Ochikubo-3
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
Ochikubonokimi (Ochikubo-Hime, Princess Ochikubo), as sunken in low spirits, have time to acquire sewing skills. Elegant finishing at the edge of cloth drew the remark from her stepmother that Ochikubo sewed well, she had better get to be skillful in anything useful for others as she is not pretty. And the clothes of married daughters’ husbands of Kitanokata were left on the hands of the Princess, who had to sew without sleep at night. Even a little delay was not overlooked and she was accused of negligence and lack of ability. She talked to herself, how could I get away from this painful world?
Kitanokata was always hostile to Ochikubo-Hime. She does not seem to feel the pangs of conscience. Her cruel abuse seems to be infinite and endless.
Sons-in-laws of two marired daughters of Kitanokata whose clothes are made by Ochikubo-Hime under the order of Kitanokata.
San’nokimi gets married to Kuroudo-no-Shoushou whose clothes are also made by Ochikubo-Hime under the order of Kitanokata.
蔵人の少将（Kuroudo-no-Shoushou）is a husband of San’nokimi.
Maids who are young, flashy and ostentatious frequently evade work that takes much time and trouble like sewing, sneering at Princess Ochikubo who are forced to sew the clothes of sons-in-laws of married daughters of Kitanokata without enough sleep.
As for Ochikubo-Hime, Kitanokata is devilish, although she is affectionate to her daughters (even blindly). Their happy marriage may be ensured at the sacrifice of Princess Ochikubo. It is reasonable that the Princess should be driven into despair, wishing her extinction. We cannot wish for her but pray that anyone or anything would bring a ray of hope for her.
Culture and Society of Heian Period
Princess Ochikubo is said to be modeled on Empress Teishi who suffered pains, grief and hardship due to greedy ambitions of Fujiwarano Michinaga. The Empress does not seem to have had any grudge against anyone like Princess Ochikubo. She may have just deplored her misfortune. Her adversity may have had attracted and gathered attention, sympathy and compassion among the people at that time. Some of such people may have written works such as Makurano Soushi and Tale of Ochikubo-Hime. Those works may also include 源氏物語 (Tale of Genji) written by 紫式部 (Murasaki Shikibu) who served 彰子 (Shoushi), another Chugu (Empress) of Emperor Ichijo. Murasaki Shikibu may have written Tale of Genji for Shoushi, like Sei Shounagon for Empress Teishi. Shoushi may seem to have wanted her father, Michinaga, to refrain from any acts against ethics and morals. On behalf of Shoushi, Murasaki Shikibu may have included such message in Tale of Genji, specifically that you should do what you want other people to do to you (as a man sows, so shall he reap). Tale of Genji may have been aimed at Fujiwarano Michinaga while Sei Shounagon may have dedicated Makurano Soushi only to Empress Teishi. And the target readers of Tale of Ochikubo-Hime may have been the people of the world (including Fujiwarano Michinaga). Their stances and points of view may be different but they may have all sympathized with the tragedy of Empress Teishi. A sad and terrible disaster falling on a lovely, attractive noble lady may have led to a variety of great, wonderful works.
Let’s look up the classical Japanese languages below from the text of this episode.
[Classical Japanese Languages Picked Out]
「若くめでたき人は、多くかやうのまめわざする人は少なかりけむ、あなづりやすくて、いとわびしければ、うち泣きて縫うままに、世の中にいかであらじと思へども、かなはぬものは憂き身なりけり」
（Wakaku-Medetaki-Hito-wa, Ooku-Kayouno-Mame-Waza-Suru-Hito-wa-Sukunakari-ken, Anazuriyasukute, Ito-Wabisikere-ba, Uchinakite-Nuumamani, Yononakani-Ikade-Arajito-Omoedomo, Kanawanu-Mono-wa-Ukimi-Nari-keri）
めでたし（←めでたき）
Medetashi（←Medetaki）
marvelous ⇒ splendid, great, excellent ⇒ delightful, to be celebrated/congratulated, nice
In this part, めでたし is probably used in menaing that young maids look great (good in appearance).
まめ
Mame
① (of people) serious, honest, sincere（⇒「まめやか」Mameyaka (of people) serious, honest, sincere）
② (of things) practical, factual（⇒「まめやか」Mameyaka (of things) practical, full-scale）
①⇒③diligent, hard-working, faithful ④ healthy, fine
In this part, まめ is probably used in meaning that practical work such as sewing is done.
わびし（←わびしけれ）
Wabishi（←Wabishikere）
painful as progress is not made as planned ⇒① miserable, sad ② annoying, puzzled
①⇒③ unberable, intolerable, painful ④ disappointed, chilled, spoiled
②⇒⑤ poor
In this part, わびし is probably used in meaning that Ochikubo-Hime feels miserable and sad.
憂し（←憂き）
Ushi（←Uki）
gloomy, depressed ⇒① miserable, despondent ② annoying, reluctant, disgusting ③ hateful, disagreeable, displeased ④ cold, heartless, unkind
In this part, 憂し is probably used in meaning that Ochikubo-Hime suffers a miserable life.
In this episode, misery, pain and depression of Ochikubo-Hime are depicted in contrast to the surrounding people who enjoy a lavish lifestyle, including maids. But their mind (especially Kitanokata’s) may be narrow, insensitive to the Princess’s sorrow. They may not feel anything about their indifference to the Princess. They may forget what is humane and inhumane.
Apart from the Tale of Ochikubo-Hime, a variety of topics relating to the Heian Period are discussed in this series.
「雪のいと高う降りたるを、例ならず御格子まゐりて、炭櫃に火おこして、物語などして集りさぶらふに、「少納言よ、香爐峯の雪、いかならむ」と、おほせらるれば、御格子上げさせて、御簾を高く上げたれば、笑はせたまふ。人々も、「さることは知り、歌などにさへ歌へど、思ひこそ寄らざりつれ。なほ、この宮の人には、さべきなめり」と言ふ。」
（Yuki-no-Ito-Takou-Huritaru-wo, Rei-Narazu-Mikoushi-Mairite, Subitsu-ni-Hi-Okoshite, Monogatari-nado-Shite-Atsumari-saburou-ni, “Shounagon-yo, Kourohou-no-Yuki, Ika-Naran" to, Ooserarureba, Mikoushi-Agesasete, Misu-wo-Takaku-Agetareba, Warawasetamou. Hitobito-mo, “Saru-Koto-wa-Shiri, Uta-Nado-ni-sae-Utaedo, Omoi-koso-Yorazari-tsure. Nao, Kono-Miya-no-Hito-niwa, Sa-beki-na-meri" to-Iu.）
（In a heavy snowfall, maids gathered before Empress Teishi around the container of charcoal fire with lattices lowered. “Shounagon, I wonder how is the snow-covered Kourohou (the mountain peak written in the Chinese poem of 白居易 (Hakukyoi)," Empress Teishi said. Sei-Shounagon got the lattices raised and lifted bamboo blinds high (as written in that poem). At this action, Empress Teishi laughed. In admiration, the maids said, “Although we have that knowledge and even used it in making Japanese traditional poems, it has not occured to us. The Empress should have such smart maid as to be full of wit."）
This passage is the 284th of Makura-no Soshi that the wit of Sei Shounagon drew admiration. She may have written this passage to share and remember this episode with Empress Teishi, reminding the Empress of pleasure Sei Shounagon gave and delight Sei Shounagon got. She may not have intended to make it open to the public. She may have just wanted Empress Teishi to imagine and feel the joy at that time and laugh again even in dire sitiuations. It may have been what was the best that she could do for Empress Teishi.
The Sei Shounagon’s writing style may attract a lot of people with its light tone. The actual situations of Empress Teishi and Sei Shounagon should have been hard and serious; however, Sei Shounagon may have intentionally taken a graceful style worthy of gracious Empress Teishi.
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