Original subtitles

A DAIEI Production

I don't know how you work in this heat.

Still, Satoko, you're better off here cleaning my ears...

than living where you came from.

I'm here because I like Mount Kinugasa, not you.

You're the cheeky one.

There are a lot of temples in Kyoto that tolerate courtesans.

Not at temples of this caliber.

There are even courtesans at the head temple.

You like women, why don't you get married?

I've renounced love, hate, and god.

It's a basic tenet of Zen Buddhism.

Oh my, spoken with such power!

I was just admiring how hairy your ears have become.

I'm sorry to have kept you waiting.

I hope everything is to your liking.

Oh, yes. This will do nicely.

These door paintings should prove to be Nangaku Kishimoto's premier work.

Idiot, I intend to continue to produce great art.

I can almost hear them chirping.

Is the mother feeding her baby?

A mama and baby bird? Nangaku hasn't been too good maintaining his family!

I suppose I do have a weakness for women,

but that's all right.

The baby bird is so cute.

When I die I want this to be called the Temple of the Wild Geese.

It will make Rakuhoku a cultural center of Kyoto.

THE TEMPLE OF WILD GEESE

Produced by Masaichi Nagata

Screenplay by KAZUO Funabashi and Yuzo Kawashima Based on a work by Tsutomu Mizukami

Starring:

AYAKO WAKAO as Satoko Kirihara

Masao Mishima as Jikai Kitami Isao Kimura as Jikudo Uda Kunikazu Takami as Jinen Horinouchi GANJIRO Nakamura as Nangaku Kishimoto

Kiwami Sazanka as Sesshu Fujimoto Mineko Mandai as Tatsu Kirihara Ryoko Kamo as Masumi Fujimoto Shoichi ozawa as Hoben Takami Ko Nishimura as Mokudo Kida

Directed by Yuzo Kawashima

What is it?

What do you need?

- Your Eminence? - Yes.

He knew it was the priest!

We couldn't get him to say a word since this morning.

I knew you'd come.

That makes it a little embarrassing for me. I didn't just come to see you.

- HIDEKO. - Yes?

Please step into the other room.

Madam.

I'll leave you two alone.

I wonder what he wanted to talk about, Nanso.

I'm sure he's not trying to hide anything from you.

- Your Eminence. - What is it?

Demachi...

Is this about Satoko?

In western Demachi,

she's living on the second floor, above the florist.

I understand.

Please take care of Satoko.

She belongs to Koho Temple.

Koho Temple

- Uh, is the abbot in? - Yes, ma'am.

Please tell him that the girl from Demachi is here.

- Hey, Satoko! - Long time, no see.

Hey, come on in.

I thought you'd come, seeing as it's the seventh day after the funeral.

I wanted to come to the funeral in secret and burn incense for him.

I understand.

But Nangaku's wife would be there, and... What's that smell?!

- We're cleaning the privy. - It sure stinks.

Shall we go into the parlor and have a drink?

I don't know what I'd do without him.

His name is Jinen. He just took the tonsure.

He kind of gives me the creeps.

Sorry to intrude.

How old is the boy?

Let me think... he goes to the junior high of Daitoku Temple.

Is he to be your successor?

Let's have this one... Sawanotsuru.

He sure works hard.

The boy's certainly known hardship.

Really?

Curse that smell!

Can't you do anything about it?

I don't eat meat, so I wouldn't expect it to smell.

No, there isn't anything we can do about it.

But the smell is unbearable! I can't see how you can take it.

- Satoko, the only thing that gets you excited is unusual smells. - Oh, you!

Hey, Jinen, scoop the privies properly!

Work faster; you have other chores waiting!

Like I taught you, "The man who works also eats"!

Yes, sir.

I want those buckets filled to the rim!

Drink up!

I can't, I've had too much already.

What are you talking about?

Have a little more.

It's been a while since I drank. I get drunk easily.

- Your Eminence. - What?

I have to pay school tuition tomorrow.

- Again? - Yes. - How much?

5.60 yen.

A proper education isn't cheap.

Still, 5.60 yen is steep.

Well, it can't be helped.

Thank you.

Would you like more sake?

If I want anything, I'll call. Get out.

Jinen, I know that you're sleeping late and skipping sutra calligraphy!

Hey!

- Answer when I talk to you, boy! - I'm sorry.

You clumsy imbecile!

Do you have any idea how expensive this bottle is?!

Don't just stand there, clean up this mess!

Did you have to be so hard on him?

You didn't have to talk to him that way.

If I don't treat him like that, he slacks at his work.

It's a matter of mind and spirit.

This is my way of showing compassion.

That's some tough compassion.

Be careful.

Another glass?

I'll tell you about compassion, Satoko.

Nangaku asked a favor of me...

- Do you want to know what? - What?

He said he wanted me to take care of you.

He knew that I was sweet on you.

Will I do?

- I'm all right, aren't I? - What are you doing?

I can't!

What's wrong?

Straw Liniments

Of all the foolishness! I can't believe he didn't leave you a dime.

I know, Mom, but Nangaku's wife is not so understanding.

I thought he was a famous painter.

One of his pictures must sell for several hundred yen.

Couldn't you have gotten one or two of his works from him while he was alive?

No, he didn't give me any.

I can't believe it.

Have some tea.

Thank you.

Tatsu, that straw is dry, please bring it over.

When I was a girl the fumes from the boiling liniment made me sick.

Dad used to get so angry.

Satoko, how do you plan to get along from now on?

I was hoping to stay here for a while.

You can't.

Since you left, I took a new husband.

He seems like a good man.

He's kind to people... like your dearly departed father.

But he's a bit slow in the head.

He's smart enough to stir a pot, but he can't ride a bicycle.

I have to make deliveries all over town.

I just can't look after you.

Here you go.

Thanks.

Mom, the abbot of Koho Temple will be taking care of me.

At Koho Temple?

I've already moved out of Demachi and I'm living at the temple.

Why didn't you say that at the start?

How much is he going to pay you a month?

The priest is a skin flint. We haven't decided.

Satoko, you have to have a set salary.

At a Zen temple,

if the priest should up and die, you'll be out on the street the same day.

I thought you already knew this. Don't you?

"Because of this, men of virtue in ages past...

"cared and protected all with hearts of prayer to the Buddha,

"even for the birds of the sky and the beasts of the field.

"As such, we are provided with the water, food, and clothes...

"that sustains us for all of our days..."

About face! Left!

About face! Right!

Number 14, what are you doing?!

Answer me!

Look, the black kites are trying to catch your carp.

They wait until no one's looking and then they swoop.

How much do we charge for Kikuchi's memorial tablet?

- I think it's 10 sen. - 10 sen?

Oh, gee, I screwed up. Darn it!

The black kites are chasing after the carp! Get away!

You should put a net over the pond.

What are you prattling on about?

I have to visit registered households.

I give up.

What's wrong?

You're busy every day with rituals.

I, on the other hand, have nothing to do.

All day long, I just sit around the parlor.

I'm so bored.

It's bad luck to talk that way.

We put together your double bed. Would you like to take a look?

Yes.

- Watch it. - Be careful.

That'll do. Thank you.

Please don't tell anyone about this.

Thank you, sir. Take care, ma'am.

Have a seat.

Don't you have to visit registered households?

- At this time of the day? - Who cares?

Are you all right?

I banged my kneecap!

Oh, you!

I've returned.

That bamboo costs money, don't chop up too much!

Yes, sir.

Your Eminence...

Where did you find the boy?

The abbot from Satan Temple, in Wakasa province brought him.

I asked for someone with good grades, but he's the son of a temple carpenter.

Your Eminence, is the water hot enough?

Yes, it's fine.

Wash our clothes, boy.

Hey, are you listening?!

Yes, sir.

Get in.

You should be gentler with him.

Don't worry about it.

"To fulfill unreasonable obligations, and to endure unreasonable hardships...

"with steadfast determination is the path to correct understanding."

Jinen, what are you doing still asleep! Fool!

- I'm sorry! - It's well past 5:00!

At a Soto Zen temple, we get up at 3:00!

Can't you do anything right!

Got it?!

It sure is cold.

That miserable lout was fast asleep.

He's tired.

He has cadet training every day. What do you expect?

They're trying to turn a bunch of teenage Zen trainees...

into soldiers... What utter idiocy!

Satoko, come here.

He isn't finished with his morning duties... and neither are you.

Jinen is working plenty hard.

Now I understand why Nangaku couldn't let you go.

Satoko, you're...

Satoko, you're my savior. Here we go.

Time to get up. You have to go to the head temple today.

I'm taking the day off.

You missed the last prayer meeting. Won't they be angry?

Oh, what the hell?

I just talked to the Women's Society yesterday.

What are you talking about?

The head temple is more important than the Women's Society.

Hey, you've got a bunch of liver spots on your head.

- Liver spots? - one, two, three...

- You ninny, don't count them! - Are you feeling poorly?

There's nothing wrong with me; you're the panacea for all ills.

- You crazy old man! - Gee, it's cold.

- Jinen! - Yes, sir?

As of tomorrow, to keep you from being sleepy, I've decided to tie your hands together,

and pull on the rope when I need you.

- Understand! - Yes, sir.

The poor thing...

I know you're trying to make a man of him,

but he's probably still grateful.

Since his father was temple carpenter in Wakasa,

they must have been dirt poor.

Don't forget your lunch.

Good morning.

Mediitation Hall

Hey, Genko Temple Abbot.

Did you tell the chief abbot about me?

Why would I do anything so foolish?

But the chief abbot is angry about... you skipping temple meetings.

Don't exaggerate. I'm not the only one with a woman on the side.

But you've really gone hog wild with this.

"Hog wild"?! Please use language appropriate to a monk!

Get out of the way.

In any event, you're getting too deeply involved.

"Too deeply involved"?

What about you, with your Westernized girl?

I'm actually in love.

I plan to go to the chief abbot and actually make her my wife.

I suggest you do the same.

Don't be absurd. I'd be fired as a monk.

You can get away with it because you're the chief abbot's nephew.

That's true, but it's no bed of roses.

It actually makes my position rather difficult.

But even if I can't get permission,

I'll still marry her and suffer the consequences.

Are you serious?

Airship Cigarettes.

Thank you.

No, I was just joking.

- I developed the photos I took of Satoko recently. - Oh, those.

I submitted them to the As a hi Camera female form photography contest.

- Don't do that to me. - Don't worry, it's nothing that will get you into trouble.

Jinen, why don't you take a break?

The abbot is out.

Come here. Right now.

I have sweets.

What are you waiting for?

You must be hungry.

You can have it all.

- I'll have it later. - As you like.

Thank you.

Jinen, you must miss your mother.

I know my mother.

She makes a straw liniment good for rheumatism and contusions.

My father's dead.

I was sent to work as a servant when I was young.

I had a tough childhood, but now the abbot takes care of me.

But when I was small, my life was no better than yours.

So it's all for the best.

Hardship builds character.

Someday you'll make a fine monk.

Women don't have that privilege.

No matter how much we work,

we have to find someone to take care of us.

Try to remember that:

the more you endure, the more successful you'll be.

Oh, how embarrassing!

Jinen...

I understand your name is Sutekichi.

It's a curious name.

Did your father from Wakasa give it to you?

The name Sutekichi, I mean.

Is this me?

They call it 'fine art photography'.

This is from the wife of the abbot of Genko Temple.

You're always so kind.

It's pretty expensive.

What is it?

What was it...? A basket.

A basket? Is it food?

It's a kind of grape.

It's not a "basket," it's Muscat!

Something like that.

Your hot water bottle, sir.

Bring it in.

- Jinen. - Yes, ma'am?

Come here a moment.

Here, I want you to have this. It's a souvenir from the abbot.

Absolutely not, he's in training.

- Go ahead. - Didn't you hear me, I said no!

You're so cruel.

"Human feelings are our natural enemy;

"pity is not kindness."

Jinen, the rope.

Your hands.

That'll do. Get out.

We'll see if this works.

I've had enough.

If I don't hear you reciting the sutras every morning at 5:00,

- I'll pull the rope. -Yes, sir. - Wrap it around your waist.

That's just cruel.

If you continue to treat him like that, he's going to run away.

He won't run. He has nowhere to go.

His family sent him here so they'd have one less mouth to feed.

No matter how cruelly I treat him, it's better than home.

Your Eminence, you called?

Your Eminence.

What?

Didn't you call me?

I felt a tug on the rope.

You were dreaming!

I didn't call you!

Go back to bed!

My leg got tangled up in the rope.

Well, that explains it.

He saw us again.

Jinen's teacher is here.

He looks very stern.

He was involved in a brouhaha at Myogon Temple.

He was sent to Kurayama and had a bright future.

Then what's he doing teaching at Hanyarin Junior High?

His superiors resented him for his gifted intelligence.

He became involved in an internal conflict at the temple.

The chief abbot was worried and sent him to Hanyarin.

I thought the furor had died down,

so I wonder why he's still teaching.

Still, he came to talk about Jinen.

You came all the way here just to tell me that Jinen cut class?

Yes. He's missed 25 days in this term alone.

You're kidding?

He leaves for school every day.

What is that idiot up to?

Satoko, call him.

Jinen!

Your Eminence, apparently Jinen skipped school...

because he dislikes the military training.

You dolt, the military drills are just a charade!

I wasted good money on your tuition!

He said that he'd rather die than do army drills.

"You'd rather die"?! Cut the theatrics!

Jinen, I don't like the military training either.

But if you think of it as a monastic duty, then I guess it's all right.

Zen teaches, "Work is training."

"Improvise in action, improvise in meditation."

You should already know this.

Jinen, you do well in school.

But don't you know you can't graduate unless you do the military training?

If you don't graduate junior high, you can never receive ordination as a monk.

Jinen?

Jinen, I don't think that the military training was the only reason...

that you've been cutting school.

Is there some other reason as well?

Jinen, you can talk to me.

When was it... I mentioned the name Sutekichi,

and you became quite angry for some reason.

Was I wrong to ask about it?

I had been meaning to ask you about when you were a child.

What happened to you when you were in Wakasa?

Ma'am, I'm a monk now.

I've abandoned my family and my hometown for this.

Please don't ask about it.

Mail!

Thank you.

Who sent you the letter?

The abbot is coming here from Satan Temple in Wakasa...

to visit the head temple.

Where will he stay?

At the head temple, I imagine.

- Your Eminence! - It's nothing for you to worry about.

That's the man who brought Jinen here, isn't it?

That's right.

I'm sure he'll stop by here.

He likes to drink, so when he stops by offer him some sake.

Oh, Sute! You are Sute, aren't you?

You sure have grown.

Your Eminence!

Your father and mother are both well, so don't worry about that.

Your Eminence, I beg of you!

Please listen to me!

What's this all of a sudden?

Please don't say anything about my mother and father!

Sute!

I don't want them to know about me!

I don't want the abbot and his wife to know about me!

What are you talking about?

My life in Wakasa: please don't talk about it.

Please, Your Eminence, I beg of you!

You must never tell them! Your Eminence, please!

I see.

Sute, I almost forgot...

I wanted to give you one yen.

I don't need your money! Please, Your Eminence, I beg of you!

I got it already. Now, take it.

Hasn't Jinen grown?

He was very well mannered.

I barely recognized him.

You bet.

Yes, he can read the ancestral sutras, he can conduct offerings for ancestors,

and he has memorized many other sutras.

Jinen pickled the radishes.

By the way, Jinen may not graduate junior high school.

Why not?

He doesn't like the military training and has been skipping school.

He's just not cut out for it, I guess.

- That's troubling news. - He's not dumb...

He's just very quiet and dour.

How was he when he was in Wakasa?

Your Eminence.

I mean, Your Eminence of Satan Temple.

Could you tell us about what Jinen was like when he was little?

I'm afraid not.

Sute specifically asked me not to talk about it.

Oh, that won't do.

If we don't know anything about his childhood,

it could put us in an awkward position when he gets older.

Isn't that right, Your Eminence?

I see.

I suppose you'll find out about it sooner or later.

It's inevitable.

I felt quite sorry for him.

His mother abandoned him in a temple in Beggars Valley in the Sokokura Village.

He was abandoned?

There was a beggar woman named Kiku,

who used to come every winter to beg for rice dough. She had him and abandoned him.

I don't know who the father was.

But I understood that his father was a temple carpenter?

That was a guy named Kaku.

He already had five children, but he felt sorry for the child,

and his wife Okan took care of him.

The boy said he didn't like the name Sutekichi (abandoned luck),

asked his father to change his name, but Kaku wouldn't do it.

That's terrible.

Did you know about this?

He was abandoned, that's why they called him "Sutekichi".

What can you do?

Here you go, Sute.

And one for me.

Every time I let you go, you start crying.

It doesn't do you any good to live in Beggars village.

Your father leaves to work in Tamba,

and doesn't return for six months to a year.

He never was good with money.

He sure doesn't send me any.

You can't take care of yourself yet.

He uses me as he likes.

I just end up hungry all of the time.

Sleep, sleep.

I know it's painful to hear,

but my life will be much easier when you can take care of yourself.

Wait there.

Take off your shoes. Fix your pantaloons.

Take this.

Change it when it gets wet.

It doesn't snow in Kyoto.

I hate living in this hinterland.

I hate having to wear boots all the time.

OK, Sute, let's go.

You're smarter than the other children,

and you'll do well in school.

You can serve at Koho Temple.

When you leave here today,

you'll never have to be called a filthy beggar,

you won't be treated like an outcast, and you won't be ashamed.

You can go to junior high, maybe even university.

You can be a successful monk at a temple.

It's a lot better than being called an urchin or a castaway.

Isn't that right, Sute?

Sute, this is the temple where you were born.

Shall we pay our respects?

I pray that Sute makes it to Kyoto.

I pray that Sute becomes a prominent monk in Kyoto.

That's what we'll pray for.

You're in for hardship, Sute.

It's a big temple.

And another thing,

don't go around saying that you're from Beggars Valley.

No matter what happens, you mustn't divulge where you're from.

Forget that you're from a family of beggars.

Got it?

As of this moment, you're no longer a member of this family.

I feel bad, but don't ever think of coming back to Beggars Valley.

You're still up?

Let me help you with that. Give it to me.

Why are you giving me dirty looks?

Ma'am, please leave.

Why, Jinen?

Please get out.

Your hands are like ice!

You poor thing, your hands are so beat up.

Jinen, I feel so bad for you.

I heard about everything.

Jinen. Jinen.

I feel so bad for you.

I'll give anything to you. I'll give you anything.

Satoko.

Satoko.

Satoko.

Where did she go?

Satoko! Satoko!

Where did you go?

- To get some water. - Water?

I was hot. You should be in bed.

Don't pull it.

Jinen will come.

Your Eminence, I hope you're looking after that cold.

Thank you for asking.

The turtle you sent me as medicine really worked.

I'm glad to hear that.

The image of the wild geese really makes you think. It really reflects the age.

That's an ironic thing to say, Nanso.

How long did Nangaku live here for?

Now, let me think...

10 years. Give or take.

We rented it.

Young friar, is the abbot married?

Nangaku's widow hasn't noticed that her husband's courtesan is here.

You think so?

If she knew, she wouldn't have sent me the turtle.

And why is that?

We have a double bed.

I'm home.

Mrs. Kishimoto said she hopes you get well soon and left.

Next, I want you to go to Mr. Hisama's house...

and make an offering to the ancestors.

It's the anniversary of the death of the former abbot,

so recite the Heart Sutra and make an offering to his image.

And then the Kanon Sutra and display of the image.

Yes, sir.

Imbecile.

Do you think you're going to remember the Buddhist name given to the deceased if you don't look at the death register?

- Yes, sir, I do. - Don't give me that.

He died three years ago. There's no way you'd remember that.

Look at the death register!

I don't have to; I already know.

What did you say?

Let's find out.

Hoko Temple and Sanko Temple.

That's right.

You may have been right,

but you still should have checked.

Enough!

Stop wasting time already and go!

Yes, sir.

- Keep your mind on your work. - Yes, sir.

Monk, monk, where are you going?

You're going to buy liquor.

Take me along with you,

you poor wretched monk.

Where are you going, monk!

You dimwit! Watch where you're going!

Heichiki, could you handle it?

Then you take over here.

Sadanosuke Kinugasa Troupe

Sadanosuke Kinugasa Troupe Be careful!

Sadanosuke Kinugasa Troupe

I can't believe he's been unconscious for three days.

- Thank you for your help. Take care. - Thank you.

Excuse me, Friar!

Can we talk?

I don't think my brother will last more than a day or two.

If he dies, I'll just have to pay again for a funeral.

Can you please ask the abbot to take the costs into consideration?

The abbot said that he plans to begin ascetic training.

The abbot is in ascetic training?

Yes, sir.

At this point in his career?

I can't explain it, but that's what he said.

That puts me in a tight spot.

I'm sweating like a pig.

Still, I'm glad to see you've finally recovered.

- Yes, turtle shell is certainly an effective medicine. - I can't believe it.

You're getting ready all by yourself, even though it's raining.

I'm exhausted. I guess the turtle shell worked a little too well.

Oh, you!

If you go to Genko Temple,

I wonder what time you'll be back.

I'll be home when I get home.

I've returned.

I didn't expect you back so soon.

Here's money and a snack from Mr. His am a.

Thank you.

Ma'am.

What's the black kite doing?

Nothing.

It's saving up.

Saving up what?

There's a big hole at the top of the tree.

It's like a dark pot.

Inside the black darkness,

snakes, fish, and rats squirm and wriggle.

The black kite carries the half-dead animals there in its beak.

There are red snakes and white snakes.

And in the tarry blackness, they slip and slosh...

That's disgusting! Stop!

Good morning.

Is the abbot in?

- He's out now. - I see.

My brother died this morning.

I wanted to have the funeral tomorrow.

As you saw, it's a bit chaotic at home,

so I was hoping that we could hold the wake here tonight.

I'll tell the abbot when he gets back.

I do hope you can help.

Also, please tell the abbot that a second-tier ceremony is fine.

Where in the world could the abbot be?

This is the first time this kind of a thing happened.

What are you doing?

Go to Genko Temple and get the abbot.

I haven't seen him.

- Any idea where he could be? - Let's see...

I'll ask the abbot.

The abbot is inside. Please stand in the garden.

Could you get me my gloves?

Your abbot left at around 8:00 pm.

He probably just went bar hopping for the first time in a long time, and is sleeping it off somewhere.

Someone in a household affiliated with our temple died.

They want a funeral tomorrow.

- A funeral? - Yes.

That's problematic.

This is certainly irresponsible of him.

The family wants the wake at the temple.

The wake?

I can do it for him.

Darling, you have a meeting at 6:30.

At a wake, all I have to do is chant a sutra.

I won't be late for the meeting.

In any event, if worse comes to worse, we can do the wake here.

Hurry up and clean the Main hall.

Yes, sir.

This will create scandal if word reaches the head temple.

Don't tell anyone.

Where in the world could the abbot have gone?

Well, what do you think?!

I don't know.

You really don't know anyplace he could be?

Everyone is already here for the wake. Please let me go.

- Oh, Your Eminence. - I hear he's still gone.

I can't thank you enough. Please come in.

It started raining just as he left Genko Temple,

so I lent him an umbrella,

and he seemed intent on heading straight home.

Your Eminence...

- There was something strange. - What?

I looked in the wardrobe a moment ago,

and his black robe and outer vestment are gone.

I wonder why he took that with him.

His books were in there. Now, they're gone.

His books?

It seems he's gone on ascetic training,

but he didn't have those things with him last night.

Excuse me, Mr. His am a,

you'll catch cold here. Please relax in the study.

Tomorrow is a big day.

I will, thank you.

Jinen, I heard a noise.

Has the abbot returned?

We will bring in the coffin momentarily.

The people who are carrying the coffin...

are different from those who did it yesterday.

My uncle arrived from his hometown this morning.

He'd like to view the body if possible.

I just want to see him for a moment.

I'm sorry, sir. There's no time.

Darn, this is heavy!

- I've never carried a coffin so heavy! - Are you all right?

It's too heavy to carry!

What's going on - he was a small man?!

- I'll take over. - I'll carry this.

Care for a game?

Time for revenge.

So, what happened?!

The abbot of Koho Temple seems to have left on a trip of some kind.

Is that what Jinen told you?

I'd never have guessed it,

but he appears to have mentioned it to the boy.

I never heard about it either.

Really?

Maybe he really did go on a trip.

Maybe you bossed him around too much.

That's why the abbot fled.

But when there are problems with money or women at a temple,

things can end badly.

The chief abbot is here.

You take care of everything from here.

I hear that Jikai has left the temple.

When I visited him, the matter did come up.

I'm sorry to drag you all the way here.

I'm sorry that we don't have any more information.

There's a fire burning, but it doesn't seem to be of any danger.

- Have a look at the fire. - Yes, sir.

We should probably report this to the police.

No, it's too early to involve the police.

However, an abbot in our sect of Buddhism has gone missing.

It's not like he's hiding out, like some kind of a communist.

As far as we're concerned, he's on ascetic travel.

He often skips the regular meetings,

and is generally lax with communication.

I'm sure he either went...

to Ibuka or Kokei.

Don't do anything.

Oh, teacher!

I'm not "teacher" anymore.

I was fired from Hanyarin Junior High.

Hello, Mr. Uda. Please, come in.

I'm sorry to impose.

Mr. Uda, why did you quit?

It was decided that I was to be sent to Koho Temple, as a matter of procedure.

Sir, is that true?

This is an important temple.

It has to have an abbot.

So I am to oversee the temple until one is appointed.

What's the matter?

Won't you sit down?

One cup of tea.

Mr. Uda!

What does it mean to achieve enlightenment?

Enlightenment?

How can I put it?

To know yourself,

To know myself?

I can't do it!

I will never know.

Do you know who gave birth to you?

My mother. My mother is important.

And your father?

My father is important, too.

So, why did you become a monk?

You abandoned your mother and father.

To abandon my entanglements with illusion.

Are thoughts of your mother an illusion? That's a contradiction!

I never knew my mother or my father!

I know neither life nor death!

But I want to meet my mother!

I want to know who my father is!

Are these problems also illusions?!

If so, I don't think I can ever be a monk.

You're lucky...

When you meditate, you have happy memories of your mother.

But when I close my eyes, I only hear the call of wild geese.

You don't know how I feel, do you?!

You're lucky.

That's all I can think about!

Wait!

Mr. Uda...

Is it wrong to kill people?

- To kill? - Yes.

If you've conducted proper training, there's no need to kill.

The urge to kill is an illusion.

Once enlightenment is achieved,

both living and killing seem hollow.

What's wrong?

Where are you going?

I'm leaving.

You don't have any reason to leave the temple.

Darling, did you tell the abbot about us?

That's why you're leaving, isn't it?

Don't just sit there, answer me!

I found this at the foot of the altar. Why was it there?!

You told him, didn't you?!

That's why he left, isn't it?! I'm right, aren't I?!

I didn't say anything.

You didn't? Really?!

That's not something I could tell anyone.

I'm not going to be able to live here anymore.

My life is finished.

There's nothing left for me. Am I wrong?!

He left for ascetic training.

He went far away and left me behind.

Where can I go?

There's nowhere!

Jinen...

Are you really leaving?

I'm going to where His Eminence is.

Darling! You know where he is?!

Wait, Jinen!

Wait!

Wait, Jinen!

Tomb of His am a

Jinen, please tell me where the abbot is!

Tell me!

Jinen, you couldn't have...

The abbot!

- What's wrong? - It's Jinen!

Jinen?

They're calling!

- The wild geese are calling! - The wild geese?

They're calling! They're calling!

- What's wrong? - It's gone!

It's gone!

The goose is gone!

The mother is gone!

No photographs, please!

Miss Kurihara, please tell them.

Picture postcards are for sale.

For this reason,

a world famous art critic...

who came to Japan after WWII,

introduced the panel paintings of the wild geese to the world,

saying that they offer a vision of a restrained denial of the future.

And for this reason,

we have the painting of the mother and baby wild geese,

as wonderfully restored by Dr. Sasae Nanso,

recipient of the Zen Art Institute Award.

THE END