Pathway to Japanese Literature
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| Original Title | 愛護若 |
|---|---|
| Author | 折口 信夫 |
| Genre | Fantasy & Sci-Fi |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In the imperial court of Emperor Saga, a bitter rivalry unfolds between noble houses over divine treasures and legacy. Childless minister Kiyohira, shamed by a rival’s taunts, prays desperately at Hasedera Temple for an heir. The bodhisattva Kannon grants his wish—a son named Aigo—but with a harrowing condition: one parent must die when the boy turns three. Tragedy strikes as Aigo’s mother perishes, fulfilling the vow, and his father’s remarriage plunges the boy into a web of deceit. Framed for theft by his jealous stepmother, Aigo is tortured and exiled, fleeing through mystical landscapes where curses twist nature itself—peaches refuse to ripen, hemp withers unspun—as his anguish etches itself into the land. Guided by loyal companions and spectral visions of his mother, Aigo’s journey crescendos in a fateful act of self-sacrifice at a sacred waterfall, binding his spirit to ancient pines and vengeful deities. Blending political intrigue, divine retribution, and haunting folklore, this tale weaves a tapestry of loyalty and betrayal, where human frailties collide with immortal forces, leaving echoes in shrines and festivals for generations untold. |
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