(582) Ubazakura by Lafcadio Hearn

Ubazakura by Lafcadio Hearn

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1210/1210-h/1210-h.htm#chap04

Ubazakura by Lafcadio Hearn

Translation with the help of DeepL

Three hundred years ago, in the village called Asamimura, in the district called Onsengōri, in the province of Iyō, there lived a good man named Tokubei. This Tokubei was the richest person in the district, and the muraosa, or headman, of the village. In most matters he was fortunate; but he reached the age of forty without knowing the happiness of becoming a father. Therefore he and his wife, in the affliction1) of their childlessness, addressed2) many prayers to the divinity3) Fudō Myō Ō, who had a famous temple, called Saihōji, in Asamimura. At last their prayers were heard4): the wife of Tokubei gave birth to5) a daughter. The child was very pretty; and she received the name of Tsuyu. As the mother’s milk was deficient6), a milk-nurse7), called O-Sodé, was hired for the little one. O-Tsuyu grew up to be a very beautiful girl; but at the age of fifteen she fell sick, and the doctors thought that she was going to die. In that time the nurse O-Sodé, who loved O-Tsuyu with a real mother’s love, went to the temple Saihōji, and fervently8) prayed to Fudō-Sama on behalf of the girl. Every day, for twenty-one days, she went to the temple and prayed; and at the end of that time, O-Tsuyu suddenly and completely recovered. Then there was great rejoicing9) in the house of Tokubei; and he gave a feast to all his friends in celebration of the happy event. But on the night of the feast the nurse O-Sodé was suddenly taken ill10); and on the following morning, the doctor, who had been summoned11) to attend12) her, announced that she was dying. Then the family, in great sorrow, gathered about13) her bed, to bid14) her farewell. But she said to them:— “It is time that I should tell you something which you do not know. My prayer has been heard. I besought15) Fudō-Sama that I might be permitted to die in the place of O-Tsuyu; and this great favor has been granted16) me. Therefore you must not grieve about my death... But I have one request to make. I promised Fudō-Sama that I would have a cherry-tree planted in the garden of Saihōji, for a thank-offering17) and a commemoration18). Now I shall not be able myself to plant the tree there: so I must beg that you will fulfill that vow19) for me... Good-bye, dear friends; and remember that I was happy to die for O-Tsuyu’s sake.” After the funeral of O-Sodé, a young cherry-tree,—the finest that could be found,—was planted in the garden of Saihōji by the parents of O-Tsuyu. The tree grew and flourished20); and on the sixteenth day of the second month of the following year,—the anniversary of O-Sodé’s death,—it blossomed in a wonderful way. So it continued to blossom for two hundred and fifty-four years,—always upon the sixteenth day of the second month;—and its flowers, pink and white, were like the nipples of a woman’s breasts, bedewed21) with milk. And the people called it Ubazakura, the Cherry-tree of the Milk-Nurse.

今から300年前、伊予の国の温泉郷にある浅見村という村に、徳兵衛という善人が住んでいた。この徳兵衛は、この地方で最も裕福な人で、村の村長（庄屋）であった。ほとんどのことで、恵まれていた、しかし、父になる幸せを知らずに40歳を迎えてしまった。そのため、浅見村に西方寺という名刹(めいせつ)の不動明王に、夫婦で子宝に恵まれない苦悩1)を訴え、祈願を重ねた。 2) address: 捧げる 3) divinity: 神、超人的な力 　ついに祈りが通じた4)のか、徳兵衛の妻は娘を産んだ5)。その子はとても可愛く、露と名付けられた。母乳の出が悪いため6)、お袖という乳母7)がその子のために雇われた。 　お露はとても美しい娘に育ったが、15歳の時に病に倒れ、医師はこのまま死んでしまうと思った。その時、お露を心から愛していた乳母のお袖は、西方寺に行き、お露のために熱心に8）不動尊に祈った。21日間、毎日、西方寺に通い、祈り続けた結果、お露は突然、完治した。 　すると徳兵衛の家では大喜び9)し、友人たちに祝宴を開いて祝った。しかし、その宴の夜、乳母のお袖が急病になり10)、翌朝、呼ばれて11)看護していた12) 医師が乳母の死期が迫っていると告げた。 　その時、家族は悲しみのあまり、彼女の枕元に集まって13)別れを告げよう14)とした。しかし、彼女は彼らに言った。 「そろそろ、あなた方の知らないことをお話ししなければなりません。私の祈りは聞き届けられました。わたしがお露の身代わりになって死ぬことをお許しくださいと、お不動さまにお願いしました15)。そして私の願いは許されました16)。だから、私の死を悲しむことはありません...。しかし、一つだけお願いがあります。私は不動尊に、西方寺の庭に桜の木を植えて、お礼と17)記念に18)することを約束しました。今、私はその桜の木を植えることができませんので、どうか私の代わりにその誓い19)を果たしてください。さようなら、大切な皆さま。私がお露のために死ぬことができて幸せだったことを忘れないでください。」 16) grant: 承諾    [許可]する S grant O2 O1➜O2にO1を承諾する。 お袖の葬儀の後、お露の両親が西方寺の庭に、とても立派な桜の若木を植えた。その木は成長して生い茂った20)。そして、翌年の二月十六日、お袖の命日に見事な花を咲かせた。そして、その花は二百五十四年間咲き続け、いつも二月の十六日に咲いていた。その花はピンクと白の2色で、まるで乳のにじむ21)女性の乳首のようであった。人々はこれをウバザクラ（乳母桜）と呼んだ。

 

1) affliction: 苦痛、苦悩
2) address: 捧げる
3) divinity: 神、超人的な力
4) prayers were heard: 祈りが届いた
5) gave birth to: 子を産む
6) deficient: 不足した、欠けている
7) milk-nurse: 乳母
8) fervently: 熱烈に
9) rejoicing: 喜び、歓喜
10) was suddenly taken ill
11) summon: 呼びつける、･･･するように命じる
12) attend: 看護する、診療する。
13) gather about: [･･･の周りに]集まる
14) bid: <あいさつなど>を<人>に述べる、言う
15) besought: beseech ･･･を嘆願する、懇願する。
16) grant: 承諾    [許可]する
17) thank-offering: （神への）感謝の捧げ物
18) commemoration: 記念物
19) vow: （神に対しての）誓い、誓約
20) flourish: <植物が>繁茂する
21) bedew: ･･･をぬらす
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(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.

(580) Procrastinate

PROCRASTINATE (Pro cras tuh nate)
to put off until a late time
Link: GRASS HATE

Larry HATED to cut the GRASS and would PROCRASTINATE about it for weeks.
ラリーは草(GRASS)刈りが嫌い(HATED)で、何週間もそのことを後回しにした(PROCRASTINATE)。

Vocabulary Cartoons: Building an Educated Vocabulary With Visual Mnemonics (SAT Word Power)

• 出版社/メーカー: New Monic Books
• 発売日: 1997/04/01
• メディア: ペーパーバック

Vocabulary Cartoons are mnemonics designed for learning new words.
Mnemonics: 記憶を助ける物、語呂合わせ

  I learned this word procrastinate from a member of a Goodwill Guide club. "Don't procrastinate" is her New Year's resolution. This word was new to me. I thought it is a difficult word. Procrastinate is not in the dictionary I used in high school.

  However, procrastinate seems to be a common word among students. I found the following article on the Internet.

Top 10 New Year's Resolutions for Students:
Don't Procrastinate.
This is one of 10 achievable resolutions for students looking to have a productive and enjoyable new year.

Nothing is worse than waiting until the last minute to complete a big project. Procrastination is known to increase stress and can harm the quality of your work. To avoid cramming assignments until the last day, some strategies to try include:

・ Create a timeline for your project and stick to it
・ Try breaking you project into parts
・ Minimize distractions
・ Start you work early
Your future self will thank you later!　未来の自分に、後で感謝されますよ！

The article shows that "procrastinate" is common word among students.
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