EDO PERIOD (19TH CENTURY)

The subject is an allusion to the No play Musume Dojoji, 'The maiden of the Dojo Temple', in which a handsome young priest named Anchin, rashly encouraged Kiyoshime, the pretty daughter of the head-man of the village of Masago, until she responded with passion, when he retired to his monestary, where his fellow-monks hid him beneath the great bell which had been lowered from7its belfry. But Kiyome, taking the form of a fiery dragon, found his hiding place and entwining the bell, lashed it with her tail until the priest within was burnt to ashes.