Peony Princess & Other Old Myths and Legends

Peony Princess -STORY 1 from Japanese Mythology

Aya, a sweet maid, was the only child of a daimyo of the Province of Omi, a noble lord, and a warrior. When Aya became 16, her father gave her to the second son of another high lord. 

Waiting for the wedding, Aya spent her time with her friends. One night, they walked into the garden. As they admired the reflection of the moon on the pond, Aya's foot slipped upon a smooth stone. She would have fallen into the pond if it wasn't for a young man, who came out of the sweet secrecy of the night and caught her in his arms. For a moment, all the maidens admired the glimmer of his garments. Then he was gone. Aya stood alone, trembling, in a wilderness of blossoming peony flowers that grew to the water's edge. She had planted them herself and was fond of them.

Aya fell in love with the young man who had rescued her. She only confided this secret to her friend Sada.

After this night, Aya fell into a deep melancholy. By day she sighed, and by night she wept. She smiled no more and would not play with her friends in the garden gallery. None of the wise men and all the wise women of that country-side could heal her of her sickness. Then Sada went to the Lord of the House and told him of the moonlight adventure and the fair youth of the peony bed. The lord searched all the castle and its grounds, but not a trace did he find of any stranger in hiding.

That night they bore Aya out onto her garden gallery. A minstrel of the household played music and sang, trying to entertain her.

As the music went on, a handsome young man stood up from the rosy sea of peonies by the pond. All saw clearly his bright eyes, his sword, and his dress embroidered with flowers. Aya gave a wild cry and ran to the edge of the garden gallery, holding out her white arms. And immediately the vision disappeared.

As soon as the musicians started playing again, the mysterious knight of the flowers stood once again straight and tall, his shining eyes were fixed upon the Aya.

Then a gentleman of the company of the daimyo who was a mighty man of war, drew his sword to do battle with the bold stranger that gazed upon his master's daughter. A cloud drew across the moon's face as if by magic, and of a sudden, a great hot wind blew from the south. The peony bed was tossed about like a troubled sea, and the pink and white petals flew like foam. A mist, damp and over-sweet, hung upon the wind so that all who were there grew faint and clung to one another, trembling.

When they were recovered, they found the night still and the moon crystal clear. The soldier of the daimyo's company stood white as death at the steps of the garden gallery. In his right hand, he held his unstained sword, in his left a perfect peony flower.

Aya said, "Give me the flower"; and he gave it to her without a word, as one in a dream.

Aya went to her bower and slept holding the peony close to her heart. Now she was happy. 

For nine days she kept the flower. The sweet color came to her face and the light to her eyes. She was perfectly healed of her sickness.

At the end of this time, the young bridegroom - the prince who was going to marry her - came riding to wed his long-promised lady. So he and the Lady Aya were married with a great feast that lasted many days.  But some of her close friends whispered that princess Aya looked pale and was pale. Maybe she was not as happy about the marriage as she pretended. 

And the same day the peony vanished.

This story is finished, but I continue writing other old legends. The next one, BUTTERFLY LOVERS, comes from China. It is one of the oldest and most famous Chinese love stories and legends. 

Art is by/ © Laverine