kwaidan-stories and studies of strange things(奇谈)-第29节
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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。〃
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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 that the insect is preventing the man from using his pole； by
persistently getting in the way of it； as the birds might take warning from
seeing the butterfly limed。 Jama suru means 〃to hinder〃 or 〃prevent。〃 ＇4＇
Even while it is resting； the wings of the butterfly may be seen to quiver at
moments； as if the creature were dreaming of flight。 ＇5＇ A little poem by
Basho； greatest of all Japanese composers of hokku。 The verses are
intended to suggest the joyous feeling of spring…time。 ＇6＇ Literally； 〃a
windless day；〃 but two negatives in Japanese poetry do not necessarily
imply an affirmative； as in English。 The meaning is； that although there is
no wind； the fluttering motion of the butterflies suggests； to the eyes at
least； that a strong breeze is playing。 ＇7＇ Alluding to the Buddhist proverb：
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KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
Rakkwa eda ni kaerazu； ha…kyo futatabi terasazu （〃The fallen flower
returns not to the branch； the broken mirror never again reflects。〃） So says
the proverb yet it seemed to me that I saw a fallen flower return to the
branch。。。 No： it was only a butterfly。 ＇8＇ Alluding probably to the light
fluttering motion of falling cherry…petals。 ＇9＇ That is to say； the grace of
their motion makes one think of the grace of young girls； daintily
costumed； in robes with long fluttering sleeves。。。 And old Japanese
proverb declares that even a devil is pretty at eighteen： Oni mo jiu…hachi
azami no hana： 〃Even a devil at eighteen； flower…of…the…thistle。〃 ＇10＇ Or
perhaps the verses might be more effectively rendered thus： 〃Happy
together； do you say？ Yes if we should be reborn as field…butterflies in
some future life： then we might accord！〃 This poem was composed by the
celebrated poet Issa； on the occasion of divorcing his wife。 ＇11＇ Or； Tare
no tama？ ＇Digitizer's note： Hearn's note calls attention to an alternative
reading of the ideogram for 〃spirit〃 or 〃soul。〃＇ ＇12＇ Literally； 〃Butterfly…
pursing heart I wish to have always；' i。e。； I would that I might always be
able to find pleasure in simple things； like a happy child。 ＇13＇ An old
popular error； probably imported from China。 ＇14＇ A name suggested by
the resemblance of the larva's artificial covering to the mino； or straw…
raincoat； worn by Japanese peasants。 I am not sure whether the dictionary
rendering； 〃basket…worm；〃 is quite correct； but the larva commonly
called minomushi does really construct for itself something much like the
covering of the basket…worm。 （2） A very large； white radish。 〃Daikon〃
literally means 〃big root。〃 ＇15＇ Pyrus spectabilis。 ＇16＇ An evil spirit。 （3） A
common female name。
MOSQUITOES （1） Meiji： The period in which Hearn wrote this book。
It lasted from 1868 to 1912； and was a time when Japan plunged head…first
into Western…style modernization。 By the 〃fashions and the changes and
the disintegrations of Meiji〃 Hearn is lamenting that this process of
modernization was destroying some of the good things in traditional
Japanese culture。
ANTS （1） Cicadas。 ＇1＇ An interesting fact in this connection is that the
Japanese word for ant； ari； is represented by an ideograph formed of the
character for 〃insect〃 combined with the character signifying 〃moral
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KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
rectitude；〃 〃propriety〃 （giri）。 So the Chinese character actually means
〃The Propriety…Insect。〃
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