Gion and Gion - Gion

Japanese: 祇王･祇女 - ぎおうぎじょ

Two Shirabyoshi sisters who appear in Volume 1 of the Tale of the Heike, Gion. The elder sister Gion was beloved by Kiyomori, and the three lived a wealthy life together, until Hotoke Gozen, a Shirabyoshi from Kaga Province, appeared and charmed Kiyomori. Gion was dismissed and was also summoned to Kiyomori's residence to console Hotoke Gozen. She considered taking her own life, but was stopped by her mother and became a nun. The three mothers and daughters lived together in the mountains of Saga, hiding from the public eye, until one night Hotoke Gozen visited their hermitage and told them of her desire to become a nun, which cleared Gion's mind, and the four of them then prayed for eternal life together.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

《平家物語》巻一〈祇王〉に登場する白拍子の姉妹。姉の祇王が清盛に愛され，母娘3人で裕福にくらしていたが，加賀国の白拍子，仏御前が現れて清盛を魅了する。祇王は暇を出され，また仏御前を慰めるため清盛の邸に呼び出されることがあり，自害を思い立つが母に制止されて出家する。母娘3人で嵯峨の山奥に人目をしのんで暮らしていたが，ある夜，仏御前が庵を訪ねて出家の志を述べ，それにより祇王の宿意もとけて，以後4人いっしょに往生を願ったという。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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