南総里見八犬傳 Nanso Satomi Hakkenden
滝沢馬琴 Takizawa Bakin
[The East, Vol. XXX No. 2 July/August 1994]

back
11. Yoshiro and Kijiro

In Shino’s ninth year, his mother, Tatsuka, fell ill. Shino and his father, Kazumori, did everything they could to make her better, but in late October she died. She was forty-three. Shino attended her funeral dressed, as always, like a girl. Some ridiculed him for his attire.
After the Buddhist service marking the forty-ninth day after Tatsuka's death, Shino vented his anger. "Why am I dressed like a girl?" he demanded of his father. "Because your mother cared for you," Kazumori replied. "She used to pay daily visits to Benzai-ten's shrine to pray for a child. One day on her way back from the shrine she saw a puppy. As she was about to pick it up, a beautiful goddess emerged from a bank of purple clouds. The goddess had many beads and threw one to Tatsuka. But she didn't catch it. She searched in vain for the bead, which had fallen near the puppy. She returned home with the puppy in her arms. Later she became pregnant and gave birth to you. She gave you the female name 'Shino' in compliance with the belief that a boy with a female name or a girl with a male name will grow up healthy. In addition, it's customary for a boy to have bangs and wear a long-sleeved kimono until the age of fifteen. Anyone who laughs at you is ignorant. And it's imprudent to be angry with such ignorant people. When you turn fifteen or sixteen, you can dress like a man."
Shino was moved by his mother's affection. He promised to dress like a girl until he attained manhood.
Shino was adept in martial arts. He was also a quick learner. People were amazed at how quickly he absorbed whatever his father taught him.
Shino turned eleven. He was more devoted to his father than ever before. They lived together with the dog Tatsuka had brought home. It was named Yoshiro ("Yo" sounds like the word for "four"; "shiro" sounds like the word for "white.") because its legs were white. Yoshiro was intelligent and very strong. Shino saddled Yoshiro and rode him as if he were a horse.
Yayayama Hikiroku and his wife, Kamezasa, were envious of Kazumori's pet. They acquired a tomcat and named it Kijiro. But one day Yoshiro killed Kijiro.
Furious, Hikiroku sent Nukasuke, Kazumori's good-natured neighbor, to demand that Yoshiro be relinquished for punishment. But Kazumori calmly refused, saying that keepers had no right to interfere in their pets' affairs.
Kazumori's refusal made Hikiroku even angrier. To allay Hikiroku's rage, Nukasuke suggested that for a short time Kazumori place Yoshiro under the care of an acquaintance of his who lived a little way from the village. So Kazumori entrusted Yoshiro to Nukasuke's acquaintance. But Yoshiro soon escaped and returned home. To mollify Hikiroku, Shino came up with the idea of beating the dog in front of his uncle's mansion.
However, as Shino was beating Yoshiro, the dog bolted through the gate of Hikiroku's mansion and fled into the garden. Delighted, Hikiroku shut the gate and had his men attack Yoshiro with bamboo spears.
Dejected, Shino returned home. As he described what had happened, Kazumori sighed. Eventually the bloodstained Yoshiro limped home and collapsed. "I'm sorry, Yoshiro!" Shino cried. "I was wrong." He did his best to treat Yoshiro's wounds, but the dog seemed on the verge of death.
Meanwhile, Hikiroku and Kamezasa plotted to steal the famous sword Murasame.
Nukasuke was called before Kamezasa, who said, "Ashikaga Nariuji had governed the Kanto provinces from Kamakura. However, two of his vassals, Yamanouchi Akisada and Ogigayatsu Sadamasa, rebelled, forcing him to flee to his castle in Koga. Even now he engages in occasional battles with Akisada and Sadamasa. The Oishi, who control Otsuka Village, have sided with Akisada and Sadamasa, who recently requested provisions for a siege of Koga Castle. The Oishi passed this request on to Hikiroku. As he was reading the document, however, Yoshiro rushed in and ate it. Since an owner is responsible for his dog's acts, Kazumori will be put to death. In addition, Shino must die because he caused the dog to rush into our garden. However, they can be saved. If Kazumori gives Murasame to Hikiroku, he will present the noted sword to Akisada and Sadamasa and beg for the lives of Kazumori and Shino. So try to persuade Kazumori to hand over Murasame."
Nukasuke hurried to Kazumori's to convey Kamezasa's message. Kazumori said he would decide what to do that evening. Nukasuke left, promising to return.
Kazumori was lost in thought. He called Shino. "I overheard Nukasuke," Shino said. "If Yoshiro really ate that document, we'll be put to death for sure." But Kazumori said, "My sister is lying. She and Hikiroku must have conspired to get Murasame from me. He has long desired the blade, for two reasons. One is that he fears I may claim to be the true heir of my deceased father, who gave Murasame to me. If I did, I would replace Hikiroku as village leader. The other reason is that Hikiroku is eager to earn the favor of Akisada and Sadamasa. Now that they have come into power, Hikiroku, who had sided with Nariuji, fears being stripped of his lands and title."
After a pause, Kazumori continued. "I've managed to preserve Murasame in compliance with my father's wish. Now, however, I'd like to give the sword to you."
Kazumori took Murasame from a large bamboo tube hanging from the ceiling. "Now that you're about to inherit this sword," he said, "you should style your hair like a man's and bear the name Inuzuka Shino Moritaka. I'm ill and have only a short time to live. My heart aches at the thought of your being orphaned at the age of eleven."

12. Bead and Mark

In surprise, Shino said "You speak as if you're on the brink of death!" "I've decided to commit seppuku," his father replied. "After I'm gone, my sister and her husband will become your guardians because they will know that I left Murasame in your care. Guard the blade well." No sooner had he finished talking than he unsheathed Murasame. Shino frantically clung to his father to prevent his self-immolation. Pushing his young son away, Kazumori buried the sword in his stomach, pulled it out, and thrust the point into his throat. Shino tearfully watched as his father's life faded away.
Shortly afterwards Nukasuke arrived. He was shocked by Kazumori's suicide and ran to inform Kamezasa.
Collecting himself, Shino thought about what to do. Eventually he decided to kill himself. He could not stand the thought of being left in the care of his aunt and uncle, although that was what his father expected. Shino promised to apologize to his father in the world of the dead. Just then there came a howl of pain from the garden. Yoshiro was in the throes of death. Overcome with pity, Shino felt compelled to put the dog out of its misery.
Shino went out to the garden. "Before I kill myself," he said to Yoshiro, "I'll relieve you of your pain." The dog moved its head toward Shino as if preparing for decapitation. Praying, Shino brought the sword down. As Yoshiro's blood gushed from his body, Shino saw something sparkling and picked it up. It was a bead with an eyelet. "This is probably what the goddess threw to my mother," he said to himself. Holding the bead up in the moonlight, he saw that it bore the Chinese character for filial piety. He wondered if his mother would still be alive if she had caught this bead.
In preparation for seppuku, Shino stripped to the waist. He was surprised to see on his left arm a mark shaped like a peony flower. He wondered where the mark had come from.
Just then Nukasuke returned with Kamezasa and Hikiroku. Seeing that Shino was about to kill himself, they attempted to stop him. Shedding false tears, the wicked couple said, "We're very sorry that your father, unjustly suspicious of us, committed suicide. Now that he's dead, however, you will not be punished for Yoshiro's eating the document. We'd like to take care of you. When you grow up, we'll marry you to our daughter Hamaji."
Although impressed by the couple's words, Shino thought it strange that they had made no mention of Murasame. He presumed that they intended to trick him out of the renowned sword. However, he consented to place himself under their care.
The next day Hikiroku held a funeral for Kazumori, and many villagers attended. Hikiroku wanted Shino to move into his mansion as quickly as possible so as not to incur the villagers' suspicion. But Shino said that he would remain in his own house until the forty-ninth day after his father's death. So Hikiroku sent a servant of his named Gakuzo to Shino's home.

13. The Second Dog Warrior

Shino was wary of Gakuzo since he had been sent by Hikiroku. Gakuzo seemed to be a couple years older than Shino. One day Shino took a bath with the help of Gakuzo. As Gakuzo was about to wash Shino's back, he noticed the mark on Shino's arm. In surprise Gakuzo said, "I have a similar mark. Look!" He stripped to the waist. On his back was a mark shaped like a peony flower. "I was told that it's a birthmark," Gakuzo said. "Is yours a birthmark too?" But Shino, wary of Gakuzo, only smiled.
Shino finished his bath. As he picked up his clothes, the bead fell out. Gakuzo picked it up and studied it. "How did you come by this bead?" he asked. But Shino remained silent. To dispel his suspicion, Gakuzo took a bead from his bosom and showed it to him. Shino gazed at it. It was identical to his bead except that it was inscribed with the Chinese character for justice.
Shino was now ready to trust Gakuzo. He told Gakuzo all about himself and how he had acquired the bead. Moved to tears, Gakuzo said, "You've undergone the same hardships as I." Wiping his tears away, he began to talk.
"I'm the son of Inukawa Eji Norito, an official in charge of a manor in Hojo of Izu Province. I was called Sonosuke in childhood. Our old servant discovered my bead on the grounds of our mansion as he was burying my placenta. When I was seven, my father incurred the wrath of the lord of Hojo and committed seppuku.
"Expelled from Hojo, my mother and I headed for Awa Province, counting on her cousin in the service of the Satomi. On our way to Awa we reached Otsuka Village on a snowy day. We went to the mansion of Hikiroku, the leader of the village, to ask for lodging. But he bluntly refused. Not knowing what to do, we took shelter under the eaves of his mansion. Before long, however, my mother died from the freezing cold.
"The next morning Hikiroku found me crying over my mother's body. But he didn't feel remorse. After performing a funeral for form's sake, he told me that I had to work for him for the rest of my life to pay for the funeral expenses. I had no choice but to enter his service. During the past five years I've worked for no pay. In my free time, however, I've endeavored to learn martial arts and reading and writing."
Shino was deeply impressed by Gakuzo's story. The two orphans pledged to treat each other as brothers. Gakuzo had been born before Shino, so Shino said that he would regard Gakuzo as his elder brother. "I was born earlier," said Gakuzo, "but you're much smarter, so you deserve to be called Elder Brother. I'd like to bear the name Inukawa Sosuke Yoshito, because one of the characters with which it is written is 'Yoshi,' justice.' But let's keep secret that we've sworn to be brothers and that I've taken a new name."
"Agreed," said Shino. "In the presence of others I'll call you Gakuzo."
"To conceal our brotherly ties I may speak ill of you," Gakuzo said. "Likewise, you should speak critically of me." Shino agreed. They became very close.

14. The Fruit of the Ume Tree

Now that Shino and Gakuzo were like brothers, Shino decided to move into Hikiroku's mansion earlier than planned. After the Buddhist service marking the thirty-fifth day after his father's death, Shino bid his house farewell.
Hikiroku welcomed Shino, saying, "From this day forward my house is your house. When you turn twenty, you will marry Hamaji and I will give you the family estate. As you can see, I'm hardly avaricious." Then he shouted, "Hamaji, come here! Here's your future husband. There's no reason to be shy. "
Not only Hikiroku but also Kamezasa was unusually kind to Shino. She showed Shino to his room, which faced west. The couple were so kind, Shino thought, because they had an ulterior motive.
The summer passed and autumn arrived. When the mourning period for his father ended, Shino underwent a rite to mark his attainment of manhood and began dressing like a man. Although he was only eleven, he appeared to be fourteen or fifteen.
On the first anniversary of his father's death, Shino visited his grave, accompanied by Gakuzo at the behest of Kamezasa. On their way to the grave they were silent in order to conceal their friendship.
On their way back, Shino and Gakuzo passed Shino's old house. Filled with fondness for his former home, Shino suggested that they stop. The structure was old and worn down. The dilapidation of the house moved the boys to tears.
In a corner of the garden an ume tree was laden with fruit. Shino had buried Yoshiro at the foot of the ume tree and had inscribed in the tree the eight Chinese characters meaning "to be inspired to pursue Buddhism under a beast's guidance."
"How strange that the trunk no longer bears the Chinese characters!" Shino exclaimed. "And the ume tree has born much fruit. I was told that it didn't produce much. I wonder if the dog's remains served as a fertilizer."
"Each branch has eight pieces of fruit," said Gakuzo. He showed Shino a branch. Shino stared at the fruit, which looked unusual. "There is a different design on each piece of fruit," he said. He was surprised to see that the eight pieces of fruit bore the Chinese characters for benevolence, justice, courtesy, wisdom, loyalty, faith, filial piety, and fellowship.
"These pieces of fruit are shaped like our beads," Shino said. "Two bear the same Chinese characters as our beads. The relationship between the pieces of fruit and our beads is something beyond human understanding."
"It's a mystery," agreed Gakuzo. "But I assume that there must exist eight beads with the characters found on these eight pieces of fruit. I wonder where the six other beads are.
"We'd best keep this to ourselves," Shino said.
In May the fruit of the tree was ripe, drawing the attention of passersby. But the Chinese characters had disappeared.
Hikiroku and Kamezasa continued to treat Shino affectionately. At heart, however, the couple were eyeing Murasame. They looked for a chance to steal the sword, but Shino, a precocious child, was always on his guard.
Time passed. Shino turned eighteen and his fiancee Hamaji, sixteen. The comely youth and beautiful girl commanded the praise of the villagers. Wishing for their happiness, the villagers urged Hikiroku to marry the two as soon as possible. However, Hikiroku had not the slightest intention of marrying Hamaji to Shino and yielding the family estate to him. Hikiroku thought long and hard about how to get rid of Shino.
At that time a rebellion occurred in Musashi Province. Taira no Nobumori, the lord of Toshima, and his younger brother Nerima Masumori, the lord of Nerima, rose against the Yamanouchi and the Ogigayatsu. But the rebellion was suppressed. Nobumori and Masumori were killed and their families ruined.
The rebellion gave Hikiroku the perfect excuse for delaying the marriage of Hamaji and Shino. Hikiroku declared that the marriage would be postponed until the province returned to a more peaceful state.
Hearing of the fall of the Nerima, Hamaji was devastated. Several years ago she had learned that Hikiroku and Kamezasa had adopted her. She was concerned about her natural parents. She feared that her father, a samurai in the service of the Nerima, had been killed.
The grief-stricken Hamaji wanted to tell Shino of her concern for her natural parents, but she didn't want her foster parents to find out. One day she went to his room. As she was about to call his name, she heard someone approaching. It was Kamezasa. Flustered, Hamaji left.
Kamezasa entered Shino's room and said, "The ailing Nukasuke wants to see you." Shino left for Nukasuke's house.
Nukasuke, who was seriously ill, was pleased to see Shino. He had a favor to ask of Shino before leaving this world. Gasping, he began to talk.
"I used to be a fisherman in Awa. My wife gave birth to a son, who we named Genkichi. But she became ill after having the child and eventually died. I was unable to work, because I had to care for my newborn son. Since I was desperate for money, I went fishing in a forbidden area. But I was caught and arrested. I was condemned to die. However, I was pardoned in conjunction with ceremonies marking the third anniversary of the deaths of Satomi Yoshizane's wife, Isarago, and his daughter, Princess Fuse. Instead, I was banished from Awa. Carrying Genkichi on my back, I headed for Shimousa Province. But we were on the verge of starving, so I decided to drown Genkichi and myself. As I was about to leap into a river with my son strapped to my back, a samurai stopped me. Introducing himself as a vassal of Ashikaga Nariuji, the samurai asked to adopt Genkichi, since he himself was childless. I agreed. Then the samurai gave me some traveling money. Although I left my son with him, I hadn't even asked his name. I came to Musashi Province and settled in Otsuka, marrying into a widow's family.
"I hear that Ashikaga Nariuji moved from Kamakura to Koga and then to Chiba. So I presume Genkichi is in Chiba, since he was adopted by Nariuji's vassal. If you get a chance to visit Chiba, please search for Genkichi. He has a birthmark shaped like a peony flower on his right cheek. And he should have a bead bearing the Chinese character for faith. I discovered the bead as I cut open a sea bream while preparing a festive dish in celebration of Genkichi's seventh day."
"I promise to go to Chiba as soon as possible," said Shino. "I'm also eager to know what has become of your son, who has something in common with me." Returning home, Shino told Gakuzo of Genkichi. Gakuzo was also surprised to hear of Genkichi's birthmark and bead. The following morning Nukasuke died.

15. Hamaji's Love

Hamaji was in love with Shino. She believed Hikiroku when he said that she and Shino would marry, and she looked forward to their wedding. But a masterless samurai named Aboshi Samojiro, who was twenty-five, was in love with her.
Samojiro, a shrewd man with a smooth tongue, had been in the service of the Ogigayatsu. But he lost favor with his master and was obliged to leave. He moved to Otsuka Village.
Samojiro taught the villagers calligraphy as well as singing and dancing, at which he was adept. Although he was a handsome man with a fair complexion, he was not married. He was the talk of the town because of his frequent love affairs. But Kamezasa, an amorous woman, spoke highly of him to Hikiroku, the leader of the village, so that he would not be banished.
Samojiro often visited Kamezasa and found himself charmed by her daughter Hamaji. He secretly tried to give Hamaji a love letter, but Hamaji, consumed with love for Shino, would not receive it. Kamezasa was aware of her daughter's love for Shino and of Samojiro's interest in Hamaji. Dreading the thought of marrying Hamaji to Shino, Kamezasa welcomed Samojiro's advances.
At the time, Hikami Jadayu, jindai [vassal in charge of military affairs] of the Oishi, who ruled Otsuka, died of illness. His oldest son, Kyuroku, succeeded him. Before long the new jindai made his first inspection of Otsuka, accompanied by many subordinates. Kyuroku and his party stopped at Hikiroku's mansion. Hikiroku held a banquet for them. He had Hamaji dress up and wait on the jindai during the banquet.
As a result, Kyuroku fell deeply in love with Hamaji. Aware of Kyuroku's feelings, one of his subordinates, Nurude Gobaiji, offered to act as a go-between. Kyuroku left the matter to him. Gobaiji visited Hikiroku's mansion with several men bearing numerous presents. As Gobaiji conveyed Kyuroku's desire to marry Hamaji, Hikiroku was overjoyed. He knew that if Hamaji married the jindai, his rise to power would be assured. But there was an obstacle to their marriage: Shino. That night Hikiroku and Kamezasa talked about what to do.
The next day Kamezasa visited Samojiro. "My husband and I would like our daughter to marry you," she said. "But we promised our nephew, Shino, that he could marry her, giving him as a token of the engagement a sword that has been in our family for generations. If you take the sword back from Shino, however, we'll break off his engagement and marry Hamaji to you." Samojiro, who was crazy about Hamaji, said he would do anything to win her. Kamezasa told Samojiro how to steal Murasame from Shino.

16. The Theft of Murasame

That night Hikiroku and Kamezasa called Shino to their room. "Ashikaga Nariuji has returned to Koga," Hikiroku said. "It's time you met him. If you return Murasame, the Ashikaga's heirloom, to Nariuji and tell him of your father's and grandfather's devoted service, he'll be overcome with gratitude. When you return from Koga, we'll marry you to Hamaji and transfer the family estate to you."
Shino had learned from Gakuzo of Gobaiji's arrangement with Hikiroku and Kamezasa. He realized that the couple were going to marry Hamaji to the jindai while he was away. Pretending to be unaware of their plans, however, Shino consented to go to Koga. He would leave, escorted by Gakuzo, in two days. Kamezasa suggested that Shino visit his father's grave and Benzai-ten's shrine to pray for a safe journey.
The next day, Shino, with Murasame strapped to his side, visited his father's grave and Benzai-ten's shrine in compliance with Kamezasa's suggestion. On his way home he met Samojiro and Hikiroku, who was carrying a fishing net.
"Are you going fishing this late?" Shino asked.
"Yes, we're going to the Kaniwa River," replied Hikiroku. "If I'm lucky, I'll be able to treat you to a fine fish dinner as a token of my wish that you have a safe journey. I met Samojiro on the way, and he agreed to come along. Would you like to join us?"
Shino agreed and the three headed off.
Reaching the Kaniwa River, Hikiroku hired a man named Dotaro to take them out on his boat. When the boat reached the middle of the river, Hikiroku cast his net. The next instant, however, he fell overboard. Surprised, Shino shed his clothing and jumped into the river to save his uncle, Dotaro right behind him.
Beneath the boat, however, Hikiroku, an excellent swimmer, waited to ambush Shino. As Shino appeared, Hikiroku pretended to be drowning. Shino held out his hand, but Hikiroku grabbed it and tried to drag him down. Dotaro also tried to drown Shino. But Shino, a superb swimmer, kicked Dotaro away. Holding Hikiroku under his arm, Shino swam to shore.
Meanwhile Samojiro let the boat drift downstream and unsheathed Shino's sword, preparing to substitute Hikiroku's for it. He was surprised to see Shino's sword covered with dew. "This must be the famous sword Murasame," Samojiro thought. He decided to take the priceless sword for himself. He put Murasame into his sheath, his sword into Hikiroku's, and Hikiroku's sword into Shino's. Samojiro, a shrewd man, did not forget to pour some water onto his sword before sliding it into Hikiroku's sheath.
Before long Dotaro swam back to the boat and guided it to shore. Hikiroku and Shino awaited the return of the boat. Shino realized that Hikiroku had fallen overboard to lure him into a trap, and that Dotaro had assisted Hikiroku. However, Shino was unaware that Murasame had fallen into Samojiro's hands.
Upon returning home, Hikiroku unsheathed the sword and saw that it was wet with dew. He was convinced that it was Murasame. Overjoyed, he showed it to Kamezasa. She was also delighted to see the renowned sword. She raised it reverently to her head and bowed.
The wicked couple hatched a plot to have Gakuzo slay Shino during their journey to Koga. The couple thought that if they fought and Gakuzo killed Shino, people would not be surprised, because their mutual animosity was well-known.
Hikiroku, who had asked Kamezasa to persuade Gakuzo to kill Shino, asked, "How did Gakuzo react?" "He readily consented to the idea," she replied. "Everything is going well for us."
The following morning Shino left for Koga, accompanied by Gakuzo. Shino was nineteen and Gakuzo, twenty. Although they were close, when they weren't alone they pretended to hate each other.

continued [The East Vol. XXX No.3 September/October 1994] 17. Samojiro Kidnaps Hamaji home