KATIE MARIE

Love knows no Bounds

Today I want to talk to you about Botan Doro, also known as the Peony Lantern. A story from 17th-century Japan.

As often happens with the old stories, there are multiple variations of this story. However, they all follow the same basic premise.

In Japan during the festival of Obon (or just Bon), which is a festival to honour the spirits of one’s ancestors, Ogiwara, a widowed samurai met Otsuyu, a beautiful woman, accompanied by her servant girl who carried a Peony lantern.

Ogiwara invited Otsuyu to his home and she agreed, but she left prior to the dawn. They fell in love, as you do and would often meet secretly. Each time they met Otsuyu was always accompanied by a young girl who carried a Peony lantern.  

The meetings always happened at night and Otsuyu would always leave before sunrise. Ogiwara became obsessed with his new love, going so far as to stop leaving his house.

An old woman who lived by Ogiwara grew concerned for him and spied on the lovers. Imagine her horror when she saw Ogiwara embracing a skeleton. After Otsuyu left the neighbour informed Ogiwara who was very distraught and sought advice from a monk at the local temple. The monk confirmed that Otsuyu was indeed dead and took Ogiwara to her grave, on which rested a torn Peony lantern, proving the matter to him. The monk also gave him a charm to keep Otsuyu’s ghost away from his house.

Ogiwara returned home very upset, but his obsession and love for Otsuyu did not wane despite learning she was a ghost skeleton. Otsuyu did not visit him after that due to the charm. Then one-day Ogiwara left his home and did not return.

The neighbours searched for him and eventually, they found Otsuyu’s grave had been disturbed. They opened the grave and found Ogiwara’s lifeless body embracing Otsuyu’s skeletal remains.

I really like this story, it’s not really a horror story in my mind, far more tragic. It has endured over the years as well, being made into films, paintings and I believe a Kabuki play.