kwaidan-stories and studies of strange things(奇谈)-第8章
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your house during the night； and carried away your valuables。 If you can
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KWAIDAN： Stories and Studies of Strange Things
discover the footprints of that robber in your garden； and then promptly
burn a very large moxa on each of them； the soles of the feet of the robber
will become inflamed； and will allow him no rest until he returns； of his
own accord； to put himself at your mercy。 That is another kind of mimetic
magic expressed by the term nazoraeru。 And a third kind is illustrated by
various legends of the Mugen…Kane。
After the bell had been rolled into the swamp； there was； of course； no
more chance of ringing it in such wise as to break it。 But persons who
regretted this loss of opportunity would strike and break objects
imaginatively substituted for the bell； thus hoping to please the spirit of
the owner of the mirror that had made so much trouble。 One of these
persons was a woman called Umegae； famed in Japanese legend because
of her relation to Kajiwara Kagesue； a warrior of the Heike clan。 While the
pair were traveling together； Kajiwara one day found himself in great
straits for want of money； and Umegae； remembering the tradition of the
Bell of Mugen； took a basin of bronze； and； mentally representing it to be
the bell； beat upon it until she broke it； crying out； at the same time； for
three hundred pieces of gold。 A guest of the inn where the pair were
stopping made inquiry as to the cause of the banging and the crying； and；
on learning the story of the trouble； actually presented Umegae with three
hundred ryo （3） in gold。 Afterwards a song was made about Umegae's
basin of bronze； and that song is sung by dancing girls even to this day：
Umegae no chozubachi tataite O…kane ga deru naraba Mina San mi…
uke wo Sore tanomimasu
＇〃If； by striking upon the wash…basin of Umegae； I could make
honorable money come to me； then would I negotiate for the freedom of
all my girl…comrades。〃＇
After this happening； the fame of the Mugen…Kane became great； and
many people followed the example of Umegae； thereby hoping to
emulate her luck。 Among these folk was a dissolute farmer who lived near
Mugenyama； on t he bank of the Oigawa。 Having wasted his substance in
riotous living； this farmer made for himself； out of the mud in his garden；
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a clay…model of the Mugen…Kane； and he beat the clay…bell； and broke it；
crying out the while for great wealth。
〃Then； out of the ground before him； rose up the figure of a white…
robed woman； with long loose…flowing hair； holding a covered jar。 And the
woman said： 〃I have come to answer your fervent prayer as it deserves to
be answered。 Take； therefore； this jar。〃 So saying； she put the jar into his
hands； and disappeared。
Into his house the happy man rushed； to tell his wife the good news。
He set down in front of her the covered jar； which was heavy； and they
opened it together。 And they found that it was filled； up to the very brim；
with。。。
But no！ I really cannot tell you with what it was filled。
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JIKININKI
Once； when Muso Kokushi； a priest of the Zen sect； was journeying
alone through the province of Mino （1）； he lost his way in a mountain…
district where there was nobody to direct him。 For a long time he
wandered about helplessly； and he was beginning to despair of finding
shelter for the night； when he perceived； on the top of a hill lighted by the
last rays of the sun； one of those little hermitages； called anjitsu； which are
built for solitary priests。 It seemed to be in ruinous condition； but he
hastened to it eagerly； and found that it was inhabited by an aged priest；
from whom he begged the favor of a night's lodging。 This the old man
harshly refused； but he directed Muso to a certain hamlet； in the valley
adjoining where lodging and food could be obtained。
Muso found his way to the hamlet； which consisted of less than a
dozen farm…cottages； and he was kindly received at the dwelling of the
headman。 Forty or fifty persons were assembled in the principal apartment；
at the moment of Muso's arrival； but he was shown into a small separate
room； where he was promptly supplied with food and bedding。 Being very
tired； he lay down to rest at an early hour； but a little before midnight he
was roused from sleep by a sound of loud weeping in the next apartment。
Presently the sliding…screens were gently pushed apart； and a young man；
carrying a lighted lantern； entered the room； respectfully saluted him； and
said：
〃Reverend Sir； it is my painful duty to tell you that I am now the
responsible head of this house。 Yesterday I was only the eldest son。 But
when you came here； tired as you were； we did not wish that you should
feel embarrassed in any way： therefore we did not tell you that father had
died only a few hours before。 The people whom you saw in the next room
are the inhabitants of this village： they all assembled here to pay their last
respects to the dead； and now they are going to another village； about three
miles off； for by our custom； no one of us may remain in this village
during the night after a death has taken place。 We make the proper
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offerings and prayers； then we go away； leaving the corpse alone。
Strange things always happen in the house where a corpse has thus been
left： so we think that it will be better for you to come away with us。 We
can find you good lodging in the other village。 But perhaps； as you are a
priest； you have no fear of demons or evil spirits； and； if you are not afraid
of being left alone with the body； you will be very welcome to the use of
this poor house。 However； I must tell you that nobody； except a priest；
would dare to remain here tonight。〃
Muso made answer：
〃For your kind intention and your generous hospitality and am deeply
grateful。 But I am sorry that you did not tell me of your father's death
when I came； for； though I was a little tired； I certainly was not so tired
that I should have found difficulty in doing my duty as a priest。 Had you
told me； I could have performed the service before your departure。 As it is；
I shall perform the service after you have gone away； and I shall stay by
the body until morning。 I do not know what you mean by your words
about the danger of staying here alone； but I am not afraid ofghosts or
demons： therefore please to feel no anxiety on my account。〃
The young man appeared to be rejoiced by these assurances； and
expressed his gratitude in fitting words。 Then the other members of the
family； and the folk assembled in the adjoining room； having been told of
the priest's kind promises； came to thank him； after which the master
