A very long time ago, a rich man named Toyonari Fujiwara lived in Nara, the ancient Capital of Japan. His wife was a kind and beautiful woman named Murasaki (Violet). When they were young, they were married according to the Japanese customs. Since then, they had happily lived together. Their only cause of sorrow was that for years they had been childless. Their prayers to Hase Kannon (Buddhist god of mercy) were finally answered by the birth of a girl (Hachikazuki, or the bowl-bearer). She grew up to be a beautiful girl. At the time of her mother’s death she was thirteen years old. According to the prophecy of Hase Kannon, a large bowl of treasure was placed on her head. Something strange happened and the bowl did not come off. After her mother’s death, her stepmother forced her to leave the house.
The Bowl Breaks
Upset, Hachikazuki decided to end her life. She jumped into the river. But the bowl on her head saved her from drowning. A lord rescued her and appointed her to work as his maid. The fourth son of the lord proposed her for marriage. The lord’s wife was against the marriage. To break the marriage, the lord’s wife ordered Hachikazuki to compete with her other daughters-in-law. She thought that Hachikazuki would be embarrassed and would herself break off the marriage. That night, the bowl ultimately fell off from her head. The treasure scattered on the floor. She collected the treasure. The next day, she performed brilliantly, displaying both beauty and talent. Hachikazuki and the lord’s fourth son got married and were soon blessed with children. One day, Hachikazuki went to pray to Hase Kannon. There, she met her father and was happily reunited with him.
