WARNING; HORROR AHEAD
(If you aren't comfy with horror, please proceed/wait for the next chapter. I'm sorry anti-horror fans!)
Around the time after the Kakitsu Revolt in the year of 1441, there lived a man named Odagaki Shumesuke, a chief retainer who was from a family of high status in the Hatama country of Aoyama (Modern day Himeji city).
Oda resided in a magnificent mansion in the mountains, it was a luxurious place. In his household, there worked a servant named Hanano. She was a rare beauty, and many people often took interest in her.
A young samurai named Kasadera Shinemon pursued Hanano because of her charming beauty by writing her love letter after love letter; but she always refused every one of his attempts.
In the family Odagaki family, one of the great treasures were five precious abalone drinking cups that they had received from the lord of the clan.
One day Odagaki noticed that one was missing from its usual place. He questioned Hanano about the missing cup, but she could only express her surprise about the missing cup just like him.
Enraged and furious, Odagaki tortured Hanano, demanding her to give back the precious heirloom. He accused her of theft from the family, and threatened her.
But what Odagaki didn't realize was that the cup had been hidden by Kasadera in revenge for Hanano's repeated rejections.
Kasadera eagerly joined in the persecution, beating Hanano severely while demanding return of the cup. He showed his anger and frustration to Hannao by continuously hitting her violently.
Finally, while bound and hanging from a pine tree, Hanano died a tragic and sad death. With her innocent and unfair death, Hanano's spirit was outraged of the men's treatment towards her, not even listening to her side of the problem.
From then on, the terrible power of Hanano's rage could be felt at the mansion every single night, and the tree from which she died became a known spot in the mansion as the Hanging Pine by the people who lived in it.
THANK YOU FOR READING! (This is not my original work. All japanese folklore belongs to Japan and Japan only.)
P.S. sorry for the short chapter...
edited - mar 27, 2021
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Japanese Folk Tales
Historical FictionA collection of Japanese folk tales and legends. (Stories originally from Japan) I do not own these stories, nor the pictures. All Credit goes to the creators and Sources.
