Title : Fudo and Mongaku

Artist : Tomita Keisen

Date : 1923

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Source : Robyn Buntin of Honolulu
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Description : A print of Fudo and Mongaku with an almost watercolor effect created by bokashi shading, from a series by different artists published in 1923, each design representing a character from one of the plays written by the historic playwright Chikamatsu Monzaemon. The tragedy of Kesa Gozen is a tale of passion and remorse. Kesa Gozen was the loyal wife of a palace guard. She was a paragon of virtue and beauty. Endo Morito, a young samurai and her cousin, he fell in love with her beauty. She turned away his persistent advances. Eventually this became too much and she decided to make an end to matters. She agreed to his demands on one condition, that he kill her husband. She told him where he slept and planned with him the murder. Instead of her husband she cut her hair and lei in the bed where he was supposed to be. When Endo Morito realized that he had cut off the head of Kesa instead he became a monk and served penance under the icy Nachi waterfall. During this penance he was strengthened by Fudo Myoo (the immovable)and his two acolytes Seitaka and Kongara. On becoming a monk he took the name Mongaku Shonin.

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