kwaidan-stories and studies of strange things(奇谈)-第32章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
supposed to have entered into the condition of gaki （pretas）； or hungry
spirits。 For a brief account of such a service； see my Japanese Miscellany。
＇3＇ Literally； 〃five…circle ＇or five…zone＇ stone。〃 A funeral monument
110
… Page 111…
KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
consisting of five parts superimposed； each of a different form；
symbolizing the five mystic elements： Ether； Air； Fire； Water； Earth。
MUJINA （1） A kind of badger。 Certain animals were thought to be able
to transform themselves and cause mischief for humans。 ＇1＇ O…jochu
（〃honorable damsel〃）； a polite form of address used in speaking to a young
lady whom one does not know。 （2） An apparition with a smooth； totally
featureless face； called a 〃nopperabo；〃 is a stock part of the Japanese
pantheon of ghosts and demons。 ＇2＇ Soba is a preparation of buckwheat；
somewhat resembling vermicelli。 （3） An exclamation of annoyed alarm。 （4）
Well！
ROKURO…KUBI ＇1＇ The period of Eikyo lasted from 1429 to 1441。 ＇2＇
The upper robe of a Buddhist priest is thus called。 （1） Present…day
Yamanashi Prefecture。 （2） A term for itinerant priests。 ＇3＇ A sort of little
fireplace； contrived in the floor of a room； is thus described。 The ro is
usually a square shallow cavity； lined with metal and half…filled with ashes；
in which charcoal is lighted。 （3） Direct translation of 〃suzumushi；〃 a kind
of cricket with a distinctive chirp like a tiny bell； whence the name。 （4）
Now a rokuro…kubi is ordinarily conceived as a goblin whose neck
stretches out to great lengths； but which nevertheless always remains
attached to its body。 （5） A Chinese collection of stories on the supernatural。
＇4＇ A present made to friends or to the household on returning from a
journey is thus called。 Ordinarily； of course； the miyage consists of
something produced in the locality to which the journey has been made：
this is the point of Kwairyo's jest。 （6） Present…day Nagano Prefecture。
A DEAD SECRET （1） On the present…day map； Tamba corresponds
roughly to the central area of Kyoto Prefecture and part of Hyogo
Prefecture。 ＇1＇ The Hour of the Rat （Ne…no…Koku）； according to the old
Japanese method of reckoning time； was the first hour。 It corresponded to
the time between our midnight and two o'clock in the morning； for the
ancient Japanese hours were each equal to two modern hours。 ＇2＇ Kaimyo；
the posthumous Buddhist name； or religious name； given to the dead。
Strictly speaking； the meaning of the work is sila…name。 （See my paper
entitled； 〃The Literature of the Dead〃 in Exotics and Retrospectives。）
YUKI…ONNA （1） An ancient province whose boundaries took in most
111
… Page 112…
KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
of present…day Tokyo； and parts of Saitama and Kanagawa prefectures。 ＇1＇
That is to say； with a floor…surface of about six feet square。 ＇2＇ This name；
signifying 〃Snow；〃 is not uncommon。 On the subject of Japanese female
names； see my paper in the volume entitled Shadowings。 （2） Also spelled
Edo； the former name of Tokyo。
THE STORY OF AOYAGI （1） An ancient province corresponding to
the northern part of present…day Ishikawa Prefecture。 （2） An ancient
province corresponding to the eastern part of present…day Fukui Prefecture。
＇1＇ The name signifies 〃Green Willow；〃 though rarely met with； it is
still in use。 ＇2＇ The poem may be read in two ways； several of the phrases
having a double meaning。 But the art of its construction would need
considerable space to explain； and could scarcely interest the Western
reader。 The meaning which Tomotada desired to convey might be thus
expressed： 〃While journeying to visit my mother； I met with a being
lovely as a flower； and for the sake of that lovely person； I am passing the
day here。。。 Fair one； wherefore that dawn…like blush before the hour of
dawn？ can it mean that you love me？〃 ＇3＇ Another reading is possible；
but this one gives the signification of the answer intended。 ＇4＇ So the
Japanese story…teller would have us believe； although the verses seem
commonplace in translation。 I have tried to give only their general
meaning： an effective literal translation would require some scholarship。
JIU…ROKU…ZAKURA （1） Present…day Ehime Prefecture。
THE DREAM OF AKINOSUKE （1） Present…day Nara Prefecture。 ＇1＇
This name 〃Tokoyo〃 is indefinite。 According to circumstances it may
signify any unknown country； or that undiscovered country from whose
bourn no traveler returns； or that Fairyland of far…eastern fable； the
Realm of Horai。 The term 〃Kokuo〃 means the ruler of a country；
therefore a king。 The original phrase； Tokoyo no Kokuo； might be
rendered here as 〃the Ruler of Horai；〃 or 〃the King of Fairyland。〃 ＇2＇ The
last phrase； according to old custom； had to be uttered by both attendants
at the same time。 All these ceremonial observances can still be studied on
the Japanese stage。 ＇3＇ This was the name given to the estrade； or dais；
upon which a feudal prince or ruler sat in state。 The term literally signifies
〃great seat。〃
112
… Page 113…
KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
RIKI…BAKA （1） Kana： the Japanese phonetic alphabet。 （2） 〃So…and…
so〃： appellation used by Hearn in place of the real name。 （3） A section of
Tokyo。 ＇1＇ A square piece of cotton…goods； or other woven material； used
as a wrapper in which to carry small packages。 （4） Ten yen is nothing now；
but was a formidable sum then。
INSECT STUDIES BUTTERFLIES （1） Haiku。 ＇1＇ 〃The modest
nymph beheld her God； and blushed。〃 （Or； in a more familiar rendering：
〃The modest water saw its God； and blushed。〃） In this line the double
value of the word nympha used by classical poets both in the meaning
of fountain and in that of the divinity of a fountain； or spring reminds
one of that graceful playing with words which Japanese poets practice。 ＇2＇
More usually written nugi…kakeru； which means either 〃to take off and
hang up；〃 or 〃to begin to take off；〃 as in the above poem。 More loosely；
but more effectively； the verses might thus be rendered： 〃Like a woman
slipping off her haori that is the appearance of a butterfly。〃 One must
have seen the Japanese garment described； to appreciate the comparison。
The haori is a silk upper…dress； a kind of sleeved cloak； worn by both
sexes； but the poem suggests a woman's haori； which is usually of richer
color or material。 The sleeves are wide； and the lining is usually of
brightly…colored silk； often beautifully variegated。 In taking off the haori；
the brilliant lining is displayed； and at such an instant the fluttering
splendor might well be likened to the appearance of a butterfly in motion。
＇3＇ The bird…catcher's pole is smeared with bird…lime； and the verses
suggest th
