6. The Robe of the Fire Rat

Minister of the Right Abe no Mimuraji was wealthy, and belonged to a prospering family. He wrote a leter to Wang Ching, a Chinese merchant who had sent his ship to Japan the same year that Abe received his task, and asked to buy a fire rat skin. He sent the letter by his most trusted retainer, Ono no Fusamori. Ono took the letter and money to Wang Ching, who read it and wrote this reply:

"There are no robes of fire rat fur in China. I have heard stories of such things, but have never seen one. If indeed there were such things, one would probably have been brought to China. This will be an extremely difficult transaction. However, I will check with the wealthy families of India, in case such a robe happens to have arrived in that country. If none is to be found, I will send your money back with a messenger."

The Chinese merchant ship eventually returned to Japan. Hearing that Ono no Fusamori had come back and was returning to the capital, Abe sent off his fastest horse to meet him. Then Ono took the horse, and was able to make it from Tsukushi to the capital in only seven days. He brought a letter from Wang Ching.

"I have finally purchased a robe of fire rat fur for you. This robe is one rarely seen in modern times or even anciently. I learned that long ago a saint from holy India had brought it to China, and that it was in a mountain temple to the west. I applied at court, and was finally able to purchase it. The money you sent was not sufficient; the local officials asked my agent for a higher price, so I made up the difference myself. Please send another 50 ryo of gold. You can send it on this boat when it returns. If you cannot pay the gold, please send back the robe."

Abe did not in the least object to sending more gold. He thought he had never been so happy. He dropped to his knees and bowed toward China in gratitude.

The box the robe was in had all sorts of beautiful blue stones on it. The fur robe itself was a deep blue color, but the tip of each hair glittered golden. Aside from the fact that it would not burn, this was an article of incomparable beauty. the minister thought it was no wonder that Kaguyahime had wanted such a thing. He placed it in the box, attached some sort of branch to it, and then made himself as attractive as he kenw how. Thinking that at last he should have her, he made up a poem and went to Kaguyahime's house. Here is the poem:

Hot as my heart burns,
Thinking of you, that great heat
Couldn't burn this robe.
Now my tear-soaked sleeves are dry
As I put on my wedding clothes.

Minister Abe soon arrived at her gate. The old bamboo cutter came out, got the box, and took it in to Kaguyahime. She inspected the robe.

"What a beautiful robe! But I wonder if it's the real thing?"

"In any case, we ought to invite him in. There's not another robe in the world like that-- I think it must be real. Please don't make things so uncomfortable for him."

Then the old man invited the minister in, thinking that this time she was sure to agree to marry. He was unhappy that Kaguyahime had remained single so long. He had wanted her to marry some such excellent man, but she refused everyone and he wouldn't force her. Naturally his hopes were high this time.

Kaguyahime was still looking at the robe.

"If we put this in the fire and it didn't burn, we would know it was genuine, and I could agree to what the Minister asks. Please tell him that since there's no other robe in the world like this, you can't be sure it's real, and ask him if you can try to burn it."

The old man repeated her words to Minister Abe, who answered without hesitation.

"This robe was not to be found even in China, but I was finally able to search it out and gain possession of it.. There should be no doubt of its authenticity. Please try to burn it."

The robe was placed in a fire and, sad to say, it burned brilliantly. It was apparently not the real thing. As it burned, Minister Abe just sat there, turning green. Kaguyahime, though, was overjoyed. She had the robe's box returned to the Minister, with this reply to his poem.

If you had only known
That false fur robe would burn so fast
Once it touched the flames,
You hardly could have sat and watched
While your face showed no concern.

Minister Abe returned to his home.

Many people knew he had taken a robe of fire rat skins, intending to claim Kaguyahime as his wife. They asked the people of her household if he had moved in. They answered that his hopes went up in smoke when the robe was laid on the flames; Kaguyahime would not marry him.