The Story of the Beginning 17: The Name of the Serpent

The next day.
Swish, swish. Swish, swish.
I woke up to the sound of someone sweeping with a broom.
It seems the area in front of the shrine is covered in gravel.

The chirping of small birds and the sounds of insects.
There is also the gentle sound of water.
I head toward the doorway, intending to go to the water's edge.

Wait a moment.
You can't go out yet!

Ichiyo raised her voice loudly and clearly to stop me.
The man outside stopped his hand holding the broom,
and peeked in, asking, "Are you awake?"

"Ah, Tatsukichi, sorry, but could you go fetch some water in a bucket?"
As she said this, the serpent slid smoothly into the bucket that was brought.
Does she think I'm going to run away?

I watch the situation suspiciously.

Then, again, there is the sound of someone approaching quickly—crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch.

"Hey, Ichiyo, I've finished it!"
A large man bows his head to enter so his eboshi hat doesn't catch on the doorway.
He is dressed like a nobleman.

The man raised his head, saw my face, and was surprised.
Why are you here?
The man looked at the serpent and grinned.

He has taken on the form of a human, but there is no mistake.

Ichiyo paid no attention to the serpent's state,
and instead said in a lively voice, "Michizane! Did you finish it!"

"Yes, take a look!"
Michizane takes a large piece of paper out of a long tube.
"How about this!"
He confidently held the paper down from about shoulder height with both hands.

It was a depiction, drawn in ink, of my form from that day as I ascended to the heavens.

"Ohhhhh! This is amazing!"
Ichiyo raised both hands and jumped as if her whole body were bouncing,
praising the painting.
It wasn't beautiful in a sparkling, radiant way, but
the shading of the ink and the flowing, smooth lines
were, even to the eyes of a serpent, nothing short of magnificent.

However,
do they intend to make a spectacle of me by painting such a picture?
And this man called Michizane, though he has taken human form,
is he not an apostle of the Supreme Deity?

Ichiyo finally turned her attention to the serpent.
"I need to explain and introduce you."
She said this and began to tell the reason why.

While I was at the imperial court,
I went around seeing and hearing everything, from books and lectures at the university to the sermons of monks.

Ono no Michizane here is my mentor for that.
As you can see, he is excellent at calligraphy and painting,
and since he comes from a family that originally held priestly positions,
I also consult with him on various matters.

The main topic of those consultations is this:
Various new cultures and knowledge have come in from Tang, right?
Various arts, starting with Chinese poetry and pharmacology, have been introduced,
and the cultural level of this country has risen significantly, but
if you ask whether people's lives have improved because of it,
that is not the case.

Things like being struck by mysterious illnesses
happen frequently,
and it seems that is the work of those who use yin-yang as sorcery.
Perhaps the curses are also their doing,
and it is extremely detestable that Lord Michizane is being blamed for things he did not do even after his death.

Onmyoji do not dirty their own hands,
but use serpents and other living things with mysterious powers.
Once caught and named by an onmyoji,
you are bound forever, even after the onmyoji dies.
They seem to call them shikigami, but
such things are certainly not the work of gods.

To them, you on that day were
someone they had to get their hands on at any cost.
I am truly glad I was able to find you that night.

Ichiyo spoke quickly, her tone intensifying.

Michikaze had placed a barrier around this shrine,
so it seems we managed to avoid being found.

On this portrait that captured you that night,
I will now bestow a name.
Since it is not you yourself, it will not bind you.
Because it merely captures your transformation,
it will likely serve as your own protection as well.

Are you ready, Michikaze?
Yes, I have written that down properly as well.
Saying that, he spread out another sheet of paper.

On it, the character for 'Dragon' was
written powerfully.

Since this is a draft post, I have inserted
a photograph of the folding screen painting of Kuzuryu-sama.

↑ This is an introductory article about Kuzuryu-sama and the Nyan-Nyan-Ji temple where the painting was dedicated,
written by the head priest.

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Thank you for reading.