The Peony Lantern: A Tale of Supernatural Love
- Re.JapBook
- Feb 7
- 1 min read
From Tsukioka Yoshitoshi's "New Forms of Thirty-six Ghosts" Series
The Fatal Romance
This haunting print illustrates the legendary tale of Otsuyu, daughter of the hatamoto Iijima Heizaemon, who died of love for Hagiwara Shinzaburō. Her devoted nurse Oyone followed her mistress in death, but their story was far from over.
The Ghostly Visitation
On the thirteenth night of Obon, Shinzaburō received an unexpected visit. There stood Otsuyu, accompanied by Oyone, carrying a distinctive peony lantern. Though he had heard of their deaths, Shinzaburō's joy at their reunion overcame his suspicions.
The Terrible Truth
The supernatural nature of these visits was discovered by Shinzaburō's servant Tomozō, who witnessed a horrifying sight: his master embracing not a beautiful young woman, but a skeleton, while fireflies danced around the mosquito netting.
The Buddhist Protection
Warned that his life was in danger, Shinzaburō received a golden Kaionyorai statue and protective talismans from Priest Ryōseki. These barriers were meant to keep the ghostly visitors at bay, though Otsuyu's nightly laments outside his home tested his resolve.
Artistic Interpretation
Yoshitoshi masterfully captures the eerie beauty of this supernatural romance, depicting the moment when the boundaries between life and death blur in the soft glow of the peony lantern.
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