The Waterfall Ghost: A Tale of Devotion and Vengeance
- Re.JapBook
- Feb 13
- 1 min read
From Tsukioka Yoshitoshi's "New Forms of Thirty-six Ghosts" Series
The Tragic Love
This haunting print illustrates a scene from "Hakone Reigen Izari no Katakiuchi" (The Miraculous Revenge of the Cripple at Hakone), featuring the ghost of Hatsuhana, a devoted wife whose supernatural dedication transcended death itself.
The Path of Vengeance
The tale follows Iinuma Katsugoro, who seeks revenge against Takiguchi Kōzuke for his brother's murder. While serving under the Hōjō clan, Katsugoro falls in love with and marries Hatsuhana, but becomes crippled by illness during their quest for vengeance.
The Ultimate Sacrifice
When they finally encounter Takiguchi at Amida Temple during a memorial service, he threatens to kill both Katsugoro and Hatsuhana's mother unless she submits to him. Hatsuhana pretends to agree but attempts to kill him, resulting in her own death instead.
The Supernatural Devotion
Yoshitoshi captures the extraordinary moment when Hatsuhana's ghost performs ritual purification under the waterfall, praying to the Hakone Gongen deity for her husband's recovery. Her supernatural dedication is rewarded when Katsugoro miraculously regains the use of his legs.
The Final Peace
After witnessing her husband's recovery and the fulfillment of their revenge, Hatsuhana's spirit finally finds peace, disappearing into the waterfall's depths. The print powerfully conveys both the physical force of the waterfall and the ethereal nature of the devoted ghost.
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