Pathway to Japanese Literature

Discover Japan's stories—across time, across language.

DōkyōAuthor: Sakaguchi Ango

Original Title	道鏡
Author	坂口安吾
Genre	Historical Fiction
Author Type	Male Author
Summary	In a transformative era of Japanese history where empresses wielded unprecedented influence, a tale unfolds of ambition, devotion, and the collision of sacred duty with human desire. At its heart is a revered empress, raised from birth as the embodiment of divine sovereignty, whose reign becomes entangled with a charismatic Buddhist monk of royal lineage. Their forbidden bond ignites a political firestorm, drawing scheming courtiers into a web of manipulation and betrayal. As spiritual fervor and earthly power intertwine, grand temples rise while the people suffer, and imperial succession becomes a battleground for competing visions of Japan's soul. Through lavish rituals and shadowy conspiracies, the story explores what happens when absolute devotion meets absolute power—and whether love can survive the weight of dynastic destiny. This sweeping historical drama reveals both the glittering heights of imperial authority and the fragile humanity beneath ceremonial robes, set against the twilight of an age where women shaped an empire's fate.