Sanuki no Suke’s Diary (3)

 

     As the sun set, the Emperor's pain became unbearable, so the situation was reported to the Cloistered Emperor Shirakawa (1053-1129), the Emperor’s father.

     "The Cloistered Emperor was astonished, and said, 'I will inquire about his condition at a nearby location,' so he suddenly came to the Northern Palace," the messenger reported when he returned.

     As the Emperor appeared to be in such severe pain, we brought lights closer to him than usual and kept an eye on him, until he suddenly passed out.  "Oh, this is terrible," everyone exclaimed.  The Minister of the Interior and the Chancellor entered the palace and sat closely at the Emperor's side.  The people around him all began chanting Buddhist prayers loudly.

     One after another, messengers were sent to fetch Priests Zoyo (1032-1116), Raiki, and Zoken.  Priest Raiki immediately arrived and recited sutras, making detailed requests to the Buddha.  After a while, the Emperor stirred slightly, and the people chanted even louder.  Hearing the monk reciting the sutra, the Emperor ordered, "There is no point in reciting sutras now.  Just transfer the evil spirits."  So the servants to be possessed were brought to his side.  Imagine the horror of the moment the spirits were transferred to them.  Once the spirits had transferred to the servants, they began to cry out loud and noisy, without explaining why they had possessed the Emperor.  It was truly terrifying.