Blood Daruma of Hosokawa - Blood Daruma of Hosokawa

Japanese: 細川の血達磨 - ほそかわのちだるま

A story of the origin of a famous treasure handed down by the Hosokawa family of Kumamoto, Higo. It is also titled "Okawa Tomoemon" after the name of the main character. Okawa Tomoemon, who served Lord Hosokawa Tsunatoshi, is said to have committed seppuku when his Edo mansion was burned down, and to have placed the family's treasured Daruma hanging scroll in his own stomach, thus risking his life to protect the family treasure. This blood-stained Daruma was called the Hosokawa Blood Daruma, and Tomoemon's loyalty was long praised. This is one of the stories of bravery and loyalty, but it also has other interesting passages, such as the story of Tomoemon making a manly pact (shudo) with Tsunatoshi's page, and the curse of the evil sword Muramasa.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

講談。肥後熊本の細川家に伝わる名宝の由来譚。主人公の名をとって《大川友右衛門（おおかわともえもん）》とも題する。細川綱利侯に仕えた大川友右衛門は，江戸屋敷類焼の際，切腹して主家の重宝達磨の掛軸をみずからの腹中に収め，命にかえてみごと，お家の宝を守り通したといわれる。この血に染まった達磨が，細川の血達磨と呼ばれ，長く友右衛門の忠節がたたえられた。いわゆる武勇物，忠義物の一つであるが，その他友右衛門が綱利の小姓と男の契り(衆道)を結ぶ話や，妖刀村正のたたりなど面白いくだりがある。

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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