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

µÚ23½Ú

kwaidan-stories and studies of strange things(Ææ̸)-µÚ23½Ú

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£¡




from¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Buddhist¡¡¡¡¡¡cemetery£»¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡very¡¡¡¡¡¡old¡¡¡¡¡¡cemetery£»¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡rear¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡

garden¡£¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Dr¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Howard's¡¡¡¡¡¡book¡¡¡¡¡¡declares¡¡¡¡¡¡that£»¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡order¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡rid¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡neighborhood¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡

mosquitoes£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡only¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡pour¡¡a¡¡little¡¡petroleum£»¡¡or¡¡kerosene¡¡oil£»¡¡

into¡¡the¡¡stagnant¡¡water¡¡where¡¡they¡¡breed¡£¡¡Once¡¡a¡¡week¡¡the¡¡oil¡¡should¡¡be¡¡

used£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡rate¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡once¡¡¡¡¡¡ounce¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡every¡¡¡¡¡¡fifteen¡¡¡¡¡¡square¡¡¡¡¡¡feet¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡water¡­¡¡

surface£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡proportionate¡¡quantity¡¡for¡¡any¡¡less¡¡surface¡£¡¨¡¡¡£¡£¡£But¡¡please¡¡to¡¡

consider¡¡the¡¡conditions¡¡in¡¡my¡¡neighborhood£¡¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡tormentors¡¡¡¡¡¡come¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Buddhist¡¡¡¡¡¡cemetery¡£¡¡

Before¡¡nearly¡¡every¡¡tomb¡¡in¡¡that¡¡old¡¡cemetery¡¡there¡¡is¡¡a¡¡water¡­receptacle£»¡¡

or¡¡¡¡¡¡cistern£»¡¡¡¡¡¡called¡¡¡¡¡¡mizutame¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡majority¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡cases¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡mizutame¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡

simply¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡oblong¡¡¡¡¡¡cavity¡¡¡¡¡¡chiseled¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡broad¡¡¡¡¡¡pedestal¡¡¡¡¡¡supporting¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

monument£»¡¡but¡¡before¡¡tombs¡¡of¡¡a¡¡costly¡¡kind£»¡¡having¡¡no¡¡pedestal¡­tank£»¡¡a¡¡

larger¡¡¡¡¡¡separate¡¡¡¡¡¡tank¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡placed£»¡¡¡¡¡¡cut¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡single¡¡¡¡¡¡block¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡stone£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡

decorated¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡family¡¡¡¡¡¡crest£»¡¡¡¡¡¡or¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡symbolic¡¡¡¡¡¡carvings¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡¡¡¡¡front¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡

tomb¡¡of¡¡the¡¡humblest¡¡class£»¡¡having¡¡no¡¡mizutame£»¡¡water¡¡is¡¡placed¡¡in¡¡cups¡¡

or¡¡¡¡¡¡other¡¡¡¡¡¡vessels£»¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡dead¡¡¡¡¡¡must¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡water¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Flowers¡¡¡¡¡¡also¡¡¡¡¡¡must¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡

offered¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡them£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡before¡¡¡¡¡¡every¡¡¡¡tomb¡¡¡¡¡¡you¡¡¡¡¡¡will¡¡¡¡¡¡find¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡pair¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡bamboo¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡91¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡92¡­

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



cups£»¡¡or¡¡other¡¡flower¡­vessels£»¡¡and¡¡these£»¡¡of¡¡course£»¡¡contain¡¡water¡£¡¡There¡¡is¡¡

a¡¡well¡¡in¡¡the¡¡cemetery¡¡to¡¡supply¡¡water¡¡for¡¡the¡¡graves¡£¡¡Whenever¡¡the¡¡tombs¡¡

are¡¡visited¡¡by¡¡relatives¡¡and¡¡friends¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dead£»¡¡fresh¡¡water¡¡is¡¡poured¡¡into¡¡

the¡¡tanks¡¡and¡¡cups¡£¡¡But¡¡as¡¡an¡¡old¡¡cemetery¡¡of¡¡this¡¡kind¡¡contains¡¡thousands¡¡

of¡¡mizutame£»¡¡and¡¡tens¡¡of¡¡thousands¡¡of¡¡flower¡­vessels¡¡the¡¡water¡¡in¡¡all¡¡of¡¡

these¡¡cannot¡¡be¡¡renewed¡¡every¡¡day¡£¡¡It¡¡becomes¡¡stagnant¡¡and¡¡populous¡£¡¡The¡¡

deeper¡¡tanks¡¡seldom¡¡get¡¡dry£»¡¡the¡¡rainfall¡¡at¡¡Tokyo¡¡being¡¡heavy¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡

keep¡¡them¡¡partly¡¡filled¡¡during¡¡nine¡¡months¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡twelve¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Well£»¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡these¡¡¡¡¡¡tanks¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡flower¡­vessels¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡mine¡¡¡¡¡¡enemies¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡

born£º¡¡they¡¡rise¡¡by¡¡millions¡¡from¡¡the¡¡water¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dead£»¡¡and£»¡¡according¡¡to¡¡

Buddhist¡¡doctrine£»¡¡some¡¡of¡¡them¡¡may¡¡be¡¡reincarnations¡¡of¡¡those¡¡very¡¡dead£»¡¡

condemned¡¡by¡¡the¡¡error¡¡of¡¡former¡¡lives¡¡to¡¡the¡¡condition¡¡of¡¡Jiki¡­ketsu¡­gaki£»¡¡

or¡¡blood¡­drinking¡¡pretas¡£¡£¡£¡¡Anyhow¡¡the¡¡malevolence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Culex¡¡fasciatus¡¡

would¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡justify¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡suspicion¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡wicked¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡human¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡soul¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡

compressed¡¡into¡¡that¡¡wailing¡¡speck¡¡of¡¡a¡¡body¡£¡£¡£¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Now£»¡¡to¡¡return¡¡to¡¡the¡¡subject¡¡of¡¡kerosene¡­oil£»¡¡you¡¡can¡¡exterminate¡¡the¡¡

mosquitoes¡¡of¡¡any¡¡locality¡¡by¡¡covering¡¡with¡¡a¡¡film¡¡of¡¡kerosene¡¡all¡¡stagnant¡¡

water¡¡surfaces¡¡therein¡£¡¡The¡¡larvae¡¡die¡¡on¡¡rising¡¡to¡¡breathe£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡adult¡¡

females¡¡perish¡¡when¡¡they¡¡approach¡¡the¡¡water¡¡to¡¡launch¡¡their¡¡rafts¡¡of¡¡eggs¡£¡¡

And¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡read£»¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡Dr¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Howard's¡¡¡¡¡¡book£»¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡actual¡¡¡¡¡¡cost¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡freeing¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡

mosquitoes¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡American¡¡¡¡¡¡town¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡fifty¡¡¡¡¡¡thousand¡¡¡¡¡¡inhabitants£»¡¡¡¡¡¡does¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡

exceed¡¡three¡¡hundred¡¡dollars£¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡wonder¡¡what¡¡would¡¡be¡¡said¡¡if¡¡the¡¡city¡­government¡¡of¡¡Tokyo¡¡¡¡which¡¡

is¡¡¡¡¡¡aggressively¡¡¡¡¡¡scientific¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡progressive¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡suddenly¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡command¡¡

that¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡water¡­surfaces¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Buddhist¡¡¡¡¡¡cemeteries¡¡¡¡¡¡should¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡covered£»¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡

regular¡¡¡¡¡¡intervals£»¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡film¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡kerosene¡¡¡¡¡¡oil£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡How¡¡¡¡¡¡could¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡religion¡¡

which¡¡prohibits¡¡the¡¡taking¡¡of¡¡any¡¡life¡¡¡¡even¡¡of¡¡invisible¡¡life¡¡¡¡yield¡¡to¡¡

such¡¡a¡¡mandate£¿¡¡Would¡¡filial¡¡piety¡¡even¡¡dream¡¡of¡¡consenting¡¡to¡¡obey¡¡such¡¡

an¡¡¡¡¡¡order£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡¡¡¡¡then¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡think¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡cost£»¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡labor¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡time£»¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡putting¡¡

kerosene¡¡oil£»¡¡every¡¡seven¡¡days£»¡¡into¡¡the¡¡millions¡¡of¡¡mizutame£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡tens¡¡

of¡¡millions¡¡of¡¡bamboo¡¡flower¡­cups£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Tokyo¡¡graveyards£¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡Impossible£¡¡¡

To¡¡¡¡¡¡free¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡city¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡mosquitoes¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡necessary¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡demolish¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡92¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡93¡­

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



ancient¡¡¡¡¡¡graveyards£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡signify¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ruin¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡Buddhist¡¡

temples¡¡¡¡¡¡attached¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡them£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡mean¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡disparition¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡

many¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡charming¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡gardens£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡lotus¡­ponds¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡Sanscrit¡­lettered¡¡

monuments¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡humpy¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡bridges¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡holy¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡groves¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡weirdly¡­smiling¡¡

Buddhas£¡¡¡So¡¡the¡¡extermination¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Culex¡¡fasciatus¡¡would¡¡involve¡¡the¡¡

destruction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡poetry¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ancestral¡¡cult£»¡¡surely¡¡too¡¡great¡¡a¡¡price¡¡to¡¡

pay£¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Besides£»¡¡I¡¡should¡¡like£»¡¡when¡¡my¡¡time¡¡comes£»¡¡to¡¡be¡¡laid¡¡away¡¡in¡¡some¡¡

Buddhist¡¡¡¡¡¡graveyard¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡ancient¡¡¡¡¡¡kind£»¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡ghostly¡¡¡¡¡¡company¡¡

should¡¡be¡¡ancient£»¡¡caring¡¡nothing¡¡for¡¡the¡¡fashions¡¡and¡¡the¡¡changes¡¡and¡¡the¡¡

disintegrations¡¡of¡¡Meiji¡¡£¨1£©¡£¡¡That¡¡old¡¡cemetery¡¡behind¡¡my¡¡garden¡¡would¡¡be¡¡

a¡¡suitable¡¡place¡£¡¡Everything¡¡there¡¡is¡¡beautiful¡¡with¡¡a¡¡beauty¡¡of¡¡exceeding¡¡

and¡¡startling¡¡queerness£»¡¡each¡¡tree¡¡and¡¡stone¡¡has¡¡been¡¡shaped¡¡by¡¡some¡¡old£»¡¡

old¡¡ideal¡¡which¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡exists¡¡in¡¡any¡¡living¡¡brain£»¡¡even¡¡the¡¡shadows¡¡are¡¡

not¡¡of¡¡this¡¡time¡¡and¡¡sun£»¡¡but¡¡of¡¡a¡¡world¡¡forgotten£»¡¡that¡¡never¡¡knew¡¡steam¡¡

or¡¡electricity¡¡or¡¡magnetism¡¡or¡¡¡¡kerosene¡¡oil£¡¡¡Also¡¡in¡¡the¡¡boom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡big¡¡

bell¡¡there¡¡is¡¡a¡¡quaintness¡¡of¡¡tone¡¡which¡¡wakens¡¡feelings£»¡¡so¡¡strangely¡¡far¡­¡¡

away¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡nineteenth¡­century¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡part¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡me£»¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡faint¡¡¡¡¡¡blind¡¡

stirrings¡¡of¡¡them¡¡make¡¡me¡¡afraid£»¡¡deliciously¡¡afraid¡£¡¡Never¡¡do¡¡I¡¡hear¡¡that¡¡

billowing¡¡¡¡¡¡peal¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡become¡¡¡¡¡¡aware¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡striving¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡fluttering¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

abyssal¡¡part¡¡of¡¡my¡¡ghost£»¡¡a¡¡sensation¡¡as¡¡of¡¡memories¡¡struggling¡¡to¡¡reach¡¡

the¡¡light¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡obscurations¡¡of¡¡a¡¡million¡¡million¡¡deaths¡¡and¡¡births¡£¡¡I¡¡

hope¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡remain¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡within¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡hearing¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡bell¡£¡£¡£¡¡¡¡And£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡considering¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

possibility¡¡of¡¡being¡¡doomed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡state¡¡of¡¡a¡¡Jiki¡­ketsu¡­gaki£»¡¡I¡¡want¡¡to¡¡have¡¡

my¡¡¡¡¡¡chance¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡being¡¡¡¡¡¡reborn¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡bamboo¡¡¡¡¡¡flower¡­cup£»¡¡¡¡¡¡or¡¡¡¡¡¡mizutame£»¡¡

whence¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡might¡¡¡¡¡¡issue¡¡¡¡¡¡softly£»¡¡¡¡¡¡singing¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡thin¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡pungent¡¡¡¡¡¡song£»¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡bite¡¡

some¡¡people¡¡that¡¡I¡¡know¡£¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡93¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡94¡­

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



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ANTS¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡¡¡¡¡morning¡¡¡¡¡¡sky£»¡¡¡¡¡¡after¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡night's¡¡¡¡¡¡tempest£»¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡pure¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡dazzling¡¡

blue¡£¡¡The¡¡air¡¡¡¡the¡¡delicious¡¡air£¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡full¡¡of¡¡sweet¡¡resinous¡¡odors£»¡¡shed¡¡

from¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡countless¡¡¡¡¡¡pine¡­boughs¡¡¡¡¡¡broken¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡strewn¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡gale¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

neighboring¡¡bamboo¡­grove¡¡I¡¡hear¡¡the¡¡flute¡­call¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bird¡¡that¡¡praises¡¡the¡¡

Sutra¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Lotos£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡land¡¡is¡¡very¡¡still¡¡by¡¡reason¡¡of¡¡the¡¡south¡¡wind¡£¡¡

Now¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡summer£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡long¡¡¡¡¡¡delayed£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡truly¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡us£º¡¡¡¡¡¡butterflies¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡queer¡¡

Japanese¡¡¡¡¡¡colors¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡¡¡flickering¡¡¡¡¡¡about£»¡¡¡¡¡¡semi¡¡¡¡¡¡£¨1£©¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡¡¡wheezing£»¡¡¡¡¡¡wasps¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡

humming£»¡¡¡¡¡¡gnats¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡¡¡dancing¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡sun£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡ants¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡¡¡busy¡¡¡¡¡¡repairing¡¡

their¡¡damaged¡¡habitations¡£¡£¡£¡¡I¡¡bethink¡¡me¡¡of¡¡a¡¡Japanese¡¡poem£º¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Yuku¡¡e¡¡naki£º¡¡Ari¡¡no¡¡sumai¡¡ya£¡¡¡Go¡­getsu¡¡ame¡£¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡£§Now¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡creature¡¡has¡¡nowhere¡¡to¡¡go£¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡Alas¡¡for¡¡the¡¡dwellings¡¡of¡¡

the¡¡ants¡¡in¡¡this¡¡rain¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fifth¡¡month£¡£§¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡those¡¡¡¡¡¡big¡¡¡¡black¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ants¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡garden¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡do¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡seem¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡need¡¡¡¡¡¡any¡¡

sympathy¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡weathered¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡storm¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡unimaginable¡¡¡¡¡¡way£»¡¡

while¡¡great¡¡trees¡¡were¡¡being¡¡uprooted£»¡¡and¡¡houses¡¡blown¡¡to¡¡fragments£»¡¡and¡¡

roads¡¡washed¡¡out¡¡of¡¡existence¡£¡¡Yet£»¡¡before¡¡the¡¡typhoon£»¡¡they¡¡took¡¡no¡¡other¡¡

visible¡¡precaution¡¡than¡¡to¡¡block¡¡up¡¡the¡¡gates¡¡of¡¡their¡¡subterranean¡¡¡¡¡¡town¡£¡¡

And¡¡the¡¡spectacle¡¡of¡¡their¡¡triumphant¡¡toil¡¡to¡­day¡¡impels¡¡me¡¡to¡¡attempt¡¡an¡¡

essay¡¡on¡¡Ants¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡should¡¡have¡¡like¡¡to¡¡preface¡¡my¡¡disquisitions¡¡with¡¡something¡¡from¡¡

the¡¡old¡¡Japanese¡¡literature£»¡¡something¡¡emotional¡¡or¡¡metaphysical¡£¡¡But¡¡all¡¡

that¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Japanese¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡friends¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡able¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡find¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡subject£»¡¡

excepting¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡some¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡verses¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡worth£»¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Chinese¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Chinese¡¡

material¡¡consisted¡¡chiefly¡¡of¡¡strange¡¡stories£»¡¡and¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡me¡¡

worth¡¡quoting£»¡¡faute¡¡de¡¡mieux¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡*¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡94¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡95¡­

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



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡province¡¡of¡¡Taishu£»¡¡in¡¡China£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡pious¡¡man¡¡who£»¡¡every¡¡

day£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡during¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡many¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡years£»¡¡¡¡¡¡fervently¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡worshiped¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡certain¡¡¡¡¡¡goddess¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡One¡¡

morning£»¡¡¡¡¡¡while¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡engaged¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡devotions£»¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡beautiful¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡woman£»¡¡

wearing¡¡a¡¡yellow¡¡robe£»¡¡came¡¡into¡¡his¡¡chamber¡¡and¡¡s

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

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ