[A Rinzai Zen Buddhist monk, teacher, calligraphist, poet, garden designer, & the most famous monk of his time, he is also known as Musō Kokushi, a posthumous name given him by Emperor Go-Daigo
1275 - Ise - Oct. 20, 1351.]

An Obakebanashi

The legend of the jikininki is told in the old Japanese tale of the Buddhist priest Muso Kokushi. It is said that Muso was traveling alone through the mountains in the Mino prefecture of Japan when he lost his way. It was almost dark when he saw an old anjitsu, the home of solitary priests, at the top of a hill and asked the inhabitant if he could stay the...

EXCERPT: Lufcadio Hearn
An Obakebanashi
In Ghostly Japan

Yoru bakari
Miru mono nari to
Omou-nayo!
Hiru saë yumé no
Ukiyo nari-kéri.

Think not that dreams
appear to the dreamer
only at night:
the dream of this world of pain
appears to us even by day.

(Japanese Poem)

And it was at the hour of sunset that they came to the foot of the mountain. There was in that place no sign of life,–neither token of water, nor trace of plant, nor shadow of flying bird,–nothing but desolation rising to desolation. And the summit was lost in heaven.

Then the Bodhisattva said to his young companion:–”What you have asked...