“…now that it is cut, I stand up a bonze—a priest who has put the world by and has wife nor child nor treasure. I am O-San’s husband no longer, nor does any duty bind you to her.” Why might Jihei deny the existence of his now ex wife and his children? I think this is pretty selfish of him to say. He obviously still has a responsibility to his children regardless of him not being with his ex wife. It seems like since they are not together anymore, that he dismisses their existence in order to kill himself with his mistress or forbidden love.
Next, he says, ”A nun you are now and have forsaken the world.” What does this mean? Why did he say this after Koharu cut her hair? What was is the relationship between nunnery and hair, if there is one?
