#25 Why was Fujiwara no Michinaga saved by just a "voice"? The invisible power feared by Heian aristocrats [Tales of the Forgotten Records]

Sometimes, a single human voice can drive away a spirit—a record of a quiet, eerie occurrence told in the capital of the Heian period.

Fujiwara no Michinaga fell ill.

Many doctors were called to examine him, but they all simply shook their heads. They said the cause of the illness was unknown. People whispered that this sickness must be the work of a spirit.

Michinaga lay on his sickbed for many days, his complexion worsening by the day. There were no signs of recovery, and it is said that Michinaga himself gradually began to lose heart.

Because Michinaga could not attend to government affairs, the administration of the Imperial Court began to stall. Fujiwara no Sanesuke was concerned about this. Even though he was ill, if things continued this way, it would hinder the government. Thinking this, Sanesuke decided to visit Michinaga's residence to offer his sympathies and discuss future matters.

"Sanesuke has arrived!"

At the gate of the residence, Sanesuke shouted from the bottom of his lungs. His voice was so deep and resonant that the trees planted in the garden rustled slightly.

Awakened by that voice, Michinaga smiled weakly, saying, "Hmph, is that Sanesuke..." and called for his nearby attendants. He wanted them to help him sit up.

Meanwhile, the household members who welcomed Sanesuke at the gate guided him respectfully to the inner quarters.

It was just as Sanesuke was being shown to the waiting room that the household members heard a voice from nowhere.

"I hear the voice of the wise Sanesuke. I cannot remain with this person. I shall depart."

It was a hideous voice, as if it were crawling up from the depths of the earth. The household members shuddered involuntarily and looked around, but there was no one there.

The people realized: the owner of that voice must have been the spirit that had possessed Michinaga.

As proof, after Sanesuke's visit, Michinaga's condition visibly improved. The illness suddenly lightened, and before long, he had recovered enough to leave his bed.

So, what exactly was it that had been tormenting Michinaga?

To this day, it remains unknown.

What this story conveys may not be the true nature of the supernatural, but rather the cold logic of power underlying Heian society, where the presence of one who embodies righteousness and dignity can influence even illness and fate.

From "The Evil Spirit of Fujiwara no Michinaga Departs at the Voice of Fujiwara no Sanesuke's Herald" (Kojidan)Note: This story was dramatized by the author based on the source above. The image was created using generative AI.