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[Signed] TAMON DEMPACHIR.

The Fourth Month and the Sixth Year of Bunsei [1823].

2.—COPY OF LETTER WRITTEN BY KAZUNAWO TO TEIKIN, PRIEST OF SENGAKUJI.

I have been favored with the accompanying copy of the report of Tamon Dempachir by Shiga Hyomon Sama, who brought it to me; and I take great pleasure in sending it to you. I think that it might be well for you to preserve it, together with the writing from Kwan-zan Sama, which you kindly showed me the other day.

[Signed] KAZUNAWO.

The twenty-first day of the Sixth Month. [No other date.]

3.—COPY OF THE LETTER OF MATSUDAIRA KWANZAN [DAIMY] TO THE PRIEST TEIKIN OF THE TEMPLE CALLED SENGAKUJI.

I herewith enclose and send you the account of the rebirth of Katsugor. I have written it in the popular style, thinking that it might have a good effect in helping to silence those who do not believe in the doctrines of the Buddha. As a literary work it is, of course, a wretched thing. I send it to you supposing that it could only amuse you from that point of view. But as for the relation itself, it is without mistake; for I myself heard it from the grandmother of Katsugor. When you have read it, please return it to me.

[Signed] KWANZAN.

Twentieth day. [No date.]

[COPY.]

RELATION OF THE REBIRTH OF KATSUGOR.

4.—(Introductory Note by the Priest Teikin.)

This is the account of a true fact; for it has been written by Matsudaira Kwanzan Sama, who himself went [to Nakano-mura] on the twenty-second day of the third month of this year for the special purpose of inquiring about the matter.

After having obtained a glimpse of Katsugoro, he questioned the boy's grandmother as to every particular; and he wrote down her answers exactly as they were given.

Afterwards, the said Kwanzan Sama condescended to honor this temple with a visit on the fourteenth day of this fourth month, and with his own august lips told me about his visit to the family of the aforesaid Katsugor. Furthermore, he vouchsafed me the favor of permitting me to read the before-mentioned writing, on the twentieth day of this same month. And, availing myself of the privilege, I immediately made a copy of the writing.

[Signed] TEIKIN S

Sengaku-ji
Facsimile of the priest's kakihan, or
private sign-manual,made with the brush.

The twenty-first day of the Fourth Month of the Sixth Year of Bunsei [1823]

[COPY.]

5.—[NAMES OF THE MEMBERS OF THE TWO FAMILIES CONCERNED.]

[Family of Genz.]

KATSUGOR.—Born the 10th day of the 10th month of the twelfth year of Bunkwa [1815]. Nine years old this sixth year of Bunsei [1823].[1] Second son of Genz, a farmer living in Tanitsuiri in Nakano-mura, district of Tamagri, province of Musashi.—Estate of Tamon Dempachir, whose yashiki is in the street called Shichikench, Nedzu, Yedo.—Jurisdiction of Yusuki.

GENZ.—Father of Katsugor. Family name, Koyada. Forty-nine years old this sixth year of Bunsei. Being poor, he occupies himself with the making of baskets, which he sells in Yedo. The name of the inn at which he lodges while in Yedo is Sagamiya, kept by one Kihei, in Bakuro-ch.

SEI.—Wife of Genz and mother of Katsugoro. Thirty-nine years old this sixth year of Bunsei. Daughter of Murata Kichitar, samurai,—once an archer in the service of the Lord of Owari. When Sei was twelve years old she was a maid-servant, it is said, in the house of Honda Dainoshin Dono. When she was thirteen years old, her father, Kichitar was dismissed forever for a certain cause from the service of the Lord of Owari, and he became a rnin.[2] He died at the age of seventy-five, on the twenty-fifth day of the fourth month of the fourth year of Bunkwa [1807]. His grave is in the cemetery of the temple called Eirin-ji, of the Zen sect, in the village of Shimo-Yusuki.

TSUYA.—Grandmother of Katsugoro. Seventy-two years old this sixth year of Bunsei. When young she served as maid in the household of Matsudaira Oki-no-Kami Dono [Daimy].

FUSA.—Elder sister of Katsugoro. Fifteen years old this year.

OTOJIR.—Elder brother of Katsugoro. Fourteen years old this year.

TSUN.—Younger sister of Katsugoro. Four years old this year.

[Family of Hanshir.]

TZ.—Died at the age of six in Hodo-kubo-mura, in the district called Tamagori in the province of Musashi. Estate of Nakan Uyemon, whose yashiki is in the street Ata-rashi-bashi-dri, Shitaya, Yedo. Jurisdiction of Komiya.—[Tz] was born in the second year of Bunkwa [1805], and died at about the fourth hour of the day [10 o'clock in the morning] on the fourth clay of the second month of the seventh year of Bunkwa [1810]. The sickness of which he died was smallpox. Buried in the graveyard on the hill above the village before-mentioned,—Hodokubo-mura.—Parochial temple: Iwji in Misawa-mura. Sect: Zen-sh. Last year the fifth year of Bunkwa [1822], the ji-san kwaiki[3] was said for Tz.

HANSHIR.—Stepfather of Tz. Family name: Suzaki. Fifty years old this sixth year of Bunsei.

SHIDZU.—Mother of Tz. Forty-nine years old this sixth year of Bunsei.

KYBEI (afterwards TOGR).—Real father of Tz. Original name, Kybei, afterwards changed to Togr. Died at the age of forty-eight, in the sixth year of Bunkwa [1809], when Tz was five years old. To replace him, Hanshir became an iri-muko.[4]

CHILDREN: TWO BOYS AND TWO GIRLS.—These are Hanshir's children by the mother of Tz.

6.—[COPY OF THE ACCOUNT WRITTEN IN POPULAR STYLE BY MATSUDAIRA KWANZAN DONO, DAIMY.]

Some time in the eleventh month of the past year, when Katsugor was playing in the rice-field with his elder sister, Fusa, he asked her,— "Elder Sister, where did you come from before you were born into our household?"

Fusa answered him:—

"How can I know what happened to me before I was born?"

Katsugoro looked surprised and exclaimed:

"Then you cannot remember anything that happened before you were born?"

"Do you remember?" asked Fusa.

"Indeed I do," replied Katsugor. "I used to be the son of Kybei San of Hodo-kubo, and my name was then Tz—do you not know all that?"