The Haunting Love: Ghost of Seigen Pursuing Princess Sakura
- Re.JapBook
- Jan 16
- 1 min read
Updated: Jan 25
From Tsukioka Yoshitoshi's "New Forms of Thirty-six Ghosts" Series
The Tragic Tale
This haunting print illustrates a pivotal scene from the kabuki play "Sakura Hime Azuma Bunshō," a complex tale of forbidden love, supernatural possession, and karmic retribution. The story centers on Princess Sakura, a noble maiden afflicted with a mysterious condition that left her unable to open her left hand.
The Fateful Encounter
The narrative takes a dramatic turn when Priest Seigen, a high-ranking Buddhist monk, helps the princess through prayer, miraculously curing her affliction. However, upon discovering a perfume box bearing his name in her newly opened hand, Seigen realizes she is the reincarnation of his lost love from seventeen years prior.
The Descent into Tragedy
Their paths become inextricably intertwined through a series of tragic events. After both are exiled for different transgressions, Seigen's obsessive love for Princess Sakura leads to his illness and eventual death. However, death proves no barrier to his devotion.
The Supernatural Bond
In this print, Yoshitoshi captures the chilling moment when Seigen's ghost appears before Princess Sakura, revealing shocking truths about their karmic connections and the complex web of relationships binding them together. The scene exemplifies the Buddhist concept of earthly attachments persisting beyond death.
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