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X A FAITHFUL SERVANT1 IN
the reign of the Emperor Engi, which began in the year 901 A.D., there
lived a
man whose name has ever since been celebrated on account of his
beautiful writings,
poetic and other. He was the Emperor's great favourite, and
consequently he was
the strong man of the day; his name was Sugawara Michizane. Needless to
say, it
was not very long before, with all these things in his favour, he was
the head
of the Government, living in luxury. Things
went well enough for a time; but the inevitable came at last. Not all
the
people agreed with Michizane's ideas or his politics. Secret enemies
lurked at
every corner. Among them was one particularly bad man named Tokihira,
whose
poisonous intrigues at Court were constant. Tokihira
held a Government position under Michizane, and hated him in his heart,
thinking that if he could but arrange to get Michizane into the bad
graces of
the Emperor he himself might become leader of the Government. Michizane
was a man with whom little fault could be found, and so it came to pass
that
Tokihira was unable to find any cause for starting evil reports about
him; but
as time went on he became more determined to do evil in the end. At
last an opportunity arrived. Tokihira, who had many secret agents
trying to
discover something to be reported to the Emperor against Michizane,
heard a
statement that Prince Toki (Toki no Miya) had fallen secretly in love
with the
beautiful daughter of Michizane, and that they held secret meetings. Tokihira
was overjoyed at the news, and went straightway to the Emperor, who
received him,
hearing that he had a marvellous tale of intrigue to tell. 'Your Majesty,' said Tokihira, 'much as I grieve to tell it, a serious plot is about. Sugawara Michizane has so arranged it that your Majesty's younger brother, Prince Toki, has fallen in love with his daughter. Deeply as I regret to say it, they hold secret meetings. Moreover, Michizane, your Majesty's Premier, is scheming that your Majesty may be assassinated, or at least dethroned in favour of Prince Toki, who is to marry Michizane's daughter.' Matsuo Declares the Head to be That of Kanshusai Naturally
the Emperor Engi was infuriated. He was a good and sound monarch, and
had ruled
the people, with the aid of Michizane, fairly, firmly, and well. He had
looked
upon Michizane as a personal friend; and to think of Michizane
conspiring his
assassination, or at all events so scheming as to place Prince Toki on
the throne,
and to marry his own daughter to the Prince, was more than he could
stand. He
sent for Michizane. Michizane
protested his innocence. True it was, he said, that the Prince had
fallen in
love with his daughter; but that was not much to be wondered at. His
daughter
was beautiful; the Prince and she were much of the same age, and had
seen much
of each other from their childhood. Now that they had grown older, they
found
that their friendship had turned to love. That was all. It was not easy
for a
Prince of the blood royal to meet the lady of his heart quite so openly
as
another might; and, no doubt, they had met, for his daughter had told
him so.
As to the plot asserted by Tokihira, that was absolutely fanciful, and
it was
an astonishment to hear of so dastardly an accusation. Tokihira
perceived the temper of the Emperor. By loud words and unscrupulous
lies he
upset all the unfortunate Michizane's protests; and the Emperor ordered
Michizane to be sent for the rest of his life to Tsukushi, in the
island of
Kyushu. Accompanied
only by his faithful servant Matsuo, Michizane went into exile. The
punishment
of Michizane, unjust as it was, broke up the employment of many others.
All
those who had been closely associated with him were dismissed. Among
them was
Takebayashi Genzo, who had been one of Michizane's chief attendants.
Genzo had
been one of Michizane's literary pupils; consequently it is not
astonishing
that on losing employment, Genzo fled to a small town, and out of duty
took
with him Michizane's wife and young son Kanshusai, aged ten. All
changed their
names, and Genzo, to support them as well as his own family,
established a
small school. Thus
it was that for some time Kanshusai escaped the wicked designs against
his life
that had been planned by Tokihira. Matsuo,
the faithful servant who had followed his master Michizane into
banishment,
heard of a vile plot to assassinate his master's son, and after many
weary days
of thought as to how he could prevent it he perceived that the only way
would
be to sacrifice his own son instead. First
he told his banished master of his intention, and having obtained leave
he
journeyed back to Kyoto, and sought out Tokihira himself, to whom he
offered
his services both as a servant and as a hunter of Michizane's son
Kanshusai.
Tokihira readily engaged him, thinking that now he would be sure to
find the
boy whom he wished to have beheaded. Tokihira had taken the place of
Michizane
in the Emperor's favour, and had great power; his will was almost law. So
well did Matsuo play his part in Tokihira's household and among his
servants,
it was not long before they were all agreed that Matsuo was most
faithful to
his new master, and the greatest confidence was placed in him. Shortly
after this, it came to the knowledge of Tokihira that Kanshusai was
hidden,
under a different name, in the school which belonged to Genzo. Genzo
was
ordered to send the boy's head to Tokihira within forty-eight hours. Matsuo,
ever faithful, hearing of this, went to Genzo's school in disguise and
disclosed to the schoolmaster, who readily assented, his scheme for
saving
Kanshusai. Then Matsuo sent his son Kotaro to Genzo's school, from
which he
never returned alive, poor boy; and though (in all honour be it said)
Genzo did
not like the killing of this boy, he steeled his nerves, for the sake
of his
former master and to save Kanshusai's life. With
one blow of his sword he took off the innocent head. At
the appointed time Tokihira's officials called at the school to fetch
it, and
they carried it back to Tokihira, saying: 'Now, Lord Tokihira, there is
no
longer fear for the future from Michizane's son, for here is his head
in this
box. See! And here is the schoolmaster Takebayashi Genzo, who followed
your
lordship's orders and cut it off.' Tokihira
was pleased, but not perfectly assured that the head was the right one:
so,
knowing that Matsuo had previously been employed by Michizane, and that
he must
know if it were Kanshusai's head or not, he called him, ordering him to
take
the head out of the box and identify it. Poor
Matsuo! Imagine his feelings at having to draw his only son Kotaro's
head from
the box, and hold it up by the hair, and assure the Lord Tokihira that
it was
indeed the head of Kanshusai, Michizane's son! He did so, however, with
great
nerve and splendid fortitude, thus saving the life of Kanshusai, and
fulfilling
his duty to his banished master Michizane. Matsuo's
fidelity is still adored by those who know the story. Not long after a terrible thunderstorm came over Kyoto. A thunderbolt crashed through Tokihira's palace and killed him. To this day people say that Michizane's spirit came down in the shape of that thunderbolt to be avenged. _________________________________
1 This little
tragedy, showing the deep loyalty which was
general 1000 years ago, was told to me by Mr. Matsuzaki of the Kencho
(Government Office). |