i t e n o r m a l , c e r t a in
p e r v e r s e i n d i v i d u a l s i n t h e c r o w d b e g a n j o k i n g t h a t i t s e e m e d in no h u r r y
t o k ick t h e b u c k e t . B u t w h e n e v e n i n g c a m e t h e r e c u m b e n t o x go t u p ,
l u m b e r e d to t h e m a i n hal l , t h e n twice r a n a set o f t h r e e c i r c u m a m b u l a -
t i ons r o u n d it. S u d d e n l y i t s e e m e d in pa in a n d b e g a n a b r u p t l y ly ing d o w n
a n d g e t t i n g u p a g a i n ; b u t i t still m a n a g e d t o c o m p l e t e t w o o r t h r e e m o r e
se ts o f c i r c u m a m b u l a t i o n s be fo re i t r e t u r n e d to its stall a n d lay d o w n
w i t h its h e a d , l ike t h e B u d d h a ' s o n his d e a t h b e d , fac ing t h e n o r t h . T h e n
i t s t r e t c h e d o u t full l e n g t h on its s ide , w i t h its legs e x t e n d e d , a n d d i ed .
All t h e p i l g r ims g a t h e r e d for t h e occas ion — lo rds a n d lad ies , c o m m o n
m e n a n d w o m e n o f e v e r y d e g r e e , m o n k s a n d l a y m e n — b u r s t in to l oud
s o b s a n d c h a n t e d t h e A m i d a S u t r a w i t h a b a n d o n e d fervor .
After t h e c r o w d h a d left, t h e y d r a g g e d t h e ox a little w a y up t h e hi l ls ide
a n d b u r i e d it. T h e g r a v e w a s t o p p e d w i t h a p r o p e r m a r k e r a n d s u r -
r o u n d e d w i t h a s i m p l e p i c k e t fence . A l t h o u g h i t w a s s u m m e r a n d t h e
c a r c a s s h a d b e e n b u r i e d r a t h e r t h a n c r e m a t e d , t h e g r a v e g a v e off n o o d o r
a t all . E v e r y seven d a y s t h e r e a f t e r s u t r a s w e r e r e a d a t t h e g r a v e unt i l
t h e fo r ty -n in th d a y w a s p a s t ; a n d s e rv i ce s c o n t i n u e d t o b e p e r f o r m e d i n
t h e s a m e w a y , a t t h e p r o p e r i n t e rva l s , un t i l t h e a n n i v e r s a r y o f t h e ox ' s
p a s s i n g .
T h e b u d d h a of S e k i d e r a i s M i r o k u . I t c a n be fairly sa id t h a t e v e r y
p e r s o n w h o t r ave l s b e t w e e n t h e C a p i t a l a n d t h e e a s t e r n o r n o r t h e r n
p r o v i n c e s w o r s h i p s a t S e k i d e r a , a n d t h a t a s ingle ac t o f hear t fe l t w o r s h i p
h e r e h a s a s s u r e d e a c h p i lg r im o f t h e k a r m a t o b e b o r n aga in in to M i r o -
ku s pe r fec t w o r l d . I t w a s to g ive us t h e c h a n c e to ga in s u c h mer i t t h a t
K a s h o t o o k t h e form o f a n o x a n d u r g e d u s t o g r e a t e r faith. H o w s t r a n g e
a n d w o n d e r f u l a ta le t h e s t o r y m a k e s !
2 9 0
i a o .
THE FALCONER'S DREAM
A f a l c o n e r w i t h m a n y s o n s o n c e l ived in t h e w e s t e r n p a r t o f t h e Cap i ta l ,
n e a r S a g a M o o r . F a l c o n r y w a s his w h o l e life. H e k e p t seven o r e ight
h a w k s a t h o m e ( jus t f eed ing t h e m , espec ia l ly i n s u m m e r , m e a n t kil l ing so
m a n y c r e a t u r e s ! ) a n d t w i c e t h a t n u m b e r o f d o g s . N i g h t s h e w o u l d sit till
d a w n w i t h a h a w k o n his f i s t ; a n d e v e r y day , w h a t e v e r t he season , h e
w o u l d b e o u t i n t h e f i e l d s h u n t i n g p h e a s a n t s .
W h e n h e w a s o ld , h e c a m e d o w n w i t h a little i l lness a n d o n e n ight w a s
u n a b l e t o s l e e p . T o w a r d d a w n w h e n h e f i n a l l y d o z e d off, h e h a d th is
d r e a m .
T h e r e w a s a ho le in a m o u n d on S a g a M o o r , a n d he l ived in i t w i th his
wife a n d c h i l d r e n . T h e y h a d b e e n awful ly co ld t h a t w i n t e r , bu t n o w
s p r i n g w a s h e r e a n d t h e d a y w a s s o w a r m t h e y all w e n t ou t t o s u n
t h e m s e l v e s a n d p i c k fresh g r e e n s . T h e n ice w e a t h e r m a d e t h e m w a n d e r
off in all d i r e c t i o n s a l o n g w a y f rom h o m e .
S u d d e n l y a b a b b l e o f vo ices rose from t h e w o o d n o r t h o f U z u m a s a ,
m i n g l e d w i t h t h e j ing l ing o f be l l s . T h e s o u n d all b u t s t o p p e d his hea r t
w i t h t e r r o r . F r o m t h e t o p o f a r ise he s a w m e n a p p r o a c h i n g on swift
h o r s e s , w e a r i n g b r o c a d e caps , s p o t t e d c loaks , b e a r s k i n c h a p s , a n d
s w o r d s i n b o a r h i d e s c a b b a r d s . T h e f i e n d i s h h a w k s o n t he i r f i s t s h a d t iny
be l l s o n a n d w e r e s t r a i n i n g t o fly.
O n t h e y c a m e , s p r e a d a c r o s s S a g a M o o r , a n d o t h e r s w a l k e d before
t h e m i n r u s h h a t s , d a r k - b l u e c l o a k s , r e d l e a t h e r s leeves , l ea the r t r o u s e r s ,
a n d b o o t s o f fur . T h e s e w e r e b e a t i n g t h e t h i c k e t s w i t h s t icks ; a n d h u g e ,
be l l ed d o g s , l ike l ions , r a n b e s i d e t h e m , j ing l ing like t he h a w k s bu t in
d e e p e r t o n e s .
H i s eyes w e n t d i m a n d his h e a d s w a m . " I ' v e go t t o w a r n m y wife
a n d c h i l d r e n ! " h e t h o u g h t . " I ' v e go t t o h ide t h e m ! " Bu t t h e y w e r e
w i d e l y s c a t t e r e d a n d c o u l d no t pos s ib ly h e a r h im. H e d o v e i n pan ic
i n t o a d e e p t h i c k e t w h i l e T a r o , h is e ldes t a n d d e a r e s t son, h id in a n o t h e r
n e a r b y .
T h e d o g - k e e p e r s a n d f a l cone r s w e r e all ove r t he m o o r . I n h o r r o r h e
w a t c h e d a d o g - k e e p e r h e a d for T a r o ' s th icke t , b e a t i n g t h e tall , d e n s e
p a m p a s g r a s s e s flat w h i l e t h e d o g , its bell j ingl ing, fo l lowed, in ten t ly
sniff ing t h e g r o u n d . I t w a s all o v e r for T a r o .
S u r e e n o u g h , T a r o s t a r t e d u p a n d t h e k e e p e r g a v e a s h o u t . T h e fal-
c o n e r , w h o h a d h u n g b a c k a l i t t le, r e leased his h a w k . T a r o flew d e s p e r -
ate ly , h i g h in t h e air , w i t h t h e h a w k in f i e r ce p u r s u i t ; t h e n d r o p p e d aga in ,
e x h a u s t e d . F r o m be low, t h e h a w k se ized his b r e a s t a n d h e a d . T h e t w o
tell. T h e d o g - k e e p e r r u s h e d u p , pu l l ed off t h e h a w k , p i c k e d u p T a r o , a n d
w r u n g his n e c k . T a r o let o u t a pitiful c r y t h a t p i e r c e d the p o o r f a the r ' s
h e a r t l ike a s w o r d .
A n d w h a t a b o u t his s e c o n d son , J i r o ? H e s a w a d o g , sniffing its w a y
t o w a r d J i r o ' s t h i cke t , s u d d e n l y c h a r g e a n d c a t c h J i r o i n its j a w s . T h o u g h
J i r o f l apped his w i n g s f rant ical ly , t h e k e e p e r r a n u p a n d w r u n g his n e c k ,
t o o .
" A n d m y t h i r d son , S a b u r o ? " h e w o n d e r e d . A n o t h e r d o g w a s sniffing
t o w a r d S a b u r o ' s t h i c k e t . W h e n t h e t r a p p e d S a b u r o s t a r t e d u p , t h e
k e e p e r k n o c k e d h i m d o w n w i t h a b l o w on t h e h e a d from his s t ick .
W i t h all h is s o n s n o w d e a d , t h e f a the r p r a y e d in a n g u i s h t h a t a t least
h is wife m i g h t e s c a p e . H e w a t c h e d h e r f l y u p be fo re t h e d o g s r e a c h e d
h e r a n d m a k e for t h e hills t o t h e n o r t h . A fa lconer loosed his h a w k a n d
g a l l o p e d in p u r s u i t . S h e r a c e d for c o v e r in a t h i c k e t u n d e r a d i s t a n t p i n e ,
b u t a d o g r igh t b e h i n d h e r c a u g h t h e r i n its j a w s . T h e fa lconer r e t r i e v e d
his h a w k , w h i c h h a d p e r c h e d o n t h e t r e e .
T h e w i t n e s s to th i s c a r n a g e h a d t a k e n refuge d e e p in a c l u m p o f t h i c k
g r a s s e s a n d t a n g l e d b r a m b l e s . N o w h e s a w no t o n e b u t hal f a d o z e n d o g s ,
t he i r bel ls j ing l ing , sniff ing t h e i r w a y t o w a r d h im . I t w a s t o o m u c h for
h im a n d h e t oo t r i ed f l e e i n g t o w a r d t h e hills. H a w k af ter h a w k f i l l e d t h e
s k y in p u r s u i t , s o m e h igh , s o m e low; a n d b e l o w on t h e g r o u n d a h o r d e
of d o g s fo l lowed a m i d a d r e a d f u l d in o f bel ls . B e h i n d t h e m g a l l o p e d t h e
fa lconers , a n d t h e d o g - k e e p e r s c a m e af ter , b e a t i n g t h e t h i c k e t s w i t h t h e i r
s t i cks . He r a c e d on a n d d o v e w i t h a last effort in to a n o t h e r d e e p t h i c k e t .
T h e h a w k s p e r c h e d on a tall t r e e n e a r b y a n d j ing led t h e i r bel ls t o let t h e
d o g s k n o w w h e r e h e w a s . T h e d o g s s o o n f o u n d his h i d e o u t . T h e r e w a s
n o e s c a p e . T h e d o g - k e e p e r s ' s h o u t s w e r e l ike t h u n d e r . K n o w i n g h e w a s
f i n i shed , he d id t h e last t h i n g he c o u l d : he h id his h e a d in t h e m u d d y
floor o f t h e t h i cke t , l e av ing on ly his tail s t i ck ing u p . T h e d o g s w e r e v e r y
c lose . " N o w ! " h e t h o u g h t — a n d w o k e u p .
H e w a s d r e n c h e d i n s w e a t . Rea l i z ing h e h a d d r e a m e d i t all, h e s a w
t h a t w h a t h e h a d d r e a m e d w a s t h e h u n t i n g h e h imse l f h a d en joyed all h i s
life. H e h a d ki l led s o m a n y p h e a s a n t s ! N o w a t last h e k n e w w h a t h e h a d
d o n e , a n d u n d e r s t o o d w i t h h o r r o r t h a t h e h a d s i n n e d p a s t r e c k o n i n g .
T o o i m p a t i e n t t o wa i t for d a w n , he i m m e d i a t e l y freed all h is h a w k s a n d
d o g s , t h e n g a t h e r e d t h e i r g e a r t o g e t h e r a n d b u r n e d it. H a v i n g to ld t he
d r e a m , in t e a r s , to his wife a n d c h i l d r e n , he w e n t s t r a igh t to a m o u n t a i n
t e m p l e , s h a v e d his h e a d , a n d b e c a m e a m o n k . F o r t en y e a r s he cal led
A m i d a ' s N a m e d a y a n d n igh t unt i l h e a c h i e v e d a ho ly p a s s i n g .
2 9 2
1 9 9 •
POVERTY
A m i s e r a b l y p o o r m o n k o f M i i d e r a d e c i d e d t h a t t h e t e m p l e h a d n o t h i n g
t o offer h i m , a n d t h a t i f he m e a n t t o c la im t h e succes s he d e s e r v e d he
w o u l d h a v e t o t r y e l s e w h e r e . N o t w a n t i n g t o leave i n b r o a d day l igh t ,
e spec ia l ly l o o k i n g a s s h a b b y as he d id , he stole off i n t h e d a r k n e s s before
d a w n . H a v i n g a long , h a r d r o a d a h e a d of h im, he soon lay d o w n for a
n a p .
He d r e a m e d of a pa l e , s ad , s k i n n y y o u t h , c lea r ly a t r ave l e r l ike himself,
w h o m h e h a d n o t s e e n b e f o r e . " W h o a r e y o u ? " h e a s k e d .
" Y o u r s e r v a n t t h e s e m a n y y e a r s , " t h e y o u t h rep l ied . " W e ' v e neve r
b e e n a p a r t a n d I 'm c o m i n g w i t h y o u n o w . "
" I d o n ' t k n o w y o u . W h a t ' s y o u r n a m e ? "
" I ' m n o t e x a c t l y a p e r s o n so I d o n ' t h a v e a n o r m a l n a m e . B u t p e o p l e
w h o c a t c h a g l i m p s e o f m e call m e P o v e r t y . "
T h e m o n k w o k e u p a n d u n d e r s t o o d his real fu tu re . W i t h t h a t y o u t h
b e s i d e h i m he m i g h t a s we l l s t ay p u t . B a c k he w e n t t o M i i d e r a , lost i n
t h o u g h t .
3 O O .
THE NIGHTMARE
I t w a s d u r i n g E m p e r o r K o n o e ' s r e ign t h a t t he g r e a t w a r r i o r Y o r i m a s a
p e r f o r m e d t h e m o s t f a m o u s o f all h is d e e d s .
E v e r y n i g h t t h e e m p e r o r w a s o p p r e s s e d b y a m y s t e r i o u s a g o n y w h i c h
t h e ho l ies t m o n k s , w o r k i n g all t h e i r hea l ing r i tes , s e e m e d u n a b l e t o re -
S C A R E S
A N D
N I G H T M A R E S
l ieve. In t h e smal l h o u r s a b l ack c loud w o u l d r ise f rom a w o o d s o m e w a y
o A a n d set t le o v e r t h e p a l a c e . T h e n H i s M a j e s t y ' s o r d e a l w o u l d b e g i n .
T h e c o u r t h e l d a counc i l a n d reca l led t h a t s o m e t h i n g l ike th i s h a d
h a p p e n e d i n t h e pas t . G e n e r a l Y o s h i i e h a d s t ood g u a r d t h a t t ime ,
t w a n g e d his b o w w h e n t h e m o m e n t c a m e , a n d r o a r e d o u t h is n a m e a n d
t i t les ju s t as a w a r r i o r d o e s be fo re f ight ing a h u m a n e n e m y . H i s M a j e s t y
go t b e t t e r a t o n c e . S o t h e c o u r t d e c i d e d t o pos t a n o t h e r w a r r i o r g u a r d .
T h e y c h o s e Y o r i m a s a , w h o w a s no t t h e n o f v e r y h igh r a n k . T h e c o m -
m a n d t r o u b l e d h im, a n d h e p r o t e s t e d t h a t a w a r r i o r ' s j o b w a s t o s u p p r e s s
rebe l l ion o r t o i m p o s e t h e imper i a l will on t h e r eca l c i t r an t . " W h o h a s
e v e r b e e n o r d e r e d t o s u b d u e a n invis ible m o n s t e r ? ' ' h e d e m a n d e d t o
k n o w . B u t s ince h e c o u l d no t v e r y wel l refuse , h e p r e s e n t e d h imse l f a t
t he p a l a c e jus t t h e s a m e , w i t h a s ingle l i e u t e n a n t .
H i s l i e u t e n a n t ' s a r r o w s w e r e f e a t h e r e d w i t h eagle p in ions , w h i l e Y o r i -
m a s a h a d c h o s e n for h imse l f t w o b a r b e d a r r o w s f ea the red f rom a m o u n -
ta in p h e a s a n t ' s ta i l . W i t h his b l a c k - l a c q u e r e d b o w i n h a n d Y o r i m a s a
s t o o d g u a r d be fo re t h e p a l a c e ' s s o u t h e n t r a n c e . H e he ld b o t h a r r o w s
r e a d y , re f lec t ing t h a t i f he mi s sed t h e m o n s t e r w i t h t h e first he co u l d
a l w a y s u s e t h e s e c o n d t o s h o o t t h e c l eve r fel low w h o h a d p u t h im u p for
t h i s d u t y .
T h e b l a c k c loud m o v e d o v e r t h e pa l ace w i t h a s t r a n g e s h a p e ins ide it.
H i s w h o l e c a r e e r a t s t a k e , Y o r i m a s a fitted a n a r r o w t o t h e s t r ing , ca l led
s i lent ly on his c lan g o d H a c h i m a n , a n d let f ly .
T h e r e w a s n o d o u b t a b o u t t h e hi t . H i s b o w a r m felt i t i n s t an t ly a n d h e
ye l l ed in t r i u m p h . T h e t h i n g fell. H i s l i eu t enan t m o v e d in swiftly, p i n n e d
i t t o t h e g r o u n d , a n d r a n i t t h r o u g h n ine t imes w i t h his s w o r d . W h e n
l ight a r r i v e d , t h e y s a w a beas t w i t h a m o n k e y ' s h e a d , a b a d g e r ' s b o d y , a
s n a k e ' s tail , a n d a t i ge r ' s p a w s . Its m o a n i n g c r y h a d s o u n d e d like a n igh t
t h r u s h . I t c e r t a i n l y l o o k e d f r igh ten ing .
O v e r c o m e w i t h rel ief a n d g r a t i t u d e , t h e e m p e r o r g a v e Y o r i m a s a a n
imper i a l s w o r d n a m e d Lion K i n g . Af te r t h a t Y o r i m a s a ' s n a m e w a s h o n -
o r e d a t c o u r t . T h e m o n s t e r ' s b o d y w a s stuffed in to a ho l l ow log a n d sen t
f l o a t i n g d o w n t h e r ive r . H i s M a j e s t y w a s n e v e r b o t h e r e d a g a i n .
2 9 4
2 O 1
THE DOUBLE
L o r d M i n a m o t o n o M a s a m i c h i l ived s o u t h o f F o u r t h A v e n u e a n d w e s t o f
M u r o m a c h i S t r e e t i n K y o t o . H i s son , n o t y e t t w o y e a r s old, w a s p l ay ing
b y h imse l f o u t s i d e w h e n s u d d e n l y M a s a m i c h i h e a r d h im howl , a n d t h e r e
w e r e l o u d s h o u t s f rom t h e n u r s e l o o k i n g af ter h im .
M a s a m i c h i p i c k e d u p his s w o r d a n d r a n from t h e o t h e r s ide o f t h e
h o u s e t o i n v e s t i g a t e . H e found no t o n e b u t t w o ident ica l n u r s e s s t r u g -
g l i n g for p o s s e s s i o n o f t h e b o y . E a c h h a d ho ld o f an a r m a n d a leg.
C l e a r l y o n e o f t h e m m u s t be a fox, t h o u g h he h a d no idea w h i c h . As he
c h a r g e d , b r a n d i s h i n g his s w o r d , o n e o f t h e n u r s e s v a n i s h e d .
T h e o t h e r n u r s e a n d t h e b o y co l l apsed o n t h e g r o u n d . M a s a m i c h i h a d
h i s s e r v a n t s cal l in a h e a l e r o f p r o v e n p o w e r , a n d af ter t he hea l e r h a d
w o r k e d his r i t es a w h i l e t h e n u r s e c a m e to . A t last M a s a m i c h i w a s ab le t o
q u e s t i o n h e r .
" I w a s l e t t i n g t h e y o u n g m a s t e r p l ay a little by himself, sir , w h e n a
w o m a n I 'd n e v e r seen be fo re c a m e o u t o f t h e h o u s e a n d c l a imed the
y o u n g m a s t e r w a s h e r s . I n fact s h e t r i ed t o t a k e t h e y o u n g m a s t e r a w a y ,
a n d I he ld o n t o h im t o s t o p h e r . W h e n y o u r a n u p w i t h y o u r s w o r d , she
let g o a n d r u s h e d b a c k in to t h e h o u s e . "
M a s a m i c h i w a s s e r ious ly f r i gh t ened . H e n e v e r found ou t w h e t h e r t he
d o u b l e h a d a c t u a l l y b e e n a fox o r s o m e so r t o f a n g r y spi r i t . Peop le
c o m m e n t e d , t h o u g h , t h a t y o u jus t s h o u l d n ' t let little ch i l d r en p lay b y
t h e m s e l v e s .
2 O 2 .
BEWITCHED
The Kamo Virgin, an itnperial princcM, waj the
high prie.tteM of the Kamo Shrine in Kyoto.
An officer o f t h e B u r e a u o f Civi l Affairs n a m e d Y o r i k i y o w a s s e rv ing a s
d i r e c t o r o f t h e K a m o V i r g i n ' s h o u s e h o l d w h e n u n f o r t u n a t e l y t h e Vi rg in ' s
d i s p l e a s u r e fo rced h i m t o r e t i r e t o a n e s t a t e h e o w n e d a t K o h a t a , s o u t h
o f t h e C a p i t a l .
O m o t o , o n e o f his s e r v a n t s , h a d h e r o w n h o u s e i n t h e c i ty a n d s o go t
l eave t o s t a y b e h i n d w h e n h e m o v e d a w a y . O n e d a y a m e s s e n g e r f rom
h im a s k e d h e r t o c o m e i m m e d i a t e l y . S o m e t h i n g h a d h a p p e n e d a t K o h a t a ,
a n d Y o r i k i y o h a d left t h e d a y be fo re for Y a m a s h i r o , t h e n e i g h b o r i n g
p r o v i n c e t o t h e n o r t h , w h e r e h e w a s n o w r e n t i n g a h o u s e . T h e m e s s e n g e r
p l e a d e d w i t h O m o t o t o c o m e q u i c k l y . S h e r e s p o n d e d b y p i c k i n g u p h e r
f o u r - y e a r - o l d son a n d s e t t i n g o u t .
W h e n s h e a r r i v e d h e r m a s t e r ' s wife g r e e t e d h e r w i t h u n u s u a l w a r m t h ,
fed h e r wel l , a n d p u t h e r t o w o r k d y e i n g c lo th . Af te r t h e t w o w o m e n h a d
w o r k e d t o g e t h e r for s eve ra l d a y s , t h e l a d y a s k e d O m o t o t o t a k e a s ec re t
m e s s a g e to a w a t c h m a n s h e h a d left a t t h e K o h a t a h o u s e . O m o t o left h e r
s o n w i t h a fel low s e r v a n t .
S h e n a t u r a l l y i m a g i n e d t h a t t h e K o h a t a h o u s e w o u l d b e g l o o m y a n d
d e s e r t e d ; she f o u n d t h e r e , o n t h e c o n t r a r y , e v e r y o n e s h e h a d jus t left.
O n e o f t h e first p e o p l e s h e m e t w a s h e r m a s t e r ' s wife i n p e r s o n . S h e
t h o u g h t s h e m u s t b e d r e a m i n g a n d s t o o d t h e r e i n a d a z e w h i l e t h e o t h e r s
g a t h e r e d a r o u n d h e r . " W e l l , w e l l , " t h e y w e r e say ing , " h e r e ' s O m o t o !
W h a t k e p t y o u s o l o n g ? T h e K a m o Vi rg in h a s p a r d o n e d o u r m a s t e r a n d
w e s e n t s o m e o n e t o let y o u k n o w , b u t y o u r n e i g h b o r s sa id y o u ' d left t w o
o r t h r e e d a y s a g o . W h e r e w e r e y o u ? "
T r e m b l i n g all ove r , t h e ter r i f ied O m o t o to ld h e r ta le . A l m o s t e v e r y o n e
in t h e h o u s e h o l d w a s f r igh tened , i n c l u d i n g h e r mi s t r e s s , b u t a few
l a u g h e d .
C o n v i n c e d n o w t h a t h e r son m u s t b e d e a d , O m o t o b e g g e d t o b e a l -
l o w e d t o lead a p a r t y b a c k t o t h e p l a c e s h e h a d jus t c o m e f rom. O n
a r r i va l s h e f o u n d no h o u s e a t all , o n l y a b r o a d e x p a n s e o f m o o r . Af te r
h u n t i n g d e s p e r a t e l y far a n d w i d e , s h e found h e r s o n w a i l i n g in a t h i c k
c l u m p o f p a m p a s g r a s s e s a n d joyful ly t o o k h im i n h e r a r m s .
B a c k a t K o h a t a s h e r e p o r t e d t h e o u t c o m e o f t h e t r i p . H e r m i s t r e s s
d e c l a r e d t h a t s h e m u s t h a v e i n v e n t e d t h e w h o l e t h ing , a n d h e r fe l low
s e r v a n t s l o o k e d a t h e r v e r y d o u b t f u l l y .
B u t w o u l d s h e rea l ly h a v e a b a n d o n e d h e r litt le b o y on a w i ld m o o r ?
I t ' s far m o r e l ikely t h a t foxes t r i c k e d h e r . A t a n y r a t e , p e o p l e of ten c a m e
af ter t h a t t o t a lk w i t h O m o t o a b o u t h e r e x p e r i e n c e a n d t o m a r v e l t h a t
t h e b o v w a s still a l ive .
2 9 6
2 O 3
THE FUNERAL
O n c e a p r o f e s s i o n a l c o u r i e r , on h i s w a y up in h a s t e f rom the w e s t e r n
p r o v i n c e s t o K y o t o , p a s s e d t h r o u g h I n a m i n o i n H a r i m a p r o v i n c e . S ince
i t w a s n e a r l y s u n d o w n h e l o o k e d for s o m e w h e r e t o s p e n d the n ight , bu t
far o u t i n t h e f i e l d s w h e r e h e w a s h e c o u l d see n o p r o m i s i n g house , only
a m i s e r a b l e h u t for t h e p e o p l e w h o in s e a s o n g u a r d e d t h e c r o p s . T h e hu t
w o u l d h a v e t o d o . H e w e n t in.
T h o u g h t r a v e l i n g l ight , he still w o r e a s w o r d . In a lone ly spo t l ike th is
h e felt sa fe r n o t e v e n u n d r e s s i n g , a n d i n s t e a d lay d o w n a s h e w a s , w a t c h -
ful a n d s i len t . L a t e a t n i g h t he h e a r d a faint s o u n d of bel ls to t he w e s t
a n d a c h o r u s o f vo i ce s c h a n t i n g t h e B u d d h a ' s N a m e . O d d l y e n o u g h , t he
v o i c e s w e r e c o m i n g h i s w a y . P e e r i n g o u t s i d e , h e s a w a c h a n t i n g c r o w d
c a r r y i n g t o r c h e s a n d a c c o m p a n i e d b y p r i e s t s r i n g i n g bel ls . A p p a r e n t l y i t
w a s a f une ra l . T h e c lose r t h e y c a m e t h e m o r e w o r r i e d he got , till he
h a r d l y k n e w w h a t t o d o w i t h himself .
T h e c r o w d s t o p p e d n e a r b y , laid t h e coffin d o w n , a n d b e g a n t h e ce re -
m o n y . T h e c o u r i e r k e p t m o r e s i lent a n d still t h a n eve r , a n d r e m i n d e d
h i m s e l f o v e r a n d o v e r t h a t s h o u l d h e b e d i s c o v e r e d h e w o u l d say qu i t e
p l a i n l y w h o h e w a s a n d w h y h e w a s t h e r e . B u t h e a l so w o n d e r e d a b o u t
o n e v e r y s t r a n g e t h i n g : w h e r e a s t h e spo t for a bu r i a l i s n o r m a l l y m a r k e d
c l ea r ly b e f o r e h a n d , h e h a d no t i ced n o t h i n g o f t h e k i n d w h e n h e a r r i v e d
e v e n t h o u g h i t h a d b e e n d a y l i g h t a t t h e t i m e .
W h e n t h e fune ra l w a s ove r , a l a rge force o f l a b o r e r s a r m e d w i t h ma t -
t o c k s a n d s p a d e s bu i l t a m o u n d on t o p o f w h i c h t h e y p l a n t e d a g r a v e -
m a r k e r . T h e n t h e y t i d i ed u p a n d p u t t h e i r too ls a w a y , a n d t h e c r o w d
d i s p e r s e d .
B e i n g so c lose to a fresh g r a v e hor r i f i ed t h e c o u r i e r m o r e t h a n t h e eer ie
f une ra l itself, a n d t h e h a i r r o se on his h e a d w h e n he t h o u g h t o f it. He
l o n g e d for t h e n i g h t t o b e ove r , b u t m e a n w h i l e kep t a n eye o n t h e m o u n d .
All a t o n c e he t h o u g h t he s a w s o m e t h i n g on i t m o v e . S u r e l y his eyes w e r e
d e c e i v i n g h i m . B u t n o , s o m e t h i n g o n the m o u n d was m o v i n g . W h a t e v e r
i t w a s , i t w a s c o m i n g up li t t le by little f rom the e a r t h . At last a n a k e d
h u m a n fo rm e m e r g e d a n d c h a r g e d t h e hu t , b l o w i n g a n d s l a p p i n g a t t h e
f l ames t h a t d a n c e d o v e r its b o d y . All t h e c o u r i e r co u l d see i n t he d a r k n e s s
w a s t h a t t h e f i g u r e w a s g h a s t l y a n d h u g e .
He k n e w t h a t w h e r e a fune ra l h a s t a k e n p l ace t h e r e i s b o u n d to be a
d e m o n . O b v i o u s l y t h e d e m o n w a s n o w r u s h i n g t o eat h im a n d h e w a s
f in ished. Sti l l , i f he h a d to d ie he m i g h t as wel l ge t ou t of t he hu t before
t h e d e m o n r e a c h e d i t a n d t r y a d i r e c t a t t a c k . D r a w i n g his s w o r d he
d a s h e d ou t , c h a r g e d t h e d e m o n , a n d w h a c k e d off its h e a d w i t h o n e b l o w .
T h e d e m o n c r a s h e d o v e r b a c k w a r d s .
T h e c o u r i e r d id no t w a i t t o see m o r e . He r a c e d o n till h e go t t o a
v i l lage (it w a s a pa infu l ly l o n g r u n ) , s to le up to a h o u s e , a n d c r o u c h e d by
i t i n t e r r o r . T h e n e x t m o r n i n g h e p r e s e n t e d h imse l f t o t h e v i l l agers a n d
to ld t h e m w h y h e w a s t h e r e . D i s t u r b e d b y his s to ry , t h e y d e c i d e d t o
i nves t i ga t e .
H e led t he b r a v e s t y o u n g m e n o f t h e vi l lage t o t h e spo t , b u t t h e y f o u n d
n o m o u n d o r g r a v e - m a r k e r , a n d n o s ign e i t h e r o f t o r c h e s o r fire. T h e r e
w a s n o t h i n g t h e r e b u t a h u g e , h e a d l e s s b o a r . H o w h o r r i b l e !
A p p a r e n t l y t h e b o a r h a d seen t h e t r a v e l e r g o in to t h e h u t a n d d e c i d e d
t o g ive h im a s c a r e . " W h a t a d u m b w a y t o ge t y o u r s e l f k i l l ed ! " m u r m u r e d
t h e v i l l agers a s t h e y g a z e d a t t h e c o r p s e .
2 o A .
THE GRINNING FACE OF AN OLD WOMAN
P e o p l e of ten w e n t h u n t i n g t o a n old p o n d i n t h e M i n a s e Hi l l s w h i c h w a s
f r e q u e n t e d b y f l o c k s o f w a t e r b i r d s , b u t s o m e t h i n g i n t h e p o n d w o u l d
c a t c h t h e h u n t e r s a n d m a n y o f t h e m d i e d .
T h r e e b r o t h e r s , p e r s o n a l g u a r d s a t t h e r e t i r e d e m p e r o r ' s p a l a c e o n t h e
M i n a s e R ive r , w e r e j u s t s e t t i ng off h u n t i n g w h e n s o m e o n e w a r n e d t h e m
t o s t ay a w a y f rom t h e p o n d . O n e o f t h e t h r e e , N a k a t o s h i , r e fused t o
be l ieve t h e s t o ry , a n d feel ing a n y w a y t h a t i t w o u l d b e u n w o r t h y o f h im
n o t t o b r a v e t h e p o n d ' s d a n g e r s , h e set off u n d a u n t e d , w i t h jus t o n e
y o u n g a t t e n d a n t .
I t w a s e v e n i n g a n d t o o d a r k e v e n t o see t h e p a t h , b u t N a k a t o s h i go t
t h r o u g h t h e hills, f o u n d t h e p o n d , a n d w a i t e d o n t h e b a n k u n d e r t he
o v e r h a n g i n g b r a n c h e s o f a p i n e . D e e p i n t h e n igh t t h e w a t e r t r e m b l e d
a n d w a v e s ro l led a c r o s s t h e p o n d . T h e f r i gh t ened N a k a t o s h i f i t t e d a n
a r r o w to his b o w s t r i n g . N e x t , a l u m i n o u s m a s s ro se ou t o f t h e p o n d a n d
f l e w o v e r t h e p i n e . A s s o o n a s N a k a t o s h i d r e w his b o w t h e t h i n g f l e w
b a c k t o t h e p o n d , r e t u r n i n g o n l y w h e n h e r e l a x e d a n d r e m o v e d t h e a r r o w
from t h e s t r i n g . T h i s h a p p e n e d seve ra l t imes till N a k a t o s h i u n d e r s t o o d
2 9 8
2 O 5 .
FOX ARSON
A r e t a i n e r w h o s e r v e d t h e g o v e r n o r o f Kai w a s h e a d i n g h o m e o n e s u n -
d o w n f rom t h e g o v e r n o r ' s m a n s i o n w h e n h e s a w a lox, g a v e chase , a n d
s h o t a t i t w i t h t h e k i n d o f n o i s e m a k e r a r r o w used for s c a r i n g off d o g s .
He h i t i t in a b a c k leg.
T h e fox y e l p e d i n pa in , ro l led ove r , a n d d o v e l imp ing in to t he b r u s h .
As t h e r e t a i n e r w e n t to r e t r i e v e his a r r o w the fox r e a p p e a r e d in front o f
h i m , a n d h e w a s a b o u t t o s h o o t a t i t a g a i n w h e n i t v a n i s h e d .
A q u a r t e r of a mile f rom h o m e he s a w the fox r u n n i n g a h e a d of h im
c a r r y i n g a f l aming b r a n d in its m o u t h . W h a t cou ld i t be up t o ? He
t h a t h is b o w w o u l d b e n o u s e . H e p u t i t d o w n a n d d r e w his s w o r d
i n s t e a d . T h i s t i m e t h e l u m i n o u s m a s s c a m e s o close t h a t N a k a t o s h i s aw
in t h e l ight t h e g r i n n i n g face o f an old w o m a n .
W i t h t h e l ight so u n e x p e c t e d l y c lose a n d t h e form ins ide i t so c lear , he
d r o p p e d h i s s w o r d a n d a t t a c k e d b a r e h a n d e d . W h e n the t h i n g t r ied
t o d r a g h im in to t h e p o n d , h e b r a c e d h imse l f a g a i n s t t h e roo t s o f t he
p i n e a n d r e s i s t ed un t i l h e cou ld d r a w his d a g g e r a n d s t a b it. T h e light
w e n t o u t .
A h a i r y b e a s t lay d e a d a t N a k a t o s h i ' s feet. I t w a s a b a d g e r . N a k a t o s h i
c a r r i e d i t b a c k t o his r o o m a t t h e M i n a s e Pa l ace a n d w e n t t o b e d . T h e
n e x t m o r n i n g h i s t w o b r o t h e r s c a m e t o f i n d o u t h o w his exped i t i on h a d
g o n e .
" L o o k a t t h a t ! " c r i ed N a k a t o s h i , a n d t h r e w t h e b a d g e r ou t t o t h e m .
T h e y w e r e d e e p l y i m p r e s s e d .
F O X E S I I
s p u r r e d his h o r s e o n . O n r e a c h i n g t h e h o u s e , t h e fox c h a n g e d in to a
h u m a n b e i n g a n d set t h e h o u s e o n fire. T h e r e t a i n e r w a s r e a d y t o s h o o t
a s s o o n a s h e go t w i t h i n r a n g e , b u t t h e h u m a n c h a n g e d r igh t b a c k in to a
fox a n d go t a w a y . T h e h o u s e b u r n e d d o w n .
B e i n g s l ike t h a t e x a c t swift v e n g e a n c e . I t ' s b e t t e r t o leave t h e m a l o n e .
2 0 6 .
THE FOX'S BALL
A h e a l e r a n d his w o m a n m e d i u m w e r e o n c e ca l led to ge t r id o f t h e sp i r i t
t h a t w a s m a k i n g s o m e o n e ill. T h e spir i t d e c l a r e d t h r o u g h t h e m e d i u m
t h a t i t w a s a fox. " I d i d n ' t m e a n to p u t a c u r s e on a n y o n e , " i t sa id . " I
o n l y c a m e b e c a u s e I t h o u g h t y o u m i g h t h a v e s o m e t h i n g g o o d t o ea t . Y o u
d i d n ' t h a v e t o s h u t m e u p l ike t h i s ! "
T h e m e d i u m d r e w from t h e fold a t t h e b r e a s t o f h e r r o b e a little w h i t e
bal l ( foxes of ten h a v e o n e ) , a n d b e g a n t o s s ing i t i n t h e a i r a n d c a t c h i n g
it. T h e p e o p l e p r e s e n t t h o u g h t t h e bal l p r e t t y e n o u g h , b u t t h e y w e r e s u r e
t he m e d i u m h a d h i d d e n i t i n h e r r o b e b e f o r e h a n d t o t r i ck t h e m . O n e
a m o n g t h e m , a b r a v e y o u n g m a n , w a i t e d for t h e m e d i u m to toss t h e bal l
in to t h e a i r a g a i n , t h e n q u i c k l y s t u c k o u t h is h a n d , c a u g h t t h e bal l , a n d
p o p p e d i t i n to t h e f ront o f h is o w n r o b e .
" C o n f o u n d y o u ! " s n a p p e d t h e fox. " G i v e m e b a c k m y b a l l ! " T h e m a n
i g n o r e d its p l eas till finally i t sa id tearful ly , "All r igh t , y o u ' v e go t t h e bal l ,
b u t y o u d o n ' t k n o w h o w t o k e e p it. I t w o n ' t b e a n y g o o d t o y o u . F o r m e ,
it 's a t e r r i b l e loss . I tell y o u , i f y o u d o n ' t g ive i t b a c k I'll be y o u r e n e m y
forever . I f y o u do g ive i t b a c k , t h o u g h , I'll s t ick to y o u l ike a p r o t e c t o r
g o d . "
T h e y o u n g m a n d e c i d e d t h e w h o l e t h i n g w a s a w a s t e o f t i m e . " S o
y o u ' l l p r o t e c t m e ? " h e a s k e d .
" O f c o u r s e I wi l l . C r e a t u r e s l ike me n e v e r tell lies, a n d we a l w a y s
r e p a y a d e b t of g r a t i t u d e . "
"Wi l l t h e g u a r d i a n sp i r i t w h o c a u g h t y o u v o u c h for y o u n o w ? "
" L i s t e n , g u a r d i a n s p i r i t ! " c r i ed t h e fox. " I s w e a r I'll p r o t e c t h im i f he
g ives m e b a c k m y b a l l ! "
T h e m a n t o o k t h e bal l ou t a n d r e t u r n e d i t t o t h e w o m a n , w h i c h m a d e
t h e fox v e r y h a p p y . N e x t , t h e h e a l e r d i s m i s s e d t h e spir i t a n d the fox left.
3 0 0
T h e p e o p l e se i zed t h e m e d i u m i m m e d i a t e l y , be fo re she cou ld get u p , a n d
s e a r c h e d h e r . T h e ball w a s no t o n h e r . S h e rea l ly h a d b e e n posses sed .
S o m e t i m e l a t e r t h e m a n w a s on his w a y h o m e af ter d a r k from a visit
t o t h e g r e a t t e m p l e a t U z u m a s a . W h e n h e r e a c h e d t h e O t e n G a t e h e
b e c a m e a f ra id , for t h e n e i g h b o r h o o d w a s wel l k n o w n t o b e d a n g e r o u s a t
n i g h t . V i s i o n s o f all t h e awfu l t h i n g s t h a t cou ld h a p p e n to h im r a n
t h r o u g h h i s h e a d . T h e n h e r e m e m b e r e d t h a t t h e fox h a d s w o r n t o p r o t e c t
h i m . All a l o n e in t h e d a r k n e s s he ca l led , " F o x ! F o x ! " A ser ies o f s h a r p
b a r k s r a n g o u t in a n s w e r , a n d in a m o m e n t t h e fox w a s before h im.
" Y o u did k e e p y o u r w o r d , f o x ! " h e sa id . " I ' m t o u c h e d . Y o u see, I 'm
a f ra id t o g o t h r o u g h th i s a r e a a n d I w a n t y o u t o s t ay w i t h m e . "
T h e fox s e e m e d to u n d e r s t a n d . I t w e n t a h e a d , l ook ing careful ly all
a r o u n d a n d a v o i d i n g t h e u s u a l p a t h , w h i l e t h e m a n fol lowed. E v e n t u a l l y
i t s t o p p e d , a r c h e d its b a c k , a n d m o v e d f o r w a r d aga in on ly w i t h t he
l igh tes t s t e p s , g l a n c i n g a b o u t e v e n m o r e c a u t i o u s l y t h a n before . T h e m a n
t i p t o e d . H e s o o n c a u g h t t h e s o u n d o f h u m a n vo ices a n d a g l impse o f
h u m a n s h a p e s m o v i n g j u s t b e y o n d a fence . T h r o u g h t h e g l o o m h e sp ied
a l a r g e g r o u p o f a r m e d m e n . T h e y s e e m e d t o b e t a l k ing s o m e t h i n g over ,
a n d s h o r t l y h e g a t h e r e d w h a t i t w a s : t h e y w e r e d i s c u s s i n g w h e r e t o
c o m m i t t h e i r n e x t r o b b e r y . T h e fox h a d led h im th is w a y — a w a y no
o r d i n a r y p e r s o n w o u l d k n o w — jus t b e c a u s e t h e b a n d i t s w o u l d no t b e
l o o k i n g for a t r a v e l e r to p a s s so c lose . T h e fox d i s a p p e a r e d o n c e he w a s
safely by , a n d h e r e a c h e d h o m e w i t h o u t f u r t h e r difficulty.
T h e fox s t a y e d fai thfully w i t h h im a n d often r e s c u e d h im a g a i n . M o r e
a n d m o r e t o u c h e d b y its fidelity, h e w a s v e r y g lad i n d e e d t h a t h e h a d h a d
t h e g o o d s e n s e t o r e t u r n t h a t ba l l .
2 0 7 .
SINGED FUR
K o y a B r o o k r u n s eas t o f N i n n a j i , j u s t n o r t h w e s t o f t h e C a p i t a l . O n e
e v e n i n g a t d u s k a p r e t t y y o u n g w o m a n s tood o n t h e b a n k . W h e n a m a n
r o d e b y t o w a r d t h e ci ty , s h e a s k e d h im t o let h e r u p b e h i n d a n d t a k e h e r
w i t h h i m . W i t h a b r i e f w o r d o f a s s e n t he h a d h e r ge t o n . Af te r a q u a r t e r
o f a mile s h e j u m p e d d o w n a n d r a n . S h e t u r n e d in to a fox as he c h a s e d
h e r a n d g o t c l e an a w a y , b a r k i n g .
T h i s h a p p e n e d m o r e t h a n o n c e a n d t h e w o r d s p r e a d . O n e d a y t h e
w a r r i o r s o f t h e Pa l ace G u a r d w e r e p a s s i n g t h e t i m e a m o n g t h e m s e l v e s
w h e n t h e s t o r y c a m e u p i n t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n . A b r a v e a n d c leve r y o u n g
w a r r i o r s w o r e h e w o u l d c a t c h t h e girl a n d m o c k e d all t h o s e w h o h a d let
h e r ge t a w a y . T h e res t o f t h e g u a r d s w e r e s u r e h e w o u l d fail, b u t h e
i g n o r e d t h e m a n d p r o m i s e d h e w o u l d d o i t t h a t v e r y e v e n i n g .
H e r o d e t o K o y a B r o o k a l o n e o n a g o o d h o r s e . W h e n h e first c r o s s e d
t h e s t r e a m t h e r e w a s n o s ign o f t h e gir l , b u t o n c e h e t u r n e d b a c k t o w a r d
K y o t o s h e w a s t h e r e o n t h e b a n k . " P l e a s e t a k e m e u p b e h i n d y o u , s i r ! ' "
s h e ca l led , smi l ing s w e e t l y a t h i m .
"All r i g h t ! " h e a n s w e r e d . " W h e r e a r e y o u g o i n g ? "
" T o t h e ci ty, s ir . I t ' s a l r e a d y s u n d o w n , y o u see, a n d I w o n d e r i f I
m i g h t n ' t r i de w i t h y o u . "
S h e go t on . Q u i c k as a f l ash he t ied h e r to t h e s a d d l e w i t h a r o p e he
h a d r e a d y . " O h sir , w h a t a r e y o u d o i n g ? " s h e c r i ed .
" Y o u ' r e c o m i n g t o b e d w i t h me , s o I j u s t w a n t t o m a k e s u r e y o u d o n ' t
ge t a w a y . "
D a r k n e s s fell. H e r o d e eas t a l o n g F i r s t A v e n u e a n d h a d jus t p a s s e d
W e s t O m i y a w h e n h e s a w t o r c h e s c o m i n g his w a y , a c c o m p a n y i n g a
p r o c e s s i o n o f c a r r i a g e s . S e r v a n t s w e r e g o i n g be fo re t h e p r o c e s s i o n w i t h
l oud a n d i m p e r i o u s s h o u t s t o c lea r t h e r o a d . O b v i o u s l y a p e r s o n o f
q u a l i t y w a s o n his w a y s o m e w h e r e . H e c a u t i o u s l y t u r n e d s o u t h d o w n
O m i y a , c o n t i n u i n g eas t w h e n h e r e a c h e d S e c o n d A v e n u e . Final ly , a f ter
a l o n g d e t o u r s o u t h a r o u n d t h e pa l ace c o m p o u n d , h e r e a c h e d t h e g a t e
w h e r e h e h a d to ld his fel low g u a r d s t o m e e t h im . T h e y w e r e all t h e r e .
U n t y i n g t h e gi r l , h e r o u g h l y pu l l ed h e r t o t he g r o u n d , se ized h e r a r m s ,
a n d fo rced h e r i n t h r o u g h t h e g a t e . G u a r d s w i t h t o r c h e s lit his w a y t o
t he i r h e a d q u a r t e r s w h e r e t h e res t o f t h e m e n w e r e w a i t i n g . " H e r e s h e
i s ! " h e a n n o u n c e d . T h e gir l , te r r i f ied b y s o m a n y m e n , w a s c r y i n g a n d
b e g g i n g h im i n va in t o let h e r g o . T h e g u a r d s s u r r o u n d e d h im a n d his
c a p t i v e .
T o r c h e s b l az ing , t h e g u a r d s u r g e d h im t o let h e r g o i n t h e c i rc le . H e
sa id n o , s h e w o u l d ge t a w a y i f he d id , b u t t h e y ins i s ted a n d a d o z e n d r e w
t h e i r b o w s , s h o u t i n g w h a t fun i t w o u l d b e . " W e ' l l s h o o t h e r m i s e r a b l e
b u t t ! " t h e y c r i ed . W h e n h e g a v e i n a n d let h e r go , s h e i n s t an t l y t u r n e d
in to a fox a n d d a r t e d off, b a r k i n g .
T h e fire a n d t h e c i rc le o f m e n v a n i s h e d . H e w a s a lone i n t h e d a r k .
C o m p l e t e l y con fused , h e ca l led t o his c o m p a n i o n s o v e r a n d o v e r b u t
go t no r e s p o n s e . A g l a n c e a t t h e s u r r o u n d i n g s to ld h im t h a t he w a s
s o m e w h e r e ( h e h a d n o idea w h e r e ) o u t i n t h e w i l d s . T h o u g h his h e a r t
p o u n d e d a n d h e w a s o v e r c o m e w i t h d r e a d , h e m a n a g e d no t t o lose con-
3 0 2
t ro l o f himself . F r o m t h e look of t h e hills a n d t h e lie o f t he l and he j u d g e d
t h a t h e m u s t b e i n t h e g r e a t b u r n i n g g r o u n d a t T o r i b e n o . N a t u r a l l y his
h o r s e w a s n o w h e r e t o b e s e e n .
T h e t r o u b l e m u s t h a v e s t a r t e d w h e n h e t u r n e d d o w n O m i y a A v e n u e
to a v o i d t h e p r o c e s s i o n o f c a r r i a g e s . Af te r t h a t he h a d on ly be l ieved he
w a s h e a d i n g for t h e T s u c h i m i k a d o G a t e , b u t h a d ac tua l ly been c o m i n g
h e r e . All t h o s e t o r c h e s o n F i r s t A v e n u e h a d b e e n fox-fires. H e s t a r t ed
w a l k i n g a n d r e a c h e d h o m e la te i n t h e n igh t .
T h e n e x t d a y h e w a s a l m o s t d y i n g . T h e g u a r d s w h o h a d missed h im
t h e n i g h t b e f o r e w e r e m e a n w h i l e h a v i n g a g o o d l augh a t his e x p e n s e a n d
p r e s s i n g h i m to jo in t h e m . L a t e on t h e t h i r d d a y he finally w e n t , still
l o o k i n g far f rom wel l , t o face t he i r q u e s t i o n s a n d t a u n t s . T h e y d e m a n d e d
t o k n o w w h a t h e h a d d o n e w i t h t h e fox. H e a n s w e r e d tha t h e h a d
s u d d e n l y b e c o m e ill a n d h a d no t b e e n ab le to go af ter t he fox af ter all.
" B u t t o n i g h t , " h e p r o m i s e d , "I ' l l t r y a g a i n . "
" W e l l t h e n , b r i n g us two f o x e s ! " his c o m p a n i o n s c r ied . T a c i t u r n as
eve r , h e left w i t h o u t a n o t h e r w o r d .
H e d i d n o t r ea l ly s u p p o s e t h a t t h e fox w o u l d b e foolish e n o u g h t o
a p p e a r a g a i n , b u t i f i t d id he w a s p r e p a r e d to hold on to i t all n igh t i f
n e c e s s a r y . I f i t d i d no t , he w o u l d h ide h imsel f from t h e w o r l d forever .
T h i s t i m e h e t o o k t h e s t r o n g e s t o f his o w n m e n w i t h h im . H e t h o u g h t
a s t h e y r o d e h o w m a d h e w a s t o r isk his w h o l e c a r e e r o n s u c h n o n s e n s e ,
t h o u g h o f c o u r s e his p r o m i s e left h im n o o t h e r c h o i c e .
T h e r e w a s n o s ign o f t h e girl w h e n t h e y c r o s s e d K o y a B r o o k . T h e n
t h e y t u r n e d b a c k a n d t h e r e s h e w a s . A t least , t h e r e a girl w a s , b e c a u s e
t h e face w a s d i f fe ren t f rom last t i m e . As be fo re s h e a s k e d t o r ide b e h i n d
h im a n d h e let h e r ge t u p ; a n d a s be fo re h e t ied h e r s ecu re ly t o t he s add l e
a n d c o n t i n u e d o n t o w a r d t o w n a l o n g F i r s t A v e n u e .
By n o w i t w a s d a r k . He h a d s o m e o f his m e n r ide a h e a d o f h im w i t h
t o r c h e s a n d k e p t o t h e r s r i g h t b e s i d e h im . T h e b a n d r e a c h e d the i r ga te
w i t h o u t m e e t i n g a soul a n d d i s m o u n t e d . He se ized t h e girl by t he ha i r
a n d fo rced he r , d e s p i t e h e r t e a r s a n d c r ies , t o t h e s a m e spo t a s before .
H i s fe l low g u a r d s w e r e all t h e r e , c l a m o r i n g for n e w s . " H e r e she i s ! "
h e r e p l i e d a g a i n . T h i s t i m e h e h a d t ied h e r u p s o t igh t ly tha t she k e p t h e r
h u m a n form for s o m e t ime , b u t t h e m e n t o r m e n t e d h e r till she t u r n e d
in to a fox in t h e e n d , d e s p i t e b e i n g a p r i s o n e r . T h e y s inged the fox's fur
off w i t h t h e i r t o r c h e s a n d s h o t i t o v e r a n d ove r w i t h s t i ng ing a r r o w s ,
s h o u t i n g a t i t all t h e w h i l e n e v e r to t r y its t r i c k s a g a i n . In t he e n d t h e y
let i t go w i t h o u t k i l l ing it, a n d i t m a n a g e d s o m e h o w to r u n off, a l t h o u g h
i t c o u l d h a r d l y w a l k . O n l y t h e n d id t h e w a r r i o r confess h o w t h e fox h a d
fooled h i m t h e first t i m e a n d led h im off all t h e w a y to T o r i b e n o .
T e n d a y s l a t e r he d e c i d e d to visit K o y a B r o o k a g a i n . A v e r y s ick-
l o o k i n g gir l , lo i t e r ing on t h e b a n k , d e c l i n e d his inv i t a t ion to ge t up b e h i n d
h i m . " I ' d l ike t o , " s h e sa id , " b u t y o u b u r n e d m e s o b a d l y last t i m e ! " T h e n
s h e d i s a p p e a r e d .
2 0 8 .
NOT REALLY A TREE AT ALL
C h u d a i f u l ived in N a r a s ince his unc l e w a s t h e h igh p r i e s t o f t h e K a s u g a
S h r i n e . L a t e o n e a f t e r n o o n C h u d a i f u ' s h o r s e d i s a p p e a r e d w h i l e o u t g r a z -
ing . C h u d a i f u a n d a s e r v a n t set ou t e a s t w a r d t o w a r d t h e m o u n t a i n s t o
look for it, a r m e d w i t h b o w s .
T h e y h a d no t g o t t e n far w h e n the s u n set a n d n igh t fell. T h e r e w a s
o n l y t h e d i m m e s t l ight f rom a ve i led m o o n . As t h e y w a l k e d on , still
h o p i n g t o find t h e s t r a y a n i m a l , C h u d a i f u g l i m p s e d t h r o u g h the g a t h e r i n g
s h a d o w s a colossa l c r y p t o m e r i a t r ee , t w e l v e feet t h i ck a n d a g o o d t w o
h u n d r e d feet tall . He s t o p p e d d e a d in his t r a c k s . " A m I s ee ing t h i n g s ? "
he e x c l a i m e d . " H a s s o m e spi r i t a d d l e d o u r b r a i n s ? Go you see t h a t c r y p -
t o m e r i a t o o ? " T h e s e r v a n t a n s w e r e d t h a t h e d id . " T h e n it 's no t m y i m a g -
i n a t i o n , " sa id C h u d a i f u . " W e m u s t h a v e me t o n e o f t h o s e g o d s w h o ge t
y o u lost, a n d he ' s led u s off g o o d n e s s k n o w s w h e r e . W h e r e i n t h e w h o l e
p r o v i n c e o f Y a m a t o a r e y o u g o i n g t o find a c r y p t o m e r i a l ike t h a t ? "
" I ' v e no idea , s i r , " t h e s e r v a n t r ep l i ed . " I ' v e seen a few c r y p t o m e r i a s
h e r e a n d t h e r e , o f c o u r s e , b u t t h e y ' v e all b e e n q u i t e s m a l l . "
" T h a t ' s it, t h e n . W e ' v e b e e n b e w i t c h e d a n d n o w w e ' r e lost . W h a t a r e
w e g o i n g t o d o ? I 'm f r i gh t ened , y o u k n o w . I t h i n k w e ' d b e t t e r ge t o n
b a c k . I w o n d e r h o w far w e ' v e c o m e . T h i s i s t e r r i b l e ! "
" I t ' s a s t r a n g e b u s i n e s s w e ' v e r u n in to , sir, b u t i t w o u l d be t o o b a d jus t
t o go h o m e a g a i n w i t h o u t t r y i n g a n y t h i n g o u r s e l v e s . I sugges t , sir , t h a t
y o u s h o o t a n a r r o w in to t h a t t r e e , t h e n c o m e b a c k t o m o r r o w m o r n i n g
a n d c h e c k i t . "
C h u d a i f u hea r t i l y a p p r o v e d a n d sa id t h e y s h o u l d b o t h shoo t t h e t r ee .
W h e n t h e i r a r r o w s hit t h e t r e e i t s u d d e n l y v a n i s h e d . " S u r e e n o u g h , " said
C h u d a i f u , " w e ' v e m e t a sp i r i t ! Le t ' s ge t a w a y f rom h e r e ! " T h e y p rac t i -
cal ly r a n h o m e .
E a r l y t h e nex t m o r n i n g C h u d a i f u a n d his s e r v a n t r e t u r n e d t o t he
3 0 4
s c e n e . T h e y f o u n d a b a l d o ld fox ly ing d e a d w i t h a c r y p t o m e r i a b r a n c h
i n his j a w s a n d p i e r c e d t h r o u g h t h e bel ly b y t w o a r r o w s . " A h a ! " t h e y
e x c l a i m e d . "Here's t h e fel low w h o h a d u s so c o n f u s e d ! "
Befo re l e av ing , t h e y r e t r i e v e d t h e i r a r r o w s from t h e c o r p s e .
2 0 0 .
THE WHITE FOX: FOUR DREAMS
Shaped like a fat, falling drop, the Wishing Jewel
is an emblem of good fortune. The tail) of magic foxes
sometimes end in a Wishing Jewel shape.
F o u r n i g h t s a g o s o m e o n e b r o u g h t m e w h a t h e said w a s a p i c t u r e o f t h e
K a s u g a G o d , t h o u g h I c o u l d n ' t see w h a t t h e g o d l o o k e d l ike .
T h e n i g h t b e f o r e last I w a t c h e d t h e e v e n i n g s t a r a n d a b r i g h t m o o n
r i se o v e r F l o w e r M o u n t a i n . S t a r a n d m o o n w e r e t h e s a m e size.
L a s t n i g h t in t h e fields I c a m e to a b ig s t o n e t h a t l o o k e d l ike a W i s h i n g
J e w e l , a n d I t o u c h e d it. I t w a s w a r m . N o r t h o f t h e s t o n e lay t h r e e foxes .
I p i c k e d t h e w h i t e tuf t off o n e ' s tail a n d s a w i t w a s a b ig w h i t e fox. " W e a r
r e d , " t h e fox sa id , " w h e n y o u b r i n g m e of fe r ings . "
A t d a w n I g o t t w e n t y g o l d e n re l ics o f t h e B u d d h a .
As I w r i t e d o w n t h i s m a r v e l o u s s e q u e n c e o f d r e a m s , I sh ive r aga in
w i t h j o y a n d a w e .
B E Y O N D
T H E
R U L E S
2 1 0 . THE TELLTALE FLSH
O n c e u p o n a t i m e a m o n k w e n t v is i t ing . H i s hos t s e rved h im w i n e a n d a
spec ia l d e l i c a c y : s o m e t iny , de l i c ious fish w h i c h h a d jus t c o m e in to sea-
s o n . O f c o u r s e m o n k s a r e no t s u p p o s e d t o eat fish a t all, b u t t h e hos t m a y
h a v e s u s p e c t e d t h a t t h i s o n e w o u l d b e b r o a d - m i n d e d .
H a v i n g e x c u s e d h imse l f a m o m e n t , t h e hos t no t i ced on his r e t u r n t h a t
t h e r e w e r e n o w fewer f i s h i n t h e d i sh t h a n w h e n h e h a d left t h e r o o m .
N a t u r a l l y he sa id n o t h i n g . B u t w h i l e t h e t w o c h a t t e d , a little f i sh s u d -
d e n l y p o p p e d ou t t h e m o n k ' s n o s e .
" P a r d o n m e , " sa id t h e hos t , " b u t h o w ' d t h a t f i s h ge t u p y o u r n o s e ? "
" O h , t h e s e litt le f i s h , y o u k n o w , t h e y ' r e c o m i n g o u t eyes a n d n o s e s
e v e r y w h e r e l a t e l y ! " r ep l i ed t h e m o n k w i t h o u t m i s s ing a b e a t .
2 1 1 . A TASTE FOR FLSH
Rin ' e , a m o n k f rom N a r a , w a s o n his w a y u p t o t h e Cap i t a l w h e n h e
s t o p p e d a t a h o u s e by t h e Kizu R i v e r a n d a s k e d for fresh f i sh . T h e
r e q u e s t s h o c k e d his hos t , w h o k n e w t h a t m o n k s a r e n o t s u p p o s e d t o eat
t h e m e a t f rom a n y l iv ing c r e a t u r e .
B o t h m e n r o a r e d w i t h l a u g h t e r .
3 0 6
T h e m a n ' s wife h a d b e e n suf fe r ing f rom a n a b n o r m a l l y swol len belly
a n d t o all a p p e a r a n c e s w a s d y i n g . T h a t n igh t s h e d r e a m e d t h a t e ight
b o y s , a n n o u n c i n g t h e m s e l v e s a s R i n ' e ' s famil iars , t a p p e d h e r o n t he belly
a n d e x p e l l e d all t h e fou lness f rom it. S h e a w o k e per fec t ly wel l a n d found
t h e i m p u r e m a t t e r f rom ins ide h e r all o v e r h e r s l eep ing ma t .
W h e n s h e to ld h e r h u s b a n d , h e rea l i zed t h a t R in ' e w a s n o a v e r a g e
m o n k . F i r s t t h i n g n e x t m o r n i n g h e b r o u g h t R i n ' e m o r e fish.
A c c o m p l i s h e d h o l y m e n c e r t a i n l y do s o m e t i m e s ea t b o t h fish a n d fowl.
F o r e x a m p l e , t h e y s a y t h a t N i n k a i a t e smal l b i r d s . N o t t h a t o r d i n a r y
m o n k s o u g h t t o i m i t a t e t h e m !
2 1 3 .
THE PROMISE
It Li unclear whether or not this Ninkai really
L< the Mine monk iu< in no. 21I.
N i n k a i , a m o n k in N a r a , w a s pee r l e s s ly t a l e n t e d as a scho la r , b u t o n e
d a y h e d e c i d e d t o g ive u p his t e m p l e a n d its c o n v e n t i o n a l l y s t u d i o u s
a t m o s p h e r e i n o r d e r t o d e v o t e h imse l f m o r e freely t o t r u e re l ig ious p r a c -
t i ce . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e a b b o t w o u l d no t h e a r o f h is p l a n .
N i n k a i r e s o r t e d t o c o u r t i n g a w o m a n w h o l ived a c r o s s t o w n , a n d soon
p e o p l e w e r e g o s s i p i n g a b o u t his affair. T o m a k e s u r e e v e r y o n e k n e w , h e
w o u l d s t a n d b e h i n d h e r a t h e r g a t e w i t h his a r m s a r o u n d he r . T h e p a s -
s e r s b y w e r e p r o p e r l y s h o c k e d . Ac tua l ly , t h o u g h , h e n e v e r s lep t w i t h her .
I n s t e a d h e s p e n t h i s n i g h t s , s l eep less a n d w e e p i n g , before a n a l ta r .
T h i s r e a c h e d t h e e a r s o f t h e a b b o t , w h o r e v e r e d N i n k a i all t h e m o r e
a n d b e g a n t o w a n t h i s c o m p a n y all t h e t ime . T h e d e s p e r a t e N i n k a i r a n
off, m a r r i e d a loca l official 's d a u g h t e r s o m e d i s t a n c e a w a y , a n d even g a v e
u p c a r r y i n g h i s r o s a r y . B u t h e o n l y l o n g e d for e n l i g h t e n m e n t t h e m o r e .
A c o u n t y m a g i s t r a t e w h o n o t i c e d N i n k a i b e c a m e d e e p l y a t t a c h e d t o
h i m . F o r s o m e t i m e h e a n d his wife a c c o m p a n i e d N i n k a i e v e r y w h e r e a n d
p r e p a r e d his food, c l o t h i n g , a n d b a t h . T h e y d id so , a s t h e y to ld N i n k a i
himself , o u t o f p u r e r e v e r e n c e for his sanc t i ty . " W e h a v e on ly o n e con -
c e r n , " t h e y c o n f e s s e d . " H o w c a n w e m a k e s u r e t o b e w i t h y o u w h e n y o u
p a s s a w a y ? " N i n k a i r e a s s u r e d t h e m . " D o n ' t w o r r y , " h e said, "I ' l l b e w i t h
y o u . " T h e n h e w e n t his w a y .
Y e a r s l a te r , a t n ightfa l l on a s n o w y w i n t e r d a y , N i n k a i c a m e t o t h e i r
h o u s e . T h e y g r e e t e d h im g lad ly , e x c u s e d t he i r s e r v a n t s , a n d b r o u g h t h im
food t h e m s e l v e s . T h e n he t o o k a b a t h a n d lay d o w n .
T h e n e x t m o r n i n g t h e c o u p l e r o s e ea r ly . A s t h e y w e r e p r e p a r i n g b r e a k -
fast a m a r v e l o u s f r a g r a n c e f rom N i n k a i ' s r o o m filled t h e w h o l e h o u s e .
T h e y d e c i d e d h e m u s t b e b u r n i n g s o m e r a r e i n c e n s e . H e h a d sa id h e
w a n t e d t o leave ea r ly , b u t i t w a s l ight b y n o w a n d h e still w a s no t u p .
W h e n t h e m o r n i n g g r u e l w a s r e a d y t h e y a s k e d a d isc ip le t o let h im k n o w .
T h e d isc ip le r e fused . " M y m a s t e r h a s q u i t e a t e m p e r , " he said, " a n d i f I
b o t h e r h im he'l l o n l y b e a t m e . I 'm s u r e he' l l b e u p a n y m o m e n t . "
B y s u n r i s e t h e c o u p l e w e r e w o r r i e d e n o u g h t o call N i n k a i t h r o u g h t h e
d o o r . T h e r e w a s n o a n s w e r . W h e n t h e y e n t e r e d t h e y f o u n d h im s e a t e d
fac ing t h e w e s t w i t h his p a l m s t o g e t h e r i n p r a y e r . H e w a s d e a d . D e e p l y
s t i r r ed , t h e y p r o s t r a t e d t h e m s e l v e s w i t h N i n k a i ' s d i sc ip les be fo re t h e
h u s k o f t h e sa in t . A t d a w n t h e y h a d smel led t h e p e r f u m e o f A m i d a ' s
w e l c o m e t o N i n k a i ' s sou l . N i n k a i h a d k n o w n w h e n h e w o u l d d ie a n d h a d
k e p t h i s p r o m i s e t o h i s f r i ends .
2 1 3 .
THE JELLYFISH'S BONES
T h e r e n o w n e d m o n k Z o g a w a s b o r n i n K y o t o , b u t h is p a r e n t s s o o n
m o v e d to t h e E a s t . T h e y bui l t for t h e j o u r n e y a so r t o f p a l a n q u i n w h i c h
t h e y m o u n t e d on a h o r s e , a n d ins ta l l ed in i t a w e t n u r s e w i t h t h e i r li t t le
son in h e r a r m s . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , i t w a s s u c h a l o n g w a y t h a t t h e w e t n u r s e
fell a s l eep a n d d r o p p e d t h e b a b y . Li t t le Z o g a t u m b l e d t o t h e g r o u n d .
N e a r l y a mile f u r t h e r on , t h e w e t n u r s e w o k e u p a n d rea l i zed t h e b a b y
m u s t h a v e fallen ou t , t h o u g h g o o d n e s s k n o w s w h e r e . T h e n e w s d r o v e
Z o g a ' s p a r e n t s w i ld . T h e y r a n t e d a n d r a v e d a b o u t h o w all t h e p a s s i n g
h o r s e s , o x e n , a n d p e o p l e m u s t h a v e t r a m p l e d h im t o d e a t h , b u t t h e y
t u r n e d b a c k a n y w a y s ince t h e y still w a n t e d his p o o r b o d y . T h e y f o u n d
t h e b a b y o n h i s b a c k i n t h e m i d d l e o f t h e n a r r o w t ra i l , smi l ing happ i l y .
T h e r e w a s no t a s p o t o f m u d o r a w e t p a t c h on h im .
I t w a s a m i r a c l e . T h a t n i g h t Z o g a ' s p a r e n t s h a d a d r e a m . A s u m p t u o u s
c o u c h s p r e a d w i t h a cos t ly cove r l e t r o d e on an e x p a n s e o f m u d , a n d on i t
lay litt le Z o g a . F o u r e x q u i s i t e b o y s , o n e a t e a c h c o r n e r o f t h e c o u c h ,
c h a n t e d i n t h e l a n g u a g e o f t h e s c r i p t u r e s :
3 0 8
TbLf chili) Li horn from the Buddha \i mouth,
wherefore we keep him from all harm.
N o w Z o g a ' s p a r e n t s k n e w t h e i r son w a s u n u s u a l , a n d t h e y ra ised h im
t e n d e r l y .
W h e n h e w a s f i ve , l i t t le Z o g a a n n o u n c e d t h a t h e w o u l d soon b e g o i n g
t o m a s t e r t h e L o t u s S u t r a o n M o u n t H ie i . H i s p a r e n t s t h o u g h t h im m u c h
t o o y o u n g t o b e s a y i n g t h i n g s l ike t h a t a n d feared s o m e spir i t m igh t b e
t a l k i n g t h r o u g h h i m . B u t soon his m o t h e r d r e a m e d t h a t even a s she
n u r s e d h e r b o y he g r e w in to a m a t u r e m o n k w i t h a s u t r a scroll in his
h a n d ; a n d b e s i d e h im s t o o d a n o t h e r m o n k w h o e x p l a i n e d t h a t i t w a s he r
s o n ' s d e s t i n y t o e n t e r r e l ig ion . Z o g a ' s p a r e n t s s t o p p e d o p p o s i n g the i r
s o n ' s p l a n a n d w e r e h a p p y a b o u t i t i n s t ead .
W h e n h e w a s e l even , Z o g a f o u n d a d i s t i n g u i s h e d m a s t e r o n M o u n t
H i e i . Af t e r a few y e a r s e v e r y o n e r e c o g n i z e d his p ie ty a n d l ea rn ing . He
c a u s e d q u i t e a st ir , t h o u g h , w h e n he c a m e b a c k s t a r k e d n a k e d from
t h e Ise S h r i n e , h a v i n g b e e n i n s p i r e d by a d r e a m (a vo ice to ld him,
" F o r g e t t h e b o d y ! " ) t o t a k e off all h is c lo thes a n d p a s s t h e m ou t t o t h e
b e g g a r s . P e o p l e t h o u g h t h e w a s m a d , a n d t h o u g h his m a s t e r m o r e o r
less u n d e r s t o o d , he felt ob l iged t o r e m i n d Z o g a t h a t t he w i sh t o t r a n -
s c e n d w o r l d l y a m b i t i o n d id no t necessa r i ly e x e m p t h im from b e h a v i n g
n o r m a l l y . A n o t h e r t ime , w h e n his m a s t e r h a d jus t b e e n p r o m o t e d t o
t h e h i g h e s t ecc les ias t ica l r a n k , Z o g a j o i n e d t h e t r i u m p h a l p roce s s ion
m o u n t e d on a b o n y o ld ox , w i t h a d r i e d s a l m o n at h is wa i s t i n s t ead of a
s w o r d .
R e s p e c t a b i l i t y a n d s u c c e s s rea l ly m e a n t n o t h i n g t o Z o g a , w h o w a n t e d
a b o v e all a q u i e t e r p l ace to l ive. He c h o s e T o n o m i n e in t h e hills s o u t h of
N a r a . W h e n t h e a b b o t r e fused h i m leave t o g o , h e q u i c k l y c h a n g e d the
a b b o t ' s m i n d . He s t o p p e d s e n d i n g a s e r v a n t t o fetch his mea l s b u t ins t ead
c a m e w i t h a b l a c k e n e d a n d f i l t hy s o r t o f b o x to col lect t h e m himself.
T h e n h e w o u l d s q u a t b y t h e p a t h w i t h t h e w o r k m e n , p ick u p a co u p l e o f
t w i g s for c h o p s t i c k s , a n d s h a r e o u t h is d i n n e r a s h e a t e . P e o p l e d e c i d e d
h e w a s c r a z y a n d t h e a b b o t w a s g l a d e n o u g h t o let h im go .
Z o g a f o u n d t h e t o p o f t h e m o u n t a i n a t T o n o m i n e t o o th i ck w i t h t h e
d e m o n s t h a t h i n d e r e n l i g h t e n m e n t a n d i n s t e a d bui l t a h u t a t an i nconsp i c -
u o u s s p o t i n t h e va l l ey . A las , h e w a s s o r e v e r e d b y n o w t h a t t h e e m p e r o r
i n s i s t ed on n a m i n g h i m to his p e r s o n a l staff o f hea le r s , a n d n a t u r a l l y
o t h e r g r e a t n o b l e s d e m a n d e d h i s s e rv ices a s we l l . Z o g a gene ra l l y i gno red
t h e s e ca l ls , b u t w h e n he d i d go he b e h a v e d like a m a d m a n a n d go t ou t o f
t h e C a p i t a l a s fast a s he c o u l d .
T h e r e w a s , for e x a m p l e , t h e e m p r e s s ' s o r d i n a t i o n . P l a n n i n g t o re t i re
i n to t h e r e l i g ious life, t h e San jo E m p r e s s inv i ted Z o g a t o p r e s i d e a t t h e
c e r e m o n y . H e r m e s s e n g e r t h o u g h t th i s a fine idea , s ince so ho ly a m a n
w o u l d n o d o u b t m a k e t h e e m p r e s s i n to a p r o p e r l y w o r t h y n u n .
Z o g a ' s d i sc ip les a s s u m e d t h e i r m a s t e r w o u l d f l y i n to a r a g e a n d p e r -
h a p s e v e n bea t t h e m e s s e n g e r , b u t h e d id n o t h i n g o f t h e k i n d . H e a c c o m -
p a n i e d t h e m e s s e n g e r b a c k t o t h e e m p r e s s ' s p a l a c e w i t h o u t a m u r m u r .
All s o r t s o f g r e a t n o b l e s a n d m o n k s h a d g a t h e r e d for t h e r i t e . T h e r e
w a s e v e n s o m e o n e t o r e p r e s e n t t h e e m p e r o r . T h e y all n o t e d Z o g a ' s fierce
eyes a n d i m p r e s s i v e b e a r i n g , b u t t h o u g h t he s e e m e d a litt le u n w e l l .
Z o g a w e n t r igh t u p t o t h e e m p r e s s ' s c u r t a i n s a n d s t a r t e d t h e c e r e m o n y .
A t t h e a p p r o p r i a t e m o m e n t t h e e m p r e s s p u t h e r long , beaut i fu l h a i r o u t
t h r o u g h t h e c u r t a i n s a n d Z o g a , i n t h e g e s t u r e w h i c h a b o v e all d iv ide s t h e
w o r l d l y from t h e re l ig ious life, c u t i t off. W i t h i n t h e c u r t a i n s t h e e m -
p r e s s ' s lad ies w e p t a s t h o u g h t h e i r h e a r t s w o u l d b r e a k .
H a v i n g d o n e h i s b i t Z o g a t id ied u p , t h e n a d d r e s s e d t h e e m p r e s s i n
r i n g i n g t o n e s . " W h a t d id y o u w a n t m e for, a n y w a y ? " h e c o m p l a i n e d . " I
d o n ' t g e t it. D i d y o u h e a r I 've go t a b ig d i ck o r s o m e t h i n g ? W e l l y e s , i t 's
b i g g e r t h a n mos t , b u t i t ' s a s l imp a s silk f l o s s r igh t n o w . "
All o v e r t h e r o o m s e y e s p o p p e d a n d j a w s d r o p p e d . W h o k n o w s h o w
t h e e m p r e s s felt? I t w a s u n b e l i e v a b l e ! T h e ho ly a u r a w a s g o n e a n d t h e
s p e e c h l e s s a s s e m b l y b r o k e ou t i n s t ead in a co ld s w e a t .
Z o g a ' s fa rewel l fo l lowed . " I ' m a n old m a n , y o u k n o w , " h e w e n t o n .
" M y ins ides d o n ' t w o r k a n d I 've go t t h e t r o t s so b a d all t h e t i m e t h a t I
s h o u l d n ' t h a v e c o m e a t all . T h e h o n o r w a s jus t t oo t e m p t i n g , I s u p p o s e .
B u t n o w , y o u u n d e r s t a n d , I c a n ' t ho ld i t i n a n y m o r e a n d , b e g g i n g y o u r
p a r d o n , I 've jus t go t t o g o . "
H e s q u a t t e d o n t h e v e r a n d a , t u c k e d u p his sk i r t s , a n d let i t s q u i r t . T h e
noise w a s r e v o l t i n g a n d t h e s t e n c h a h o r r o r . B o t h hi t t h e e m p r e s s full
force . T h e y o u n g e r c o u r t i e r s w e n t i n to c o n v u l s i o n s o f l a u g h t e r , w h i l e t h e
m o n k s m u t t e r e d t o e a c h o t h e r t h a t H e r M a j e s t y w a s c r a z y herse l f t o h a v e
cal led in s u c h a l u n a t i c . B u t n o t h i n g Z o g a cou ld do s e e m e d to t a r n i s h his
u n w a n t e d fame .
H e w a s p a s t e igh ty , a s s o u n d a s e v e r i n b o d y a n d spir i t , w h e n h e
u n d e r s t o o d he w a s to d ie i n t en d a y s . "At last I'll h a v e w h a t I 've a l w a y s
p r a y e d f o r ! " h e e x c l a i m e d . " S o o n I'll l eave th i s w o r l d b e h i n d a n d b e
r e b o r n i n p a r a d i s e ! " H e h a d his d i sc ip les w r i t e v e r s e s o n g o i n g t o p a r a -
d ise , a n d cheer fu l ly m a d e o n e up h imse l f f rom a classic p a r a d o x :
Eighty yean of patience,
with aye slowly wrinkling me
into an old man!
What a joy at last to find
the jellyfish's bones!
3 I 0
Z o g a a n n o u n c e d t h e g r e a t d a y himself. W h e n he cal led for a go b o a r d
h i s d i s c ip l e s b r o u g h t h i m o n e f rom n e x t d o o r , a s s u m i n g h e w a n t e d t o p u t
t h e B u d d h a o n it. B u t n o , h e d e m a n d e d t o b e p r o p p e d u p a n d i n a w e a k
vo i ce i n v i t e d a c lose f r iend to p l ay .
T h e f r i end w a s s h o c k e d a n d s a d d e n e d t h a t a t a t ime like this , w h e n
Z o g a s h o u l d h a v e b e e n ca l l ing o n L o r d A m i d a a n d l o o k i n g f o r w a r d t o
his w e l c o m e , h e w a s t h i n k i n g o f s u c h foo l i shness i n s t ead . W h y , h e m u s t
b e o u t o f h i s m i n d ! B u t Z o g a w a s s o e m i n e n t t h a t t h e fr iend d a r e d no t
d i s o b e y . H e sa t d o w n a t t h e b o a r d , a n d h e a n d Z o g a each p laced the i r
first t e n s t o n e s . "Al l r i g h t , " sa id Z o g a , " n o m o r e , " a n d s w e p t t he s tones
f rom t h e b o a r d .
" W h y d id y o u w a n t t o p l a y go?" t h e f r iend a s k e d t imidly .
" I ' v e w a t c h e d p e o p l e p l a y e v e r s ince I w a s a boy , a n d as I w a s cal l ing
t h e N a m e j u s t n o w I w a n t e d t o t r y i t t o o . "
N o w Z o g a d e m a n d e d t o b e p r o p p e d u p a g a i n . " G e t m e a pa i r o f s t i r r u p
g u a r d s , " h e c o m m a n d e d , m e a n i n g t h e l e a t h e r g u a r d s t h a t p r o t e c t a r ide r ' s
feet . W h e n t h e y c a m e , h e h a d t h e m t ied t o g e t h e r a n d h u n g r o u n d his
n e c k . T h e n h e o p e n e d his a r m s w i d e , t h o u g h i t w a s c lear ly painful for
h i m to do so , a n d a n n o u n c e d he w o u l d d a n c e . Af te r d o i n g a litt le d a n c e
h e h a d t h e m r e m o v e d .
" W h e n I w a s f i r s t o n t h e m o u n t a i n , " h e exp l a ined , " a b u n c h o f y o u n g
m o n k s l ived n e x t d o o r a n d t h e y h a d a v e r y g o o d t ime . O n c e I s a w o n e
h a n g a p a i r o f s t i r r u p g u a r d s r o u n d his n e c k a n d d a n c e to t h e t u n e o f a
c l e v e r s o n g w h i c h I s u p p o s e h e ' d jus t m a d e u p . I t real ly t i ck led m e . I 'd
f o r g o t t e n all a b o u t it, b u t t h e m e m o r y c a m e b a c k jus t n o w a n d I felt like
d o i n g i t t o o . T h a t ' s all , t h o u g h . I 've n o t h i n g m o r e o n m y m i n d . "
T h e V e n e r a b l e Z o g a t h e n sen t e v e r y o n e a w a y a n d re t i r ed t o a n i n n e r
r o o m , w h e r e he sa t i n a c r u d e c h a i r fac ing t h e w e s t a n d c h a n t e d t he
L o t u s S u t r a till h e p a s s e d in to N i r v a n a .
a 1 J .
THE STINKING HUT
A m o n k o n c e r o a m e d t h e p r o v i n c e s , w o r s h i p p i n g a t e a c h ho ly p lace , till
in K y u s h u o n e d a y he go t lost in a d e s e r t e d s t r e t c h o f m o u n t a i n s . F o r
d a y s h e s a w n o s ign o f a n o t h e r h u m a n be ing .
H e w a s e n o r m o u s l y re l i eved t o f i n d a h u t a t last , b u t t h e w o m a n w h o
c a m e t o t h e d o o r w a r n e d h im t h a t th i s w a s n o h o u s e for h im t o s t ay in .
H e p r o t e s t e d t h a t h e w a s a p i lg r im, e x h a u s t e d a n d lost . " I d o n ' t c a r e
w h a t y o u r h o u s e i s l i k e , " he sa id , " a s l o n g as I c a n r e s t for a w h i l e . " In
t h e e n d t h e w o m a n g a v e i n a n d a g r e e d t o let h im s p e n d t h e n i g h t .
S h e led h im ins ide , s p r e a d a c l ean ma t , a n d fed h i m a g o o d meal w h i c h
he a t e g ra te fu l ly . Af te r d a r k a m a n c a m e in w i t h a b ig b u n d l e on h i s
s h o u l d e r s a n d set i t d o w n . He w a s in a re l ig ious r o b e b u t h is h a i r w a s
cu t s h o r t , no t s h a v e n , a n d h e w a s t oo d i s g u s t i n g l y filthy t o g o n e a r .
" W h o ' s t h i s ? " h e a s k e d o n see ing t h e m o n k , a n d w h e n t h e w o m a n to ld
h im, m u t t e r e d t h a t he w a s a bi t s u r p r i s e d s ince no o n e l ike t h a t h a d b e e n
a r o u n d for y e a r s . N e x t , h e b e g a n e a t i n g s o m e o f t h e stuff h e h a d b r o u g h t
in. I t w a s all c h u n k s o f ca t t l e a n d h o r s e m e a t .
B y th i s t ime t h e m o n k w a s w o n d e r i n g w h a t so r t o f p l ace h e h a d c o m e
to . O b v i o u s l y t h e m a n no t on ly a t e m e a t b u t l ived b y s u p p l y i n g t h e local
h u n t e r s w i t h m e a t t o feed t h e i r d o g s . T o a p i o u s sou l t h e v e r y t h o u g h t
w a s ho r r i fy ing , b u t i n t h e d a r k t h e r e w a s n o w h e r e else t o g o . T h e m o n k
w a s s t u c k , d i s g u s t e d a n d m i s e r a b l e , i n t h e litt le s t i n k i n g h u t .
V e r y la te a t n igh t t h e m a n go t u p , w a s h e d i n w a r m w a t e r , c h a n g e d
in to a fresh r o b e , a n d w e n t ou t b e h i n d t h e h u t . T h e c u r i o u s m o n k s a w
h im e n t e r a t i ny c h a p e l a n d l ight t h e a l t a r l a m p s a n d i n c e n s e . H e w e n t
o n t o d o t h e L o t u s C o n f e s s i o n r i te , t h e n c h a n t e d t he L o t u s S u t r a t h r o u g h .
F ina l ly , a f te r p r o s t r a t i n g h imse l f before t h e a l t a r , h e i n t o n e d t h e N a m e
o f t h e B u d d h a A m i d a . H i s vo ice w a s d e e p l y ho ly .
W h e n h e left h is c h a p e l a t d a w n , h e a n d t h e m o n k found t h e m s e l v e s
face t o face. H e sa id his n a m e w a s J o s o n a n d h e q u i c k l y a p o l o g i z e d for
his i g n o r a n c e a n d u n c o u t h n e s s . H e a c k n o w l e d g e d t h a t d e s p i t e h a v i n g
b e e n b o r n in a h u m a n b o d y he w a s still c o m m i t t i n g t e r r i b l e s ins . " I f o n l y
I cou ld rea l ly fol low t h e B u d d h a ' s T e a c h i n g ! " he c r i ed . " B u t I c an ' t , a n d
t h a t ' s w h y I l ive off mea t , w h i c h n o r m a l p e o p l e w o n ' t t o u c h . I 'm so g l ad
k a r m a h a s b r o u g h t y o u h e r e , t h o u g h , b e c a u s e y e a r s f rom n o w , o n a d a t e
I'll tell y o u , I 'm g o i n g to leave th i s w o r l d b e h i n d a n d be r e b o r n in to t h e
L a n d o f Bliss . C o m e a g a i n t h e n , i f y o u ' d l ike t o h a v e t h e b l e s s ing o f my
p a s s i n g ! "
T h e m o n k s a w t h a t t h e m a n h e h a d t a k e n for a n espec ia l ly b r u t i s h so r t
o f b e g g a r w a s a c t u a l l y a sa in t , a n d he p r o m i s e d t o r e t u r n . T h e n he w e n t
his w a y .
H e c a m e b a c k o n t h e d a t e n a m e d b y J o s o n , c u r i o u s t o see w h e t h e r o r
no t t h e p r e d i c t i o n w o u l d c o m e t r u e . J o s o n , n o w p r o p e r l y s h a v e n a n d
b a t h e d a n d w e a r i n g a c l ean r o b e , g r e e t e d h im joyful ly. " I h a v e n ' t t o u c h e d
m e a t for m o n t h s , " he sa id , " a n d t o n i g h t I 'm g o i n g to be r e b o r n in p a r a -
d i s e ! " H i s wife w a s n o w a n u n .
3 1 2
T h e c o u p l e s p e n t t h e n igh t i n t he i r c h a p e l , ca l l ing A m i d a ' s N a m e . A s
d a w n b r o k e , l ight b u r s t t h r o u g h t h e chape l d o o r . T h e m o n k h e a r d t he
s w e e t e s t o f m u s i c r e s o u n d i n t h e s k y a n d m o v e s lowly a w a y t o w a r d the
w e s t , w h i l e a de l i c ious f r a g r a n c e filled t h e a i r . At day l igh t he w e n t in to
t h e c h a p e l . J o s o n a n d t h e n u n w e r e s e a t e d t o g e t h e r facing the w e s t w i th
t h e i r p a l m s p r e s s e d t o g e t h e r i n p r a y e r . T h e y h a d p a s s e d a w a y .
T h e w e e p i n g m o n k p r o s t r a t e d himself i n r e v e r e n c e a n d a w e . H e neve r
left a g a i n , a n d e v e r y o n e i n t he p r o v i n c e w h o h e a r d t he s to ry c a m e t o
r e c e i v e t h e b l e s s i n g o f t h e p l a c e .
2 1 5 .
BE GOOD TO YOUR MOTHER AND FATHER!
K o m a no Y u k i m i t s u , a d a n c e r a t t a c h e d t o t he K a s u g a S h r i n e i n N a r a ,
h a d l e a r n e d t h e d a n c e Katen f rom his f a the r w h e n he w a s fifteen. S ince
t h e n he h a d of ten d a n c e d i t all by h imse l f a t t h e s h r i n e , just for the g o d ' s
p l e a s u r e .
O n c e he fell ill. T h e n his b r e a t h i n g s t o p p e d a n d he found himself a t
t h e p a l a c e o f E m m a , t h e k i n g of hel l . W h e n a majest ic g e n t l e m a n a r r i ved ,
E m m a w e l c o m e d h im w i t h e v e r y s ign o f r e s p e c t .
" T h i s m a n h a s b e e n loyal t o m e e v e r s ince h e w a s fif teen," t he gen t l e -
m a n d e c l a r e d . " I w a n t h im r e l e a s e d . "
K i n g E m m a o b e y e d , a n d t h e g e n t l e m a n led Y u k i m i t s u away-
" M y l o r d , " sa id t h e a m a z e d Y u k i m i t s u , " I t h a n k y o u for h a v i n g go t t en
m e p a r d o n e d . B u t w h o a r e y o u ? "
" I ' m t h e G o d o f K a s u g a , " t h e g e n t l e m a n a n s w e r e d . " W o u l d y o u c a r e
t o see h e l l ? "
" Y e s , p l e a s e , " sa id Y u k i m i t s u .
T h e g o d t o o k h im r igh t off t o s h o w h im hel l . Y u k i m i t s u s a w s o m a n y
k i n d s o f h o r r i b l e suf fe r ing t h a t i t w o u l d be imposs ib l e t o d e s c r i b e t h e m
all, a n d a f t e r w a r d s h e b e g g e d t o b e to ld h o w h e c o u l d e s c a p e t h e s a m e
awfu l fa te .
" B e g o o d t o y o u r m o t h e r a n d f a t h e r ! " sa id t h e g o d . " T h a t ' s t he h i g h e s t
v i r t u e . I f y o u cu l t i va t e it, y o u w o n ' t fall in to he l l . "
216 .
HELL IN BROAD DAY
H a v i n g c o n t r a c t e d a pa inful i l lness, t h e wife of a p rov inc ia l official in
E t c h u e v e n t u a l l y d i ed . H e r h u s b a n d a n d t h r e e s o n s l o o k e d af ter t h e
funera l a s wel l a s t h e y c o u l d a n d h a d t h e p r o p e r r i tes p e r f o r m e d for
s e v e n w h o l e d a y s , b u t w h e n t h e s e v e n d a y s w e r e o v e r t h e s o n s f o u n d
t h a t t h e i r g r i e f w a s a s fresh a s eve r .
T h e y w a n t e d a t least t o find ou t w h e r e t he i r m o t h e r h a d b e e n r e b o r n ,
a n d t h e y k n e w t h a t t o d o th i s t h e y w o u l d h a v e t o visi t T a t e y a m a , a s t e e p
a n d f o r b i d d i n g m o u n t a i n i n t h e s a m e p r o v i n c e , c o v e r e d w i t h ho t he l l -
s p r i n g s a n d o t h e r s u c h h o r r o r s . I n th i s u n e a r t h l y l a n d s c a p e y o u c o u l d
s o m e t i m e s ge t n e w s o f t h e d e a d . So t h e y p e r s u a d e d a ho ly m a n to jo in
t h e m a n d set off w i t h o u t d e l a y t o see t h e hel ls o f T a t e y a m a b u r n , a n d t o
d i s c o v e r w h a t h a d b e c o m e o f t h e i r m o t h e r .
T h e y v i s i t ed hell a f te r hell on t h e m o u n t a i n a n d felt a s t h o u g h t h e y
t h e m s e l v e s w e r e b u r n i n g , b e c a u s e all a r o u n d t h e m w a t e r w a s bo i l i ng u p
a m i d c u r l s o f f l ame . E v e n f rom a d i s t a n c e t h e h e a t w a s t e r r ib l e , a n d i t
w a s awfu l t o i m a g i n e t h e t o r m e n t s o f t h e u n h a p p y sp i r i t s i m m e r s e d i n
s u c h fierce w a t e r s . T h e y h a d t h e ho ly m a n s h a k e his staff, t i p p e d w i t h
j a n g l i n g b r a s s r i n g s , in p o w e r f u l r h y t h m as he c h a n t e d a l i t any for t h e s e
sp i r i t s , a n d t h e y h a d h im p r e a c h t h e L o t u s S u t r a . W h e n h e d i d th i s , t h e
f l a m e s o f t h e hell t h e y w e r e i n w o u l d p la in ly d ie d o w n .
At last , i n a hell t h a t w a s e v e n h o t t e r a n d m o r e h i d e o u s t h a n t h e res t ,
t h e y h a d t h e ho ly m a n s h a k e his staff a n d p r o c l a i m t h e T e a c h i n g a s
be fo re . T h e f l a m e s h a d jus t d i m m e d a litt le w h e n t h e y h e a r d t he i r d e a r
3 1 A
m o t h e r ' s vo i ce ca l l ing h e r e ldes t s o n ' s n a m e from a cleft in t he r o c k s :
" T a r o , T a r o ! " A t first t h e y re fused t o be l ieve t he i r e a r s a n d d id no t
a n s w e r , b u t t h e c r y c a m e a g a i n a n d aga in till t h e y w e r e terr i f ied. " W h o ' s
c a l l i n g ? " T a r o c r i e d . T h e vo ice from t h e cleft a n s w e r e d , " H o w can y o u
a s k ? C o u l d a son n o t k n o w his m o t h e r ' s vo i ce? In life I w a s m e a n a n d
c o m m i t t e d m a n y s ins , a n d n o w I suffer e n d l e s s a n d u n s p e a k a b l e a g o n y ! "
T h e s o n s h a d h e a r d o f t h e d e a d v i s i t ing t h e l iv ing i n d r e a m s , b u t n e v e r
o f t h e d e a d s p e a k i n g t o t h e l iv ing i n b r o a d day l igh t . Y e t t he voice w a s
t h e i r m o t h e r ' s . " H o w c a n w e h e l p y o u ? " t h e y c r i ed i n r ep ly .
T h e vo i ce c a m e a g a i n : " T h e r e ' s n o easy w a y for y o u t o l igh ten t he
su f fe r ing m y s ins h a v e b r o u g h t m e . Y o u ' r e t o o p o o r t o afford t he g o o d
w o r k s t h a t w o u l d h e l p m e . I t wi l be e o n s be fo re I e s c a p e from this he l l ! "
" B u t w h a t would i t t a k e t o free y o u ? " h e r s o n s ins is ted .
" T h e o n l y w a y i s t o m a k e a t h o u s a n d cop ie s o f t he L o t u s S u t r a a n d
d e d i c a t e t h e m all for m e o n t h e s a m e d a y . "
T h e s o n s k n e w h o w h a r d i t w a s t o do o n e c o p y a d a y . N o t ten , no t a
h u n d r e d , b u t a t h o u s a n d cop i e s w e r e c lea r ly imposs ib le , bu t n o w tha t
t h e y h a d s e e n t h e i r m o t h e r ' s a g o n y w i t h t he i r o w n eyes t h e y cou ld no t
s i m p l y i g n o r e h e r a n d l eave . E a c h w o u l d far r a t h e r h a v e t a k e n h e r p lace
i n hel l . T h e h o l y m a n h a d t o r e m i n d t h e m t h a t a l t h o u g h o n e m i g h t t a k e
a n o t h e r ' s p l a c e in thi) w o r l d , in t h e afterlife we all r ece ive t h e impar t i a l
r e w a r d for o u r o w n a c t i o n s s o t h a t n o o n e can b e p u n i s h e d for a n o t h e r ' s
s i n s . " G o h o m e , " h e u r g e d t h e m , " c o p y t h e S u t r a a s bes t y o u c a n ! E v e n
a s ing l e c o p y wil l h e l p h e r a l i t t l e ! "
T h e y w e n t h o m e s t u n n e d w i t h gr ie f a n d to ld t he i r f a the r w h a t t h e y
h a d s e e n a n d h e a r d . H e a c k n o w l e d g e d t h a t a t h o u s a n d L o t u s S u t r a s w a s
m o r e t h a n t h e y c o u l d m a n a g e . S i n c e t h e y w o u l d jus t h a v e t o d o w h a t
t h e y c o u l d , t h e y d e c i d e d to s t a r t off w i t h a goal o f t h r e e h u n d r e d .
W h e n t h e g o v e r n o r o f t h e p r o v i n c e h e a r d w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d , h e
ca l l ed i n t h e f a t h e r a n d go t t h e w h o l e s t o r y f rom h im. P ious a n d c o m p a s -
s i o n a t e , h e r e s p o n d e d b y v o w i n g t o jo in i n t h e S u t r a c o p y i n g a n d e n c o u r -
a g e d e v e r y o n e he k n e w in t h e n e i g h b o r i n g p r o v i n c e s t o do t h e s a m e . A
t h o u s a n d c o p i e s w e r e s o o n d o n e a n d t h e ded i ca t i on r i te p e r f o r m e d .
K n o w i n g t h a t t h e i r m o t h e r w a s n o w de l ive red from t h e t o r m e n t s o f
hell t h e s o n s re jo iced , a n d t h e e ldes t h a d a d r e a m . H i s m o t h e r c a m e to
h i m , e x q u i s i t e l y beau t i fu l , a n d to ld h im t h a t the i r c a r e h a d lifted h e r u p
t o r e b i r t h i n t h e T o r i H e a v e n . T h e n s h e flew off in to t he s k y . N a t u r a l l y
h e b r o a d c a s t th i s d r e a m far a n d w i d e , a n d i t g l a d d e n e d e v e r y o n e w h o
h e a r d it.
L a t e r o n t h e s o n s r e t u r n e d t o T a t e y a m a a n d w e n t r o u n d the hells
a g a i n , b u t th i s t i m e n o vo ice c a m e from t h e r o c k s .
T h e he l l s t h e m s e l v e s , o f c o u r s e , a r e still t h e r e .
THE OLD WOMAN ON THE MOUNTAIN
An old w o m a n l iv ing w i t h a y o u n g e r c o u p l e a t S a r a s h i n a in S h i n a n o
p r o v i n c e l o o k e d a f te r t h e m for m a n y y e a r s l ike a m o t h e r . B u t t h e w i l e ,
w h o i n h e r h e a r t d e t e s t e d he r , h a t e d espec ia l ly t h e w a y t h e old w o m a n
w a s b e i n g d e f o r m e d b y a g e . S h e k e p t h a r p i n g t o h e r h u s b a n d a b o u t h o w
awful t h e old w o m a n w a s . H e t r i ed t o d i s c o u r a g e h e r c o m p l a i n t s , b u t h e
t oo e n d e d u p a s of ten a s no t n e g l e c t i n g t h e old w o m a n , w h o s e b o d y i n
t h e m e a n t i m e h a d b e n t a l m o s t i n t w o .
F ina l ly t h e wife c o u l d t a k e n o m o r e . W h y , t h e h a g d id no t e v e n h a v e
t he g r a c e t o d i e ! T e l l i n g h e r h u s b a n d s h e h a d h a d e n o u g h , s h e o r d e r e d
h im t o t a k e t he old w o m a n s o m e w h e r e far in to t h e m o u n t a i n s a n d a b a n -
d o n h e r . He d id no t l ike t he idea a bit a n d a t first d id n o t h i n g , b u t s h e
p e s t e r e d h im merc i l e ss ly till he w a s fed up a n d g a v e in.
I t w a s t h e f if teenth n igh t o f t he e igh th m o o n , t he g r e a t fu l l -moon n igh t
o f t h e y e a r . M o o n l i g h t f looded t h e sky . " C o m e , d e a r , " said t h e h u s b a n d ,
" t h e r e ' s a v e r y ho ly s e rv i ce a t t h e t e m p l e . I'll t a k e y o u t h e r e ! "
T h e old w o m a n w a s e a g e r t o g o . H e p u t h e r o n his b a c k a n d h e a d e d
s t r a i g h t u p t he h igh m o u n t a i n b e h i n d t h e i r v i l lage . W h e n h e w a s s u r e s h e
cou ld n e v e r ge t b a c k b y herself, h e p u t h e r d o w n a n d fled. S h e s h o u t e d
af ter h im in v a i n .
A t h o m e a g a i n h e f o u n d h e cou ld no t forget w h a t his wife h a d m a d e
h im d o , a n d c o n s i d e r i n g h o w k i n d l y t h e old w o m a n h a d o n c e l o o k e d af ter
t h e m he w i s h e d he h a d no t d o n e it. All n igh t long, w i t h t he m o o n b r i g h t
o v e r t h e m o u n t a i n , h e lay s leep less a n d his t h o u g h t s w e n t ou t t o h e r . A s
h e lay t h e r e h e m u r m u r e d t h e p o e m :
Thu heart of mine
refiuie.i comfort,
ah, Sarashina!
aj I watch the moon
bright over /Mount Obajule.
T h e n h e w e n t b a c k u p t h e m o u n t a i n , b r o u g h t t h e old w o m a n d o w n , a n d
c a r e d for h e r a s be fo re .
S o d o n ' t let y o u r wife ' s u n p l e a s a n t t o n g u e t u r n y o u r m i n d t o u n w o r t h y
t h o u g h t s . N o d o u b t th i s so r t o f t h i n g g o e s o n e v e n n o w , t h o u g h .
A s for t h e m o u n t a i n , it 's b e e n ca l led O b a s u t e y a m a e v e r s ince : " M o u n -
3 1 6
t a in o f t h e D e s e r t e d C r o n e . " Un t i l t h e n p e o p l e h a d a l w a y s cal led i t
K a m u r i y a m a , " T h e C a p , " b e c a u s e it 's s h a p e d like t h e c a p a g e n t l e m a n
w e a r s .
2 l 8
MOTHER
T w o b r o t h e r s w h o h u n t e d for a l iv ing w e n t o n e d a y , a s u sua l , in to t he
m o u n t a i n s . E a c h h a d his l o o k o u t in t h e fork of a tall t r e e . T h e pa i r o f
t r e e s w e r e a b o u t fifty y a r d s a p a r t , a n d t h e b r o t h e r s w o u l d w a i t for d e e r
t o dr i f t i n d o w n b e l o w , b e t w e e n t h e m .
I t w a s a p i t c h - b l a c k n i g h t la te in t h e n i n t h m o o n . U n a b l e to see a t h ing ,
t h e y w a i t e d p a t i e n t l y j u s t t o h e a r t h e d e e r . H o u r af ter h o u r c r e p t by . T h e
d e e r d i d no t c o m e .
All o f a s u d d e n s o m e t h i n g r e a c h e d d o w n from h i g h e r up in t he e lde r
b r o t h e r ' s t r e e , g r i p p e d his ha i r , a n d h a u l e d h im u p w a r d . H e m a d e a
f ran t i c g r a b a t t h e t o p o f his h e a d a n d t o u c h e d a w i z e n e d h a n d . A d e m o n
w a s d r a g g i n g h i m off t o ea t h i m !
" I f s o m e t h i n g h a d m e b y t h e ha i r a n d w a s pu l l i ng m e u p , " h e s h o u t e d
t o h i s y o u n g e r b r o t h e r a c r o s s t h e w a y , " w h a t w o u l d y o u d o ? "
" I ' d t a k e g o o d a i m a n d s h o o t i t ! "
" W e l l , d o it! B e c a u s e t h a t ' s e x a c t l y w h a t ' s h a p p e n i n g ! "
"Al l r i gh t , I'll a im b y y o u r v o i c e ! " T h e y o u n g e r a i m e d a t t h e spo t ju s t
a b o v e w h e r e his b r o t h e r ' s vo ice h a d c o m e from a n d felt he h a d a hi t .
" B e t I g o t i t ! " he y e l l e d .
T h e e l d e r b r o t h e r felt t h e t o p o f h i s h e a d a g a i n a n d his f ingers c losed
o n t h e h a n d , n o w s e v e r e d a t t h e w r i s t . " Y o u cu t its h a n d off!" h e s h o u t e d .
" L e t ' s call i t a n i g h t ! I'll k e e p t h e h a n d ! "
T h e p a i r c l i m b e d d o w n f rom t h e i r t r e e s a n d go t h o m e well pa s t mid-
n i g h t .
T h e i r m o t h e r , s o o ld a n d t o t t e r y t h a t s h e cou l d h a r d l y even s t and , l ived
i n a r o o m b e t w e e n t h e t w o . T h e y h e a r d h e r g r o a n i n g w h e n t h e y c a m e i n
a n d ca l l ed t o a s k w h a t t h e m a t t e r w a s , b u t go t n o a n s w e r .
By t h e l ight o f a l a m p t h e y e x a m i n e d t h e h a n d . I t l o o k e d v e r y l ike t he i r
m o t h e r ' s . In fact i t wad t h e i r m o t h e r ' s , b e y o n d a d o u b t .
" T h a n k s a l o t ! " s n a r l e d t h e i r m o t h e r w h e n t h e y slid o p e n h e r d o o r .
S h e leap t t o h e r feet a n d n e a r l y h u r l e d he r se l f a t t h e m , b u t t h e y jus t sa id ,
" D i d y o u lose s o m e t h i n g , M o t h e r ? " t h e n t o s s e d t h e h a n d in to t h e r o o m
a n d c losed t h e d o o r .
S o o n s h e w a s d e a d . T h e p o o r t h i n g h a d g o t t e n s o o ld a n d seni le t h a t
s h e h a d t u r n e d in to a d e m o n a n d g o n e off t o t h e m o u n t a i n s t o ea t h e r
c h i l d r e n .
2 1 9 .
PERILOUS GRATITUDE
A p o o r c o u p l e i n K y u s h u l ived by t h e sea, a n d e v e r y d a y t h e wife w o u l d
g o o u t t o c o m b t h e s h o r e . O n e d a y s h e w e n t g a t h e r i n g shellfish w i t h a
n e i g h b o r ' s wife . O n t h e b e a c h s h e t o o k t h e b a b y off h e r b a c k , p u t i t
d o w n on a flat r ock , a n d set a ch i ld to w a t c h it. T h e spo t w a s close to t h e
hi l ls .
W h i l e w o r k i n g , t h e t w o w o m e n no t i ced a m o n k e y b y t h e w a t e r , a p p a r -
e n t l y t r y i n g to c a t c h fish. T h i s d e s e r v e d a c lose r look . T h e y a s s u m e d t h e
m o n k e y w o u l d flee w h e n t h e y g o t t o o close, a n d i t c e r t a i n l y s e e m e d
f r i gh t ened ; b u t i t s t a y e d c r o u c h e d w h e r e i t w a s , c h a t t e r i n g fur ious ly .
S o m e t h i n g w a s w r o n g .
T h e y soon s a w w h a t i t w a s . In r e a c h i n g for a h u g e c l am i t h o p e d to
ea t , t h e m o n k e y h a d s t u c k its h a n d in to t h e c l am ' s o p e n shel l . T h e c l a m
h a d s n a p p e d s h u t a n d t r a p p e d t h e m o n k e y ' s h a n d . N o w t h e t i de w a s
c o m i n g i n a n d t h e c l am w a s b u r r o w i n g d e e p e r a n d d e e p e r i n to t h e s a n d .
S o o n t h e m o n k e y w o u l d b e o v e r w h e l m e d b y the sea .
T h e w o m e n t o o k i n t h e s c e n e a n d l a u g h e d hea r t i l y . T h e n e i g h b o r ' s
wife p i c k e d up a b ig s t o n e t o b a s h a t t h e m o n k e y w i t h b u t h e r f r iend, t h e
w o m a n w i t h t h e b a b y , r e p r o v e d h e r s h a r p l y a n d s n a t c h e d t h e s t o n e
a w a y . " I o n l y w a n t to kill i t so I c a n r o a s t i t for d i n n e r , " t h e n e i g h b o r ' s
wife c o m p l a i n e d . B u t t h e b a b y ' s m o t h e r ins is ted , a n d w i t h a bi t o f w o o d
p r i e d t h e c l am o p e n far e n o u g h for t h e m o n k e y t o ge t i ts h a n d ou t . T h e n
she d e c l a r e d i t w o u l d a lso be w r o n g to kill t h e c lam, a n d so e v e n t h o u g h
b o t h w o m e n w e r e a c t u a l l y t h e r e t o col lec t shellfish she carefu l ly r e m o v e d
t h e c l am f rom t h e i r h a r v e s t a n d b u r i e d i t a g a i n in t h e s a n d .
Af te r r u n n i n g a litt le w a y off, t h e m o n k e y t u r n e d b a c k t o w a r d its
s av io r w i t h an i n g r a t i a t i n g e x p r e s s i o n on its face. " W e l l , y o u ' r e safe
3 I 8
n o w , " sa id t h e w o m a n , " a n d I h o p e y o u a p p r e c i a t e all my t r o u b l e . I k n o w
y o u ' r e o n l y a n a n i m a l , b u t still, y o u s h o u l d b e g r a t e fu l . "
T h e m o n k e y s e e m e d t o l is ten, t h e n s c a m p e r e d t o w a r d the hills. O n the
w a y i t h e a d e d , o f all p l ace s , for t h e r o c k w h e r e t he b a b y lay, p i cked up
t h e b a b y , a n d r a n o n . T h e ch i ld w a t c h i n g t h e b a b y t ook fright a n d b u r s t
i n to t e a r s . T h e m o t h e r l o o k e d o n i n d i s m a y a s t he m o n k e y d a r t e d into
t h e hi l ls w i t h h e r b a b y , a n d s h e r a g e d a t its i n g r a t i t u d e .
" W e l l , " sa id h e r f r iend, " tha t ' l l t e a c h y o u ! A lot o f a p p r e c i a t i o n y o u
g e t f rom a fur-face l ike t h a t ! If I 'd ki l led it, i t w o u l d have m a d e me a
m e a l a n d you w o u l d n ' t h a v e h a d y o u r b a b y s to len . T h e n a s t y b r u t e ! "
T h e t w o w o m e n r a n a f te r t h e m o n k e y a n d found i t t ook ca r e not t o get
m o r e t h a n a b o u t a h u n d r e d y a r d s a h e a d o f t h e m . W h e n t h e y r a n a t t o p
s p e e d , t h e m o n k e y m a t c h e d t h e m ; w h e n t h e y s l o w e d d o w n , i t s l owed
d o w n t o o .
F ina l l y t h e w o m e n s t o p p e d . " I g n o r a n t b e a s t ! " t he m o t h e r s h o u t e d
a f te r it. " H e r e I s a v e d y o u r life, y o u cou ld a t least s h o w some g r a t i t u d e !
H o w d a r e y o u s tea l m y b a b y ! I s u p p o s e y o u ' l l eat h im . O o u l d n ' t y o u give
m e h i s life for y o u r s ? " B u t t h e m o n k e y r a n o n a n d ca r r i ed t he b a b y t o
t h e t o p of a tall t r e e .
T h e w e e p i n g m o t h e r g a z e d up from b e l o w w h i l e t he m o n k e y sat i n a
fork h i g h aloft . N e x t , t h e m o n k e y he ld a g o o d - s i z e d b r a n c h b e n t far
b a c k , a t t h e s a m e t i m e j igg l ing t h e b a b y u n d e r its a r m . T h e b a b y b e g a n
to c r y . W h e n i t s t o p p e d , t h e m o n k e y j iggled i t aga in a n d m a d e i t c r y
s o m e m o r e . T h e s o u n d q u i c k l y a t t r a c t e d a n eag le , w h i c h s w o o p e d i n t o
se ize t h e p r e y . O b v i o u s l y t h e b a b y w a s g o i n g t o b e ea t en o n e w a y o r
a n o t h e r , i f no t b y t h e m o n k e y t h e n b y t h e eag le . Bu t t h e m o n k e y ben t
t h e b r a n c h a litt le fu r the r , t h e n r e l e a s e d i t w i t h per fec t t iming . I t c a u g h t
t h e eag l e i n t h e h e a d a n d t h e b i rd p l u m m e t e d t o t he g r o u n d .
A g a i n t h e m o n k e y b e n t t h e b r a n c h a n d m a d e the b a b y cry , a n d aga in
an eag l e c a m e s w o o p i n g in. I t w e n t t h e w a y o f t he first. T h e m o t h e r
u n d e r s t o o d t h a t t h e m o n k e y h a d n e v e r m e a n t ac tua l ly t o s teal h e r chi ld .
I t h a d jus t w a n t e d to r e p a y its d e b t by ki l l ing eag les for he r .
" I u n d e r s t a n d , m o n k e y , I u n d e r s t a n d ! " she cal led t h r o u g h h e r t e a r s .
" B u t t h a t ' s e n o u g h n o w ! P l ea se , p l ea se b r i n g m y b a b y b a c k d o w n ! "
By n o w t h e m o n k e y h a d ki l led five eag les . I t d e s c e n d e d from t r ee t o
t r e e , la id t h e b a b y g e n t l y n e a r its m o t h e r , t h e n leapt in to t h e t ree aga in
a n d sa t t h e r e , s c r a t c h i n g .
S m i l i n g t h r o u g h h e r t e a r s , t h e m o t h e r n u r s e d h e r chi ld . W h e n he r
h u s b a n d d a s h e d u p , t h e m o n k e y v a n i s h e d in to t h e forest . U n d e r t he t r ee
lay five d e a d e a g l e s .
T h e h u s b a n d w o n d e r e d a t t h e s t o r y he go t from his wife . He cu t off
t he five eag l e s ' w i n g s a n d tai ls a n d t o o k t h e m h o m e w i t h his family. Bit
by bit he sold t he eag le f ea the r s for bas ic necess i t i es , so t h a t in t h e e n d
t h e m o n k e y d id r e p a y its d e b t — b u t a t t h e p r i ce o f w h a t a g o n y for t h e
m o t h e r before s h e u n d e r s t o o d !
THE UGLY 5 ON
L o n g a g o a g a m b l e r h a d a son w h o s e eyes a n d nose l o o k e d as t h o u g h
t h e y h a d b e e n s q u a s h e d t o g e t h e r b y m a i n force . T h i s m a d e the y o u n g
m a n o u t s t a n d i n g l y ug ly . H i s p a r e n t s w e r e w o n d e r i n g h o w o n e a r t h t h e y
w e r e to ge t h im m a r r i e d w h e n t h e y h e a r d t h a t a r i ch m a n w a s s e e k i n g a
h a n d s o m e b r i d e g r o o m for his b e l o v e d d a u g h t e r . T h e y let t he f a the r k n o w
t h a t t h e " fa i res t y o u t h i n all t h e l a n d " w a n t e d t o m a r r y t he gir l . T h e r ich
m a n a c c e p t e d t h e m a t c h a n d set t h e d a t e for t h e b e t r o t h a l .
O n t h e c o u p l e ' s first n igh t t h e b r o t h e r h o o d o f g a m b l e r s g a t h e r e d i n
b o r r o w e d f inery a n d e s c o r t e d t h e y o u n g m a n t o his b r i d e , d o i n g t h e i r
be s t t o h ide t h e i r faces u n d e r a b r i l l i an t m o o n . T h e g r o o m l o o k e d q u i t e
p r e s e n t a b l e a m o n g t h e m . T h i s w a s h o w h e b e g a n his n igh t ly vis i ts t o t h e
gir l , in a c c o r d a n c e w i t h c u s t o m .
B u t all t oo s o o n c a m e t h e d r e a d e d n igh t ( t h e o n e t h a t w o u l d seal t h e
m a r r i a g e f o r e v e r ) w h e n t h e y o u n g m a n w o u l d h a v e t o lie w i t h his b e -
t r o t h e d r igh t t h r o u g h d a w n a n d in to d a y . U n d a u n t e d , t h e g a m b l e r s
t h o u g h t up a p l a n .
O n e o f t h e m go t u p o v e r t h e ce i l ing o f t h e coup l e ' s r o o m , t r o d t h e
b o a r d s till t h e y c r e a k e d a n d g r o a n e d , a n d b e l l o w e d in a t e r r i b l e vo ice ,
" F a i r e s t y o u t h in all t h e l a n d ! "
T h e h o u s e h o l d q u a k e d t o h e a r h i m , for t h e y reca l led c o u n t l e s s s to r i e s
o f s u p e r n a t u r a l v i s i t a t ions t h a t h a d s t a r t e d exac t ly th i s w a y . T h e ter r i f ied
g r o o m cal led b a c k , " I h e a r I 'm t h e o n e p e o p l e call fairest in t h e l and .
W h a t d o y o u w a n t ? " T h r e e t i m e s t h e vo ice o v e r t h e cei l ing r o a r e d a n d
t h r e e t i m e s t h e g r o o m rep l i ed .
T h e family w a n t e d t o k n o w w h y h e a n s w e r e d a t all . " I c a n ' t h e l p
myse l f ! " h e e x p l a i n e d .
" T h e d a u g h t e r o f th i s h o u s e , " t h e d e m o n be l l owed , " h a s b e e n mine for
t h r e e y e a r s , a n d I w a n t t o k n o w w h a t y o u t h i n k y o u ' r e d o i n g s leep ing
w i t h h e r ! "
3 2 0
" B u t , b u t , " s t a m m e r e d t h e g r o o m , " I h a d n o idea! I d i d n ' t k n o w !
P l e a s e d o n ' t h u r t m e ! "
" Y o u n a s t y s n e a k ! " t h e d e m o n r o a r e d . "I ' l l a sk y o u jus t o n e t h i n g
b e f o r e I g o . W h i c h d o y o u c h e r i s h m o s t , y o u r life o r y o u r l o o k s ? "
" H o w c a n I a n s w e r t h a t ? " p r o t e s t e d t h e b r i d e g r o o m .
H i s p a r e n t s - i n - l a w w h i s p e r e d f ran t ica l ly t o h im t h a t h e s h o u l d n ' t m i n d
h i s l o o k s a s l o n g a s h e k e p t h i s life. "Te l l h im y o u r l o o k s ! " t h e y sa id .
H e o b e y e d .
T h e d e m o n r e p l i e d w i t h a h o r r i d so r t o f s u c k i n g no i se . T h e g r o o m
s c r e a m e d , b u r i e d h i s face i n his a r m s , a n d co l l apsed . T h e d e m o n left.
W h a t h a d h a p p e n e d t o t h e g r o o m ' s face? A l a m p w a s b r o u g h t in, a n d
b y i ts l ight t h e y s a w t h a t h is eyes a n d n o s e l o o k e d a s t h o u g h t h e y h a d
b e e n j a m m e d t o g e t h e r . " O h , i f o n l y I 'd to ld h im m y l i fe!" h e s o b b e d .
" H o w c a n I l ive a m o n g p e o p l e w i t h a face l ike th i s? A n d to t h i n k t h a t
y o u n e v e r o n c e s a w m e a s I u s e d t o b e ! W h a t a n awful m i s t a k e i t w a s t o
ge t i n v o l v e d w i t h a gir l c l a i m e d by a h o r r i b l e d e m o n ! "
M o v e d b y th i s c o m p l a i n t , t h e g i r l ' s f a the r p r o m i s e d h im his fo r tune i n
c o m p e n s a t i o n . I n fact, t o t h e y o u n g m a n ' s e n t i r e sa t i s fac t ion, his fa ther -
i n - l a w t o o k e x c e l l e n t c a r e o f h i m a n d even bui l t a s e p a r a t e h o u s e for h im,
o n t h e p r e t e x t t h a t t h e p r e s e n t o n e ' s pos s ib ly faul ty loca t ion m i g h t h a v e
h a d s o m e t h i n g t o d o w i t h t h e ca l ami ty . T h e y o u n g m a n l ived a v e r y
p l e a s a n t life i n d e e d .
S O U R C E S
A N D
N O T E S
W h e n p o s s i b l e , I h a v e g i v e n a p p r o x i m a t e d a t e s for t h e e v e n t s d e s c r i b e d i n t h e t a l e s , o r
t h e in terna l e v i d e n c e w h i c h m a k e s i t p o s s i b l e t o d a t e t h e m . ( N o t tha t t h e s e e v e n t s are
n e c e s s a r i l y h i s t o r i c a l l y t r u e ! ) D a t e s m e n t i o n e d i n t h e t a l e s a r e n o t e d a g a i n h e r e .
1. Konjaku 3 1 / 3 7 .
2 . Konjaku 2 8 / 4 0 .
3. UjidbuiVXe.
4. Konjaku 3 1 / 3 3 .
5. Shajckubu 7/17.
6. Kokoncbomonju 2 4 6 .
7 . Konjaku 2 8 / 2 5 . S a n e s u k e l i v e d 9 5 7 -
1 0 4 6 .
8 . Konjaku 2 8 / 5 . T a m e m o r i w a s a p -
p o i n t e d g o v e r n o r o f E c h i z e n i n 1 0 2 9 .
9. Konjaku 2 8 / 3 9 .
10 . Konjaku 2 8 / 4 1 . S o n s o f t h e c o u r t n o -
bi l i ty s t u d i e d a t t h e A c a d e m y .
1 1 . Konjaku 27/9. 9 t h c e n t u r y .
1 2 . Konjaku 27/7.
1 3 . Konjaku 2 7 / 2 1 . T h i r d q u a r t e r o f 11th
c e n t u r y .
1 4 . Konjaku 2 7 / 1 3 .
15 . UjL<bui3/l5.
16. Konjaku 2 7 / 1 .
17. Sbasekubami.
18 . Konjaku 2 8 / 1 2 .
19 . Vji thai 217.
2 0 . Kobon .let.mwashu 6 2 . 2 1 . Konjaku 2 8 / 1 1 . K a i s h u d i e d i n 1 0 1 6 .
2 2 . Konjaku 1 1 / 2 9 . T e n j i r e i g n e d 6 6 1 -
6 6 8 .
2 3 . Konjaku 1 1 / 1 3 . S e c o n d q u a r t e r o f 8 t h
c e n t u r y .
2 4 . Konjaku 1 1 / 7 . 7 3 6 .
2 5 . Konjaku 12 /7 . 7 5 2 .
2 6 . Konjaku 1 1 / 2 5 , 1 1 / 9 . K o b o D a i s h i re-
t u r n e d f r o m C h i n a i n 8 0 4 a n d d i e d
in 8 3 5 .
2 7 . Kofukuji ranjhoki. 1 0 0 7 - 1 0 1 3 .
2 8 . Konjaku 2 1 / 1 1 . B a n n o Y o s h i o w a s
e x i l e d i n 8 6 6 a n d d i e d i n 8 6 8 .
2 9 . Konjaku 3 1 / 1 5 .
3 0 . Konjaku 1 9 / 3 2 . C a . 1 0 0 0 .
3 1 . Kaluga Gongen genki 17, Kaluga Dai-
myojin gotakujenki. 1 2 0 2 . In Gotaku-
jenki t h e g o d ( s p e a k i n g t h r o u g h t h e
m e d i u m ) i n t r o d u c e s h i m s e l f a s " th i s
o l d m a n . " T h e p a s s a g e a b o u t t h e g o d
h a v i n g b e e n h i g h e r t h a n M y o e a f t e r
all is f r o m Gotakujenki.
32. Sbintubu 8 . C a . 4 6 0 - 7 0 .
3 3 . Konjaku 2 0 / 1 . C a . 8 8 0 s .
3 4 . Konjaku 2 0 / 2 . C a . 9 8 0 .
3 5 . Konjaku 2 0 / 1 1 .
3 6 . Konjaku 1 3 / 3 3 . P e r h a p s 8 t h c e n t u r y .
3 7 . UjiAui\M6.
3 8 . Senjujho 6 / 1 0 . S h o k u l i v e d 9 1 0 - 1 0 0 7 .
3 9 . Kokoncbomonju 3 8 6 . K a z a n a b d i c a t e d
i n 9 8 6 a n d d i e d i n 1 0 0 8 .
4 0 . Tjurezureguja 6 9 . S e e n o t e 3 8 .
4 1 . HoMbiiuhu 4 / 1 0 .
4 2 . Ho.vhmjbu 6 / 1 2 . S a i g y o l i v e d 1 1 1 8 -
1 1 9 0 .
4 3 . Jikkuwho 1 0 / 2 4 . E a r l y 1 2 0 0 s . T e n -
noj i , o n e o f t h e f i r s t t e m p l e s f o u n d e d
i n J a p a n , i s n o w i n O s a k a , w h i c h d i d
n o t e x i s t t h e n . I ts re l i c s w e r e f a m o u s .
I n a n i m p o r t a n t m y t h t h e S u n G o d -
3 2 2
d e s s , a n g e r e d b y h e r b r o t h e r ' s o u t -
r a g e o u s c o n d u c t , h id h e r s e l f in a
c a v e a n d s o p l u n g e d t h e w o r l d i n t o
d a r k n e s s . S h e h a d t o b e l u r e d o u t
a g a i n b y t h e o t h e r g o d s .
4 4 . Konjaku 24/1. M a k o t o d i e d in 8 6 8 .
4 5 . Kcutuga Gongcn gcnki 10 . R in ' e l i v e d
9 5 0 - 1 0 2 5 . H e b e c a m e a b b o t i n
1 0 1 7 .
4 6 . J i k k i n s h o 1 0 / 2 5 .
4 7 . Kokonchomonju 2 6 5 . 1 1 0 7 .
4 8 . Jikkiiuho 1 0 / 2 2 . N o r i t a k a l i v e d 9 9 9 -
1 0 7 6 .
4 9 . Uji.thai 314.
5 0 . Scnjiuhd 5 / 1 5 . S a i g y o l i v e d 1 1 1 8 -
1 1 9 0 .
5 1 . Uji.'bui 1 4 / 1 1 . P e r h a p s m i d - 1 1 t h c e n -
t u r y .
5 2 . Uji tbui 9 / 1 , Konjaku 2 0 / 1 0 . Y o z e i
r e i g n e d 8 7 7 - 8 8 4 .
5 3 . Konjaku 27/19. P e r h a p s first q u a r t e r
o f 11th c e n t u r y . S a n e s u k e l i v e d 9 5 7 -
1 0 4 6 .
5 4 . Uji.thai 1 /14 . M i n a m o t o n o S a d a f u s a
l i v e d 1 1 3 0 - 1 1 8 8 .
5 5 . Uji .thai 9/7.
5 6 . Kohon deUumuta 19 . C a . 9 0 0 .
5 7 . Konjaku 3 0 / 1 . H e i c h u d i e d i n 9 2 3 .
5 8 . Uji .tbui 3 / 2 . T a d a i e , a p o e t , l i v e d
1 0 3 2 - 1 0 9 1 .
5 9 . Uji.thai 2 / 8 . A b e no S e i m e i l i v e d 9 2 1 -
1 0 0 5 .
6 0 . UjidbOi 1 1 / 3 . S e e n o t e 5 9 .
6 1 . Konjaku 2 4 / 1 9 .
6 2 . VjiobOi 1 1 / 3 . S e e n o t e 5 9 .
6 3 . Uji .thai 1 4 / 1 0 . M i c h i n a g a ( 9 6 6 -
1 0 2 7 ) bui l t H o j o j i in 1 0 2 0 .
6 4 . Konjaku 2 4 / 2 4 . M u r a k a m i r e i g n e d
9 4 6 - 9 6 7 . H a k u g a n o S a m m i ( 9 1 8 -
9 8 0 ) i s a l s o k n o w n a s M i n a m o t o n o
H i r o m a s a .
6 5 . Konjaku 2 9 / 1 8 .
6 6 . Konjaku 1 3 / 1 0 .
6 7 . Konjaku 2 5 / 1 1 . Y o r i n o b u ( 9 6 8 - 1 0 4 8 )
b e c a m e g o v e r n o r o f K o z u k e i n 9 9 9 .
6 8 . Ujidhui 1 3 / 6 . E a r l y 11 th c e n t u r y .
6 9 . Jikkinobo 1 0 / 2 7 .
7 0 . Sbajek,../.•<< 7 / 2 4 . 1 2 7 8 .
7 1 . Uji .thai 1 5 / 6 . N o t K a n e m i c h i b u t
M o t o t s u n e f o u n d e d G o k u r a k u j i ; h e
l i v e d 8 3 6 - 8 9 1 .
7 2 . Uji .tht'u8/3. E m p e r o r D a i g o r e i g n e d
8 9 7 - 9 3 0 .
7 3 . Uji.'bui 1 5 / 8 . S o o l i v e d 8 3 1 - 9 1 8 . H e
l o u n d e d M u d o j i i n 8 5 6 . T h e S o m e -
d o n o E m p r e s s , d a u g h t e r o f F u j i w a r a
n o Y o s h i f u s a , l i v e d 8 2 9 - 9 0 0 .
7 4 . Konjaku 1 6 / 3 2 .
7 5 . Uji.'bui 1 3 / 1 0 . E n n i n l i v e d 7 9 4 - 8 6 4 .
H e r e t u r n e d f r o m C h i n a i n 8 4 7 .
7 6 . Konjaku 1 6 / 2 0 . P e r h a p s c a . 9 5 0 .
7 7 . UjiibOi 1 0 / 6 .
7 8 . Konjaku 2 9 / 2 8 .
7 9 . Uji .tbui 7 / 4 . P e r h a p s s e c o n d q u a r t e r
of 10th c e n t u r y .
8 0 . Kokonchomonju 6 0 6 . C a . 1 1 8 0 s .
8 1 . Kokonchomonju 6 8 1 .
8 2 . Konjaku 1 6 / 1 7 . 8 9 6 .
8 3 . Uji.tbui 1 /18 . P e r h a p s c a . 9 0 0 .
8 4 . Konjaku 2 7 / 3 1 . K i y o y u k i l i ved 8 4 7 -
9 1 8 .
8 5 . Uji.,hat 8 / 7 . J o k a n l i v e d 8 4 3 - 9 2 7 .
8 6 . Konjaku 1 3 / 2 .
8 7 . Uji.thai 1 3 / 1 3 .
8 8 . Nora ebon " E n no G y o j a . " En no
G y o j a w a s e x i l e d i n 6 9 9 a n d d i s a p -
p e a r e d in 7 0 1 . I c h o s e t h i s v e r s i o n o f
h i s s t o r y b e c a u s e t h e Konjaku v e r s i o n
is i n c o m p l e t e , a n d b e c a u s e it is lul ler
t h a n t h e s t a n d a r d a c c o u n t in Nihon
ryoiki ( c a . 8 2 2 ) .
8 9 . Jikkin.<ho7l\.
9 0 . Konjaku 2 8 / 2 4 . M o n t o k u r e i g n e d
8 5 0 - 8 5 8 .
9 1 . Konjaku 3 1 / 1 7 . C a . 1 0 2 5 .
9 2 . Kokonchomonju 5 9 9 . 1 1 7 1 .
9 3 . Konjaku 2 8 / 2 8 . " O u r o w n t i m e " m u s t
b e t h e e a r l y 12th c e n t u r y .
9 4 . Konjaku 2 8 / 1 8 .
9 5 . Uji.<hui 3 / 6 .
9 6 . Kokonchomonju 3 8 5 . U d a a b d i c a t e d i n
8 9 7 a n d d i e d i n 9 3 1 .
9 7 . Uji .thai 1 1 / 1 0 . N i c h i z o l i v e d 9 0 5 ? -
9 8 5 ?
9 8 . Konjaku 1 4 / 4 3 . P e r h a p s e a r l y 10th
c e n t u r y .
9 9 . Konjaku 3 1 / 1 3 .
1 0 0 . Konjaku 1 3 / 1 . 9 4 1 .
1 0 1 . Fum Ryakkt 2 5 . Genko .tbakiuho 9 s u p -
p l i e d the e n d i n g a b o u t t h e "vajra-
h a n d l e d b e l l , " e t c .
1 0 2 . Uji.<hui2/4.
1 0 3 . Kokonchonwnju 4 5 . 9 3 0 o r 9 3 1 . T h e
or ig ina l h a s 9 3 1 , but I h a v e c h a n g e d
the d a t e t o a g r e e w i t h n o . 1 0 1 . O t h e r
d o c u m e n t s h a v e 9 3 0 for t h e bolt o f
l i g h t n i n g h i t t i n g t h e p a l a c e . W h e r e
th i s v e r s i o n h a s t h e g o d a s hal l
s a l m o n , a n o t h e r (Shingonden) h a s
h i m as hal l f rog .
104 . Konjaku 1 7 / 2 6 .
1 0 5 . Konjaku 1 9 / 2 9 . Y a m a k a g e l i v e d 8 2 5 -
8 8 9 .
106 . Tango Fudoki. I u s e d th i s v e r s i o n
b e c a u s e t h e o n e in Kojuhn is a little
g a r b l e d , a n d l a c k s t h e c l o s i n g
p a s s a g e . Nihongi s u p p l i e d t h e d a t e ,
4 7 7 .
1 0 7 . Kokonchonwnju 6 8 2 .
1 0 8 . Sha.icki.ihu 7 / 1 8 . B e t w e e n 1 2 6 4 a n d
1 2 7 5 .
1 0 9 . Konjaku 2 9 / 4 0 .
1 1 0 . Konjaku 2 9 / 3 9 .
1 1 1 . Konjaku 1 4 / 3 .
1 1 2 . Sha.<ckUu 7 / 2 . 1 2 7 0 s .
1 1 3 . Konjaku 1 5 / 2 0 .
1 1 4 . Konjaku 1 5 / 1 . C a . 7 7 0 - 7 8 0 .
1 1 5 . Konjaku 1 9 / 1 4 .
1 1 6 . Uji.<hut\\/9.
117 . Konjaku 1 5 / 2 3 . C a . 1 0 4 0 .
1 1 8 . Uji ,<hui 1 3 / 9 .
1 1 9 . Uji jhui 2 / 1 4 . D a i g o r e i g n e d 8 9 7 -
9 3 0 . A c c o r d i n g t o Konjaku, t h e M i n -
i s ter o l t h e R i g h t w a s M i n a m o t o n o
H i k a r u , w h o d i e d i n 9 1 3 .
1 2 0 . Jikki/vbo 1/7. R e i z e i r e i g n e d 9 6 7 -
9 6 9 .
1 2 1 . Uji M8/6. 122 . Kokonchonwnju 6 0 7 .
1 2 3 . Sha.<ckL<hu 7 / 2 0 .
1 2 4 . Uji.thai All.
1 2 5 . Konjaku 2 0 / 7 . T h e S o m e d o n o E m -
p r e s s , d a u g h t e r o f t h e R e g e n t Y o s h -
i fusa , l i v e d 8 2 9 - 9 0 0 . M o n t o k u , h e r
s o n , r e i g n e d 8 5 0 - 8 5 8 .
126 . Konjaku 2 0 / 4 . E n ' y u r e i g n e d 9 6 9 -
9 8 4 . T h e or ig ina l i n d i c a t e s that t h e
c h a r a c t e r s for K o z e n a r e t o b e p r o -
n o u n c e d " K a g u y a m a , " b u t t h e r e a d -
i n g " K o z e n " i s w e l l a t t e s t e d
e l s e w h e r e . I h a v e a d o p t e d " K o z e n "
t o m a k e t h e p l a c e r e c o g n i z a b l y t h e
s a m e a s t h e p l a c e w h e r e t h e d r a g o n
l i v e d in n o . 1 8 3 .
127 . Konjaku I A/44.
1 2 8 . Ujisbui 1 2 / 5 . K i n s u e l i v e d 9 5 6 - 1 0 2 9 .
T h i s i n c i d e n t c a n n o t b e ear l i er t h a n
9 8 1 .
1 2 9 . Konjaku 3 0 / 1 4 .
1 3 0 . Konjaku 3 1 / 9 . K o r e t a k a , t h e e l d e s t
s o n o f E m p e r o r M o n t o k u , d i e d i n
8 9 7 .
1 3 1 . Konjaku 3 1 / 8 . K o c h u j o s e r v e d E m -
p r e s s S h o s h i ( 9 8 8 - 1 0 7 4 ) .
1 3 2 . Konjaku 31/7. M i d - 1 1 t h c e n t u r y .
1 3 3 . Konjaku 2 7 / 2 4 .
1 3 4 . Konjaku 3 1 / 1 0 .
1 3 5 . Jikkirubo 1 0 / 2 6 .
136 . Konjaku 2 3 / 2 2 .
1 3 7 . Uji.<hui6/5.
1 3 8 . Ujiobui4IS.
1 3 9 . Konjaku 1 3 / 4 3 .
1 4 0 . Konjaku 2 9 / 1 .
1 4 1 . Konjaku 2 9 / 3 6 .
1 4 2 . Konjaku 2 9 / 2 1 . C a . 1 0 0 0 .
1 4 3 . Konjaku 2 9 / 1 7 .
1 4 4 . Konjaku 2 9 / 1 9 . C a . 1 0 0 0 .
1 4 5 . Uji .ihiti2/10. F u j i w a r a no Y a s u m a s a ,
t h e h u s b a n d o f t h e p o e t I z u m i S h i -
k i b u ( n o . 1 7 8 ) , l i v e d 9 5 8 - 1 0 3 6 .
146 . Konjaku 1 7 / 4 2 .
1 4 7 . Konjaku 1 4 / 7 .
1 4 8 . Konjaku 1 2 / 2 8 .
1 4 9 . Uji .ihiii 8 / 4 . F u j i w a r a no T o s h i y u k i
d i e d i n 9 0 1 o r 9 0 7 .
1 5 0 . Ujubui 1 0 / 1 0 .
1 5 1 . Konjaku 1 3 / 4 1 .
1 5 2 . Uji.<hui 1 /12 .
1 5 3 . T.iurezurcgusa 5 3 .
1 5 4 . Uji.<hui 5 / 9 . Z o y o l i v e d 1 0 3 2 - 1 1 1 6 .
1 5 5 . Konjaku 1 7 / 4 4 .
1 5 6 . Uji.ibui 1 /13 .
1 5 7 . NiwhiiLibu 3 / 5 .
1 5 8 . Konjaku 1 2 / 3 1 . K o k e n r e i g n e d 7 4 9 -
7 5 8 .
1 5 9 . Konjaku 1 3 / 3 4 .
3 2 4
1 6 0 . Konjaku 1 5 / 4 1 .
1 6 1 . HoMhuubu 3 / 8 . P r o b a b l y 1 1 7 6 .
1 6 2 . Konjaku 2 4 / 1 5 . P e r h a p s c a . 1 0 0 0 . T a -
d a y u k i w a s t h e f a t h e r o f J a k u s h i n
( n o . 1 7 9 ) a s w e l l a s o f l i t t le Y a s u n o r i .
1 6 3 . Ujijhui 1 0 / 9 . M o c h i s u k e d i e d 9 5 8 .
1 6 4 . Konjaku 2 8 / 2 9 . K i n o H a s e o l i v e d
8 4 5 - 9 1 2 .
1 6 5 . Konjaku 2 9 / 5 . C a . 1 0 0 0 .
1 6 6 . Konjaku 2 4 / 2 0 .
1 6 7 . Jikkinjhd 1 0 / 2 0 . H a k u g a n o S a m m i
l i v e d 9 1 8 - 9 8 0 .
1 6 8 . Konjaku 1 4 / 4 2 . F irs t q u a r t e r o f 10th
c e n t u r y .
1 6 9 . UjithuiXIZ.
1 7 0 . Uji ^bui 12/24.
1 7 1 . Jikkin.*bd 6 / 1 8 . G e n s h o r e i g n e d 7 1 5 -
7 2 4 .
1 7 2 . Konjaku 1 7 / 4 7 .
1 7 3 . Konjaku 1 6 / 2 9 .
1 7 4 . Uji*biii7lh. 1 7 5 . Konjaku 2 6 / 1 1 .
1 7 6 . Uji ohui 6/2.
1 7 7 . Konjaku 1 7 / 3 3 .
1 7 8 . Uji dhui 1 /1 . D o m y o d i e d in 1 0 2 0 .
I z u m i S h i k i b u ' s h u s b a n d a p p e a r s i n
n o . 1 4 5 .
1 7 9 . Konjaku 1 9 / 3 . Y o s h i s h i g e n o Y a s u -
t a n e b e c a m e a m o n k i n 9 8 6 a n d d i e d
i n 1 0 0 2 . H i s f a t h e r w a s K a m o n o T a -
d a y u k i ( n o s . 1 6 2 , 1 6 5 ) .
1 8 0 . Konjaku 17/17.
1 8 1 . Konjaku 27/5.
1 8 2 . Senjiuhd 6 / 3 , 7 / 4 , 7 / 5 . C h u s a n l i v e d
9 3 5 - 9 7 6 .
1 8 3 . Kojidan 5 / 2 4 .
1 8 4 . Konjaku 1 6 / 1 5 .
1 8 5 . Shajekiihu 7/3. C a . 1 2 7 0 .
1 8 6 . Uji .<bia 4 / 4 .
1 8 7 . Konjaku 2 6 / 9 .
1 8 8 . Konjaku 2 6 / 8 .
1 8 9 . Konjaku 3 1 / 1 2 .
1 9 0 . Konjaku 27/2. U d a a b d i c a t e d in 8 9 7
a n d d i e d i n 9 3 1 .
1 9 1 . Kojidan 1/7. S e e n o t e 1 9 0 .
1 9 2 . UjidbUi 1 2 / 2 2 . Y o z e i a b d i c a t e d in 8 8 4
a n d d i e d i n 9 4 9 .
1 9 3 . Kokoncbomonju 6 0 5 . C a . 1 2 1 5 .
1 9 4 . Kokoncbomonju 6 0 1 . C a . 1 2 0 0 .
1 9 5 . Hckvbinjhu 7/6. S a n e s u k e l i v e d 9 5 7 -
1 0 4 6 .
1 9 6 . Uji jbui 1 3 / 5 . P o s s i b l y e a r l y 8 t h c e n -
t u r y .
197 . Konjaku 1 2 / 2 4 . T h e r e g e n t , F u j i w a r a
n o M i c h i n a g a , r e c o r d e d his p i l g r i m -
a g e t o w o r s h i p t h e B u d d h a - O x i n h is
d i a r y . H e w e n t t o S e k i d e r a i n t h e
s p r i n g o f 1 0 2 5 ( M a n j u 2 . 5 . 1 7 ) .
1 9 8 . Konjaku 1 9 / 8 .
1 9 9 . HoMhifubu 717.
2 0 0 . Heike monogatari 4 . B e t w e e n 1151
a n d 1 1 5 4 . A l t h o u g h t h i s s o u r c e i s u n -
l i k e m y o t h e r s , I t h o u g h t the c o m -
p o s i t e m o n s t e r m o t i f m a d e the s t o r y
w o r t h i n c l u d i n g .
2 0 1 . Konjaku 2 7 / 2 9 . M a s a m i c h i d i e d i n
1 0 1 7 .
2 0 2 . Konjaku 2 7 / 3 2 .
2 0 3 . Konjaku 2 7 / 3 6 .
2 0 4 . Kokoncbomonju 6 0 3 . T h e M i n a s e Pal -
a c e b e l o n g e d t o E m p e r o r G o - T o b a ,
w h o a b d i c a t e d i n 1 1 9 8 a n d d i e d i n
1 2 3 9 .
2 0 5 . Uji .•but 3 / 2 0 .
2 0 6 . Konjaku 2 7 / 4 0 .
2 0 7 . Konjaku 2 7 / 4 1 .
2 0 8 . Konjaku 2 7 / 3 7 .
2 0 9 . Tamon'in nikki 4 3 . T h i s s e r i e s o f
d r e a m s w a s r e c o r d e d b y a m o n k i n
h i s d i a r y u n d e r t h e d a t e 1 5 7 8 , 2 n d
m o o n , 1 5 t h d a y . H e h a d d r e a m e d
t h e m d u r i n g t h e f o u r p r e v i o u s
n i g h t s . " F l o w e r M o u n t a i n " i s H a n a -
y a m a i n t h e K a s u g a H i l l s .
2 1 0 . UjiAOi6/10.
2 1 1 . Jikkuuiho7l\\. R i n ' e l i v e d 9 5 0 - 1 0 2 5 .
2 1 2 . Uji thai 1 5 / 9 .
2 1 3 . Konjaku 1 2 / 3 3 , Ujidbui 12 /7 , SenjOtho
1/1, Ho.ubin.ihu 1/5. Z o g a l i v e d 9 1 7 -
1 0 0 3 .
2 1 4 . Konjaku 1 5 / 2 8 .
2 1 5 . Kajuga Gongen gcnki 6. Y u k i m i t s u
l i v e d 1 0 9 0 - 1 1 5 2 .
2 1 6 . Konjaku 1 4 / 8 .
2 1 7 . Konjaku 3 0 / 9 .
2 1 8 . Konjaku 2 7 / 2 2 .
2 1 9 . Konjaku 2 9 / 3 5 .
2 2 0 . Uji thai 9 / 8 .
T H E W O R K S
T H E S E T A L E S
C O M E F R O M
T h e s e c a p s u l e d e s c r i p t i o n s o f t h e w o r k s t h e ta l e s c o m e from o m i t a f e w s u p p l e m e n t a r y
s o u r c e s w h i c h g a v e m e o n l y a p a r a g r a p h o r t w o . S u c h s u p p l e m e n t a r y s o u r c e s are ind i -
c a t e d i n " S o u r c e s a n d N o t e s " a n d i n t h e list " T a l e s C l a s s i f i e d b y S o u r c e s . "
En no Gydja (1 t a l e ) . A p o p u l a r i l lu s t ra ted b o o k l e t of t h e Nara chon ( " N a r a p i c t u r e
b o o k " ) t y p e , i n s i m p l e J a p a n e s e . P e r h a p s 16th c e n t u r y . A n o n y m o u s .
Ftud ryakki, "A S u m m a r y H i s t o r y o f J a p a n " (1 t a l e ) . A 1 2 t h - c e n t u r y h i s t o r y o f J a p a n ,
w r i t t e n i n C h i n e s e b y t h e m o n k K o e n .
Heike monogatari, " T h e T a l e o f t h e H e i k e " ( 1 t a l e ) . A n e p i c o n t h e w a r s o f t h e late 12th
c e n t u r y , a n d o n e o f t h e m a s t e r p i e c e s o f J a p a n e s e l i t erature . T h e w o r k d e v e l o p e d o v e r
t i m e a n d h a s n o s i n g l e a u t h o r . I t w a s o r i g i n a l l y s u n g b y w a n d e r i n g e n t e r t a i n e r s , t o t h e
a c c o m p a n i m e n t o f t h e biwa.
Ho^biiwbu, " T h o s e W h o A w o k e t o F a i t h " ( 6 t a l e s ) . S t o r i e s i n f ine, s o b e r J a p a n e s e
a b o u t B u d d h i s t b e l i e v e r s w h o a c h i e v e d s a l v a t i o n , m i n g l e d w i t h r e f l e c t i o n s o n t h e l e s s o n s
t o b e d r a w n f r o m t h e i r e x a m p l e s . E a r l y 13th c e n t u r y , b y K a m o n o C h o m e i ( 1 1 5 3 7 - 1 2 1 6 ) ,
a m i n o r c o u r t i e r a n d p o e t f r o m t h e p r i e s t l y f a m i l y o f t h e K a m o S h r i n e , w h o b e c a m e a
m o n k late i n l ife. C h o m e i ' s b r i e f Hojdki ( " A n A c c o u n t o f M y H u t " ) i s o n e o f t h e m o s t
f a m o u s w o r k s o f c l a s s i c a l J a p a n e s e l i t era ture .
Jikkuubo, " T e n M o r a l T e a c h i n g s " ( 1 0 t a l e s ) . T a l e s o n m a n y s u b j e c t s , o r g a n i z e d s o a s t o
p r o v i d e e x a m p l e s o f m o r a l i n s t r u c t i o n . C h a p t e r s h a v e s u c h t i t les a s " T h e N e e d t o A v o i d
P r i d e " a n d " T h e N e e d t o C h o o s e O n e ' s F r i e n d s . " M a n y t a l e s are ra ther dr i ly t o l d . T h e
w o r k i s d a t e d 1 2 5 2 . A n o n y m o u s .
Kaluga Gongen genki, " T h e M i r a c l e s of t h e K a s u g a G o d " (3 t a l e s ) . A set of i l lus tra ted
s cro l l s n a r r a t i n g t h e m i r a c u l o u s d e e d s o f t h e K a s u g a G o d , i n J a p a n e s e . C o m p l e t e d i n
1 3 0 9 . T h e t e x t w a s p u t t o g e t h e r b y K a k u e n ( 1 2 7 7 - 1 3 4 0 ) , a K o f u k u j i m o n k o f e x t r e m e l y
h i g h b i r th ; a n d c o p i e d o u t b y a f o r m e r r e g e n t a n d his t h r e e s o n s , o n e o f w h o m w a s r e g e n t
a t t h e t i m e .
Kofukuji ranjhokl, " T h e B e g i n n i n g s of K o f u k u j i " (1 t a l e ) . A c o m p i l a t i o n of lore on
Kofukuj i , i n C h i n e s e . O f u n c e r t a i n d a t e . A n o n y m o u s .
Kobon .•c't.'itu'ti.'bii, " O l d T a l e C o l l e c t i o n " (2 t a l e s ) . A c o l l e c t i o n of s t o r i e s in p u r e J a p a -
n e s e , d a t i n g p e r h a p s f r o m t h e 12th c e n t u r y , b u t r e d i s c o v e r e d o n l y i n t h e 2 0 t h . T h e or ig ina l
t i t le i s los t . A n o n y m o u s .
Koju)an, " A n e c d o t e s o f t h e P a s t " ( 2 t a l e s ) . A n e c d o t e s o n v a r i o u s s u b j e c t s , n o t e d d o w n
i n a n i n c o n s i s t e n t s t y l e r a n g i n g f r o m C h i n e s e t o h y b r i d S i n o - J a p a n e s e ; h i s tor ica l ly v a l u -
a b l e but g e n e r a l l y p o o r r e a d i n g . C o m p i l e d c a . 1 2 1 2 - 1 2 1 5 b y M i n a m o t o n o A k i k a n e
( 1 1 6 0 - 1 2 1 5 ) , a c o u r t i e r a n d off ic ia l .
Kokoncbomonju, " T h i n g s S e e n a n d H e a r d , O l d a n d N e w " ( 1 3 t a l e s ) . A large c o l l e c t i o n
3 2 6
o n a w i d e r a n g e o f t h e m e s , o r g a n i z e d u n d e r c o n v e n i e n t t o p i c s l ike " G o d s , " " P o e t r y , "
" M u s i c , " " G a m b l i n g , " " F r i g h t e n i n g P r o d i g i e s . " T h e t e x t , in J a p a n e s e , i s w r i t t e n in a
p l e a s i n g , s t u d i e d l y u n d e r s t a t e d s t y l e . D a t e d 1 2 5 4 . B y T a c h i b a n a n o N a r i s u e , a m i n o r
c o u r t i e r a n d off ic ial w h o s e d a t e s a r e u n k n o w n .
Konjaku monogataruibu, " T a l e s o f T i m e s N o w P a s t " ( 1 1 1 t a l e s ) . T h i s m o n u m e n t o f J a p -
a n e s e l i t e ra ture i n c l u d e s o v e r a t h o u s a n d ta l e s a n d p r o b a b l y d a t e s f rom a b o u t 1 1 0 0 . E v e n
t h o u g h a f e w s e c t i o n s are m i s s i n g , t h e s t a n d a r d m o d e r n e d i t i o n i s in f ive c l o s e l y p r i n t e d
v o l u m e s o f w h i c h t h e first i s d e v o t e d t o ta l e s f rom India a n d t h e s e c o n d t o ta les Irom
C h i n a . T h e J a p a n e s e s e c t i o n c o v e r s m a n y t h e m e s , r e l i g i o u s o r s e c u l a r , s e r i o u s o r h u m o r -
o u s . Konjaku i s in a r a t h e r " p r e a c h y " sort o f J a p a n e s e , w r i t t e n so as to look as m u c h l ike
C h i n e s e a s p o s s i b l e , but t h e s t o r i e s are l o v i n g l y a n d o f t e n e x p e r t l y d e v e l o p e d . E a c h tale
b e g i n s a n d e n d s w i t h set f o r m u l a s , a s n o t e d i n t h e I n t r o d u c t i o n , but th is o n l y c o n t r i b u t e s
t o t h e c o l l e c t i o n ' s g r e a t n e s s . H a v i n g t h e s a m e f o r m a t , the s t o r i e s fit we l l t o g e t h e r i n l o n g
s e q u e n c e s , l i n k e d to o n e a n o t h e r by a p l a y o f a s s o c i a t i o n . R e a d i n g Konjaku can be l ike
g l i d i n g d o w n a b r o a d r i v e r p a s t a n e v e r - c h a n g i n g l a n d s c a p e .
Senjiubo, "A C h o i c e o f T a l e s " (3 t a l e s ) . T a l e s o f B u d d h i s t p i e t y , f ree ly m i n g l e d w i t h
r e f l e c t i o n s o n t h e i r s i g n i f i c a n c e . T h e o r n a m e n t e d J a p a n e s e s t y l e a n d the lyrical t o n e are
b o t h a g r e e a b l e . C o m p i l e d p e r h a p s i n t h e m i d - 1 3 t h c e n t u r y . T h e a u t h o r w a s l o n g t h o u g h t
t o b e t h e m o n k S a i g y o ( 1 1 1 8 - 1 1 9 0 ) , o n e o f J a p a n ' s f inest p o e t s ( s e e n o s . 4 2 a n d 5 0 ) , but
i s n o w c o n s i d e r e d u n k n o w n .
Sba.iekuihu, " A B o o k o f S a n d a n d P e b b l e s " ( 7 t a l e s ) . B u d d h i s t ta les i n u n a d o r n e d
J a p a n e s e , u s u a l l y s e r i o u s but s o m e t i m e s a m u s i n g , g a t h e r e d t o g e t h e r b y the m o n k M u j u
I c h i e n ( 1 2 2 6 - 1 3 1 2 ) i n 1 2 8 7 . M u j u w a s p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t e r e s t e d i n recent s t o r i e s , n o t i n g a t
t i m e s tha t h e h a d g o t t e n the s t o r y s t ra ight f rom its s o u r c e , o r e v e n that h e h a d w i t n e s s e d
t h e e v e n t h imse l f .
Sbintdsbu, " T a l e s o f t h e G o d s " ( 1 t a l e ) . T a l e s a b o u t i m p o r t a n t na t ive g o d s , p r o b a b l y
i n t e n d e d a s n o t e s for p o p u l a r p r e a c h i n g . 14th c e n t u r y . A n o n y m o u s .
Tamon'in nikki, " T h e T a m o n ' i n D i a r y " (1 t a l e ) . T h e m a s s i v e d iary o f a s e r i e s o f m o n k s
a t K o f u k u j i , c o v e r i n g t h e y e a r s b e t w e e n 1 4 7 8 a n d 1 6 1 7 .
Tango fuHoki, " A c c o u n t o f t h e P r o v i n c e o f T a n g o " (1 t a l e ) . In 7 1 3 e a c h p r o v i n c e w a s
o r d e r e d b y t h e c o u r t t o p r e p a r e a n a c c o u n t o f its h i s t o r y a n d s p e c i a l f ea tures . M o s t o f
t h e s e a c c o u n t s a r e los t , a n d for T a n g o , o n l y th i s f r a g m e n t h a s b e e n p r e s e r v e d . T h e lan-
g u a g e i s q u a s i - C h i n e s e , r e a d a s a r c h a i c J a p a n e s e .
Tnirezuregiua, " E s s a y s i n I d l e n e s s " ( 2 t a l e s ) . A b o o k o f m u s i n g s a n d a n e c d o t e s , a n d o n e
o f t h e m o s t d i s t i n g u i s h e d w o r k s o f c l a s s i c a l J a p a n e s e l i t erature . W r i t t e n ca . 1 3 3 0 b y the
p o e t , c o u r t i e r , a n d m a n o f l e t t e r s Y o s h i d a K e n k o ( 1 2 8 3 7 - 1 3 5 0 ? ) .
Vji ,'bui monogatari, "A C o l l e c t i o n of Uji T a l e s " ( 5 4 t a l e s ) . A b o o k of ta les of all k i n d s ,
i n n o p a r t i c u l a r o r d e r , d a t a b l e t o t h e e a r l y 13th c e n t u r y . T h i s is, i n m a n y w a y s , t h e f inest
o f t h e m e d i e v a l t a l e c o l l e c t i o n s . Its p u r e J a p a n e s e i s l ight to read, a n d its s t o r i e s are to ld
w i t h w o n d e r f u l w i t a n d g r a c e . T h e a u t h o r ' s w r y , k n o w i n g ins ight c o n t r a s t s s h a r p l y w i t h
t h e o v e r a l l s e r i o u s n e s s o f m o s t c o l l e c t i o n s .
T A L E S
C L A S S I F I E D B Y
S O U R C E S
T h e n u m b e r b e f o r e e a c h t i t le i n d i c a t e s t h e ta le ' s n u m b e r o r l o c a t i o n i n t h e o r i g i n a l . T h e
n u m b e r i n th i s b o o k f o l l o w s e a c h t i t le . S e c o n d a r y s o u r c e s a r e i n d i c a t e d i n p a r e n t h e s e s .
En no Gyoja (Nara chori) Kaluga Gongen genkt
T h e W i z a r d o f t h e 6 B e G o o d t o Y o u r M o t h e r a n d
M o u n t a i n s 8 8 F a t h e r ! 2 1 5
1 0 G i v e M e M u s i c ! 4 5
Ftuoryakki 17 (Kaluga Daimydjin gotaktuenki)
2 5 (Genkojhaku.iho9) T h e G o d o f C o m e t o M y K a s u g a
F ire a n d T h u n d e r 101 M o u n t a i n ! 3 1
Gcnkd jhakujbo Kaluga Daimydjin gotaktuenki
9 ( s e e Ftudryakki 2 5 ) (see Kaluga Gongen genki)
Heike nwnogatan Kofukuji ranjhoki
4 T h e N i g h t m a r e 2 0 0 T h e K a n n o n i n t h e P i n e 2 7
Hnubiiuba K o h o n "buwajbu
1/5 ( s e e Konjaku 1 2 / 3 3 ) 1 9 T h e L i t t l e B o t t l e o f T e a r s 5 6
3 / 5 T h e T h i r s t for P a r a d i s e 1 5 7 6 2 T w o B u c k e t s o f M a r i t a l
3 / 8 A T w i n g e o f R e g r e t 161 B l i s s 2 0
4 / 1 0 M e r c y 4 1
6 / 1 2 A m o n g t h e F l o w e r s 4 2 Kojiian
7/6 Li t t le W h i t e H a i r s 1 9 5 1/7 Q u i t e a Bit o f N o n s e n s e 191
7 / 7 P o v e r t y 1 9 9 5 / 2 4 T h e D r a g o n C a v e 1 8 3
Jikkiiuho Kokonchomonju
\I7 I n s p i r i n g , U n f o r t u n a t e l y 1 2 0 4 5 T h e T h u n d e r T u r t l e 1 0 3
6 / 1 8 C h e r i s h - t h e - A g e d S p r i n g 171 2 4 6 T h e Li t t l e S p i d e r 6
7/1 A n A w f u l Fall 8 9 2 6 5 T h e G o d o f G o o d F o r t u n e 4 7
7 /11 A T a s t e for F i s h 2 1 1 3 8 5 T h e P a i n t e d H o r s e 9 6
1 0 / 2 0 T w i n l e a f 1 6 7 3 8 6 T h e P o r t r a i t 3 9
1 0 / 2 2 D i v i n e A p p l a u s e 4 8 5 9 9 S e a D e v i l s 9 2
1 0 / 2 4 F o r L o v e o f S o n g 4 3 6 0 1 T h e M o n k i n W h i t e A r m o r 194
1 0 / 2 5 T h e W e i g h t o f T r a d i t i o n 4 6 6 0 3 T h e G r i n n i n g F a c e o f a n O l d
1 0 / 2 6 T h e S n a k e C h a r m e r 1 3 5 W o m a n 2 0 4
1 0 / 2 7 T o S o o t h e t h e S a v a g e B r e a s t 6 9 6 0 5 S u d d e n l y , H o r s e D u n g 1 9 3
3 2 8
6 0 6 E n o u g h I s E n o u g h ! 8 0
6 0 7 T h e H a i r y A r m 1 2 2
6 8 1 T h e L o v i n g F o x 8 1
6 8 2 T h e G r a t e f u l C r a b 1 0 7
Konjaku monogataruhu
1 1 / 7 G y o g i a n d B a r a m o n 2 4
1 1 / 1 3 J a p a n ' s Firs t G o l d 2 3
1 1 / 2 5 ( 1 1 / 9 ) K o b o D a i s h i 2 6
1 1 / 2 9 T h e E m p e r o r ' s F i n g e r 2 2
1 2 / 7 T h e O l d M a c k e r e l P e d d l e r 2 5
1 2 / 2 4 T h e B u d d h a - O x 1 9 7
1 2 / 2 8 T h e V o i c e f r o m t h e C a v e 148
1 2 / 3 1 T h e C h a n t i n g S k u l l 1 5 8
1 2 / 3 3 (Senjujho 1 /1 , Hojsh'uubu 15 ,
Ujijbui 1 2 / 7 ) T h e J e l l y f i s h ' s
B o n e s 2 1 3
13/1 V e r y H i g h i n t h e
M o u n t a i n s 1 0 0
1 3 / 2 T h e B l e s s i n g 8 6
1 3 / 1 0 T h e S e l f l e s s T h i e f 6 6
1 3 / 3 3 R a i n 3 6
1 3 / 3 4 T h e N i c e Li t t l e G o d S a i l s
A w a y 1 5 9
1 3 / 4 1 A Li t t l e L e s s o n 151
1 3 / 4 3 R e d P l u m B l o s s o m s 1 3 9
1 4 / 3 R e d H e a t 111
1 4 / 7 A P l e a f r o m H e l l 1 4 7
14 /8 H e l l i n B r o a d D a y 2 1 6
1 4 / 4 2 N o N i g h t t o B e O u t
C o u r t i n g 1 6 8
1 4 / 4 3 T h e R i v e r o f S n a k e s 9 8
1 4 / 4 4 T h e M a s t e r 1 2 7
15 /1 P a r a d i s e i n t h e P a l m o f t h e
H a n d 114
1 5 / 2 0 G o n e , B o d y a n d S o u l 1 1 3
1 5 / 2 3 L e t t e r s f r o m P a r a d i s e 1 1 7
1 5 / 2 8 T h e S t i n k i n g H u t 2 1 4
1 5 / 4 1 T h e U n e a r t h l y F r a g r a n c e 1 6 0
1 6 / 1 5 G o l d f r o m t h e D r a g o n
P a l a c e 1 8 4
1 6 / 1 7 T o u c h e d i n t h e H e a d 8 2
1 6 / 2 0 T a k e n I n 7 6
1 6 / 2 9 T h e S o l i d G o l d C o r p s e 1 7 3
1 6 / 3 2 T h e I n v i s i b l e M a n 7 4
1 7 / 1 7 T h e R e p r i e v e 1 8 0
1 7 / 2 6 T h e C a t c h 1 0 4
1 7 / 3 3 T h e A w a k e n i n g 1 7 7
1 7 / 4 2 T h e B l o o d y S w o r d 1 4 6
1 7 / 4 4 T h e B o y W h o L a i d t h e G o l d e n
S t o n e 1 5 5
1 7 / 4 7 T h e B o t t o m l e s s S a c k 172
1 9 / 3 P i o u s A n t i c s 1 7 9
1 9 / 8 T h e F a l c o n e r ' s D r e a m 198
1 9 / 1 4 N o C o m p r o m i s e 1 1 5
1 9 / 2 9 T h e G r a t e f u l T u r t l e 1 0 5
1 9 / 3 2 A n O l d G o d R e n e w e d 3 0
2 0 / 1 T h e M u r m u r i n g o f the S e a 3 3
2 0 / 2 J a p a n M e a n s T r o u b l e ! 3 4
2 0 / 4 Q u i t e a S t i n k 126
2 0 / 7 A M e m o r a b l e E m p r e s s 125
2 0 / 1 0 ( S e e Vji .<hui 9 /1
2 0 / 1 1 T h e I n v i n c i b l e P a i r 3 5
2 3 / 2 2 T h e T u g - o f - W a r 1 3 6
2 4 / 1 T h r e e A n g e l s 4 4
2 4 / 1 5 D a d d y , W h o W e r e T h o s e
P e o p l e ? 1 6 2
2 4 / 1 9 T h e S p e l l b o u n d P i r a t e s 6 1
2 4 / 2 0 A s t r i d e t h e C o r p s e 166
2 4 / 2 4 G e n j o 6 4
2 5 / 1 1 A u t h o r i t y 6 7
2 6 / 8 T h r o u g h t h e W a t e r C u r t a i n 188
2 6 / 9 T h e S n a k e a n d t h e
C e n t i p e d e 1 8 7
2 6 / 1 1 " D o g ' s H e a d " S i l k 175
2 7 / 1 A n O l d , O l d G h o s t 1 6
2 7 / 2 N o N o n s e n s e ! 1 9 0
2 7 / 5 T h e W a t e r Sp ir i t 181
2 7 / 7 T h e R a v e n o u s S t o r e h o u s e 1 2
2 7 / 9 B e t t e r L a t e T h a n E a r l y 1 1
2 7 / 1 1 V e r y K i n d o f H i m , N o
D o u b t 2 8
2 7 / 1 3 T h e B r i d g e 1 4
2 7 / 1 9 T h e Lit t le O i l J a r 5 3
2 7 / 2 1 T h e G r i s l y B o x 1 3
2 7 / 2 2 M o t h e r 2 1 8
2 7 / 2 4 S h e D i e d L o n g A g o 133
2 7 / 2 9 T h e D o u b l e 2 0 1
2 7 / 3 1 T h e E v i c t i o n 8 4
2 7 / 3 2 B e w i t c h e d 2 0 2
2 7 / 3 6 T h e F u n e r a l 2 0 3
2 7 / 3 7 N o t R e a l l y a T r e e a t Al l 2 0 8
2 7 / 4 0 T h e F o x ' s Bal l 2 0 6
2 7 / 4 1 S i n g e d F u r 2 0 7
2 8 / 5 S a l t F i s h a n d D o c t o r e d W i n e 8
2 8 / 1 1 H o m e in a C h e s t 21
2 8 / 1 2 N o t Q u i t e t h e R i g h t R o b e 1 8
2 8 / 1 8 T h e B e s t - L a i d P l a n s . . . 9 4
2 8 / 2 4 T h e R i c e p o o p S a i n t 9 0 7 / 1 8 Y o u n g L u s t 1 0 8
2 8 / 2 5 A F l a s h in t h e P a l a c e 7 7/20 E x p e r t H e l p 1 2 3
2 8 / 2 8 T h e D a n c i n g M u s h r o o m 9 3 7 / 2 4 T h e B u d d h a w i t h L o t s o f
2 8 / 2 9 T h e H a r m l e s s H a u n t 164 H a n d s 7 0
2 8 / 3 9 T h e T a p e w o r m s S a d E n d 9 8 / 1 1 S y r u p 1 7
2 8 / 4 0 M e l o n M a g i c 2
2 8 / 4 1 A T o a d to R e c k o n W i t h 10 Shintuhu
2 9 / 1 T h e E n i g m a 1 4 0 8 P r i n c e s s G l o r y 3 2
2 9 / 5 I n t h e N i c k o f T i m e 1 6 5
2 9 / 1 7 T h e T e m p l e Bel l 1 4 3 Tanwnin nikki
2 9 / 1 8 T h e R a s h o G a t e 6 5 2 4 T h e W h i t e F o x : F o u r
2 9 / 1 9 T h e D e a d M a n W a k e s 144 D r e a m s 2 0 9
2 9 / 2 1 W i t h o u t E v e n a F i g h t 142
2 9 / 2 8 T h e L u r e 78 Tango ftuhki
2 9 / 3 5 P e r i l o u s G r a t i t u d e 2 1 9 (Nibongi) U r a s h i m a t h e
2 9 / 3 6 W a s p s 141 F i s h e r m a n 106
2 9 / 3 9 M e s m e r i z e d 1 1 0
2 9 / 4 0 T h e P r e t t y Gir l 1 0 9 Ttureutrtgiua 3 0 / 1 E l i m i n a t i o n 5 7 5 3 T h e P o t - H e a d e d D e m o n 1 5 3
3 0 / 9 T h e O l d W o m a n o n the 6 9 W h a t t h e B e a n s W e r e
M o u n t a i n 2 1 7 S a y i n g 4 0
3 0 / 1 4 A B e l o v e d W i l e , a B o w , a W h i t e
B i r d 1 2 9 Uji ,<bui monogatari
31/7 T h e F o r s a k e n L a d y 132 1/1 T h e Lit t le G o d s B i g
3 1 / 8 A n I m a g e i n a F l a m e 131 C h a n c e 178
3 1 / 9 T h e U n k n o w n T h i r d 1 3 0 1/2 H e r o i c P a t i e n c e , A l m o s t 152
3 1 / 1 0 I S a w I t in a D r e a m 134 1/3 L u m p Off , L u m p On 1 6 9
3 1 / 1 2 C a n n i b a l I s l a n d 1 8 9 1/13 C h e r r y B l o s s o m s 1 5 6
3 1 / 1 3 T h e W i n e S p r i n g 9 9 1/14 A H a r d M o m e n t 5 4
3 1 / 1 5 T h e D o g a n d H i s W i f e 2 9 1 /18 Y a m S o u p 8 3
3 1 / 1 7 W h a t t h e S t o r m W a s h e d I n 9 1 2 / 4 T h e G o l d o f G o l d e n P e a k 102
3 1 / 3 3 T h e M a i d e n f r o m t h e S k y 4 2 / 7 T h e N o s e 1 9
3 1 / 3 7 T h e G i a n t O a k 1 2 / 8 T h e G e n i e 5 9
2 / 1 0 C o w e d 1 4 5
Nibongi 2 / 1 4 O n e L a s t S h o w e r o f P e t a l s 1 1 9
( S e e Tangofudoki) 3 / 2 B u t S h e C o u l d n ' t H e l p It! 5 8
3 / 4 B r i n g B a c k T h a t F e r r y ! 4 9 S " l J ' u 3 / 6 R e a l F l a m e s a t L a s t ! 9 5
1/1 ( S e e Konjaku 1 2 / 3 3 ) 3 / 1 5 T h e R o o t e d C o r p s e 1 5
5 / 1 5 T h e M a n - M a d e F r i e n d 5 0 3 / 1 6 T h e S p a r r o w s ' G i f t s 3
6 / 1 0 T h i n g s A s T h e y A r e 3 8 3 / 2 0 F o x A r s o n 2 0 5
6 / 3 , T h e M a s t e r o f S t r e a m s a n d 4 / 1 R i c e C a k e s 1 2 4
7 / 4 , 7 / 5 Fa l l s 182 4/4 T h e Is le o f M a n a n d M a i d 1 8 6
4 / 5 W h a t T h e S n a k e H a d i n M i n d 138
Sbatekuba 5 / 9 R j o t o u s L i v i n g 154
7 /2 L o v e s i c k 112 5 / 1 0 T h e T e l l t a l e F i s h 2 1 0
7 /3 T h e P o n d G o d T a k e s a 6 / 2 A V e r y S u r p r i s e d
W i f e 1 8 5 B o d h i s a t t v a 1 7 6
7 / 1 7 T h e F l e a 5 6 / 5 A s D e e p a s t h e S e a 1 3 7
3 3 0
1 1 / 9 T h e F a i l u r e 116
1 1 / 1 0 A M o d e l D e m o n 9 7
1 2 / 5 A S i m p l e C u r e 1 2 8
1 2 / 7 ( S e e Konjaku 1 2 / 3 3 )
1 2 / 2 2 O n e M o u t h f u l 1 9 2
1 2 / 2 4 T a k e a G o o d L o o k ! 1 7 0
1 3 / 5 T h e M a n W h o S t o l e a
D r e a m 1 9 6
1 3 / 6 T h e W r e s t l e r ' s S i s t e r 6 8
1 3 / 9 N o t E x a c t l y t h e L a n d o f
B l i s s 1 1 8
1 3 / 1 0 D y e i n g C a s t l e 7 5
1 3 / 1 3 A n o t h e r F l y i n g J a r 8 7
1 4 / 1 0 M a n ' s B e s t F r i e n d 6 3
1 4 / 1 1 T h e L a u g h i n g Fit 5 1
1 5 / 6 T h e P r o t e c t o r Sp ir i t 7 1
1 5 / 8 N o R e s p e c t 7 3
1 5 / 9 T h e P r o m i s e 2 1 2
7 / 4 J u s t L i k e a B i r d 7 9
7 / 5 A F o r t u n e f r o m a W i s p o f
S t r a w 1 7 4
8 / 3 T h e F l y i n g S t o r e h o u s e 7 2
8 / 4 I n c o r r i g i b l e 1 4 9
8 / 6 N o F o o l , t h e H u n t e r 121
8 / 7 I n c e n s e S m o k e 8 5
9 /1 (Konjaku 2 0 / 1 0 ) S m a l l - T i m e
M a g i c 5 2
9 / 7 A N i c e M u g o f M o l t e n
C o p p e r 5 5
9 / 8 T h e U g l y S o n 2 2 0
10 /6 T h e S a c r i f i c e 7 7
1 0 / 9 T h e C u r s e 1 6 3
1 0 / 1 0 T h e P i ra te ' s S t o r y 1 5 0
l l / 3 a T h e T e s t 6 2
1 l / 3 b O n e F r o g L e s s 6 0
1 1 / 6 N o D r a g o n 3 7
B I B L I O G R A P H Y
/. Work.' in Western Languages
B l a c k e r , C a r m e n . The Catalpa Row: A Study of Sbamanutic Practiced in Japan. T o t o w a , N. J . :
R o w m a n & Lit t le f ie ld , 1 9 7 5 .
D o r s o n , R i c h a r d M. Folk Legends of Japan. R u t l a n d , V t . : C h a r l e s E. T u t t l e , 1 9 6 2 .
F r a n k , B e r n a r d . HLiloires qui son! mainlenanl du passe. Par i s : G a l l i m a r d . 1 9 6 8 .
K e l s e y , W . M i c h a e l . Konjaku Aionogatari-shu. B o s t o n : T w a y n e P u b l i s h e r s , 1 9 8 2 .
K o b a y a s h i , H i r o k o . The Human Comedy of Heian Japan: A Study of the Secular Stories in the
Twelfth-Century Collection of Tales, Konjaku Afonogatariihu. T o k y o : T h e C e n t r e for E a s t
A s i a n C u l t u r a l S t u d i e s , 1 9 7 9 .
M c C u l l o u g h , W i l l i a m H . , a n d H e l e n C r a i g M c C u l l o u g h . A Tale of Flowering Fortunes:
Annals of Japanese Aruitocratic Life in the Heian Period (2 v o l s . ) . S t a n f o r d , Calif . : S t a n f o r d
U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 8 0 .
M a y e r , F a n n y H a g i n . Ancient Tales in Modern Japan: An Anthology of Japanese Folk Tales.
B i o o m i n g t o n : I n d i a n a U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 8 4 .
M i l l s , D. E. A Collection of Tales from Uji: A Study ant) Translation of Vji Shui Monogatari.
C a m b r i d g e a n d N e w Y o r k : C a m b r i d g e U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 7 0 .
M o r r i s , I v a n . The World of the Shining Prince: Court Life in Ancient Japan. N e w Y o r k : A l f r e d
A . K n o p f , 1 9 6 4 .
M u j u , I c h i e n . Collection de sable el de pierres: Sbasekishu. T r a n s l a t i o n , p r e f a c e , a n d c o m m e n -
tar ies b y H a r t m u t O . R o t e r m u n d . Par i s : G a l l i m a r d , 1 9 7 9 .
S e k i , K e i g o , e d . Folktales o f Japan. T r a n s l a t e d by R o b e r t J . A d a m s . C h i c a g o : U n i v e r s i t y
o f C h i c a g o P r e s s , 1 9 6 3 .
U r y , M a r i a n . Tales of Times Now Past. B e r k e l e y , L o s A n g e l e s , a n d L o n d o n : U n i v e r s i t y of
C a l i f o r n i a P r e s s , 1 9 7 9 .
Y a n a g i t a , K u n i o . The Legends o f Tone. T r a n s l a t e d by R o n a l d A. M o r s e . T o k y o : T h e J a p a n
F o u n d a t i o n , 1 9 7 5 .
2. Japanese Sources
En no Gydja in Aluromachi jidai monogatari lauei, v o l . 3, e d i t e d by Y o k o y a m a S h i g e r u a n d
M a t s u m o t o T a k a n o b u . T o k y o : K a d o k a w a , 1 9 7 5 .
Fuso ryakki ( b y K o e n ) . In Kaitei shi'eki shuran, e d i t e d by K o n d o H e i j o . T o k y o : K o n d o
K a p p a n s h o , 1 9 0 0 .
Genko shakttsho ( b y K o k a n S h i r e n ) . In Shinteizoho kokushi taikei, v o l . 3 1 , e d i t e d by K o k u s h i
T a i k e i H e n s h u Kai . T o k y o : Y o s h i k a w a K o b u n k a n , 1 9 6 5 .
Heike monogatari. E d i t e d b y T a k a g i I c h i n o s u k e , O z a w a M a s a o , e t al . ( N i h o n k o t e n b u n -
g a k u ta ike i , v o l s . 3 2 , 3 3 . ) T o k y o : I w a n a m i , 1 9 5 9 - 6 0 .
3 3 2
IIo.vhin.ihu ( b y K a m o no C h o m e i ) . In Hojoki, Hoj.ihin.ihii, e d i t e d by M i k i S u m i t o ( S h i n c h o
N i h o n k o t e n s h u s e i ) . T o k y o : S h i n c h d s h a , 1 9 7 6 .
Jikkirhihd. E d i t e d b y N a g a z u m i Y a s u a k i . ( I w a n a m i b u n k o , v o l . 3 0 - 1 2 0 - 1 . ) T o k y o : I w a -
n a m i , 1 9 4 2 .
Kajuga Gongen genki a n d Kaouga Daimydjin gotakiuenki. In Gun.<ho ruiju, v o l . 2, e d i t e d by
H a n a w a H o k i i c h i . T o k y o : Z o k u G u n s h o Rui ju K a n s e i Kai , 1 9 7 2 .
Kd/ukujiranohdki. In Dainihon hukkyd zenjho, e d i t e d by B u s s h o K a n k o Kai , vo l . 119 . T o k y o :
B u s s h o K a n k o Kai , 1 9 1 5 .
Kohon jehuwaohu. In Kobon .<ebuwa.<hti zenchukai, e d i t e d by T a k a h a s h i M i t s u g u . T o k y o :
Y u s e i d o S h u p p a n , 1 9 8 5 .
Kojidan ( b y M i n a m o t o A k i k a n e ) . E d i t e d b y K o b a y a s h i Y a s u h a r u . ( K o t e n b u n k o , v o l s . 6 0 ,
6 2 . ) T o k y o : G e n d a i S h i c h o s h a , 1 9 8 1 .
Kokonchomonju ( b y T a c h i b a n a N a r i s u e ) . E d i t e d b y N a g a z u m i Y a s u a k i a n d S h i m a d a I s a o .
( N i h o n k o t e n b u n g a k u ta ike i , v o l . 8 4 . ) T o y k o : I w a n a m i , 1 9 6 6 .
Konjaku monogataruhu, b o o k s 1 9 - 3 1 . E d i t e d b y Y a m a d a Y o s h i o , Y a m a d a T a d a o , e t al .
( N i h o n k o t e n b u n g a k u ta ike i , v o l s . 2 4 - 2 6 . ) T o k y o : I w a n a m i , 1 9 6 1 - 6 3 .
Nihon jhoki. E d i t e d b y S a k a m o t o T a r o , I e n a g a S a b u r o , e t al . ( N i h o n k o t e n b u n g a k u ta ike i ,
v o l s . 6 7 , 6 8 . ) T o k y o : I w a n a m i , 1 9 6 7 .
Scnjiuhd. E d i t e d b y N i s h i o K o i c h i . ( I w a n a m i b u n k o , v o l . 3 0 - 0 2 4 - 1 . ) T o k y o : I w a n a m i ,
1 9 7 0 .
Sha.ieki.ihu ( b y M u j u I c h i e n ) . E d i t e d b y W a t a n a b e T s u n a y a . ( N i h o n k o t e n b u n g a k u ta ike i ,
v o l . 8 5 . ) T o k y o : I w a n a m i , 1 9 6 6 .
S h i g e m a t s u , A k i h i s a . Ura.<bima-<>hiden ( K o t e n b u n k o , vo l . 5 5 ) . T o k y o : G e n d a i S h i c h o s h a ,
1 9 8 1 .
Sbintwhu. E d i t e d b y K o n d o K i h a k u . T o k y o : K a d o k a w a , 1 9 6 7 .
Tamon'in nikki. E d i t e d by T s u j i Z e n n o s u k e . In Mugenki (a c o l l e c t i o n of the d iar is t ' s
d r e a m s ) , v o l . 3 . T o k y o : K a d o k a w a , 1 9 6 5 .
T.iurezureguja ( b y Y o s h i d a K e n k o ) . E d i t e d b y N i s h i o M i n o r u . ( N i h o n k o t e n b u n g a k u
t a i k e i , v o l . 3 0 . ) T o k y o : I w a n a m i , 1 9 5 7 .
Uji jhui monogatari. E d i t e d by K o b a y a s h i C h i s h o . ( N i h o n k o t e n b u n g a k u z e n s h u , vo l . 2 8 . )
T o y k o : S h o g a k k a n , 1 9 7 3 .
I N D E X
T h e n u m b e r s af ter t h e e n t r i e s a r e ta le n u m b e r s , not p a g e s . P e o p l e are l i s t ed u n d e r t h
p e r s o n a l n a m e s .
A c a d e m y , t h e 1 0
A k a s h i 6 1 , 1 2 7
A k i p r o v i n c e 6 9
A m i d a 1 1 4 , 115 , 116 , 117 , 1 1 8 , 1 3 2 , 160 ,
1 6 1 , 198 , 2 1 2 , 2 1 3 , 2 1 4
A m i d a S u t r a 1 1 3 , 1 9 7
a n g e l s
c o m e d o w n t o h e a r m u s i c 4 4
a s c e t i c
fai ls t o f l y 8 9
falls i n l o v e w i t h e m p r e s s 1 2 5
h e a l s e m p e r o r w i t h t e n g u m a g i c 126
m a s t e r o f N i c h i z o 9 8
N i c h i z o m e e t s d e m o n 9 7
N i c h i z o v i s i t s a f t e r w o r l d 101
t a u g h t l e s s o n i n h u m i l i t y 8 7
t u r n s o u t t o b e f a k e 9 0
A s o k a ( k i n g ) 2 2
A t a g o , M o u n t 121
b a d g e r
f o o l s a s c e t i c 121
h a u n t s a c h a p e l 1 2 2
h a u n t s a p o n d 2 0 4
b a m b o o c u t t e r 4 , 3 2
B a r a m o n
a r r i v e s i n J a p a n 2 4
c o n s e c r a t e s G r e a t B u d d h a 2 5
B e n e v o l e n t K i n g , S u t r a o f t h e 7 1
B i b a s h i ( b u d d h a ) 101
B i s h a m o n 7 2
ki l l s d e m o n 146
o f K u r a m a c o n f e r s w e a l t h 1 5 5
B i t c h u p r o v i n c e 4 8 , 8 2 , 1 9 6
B i w a , L a k e 13 , 3 3 , 8 3 , 1 0 4
b o a r
c r e a t e d b y m a g i c 5 2
s t a g e s fake funera l 2 0 3
B o n d e n ( k i n g )
g o v e r n s ra in 3 6
Book of Changed 51
b o y
b a w l s t o s e e c h e r r y b l o s s o m s fall 1 5 6
b e a r s g o l d e n s t o n e 1 5 5
g u z z l e s s y r u p 1 7
h e a l e d b y T h o u s a n d - A r m e d K a n n o n
7 0
h u n g r y for r ice d u m p l i n g s 152
l o v e d b y Z d y o 154
B y o d o i n 1 6 7
c a n n i b a l s 1 8 9
c a v e
h o u s e s p o w e r o f L o t u s S u t r a 148
c e n t i p e d e
c l a i m s i s l a n d , k i l l e d b y s n a k e 1 8 7
c h a m b e r p o t
i s H e i c h u ' s d o w n f a l l 5 7
c h e s t
h i d e s p h i l a n d e r i n g m o n k 2 1
C h i k o
h a s v i s i o n o f A m i d a s p a r a d i s e 1 1 4
C h i k u z e n p r o v i n c e 1 0 4 , 1 6 0
C h i n a 3 1 , 3 3 , 3 4 , 5 1 , 7 5 , 1 8 7
C h u s a n
a s m a s t e r o f w a t e r 1 8 2
c o r p s e
g i a n t , w a s h e d u p o n b e a c h 9 1
m a n s l e e p s w i t h w i f e ' s c o r p s e 1 3 3
C o u n c i l o f S t a t e 1 1
c r a b
s a v e s g ir l f r o m s n a k e 1 0 7
c r o w
a s m a g i c m e s s e n g e r 5 9
c u r s e 5 1 , 1 6 3
D a i a n j i 5 5
3 3 4
D a i g o ( e m p e r o r )
h e a l e d b y S w o r d G u a r d i a n 7 2
s u f f e r s in hel l 101
D a i n i c h i 101
D a k i n i r i te
c o m m i s s i o n e d b y T a d a z a n e 4 7
d a n c e (see m u s i c a n d d a n c e )
d e e r
b o w t o K a s u g a G o d 3 1
d e m o n ( s ) (oni)
b e c o m e s e m p r e s s ' s l o v e r 1 2 5
d e f e a t e d b y L o t u s S u t r a 1 4 8
( " d e v i l s " ) i n v a d e i s l and 9 2
e a t s c o n t r o l l e r 11
e a t s N a r i h i r a ' s girl 12
e m a n a t i o n o f K a n n o n s a v e s a s c e t i c 9 8
f a k e d b y g a m b l e r 2 2 0
i n g a t e p l a y s f lute 1 6 7
in g a t e s t e a l s biwa G e n j o 64
k i l l e d b y B i s h a m o n 1 4 6
m a k e m a n i n v i s i b l e 7 4
m e e t s N i c h i z o i n O m i n e M o u n t a i n s 9 7
( " m o n s t e r s ") r e m o v e o ld m a n ' s l u m p
1 6 9
m o t h e r t r i e s t o eat s o n 2 1 8
n e a r l y c a t c h y o u n g g e n t l e m a n 168
o n b r i d g e , w i t h g r i s l y b o x 1 3
o n b r i d g e p u r s u e s r ider 1 4
s e r v e s K i c h i j o t e n 1 7 2
t u r n s o u t t o b e a d o g 164
v e n e r a t e L o t u s S u t r a 1 0 0
w i t h h o r s e h e a d p e e r s i n t o r o o m 1 7 0
d e v i l s (see d e m o n )
D i a m o n d W i s d o m , S u t r a o f 151
d o g ( s ) 7 5
d o g s h i t s m e l l b e t r a y s t e n g u m a g i c 126
g o d m a r r i e d t o h u m a n girl 2 9
k e p t b y m o u n t a i n g o d 2 6
h e l p h u n t e r d e s t r o y m o n k e y g o d s 7 7
s c o l d e d , t h e n fed b y J a k u s h i n 1 7 9
y i e l d s b e a u t i f u l s i lk 1 7 5
D o j o j i 111
D o m y o 1 7 8
d r a g o n
d i e s t o m a k e ra in 3 6
d o e s n o t r ise f r o m S a r u s a w a P o n d 3 7
g u a r d s t h e B u d d h a ' s T e a c h i n g 1 4 9
k i n g p r o v i d e s g o l d 1 8 4
K i n g Z e n t a t s u a t M u r o 183
o f M a n o P o n d c a u g h t b y t e n g u 3 5
d r e a m
o f p o v e r t y 1 9 9
o f w h i t e h a i r s 1 9 5
s t o l e n b y y o u n g m a n 196
t w i n d r e a m s o f j e a l o u s y 134
t w i n d r e a m s o l l o n g i n g 130
E c h i z e n p r o v i n c e 8 , 4 9 , 1 7 2 , 1 9 7
E m m a ( k i n g o f h e l l ) 4 6 , 1 4 9 , 2 1 5
e n c h a n t m e n t
b y f o x 8 2 , 2 0 2 , 2 0 7
b y K o k u z o 104
E n n o G y o j a 182
life s t o r y 8 8
E n n i n
c a u g h t i n D y e i n g C a s t l e 7 5
E n ' y u ( e m p e r o r )
h e a l e d b y fa l se h e a l e r 126
E t c h u p r o v i n c e 147 , 2 1 6
f a l c o n e r
d r e a m s o f p h e a s a n t s ' a n g u i s h 198
f a r m e r 1 8 6
fart
e m b a r r a s s e s l a d y a n d s u i t o r 5 8
f i r e s p e l l s 3 4 , 7 4 , 8 7
fish
p o p s o u t o f a m o n k ' s n o s e 2 1 0
p r e f e r r e d b y m o n k R i n ' e 2 1 1
flea 5
flying
b o w l 7 2
jar 8 7 , 1 0 0
f o x ( e s )
a p p e a r s a s n u r s e ' s d o u b l e 2 0 1
b e g s for r i ce c a k e s , t h r o u g h m e d i u m
124
b e g s m a n t o s p a r e h i s fami ly 8 0
b e w i t c h w o m a n 2 0 2
e n c h a n t s l e c h e r o u s m a n 8 2
g e t e v i c t e d f r o m h o u s e 8 4
g e t s b a c k bal l , p r o t e c t s m a n 2 0 6
g o d d e m a n d s m u s i c 4 7
m a s q u e r a d e s a s h u g e t ree 2 0 8
m e s s e n g e r s p e a k s t h r o u g h m a n ' s w i f e
8 3
p e r s e c u t e s e m p r e s s 125
s e t s h o u s e o n f i r e 2 0 5
te l ls d r e a m e r t o w e a r r e d 2 0 9
tr i cks r iders , g e t s s i n g e d 2 0 7
w o m a n g i v e s life for m a n 8 1
frog 6 0 , 107
F u d a r a k u ( p a r a d i s e o f K a n n o n ) 2 7
d e v o t e e sa i l s t o F u d a r a k u 1 5 7
g o d sa i l s t o F u d a r a k u 1 5 9
F u d o 3 4 , 7 3 , 7 4 , 7 5 , 9 5 , 1 2 6
F u g e n 6 6 , 1 2 0
a p p e a r s a s har lot 3 8
false v i s i o n o l 121
Fuji , M o u n t 3 2 , 8 8
funeral
c o r p s e r e f u s e s t o m o v e 1 5
fake , s t a g e d b y b o a r 2 0 3
fake , s t a g e d b y t h i e v e s 143
o l l o n g - d e a d w i f e 1 3 3 , 166
F u w a barr i er 1 3 0
g a m b l e r
m a r r i e s o f f u g l y s o n 2 2 0
G a n g o j i 114
g e n i e ( s ) 5 9 , 6 2
g h o s t
o l l o n g - d e a d w i f e 133
o f r ider s t r u c k b y l i g h t n i n g 1 6
o f T o r u 190 , 191
G i o n T e m p l e 2 1
g o d ( s )
a p p e a r s t o E m p e r o r Tenj i 2 2
d e f e n d R e t i r e d E m p e r o r U d a 191
g i v e w o m a n s i lk t h r o u g h d o g 1 7 5
H a c h i m a n 1 0 1 , 2 0 0
h a s f o l l o w e r t o r t u r e girl 7 4
i n d o g form m a r r i e d t o h u m a n 2 9
i n m o n k e y form d e m a n d h u m a n
sacr i f i ce 7 7 , 188
n a m e d C h u s a n , a m o n k e y 7 7
n a m e d K o y a , a s n a k e 7 7
o f e a r t h 1 1 3
o f d i s e a s e cal l r o a d g o d t o c o m e 1 5 9
o f d i s e a s e s h o w s g r a t i t u d e 2 8
o f d i s e a s e a n d c a l a m i t y 101
o f F ire a n d T h u n d e r , D a i j o T e n j i n 101
o f F ire a n d T h u n d e r a s tur t l e 103
o f G o o d F o r t u n e ( f o x ) 4 7
o f H a k u s a n 8 8
o f H i e S h r i n e 4 1
o f i s l and a s s n a k e a n d c e n t i p e d e 1 8 7
o l K a s u g a g l i m p s e d i n d r e a m 2 0 9
o l K a s u g a p r e f e r s m u s i c 4 5
o f K a s u g a s p e a k s t o M y o e 3 1
o l K a s u g a s a v e s d a n c e r f r o m hel l 2 1 5
o l K a t s u r a g i , H i t o k o t o n u s h i 8 8
o f K i b i t s u S h r i n e 4 8
o f M a t s u n o o 101
o f M o u n t Fuj i
n a m e l i c k e d o n t o s w o r d b y E n n o
G y o j a 8 8
o r i g i n o f 3 2
o f M o u n t K o y a , K o y a a n d N i f u 2 6
o f O m i n e , Z a o G o n g e n 2 3 , 8 8 , 1 0 1 ,
102
o l p o n d ( s n a k e ) p u r s u e s girl 1 8 5
o l r o a d g e t s t o h e a r L o t u s S u t r a 1 7 8
o f r o a d sa i l s t o p a r a d i s e 1 5 9
o f s k y a n d e a r t h 171
r e v i v e d b y g o v e r n o r ' s a t t e n t i o n s 3 0
s h r i n e bui l t o n g r a v e m o u n d 1 5
S u n G o d d e s s 4 3
G o k u r a k u b o 1 1 4
G o k u r a k u j i 7 1
g o l d
"boy" b e a r s g o l d e n s t o n e 1 5 5
c o r p s e 1 7 3
l o u n d for T o d a i j i 2 3
o f G o l d e n P e a k , s t o l e n 1 0 2
p r o v i d e d b y D r a g o n K i n g 184
G o l d e n L i g h t , S u t r a o f 1 4 9
G o l d e n P e a k 2 3 , 4 9 , 9 4 , 1 0 0
g o l d of, s t o l e n 1 0 2
h i s t o r y o f 8 8
p a r a d i s e a n d he l l o f 101
g o u r d s
y i e l d r ice or p o i s o n 3
G y o g i
r e c o g n i z e d a s M o n j u 2 4
H a h a s o w o o d 4 6
H a k a m a d a r e 1 4 4 , 1 4 5
H a r i m a p r o v i n c e 2 0 , 6 1 , 7 6 , 1 2 7 , 2 0 3
H a s e d e r a 7 6 , 1 7 3
K a n n o n c o n f e r s w e a l t h 1 7 4
H a s e o , K i n o
i g n o r e s d i v i n e r ' s w a r n i n g 164
h a u n t
a b d u c t s b o y 1 9 3
m o n k i n w h i t e a r m o r 194
3 3 6
h a w k k e e p e r
d r e a m s he i s a p h e a s a n t 1 9 8
s a v e d b y K a n n o n 1 3 7
h e a l i n g 8 2 , 1 2 4 , 125 , 1 2 7 , 1 9 3 , 2 0 6
b y T h o u s a n d - A r m e d K a n n o n 7 0
Ei j i t su h e a l s K i n s u e 1 2 8
G o k u r a k u j i m o n k h e a l s K a n e m i c h i 7 1
r e s t o r e s m a n t o v i s i b i l i t y 7 4
R i n ' e h e a l s s i c k w o m a n 2 1 1
S o o h e a l s e m p r e s s 7 3
S w o r d G u a r d i a n h e a l s E m p e r o r D a i g o 7 2
H e a r t S u t r a 7 4 , 1 8 2
H e i c h u
a n d h i s f a k e t e a r s 5 6
d i e s o f d i s a p p o i n t m e n t 5 7
hel l 4 6 , 1 9 5 , 2 1 5
o f G o l d e n P e a k 101
J i z o s a v e s m a n f r o m hel l 1 0 4 , 180
o f T a t e y a m a 147 , 2 1 6
T o s h i y u k i in he l l 1 4 9
hichlriki 69
H i d a p r o v i n c e 1 8 8
H i e S h r i n e 4 1
H i e i , M o u n t 3 3 , 3 4 , 3 5 , 4 7 , 7 3 , 7 5 , 8 5 ,
1 0 0 , 120 , 1 2 7 1 5 2 , 1 5 5 1 5 6 , 177 , 2 1 3
H i g o p r o v i n c e 1 4 8
H i r a , M o u n t 3 5 , 8 6
H i t a c h i p r o v i n c e 9 1
H o r i n j i 1 7 7
h o r s e
d u n g c o v e r s b o y 1 9 3
p a i n t e d b y K a n a o k a r a v a g e s f i e l d s 9 6
h u n t e r
a s M o u n t a i n K i n g 2 6
d e s t r o y s m o n k e y g o d s 7 7
e x p o s e s fa l se v i s i o n o f F u g e n 121
h e a r s A m i d a a n s w e r f r o m t h e s e a 1 1 5
n e a r l y e a t e n b y i n s a n e m o t h e r 2 1 8
I b u k i M o u n t a i n s 1 1 8
I m m o r t a l ( s )
a n a s c e t i c fai ls t o b e c o m e o n e 8 9
a n g e l s c o m e d o w n t o h e a r m u s i c 4 4
g ir l m a r r i e s m o r t a l 106
g ir l o f M o u n t Fuj i 3 2
girl r e f u s e s to m a r r y m o r t a l 4
i n O m i n e M o u n t a i n s 1 0 0
o n M o u n t H i r a b l e s s e s m o n k 8 6
r i d e s i n c e n s e s m o k e 8 5
I n a m i n o 2 0 , 7 6 , 2 0 3
I n d i a 3 1 , 3 3
I se p r o v i n c e 141
i s l a n d
c l a i m e d b y s n a k e g o d 1 8 7
i n v a d e d b y " d e v i l s " 9 2
o f c a n n i b a l s 1 8 9
s e t t l e d b y b r o t h e r a n d s i s ter 186
I y o p r o v i n c e 2 8
Izu p r o v i n c e 9 2
I z u m i p r o v i n c e 2 0
I z u m i S h i k i b u 1 7 8
J a k u s h i n 1 7 9
je l ly f i sh ' s b o n e s 2 1 3
J i z o 8 8
a p p e a r s a s tur t l e 104
s a v e s m o n k f r o m hell 1 8 0
K a g a p r o v i n c e 1 8 7
K a g u y a - h i m e 3 2
Kai p r o v i n c e 6 8 , 2 0 5
K a m a k u r a 1 1 2
K a m o V i r g i n 2 0 2
K a n a o k a , K o s e n o
p a i n t s l i v e l y h o r s e 9 6
K a n e m i c h i , F u j i w a r a n o 7 1
K a n n o n 107 , 117 , 1 1 8 , 1 5 7
a s s n a k e s a v e s k e e p e r o f h a w k s 1 3 7
C h u s a n b e c o m e s T h o u s a n d - A r m e d
K a n n o n 1 8 2
c o n f e r s w e a l t h t h r o u g h D r a g o n K i n g
1 8 4
E l e v e n - H e a d e d , s t a t u e o f 2 7
c a r v e d f r o m t r e e 8 2
N y o i r i n 2 3
o f H a s e d e r a 2 7 , 7 6
c o n f e r s w e a l t h 1 7 3 , 174
o f R o k k a k u d o s a v e s i n v i s i b l e m a n 7 4
s a v e s girl f r o m hel l 1 4 7
s a v e s o l d r o a d g o d 1 5 9
s a v e s p r o v i n c i a l s e c r e t a r y 148
T h o u s a n d - A r m e d h e a l s b o y 7 0
T h o u s a n d - A r m e d s a v e s a s c e t i c 9 8
w a r r i o r m i s t a k e n for K a n n o n b e c o m e s
m o n k 1 7 6
K a s a g i , M o u n t 1 8 0
K a s h o ( B u d d h a ) 1 9 7
K a s u g a S h r i n e 3 1 , 4 5 , 2 0 8 , 2 1 5
K a t s u r a R i v e r 116 , 161
K a t s u r a g i M o u n t a i n s 8 8 , 1 2 5
K a w a r a - n o - i n P a l a c e 190 , 191
K a z a n ( R e t i r e d E m p e r o r )
h a s S h o k u ' s portra i t p a i n t e d 3 9
K e g o n S u t r a 2 3 , 2 5
kes tre l
form o f t e n g u 3 5 , 1 1 9
K i b i t s u S h r i n e 4 8
K i c h i j o t e n
m a r r i e s a d m i r e r 2 0
p r o v i d e s b o t t o m l e s s s a c k o f r ice 1 7 2
Kii p r o v i n c e 2 6 , 3 1 , 1 2 9 , 1 4 2 , 1 5 8 , 1 5 9
K i n s u e , F u j i w a r a n o
h e a l e d b y L o t u s S u t r a 128
w o r s h i p s B u d d h a - o x 1 9 7
k i te
rea l ly a t e n g u 1 2 0
K i y o m i z u d e r a 7 8
s p e c t a c u l a r e s c a p e f r o m 7 9
K i y o y u k i , M i y o s h i n o
e v i c t s f o x f a m i l y 8 4
K o b o D a i s h i
f o u n d s M o u n t K o y a 2 6
K o f u k u j i 2 7 , 3 7 , 4 5 , 1 8 2 , 2 1 2
K o k u z o
t r i c k s m o n k i n t o b e c o m i n g g r e a t
s c h o l a r 1 7 7
K o n g o b u j i
o r i g i n 2 6
K o n g o s e n 1 2 5
K o n o e ( e m p e r o r )
t o r m e n t e d b y n i g h t m a r e m o n s t e r 2 0 0
koto 44
K o s h i n v ig i l 51
K o y a , M o u n t 5 0 , 1 6 0
d i s c o v e r e d b y K o b o D a i s h i 2 6 , 3 5
K o y a n o M y o j i n 2 6
K o y a d e r a 1 4 3
K o z e n 1 2 6 , 1 8 3
K o z u k e p r o v i n c e 6 7 , 1 3 0
K u m a n o 4 9 , 100 , 1 1 1 , 158 , 1 5 9
K u m a t a S h r i n e 1 8 7
K u r a m a
B i s h a m o n c o n f e r s w e a l t h 1 5 5
K u y a 1 7 9
K y u s h u 5 1 , 7 6 , 105 , 1 6 0 , 1 8 9 , 2 1 4 , 2 1 9
L a n d o f B l i s s 1 1 4 , 1 1 5 , 117 , 1 3 2 , 1 6 0 ,
1 8 0
l a u g h t e r
c a u s e d b y m a g i c 5 1
L o t u s S u t r a 4 0 , 6 6 , 7 3 , 8 6 , 8 8 , 1 0 1 , 1 2 1 ,
1 4 9 , 1 7 8 , 2 1 3 , 2 1 4
a t t r a c t s d r a g o n 3 6
b e a t s S u t r a o f D i a m o n d W i s d o m 151
c o n v e r t s p i r a t e t o fai th 1 5 0
d e v o t e e g i v e s u p h i s b o d y 1 5 8
h e a l s K i n s u e 1 2 8
i n s p i r e s t h o u g h t o f s e l f - i m m o l a t i o n 1 5 7
l a d y d i e s a f ter c h a n t i n g L o t u s 1 3 2
m a k e s m o n k I m m o r t a l 1 0 0
m a s t e r e d b y m o n k o f M o u n t H i e i 1 7 7
s a v e s g ir l r e b o r n a s s n a k e 1 3 9
s a v e s g ir l f r o m he l l 1 4 7
s a v e s m o n k f r o m d e m o n 146
s a v e s m o t h e r f r o m hel l 2 1 6
s a v e s o l d r o a d g o d 1 5 9
s a v e s p r o v i n c i a l s e c r e t a r y 1 4 8
s a v e s s n a k e - m a n a n d s n a k e - w o m a n
111
s a v e s s o u l o f f o x 8 1
v i s i o n o t B u d d h a p r e a c h i n g 120
m a c k e r e l
t u r n i n t o K e g o n S u t r a 2 5
m a g i c
b o w , b i r d 1 2 9
c a p s i z e s a f erry 49
c a u s e s l a u g h i n g fit 5 1
o f D a k i n i r i te 4 7
g r o w s i n s t a n t m e l o n s 2
i m a g e i n f l a m e 131
m a k e s p e n i s d i s a p p e a r 5 2
sp ir i t in oi l jar k i l l s g ir l 53
M a k o t o , M i n a m o t o n o
v i s i t e d b y a n g e l s 4 4
m e l o n s 2
M i c h i n a g a , F u j i w a r a n o 1 6 7
s a v e d f r o m c u r s e b y h i s d o g 6 3
M i c h i z a n e , S u g a w a r a n o
a p p e a r s a s t u r t l e t h e n a s g o d 1 0 3
a s G o d o f F i r e a n d T h u n d e r 101
M i i d e r a 1 4 7 , 1 4 9 , 1 9 7 , 1 9 9
M i k a w a p r o v i n c e 1 7 5
M i m a s a k a p r o v i n c e 7 7
M i n a s e 2 0 4
M n o p r o v i n c e 13 , 1 1 8 , 130 , 171
M i n o o w a t e r f a l l 8 8 , 1 8 2
3 3 8
M i r o k u 2 2 , 2 3 , 2 6 , 8 8 , 1 0 2 , 1 1 1 , 1 9 7
M o n j u 1 2 0
t r u e f o r m o f G y o g i 2 4
m o n k e y
g o d ( s ) d e b u n k e d b y h u n t e r 7 7 , b y
m o n k 1 8 8
s t e a l s b a b y , k i l l s e a g l e s 2 1 9
m o n s t e r s ( s e e " d e m o n s " )
m o t h e r
s p e a k s f r o m hel l 2 1 6
t r i e s t o ea t s o n 2 1 8
m o u n t a i n a s c e t i c
c a p s i z e s a f erry 49
M u d o j i 7 3
M u r a k a m i ( e m p e r o r )
m o u r n s l o s s o f G e n j o 6 4
M u r o j i 1 8 3
M u s a s h i n o p l a i n 4 2
m u s h r o o m s
fail t o kill o l d a b b o t 9 4
m a k e n u n s a n d w o o d c u t t e r s d a n c e
9 3
m u s i c ( a n d d a n c e )
b r i n g s a n g e l s d o w n 4 4
c h a r m s s n a k e 1 3 5
c o n q u e r s p i r a t e s 6 9
d a n c e r s a v e d f r o m hel l 4 6 , 2 1 5
d e m a n d e d b y f o x g o d 4 7
f l u t e p l a y e d b y d e m o n 1 6 7
m u s i c i a n c h o k e s o n s p i d e r 6
p l a y e d b y d e m o n o n biwa 6 4
p r e f e r r e d b y K a s u g a G o d 4 5
r e c e i v e s g o d s ' a p p l a u s e 4 8
s o o t h e s g o d s 4 3
M u t s u p r o v i n c e 2 3 , 3 0
M y o e
p e r s u a d e d n o t t o g o t o I n d i a 3 1
M y o s o n
w o r s h i p s B u d d h a - o x 1 9 7
N a c h i w a t e r f a l l 1 8 2
N a g a r j u n a 8 8 , 1 8 2
N a n i w a 2 4
N a r a 2 7 , 3 6 , 3 7 , 4 5 , 4 6 , 1 8 2 , 1 8 3 , 2 0 8 ,
2 1 1 , 2 1 2 , 2 1 5
N a r i h i r a , A r i w a r a n o 1 2
N i c h i z o 9 8
m e e t s d e m o n 9 7
v i s i t s a f t e r w o r l d 101
N i f u n o M y o j i n 2 6
n i g h t m a r e m o n s t e r
t o r m e n t s E m p e r o r K o n o e 2 0 0
N i n k a i
e a t s s m a l l b i r d s 2 1 1
g o e s t o A m i d a ' s p a r a d i s e 2 1 2
N i t t a i 2 6 6
n o s e , l o n g a n d p u r p l e 1 9
N o s e , T h e
g e t s c o n t u s e d o v e r a d r a g o n 3 7
o a k , g i a n t 1
O b a s u t e , M o u n t 2 1 7
O k i i s l a n d ( I z u ) 9 2
o l d c o u p l e
f ind m a g i c g ir l 3 2
o l d m a n
h a s h i s l u m p r e m o v e d b y d e m o n s 169
o l d w o m a n
a b a n d o n e d i n m o u n t a i n s 2 1 7
b e c o m e s d e m o n 2 1 8
r e w a r d e d b y s p a r r o w s 3
O m i p r o v i n c e 1 , 14 , 2 2 , 1 0 4 , 1 8 2
O m i n e M o u n t a i n s 8 8 , 9 7 , 9 8 , 9 9 , 1 0 0 ,
101
O w a r i p r o v i n c e 108 , 134
o x
b lack o x i s B u d d h a K a s h o 1 9 7
p a i n t i n g
o f F u d o b y Y o s h i h i d e 9 5
o f h o r s e b y K a n a o k a 9 6
o f V e n e r a b l e S h o k u 3 9
P a l a c e G u a r d s
u n d o n e b y p r a c t i c a l j o k e r 8
p a r a d i s e 151
o f A m i d a 1 1 3 , 1 1 4 , 160 , 1 6 1 , 2 1 2 , 2 1 4
m o n k fai ls to r e a c h i t 116 , 1 5 7
m o n k t r i c k e d b y t e n g u v i s i o n 118
m o n k t r i c k s h i m s e l f i n t o i t 1 1 7
o f g o l d e n P e a k 101
o f t h e I m m o r t a l s 106
P e a c o c k K i n g ( m a n t r a o f ) 8 8
p e n i s ( e s )
e r e c t , k n o c k s f a t h e r - i n - l a w f l a t 5 4
e x p o s e d in p a l a c e 7
b o x full o f s e v e r e d p e n i s e s 1 3
p h e a s a n t s 1 9 8
p i r a t e ( s )
c a p t u r e d b y m a g i c 6 1
c o n q u e r e d b y m u s i c 6 9
c o n v e r t e d t o L o t u s faith 1 5 0
p u r i t y and p o l l u t i o n 4 1 , 2 1 4
i m p u r i t y l a n d s T o s h i y u k i in hell 1 4 9 R a i k o 114
rain m a k i n g 3 6 , 1 8 3
R a s h o G a t e 6 4 , 6 5
re l ics ( o f B u d d h a ) 4 3 , 2 0 9
R in ' e
p r e f e r s f ish 2 1 1
r e p r o a c h e d b y K a s u g a G o d 4 5
R i v e r s i d e P a l a c e 190 , 191
r o b e
b e t r a y s a m o n k ' s affair 18 R o b e n 2 3
R o k k a k u d o 7 4
sacr i f i ce , h u m a n 7 7 , 1 8 8
S a g a M o o r 1 9 8
S a i g y o
f inds h e r m i t w h o l o v e s f l o w e r s 4 2
tr i e s to m a k e a h u m a n b e i n g 50
s a l m o n
f o r m ol G o d of F i re a n d T h u n d e r
103
S a m m i , H a k u g a no
f i n d s biwa G e n j o 64
o b t a i n s d e m o n ' s f lute 1 6 7
,<an m a g i c 51
S a n e s u k e
d o e s not w o r s h i p Buddha-ox 1 9 7 d r e a m s of Li t t le W h i t e H a i r s 1 9 5
g e t s a n g r y w i t h y o u n g N o r i k u n i 7
s p o t s spiri t in oil jar 53
S a n j o E m p r e s s
p i c t u r e s q u e l y o r d a i n e d b y Z o g a 2 1 3
S a n j u s a n g e n d o 9 2 , 194
S a n u k i p r o v i n c e 3 5 , 1 15
S a r a s h i n a 2 1 7
S a r u s a w a P o n d 3 7 , 1 8 3
s e c l u s i o n to a v o i d m i s f o r t u n e 14, 1 6 3 ,
164 , 1 6 5
S e i m e i , A b e no
f inds cu lpr i t in p lo t a g a i n s t M i c h i n a g a
6 3
ki l ls f rog b y m a g i c 6 0
s a v e s m a n f r o m a c u r s e 59
s t ea l s r ival 's genies 6 2 S e i s h i 1 1 7
S e k i d e r a 1 9 7
S e t t s u province 1 4 3 , 1 5 0 S h a k a P e a k (in Omine) 8 8
S h i g a d e r a 2 2
S h i g i , M o u n t 7 2
S h i m o t s u k e p r o v i n c e 2 3
S h i m d s a p r o v i n c e 1 8 5
S h i n a n o p r o v i n c e 9 , 5 2 , 1 1 3 , 1 7 6 , 2 1 7
jbo 6
S h o k u
a n d h i s por tra i t 3 9
h e a r s b e a n s t a l k i n g 4 0
s e e h a r l o t a s F u g e n 3 8
S h o m u ( e m p e r o r )
a p p o i n t s B a r a m o n 2 4
a p p o i n t s m a c k e r e l p e d d l e r 2 5
s e e k s g o l d for T o d a i j i 2 3
S h o s h a , M o u n t 3 8 , 3 9 , 4 0
s i lk
m i r a c u l o u s s i lk f r o m d o g 1 7 5
s n a k e 5 2
a s b o y l o v e r 112
a s g o d o f p o n d p u r s u e s girl 185
a s g o d o f s h r i n e 7 7
a s s a v i o r K a n n o n 1 3 7
c h a r m e d b y m u s i c 1 3 5
d e s t r o y e d b y c r a b s 1 0 7
form o f d r a g o n c a u g h t b y t e n g u 3 5
f o r m e r l y a g ir l , f r e e d by w o m a n 138
f o r m e r l y a g ir l , s a v e d by L o t u s 1 3 9
f o r m e r l y a w o m a n , p u r s u e s m o n k 111
g o d c l a i m s i s l a n d 1 8 7
k i l l ed b y s e m e n 1 0 9
m e s m e r i z e s w o m a n 1 1 0
p u r s u e s a s c e t i c i n O m i n e M o u n t a i n s
9 8
s a v e d b y m a n b r i n g s w e a l t h 1 7 3
t r i e s d r a g g i n g w r e s t l e r d o w n 1 3 6
tr i e s s e d u c i n g y o u n g girl 108
S o m e d o n o E m p r e s s
h e a l e d b y S o o 7 3
p e r s e c u t e d b y f o x , t h e n b y d e m o n 1 2 5
S o n s h o D a r a n i 8 5 , 1 0 8 , 1 6 8
S o o
t a l k s t o F u d o , h e a l s e m p r e s s 7 3
S o u l ' s R e c a l l
I n c e n s e for t h e 3 2
S e c r e t R i t e o f t h e 5 0
s p a r r o w s
b r i n g r i c h e s o r p o i s o n a s r e w a r d s 3
s p i d e r
c h o k e s m u s i c i a n 6
3 4 0
sp ir i t p o s s e s s i o n
a n d b o y c o v e r e d w i t h h o r s e d u n g 1 9 3
b y f o x 1 2 4 , 1 2 5 , 2 0 6
b y g h o s t o f d r o w n e d m a n 161
b y G o d o f G o o d F o r t u n e ( a f o x g o d )
4 7
b y G o d o f H i e S h r i n e 4 1
b y G o d o f K a s u g a 3 1
b y g o d s o f K a t s u r a g i a n d H a k u s a n 8 8
b y t e n g u 3 4
s t u d e n t
t r i p p e d u p b y t o a d 1 0
S u m i y o s h i 3 1 , 1 0 5
S u o p r o v i n c e 1 5 0
S u z u k a m o u n t a i n s 141
S w o r d G u a r d i a n
h e a l s E m p e r o r D a i g o 7 2
T a d a y u k i , K a m o n o ( d i v i n e r ) 1 6 2 , 1 6 5
T a d a z a n e , F u j i w a r a n o ( r e g e n t )
c o m m i s s i o n s D a k i n i r i te 4 7
T a i c h o 8 8
T a i s h a k u ( I n d r a ) 111
j u d g e o f he l l 1 4 7
T a j i m a p r o v i n c e 1 4 6
T a m b a p r o v i n c e 1 2 2
T a n g o p r o v i n c e 1 0 6 , 1 1 7 , 1 3 6
t a p e w o r m
b e c o m e s g o v e r n o r o f S h i n a n o 9
T a t e y a m a 1 4 7 , 2 1 6
t e n g u
a s s i s t s fa l s e h e a l e r 1 2 6
c a t c h e s d r a g o n 3 5
f r o m C h i n a b e s t e d i n J a p a n 3 4
f r o m I n d i a c o m e s t o M o u n t H i e i 3 3
p o s e s a s a B u d d h a 1 1 9
s h o w s v i s i o n o f L o t u s p r e a c h i n g 1 2 0
t e a c h e s p a s s o f i n v i s i b i l i t y 1 2 3
t r i c k s h e r m i t w i t h v i s i o n o f A m i d a 118
T e n j i ( e m p e r o r )
l o u n d s S h i g a d e r a 2 2
T e n n o j i 4 3 , 1 5 9
t h i e f / t h i e v e s
a b b o t s t e a l s t e m p l e p r o p e r t y 5 5
a t R a s h d G a t e 6 5
c o w e d a n d r e l e a s e d b y g o v e r n o r 6 7
c o w e d b y Y a s u m a s a 1 4 5
f o i l e d b y b r a v e w a r r i o r 1 6 5
f r i g h t e n e d b y w r e s t l e r ' s s i s t e r 6 8
let g o o n e m p e r o r ' s o r d e r 140
p l a y s d e a d 1 4 4
s tea l t e m p l e bel l 1 4 3
s t e a l s t o s a v e p r i s o n e r s 6 6
tr ick a w a r r i o r 1 4 2
y o u n g m a n s t e a l s d r e a m 196
t h u n d e r 3 5 , 3 6 , 1 0 1 , 1 0 3 , 1 8 5
t o a d
t r i p s p e o p l e u p 1 0
T o d a i j i 2 3 , 2 4 , 2 5 , 7 2 , 1 8 0
Toj i 1 0 2 , 1 9 4
T o m o n o r i , K i n o 1 4 9
T o n o m i n e 2 1 3
T o r i H e a v e n 8 1 , 1 1 1 , 1 4 7
T o r i b e n o 15, 1 3 1 , 2 0 7
T o r u , g h o s t o f
t h r e a t e n s E m p e r o r U d a 190 , 191
T o s a p r o v i n c e 1 5 7 , 186
T o s o t s u H e a v e n 7 3 , 8 6 , 111
T s u r u g a 8 3
tur t l e
f o r m o f G o d o f F ire a n d T h u n d e r
103
f o r m o f i m m o r t a l girl 106
f o r m o f J i z o 1 0 4
s a v e s l i t t le b o y 1 0 5
U d a ( e m p e r o r ) 9 6
m e e t s g h o s t o f T o r u 190 , 191
t e n g u b o r n a s s o n o f 3 3
U r a s h i m a
m a r r i e s i m m o r t a l girl 106
y o u n g e r b r o t h e r o f 1 9 2
U r i n ' i n 1 3 8 , 1 5 5
vajra 8 7
a n d bel l h e l d b y s k e l e t o n 8 8
f o u n d b y K o b o D a i s h i 2 6
- h a n d l e d be l l f o u n d b y N i c h i z o 101
v a j r a - b e a r e r 101
V a j r a - R e a l m M a n d a l a 1 0 1 , 1 2 7
V u l t u r e P e a k 8 8 , 1 2 0
w a l n u t s
terr i fy h u m a n t a p e w o r m 9
w a s p s
p r o t e c t m e r c h a n t 141
w a t e r sp ir i t 181
w e a l t h
c o n f e r r e d b y B i s h a m o n 155
c o n f e r r e d b y D r a g o n K i n g 184
c o n f e r r e d b y K a n n o n o f H a s e d e r a 1 7 3
c o n f e r r e d b y K i c h i j o t e n 2 0 , 172
w i n e
l a c e d w i t h l a x a t i v e u n d o e s P a l a c e
G u a r d s 8
l a c e d w i t h w a l n u t u n d o e s t a p e w o r m 9
s p r i n g f o u n d b y m o n k 9 9
s p r i n g f o u n d b y p o o r m a n 171
W o m b - R e a l m M a n d a l a 1 0 1 , 1 2 7
w r e s t l e r
k i c k s r o b b e r o u t t h e d o o r 6 8
p r o v e s s t r o n g e r t h a n s n a k e 1 3 6
y a m s o u p
m a d e i n v a s t q u a n t i t y for S i r G o i 8 3
Y a m a s h i n a 184
Y a m a s h i r o p r o v i n c e 1 0 7
Y a m a t o p r o v i n c e 2 , 2 3 , 2 6 , 8 9 , 1 8 3
Y a s u t a n e , Y o s h i s h i g e n o 1 7 9
y i n - y a n g d i v i n e r 14 , 6 3 , 8 2 , 1 2 7 , 1 6 2 , 1 7 9
a d v i s e s s e c l u s i o n 1 6 4 , 1 6 5
c a p t u r e s p i r a t e s 6 1
h e l p s m a n e s c a p e w i f e ' s c u r s e 1 6 6
y i n - y a n g m a g i c 1 6 2
c a p t u r e s p i r a t e s 6 1
u s e d t o foil c u r s e 5 9
u s e d t o h a r m M i c h i n a g a 6 3
u s e d t o kill f r o g 6 0
u s e d t o l a y c u r s e 1 6 3
u s e d t o s t e a l r ival ' s g e n i e s 6 2
Y o r i m a s a , M i n a m o t o n o
s h o o t s d o w n n i g h t m a r e m o n s t e r 2 0 0
Y o s h i h i d e
w a t c h e s h i s h o u s e b u r n 9 5
Y o z e i ( e m p e r o r ) 1 9 2
l e a r n s a l i t t le m a g i c 52
Y u r y a k u ( e m p e r o r ) 8 8
Z a o G o n g e n 1 0 2
o r i g i n 8 8
h e l p s S h o m u f ind g o l d 2 3
s h o w s N i c h i z o a f t e r w o r l d 101
Z o g a
r e m a r k a b l e life o f 2 1 3
Z o y o
in l o v e w i t h a b o y 1 5 4
A B O U T T H E A U T H O R
B o r n in E n g l a n d in 1936, Royall Tyler has l ived in the U n i t e d States ,
Canada , France , and J a p a n . After rece iv ing his B .A . in J a p a n e s e
from Harvard and his P h . D . in J a p a n e s e l iterature from C o l u m b i a
University, he taught J a p a n e s e l anguage a n d literature at the
Univers i ty o f Toronto, O h i o State University, and the Univers i ty
of W i s c o n s i n at M a d i s o n . S inc e 1984 he has been t each ing at the
Univers i ty o f O s l o . H e has previous ly translated the wr i t ings
of a seventeenth-century Z e n master and t w o v o l u m e s
of N o h and kydgen p lays .
- Cover
- Contents
- Introduction
- Oak, melon, gourd, angel, flea
- Surprises
- Haunts
- Monk jokes
- Buddhist beginnings
- Gods
- Tengu and dragons
- Pure hearts
- The sexes
- Yin-yang wizardry
- Robbers
- Healing
- Escapes
- Foxes
- Ascetics
- Oddities
- Turtles and a crab
- Desire
- Paradise
- Tengu, boar, and badger
- Healing II
- Love and loss
- Snakes
- Robbers II
- Lotus tales
- Boys
- Paradise II
- Yin-yang Wizardry II
- Demons
- Plenty
- Odd paths to salvation
- Water
- Closed worlds
- Haunts II
- Scares and Nightmares
- Foxes II
- Beyond the Rules
- Parent and Child
- Sources and notes
- The works these tales come from
- Tales classified by sources
- Bibliography
- Index