Chikuzen Umetsubo No Aizomegawa Yuen Ougon Kechou Hakozaki Hakata Tsu Yori No Imose Kadomatsu

Inspired by Chikamatsu Monzaemon's "Aizomegawa" (Indigo-dyed River) (1684) or "Aizomegawa Imosemonmatsu Ukiname Yomiuri"
Synopsis

The Indigo-dyed Plum Blossom Pot: The Golden Bird Hakozaki Hakata Port's Imosemonmatsu

Time Period and Setting
"During the Reign of Emperor Gokomatsu, During the Oei Era" (Early Muromachi Period, during the reign of Emperor Gokomatsu, during the Oei Era)

Setting: Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine in Chikuzen Province, Kyushu, and the surrounding Aisomegawa River.

Synopsis
A poignant depiction of Benzaiten (Umebukuro) and the "fake letter (fake reply)" that triggers the story's tragedy.

This scene depicts Benzaiten (Umebukuro), who has traveled to Tsukushi with her young daughter Umechiyo in her arms, dreaming of reuniting with Yorishige, only to be cruelly rejected by a cruel letter and driven to the brink of despair.
The gap between expectations and betrayal: Being turned away at the gate. After finding Yorimizu's mansion, Bennokimi entrusts a letter to him at the gate, eagerly awaiting a reunion with her husband. However, she is confronted with a ruthless "fake reply" by Yorimizu's wife (the official wife) and the villain Hirokaze.

Narrative and Hirokaze's cruel sentence:
"Hirokaze tried to calm her down for a while, saying, 'Those people are from the capital...' I have a good idea. Let it be done as planned." He then, posing as a retainer of Nakatsukasa Yorimitsu, grabbed the stick and led her outside the gate. He angrily declared, 'Is this a message from the capital? My lord, Yorimitsu, has read this message, but I have no recollection of it. This must be a scam. A woman of your stature is a terrible trick. Get out of here and away!'"

After the death of Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine's former chief priest, Yorimichi, a dispute over the succession erupts among his surviving family members. While Yorimizu, the eldest son (from his first wife) and Nakatsukasa no Taifu (Minister of Central Affairs), is the legitimate heir, his second wife and her younger brother, the villainous Dazai Hyota Hirokaze, are plotting to seize real power by making his second wife's son, Beniumamaru (15 years old), the heir.

Meanwhile, when Yorimizu visited Kyoto in the past, he fell in love with Umetsubo (Benno-kimi), a lady-in-waiting in Kyoto, and they had a child, Umechiyo. After Yorimizu returns to Tsukushi, Umetsubo, who is in love with him, travels all the way to Dazaifu with her young son.

However, a letter that Umetsubo sends to Yorimizu from her lodgings falls into the hands of Yorimizu's legal wife. Driven mad by jealousy, her wife sends a cruel, false reply, and Umetsubo falls into despair. In despair, she throws herself into the Aizome River, giving up on the world.

By chance, Yorishige happened to be passing by as Umechiyo, left behind, clung to her mother's body and wept. Reading Umetsubo's will and learning the truth and her deep love, Yorishige was heartbroken and prayed wholeheartedly to Tenman Daijizai Tenjin (Sugawara no Michizane) for her to be revived. The god then performed his miracle, and Umetsubo miraculously returned to life.
Afterwards, the villains' plot was foiled, and the revived Umetsubo became a nun. Legend has it that her son Umechiyo later founded a Zen temple.