The Sparrows of Longing: Fujiwara no Sanekata's Spiritual Return
- Re.JapBook
- Jan 25
- 2 min read
From Tsukioka Yoshitoshi's "New Forms of Thirty-six Ghosts" Series
The Court Poet's Disgrace
This poignant print depicts the tale of Fujiwara no Sanekata, a renowned poet of the mid-Heian period. In 995, during Emperor Ichijō's reign, Sanekata committed an unforgivable breach of court etiquette when, in a moment of rage, he struck off Fujiwara no Yukinari's crown during an argument at the imperial court.
The Bitter Exile
For this transgression, Sanekata was banished to the distant province of Mutsu (modern-day northeastern Japan). Far from the refined culture of Kyoto, he spent his remaining days in lonely exile, his heart forever yearning for the capital. Unable to secure permission to return, he eventually died in profound despair.
The Spiritual Transformation
After Sanekata's death, mysterious events began occurring at the imperial palace. Each morning, flocks of sparrows would appear, pecking at rice and disturbing the crops. These birds became known as the Nyūnai Suzume (Palace-entering Sparrows) or Sanekata Suzume, as people believed they embodied the poet's restless spirit, finally achieving his wish to return to the capital.
The Dream Visitation
In a moving epilogue to the tale, a sparrow appeared in the dream of a monk at the Kangaku-in temple, declaring: "I am Sanekata. Though my body perished in Mutsu, my soul has returned to the capital in the form of a sparrow." The next morning, the monk discovered a dead sparrow in the temple grounds and, moved by compassion, built a memorial mound for the transformed poet.
Artistic Interpretation
Yoshitoshi captures this melancholic tale with remarkable sensitivity, showing Sanekata watching the playful sparrows among spring flowers. The contrast between the birds' freedom and the poet's earthbound form poignantly expresses his unfulfilled longing for home.
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