Ancient Tales and Folk-Lore of Japan | Page 5

of the spirit of O Ko San,
or of the golden hairpin!
A week later she and KÅnojÅ were married, and the golden hairpin
was given to a shrine at Shiogama, to which, until quite recently,
crowds used to go and worship.
Footnotes
1:1 This story savours of 'Botan DÅrÅ,' or Peony Lantern story, told
both by Mitford and by Lafcadio Hearn. In this instance, however, the
spirit of the dead sister passes into the body of the living one, assumes
her form, leaves her sick and ill for over a year, and then allows her to
reappear as if she had never been ill at all. It is the first story of its kind
I have heard.

3:1 'O' means Honourable Miss; 'San' means Miss. Either will do; but
Ko is the name.
4:1 Family shrine.
5:1 Lamp.
9:1 An exclamation, such as 'Great Scot!'
3. Heitaro meets Higo Under the Willow Tree
II THE SPIRIT OF THE WILLOW TREE
ABOUT one thousand years ago (but according to the dates of the story
744 years ago) the temple of 'San-jū-san-gen Do' was founded. That
was in 1132. 'San-jū-san-gen Do' means hall of thirty-three spaces;
and there are said to be over 33,333 figures of the Goddess Kwannon,
the Goddess of Mercy, in the temple to-day. Before the temple was
built, in a village near by stood a willow tree of great size. It marked
the playing-ground of all the village children, who swung on its
branches, and climbed on its limbs. It afforded shade to the aged in the
heat of summer, and in the evenings, when work was done, many were
the village lads and lasses who vowed eternal love under its branches.
The tree seemed an influence for good to all. Even the weary traveller
could sleep peacefully and almost dry under its branches. Alas, even in
those times men were often ruthless with regard to trees. One day the
villagers announced an intention to cut it down and use it to build a
bridge across the river.
There lived in the village a young farmer named
Heitaro, a great favourite, who had lived near the old tree all his days,
as his forefathers had done; and he was greatly against cutting it down.
Such a tree should be respected, thought he. Had it not braved the
storms of hundreds of years? In the heat of summer what pleasure it
afforded the children! Did it not give to the weary shelter, and to the
love-smitten a sense of romance? All these thoughts Heitaro impressed

upon the villagers. 'Sooner than approve your cutting it down,' he said,
'I will give you as many of my own trees as you require to build the
bridge. You must leave this dear old willow alone for ever.'
The villagers readily agreed. They also had a secret veneration for the
old tree.
Heitaro was delighted, and readily found wood with which to build the
bridge.
Some days later Heitaro, returning from his work, found standing by
the willow a beautiful girl.
Instinctively he bowed to her. She returned the bow. They spoke
together of the tree, its age and beauty. They seemed, in fact, to be
drawn towards each other by a common sympathy. Heitaro was sorry
when she said that she must be going, and bade him good-day. That
evening his mind was far from being fixed on the ordinary things of life.
'Who was the lady under the willow tree? How I wish I could see her
again!' thought he. There was no sleep for Heitaro that night. He had
caught the fever of love.
Next day he was at his work early; and he remained at it all day,
working doubly hard, so as to try and forget the lady of the willow tree;
but on his way home in the evening, behold, there was the lady again!
This time she came forward to greet him in the most friendly way.
'Welcome, good friend!' she said. 'Come and rest under the branches of
the willow you love so well, for you must be tired.'
Heitaro readily accepted this invitation, and not only did he rest, but
also he declared his love.
Day by day after this the mysterious girl (whom no others had seen)
used to meet Heitaro, and at last she promised to marry him if he asked
no questions as to her parents or friends. 'I have none,' she said. 'I can
only promise to be a good and faithful wife, and tell you that I love you
with all my heart and soul. Call me, then, "Higo,"Â 1 and I will be your

wife.'
Next day Heitaro took Higo to his house, and they were married. A son
was born to them in a little less than a year,