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Picture scroll of Kesagozen story(袈裟御前物語絵巻) `Monkaku Hashin''(文覚発心) Muromachi Period
Picture scroll of Kesagozen story(袈裟御前物語絵巻)
`Monkaku Hashin''(文覚発心)
Muromachi Period
Total 123×64 cm
Main 34,8×51,7 cm
Hanging scroll
accessory:double wood box
Kesagozen was a woman from the late Heian period. She was the wife of Wataru Minamoto, a samurai from the north. She was loved by Moritoo Endo, and in order to save her husband's life, she took his place and was killed by Moritoo. Moritoo became a monk in shame and took the name Mongaku.
【読み】
It happened in the spring of 1137.
Moritoo Endo found a beautiful woman.
Her name is Kesagozen.
Moritoo is completely infatuated with her, but Moritoo and Kesagozen are actually cousins.
Moritoo decides to discuss this matter with his aunt, Kesagozen's mother, Kinugawa.
This was the beginning of the tragedy.
Kinugawa admonishes Moritoo, saying, ``That girl is already a married woman, so give up.''
Moritoo then pulled out his sword and threatened Kinugawa, saying, ``If I can't fulfill this feeling, I'll kill you.''
In response to this, Kinugawa meets with Kesagozen and talks about Moritoo.
Since her mother was taken hostage by her, Kesagozen said that he would respond to Morien's feelings.
When Kinugawa conveyed this to Moritoo, a letter was immediately delivered to Kesagozen.
It says when should I go see you?
Kesagozen replies to this letter as follows.
"If you don't kill her husband, I won't be able to meet you," she said.
Kesagozen wrote in her letter, ``Tonight I will have her husband wash her hair and put her to bed, so please check hair. If the hair is wet, it is my husband.''
That night, Kesagozen gives her husband, Watari, a drink and puts him to bed.
When Wataru was completely asleep, Kesagozen dressed Wataru in own kimono, and she put on men's clothes.
And she finally sleeps with her own hair wet.
Now, Moritoo has arrived at the mansion.
As Kesagozen had told her, she searched for her bedside in the darkness and touched her wet hair.
Moritoo swings his sword down on the neck of the owner of the hair, grabs the severed head, and flees from the mansion.
However, when Moritoo looks at the head in a bright place, he discovers that it does not belong to Kesagozen's husband Wataru, who was supposed to be killed, but to Moritoo's beloved Kesagozen.
Kesagozen could not abandon his mother, but he also could not betray her husband.
So he decided that he would die and deceived Moritoo.
When Moritoo understood Kesagozen's resolve, he returned to his mansion.
Moritoo confessed everything to Wataru.
He then tells her that he should kill me to avenge his grudge.
Wataru did not kill Moritoo and also stopped him from harming himself, saying, ``Let's become monks and mourn together for Kesagozen.''
In this way, Moritoo became a monk.
Kesagozen, who protected his family even at the cost of his own life.
Her choice of Kesagozen is very sad, but she was able to protect what she wanted to protect.
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