kwaidan-stories and studies of strange things(奇谈)-第28节
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known by the name of Bakkan。 ＇3＇ The biwa； a kind of four…stringed lute；
is chiefly used in musical recitative。 Formerly the professional minstrels
who recited the Heike…Monogatari； and other tragical histories； were
called biwa…hoshi； or 〃lute…priests。〃 The origin of this appellation is not
clear； but it is possible that it may have been suggested by the fact that
〃lute…priests〃 as well as blind shampooers； had their heads shaven； like
Buddhist priests。 The biwa is played with a kind of plectrum； called bachi；
usually made of horn。 （1） A response to show that one has heard and is
listening attentively。 ＇4＇ A respectful term； signifying the opening of a gate。
It was used by samurai when calling to the guards on duty at a lord's gate
for admission。 ＇5＇ Or the phrase might be rendered； 〃for the pity of that
part is the deepest。〃 The Japanese word for pity in the original text is
〃aware。〃 ＇6＇ 〃Traveling incognito〃 is at least the meaning of the original
phrase； 〃making a disguised august…journey〃 （shinobi no go…ryoko）。 ＇7＇
The Smaller Pragna…Paramita…Hridaya…Sutra is thus called in Japanese。
Both the smaller and larger sutras called Pragna…Paramita （〃Transcendent
Wisdom〃） have been translated by the late Professor Max Muller； and can
be found in volume xlix。 of the Sacred Books of the East （〃Buddhist
Mahayana Sutras〃）。 Apropos of the magical use of the text； as described
in this story； it is worth remarking that the subject of the sutra is the
Doctrine of the Emptiness of Forms； that is to say； of the unreal character
of all phenomena or noumena。。。 〃Form is emptiness； and emptiness is
form。 Emptiness is not different from form； form is not different from
emptiness。 What is form that is emptiness。 What is emptiness that is
form。。。 Perception； name； concept； and knowledge； are also emptiness。。。
There is no eye； ear； nose； tongue； body； and mind。。。 But when
theenvelopment of consciousness has been annihilated； then he ＇the seeker＇
becomes free from all fear； and beyond the reach of change； enjoying final
Nirvana。〃
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KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
OSHIDORI ＇1＇ From ancient time； in the Far East； these birds have
been regarded as emblems of conjugal affection。 ＇2＇ There is a pathetic
double meaning in the third verse； for the syllables composing the proper
name Akanuma （〃Red Marsh〃） may also be read as akanu…ma； signifying
〃the time of our inseparable （or delightful） relation。〃 So the poem can also
be thus rendered： 〃When the day began to fail； I had invited him to
accompany me。。。！ Now； after the time of that happy relation； what misery
for the one who must slumber alone in the shadow of the rushes！〃 The
makomo is a short of large rush； used for making baskets。
THE STORY OF O…TEI （1） 〃…sama〃 is a polite suffix attached to
personal names。 （2） A Buddhist term commonly used to signify a kind of
heaven。 ＇1＇ The Buddhist term zokumyo （〃profane name〃） signifies the
personal name； borne during life； in contradistinction to the kaimyo （〃sila…
name〃） or homyo （〃Law…name〃） given after death； religious posthumous
appellations inscribed upon the tomb； and upon the mortuary tablet in the
parish…temple。 For some account of these； see my paper entitled； 〃The
Literature of the Dead；〃 in Exotics and Retrospectives。 ＇2＇ Buddhist
household shrine。 （3） Direct translation of a Japanese form of address used
toward young； unmarried women。
DIPLOMACY （1） The spacious house and grounds of a wealthy
person is thus called。 （2） A Buddhist service for the dead。
OF A MIRROR AND A BELL （1） Part of present…day Shizuoka
Prefecture。 （2） The two…hour period between 1 AM and 3 AM。 （3） A
monetary unit。
JIKININKI （1） The southern part of present…day Gifu Prefecture。 ＇1＇
Literally； a man…eating goblin。 The Japanese narrator gives also the
Sanscrit term； 〃Rakshasa；〃 but this word is quite as vague as jikininki；
since there are many kinds of Rakshasas。 Apparently the word jikininki
signifies here one of the Baramon…Rasetsu…Gaki； forming the twenty…
sixth class of pretas enumerated in the old Buddhist books。 ＇2＇ A Segaki…
service is a special Buddhist service performed on behalf of beings
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
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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
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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
