nt kingdom in
southwestern Korea, frequently mentioned in early Japanese history.--A
_Naishinn[=o]_ was of Imperial blood. In the ancient court-hierarchy
there were twenty-five ranks or grades of noble ladies;--that of
_Naishinno_ was seventh in order of precedence.]

[Footnote 70: For centuries the wives of the emperors and the ladies
of the Imperial Court were chosen from the Fujiwara clan--The period
called H[=o]gen lasted from 1156 to 1159: the war referred to is the
famous war between the Taira and Minamoto clans.]

[Footnote 71: In old-time belief every lake or spring had its
invisible guardian, supposed to sometimes take the form of a serpent
or dragon. The spirit of a lake or pond was commonly spoken of as
_Ik['e]-no-Mushi_, the Master of the Lake. Here we find the title
"Master" given to a dragon living in a well; but the guardian of wells
is really the god Suijin.]

* * * * *

Matsumura was able to profit by this premonition. He removed his
people and his belongings to another district the next day; and almost
immediately afterwards another storm arose, even more violent than the
first, causing a flood which swept away the house in which he had been
residing.

Some time later, by favor of the Lord Hosokawa, Matsumura was enabled
to obtain an audience of the Sh[=o]gun Yoshimasa, to whom he presented
the mirror, together with a written account of its wonderful history.
Then the prediction of the Spirit of the Mirror was fulfilled; for the
Sh[=o]gun, greatly pleased with this strange gift, not only bestowed
costly presents upon Matsumura, but also made an ample grant of money
for the rebuilding of the Temple of Ogawachi-My[=o]jin.

THE STORY OF IT[=O] NORISUK['E]

In the town of Uji, in the province of Yamashiro, there lived, about
six hundred years ago, a young samurai named It[=o] Tat['e]waki
Norisuk['e], whose ancestors were of the H['e][:i]k['e] clan. It[=o]
was of handsome person and amiable character, a good scholar and apt
at arms. But his family were poor; and he had no patron among the
military nobility,--so that his prospects were small. He lived in
a very quiet way, devoting himself to the study of literature, and
having (says the Japanese story-teller) "only the Moon and the Wind
for friends."

One autumn evening, as he was taking a solitary walk in the
neighborhood of the hill called Kotobikiyama, he happened to overtake
a young girl who was following