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Description
According to the kabuki play Musume Dojo-ji, the maiden Kiyo-hime, here called Tsuki-hime, had fallen in love with a celibate monk living at the Buddhist temple of Dojo-ji on the Kii Peninsula. Burning with passion, she turned herself into a serpent to cross the flooded Hida River, and then resumed her human form (shown here) in order to attend the dedication ceremonies of a temple bell. On seeing the monk, she chased after him, but he hid beneath the bell which was still on the ground. Kiyo-hime turned back into a serpent, wrapped herself around the bell and turned it red hot, killing the monk.
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