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placed the tablet in his butsudan； ＇2＇ and every day set offerings before it。
He thought a great deal about the strange things that O…Tei had said to him
just before her death； and； in the hope of pleasing her spirit； he wrote a
solemn promise to wed her if she could ever return to him in another body。
This written promise he sealed with his seal； and placed in the butsudan
beside the mortuary tablet of O…Tei。
Nevertheless； as Nagao was an only son； it was necessary that he
should marry。 He soon found himself obliged to yield to the wishes of his
family； and to accept a wife of his father's choosing。 After his marriage he
continued to set offerings before the tablet of O…Tei； and he never failed to
remember her with affection。 But by degrees her image became dim in his
memory； like a dream that is hard to recall。 And the years went by。
During those years many misfortunes came upon him。 He lost his
parents by death； then his wife and his only child。 So that he found
himself alone in the world。 He abandoned his desolate home； and set out
upon a long journey in the hope of forgetting his sorrows。
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KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
One day； in the course of his travels； he arrived at Ikao； a mountain…
village still famed for its thermal springs； and for the beautiful scenery of
its neighborhood。 In the village…inn at which he stopped； a young girl
came to wait upon him； and； at the first sight of her face； he felt his heart
leap as it had never leaped before。 So strangely did she resemble O…Tei
that he pinched himself to make sure that he was not dreaming。 As she
went and came； bringing fire and food； or arranging the chamber of the
guest； her every attitude and motion revived in him some gracious
memory of the girl to whom he had been pledged in his youth。 He spoke to
her； and she responded in a soft； clear voice of which the sweetness
saddened him with a sadness of other days。
Then； in great wonder； he questioned her； saying：
〃Elder Sister （3）； so much do you look like a person whom I knew
long ago； that I was startled when you first entered this room。 Pardon me；
therefore； for asking what is your native place； and what is your name？〃
Immediately； and in the unforgotten voice of the dead； she thus
made answer：
〃My name is O…Tei； and you are Nagao Chosei of Echigo； my
promised husband。 Seventeen years ago； I died in Niigata： then you made
in writing a promise to marry me if ever I could come back to this world in
the body of a woman； and you sealed that written promise with your
seal； and put it in the butsudan； beside the tablet inscribed with my name。
And therefore I came back。〃。。。
As she uttered these last words； she fell unconscious。
Nagao married her； and the marriage was a happy one。 But at no time
afterwards could she remember what she had told him in answer to his
question at Ikao： neither could she remember anything of her previous
existence。 The recollection of the former birth； mysteriously kindled in
the moment of that meeting； had again become obscured； and so
thereafter remained。
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KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
UBAZAKURA
Three hundred years ago； in the village called Asamimura； in the
district called Onsengori； in the province of Iyo； there lived a good man
named Tokubei。 This Tokubei was the richest person in the district； and the
muraosa； or headman； of the village。 In most matters he was fortunate； but
he reached the age of forty without knowing the happiness of becoming a
father。 Therefore he and his wife； in the affliction of their childlessness；
addressed many prayers to the divinity Fudo Myo O； who had a famous
temple； called Saihoji； in Asamimura。
At last their prayers were heard： the wife of Tokubei gave birth to a
daughter。 The child was very pretty； and she received the name of Tsuyu。
As the mother's milk was deficient； a milk…nurse； called O…Sode； was hired
for the little one。
O…Tsuyu grew up to be a very beautiful girl； but at the age of fifteen
she fell sick； and the doctors thought that she was going to die。 In that time
the nurse O…Sode； who loved O…Tsuyu with a real mother's love； went to
the temple Saihoji； and fervently prayed to Fudo…Sama on behalf of the
girl。 Every day； for twenty…one days； she went to the temple and prayed；
and at the end of that time； O…Tsuyu suddenly and completely recovered。
Then there was great rejoicing in the house of Tokubei； and he gave a
feast to all his friends in celebration of the happy event。 But on the night
of the feast the nurse O…Sode was suddenly taken ill； and on the following
morning； the doctor； who had been summoned to attend her； announced
that she was dying。
Then the family； in great sorrow； gathered about her bed； to bid her
farewell。 But she said to them：
〃It is time that I should tell you something which you do not know。
My prayer has been heard。 I besought Fudo…Sama that I might be
permitted to die in the place of O…Tsuyu； and this great favor has been
granted me。 Therefore you must not grieve about my death。。。 But I have
one request to make。 I promised Fudo…Sama that I would have a cherry…
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KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
tree planted in the garden of Saihoji； for a thank…offering and a
commemoration。 Now I shall not be able myself to plant the tree there： so
I must beg that you will fulfill that vow for me。。。 Good…bye； dear friends；
and remember that I was happy to die for O…Tsuyu's sake。〃
After the funeral of O…Sode； a young cherry…tree； the finest that could
be found； was planted in the garden of Saihoji by the parents of O…Tsuyu。
The tree grew and flourished； and on the sixteenth day of the second
month of the following year； the anniversary of O…Sode's death； it
blossomed in a wonderful way。 So it continued to blossom for two
hundred and fifty…four years； always upon the sixteenth day of the
second month； and its flowers； pink and white； were like the nipples of a
woman's breasts； bedewed with milk。 And the people called it Ubazakura；
the Cherry…tree of the Milk…Nurse。
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KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
DIPLOMACY
It had been ordered that the execution should take place in the garden
of the yashiki （1）。 So the man was taken there； and made to kneel down in
a wide sanded space crossed by a line of tobi…ishi； or stepping…stones； such
as you may still see in Japanese landscape…gardens。 His arms were bound
behind him。 Retainers brought water in buckets； and rice…bags filled with
pebbles； and they packed the rice…bags round the kneeling man； so
wedging him in that he could not move。 The master came； and observed
the arrangements。 He found them satisfactory； and made no remarks。
Suddenly the condemned man cried out to him：
〃Honored Sir； the fault for which I have been doomed I did not
wittingly commit。 It was only my very great stupidity which caused the
fault。 Having been born stupid； by reason of my Karma； I could not always
help making mistakes。 But to kill a man for being stupid is wrong； and
that wrong will be repaid。 So surely as you kill me； so surely shall I be
avenged； out of the resentment that you provoke will come the
vengeance； and evil will be rendered for evil。〃。。。
If any person be killed while feeling strong resentment； the ghost of
that person will be able to take vengeance upon the killer。 This the samurai
knew。 He replied very gently； almost caressingly：
〃We shall allow you to frighten us as much as you please after you
are dead。 But it is difficult to believe that you mean what you say。 Will you
try to give us some sign of your great resentment after your head has
been cut