The Japanese Ghost Story of Hōichi the Earless

The Legend of Hōichi the Earless

• 📌 Hōichi, a blind biwa-hōshi (a performer who sang songs of battle while playing the biwa), was the most skilled storyteller at a temple near the site of the Genpei Wars naval battle.
• 👻 One night, a samurai summoned Hōichi to perform for his master, a nobleman, who demanded he recount the tale of the Taira clan's defeat.
• ⚔️ Hōichi sang of the gruesome Genpei Wars, the rebellion of the Minamoto clan against the Taira, and the tragic drowning of the child emperor and his grandmother.

The Ghostly Encounter

• 🌙 The nobleman commanded Hōichi to return for six more nights, promising handsome rewards for secrecy.
• 🕯️ The head priest discovered Hōichi's nightly excursions, realizing he was summoned by the ghosts of the Taira clan.
• 📜 To protect Hōichi, the head priest painted Buddhist sutras all over his body and instructed him to remain still and silent.

The Price of Protection

• 👂 When the phantom samurai arrived, Hōichi was invisible due to the sutras, but his ears were exposed and were cut off by the enraged samurai.
• 🩸 Despite the pain, Hōichi remained still and silent, surviving the encounter.
• 🗣️ Hōichi's story became famous, with his performances reminding listeners of the Taira's sacrifices and suffering.

Legacy of the Tale

• 🗿 Today, Hōichi's tale is one of Japan's best-known ghost stories, with his statue commemorating the fallen Taira warriors.
• ⏳ The story serves as a reminder to honor the past and avoid getting trapped in the cycles of history.