Bakemono Yashiki, page 279 by James S. de Benneville
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Sho[u]nin, extending the Junen. "Ara! What joy! None lack. Ah! By the Sho[u]nin's virtue this Kiku secures Nirvana. Gratitude and obeisance are due." With the words the figure faded, the spectres disappeared, the storm rumbled and passed off rapidly to the distance, and the stars shone out on the cold clear sky of a perfect fall night with its studded firmament.
Thus did the Sho[u]nin find the secret in the ten repetition of the sacred formula--the ju nen. On her finger stumps O'Kiku counted--counted as does the successful man in the business of life. But O'Kiku was maimed. The thumb was lacking. Hence the tale went but to nine. The missing factor once supplied her count found completion. Long had been accomplished her vow of indignant vengeance, but still the plates remained to count for her own release, and this she could not effect. Great was the reputation thus acquired to priest and temple. Probably it was this feat which has confused him with his greater predecessor, the founder of the temple; transferred most anachronistically to this latter the tradition of the actual laying of the ghost.
There is an old book[35] in which the matter is discussed--"It was in the old well that Kikujo[u] was drowned, says tradition in Sho[u]ho[u] 3rd year (1646). By the ability, merit, and power of Mikatsuki Sho[u]nin her soul was saved, and at once she became a Buddha. Though such be the story, by the temple register the founder of the Dendzu-In, Ryo[u]yo[u] Sho[u]nin, entered the Hall in O[u]ei 22nd year 9th month 27th day (29th October 1415). One smiles. Ho! The Sho[u]nin lived two hundred and fifty-six years before, and dates do not amalgamate. How many generations had the Sho[u]nin seen when Kikujo[u] became a Buddha! The Mikatsuki Sho[u]nin becomes a bubble Sho[u]nin. The learning of this Mikatsuki Sho[u]nin was notorious, and it has been banded down to people of later generations in matters concerning Ryo[u]yo[u] Sho[u]nin. Deign to take a glance at facts here indicated. The 'Edo Bukkak