Namida Bridge - Flower Banquet (4)

"Tosho-no-suke. The Master is calling for you."
Suda Genzo, who had been invited to the cherry blossom viewing as expected, came to call Tosho-no-suke. Tosho-no-suke bowed slightly to Awa-no-kami before stepping forward in front of Tameuji.
"My Lord. Did you have some business with me?"
"Yes. The Lady is going to perform a dance, and she said she wanted you to see it as well."
Tameuji said this brightly, seemingly without any ulterior motive. Since Riku, Tosho-no-suke's wife, was also taking care of Princess Michiyo, it was likely a thoughtful gesture to give her something to talk about when she returned home.
Standing behind the Four Heavenly Kings, Tosho-no-suke straightened his back. Princess Michiyo opened a fan decorated with gorgeous ornaments and began to dance with the Kumagawa River and cherry blossoms as her backdrop. It was as if a celestial maiden were dancing on a spring stage.
"The first song pillow of spring. Yoshinoyama where the haze lingers. The nightingale, Sahohime, and the okina-gusa. The wild geese returning, leaving the flowers behind."
The Lady's dignified voice rang out clearly. Where she had learned it, I do not know, but this was also a verse from an imayo. It was typical of her, a young princess, to choose an imayo that sang of spring, such as the beauty of Yoshino, the nightingale, and Sahohime.
Next, Tameuji began to sing as if drawn in by her.
"My longing reaches to Michinoku, my love travels to Suruga; if I had not seen you first, I might have simply forgotten you in the sky and ended it all."
At that song, some of the retainers quietly lowered their eyes. What Tameuji was reciting was a verse from the Ryojin Hisho.
Having seen her for the first time, his love was so full that it reached as far as Michinoku. If he hadn't seen her, he would have forgotten her long before reaching Michinoku, and his love would have ended without ever growing this deep.
Because the song carried such a meaning, it could be taken as him pouring out his love for Princess Michiyo, who was raised in Kamakura, by using a classic story.
(No wonder Riku doesn't know where to look.)
Tosho-no-suke felt he understood why his wife was complaining.
However, perhaps sensing the atmosphere among the retainers, Princess Michiyo glanced over and began to sing and dance a new song.
"The Dragon Girl became a Buddha. Why should we not become one too? Even if the clouds of the five obstacles are thick, the moon of the Tathagata will not be hidden."
This was also a verse from the Ryojin Hisho, but it had a different tone from the love songs until now.
The Dragon Girl, despite being the daughter of the Dragon King, attained Buddhahood through the merits of the Lotus Sutra. Why should we not be able to attain Buddhahood? Surely, we can.
It is said that women have five obstacles that hinder their attainment of Buddhahood. Even if those obstacles were like thick clouds blocking the moonlight, they could not hide the manifestation of this true nature that comes from within. Just as thick clouds cannot completely extinguish the pure and perfect form of the moon.
"Hmm..."
Beside Tosho-no-suke, Awa-no-kami groaned softly.
"That princess is quite clever."
Tosho-no-suke also felt he had misjudged the princess, seeing her respond by reading the mood of the retainers.
Depending on how you interpret it, you could say she was comparing the Dragon Girl to herself and the Dragon King to Jibu-no-taifu. While pretending it was just entertainment for the flower viewing, Princess Michiyo was implicitly calling out to the Wada people, saying, "Even if I was born as a princess of Sukagawa, my heart is with the Wada clan."
She was not just a princess pining for love.
"Tosho-no-suke. Give the Master something appropriate."
Ordered by Mino-no-kami, Tosho-no-suke was momentarily at a loss for words. It seemed Tameuji intended to dance in response to the song that showed the Lady's resolve. He was being asked to recite a song appropriate for that.
After a moment of silent contemplation, Tosho-no-suke nodded to Mino-no-kami.
"The moon of Shakyamuni has hidden away. The morning sun of Maitreya is still far off. In the darkness of the long night in between, only the Lotus Sutra can illuminate us."
Though he is currently in the inner court of Tushita Heaven, he will appear in the future as the Maitreya Buddha. Fifty-six billion seven hundred million years after the passing of Shakyamuni, he will appear in this world to guide all living beings.
Tosho-no-suke intended to liken Tameuji to Maitreya. Implicitly, he was including the meaning that eventually, Tameuji would save the living beings of Sukagawa.
When Tosho-no-suke finished reciting and Tameuji concluded his dance, a sigh of admiration arose from somewhere. It seemed it had been a passing grade.
"As expected of my son-in-law."
Awa-no-kami also wore a gentle smile.

—The sun set behind the mountains of the Wada mansion on the opposite shore, and the party began to clean up after the banquet.
Tosho-no-suke was helping the retainers of Sado-no-kami with the cleanup along with the Aioi brothers and others.
"Lord Isshiki."
At the voice of a young woman, Tosho-no-suke, who was about to carry the sake vessels, stopped his hand. At this gathering, the only young woman was Princess Michiyo.
"That was a magnificent chant earlier."
Princess Michiyo wore a mysterious smile, both like a young girl and a mature woman.
"I am humbled."
He bowed his head to the Lady, dropping to one knee.
"The Master is fortunate to have people like you."
Was it just my imagination, or was there a hint of loneliness mixed into that soft tone?
"What are you saying? Since you have married into the Wada, we intend to serve you just as we serve the Master."
Genzo added hurriedly from the side. It seemed he too had realized the intent behind Princess Michiyo's song.
"I hope that will be the case."
Princess Michiyo smiled faintly.
"However, it seems we haven't even reached Mount Shinobu yet."
Thinking for a moment, Tosho-no-suke gave a wry smile.
What Princess Michiyo was trying to say was likely about the 15th chapter of the Tales of Ise, which the princess loved to read.

If only there were a path to secretly visit Mount Shinobu, so I could see the depths of a person's heart.

Perhaps she brought up Mount Shinobu, which is also in Michinoku, in response to her husband Tameuji hinting at his love for Princess Michiyo by saying it "reaches to the depths of the path."
Was Princess Michiyo comparing herself to the woman waiting at Mount Shinobu without revealing her hidden love? Or was she the man who, unaware of such a woman's feelings, continues to visit while pleading his love? But trying to unravel that might only hurt the princess.
Seeing Princess Michiyo like that, Tameuji, who was nearby, seemed to have thought of something.
"Seibei. Could you break off a few branches of cherry blossoms for me?"
As told, Kashimura Seibei went outside the mansion and soon returned carrying several branches of mountain cherry blossoms.
When Princess Michiyo received them, she handed one to Tosho-no-suke.
"For me as well?"
Tosho-no-suke received the branch bestowed upon him by the princess with trepidation.
"It is a reward for the magnificent chant you performed earlier."
Having been told that much, Tosho-no-suke realized the intention of the master and his wife.
It must be based on the poem in the "Flowers" section of the Wakan Roeishu: "Shall I just tell people I saw them? I shall weave these mountain cherry blossoms into a souvenir for my home."
Is it enough to just state the impression that the mountain cherry blossoms were beautiful? Why not have everyone take a branch home as a souvenir?
If he told Riku that story, she would surely deepen her affection for Princess Michiyo.
"I should also answer with, 'For those who come to see the flowers in my garden, I shall miss them all the more after they have scattered.'"
Sado-no-kami, the master of the Ichinoseki mansion, also smiled gently. This was a poem to the effect that he would miss the guests who came to view the flowers even after the flowers had scattered.
Glancing back, Mino-no-kami and Awa-no-kami, who had followed along, could only smile and watch over this elegant exchange.
It is not quite the words of Ito Sakon from some time ago, but if this young couple has children, perhaps the rift with the Sukagawa people will be resolved. They were a couple that made one feel such harmony—.

©k.maru027.2023

Continuing to "Merits of the Gods and Buddhas (1)"

<Magazine>
https://note.com/k_maru027/m/m70dd24c3a8fb

#Novel
#HistoricalNovel
#Sukagawa
#IwaseRegion
#NikaidoClan
#NamidaBridge
#MuromachiPeriod
#MyWorkIntroduction
#CreativeAward2023