“Hodaraku is the legendary island
paradise in the South Seas where Kannon, the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, dwells.
A legend grew up n Japan in the ninth century that those worshippers of Kannon
who set sail from the southernmost tip of Japan’s main island, which lies in
the province of Kumano, would be carried by the currents to this “Pure Land”
island paradise and live there with Kannon in eternal joy. Over the course of
the centuries a number of people made this sea pilgrimage from which there
could be no return, and by the sixteenth century, the sea crossing had hardened
into a ritual.” P. 71.
A number of religious leaders had set
off alive to the Isle of Hodaraku. Their moves were various. Some knew they
were going to die. Many had faith that they would be gathered up by Kannon to live in eternal joy. Some expressed a
sense of peace in anticipation of the trip. Konkobo was reluctant to make the
journey. Public opinion forced him to. After he made the voyage—however it
ended—most following monks made the voyage after they were dead.
This story is emblematic of what it is
like to prepare to die with its variety of motives.
Rating: **** out of
*****.
About the Author:
“Born in 1907, Inoue Yasushi has been writing fiction almost continuously since
graduating from Kyoto University in 1036. His early work dealt with
psychological realities behind shifting appearances in human relationships; one
of these early stories, “The Hunting Gun,” is often compared to the Akutagawa
story on which the film Rashomon was
based. More recently, he has been concentrating on semi-documentary historical
works, based on thorough scholarly research. Inoue has won five major literary
prizes and has lectured at the University of Hawaii. The story was translated
by Jeanette Robinson.”
Short Story International
#30. Sylvia Tankel, Ed. February 1982, pp. 71-93.
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