(581) Ubazakura signboard checked by chatGPT

うば桜（学名エドヒガン）

　昔、ある長者が子どもに恵まれず、松山の西山のふもと、大宝寺のお薬師様に願掛けした。願いがかなって、女の子が生まれ、露と名づけた。大事にそだててきた乳母のお乳が急に出なくなったが、お薬師様のおかげでなおり、そのお礼に長者はお堂を建てた。それが大宝寺の本堂だという。

　お露は美しい娘に成長したが、十五歳のとき病にかかった。乳母は、わが命にかえてもお嬢様をお助けくださいと、お薬師さまにおいのりした。お露は元気になったが、そのお祝いの席で、乳母は倒れ床についた。乳母はお薬師様との約束ですといって、薬も口にせず「お薬師様へのお礼として桜の木を植えて下さい」と言い残して死んでしまった。

　長者は乳母のことば通り、桜を本堂の前に植えた。不思議なことに、桜は枝なしに幹から二・三輪花が咲いた。その花の色は、母乳のような色で、花はまるで乳母の乳房のようであったという。この話は、明治時代に、ラフカディオ・ハーン（小泉八雲）の手で、英語に訳され、英国・米国で出版された「怪談」にも納められている。

（松山のむかし話より）

Ubazakura explanation signboard

Proofreading by ChatGPT

Once upon a time a wealthy man asked Yakushi, the main image of this temple, to give him a baby as he had no child. He was given a baby girl and he named her Tsuyu, dew drop. A nurse took very good care of her. But suddenly one day her milk dried up. They prayed to Yakushi and she recovered. The wealthy man built a hall in thanks for her recovery. They say this is the main building of Taiho-ji, this temple. Tsuyu grew up to be a very beautiful young girl but when she was the age of fifteen she became seriously ill. The nurse prayed to Yakushi to take her own life for the girl’s recovery. At the celebration of the girl’s recovery the nurse fell ill. She refused any medicine or treatment at all because it was her promise to Yakushi. “Please plant a cherry in thanks to Yakushi,” she said as she died. The wealthy man planted a cherry tree as she wanted. Strange to say a few milky colored cherry blossoms bloomed directly from the trunk and their shape was said to be very much like the nurse’s breasts. This story was translated into English by Lafcadio Hearn in the late 19th century. It is one of the stories in Hearn’s book, Kwaidan which was published n England and the United States.

Once upon a time, there was a wealthy man who longed for a child since he had none. He fervently prayed to Yakushi, the main image of this temple, and his prayers were answered when he was blessed with a baby girl. He named her Tsuyu, which means "dew drop." A nurse was employed to take care of the child, and she provided excellent care. However, one day, the nurse suddenly found her milk supply drying up, leaving Tsuyu without nourishment. In desperation, they turned to Yakushi once again and prayed for help. Miraculously, the nurse's milk began to flow once more, and Tsuyu was saved. In gratitude for this divine intervention, the wealthy man decided to build a hall in honor of Yakushi's benevolence. This hall is said to be the main building of Taiho-ji Temple. As Tsuyu grew older, she blossomed into a remarkably beautiful young woman. Unfortunately, when she reached the age of fifteen, she fell seriously ill. The devoted nurse, filled with love and desperation, prayed to Yakushi, offering her own life in exchange for Tsuyu's recovery. Miraculously, Tsuyu's health began to improve, and she eventually made a full recovery. In a celebration of Tsuyu's restored health, the nurse fell gravely ill herself. Remaining true to her promise to Yakushi, she refused any form of medicine or treatment. With her final breath, she expressed a last wish for a cherry tree to be planted as an offering of gratitude to Yakushi. The wealthy man fulfilled her request by planting a cherry tree, and to their astonishment, a few blossoms of milky color bloomed directly from the tree's trunk. These blossoms were said to resemble the nurse's breasts in shape. This story was translated into English by Lafcadio Hearn in the late 19th century and is included in his book "Kwaidan," which was published in England and the United States. Please note that while I can assist with proofreading and provide information, I cannot verify the historical accuracy or authenticity of specific accounts or translations.