The Moon Over Horinji Poster

The Tale of Heike's "Yokobue" and the Aesthetics of Tragic Love In The Tale of the Heike, Yokobue, a maidservant of Empress Dowager Kenrei-mon’in, is loved by Saito Tokiyori, a retainer of Shigemori. Social constraints prevented Tokiyori from pursuing Yokobue, leading him to renounce the world and retreat to Horinji Temple in Sagano. Heartbroken, Yokobue returned in tears, with some accounts suggesting she entered Hokke-ji Temple or drowned herself. Yoshitoshi’s One Hundred Aspects of the Moon depicts this tragedy using seasonal imagery and a hazy moon, enhancing its emotional depth. The tale reflects spiritual transformation, female resilience, and noh drama's peaceful resolutions, captivating audiences with its enduring themes. The Hundred Aspects of the Moon (Tsuki Hyakushi) Tsukioka Yoshitoshi 1885 (Meiji 18) – 1892 (Meiji 25)