南総里見八犬傳 Nanso Satomi Hakkenden
滝沢馬琴 Takizawa Bakin
[The East Vol. XXXI No.2 July/August 1995]

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44. The Fake Shinto Priest

On the first anniversary of Princess Fuse's death her father Satomi Yoshizane transferred the family headship to his son Yoshinari. Yoshizane retired to Takida Castle.
Yoshinari lived at Inamura Castle in Awa. Although young, he was conversant with both literary and military arts. He was as masterful a leader as his father. The Satomi enjoyed continued prosperity during his time.
Yoshizane and Yoshinari learned about the eight dog warriors from Chudai and Amasaki Terufumi. The two Satomi wished to meet the dog warriors as soon as possible.
At the time a man named Hikita Motofuji was the lord of Tateyama Castle in Kazusa. He came from Omi Province. His father had been a heinous robber who was put to death when Motofuji was twenty-one.
Motofuji, who was just as wicked as his father, had taken all the money his father had left and traveled east. One day he reached a village near Tateyama, which was afflicted by an epidemic. The former lord of Tateyama Castle was Komariya Shumenosuke Yukimitsu, who was unpopular with his subjects. Motofuji decided to pass the night on the grounds of Suwa shrine, which was unattended. Near the torii of the shrine stood a large camphor tree with a hollow in the trunk. At midnight Motofuji overheard the spirit of the tree talking with the deity of epidemics. Motofuji learned that there was divine water in the hollow of the tree and that if gold were soaked in the divine water, the water could serve as a cure for the epidemic that was ravaging the district.
Motofuji soaked his gold in the divine water and gave the water to the victims of the epidemic. They were soon cured. Commanding the respect of the villagers, he claimed to be a Shinto priest and was installed at the shrine where he had spent the night.
Before long the fake priest arranged the killing of Yukimitsu and became the lord of the Tateyama Castle.
At first Motofuji appeared to be a wise lord, correcting his predecessor's mistakes. He paid courtesy calls on Yoshinari at Inamura Castle and Yoshizane at Takida Castle. With time, however, Motofuji revealed his true self. He was addicted to sensual pleasures, and claimed his predecessor's concubines, Asagao and Yufukaho, as his own.
Some time later Asagao and Yufukaho were stricken by the epidemic. Motofuji sent for the divine water from the hollow of the camphor tree, but it had dried up. Eventually the two women died.
One day Motofuji learned that a traveling Buddhist priestess named Myochin, reputed to possess supernatural powers, had come to Tateyama. Motofuji, who wished to see the late Asagao and Yufukaho again, invited Myochin to his castle.
Motofuji asked Myochin to invoke the spirits of his two deceased concubines. At midnight Myochin burned incense and muttered charms. Then a beautiful young woman appeared from the smoke. She was not one of the two concubines, yet she was even more attractive than they. Motofuji was spellbound. As he approached her, she disappeared. In surprise he asked Myochin about the woman. "She is Princess Hamaji, the fifth daughter of Satomi Yoshinari, lord of Inamura Castle," the priestess said. "It would have only added to your grief to have seen the deceased concubines, so I conjured up a living woman, whom you could marry."
Myochin's words aroused in Motofuji hopes of marrying Hamaji. It was decided that Myochin would stay with him awhile. He gave her special treatment.
Motofuji sent a messenger to Inamura Castle to convey his desire to marry Hamaji. Several days later the messenger returned. "Yoshinari declined to let you marry Hamaji for three reasons," the messenger said to Motofuji. "You are of unknown descent, you are too old to be her husband, and finally, he has four elder daughters who he is determined should wed before Hamaji."
Motofuji burned with anger. But Myochin pacified his rage, whispering, "Leave the matter to me." After the messenger left, she said, "Yoshinari's heir, Yoshimichi, is ten years old. He is to undergo the rite marking his first time wearing armor in January of next year. I suggest that you repair the local shrines of Sho Hachiman, Usa Hachiman, and Suwa by the end of this year and request that Yoshinari have Yoshimichi visit the three shrines after the rite. Yoshinari will readily consent, because those shrines are connected with the Satomi. Capture Yoshimichi during a visit to a shrine and press Yoshinari to give you Hamaji in return for releasing Yoshimichi."

45. Advent of a Child Prodigy

After proposing her wicked idea to Motofuji, Myochin abruptly left, saying that if he had a problem, she would return.
Motofuji repaired the three shrines by mid-December. He dispatched to Inamura Castle a messenger to request that Yoshimichi visit the shrines after the rite marking his first wearing of armor. Yoshinari readily consented, saying that his son would visit the shrines on January 15.
Delighted, Motofuji secretly hoarded provisions, weapons, and gunpowder in preparation for taking Yoshimichi hostage.
On January 11 Yoshimichi underwent the rite in Inamura Castle. Two days later he left for Kazusa accompanied by thirty samurai and 250 attendants. Among the samurai were several key vassals, including Horiuchi Sadayuki, Sugikura Naomoto, and Tomaya Kageyoshi.
On the afternoon of January 14 Yoshimichi and his party entered Kazusa. A little later a messenger from Inamura Castle arrived and said, "Last night Sadayuki's wife suddenly died and Naomoto's wife gave birth, but the baby was stillborn." Eventually it was decided that Sadayuki and Naomoto would return home, because someone who had recently lost a family member was expected to refrain from visiting shrines. Ten samurai and fifty attendants accompanied them.
Motofuji learned that Sadayuki and Naomoto had turned back. Delighted, he thought that Myochin must have used her supernatural powers on his behalf. Moveover, he was informed that a cave had suddenly appeared under a tree beside the east gate of his castle. The cave led to the hollow in the large camphor tree near the torii of Suwa Shrine, which Yoshimichi was to visit. Motofuji planned to wait in the cave and ambush Yoshimichi and his party.
On January 15 Yoshimichi and his party visited Sho Hachiman Shrine and then Usa Hachiman Shrine. Lastly they went to Suwa Shrine.
Yoshimichi, flanked by two aides, was passing the camphor tree when gunshots sounded. His aides fell dead. Several men led by Motofuji charged the other vassals of the Satomi. The Satomi's vassals fought valiantly but were defeated.
Seeing his men fallen, Yoshimichi unsheathed his sword and prepared to fight. But someone struck him down from behind. It was Motofuji. Motofuji took Yoshimichi hostage.
The next day, Sadayuki and Naomoto returned home only to find that no one had died in their families. They also discovered many seriously wounded samurai and attendants who had accompanied Yoshimichi to Suwa Shrine lying unconscious on the grounds of Inamura Castle. They seemed to have been carried by a strong wind from the shrine to the castle. After being treated, many of the wounded revived and told Yoshinari what had happened.
On January 21 Yoshinari and 3,000 troops laid siege to Tateyama Castle. But Motofuji held out. Yoshinari did not know what to do. Over a month passed.
Yoshizane, the elderly lord of Takida Castle, was concerned about his grandson Yoshimichi. He decided to visit Princess Fuse's grave on Mt. To to pray for her assistance.


Two aides accompanied Yoshizane to Mt. To. As they approached the cave in which Princess Fuse had lived, four or five men with spears sprang from behind nearby trees. "We are former vassals of the Maro and the Anzai, whom you defeated long ago," said one of the men [See the March-April 1994 EAST]. As they were about to charge Yoshizane, from behind the trees appeared a large boy who shouted, "Wait!" It was Inue Masashi.

46. Inue Masashi Meets Satomi Yoshizane

Although less than 140 centimeters tall, Masashi easily carried a pole nearly two meters long under his arm. He struck down the former vassals of the Maro and the Anzai, who had been sent by Motofuji to assassinate Yoshizane. Dusting off his clothes, Masashi knelt at Yoshizane's feet and bowed low. "I have heard of you," said Yoshizane. "I assume you are now about nine years old. But you possess bravery befitting a person twice your age. You are a child prodigy, the likes of which are rarely found."
After a pause, Yoshizane said, "Six years ago I heard you had disappeared. What happened?"
"I was brought to this mountain by the spirit of Princess Fuse," Masashi said. "I settled down in the cave that contains her grave. I was well fed and clothed thanks to her divine spirit. I myself am surprised by my rapid growth. Her spirit informed me of your arrival at this mountain. It also told me to rescue your grandson from Tateyama Castle."
Yoshizane was impressed by the miraculous virtue of his deceased daughter. And he praised Masashi for his dignified manner.
Suddenly an elderly couple appeared. They were Obayuki Yoshiro and Otone. The spirit of Princess Fuse had rescued them from danger on Mt. Arame in Kozuke Province and brought them to the cave on Mt. To. Behind Yoshiro and Otone were their daughters-in-law, Hikute and Hitoyo, who had also been brought to the mountain by the spirit of the deceased princess. The four had looked after the young dog warrior.
Yoshizane prayed at Princess Fuse's grave. Then he descended the mountain with his aides and Masashi. They stopped at a temple at the foot of the mountain. While they were dining, Masashi asked for Yoshizane's permission to rescue Yoshimichi. Yoshizane consented and gave Masashi his splendid steed.
Masashi, accompanied by Amasaki Terufumi and Tomaya Kageyoshi, left for Tateyama Castle. As they reached the castle, Kageyoshi called out for admission, saying, "This is Inue Masashi, a messenger from the Satomi."
The sentries, looking out of a small window, were surprised that the messenger was a boy and that he was accompanied by only two men. One sentry went to Motofuji's room and informed him that a messenger from the Satomi had arrived. "Bring in the messenger," said Motofuji. "I assume Yoshinari wants to make peace."
Masashi entered the castle, walking calmly through the 300 men garrisoned there. He eventually reached Motofuji's room. He entered unannounced and took the seat of honor. Motofuji and his attendants were dumbfounded.
"What a rude boy!" exclaimed Motofuji. "He must be insane. Get rid of him!" His attendants closed on Masashi. But suddenly a streak of light issued from the boy's bosom and struck Motofuji's attendants' eyes. They fell down and remained motionless.
Motofuji unsheathed his sword and attacked, but Masashi calmly dodged him and knocked his sword away. Then Masashi seized Motofuji and threw him to the ground, holding him down with his foot. Motofuji turned pale and groaned in pain.
Frightened, the defenders of the castle surrendered. Kageyoshi found Yoshimichi and freed him. Yoshimichi, aboard a palanquin, left the castle under the escort of Masashi, Kageyoshi, and Terufumi. Ahead of them were Motofuji and his vassals, bound with ropes. Motofuji wondered what had become of Myochin.

47. Myochin's Plot

Some of Yoshinari's vassals declared that Motofuji should be beheaded. But Masashi said to Yoshinari, "You may think that what Motofuji did is unpardonable. But please spare his life. If he betrays you again, I will destroy him myself."
Moved by Masashi's words, Yoshinari decided to show mercy. Motofuji was tattooed on the forehead, whipped one hundred times, and sent to Musashi Province.
Yoshinari made Masashi the lord of Tateyama Castle in reward for his distinguished service.
After being taken to Musashi, Motofuji did not know what to do. As he wandered along the Sumida River, he came upon a boat moored to its bank. Since he was exhausted, he decided to pass the night on the boat. He climbed aboard and fell into a sound sleep.
The chirping of birds woke Motofuji. He realized in surprise that he was not in a boat but in a room of a cottage. He wondered if he was dreaming when a woman came in. It was Myochin. She looked much younger than before.
"I've had a hard time," said Motofuji. "Why didn't you help me?"
"I know what happened to you," she said. "My powers had worked well until Masashi arrived. He is under the protection of the spirit of Princess Fuse. And he possesses a bead with mystic powers. I wanted to rescue you, but I couldn't."
Sighing, she continued. "But I provided you with the boat and used my powers to bring you here while you slept." After Motofuji expressed his gratitude, she said, "I plan for you to take back Tateyama Castle in the near future. I suggest you stay here until you can return to the castle."
Motofuji jumped at Myochin's suggestion. While living together, they came to behave as if they were married.
One day Myochin said to Motofuji, "It is time to take back Tateyama Castle. I will be gone for awhile." Leaving the cottage in his charge, she went out.
Some time later Inamura Castle was found to be haunted by a ghost. Each time the ghost appeared, Princess Hamaji had a nightmare. She suffered from insomnia and lost her appetite. She was even too weak to take medicine. Yoshinari called in renowned doctors, but there was no improvement in her condition. Then Yoshinari had a lady-in-waiting pray for the recovery of the ailing princess at an old shrine in Susaki and at a nearby cave housing a stone image of an ascetic who had lived in the mountains and was worshiped as a god.
Returning from Susaki, the lady-in-waiting reported to Yoshinari, "On my way back I met an old man, who said, 'Princess Hamaji is haunted by the spirit of her foster mother, Nabiki, who was executed for her evil deeds. To appease the spirit, Yoshinari should summon Masashi from Tateyama. Then Yoshinari should bury Masashi's bead, which bears the Chinese character for benevolence, in the ground under the room of the ailing princess and have the child prodigy keep watch over her all night.' " After much thought Yoshinari decided to do as the old man said.
When Masashi came to Inamura Castle, Yoshinari borrowed his bead and buried it under Princess Hamaji's room. And Yoshmari asked Masashi to watch over her all night. That night she was no longer haunted by the spirit and slept well. Within a week her condition improved.
During his seventh night at the castle Masashi was overcome by drowsiness and slept. Yoshinari could not sleep, feeling somewhat uneasy about Princess Hamaji. He rose and went to her room. As he approached her door, he heard a man and a woman whispering. Looking down, he noticed a letter lying on the ground and picked it up. He was surprised to find that it was a love letter from Hamaji to Masashi, who could pass for a seventeen-year-old. Composing himself, however, Yoshinari refrained from entering her room.
The next morning Yoshinari summoned Masashi. "Thanks to you, Princess Hamaji has recovered," Yoshinari said. "So I suggest that you find the other dog warriors and journey together to Awa."
Masashi accepted Yoshinari's suggestion and withdrew. At heart, however, he thought that someone must have accused him of something.
After leaving Inamura Castle, Masashi decided to go to his birthplace, Ichikawa. While waiting for a ferryboat, he felt something strike the back of his neck. It was bead bearing the Chinese character for benevolence, which had been buried under Princess Hamaji's room. Masashi, who had been dejected by Yoshinari's harsh treatment, was delighted to get his bead back. He thought that the spirit of Princess Fuse had arranged his recovery of the bead.

48. Myochin's Identity

Myochin returned to the mountain cottage after about two weeks.
Motofuji, who had awaited her return, said, "How did you fare in your plan to recover Tateyama Castle?" With a smile she replied, "Everything is going well. I got rid of Masashi." She began to chant. Suddenly several hundred former vassals of Motofuji appeared. Motofuji led them in an attack and had little difficulty in recovering the castle.
Meanwhile Yoshinari realized that he had been bewitched. He was ashamed that he had suspected Masashi. Soon afterwards he ordered Terufumi to find Masashi and bring him back.
As for Masashi, upon reaching Ichikawa he visited his parents' grave. After several days in Ichikawa he went to Ueno in Musashi Province, where he happened to see a woman rescue a samurai from being put to death.
When the samurai, whose name was Kawagoi Takatsugu, was two years old, his father, Moriyuki, was charged with the defense of Shinobu-no-oka Castle, on whose grounds had long lived two foxes. Moriyuki and his wife were kind to the foxes, who eventually had pups. But once when Moriyuki was away, his subordinate, Wanazo, killed the male fox. Feeling pity for the female fox and her litter, Moriyuki's wife fed them. Before long Wanazo had relations with Takatsugu's nurse, Masaki, and ran away with her. Then the female fox caught and drowned Wanazo and Masaki to avenge her mate's death. Disguised as Masaki, the female fox returned to the castle and raised Takatsugu. But one day she fell asleep and was discovered in the shape of a fox. Tearfully she fled to Ueno, where she kept doing good deeds and, as a result, acquired supernatural powers.
The fox in the guise of Masaki said to Masashi, "I learned that Takatsugu had been falsely charged and was to be beheaded today, so I came to his rescue." Takatsugu was choked with tears of gratitude. "I know that you are one of the eight dog warriors," she said to Masashi. "And I know of Myochin. She is the tanuki which nursed Yatsufusa, the dog kept by the Satomi. But the tanuki is possessed by the spirit of Tamazusa, the wicked woman who cursed the Satomi before her execution [See the March-April 1994 EAST]. The tanuki, watching for the chance to bring evil upon the Satomi, had lived in the hollow of the large camphor tree beside the torii of Suwa Shrine until the deaths of Motofuji's two concubines. Then it turned into a priestess and began calling itself Myochin. It has a bead capable of causing a strong wind."
The fox told Masashi about a secret entrance to Tateyama Castle and taught him how to defeat Myochin. Then it changed into a dragon and ascended to heaven.
Masashi decided to return to Tateyama with Takatsugu to recover the castle from Myochin and Motofuji. Masashi and Takatsugu were joined by Terufumi at the Ryogoku River, and the three hurried to Tateyama.
In a morning haze Masashi and his party stopped at a rocky hill a little ways southeast of Tateyama Castle. Embedded in the ground halfway up the hill was a mammoth rock covered with moss and vines. Masashi took out his bead and gently touched the rock. Suddenly it split, revealing a cave which led to the castle. Masashi had learned of the cave from the fox.
Masashi and his party lost no time in entering the castle. Motofuji's men were all asleep. Shouting war cries, the three men set fire to the castle.
Masashi entered a tall building at the rear of the castle grounds. He learned from some ladies-in-waiting that Myochin and Motofuji were asleep in a room on the top floor. Masashi climbed the stairs and stormed into their room. In surprise Myochin waked Motofuji, who trembled at the sight of Masashi.
Unable to flee, Motofuji unsheathed his sword and slashed at Masashi. But Masashi knocked his sword away. As Masashi seized Motofuji, Myochin tried to dash from the room. Masashi threw down Motofuji and caught Myochin by the shoulder. The young dog warrior took out a small bag containing his bead and held it up toward Myochin. The bead began to glow within the bag. Myochin uttered a cry and leapt over the rail surrounding the top floor. As she fell a column of black smoke, emitting a blue light, came from her body.
Masashi found the body of a female tanuki in a large stone washbowl at the bottom of the tall building. The fur on its back had been burned away. Its back now bore the eight Chinese characters meaning "to be inspired to pursue Buddhism under a beast's guidance." Masashi thought that the light from his bead had burned the tanuki and that with its death the spirit of Tamazusa had been destroyed, ending her grudge against the Satomi.
Motofuji and his vassals were arrested and beheaded. Masashi again controlled Tateyama Castle. Terufumi left for Yuki to bring back the other seven dog warriors. Some time later Masashi also departed for Yuki.
Soon after Terufumi reached Yuki, Chudai and many other priests held a memorial service for those killed in battle there. The seven dog warriors and Terufumi also burned incense for the repose of the souls of the war dead.

49. Denouement

After the memorial service Masashi arrived at Yuki and met the other seven dog warriors. Chudai was pleased to see the eight dog warriors together.
It was not long before the eight dog warriors met Yoshizane at Takida Castle and Yoshinari at Inamura Castle. Yoshinari rewarded the eight dog warriors for their services, making them his senior councillors. And he granted castles to each dog warrior except Masashi, who was already the lord of Tateyama Castle. In addition, he arranged for marriages by lot between his eight daughters and the dog warriors. Ironically, the eldest princess was matched with the youngest dog warrior, Masashi. And Shino was paired with Hamaji, as predicted by the wraith of his fiancee.
Yoshinari also rewarded Terufumi by promoting him and raising his stipend. Takatsugu entered the service of the Satomi. Yoshinari made Takatsugu his junior councillor and gave him a castle. Takatsugu changed his family name to Masai in honor of the fox disguised as his former nurse.
Chudai went to Mt. To and shut himself up in the cave where Princess Fuse had lived.
The eight dog warriors had sons, who became second-generation dog warriors. Late in life the original dog warriors retired to Mt. To.
One day the old dog warriors received a visit from their sons. After having instructed the young dog warriors in various things, the old ones disappeared. It was said that they had become deities.
The third head of the Satomi was Yoshimichi, who inherited his ancestors' benevolence. But he was destined for an early grave. After his death there was a struggle over succession to the headship of the family. The Satomi gradually declined in power. The family was ruined by the tenth generation.
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