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reborn； immediately after my death； into the state of a jikininki。 Since then
I have been obliged to feed upon the corpses of the people who die in this
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KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
district： every one of them I must devour in the way that you saw last
night。。。 Now； reverend Sir； let me beseech you to perform a Segaki…service
＇2＇ for me： help me by your prayers； I entreat you； so that I may be soon
able to escape from this horrible state of existence〃。。。
No sooner had the hermit uttered this petition than he disappeared；
and the hermitage also disappeared at the same instant。 And Muso
Kokushi found himself kneeling alone in the high grass； beside an ancient
and moss…grown tomb of the form called go…rin…ishi； ＇3＇ which seemed to
be the tomb of a priest。
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KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
MUJINA
On the Akasaka Road； in Tokyo； there is a slope called Kii…no…kuni…
zaka； which means the Slope of the Province of Kii。 I do not know why
it is called the Slope of the Province of Kii。 On one side of this slope you
see an ancient moat； deep and very wide； with high green banks rising up
to some place of gardens； and on the other side of the road extend the
long and lofty walls of an imperial palace。 Before the era of street…lamps
and jinrikishas； this neighborhood was very lonesome after dark； and
belated pedestrians would go miles out of their way rather than mount the
Kii…no…kuni…zaka； alone； after sunset。
All because of a Mujina that used to walk there。 （1）
The last man who saw the Mujina was an old merchant of the
Kyobashi quarter； who died about thirty years ago。 This is the story； as he
told it：
One night； at a late hour； he was hurrying up the Kii…no…kuni…zaka；
when he perceived a woman crouching by the moat； all alone； and
weeping bitterly。 Fearing that she intended to drown herself； he stopped to
offer her any assistance or consolation in his power。 She appeared to be a
slight and graceful person； handsomely dressed； and her hair was arranged
like that of a young girl of good family。 〃O…jochu；〃 ＇1＇ he exclaimed；
approaching her； 〃O…jochu； do not cry like that！。。。 Tell me what the
trouble is； and if there be any way to help you； I shall be glad to help you。〃
（He really meant what he said； for he was a very kind man。） But she
continued to weep； hiding her face from him with one of her long sleeves。
〃O…jochu；〃 he said again； as gently as he could； 〃please； please listen to
me！。。。 This is no place for a young lady at night！ Do not cry； I implore you！
only tell me how I may be of some help to you！〃 Slowly she rose up； but
turned her back to him； and continued to moan and sob behind her sleeve。
He laid his hand lightly upon her shoulder； and pleaded： 〃O…jochu！ O…
jochu！ O…jochu！。。。 Listen to me； just for one little moment！。。。 O…jochu！
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KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
O…jochu！〃。。。 Then that O…jochu turned around； and dropped her sleeve； and
stroked her face with her hand； and the man saw that she had no eyes or
nose or mouth； and he screamed and ran away。 （2）
Up Kii…no…kuni…zaka he ran and ran； and all was black and empty
before him。 On and on he ran； never daring to look back； and at last he
saw a lantern； so far away that it looked like the gleam of a firefly； and he
made for it。 It proved to be only the lantern of an itinerant soba…seller； ＇2＇
who had set down his stand by the road…side； but any light and any human
companionship was good after that experience； and he flung himself down
at the feet of the soba…seller； crying out； 〃Ah！ aa！！ aa！！！〃。。。
〃Kore！ kore！〃 （3） roughly exclaimed the soba…man。 〃Here！ what is
the matter with you？ Anybody hurt you？〃
〃No nobody hurt me；〃 panted the other； 〃only。。。 Ah！ aa！〃
〃 Only scared you？〃 queried the peddler； unsympathetically。
〃Robbers？〃
〃Not robbers； not robbers；〃 gasped the terrified man。。。 〃I saw。。。 I
saw a woman by the moat； and she showed me。。。 Ah！ I cannot tell you
what she showed me！〃。。。
〃He！ （4） Was it anything like THIS that she showed you？〃 cried the
soba…man； stroking his own face which therewith became like unto an
Egg。。。 And； simultaneously； the light went out。
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KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
ROKURO…KUBI
Nearly five hundred years ago there was a samurai； named Isogai
Heidazaemon Taketsura； in the service of the Lord Kikuji； of Kyushu。 This
Isogai had inherited； from many warlike ancestors； a natural aptitude for
military exercises； and extraordinary strength。 While yet a boy he had
surpassed his teachers in the art of swordsmanship； in archery； and in the
use of the spear； and had displayed all the capacities of a daring and
skillful soldier。 Afterwards； in the time of the Eikyo ＇1＇ war； he so
distinguished himself that high honors were bestowed upon him。 But when
the house of Kikuji came to ruin； Isogai found himself without a master。
He might then easily have obtained service under another daimyo； but as
he had never sought distinction for his own sake alone； and as his heart
remained true to his former lord； he preferred to give up the world。 so he
cut off his hair； and became a traveling priest； taking the Buddhist name
of Kwairyo。
But always； under the koromo ＇2＇ of the priest； Kwairyo kept warm
within him the heart of the samurai。 As in other years he had laughed at
peril； so now also he scorned danger； and in all weathers and all seasons
he journeyed to preach the good Law in places where no other priest
would have dared to go。 For that age was an age of violence and disorder；
and upon the highways there was no security for the solitary traveler； even
if he happened to be a priest。
In the course of his first long journey； Kwairyo had occasion to visit
the province of Kai。 （1） One evening； as he was traveling through the
mountains of that province； darkness overcame him in a very lonesome
district； leagues away from a