It is a talk of the princess of Mr. Yokohagi grown-up by the continuation of Sutra-of-Avalokitesvara Kazukuni picture collection / second volume / 2.
The title of an illustration is “a lieutenant general princess, spinning thread of lotus.”
The situation of resulting in an illustration etc. are translated freely roughly.
When the princess is 7 years old, other children are seen presume upon a mother, and if you want a mother, it will say to Toyonari, a father, and will urge second marriage.
Toyonari marries the daughter of 橘諸房 (Tachibana Morofusa) as the second wife.
A lieutenant general princess is glad and a stepmother also loves like a real child.
However, a princess becomes beautiful and a stepmother comes to be jealous of her as it grows up.
A stepmother tries every means to entrap the princess.
At a certain time, in order that Toyonari may go to the Grand Shrine at Ise by a royal command, he stays away from a house.
A stepmother orders inviting this samurai called Kawakuma as being happy, and taking a lieutenant general princess’s life.
Although a princess notices a stepmother a plot, if those who are whose mothers even for a time cannot be said bad, she will be taken silently.
However, Kawakuma missed the princess on the way and returned only the basket.
When Toyonari returned, he got to know the daughter’s absence, and made it search using people, but he is not found. ”
“And for two years, although Kawakuma continued sheltering a princess, it fell on the illness.
A princess becomes a nun in a Wasyu Toma temple.
Practice was not neglected, but if help of the Kannon was obtained finally, the mandala of the nest was finished weaving, and it left the Buddhistic miracle for future generations.
And it passes away in the youth of 29 years old on April 14,Houki(Julian-calendar 775 years) 6.
If this prays to the Goddess of Mercy, it will serve as a proof that a wonderful child is born.”
観音経和訓図会/中巻/2の続きで、成長した横萩氏の姫君のお話です。挿絵のタイトルは「中将姫 蓮の糸をとる」です。
挿絵に至る状況などおおまかに意訳します。
「姫君が7歳の時に、他の子供が母親に甘えるのを見て母が欲しいと父の豊成に言い、再婚を促す。豊成は橘諸房（たちばなのもろふさ）の娘を後妻として娶る。中将姫は喜び、継母も本当の子供のようにかわいがる。しかし、成長するにつれ姫は美しくなり、継母に妬まれるようになる。継母は姫君を陥れるために手を尽くす。ある時、豊成が勅命で伊勢大神宮へ赴くために家を空ける。継母はこれ幸いと川熊という武士を招いて中将姫の命を取るように命じる。姫は継母の企みに気づくが、仮にも母である人を悪く言う事はできないと、黙って連れて行かれる。しかし、川熊は途中で姫を逃がして籠だけを返した。豊成は戻ると娘の不在を知り、人を使って探させたが見つからない。」
「それから二年の間、川熊は姫を匿い続けたが病に倒れた。姫は和州當麻寺で尼僧となる。修行を怠らず、ついには観音の助力を得ては巣の曼荼羅を織り上げ、仏教の奇跡を後の世のために残した。そして、宝亀6年4月14日に29歳の若さで亡くなる。これが、観音菩薩に祈ると素晴らしい子供が生まれるという証となる。」
