Botan Doro

By Crusader1307

 Perhaps one of Japan's most ''famous'' Ghost Stories – The ''Botan Doro'' (or ''Penoy Lantern'') is also a cautionary tale. Of ''Oral Tradition'' originally – the first recording of the tale dates to the 17th Century AD. Several versions are known to exist, but the following is perhaps the best known. The story deals with a widowed Samurai Lord. Lonely, He languished in His loneliness – until one night. A ''beautiful woman'' carrying a lantern, came to His door – lost. He let Her inside to rest and immediately fell madly in love with Her. The Warrior invited Her to stay with Him in His home – which She did. But The Warrior, when He was seen in Public, seemed weak. Soon, after a while – He was seldom seen at all. The Warrior's neighbor – an Elderly and wise Woman, grew suspicious.

One night, She crept over to His home and peered thru the window. To Her ''horror'', She saw The Warrior sleeping next to a ''ghastly skeleton''. Fearing that He had become possessed by what was obviously a Ghost (Yokai), The Old Woman went to a local Priest. Tell Him Her story, He gave Her a special Talisman – which if placed on The Warrior, would break The Ghost's spell and ''reveal Her true appearance''. But Everytime The Old Woman tried to make contact with The Warrior – The Yokai would not let Her in.

Then one day, The Old Woman was able to enter, while The Warrior slept. The Woman noted that The Ghost was not present during the day, so She slipped the Charm around His neck. That night, The Warrior was saddened by the fact that His ''Love'' was no longer there. He began to search for Her, finding Her ''Home'' – a Temple Cemetery. The Warrior opened a nearby Tomb and crawled inside to be with His ''Love'' – the skeletal remains of His Love!