南総里見八犬傳 Nanso Satomi Hakkenden
滝沢馬琴 Takizawa Bakin
[The East, Vol. XXX No. 1 May/June 1994]

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6. Princess Fuse Meets a Child Prodigy

After Princess Fuse and Yatsufusa left Takida Castle, her mother, Isarago, was so worried that she fell ill.
One day Isarago asked her husband, Yoshizane, to explore Mt. To and find out what had become of Princess Fuse, saying that good news about their daughter was the best medicine for her illness. Yoshizane promised to go soon. Hearing this, their son, Yoshinari, said that he was willing to go in his father's place. But Yoshizane would not let Yoshinari go, because he thought his son's youthful ardor might endanger Princess Fuse.
That night Yoshizane had trouble sleeping. He finally dozed off toward dawn. He was standing beside a stream near Mt. To. An old man appeared and showed him how to find his daughter. As Yoshizane was about to ask the old man who he was, he suddenly disappeared. The next instant Yoshizane awoke and realized he had been dreaming.
That morning, Horiuchi Kurando Sadayuki arrived from Tojo Castle, which Yoshizane had charged him with defending. Yoshizane thought that Sadayuki had come to inquire about Isarago. However, Sadayuki said, "Yesterday I received a visit from an old man who said he was your messenger. He said that you planned to go to Mt. To and expected me to accompany you. So I hurried here." In surprise, Yoshizane said, "I didn't send such a messenger." Turning pale, Sadayuki said, "Then who on earth was the old man?"
Yoshizane was lost in thought. It dawned on him that the old man in his dream and the old man who had visited Sadayuki were the same person, the incarnation of the god worshiped at Susaki.
Yoshizane thought that the god wanted him to go to Mt. To.
At dawn the following day, Yoshizane, accompanied by Sadayuki and several attendants, left for Mt. To. After several hours they reached the foot of the mountain. The attendants waited there while Yoshizane and Sadayuki pushed on. Yoshizane was surprised to see that there were trails just like the old man had described.
Here let me recount what became of Princess Fuse, who was taken to Mt. To by Yatsufusa many months ago. Yatsufusa carried Princess Fuse on his back along a mountain trail until a cave came into view. Near the cave was a wide river running through a gorge. Yatsufusa stopped in front of the cave and bent his forelegs so that Princess Fuse could dismount. They entered the cave, which faced south and was well lit. Inside it was a worn-out straw mattress, evidence that the cave had once been inhabited. As Princess Fuse sat down on the mattress, Yatsufusa settled himself nearby.
Princess Fuse spent that night chanting the sutra. She kept her dagger in view lest Yatsufusa be tempted to satisfy his lust. The night passed uneventfully. She feared, however, that there was no telling when he would succumb to his lust. She was determined to kill him if her purity was jeopardized. He seemed to be aware of her determination, beast though he was, and restrained his desire, content to feast his eyes upon her.
Yatsufusa collected nuts and brought them to Princess Fuse. As days passed, the dog began listening to her chant the sutra. Seeing this, she felt sympathy for him. She thought that he now longed for salvation after listening to her recite the sutra, which spoke of the mercy and power of the Buddha.
One day, as Princess Fuse was looking at her reflection in the river, she was surprised to see that her head looked like a dog's. She thought that this was because she wasn't as devoted to Buddhism as she should be. She spent the rest of the day copying the sutra.
Some time later, as Yatsufusa was out collecting food, Princess Fuse began picking flowers near the cave. Suddenly she heard the sound of a flute. Eventually the flutist, a boy, about twelve or thirteen years old, riding an ox, came into view. He was the first person she had seen since coming to the mountain. "Wait!" she cried. "Where are you from? You seem to know your way around here."
"I also know you well," he said with a smile. "I serve an old diviner who sometimes lives at the foot of this mountain and at other times lives at Susaki. He is very good at making medicines and has cured many people. I came here at his behest to collect medicinal herbs."
Hearing this, Princess Fuse said, "I haven't experienced my monthly days for some time. I have difficulty breathing and I feel my body becoming heavier day by day. Do you know what's wrong with me?"
"I'll bet you're pregnant," he said immediately.
"How rude! I've no husband. That's impossible!"
"But you live with him, don't you?"
"You mean Yatsufusa? It's impossible for him to have impregnated me. I've never allowed him to stain my purity. I hate the mere thought of pregnancy."
"Spiritual intercourse is mysterious," the boy said confidently. "Even though Yatsufusa restrains his desire, at heart he takes you for his wife. And you have sympathy for him because he listens to you chant the sutra. Communion of his mind with yours caused you to become pregnant. You will be the mother of eight children, who will become treasures of the Satomi." With those words he departed, leaving her speechless.

7. Yatsufusa Is Shot

Princess Fuse was shocked by the boy's words. She was beside herself with grief. Collecting herself, she pondered what he had said. She wondered if the god of Susaki had revealed her fate through the boy. Fate, she believed, was beyond human knowledge. Yet she could not stand the thought of having children by a dog. She decided to commit suicide by throwing herself into the river.
Princess Fuse returned to the cave. Yatsufusa stared at her as if prompting her to eat the nuts he had collected. She ignored him and sat in a corner and wrote a farewell letter to her parents. When she finished, she removed from her neck the string of eight crystal beads so that she could finger them while praying. Strangely, the Chinese characters meaning "to be inspired to pursue Buddhism under a beast's guidance" were no longer on the beads. They now bore the original characters for benevolence, justice, courtesy, wisdom, loyalty, faith, filial piety, and fellowship. Seeing this, she muttered to herself, "I'm not surprised. This was likely willed by a god. It is something beyond human comprehension."
Some time later Princess Fuse said, "Listen carefully, Yatsufusa. I've decided to drown myself. All things considered, there are good and bad things in our lives. While living with me, you've been inspired to seek salvation, which is even hard for people to attain. It's wonderful that you've had a religious awakening. But you're unlucky in that you will always be a beast. Who will chant a sutra for you after my death? If there's no one to chant a sutra for you, you'll gradually lose interest in your salvation. Unless this is what you want, I suggest that you also take your life by throwing yourself into the river. I'm going to chant the sutra for the last time. If you choose to die, leave for the river when I finish the sutra. Understand?"
Yatsufusa listened to Princess Fuse with his head down. He looked sorrowful, but he also seemed pleased.
Princess Fuse began chanting the sutra. Probably because she was doing so for the final time, she chanted with more feeling than ever before. Even the wind whispering through the pines around the cave seemed in harmony with her sonorous voice.
No sooner had Princess Fuse finished than Yatsufusa stood up. Looking back at her several times, he ran toward the river.
Suddenly from across the river a gun fired twice. One bullet struck Yatsufusa, who had just reached the bank of the river, in the throat. He fell dead with a thud. The other bullet struck Princess Fuse, who was standing at the entrance to the cave. Hit under the right breast, she sank to the ground.
The gunman was Kanamari Daisuke Takanori, who had been wandering about Mt. To in search of Princess Fuse.
After firing at Yatsufusa, Takanori swam across the swiftly-flowing river and ran to the body. Having made sure that Yatsufusa was dead, he smiled with satisfaction. Then he hurried toward the cave. He was alarmed to find Princess Fuse lying at the entrance to the cave. He frantically called her name over and over, but she didn't react. Although her wound did not seem serious, he couldn't find her pulse. In addition, her body was as cold as ice. He was overcome by grief. In despair, he fell on his knees and looked up at the sky. "This is the last thing I expected," he groaned. "Since the mist had cleared, I thought today would be a good time to shoot Yatsufusa. However, I've killed not only the dog but Princess Fuse as well. What a shame! I'll atone for my mistake by committing seppuku, and follow her to the grave."
As Takanori was about to bury his sword in his stomach, an arrow struck him in the right elbow.

8. The Death of Princess Fuse

In surprise, Takanori looked around and saw someone running towards him and shouting for him to wait. It was Satomi Yoshizane, escorted by Horiuchi Sadayuki.
Sadayuki ran to Princess Fuse and held her in his arms. Yoshizane picked up her farewell letter and the string of beads, which she had dropped. He put the beads around her neck and prayed for her. Eventually a little color returned to her pale cheeks, and her eyes opened. The three men were overjoyed.
Recovering her senses, Princess Fuse wept. "There's no need to be ashamed," said Yoshizane. "I read your farewell letter and learned what happened to you and Yatsufusa. He was killed by Takanori. I'm sorry he died. But that must have been an act of Providence. At heart, I've always wanted you to marry Takanori. I would like you to return to Takida Castle and comfort your mother, who has been ravaged by disease." It was some time before the tearful Princess Fuse could speak. "I fully appreciate your concern," she said. "But I am embarrassed to hear that you intend to marry me to Takanori. I was told that I'll bear Yatsufusa eight children, but that's impossible. Please let me show you what is in my womb." Princess Fuse unsheathed her dagger and buried it into her womb with more strength than a woman could normally muster. A white cloud escaped from the wound. It enveloped the string of eight beads she wore around her neck and carried it up into the sky. The string snapped high in the air, but the eight beads, shining brilliantly, remained in the sky. In surprise, Yoshizane and his men looked up. They felt as if they were dreaming. A wind rose, and the beads were scattered in all directions, leaving in the sky only the bright evening moon.
In great pain, Princess Fuse said to Yoshizane, "I'm pleased to see that I'm carrying nothing resembling a baby. Now I'm ready to depart for the Pure Land." Before long she died. She was eighteen.
Upset by Princess Fuse's suicide, Takanori picked up her bloodstained dagger to try a second time to take his life. As he was about to plunge it into his stomach, Yoshizane shouted, "How dare you try to kill yourself without my permission! You deserve to be punished." Unsheathing his sword, Yoshizane stood in front of Takanori, who, prepared for death, sat with his hands clasped in prayer. Yoshizane brought down his sword, and Takanori's topknot fell to the ground. The benevolent lord had cut off Takanori's topknot instead of his head.
Wiping tears from his eyes, Yoshizane sheathed his sword and said, "Since your father's suicide I have taken care of you just as I do my own children. How could I bear to lose you? I hope you understand how I feel. You should live and serve the Buddha for the sake of your father and Princess Fuse. I expect you to become a virtuous priest through ascetic practices."
Takanori was choked by tears of gratitude. "I hear that Yatsufusa, though a beast, was inspired to seek salvation," he said. "I'm afraid that I'm even inferior to that dog. But I'd like to enter the priesthood.
Since Yatsufusa has inspired me to become a priest, I'll choose for my priestly name Chudai, which is written with the elements of the character for dog. I'll travel throughout various districts while praying for the repose of Princess Fuse's soul and good fortune for the Satomi, and I'll search for the eight beads. I won't return until I have recovered them."
After dark Yoshizane and his men carried Princess Fuse's body into the cave and waited in silence for daybreak. Around midnight they saw torches approaching. Carrying the torches were messengers from Takida Castle who informed Yoshizane of the death of his wife, Isarago. Yoshizane regretted that she had died before he returned. He thought, however, that it was better that she had died not knowing Princess Fuse's fate. He knew he had to return to Takida Castle. Just before leaving, the grief-stricken Yoshizane told Takanori what to do with the bodies of Princess Fuse and Yatsufusa.
The next day, Takanori encoffined Princess Fuse and buried her and Yatsufusa side-by-side in the floor of the cave. He found the copy of the Lotus Sutra that she had left in the cave and chanted it for the repose of her soul day and night.
After more than forty days, Takanori left the mountain. He was twenty-two.
Thus, the incident originating with Yatsufusa's killing of Kagetsura, which had resulted from Tamazusa's curse, seemed to have ended with the death of Princess Fuse and Takanori's retirement into religion. But Tamazusa's curse would affect the so-called eight dog warriors, who were to be born as incarnations of the virtues represented on the eight beads that had been scattered far and wide.

9. Otsuka Kazumori and the Sword Murasame

Let me go back to when the sixth shogun of the Ashikaga, Yoshinori of Kyoto, fought Ashikaga Mochiuji, who had governed the Kanto provinces from Kamakura. As I mentioned earlier, Mochiuji lost the battle. He and his eldest son, Yoshinari, were forced to commit seppuku in Kamakura. At the time, a retainer of Mochiuji's, Otsuka Shosaku Mitsumori, lived in Musashi Province. Mitsumori and his son, Bansaku Kazumori, helped Mochiuji's second and third sons, Haruo and Yasuo, flee to the castle of Yuki Ujitomo, another retainer of Mochiuji's, in Shimousa Province. Ujitomo then rebelled against the shogunate. The rebellion was quelled three years later. Ujitomo and his son were killed, and Haruo and Yasuo were captured by the enemy.
On the day of Ujitomo's defeat, when Satomi Yoshizane fled after tearfully bidding his father farewell, Otsuka Mitsumori gave a sword to Kazumori, his sixteen-year-old son. "This is the famous sword Murasame, which has been in our lord's family for generations," Mitsumori said, "It is said that if this sword is unsheathed by someone thirsty for blood, it will be covered with dew, and if it is used to slay someone, the blood will be washed from the blade by the dewdrops, which are reminiscent of a passing shower. That's why the sword was named Murasame (a passing shower). Our lord Mochiuji asked me to give it to Haruo. However, Haruo and Yasuo were captured. I'm determined to free them at any cost. It's possible that I'll be killed, so I'm leaving the sword with you. If either Haruo or Yasuo comes into power, return the blade to the Ashikaga. If both are killed, take the sword and treasure it."
Kazumori received the sword from his father with reverence. Separately they escaped from the castle, cutting their way through the besiegers.
Haruo and Yasuo were executed at Tarui in Mino Province. Mitsumori, who had hid near the execution ground, watched the brothers perish before he could rescue them. He attacked the executioners to avenge them, but was immediately captured and beheaded. Suddenly a young man rushed up and took the heads of the three dead men. He fought his way out of the execution ground. As he brandished his sword, a white cloud rose from it, extinguishing the enemy's torches and bonfires. Despite being injured, the youth escaped under cover of darkness. He was Mitsumori's son, Kazumori.
Kazumori went east, carrying the three heads. On the evening of the following day he found himself in front of a temple. He was exhausted and hungry. He was delighted to see the temple, behind which was a graveyard. He entered the graveyard and buried the three heads in soft ground, which seemed to have been recently dug up. With his hands clasped, he prayed for the repose of the dead men's souls.
Kazumori called out for admission to the temple. Inside was a beautiful young woman, around sixteen years old, sitting before a lamp. She seemed to be waiting for someone. When Kazumori asked her for a bowl of rice, she turned the lamp toward him and stared. "I wish I could give you what you ask," she said, "but I only came to this temple to visit my mother's grave. The priest of the temple went out, leaving me in charge. I'm sorry but I can't give you food at my own discretion." Kazumori replied, "But it's a priest's duty to help people. I doubt the priest of this temple will chastise you for giving me some rice. If he does, I'll apologize for you."
Unable to refuse Kazumori's request, she served him a meal, which he ate with gratitude. Then he asked to remain overnight. Although the priest had not yet returned, she allowed Kazumori to spend the night in a rear room.
Shown into the room, Kazumori immediately fell asleep. But it was not long before he was wakened by voices from the next room. The woman who had prepared his meal was arguing with the priest of the temple, who had just returned.
Kazumori heard her say in a tearful voice, "How can you, a priest, kill?"
Kazumori thought that the priest must be extraordinarily evil, killing travelers who stopped at his temple in order to rob them. Unsheathing his sword, Kazumori stormed into the next room and killed the priest.
Kazumori asked the woman who she was. She replied that she was Tatsuka, the daughter of Ino Tanzo Naohide, who had served Ashikaga Mochiuji. Naohide had been a friend of his father's, so Kazumori knew of him. He also knew that his father had intended him to marry Naohide's daughter, and that Naohide had agreed. In surprise, Kazumori realized that he was meeting his fiancee.
"My father fought for Yuki Ujitomo, who rose against the shogunate on behalf of Mochiuji's sons," Tatsuka said. "But he was killed. To make matters worse, my mother died recently. Her body is buried in the graveyard behind this temple." Kazumori remembered the soft ground that seemed to have been recently dug up. He could not help but feel that he and Tatsuka had met because they had been guided there by the souls of his father and her mother, who were in the graveyard of the temple. They decided to marry.
"Although the priest was evil," Tatsuka said, "it would be dangerous for you to remain in this district after killing him. A relative of mine lives in Shinano Province, where there are many hot springs that are good for sword wounds. We should live there." Kazumori agreed with her suggestion, and the two left for Shinano.

10. The Birth of Shino

Kazumori’s mother and half sister lived in Otsuka Village, Musashi Province. His half sister, Kamezasa, who was older than he, had been born of a different mother.
Kamezasa was so evil that she neglected her sick stepmother. She married Yayayama Hikiroku, who was as wicked as she. Sometime later her stepmother died. Then Hikiroku took the family name of Otsuka and proclaimed himself head of the family.
At the time, Ashikaga Mochiuji's youngest child, Nariuju, also known as Eijuo, governed the Kanto provinces from Kamakura. Hikiroku went to Kamakura and presented himself to Nariuji as the successor to Otsuka Mitsumori, who had been devoted to Mochiuji. As a result, Nariuji appointed Hikiroku leader of Otsuka Village, permitted him to bear a sword, and gave him a manor in recognition of his predecessor's service to the Ashikaga.
Three years passed since Kazumori and Tatsuka had moved to Shinano. As a result of his wound, Kazumori had a permanent limp. Tatsuka worked instead of him and made a meager living. Kazumori used the family name of Inuzuka because the Otsuka had been retainers of Ashikaga Mochiuji, who had been defeated by the sixth shogun of the Ashikaga, Yoshinori. One day, however, Kazumori heard that Ashikaga Nariuji was enlisting Mochiuji's former retainers. He was impatient to meet Nariuji in Kamakura, which was a short distance from his birthplace, Otsuka. Eventually he and Tatsuka decided to go to Otsuka to see his mother and sister, and then head to Kamakura.
Upon returning to Otsuka, Kazumori was shocked to learn that his mother had died. He was also surprised that his brother-in-law, Hikiroku, had taken the name Otsuka and was ruling the village by order of Ashikaga Nariuji. The village had been led by Kazumori's father, Mitsumori, so the villagers had expected Kazumori to take over after his father's death. They welcomed his return and urged him to bring Hikiroku to justice for his wicked conduct, but Kazumori could not bring himself to denounce his brother-in-law.
Sympathizing with Kazumori and Tatsuka, the villagers spared no pains in helping them. They provided the couple with a house. In return for the villagers' kindness, Kazumori taught the children to read and write, and Tatsuka taught the women to sew.
It was 1443, the year Satomi Yoshinari was born in Awa Province. His elder sister, Princess Fuse, had been born the previous year.
Hikiroku would not apologize to Kazumori for his wrongdoing. He and his wife, Kamezasa, treated Kazumori as a nuisance. But Kazumori and Tatsuka enjoyed a high reputation among the villagers, who would not listen to the wicked couple.
Ten years quickly passed. Tatsuka had borne Kazumori three sons, but all had died young. Kazumori wanted a child badly. One day it occurred to Tatsuka to pray to Benzai-ten, the goddess of fortune, who was enshrined nearby and was known for answering the wishes of worshipers. Tatsuka paid daily visits to the goddess's shrine beginning in autumn of 1457.
On September 20, 1459, Tatsuka left home for the shrine, thinking that it was close to dawn. She prayed at the shrine as usual and started back. However, the sky was still dark. "How careless I was to mistake the time!" she said to herself. She had left home much earlier than usual. As she walked along a footpath between rice fields, she met a puppy with a black back and white stomach.
Wagging its tail, the puppy fawned over her. She wondered if it was a stray. As she was about to pick it up, she saw something shine in the southern sky and gazed at it. She saw a bank of purple clouds, from which emerged a beautiful goddess, mounted on an old dog with a white coat and black spots. Tatsuka gaped at the goddess, who held many beads in her left hand. The goddess beckoned to Tatsuka and threw one of the beads to her. Tatsuka tried to catch it, but it slipped through her fingers and fell beside the puppy. She searched for it, but to no avail. Bewildered, she looked back up at the sky. Strangely, however, there was no sign of the goddess or the purple clouds. Picking up the puppy, she hurried home.
Upon arriving home, Tatsuka told Kazumori what had happened. "The goddess must have revealed that we'll be blessed with a child," he said.
It was not long before Tatsuka became pregnant. In July of 1460 she gave birth to a son, who she named Shino. Shino was one of the eight dog warriors.
Tatsuka chose the female name "Shino" in compliance with the folk belief that a boy with a female name or a girl with a male name would grow up healthy. In addition, the name was associated with longevity because in ancient times "shino" meant "to be long."
Although a boy, Shino was raised as a girl. His hair was styled in a female fashion, and he was dressed in girl's clothes. He was so lovely that he looked like a girl, and he endeared himself to the villagers.
Hikiroku and Kamezasa, who were childless, were envious of Shino. Eventually they adopted a samurai's two-year-old daughter named Hamaji. They spared no expense in dressing her in the most gorgeous clothes.

continued [The East, Vol. XXX No. 2 July/August 1994] 11. Yoshiro and Kijiro home