World and Lore / Kyoto mystery

The Wondrous Flute

Many years ago, there lived a man by the name of Hiromasa, whose ability with the flute was beyond compare. He took to playing in front of the Suzaku Gate, where one night he was joined by another flautist. Although Hiromasa knew not this other man, he recognized that his playing was sublime, as though it were of another world. So, without a word passing between them, did the two men play their flutes together. One night, after many such encounters, Hiromasa asked if he might play the other man's flute. He found it to be an instrument of superb quality, unlike any he had played before. The wondrous flute was distinguished by two leaves on its green bamboo shaft from which it took its name: the Hafutatsu, or "Twin-leaf." From that point on, Hiromasa played this flute. The years passed, and in time Hiromasa died without ever returning the Hafutatsu flute to its owner. It was not played for many years, before it came into the possession of a certain master flautist. It is said that when this master played the flute by the Suzaku Gate, a voice could be heard coming from above him, exclaiming, "A fine flute indeed!" This ghostly declaration gave rise to the belief that Hiromasa's musical partner had, in fact, been an Oni dwelling within the red-lacquer gate.