Ì«×ÓүС˵Íø > Ó¢Óïµç×ÓÊé > kwaidan-stories and studies of strange things(Ææ̸) >

µÚ13½Ú

kwaidan-stories and studies of strange things(Ææ̸)-µÚ13½Ú

С˵£º kwaidan-stories and studies of strange things(Ææ̸) ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡




blown¡¡it¡¡open£»¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡he¡¡might¡¡have¡¡been¡¡only¡¡dreaming£»¡¡and¡¡

might¡¡have¡¡mistaken¡¡the¡¡gleam¡¡of¡¡the¡¡snow¡­light¡¡in¡¡the¡¡doorway¡¡for¡¡the¡¡

figure¡¡of¡¡a¡¡white¡¡woman£º¡¡but¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be¡¡sure¡£¡¡He¡¡called¡¡to¡¡Mosaku£»¡¡

and¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡frightened¡¡¡¡¡¡because¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡old¡¡¡¡¡¡man¡¡¡¡¡¡did¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡answer¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡put¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡

hand¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dark£»¡¡and¡¡touched¡¡Mosaku's¡¡face£»¡¡and¡¡found¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡¡¡ice£¡¡¡

Mosaku¡¡was¡¡stark¡¡and¡¡dead¡£¡£¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡By¡¡dawn¡¡the¡¡storm¡¡was¡¡over£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡the¡¡ferryman¡¡returned¡¡to¡¡his¡¡

station£»¡¡a¡¡little¡¡after¡¡sunrise£»¡¡he¡¡found¡¡Minokichi¡¡lying¡¡senseless¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡

frozen¡¡body¡¡of¡¡Mosaku¡£¡¡Minokichi¡¡was¡¡promptly¡¡cared¡¡for£»¡¡and¡¡soon¡¡came¡¡

to¡¡himself£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡remained¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time¡¡ill¡¡from¡¡the¡¡effects¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cold¡¡of¡¡

that¡¡terrible¡¡¡¡¡¡night¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡greatly¡¡frightened¡¡also¡¡by¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡old¡¡¡¡¡¡man's¡¡

death£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡said¡¡nothing¡¡about¡¡the¡¡vision¡¡of¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡in¡¡white¡£¡¡As¡¡soon¡¡

as¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡got¡¡¡¡well¡¡¡¡¡¡again£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡returned¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡calling£»¡¡¡¡¡¡going¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡alone¡¡¡¡¡¡every¡¡

morning¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡forest£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡coming¡¡¡¡¡¡back¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡nightfall¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡bundles¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡

wood£»¡¡which¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡helped¡¡him¡¡to¡¡sell¡£¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡One¡¡evening£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡winter¡¡of¡¡the¡¡following¡¡year£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡was¡¡on¡¡his¡¡way¡¡

home£»¡¡he¡¡overtook¡¡a¡¡girl¡¡who¡¡happened¡¡to¡¡be¡¡traveling¡¡by¡¡the¡¡same¡¡road¡£¡¡

She¡¡was¡¡a¡¡tall£»¡¡slim¡¡girl£»¡¡very¡¡good¡­looking£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡answered¡¡Minokichi's¡¡

greeting¡¡in¡¡a¡¡voice¡¡as¡¡pleasant¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ear¡¡as¡¡the¡¡voice¡¡of¡¡a¡¡song¡­bird¡£¡¡Then¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡50¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡51¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡KWAIDAN£º¡¡Stories¡¡and¡¡Studies¡¡of¡¡Strange¡¡Things¡¡



he¡¡walked¡¡beside¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡began¡¡to¡¡talk¡£¡¡The¡¡girl¡¡said¡¡that¡¡her¡¡name¡¡

was¡¡O¡­Yuki¡¡£§2£§£»¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡lately¡¡lost¡¡both¡¡of¡¡her¡¡parents£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡she¡¡

was¡¡going¡¡to¡¡Yedo¡¡£¨2£©£»¡¡where¡¡she¡¡happened¡¡to¡¡have¡¡some¡¡poor¡¡relations£»¡¡

who¡¡might¡¡help¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡to¡¡find¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡situation¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡a¡¡servant¡£¡¡¡¡Minokichi¡¡soon¡¡felt¡¡

charmed¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡strange¡¡¡¡¡¡girl£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡more¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡looked¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡her£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

handsomer¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡appeared¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡asked¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡whether¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡yet¡¡

betrothed£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡¡¡answered£»¡¡laughingly£»¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡was¡¡free¡£¡¡Then£»¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡

turn£»¡¡¡¡¡¡she¡¡¡¡¡¡asked¡¡¡¡¡¡Minokichi¡¡¡¡¡¡whether¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡married£»¡¡¡¡¡¡or¡¡¡¡¡¡pledge¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡marry£»¡¡

and¡¡he¡¡told¡¡her¡¡that£»¡¡although¡¡he¡¡had¡¡only¡¡a¡¡widowed¡¡mother¡¡to¡¡support£»¡¡

the¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡question¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨honorable¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡daughter¡­in¡­law¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡yet¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡

considered£»¡¡as¡¡he¡¡was¡¡very¡¡young¡£¡£¡£¡¡After¡¡these¡¡confidences£»¡¡they¡¡walked¡¡

on¡¡for¡¡a¡¡long¡¡while¡¡without¡¡speaking£»¡¡but£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡proverb¡¡declares£»¡¡Ki¡¡ga¡¡

areba£»¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡mo¡¡¡¡¡¡kuchi¡¡¡¡¡¡hodo¡¡¡¡¡¡ni¡¡¡¡¡¡mono¡¡¡¡¡¡wo¡¡¡¡¡¡iu£º¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨When¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡wish¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡there£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

eyes¡¡can¡¡say¡¡as¡¡much¡¡as¡¡the¡¡mouth¡£¡¨¡¡By¡¡the¡¡time¡¡they¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡village£»¡¡

they¡¡had¡¡become¡¡very¡¡much¡¡pleased¡¡with¡¡each¡¡other£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡Minokichi¡¡

asked¡¡O¡­Yuki¡¡to¡¡rest¡¡awhile¡¡at¡¡his¡¡house¡£¡¡After¡¡some¡¡shy¡¡hesitation£»¡¡she¡¡

went¡¡there¡¡with¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡mother¡¡made¡¡her¡¡welcome£»¡¡and¡¡prepared¡¡a¡¡

warm¡¡¡¡¡¡meal¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡O¡­Yuki¡¡¡¡¡¡behaved¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡¡¡nicely¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡Minokichi's¡¡¡¡¡¡mother¡¡

took¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡fancy¡¡to¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡persuaded¡¡her¡¡to¡¡delay¡¡her¡¡journey¡¡to¡¡Yedo¡£¡¡

And¡¡the¡¡natural¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡matter¡¡was¡¡that¡¡Yuki¡¡never¡¡went¡¡to¡¡Yedo¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¡

She¡¡remained¡¡in¡¡the¡¡house£»¡¡as¡¡an¡¡¡¨honorable¡¡daughter¡­in¡­law¡£¡¨¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡O¡­Yuki¡¡proved¡¡a¡¡very¡¡good¡¡daughter¡­in¡­law¡£¡¡When¡¡Minokichi's¡¡mother¡¡

came¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡die£»¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡five¡¡¡¡¡¡years¡¡¡¡¡¡later£»¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡last¡¡¡¡words¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡words¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡

affection¡¡and¡¡praise¡¡for¡¡the¡¡wife¡¡of¡¡her¡¡son¡£¡¡And¡¡O¡­Yuki¡¡bore¡¡Minokichi¡¡

ten¡¡children£»¡¡boys¡¡and¡¡girls£»¡¡handsome¡¡children¡¡all¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡very¡¡fair¡¡

of¡¡skin¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡country¡­folk¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡thought¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡O¡­Yuki¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡wonderful¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡person£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡nature¡¡

different¡¡from¡¡themselves¡£¡¡Most¡¡of¡¡the¡¡peasant¡­women¡¡age¡¡early£»¡¡but¡¡O¡­¡¡

Yuki£»¡¡¡¡¡¡even¡¡¡¡¡¡after¡¡¡¡¡¡having¡¡¡¡¡¡become¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡mother¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡ten¡¡¡¡¡¡children£»¡¡¡¡¡¡looked¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡

young¡¡and¡¡fresh¡¡as¡¡on¡¡the¡¡day¡¡when¡¡she¡¡had¡¡first¡¡come¡¡to¡¡the¡¡village¡£¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡One¡¡night£»¡¡after¡¡the¡¡children¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡to¡¡sleep£»¡¡O¡­Yuki¡¡was¡¡sewing¡¡by¡¡

the¡¡light¡¡of¡¡a¡¡paper¡¡lamp£»¡¡and¡¡Minokichi£»¡¡watching¡¡her£»¡¡said£º¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡51¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡52¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡KWAIDAN£º¡¡Stories¡¡and¡¡Studies¡¡of¡¡Strange¡¡Things¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨To¡¡see¡¡you¡¡sewing¡¡there£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡light¡¡on¡¡your¡¡face£»¡¡makes¡¡me¡¡think¡¡

of¡¡a¡¡strange¡¡thing¡¡that¡¡happened¡¡when¡¡I¡¡was¡¡a¡¡lad¡¡of¡¡eighteen¡£¡¡I¡¡then¡¡saw¡¡

somebody¡¡as¡¡beautiful¡¡and¡¡white¡¡as¡¡you¡¡are¡¡now¡¡¡¡indeed£»¡¡she¡¡was¡¡very¡¡

like¡¡you¡£¡¨¡£¡£¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Without¡¡lifting¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡from¡¡her¡¡work£»¡¡O¡­Yuki¡¡responded£º¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Tell¡¡me¡¡about¡¡her¡£¡£¡£¡¡Where¡¡did¡¡you¡¡see¡¡her£¿¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Then¡¡¡¡¡¡Minokichi¡¡¡¡¡¡told¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡terrible¡¡¡¡¡¡night¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡ferryman's¡¡

hut£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡White¡¡Woman¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡stooped¡¡¡¡¡¡above¡¡him£»¡¡¡¡smiling¡¡

and¡¡whispering£»¡¡and¡¡about¡¡the¡¡silent¡¡death¡¡of¡¡old¡¡Mosaku¡£¡¡And¡¡he¡¡said£º¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Asleep¡¡¡¡¡¡or¡¡¡¡¡¡awake£»¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡only¡¡¡¡¡¡time¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡saw¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡being¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡

beautiful¡¡as¡¡you¡£¡¡Of¡¡course£»¡¡she¡¡was¡¡not¡¡a¡¡human¡¡being£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡was¡¡afraid¡¡

of¡¡her£»¡¡very¡¡much¡¡afraid£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡was¡¡so¡¡white£¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡Indeed£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡never¡¡

been¡¡sure¡¡whether¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡dream¡¡that¡¡I¡¡saw£»¡¡or¡¡the¡¡Woman¡¡of¡¡theSnow¡£¡¨¡£¡£¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡O¡­Yuki¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡flung¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡down¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡her¡¡¡¡¡¡sewing£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡arose£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡bowed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡above¡¡

Minokichi¡¡where¡¡he¡¡sat£»¡¡and¡¡shrieked¡¡into¡¡his¡¡face£º¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡was¡¡I¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡I£¡¡¡Yuki¡¡it¡¡was£¡¡¡And¡¡I¡¡told¡¡you¡¡then¡¡that¡¡I¡¡would¡¡kill¡¡

you¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡ever¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡work¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡it£¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡those¡¡¡¡¡¡children¡¡¡¡¡¡asleep¡¡

there£»¡¡I¡¡would¡¡kill¡¡you¡¡this¡¡moment£¡¡¡And¡¡now¡¡you¡¡had¡¡better¡¡take¡¡very£»¡¡

very¡¡good¡¡care¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡for¡¡if¡¡ever¡¡they¡¡have¡¡reason¡¡to¡¡complain¡¡of¡¡you£»¡¡I¡¡

will¡¡treat¡¡you¡¡as¡¡you¡¡deserve£¡¡¨¡£¡£¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Even¡¡as¡¡she¡¡screamed£»¡¡her¡¡voice¡¡became¡¡thin£»¡¡like¡¡a¡¡crying¡¡of¡¡wind£»¡¡

then¡¡she¡¡melted¡¡into¡¡a¡¡bright¡¡white¡¡mist¡¡that¡¡spired¡¡to¡¡the¡¡roof¡­beams£»¡¡and¡¡

shuddered¡¡away¡¡through¡¡the¡¡smoke¡­hold¡£¡£¡£¡¡Never¡¡again¡¡was¡¡she¡¡seen¡£¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡52¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡53¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡KWAIDAN£º¡¡Stories¡¡and¡¡Studies¡¡of¡¡Strange¡¡Things¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡STORY¡¡OF¡¡AOYAGI¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡era¡¡of¡¡Bummei¡¡£§1469¡­1486£§¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡young¡¡samurai¡¡called¡¡

Tomotada¡¡in¡¡the¡¡service¡¡of¡¡Hatakeyama¡¡Yoshimune£»¡¡the¡¡Lord¡¡of¡¡Noto¡¡£¨1£©¡£¡¡

Tomotada¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡native¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡Echizen¡¡¡¡¡¡£¨2£©£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡early¡¡¡¡¡¡age¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡

taken£»¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡page£»¡¡¡¡¡¡into¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡palace¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡daimyo¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡Noto£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡

educated£»¡¡under¡¡the¡¡supervision¡¡of¡¡that¡¡prince£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡profession¡¡of¡¡arms¡£¡¡

As¡¡he¡¡grew¡¡up£»¡¡he¡¡proved¡¡himself¡¡both¡¡a¡¡good¡¡scholar¡¡and¡¡a¡¡good¡¡soldier£»¡¡

and¡¡¡¡¡¡continued¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡enjoy¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡favor¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡prince¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Being¡¡¡¡¡¡gifted¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡

amiable¡¡character£»¡¡a¡¡winning¡¡address£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡very¡¡handsome¡¡person£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡

admired¡¡and¡¡much¡¡liked¡¡by¡¡his¡¡samurai¡­comrades¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡¡¡¡¡Tomotada¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡twenty¡¡¡¡¡¡years¡¡¡¡¡¡old£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡sent¡¡¡¡¡¡upon¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡

private¡¡¡¡¡¡mission¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡Hosokawa¡¡¡¡¡¡Masamoto£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡great¡¡¡¡¡¡daimyo¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡Kyoto£»¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡

kinsman¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡Hatakeyama¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Yoshimune¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Having¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ordered¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡journey¡¡

through¡¡¡¡¡¡Echizen£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡youth¡¡¡¡¡¡requested¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡obtained¡¡¡¡¡¡permission¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡pay¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡

visit£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡way£»¡¡to¡¡his¡¡widowed¡¡mother¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡coldest¡¡¡¡¡¡period¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡year¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡started£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and£»¡¡¡¡¡¡though¡¡

mounted¡¡¡¡¡¡upon¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡powerful¡¡¡¡¡¡horse£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡found¡¡¡¡¡¡himself¡¡¡¡¡¡obliged¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡proceed¡¡

slowly¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡road¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡followed¡¡¡¡¡¡passed¡¡¡¡¡¡through¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡mountain¡­district¡¡

where¡¡the¡¡settlements¡¡were¡¡few¡¡and¡¡far¡¡between£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡the¡¡second¡¡day¡¡of¡¡

his¡¡journey£»¡¡after¡¡a¡¡weary¡¡ride¡¡of¡¡hours£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡dismayed¡¡to¡¡find¡¡that¡¡he¡¡

could¡¡not¡¡reached¡¡his¡¡intended¡¡halting¡­place¡¡until¡¡late¡¡in¡¡the¡¡night¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡

reason¡¡to¡¡be¡¡anxious£»¡¡for¡¡a¡¡heavy¡¡snowstorm¡¡came¡¡on£»¡¡with¡¡an¡¡intensely¡¡

cold¡¡wind£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡the¡¡¡¡horse¡¡showed¡¡signs¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡exhaustion¡£¡¡But¡¡in¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡trying¡¡

moment£»¡¡Tomotada¡¡unexpectedly¡¡perceived¡¡the¡¡thatched¡¡room¡¡of¡¡a¡¡cottage¡¡

on¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡summit¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡near¡¡¡¡¡¡hill£»¡¡¡¡¡¡where¡¡¡¡¡¡willow¡­trees¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡growing¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡With¡¡

difficulty¡¡he¡¡urged¡¡his¡¡tired¡¡animal¡¡to¡¡the¡¡dwelling£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡loudly¡¡knocked¡¡

upon¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡storm¡­doors£»¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡closed¡¡¡¡¡¡against¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡wind¡£¡¡An¡¡¡¡¡¡old¡¡

woman¡¡¡¡¡¡opened¡¡¡¡¡¡them£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡cried¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡compassionately¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡sight¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

handsome¡¡stranger£º¡¡¡¨Ah£»¡¡how¡¡pitiful£¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡young¡¡gentleman¡¡traveling¡¡alone¡¡

in¡¡such¡¡weather£¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡Deign£»¡¡young¡¡master£»¡¡to¡¡enter¡£¡¨¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Tomotada¡¡dismounted£»¡¡and¡¡after¡¡leading¡¡his¡¡horse¡¡to¡¡a¡¡shed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡rear£»¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡53¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡54¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡KWAIDAN£º¡¡Stories¡¡and¡¡Studies¡¡of¡¡Strange¡¡Things¡¡



entered¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡cottage£»¡¡¡¡¡¡where¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡saw¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡old¡¡¡¡¡¡man¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡girl¡¡¡¡warming¡¡

themselves¡¡by¡¡a¡¡fire¡¡of¡¡bamboo¡¡splints¡£¡¡They¡¡respectfully¡¡invited¡¡him¡¡to¡¡

approach¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡fire£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡old¡¡¡¡¡¡folks¡¡¡¡¡¡then¡¡¡¡¡¡proceeded¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡warm¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡rice¡­¡¡

wine£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡prepare¡¡food¡¡for¡¡the¡¡traveler£»¡¡whom¡¡they¡¡ventured¡¡to¡¡question¡¡

in¡¡regard¡¡to¡¡his¡¡journey¡£¡¡Meanwhile¡¡the¡¡young¡¡girl¡¡disappe

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨1£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ