(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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(579) Peace Pole

 

  Have you ever seen this kind of poles in your neighborhood? It reads "May peace prevail on earth".

  When I was guiding around Dogo hot spring area, a foreign man asked me what this pole is for. I couldn't reply anything to his question. Since then, I have thought I should google it.

  And this week I did google it. Now, I got to know that the pole is called a Peace Pole and the meaning of it. It is a grassroots peace activity that expresses a wish for peace in the form of a Peace Pole. The pole arouses the peace consciousness of those who see it.

  It is a message to global peace and harmony. This "May Peace Prevail on Earth" movement is promoted by the NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) MAY PEACE PRIVAIL ON EARTH INTERNATIONAL. The NGO emphasized The Power of Thought.

  This universal prayer-based peace movement was proposed by the late peace philosopher, poet, and author, Masahisa Goi, in 1955. Now I really want to believe in the power of prayer, "May Peace Prevail on Earth".

  The NGO says that Our Mission is Simple, to spread the Universal Message of Peace, May Peace Prevail on Earth, far and wide to embrace the lands and people of this Earth.

  So, my blog about Peace Poles is very meaningful.

Thanks for reading.
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(578) Enma the king of hell

  It is said that when you die, you cross the Sanzuno-kawa river to the court of King Enma. When you are brought before King Enma by demons, he will question you with a very scary face to see if you did anything wrong before you died.

The questions are based on a document called "Enma-cho", which is a record of a person's conduct during his life, and is used as trial material. Even if there is something that the accused wants to hide from Enma, there is a mirror in which his actions during his life are reflected, so he cannot deceive himself in any way. The mirror is called Jyohari-mirror.

If there is a serious sin, he will be sent to hell without mercy.


According to the lunar calendar, some temples hold events on January 16th for New Year's Day and July 16 for Obon,
when the dead take a rest,

the cauldron of hell stops boiling,

and King Enma rests.

  Seigoji-temple holds the Enma Festival on January 16th of the lunar calendar.

Throwing rice cake at Enma Festival at Seigoji-temple in Uwajima city.
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(577) A liar's joke and Enma the king

The Enma Festival was held from Feb. 4th to 6th at Seigoji temple in Uwajima.

Enma is the great king of the Buddhist hades.

Here is an English joke.

What happens when a liar dies?

Some Japanese might answer to this question like this.
His tongue will be pulled out by Enma, the king of Hell.
But this English joke's answer is,

He lies still.

This answer has double meanings.

One is;
He is in a horizontal position, not moving.

The other is;
He continues telling lies after his death.
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(576) rather than

Rather

AとBの対立する概念があるとき、どちらか一方向へ気持ちが傾く様子を表す。

ratherの語尾erは元来比較級の接尾辞で、more readily, more quicklyの意であった。したがってthanを伴う形式も多い。

― 図解英語基本語義辞典

図解 英語基本語義辞典

• 作者: 政村 秀実
• 出版社/メーカー: 桐原書店
• 発売日: 1989/11/01
• メディア: 単行本

Rather than

instead of somebody/something

I think I'll have a cold drink rather than coffee.

Why didn't you ask for help, rather than trying to do it on your own?

ー Oxford Lerners Dictionary

Aではない。（そうではなく）それどころかBである。

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

The swords produced at that time were intended to be elaborate works of art rather than practical weapons.
当時の刀は、実用的な武器としてよりも、精巧な美術工芸品として作られていたのです。
(NHK語学) トラッド　ジャパン　2012年01月19日（木）

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

I prefer cloth diapers rather than disposable diapers.
私は布製のおむつのほうが、使い捨てより好きだ。

(NHK語学)　ニュースで英会話(2015)2015年04月30日（木）

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

These younger employees are more likely to seek part-time or job-sharing roles rather than lock themselves into a single position.
このような若い従業員たちは、１つの職務に自分をしばりつけるのではなく、パートタイムやジョブシェアリングの職務を求める傾向のほうが強いですね。

(NHK語学)実践ビジネス英語(2018)2018年04月20日（金）

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(575) Jokes about Well

Why did the man fall down the well?
なぜ、男は井戸に落ちたのか？

Because he couldn't see that well.
それが、よく(well)見えなかったから。

-------------------------------------------------

Why did the old person fall in the well?
なぜ老人は井戸に落ちたのでしょうか？

He couldn't see that well.
それが、よく(well)見えなかったから。

-------------------------------------------------
*Seriously, as we get older, our eyesight gets poorer and our movement become clumsier, so be careful when we go out.

_________________________________________________

Why did the banana go to the doctor?
なぜバナナは医者のところへ行ったのですか？

Answer: It didn't peel well!
気分が良くなかった(didn't feel well)からです。

皮がうまくむけなかった(didn't peel well)からです。

________________________________________________

Q: What did the doctor diagnose the horse with when he wasn't feeling well?

馬の調子が悪い時、医者は何と診断したのでしょう？

A: Hay fever.　（花粉症。枯草熱　Hay=干し草）

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(574) rain

(1) There will be rain in all parts tomorrow. (OLD)
　　明日は各地で雨模様

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（2) Take your umbrella, it looks like rain [= as if it is going to rain].
　　傘を持って行って、雨が降りそうです。

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

(3) A light rain began to fall. (OLD)
　小雨が降り始めた。
＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

(4) He goes jogging every morning, rain or shine. (OLD)
　彼は毎朝、雨の日も晴れの日もジョギングに行きます。
＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

(5) The rain was falling more heavily now. (OLD)
　雨がさらに激しく降ってきました。
＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

(6) It's pouring with rain (= raining very hard). (OLD)
　土砂降りの雨が降っている。

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

(7) The rain let up just as we reached the house. (Merriam-webster)
　家に着くとちょうど雨が止んだ。

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

(8) It's stopped raining now. (OLD)
　雨は止みました。

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

（OLD）: Oxford Learners Dictionary

＊

(573) Don't let it rain.

昼前に自転車で外出した。
雨が降りそうな天気。
まだ降っては無かったが、用心のため雨合羽は持っていった。
雨よ、降らないでくれ！と願った。
でも、途中ポツポツと振り始めた。

・・・

このとき、雨よ、降らないでくれは英語でどう言うんだろうかと、ふと思った。

家にもどってから、Google翻訳で訳すと
Don't let the rain fall.
と出た。次にDeepL翻訳で確かめると
Don't let it rain.
と答えてくれた。

短い方のDon't let it rainのほうを使いたいと思った。
実際にどう使われているのか確かめるため、ネットで検索すると、YouTubeで歌を見つけた。

Jeanette - Heaven, please, don't let it rain tonight

Jeanette, Spanish singer, 1978: "No digas buenas noches/ Heaven, please, don't let it rain tonight"

  I listened to her song many times and tried to dictate its words. Two sites about its lyrics helped me a lot. They are "Jet lyrics" and "music.com". I soon got fascinated by her song. My dictation is as follows;

Heaven, please, don't let it rain tonight You and I we have to say goodbye dawn by the sea where all at once began And tonight we stay together till the morning light. We wake up at the beach. So, I say: "Heaven, please don't let it rain tonight. Please let the moon shine. It will be the last time stay with him. Heaven, please don't let it rain tonight. Tomorrow, he'll leave me so hear my prayer. Don't let it rain. You and I beneath the endless sky. I trust the fain moonlight to hide my tears. Jus the sea will watch when you are softly loving me. It will forget but I'll remember. Heaven, please don't let it rain tonight. Please let the moon shine. It will be the last time stay with him. Heaven, please don't let it rain tonight. Tomorrow, he'll leave me. So hear my prayer. Don't let it rain. Heaven, please don't let it ain tonight.  Tomorrow, he'll leave me. So hear my prayer. Don't let it rain. Don't let it rain. Don't let it rain.

神さま、今夜は雨を降らさないでください あなたと私さよならを言わなければならない、夜明けに、全てが一度に始まった海辺で。 そして今夜 朝がくるまで一緒に過ごす。 私たちは浜辺で目覚める。 だから、私は言う 「神さま、今夜は雨を降らさないでください。月が輝きますようにこれが最後の時なの、彼と一緒に過ごす。 神さま、今夜は雨を降らさないでください。明日になれば、彼は私のもとを去ってしまう。だから私の祈りを聞いてください。雨を降らさないでください。」 あなたと私 果てしない空の下 きっと、ほのかな月明かりが私の涙を隠してくれるはず。 ただ、海が見ている、あなたが私をそっと愛してくれるのを。忘れられてしまうでしょうけど、私は覚えている。 神さま、どうぞ今夜は雨を降らさないでください。月が輝きますように。 最後なのだから 彼と一緒に過ごすのは。 神さま、お願いです、今夜は雨を降らさないでください。 明日は、彼は私の元を去ってしまう。 だから、私の祈りを聞いてください。 雨を降らさないで。 神さま、お願いです、今夜は雨を降らさないでください。私の祈りを聞いてください。 雨を降らさないで。 雨を降らさないで。 雨を降らさないで。

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(572) An Eden near Dogo hot spring

What is the garden of Eden?

Garden of Eden story; summary
  On the sixth day of Creation, God created 'man' in the form of Adam, moulding him from 'the dust of the ground' (Genesis 2:7), breathing the breath of life into Adam's nostrils. God then planted a garden 'eastward in Eden' (2:8), containing both the tree of life and 'the tree of knowledge of good and evil' (2:9).

  Adam is tasked with keeping or maintaining the garden. God tells him he can freely eat of every tree in the garden, except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for to eat of that tree would be to die.

Genesis 2:8 ヤㇵウェ神は東の方のエデンに一つの園を設け、彼の作った人をそこにおかれた。
Genesis 2:9 ヤㇵウェ神は見て美わしく、食べるのによい全ての樹、さらに園の中央には生命の樹と善悪の智慧の樹を地から生えさせた。

Michelangelo: The Sistine Chapel (Mini Masterpieces S.)

• 出版社/メーカー: Leopard Books
• 発売日: 1996/07/09
• メディア: ハードカバー

An Eden near Dogo hot spring
  When I read a diary written about 130 years ago by an English teacher of Matsuyama middle school, Mr. Hawkins, I got to know that there was an Eden near Dogo hot spring. I cannot imagine at first such a garden in Dogo area.

(Twenty Months in Japan by Hawkins, on May 6th, Meiji 26, 1893)
  We walked thence through fields to Dogo for a bath. The wheat is just fruiting.1) Sugiura San, an expert guide, did not take me the usual way to the bath house, but turned up toward a shrine, and then told me that there was a nice place just to the right. The narrow way led to an Eden, except that fruits were absent. Hidden in the little valley were score2) of rustic summerhouses3), some of them built right over the stream. There were quaint4) bridges; arbors5), covered by the beautiful blue blossoming wisteria that hung in long bunches; rockeries6) and alleys7) winding amid shrubs and flowers.

（訳 with the help of DeepL)

日本で過ごした二十ヶ月

• 作者: H・G・ホーキンス
• 出版社/メーカー: 創風社出版
• 発売日: 2023/09/20
• メディア: 単行本（ソフトカバー）

　その後、畑の中を歩いて道後まで行き、お風呂に入りました。麦はちょうど実をつけたところだ。1)　ガイドの杉浦さんは、風呂場まで普通の道を通らず、神社の方へ曲がって、右の方にいい所があると教えてくれた。その細い道は、果物がないことを除けば、エデンの園に通じていた。小さな谷間に、素朴な夏の別荘3)が何軒2)もあり、中には小川のすぐそばに張り出しているように建てられているものもありました。趣のある4)橋、青く美しい花を咲かせる藤が長い束になって垂れ下がる東屋5)、低木や花に囲まれた築山6)や小道7)が曲がりくねっていました。

Kagetsu-tei Restaurant in Dogo had a garden of Eden?

正岡子規と夏目漱石が行った道後湯の町コースの散策（明治28年 (1895）10月6日）のとき、鴉渓（からすだに）の花月亭というところで読んだ句の一つが次の俳句である。

亭ところどころ (Tei tokoro dokoro)
渓に橋ある (Tani ni hashi aru)
紅葉かな (Momiji kana)
In various places of the Japanese restaurant's garden
There are bridges in the valley
Autumn leaves

Where Kagetsu-tei restaurant once stood花月亭跡

鴉渓とは、石手から道後へ流れる御手洗川沿いの渓谷で道後十六谷のひとつだそうだ。明治17年(1884)、広島宮島の景勝地紅葉谷にならって造庭し「新紅葉」と呼び、現在の「ふなや」旅館の庭園にその面影が残ると説明を受けた。
I was explained that traces of the Eden of Dogo remain in the garden of the current "Funaya" hotel. 

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