Very quickly the child grew; and when he became fifteen, the
reigning Emperor gave him the name and title of Oguri-Hangwan
Kane-uji.
When he reached manhood his father resolved to get him a bride.
So the Dainagon looked upon all the daughters of the ministers
and high officials, but he found none that he thought worthy to
become the wife of his son.
But the young Hangwan, learning that he himself had been a gift
to his parents from Tamon-Ten, resolved to pray to that deity for
a spouse; and he hastened to the temple of the divinity,
accompanied by Ikenoshoji.
There they washed their hands and rinsed their mouths, and
remained three nights without sleep, passing all the time in
religious exercises.
But as they had no companions, the young prince at last felt very
lonesome, and began to play on his flute, made of the root of the
bamboo.
Seemingly charmed by these sweet sounds, the great serpent that
lived in the temple pond came to the entrance of the
temple,--transforming its fearful shape into the likeness of a
lovely female attendant of the Imperial Court,--and fondly
listened to the melody.
Then Kane-uji thought he saw before him the very lady he desired
for a wife. And thinking also that she was the one chosen for him
by the deity, he placed the beautiful being in a palanquin and
returned to his home.
But no sooner had this happened than a fearful storm burst upon
the capital, followed by a great flood; and the flood and the
storm both lasted for seven days and seven nights.
The Emperor was troubled greatly by these omens; and he sent for
the astrologers, that they might explain the causes thereof.
They said in answer to the questions asked of them that the
terrible weather was caused only by the anger of the male
serpent, seeking vengeance for the loss of its mate,--which was
none other than the fair woman that Kane-uji had brought back
with him.
Whereupon the Emperor commanded that Kane-uji should be banished
to the province of Hitachi, and that the transformed female
serpent should at once be taken back to the pond upon the
mountain of Kurama.
And being thus compelled by imperial order to depart, Kane-uji
went away to the province of Hitachi, followed only by his
faithful retainer, Ikenoshoji.