Ochikubo-20
This site gives it a try to read, understand and enjoy a story written in classical Japanese more than a thousand years ago.
Tale of Ochikubo-Hime is a Japanese version of Cinderella which should entertain readers of all ages.
Your joining in this try will be highly welcomed and greatly appreciated.
(Please be informed that this site provides content based on the personal views and opinions of the author of this site.)
Dictionaries and books generally used in this site
『落窪物語』（Tale of Ochikubo）（稲賀敬二）（Inaga Keiji）（新潮社 2017）（Shinchosha）
『全訳読解古語辞典（第五版）』（小型版）（Dictionary for Classical Japanese for Reading and Interpretation, 5th edition, pocket type）（鈴木一雄 小池清治 倉田実 石埜敬子 森野崇 髙山善行）（Suzuki Kazuo Koike Seiji Kurata Minoru Isino Keiko Morino Takaki Takayama Yoshiyuki）（三省堂 2021）（Sanseido Co., Ltd.）
『ルミナス和英辞典（第2版）』（Luminous Japanese-English Dictionary）（小島義郎 竹林滋 中尾啓介 増田秀夫）（Kojima Yoshiro Takebayashi Shigeru Nakao Keisuke Masuda Hideo）（研究社 2006）（Kenkyusha Co., Ltd.）
『ニュースクール英和辞典（第二版）』（Kenkyusha New School English-Japanese Dictionary, 2nd edition）（廣瀬和清 伊部哲）（Hirose Kazukiyo Ibe Satoshi）（研究社 2019）（Kenkyusha Co., Ltd.）
The original text of Tale of Ochikubo can be found in the website below:
（https://www.komazawa-u.ac.jp/~hagi/txt_ochikubomonogatari.txt）
First of all, we see the characters of this episode of Tale of Ochikubo-Hime.
Characters of this episode
Tachiwaki seems to be determined to accomplish the two conflicting objectives: the first one is to carry out the mission assigned by Ukon’no Shoushou, that is the marriage of his master and Princess Ochikubo (for that end, he arranged the secret meeting of them); and the second one is to maintain the relationship with his wife Akoki by any means (actually he keeps assuming an air of ignorance). He is cool and smart; at the same time he is also passionate and bold.
Akoki may be unconsciously controlled by her husband at his will. Tachiwaki substantially dominates his wife without giving her such realization. But his love for her is true and sincere. Even though he appears to be cold and selfish to Akoki, Tachiwaki is doing his best as much as possible under the circumstances he is placed in. Is Akoki tolerant of him? Will she accept what he has done and will do? She may bear rough and unreasonable treatment for the sake of her cherished Princess.
Ukon’no Shoushou shows care for Princess Ochikubo in his own way. He (and his servant too for his wife) seems to send a letter for the Princess as quickly as he can (this quickeness is said to show the sincerity and earnestness). Maybe he can bring happiness for Princess Ochikubo that nobody can do.
Ochikubonokimi (Ochikubo-Hime, Princess Ochikubo) appears to be still lost in despair. She remained silent no matter what Ukon’no Shoushou did for her. Will she feel his gentle kindness someday?
Tachiwaki fully exerts his ability of scheming and gets what he aims at while bewildering Akoki (the best maid of Princess Ochikubo) and satifying his personal desire of retaining his beloved wife. He is tough and astute in that sense. He gets everything that he wants. Then will he get for his wife what she wants? And for her Princess what the Princess wants? Or is he likely to get for them more than what they expect? Will he go beyond their wish or dream? What will he do for their benefit? Or is his role over upon this meeting of his master and the Princess?
Culture and Society of Heian Period
It seems that servants and maids in Heian Period not only perform their official duties but also do anything in private life for their masters and mistresses. The boundary or distinction between the public and private affairs may not be made. That will mean they devote themselves and their life wholly to protect the life, well-being and happiness of their masters and mistresses. Their ties with their respective masters and mistresses, including emotional ones beyond the relationship of masters and servants and that of mistresses and maids, will be extremely strong. They might sacrifice their lives for their masters and mistresses if necessary.
Let’s look up the classical Japanese languages below from the text of this episode.
[Classical Japanese Languages Picked Out]
「あこき、あいなくいとほしけれど、さてもはいりゐたらねば、参りて見る。」
（Akoki, Ainaku-Itooshikere-do, Satemo-wa-Iri-Itara-neba, Mairite-Miru.）
あいなし（←あいなく）
Ainashi（← Ainaku）
showing (complicated/subtle) feeling of something strange/odd (due to lack of harmony/disagreement noticed) ⇒① no sense/logic, unfair, unreasonable, unjust, bad, wrong ② hopeless, useless, futile, vain ③ dull, boring, uninteresting, offensive, disagreeable, spoil the fun ④ for no reason, recklessly, excessively, only, simply just
あいなくいとほしけれど＝ (Akoki) only just feels pain and sorry for (Princess Ochikubo) while seeing (her)
さても
Satemo
① even if it is, although it remains the same, nevertheness ② as it is, in the same state, and then ③ still, well, by the way, now ④ indeed, actually, at any rate, anyway
いる（←いり）
Iru（← Iri）
① (from outside) enter ② (of the sun, moon) sink ③ enter/start a certain environment/situation, (specifically) become a priest, (as queen/empress) go to the Imperial Court ④ need, want ⑤ reach/arrive at/become a certain situation/time ⑥ deeply involved in, touch, impress ⑦ meaning to go\come adding respect by honoring ⑧ completly/perfectly do something, intently/earnestly/wholeheartedly do something ⑨ let someone in(side) ⑩ throw oneself into, put a lot of effort, with all one’s heart ⑪ accept, admit, let in
さてもはいりゐたらねば＝ Akoki has not been able to enter (the Princess’ place) as she does not feel like getting to go
Akoki is overwhelmed by regret that her Princess would not have met with such unexpected horror if only Akoki had stayed there closely with the Princess all the time. At the same time, she is utterly sorry for her mistress considering the real fact that Princess Ochikubo is scared to death upon sudden intrusion of Ukon’no Shoushou. Also she worries about what the Princess thinks of this incident and her connection with it; actually she has no relation with it but her mistress might doubt it (in fact the Princess cannot help but feel a grudge, even if a little, against Akoki). She is reluctant to face the harsh reality, wondering if the Princess would avoid or keep her away. Then it is so difficult for her to go and see the Princess that she could not move under such stress; how do I dare to see my Princess as I am useless at her crisis? On the other hand, she truly wants to, and ought to, do anything to ease anguish of her Princess by her side; but if my mistress should refuse me, how do I deal with it? Such anxiety fills and burdens the mind of the loyal and faithful maid, ending in hyperactive head and mind with inactive dead body. Such a mental dilemma is described here. (Lastly Akoki goes to see Princess Ochikubo with resolution to accept anything, gathering as much courgae as possible. Maybe she thinks that her suffering is not so serious as agonies of the Princess.)
Ukon’no Shoushou has realized his desire of meeting Princess Ochikubo with the aid of his loyal servant, Tachiwaki. And now what will he do next? What is his plan with the Princess? How will he save her from the wiked, evil-minded stepmother? Before his heroic rescue of her, how will he disentangle and win her heart? He may have to solve two major problems. It may be more complicated to establish the relationship of mutual love with the Princess.
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You can read English version of Ochikubo-Hime for charge. (No refund is available.) ([Caution!] This English version is the same one as that provided for charge in the site of おちくぼ物語 in Japanese https://jacl.it-is-the-tale.com.)