Background
Omori Hikoshichi was born in 1340.
Omori Hikoshichi was born in 1340.
In the Battle of Minatogawa (Hyogo Prefecture), he defeated Masashige Kusunoki, warrior of the South Dynasty, and forced him to commit hara-kiri. For the exploit, he was amply rewarded by Takauji Ashikaga.
According to legend, once when he was going to a sarugaku (earlier form of kyogen, or comic noh drama) party with his family, he met a beautiful woman. He carried heron his back to wade a stream, when the woman turned into a demon and attempted to lift him skyward, grasping his hair. It was the unreposed soul of Masashige which took the form of the demon. Hikoshichi afterward encountered similar apparitions but they ceased to haunt him by virtue of Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra.
