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KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
THE STORY OF MIMI…NASHI…
HOICHI
More than seven hundred years ago； at Dan…no…ura； in the Straits of
Shimonoseki； was fought the last battle of the long contest between the
Heike； or Taira clan； and the Genji； or Minamoto clan。 There the Heike
perished utterly； with their women and children； and their infant emperor
likewise now remembered as Antoku Tenno。 And that sea and shore
have been haunted for seven hundred years。。。 Elsewhere I told you about
the strange crabs found there； called Heike crabs； which have human faces
on their backs； and are said to be the spirits of the Heike warriors ＇1＇。 But
there are many strange things to be seen and heard along that coast。 On
dark nights thousands of ghostly fires hover about the beach； or flit above
the waves； pale lights which the fishermen call Oni…bi； or demon…fires；
and； whenever the winds are up； a sound of great shouting comes from
that sea； like a clamor of battle。
In former years the Heike were much more restless than they now are。
They would rise about ships passing in the night； and try to sink them； and
at all times they would watch for swimmers； to pull them down。 It was in
order to appease those dead that the Buddhist temple； Amidaji； was built at
Akamagaseki ＇2＇。 A cemetery also was made close by； near the beach； and
within it were set up monuments inscribed with the names of the drowned
emperor and of his great vassals； and Buddhist services were regularly
performed there； on behalf of the spirits of them。 After the temple had
been built； and the tombs erected； the Heike gave less trouble than before；
but they continued to do queer things at intervals； proving that they had
not found the perfect peace。
Some centuries ago there lived at Akamagaseki a blind man named
Hoichi； who was famed for his skill in recitation and in playing upon the
biwa ＇3＇。 》From childhood he had been trained to recite and to play； and
while yet a lad he had surpassed his teachers。 As a professional biwa…hoshi
he became famous chiefly by his recitations of the history of the Heike
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KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
and the Genji； and it is said that when he sang the song of the battle of
Dan…no…ura 〃even the goblins ＇kijin＇ could not refrain from tears。〃
At the outset of his career； Hoichi was very poor； but he found a good
friend to help him。 The priest of the Amidaji was fond of poetry and music；
and he often invited Hoichi to the temple； to play and recite。 Afterwards；
being much impressed by the wonderful skill of the lad； the priest
proposed that Hoichi should make the temple his home； and this offer was
gratefully accepted。 Hoichi was given a room in the temple…building； and；
in return for food and lodging； he was required only to gratify the priest
with a musical performance on certain evenings； when otherwise
disengaged。
One summer night the priest was called away； to perform a Buddhist
service at the house of a dead parishioner； and he went there with his
acolyte； leaving Hoichi alone in the temple。 It was a hot night； and the
blind man sought to cool himself on the verandah before his sleeping…
room。 The verandah overlooked a small garden in the rear of the Amidaji。
There Hoichi waited for the priest's return； and tried to relieve his solitude
by practicing upon his biwa。 Midnight passed； and the priest did not
appear。 But the atmosphere was still too warm for comfort within doors；
and Hoichi remained outside。 At last he heard steps approaching from the
back gate。 Somebody crossed the garden； advanced to the verandah； and
halted directly in front of him but it was not the priest。 A deep voice
called the blind man's name abruptly and unceremoniously； in the
manner of a samurai summoning an inferior：
〃Hoichi！〃
〃Hai！〃 （1） answered the blind man； frightened by the menace in the
voice； 〃I am blind！ I cannot know who calls！〃
〃There is nothing to fear；〃 the stranger exclaimed； speaking more
gently。 〃I am stopping near this temple； and have been sent to you with a
message。 My present lord； a person of exceedingly high rank； is now
staying in Akamagaseki； with many noble attendants。 He wished to view
the scene of the battle of Dan…no…ura； and to…day he visited that place。
Having heard of your skill in reciting the story of the battle； he now
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KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
desires to hear your performance： so you will take your biwa and come
with me at once to the house where the august assembly is waiting。〃
In those times； the order of a samurai was not to be lightly disobeyed。
Hoichi donned his sandals； took his biwa； and went away with the stranger；
who guided him deftly； but obliged him to walk very fast。 The hand that
guided was iron； and the clank of the warrior's stride proved him fully
armed； probably some palace…guard on duty。 Hoichi's first alarm was
over： he began to imagine himself in good luck； for； remembering the
retainer's assurance about a 〃person of exceedingly high rank；〃 he thought
that the lord who wished to hear the recitation could not be less than a
daimyo of the first class。 Presently the samurai halted； and Hoichi became
aware that they had arrived at a large gateway； and he wondered； for he
could not remember any large gate in that part of the town； except the
main gate of the Amidaji。 〃Kaimon！〃 ＇4＇ the samurai called； and there
was a sound of unbarring； and the twain passed on。 They traversed a space
of garden； and halted again before some entrance； and the retainer cried in
a loud voice； 〃Within there！ I have brought Hoichi。〃 Then came sounds of
feet hurrying； and screens sliding； and rain…doors opening； and voices of
womeni n converse。 By the language of the women Hoichi knew them to
be domestics in some noble household； but he could not imagine to what
place he had been conducted。 Little time was allowed him for conjecture。
After he had been helpe