The Transformation at Hidakagawa: Kiyohime's Fatal Passion

From Tsukioka Yoshitoshi's "New Forms of Thirty-six Ghosts" Series

The Fatal Promise

In the year 929, during the reign of Emperor Daigo, a traveling monk named Anchin encountered Kiyohime, the daughter of a wealthy manor lord. Captivated by his beauty, she fell deeply in love. Unable to reject her advances directly, Anchin promised to return after his pilgrimage to Kumano, though he had no intention of keeping this vow.

Kiyohime Transforming into a Serpent at the Hidaka River

The Pursuit of Love

When Anchin deliberately avoided her home on his return journey, Kiyohime, consumed by rage and passion, pursued him barefoot through the mountain paths. Her desperate chase transformed her from a refined noblewoman into a figure of terrifying determination, her rational mind gradually giving way to obsession.

The Supernatural Transformation

Yoshitoshi captures the pivotal moment at the Hidakagawa River, where Kiyohime's consuming passion triggers her metamorphosis into a serpent. Unable to cross by boat, she plunges into the rushing waters, her elaborate robes and long hair beginning to take on serpentine characteristics. The print masterfully depicts this transition between human and supernatural forms.

The Tragic Conclusion

This transformation would lead to the tale's tragic conclusion at Dōjōji Temple, where Anchin sought refuge beneath the temple bell. Kiyohime, in her serpent form, would coil around the bell, her supernatural powers ultimately leading to both their deaths—a powerful testament to the destructive power of betrayed love.

Artistic Interpretation

Yoshitoshi brilliantly renders this moment of transformation, using the pattern of Kiyohime's kimono to suggest scales, while her flowing robes and hair merge with the river's currents, symbolizing the fluid boundary between human passion and supernatural power.

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