Ochikubo-16
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 working only for the benefit (or desire) of his master, Ukon’no Shoushou. Has he decided not to consider the feeling and outcome of the Princess and his wife? Ultimately does he only take the side of his master? In fact, he seemingly does not care how the Princess feel or what the Princess want. In addition, he is about to betray and deceive his wife about her treasure, Princess Ochikubo. Is this his true nature?
Ukon’no Shoushou seems to have decided to meet Princess Ochikubo. Probably he does not have any other choice in mind. Maybe he has always his own way and thus he is brazen also in this affair. Will he ignore the feeling of Princess Ochikubo? Doesn’t he respect her will? He behaves like a dictator. Can he really bring happiness for Princess Ochikubo?
Akoki always consider Princess Ochikubo even when she can not serve her Princess. Her words to his husband tend to be harsh, but her actions incline to meet his demands (in contrast Tachiwaki uses soft and rather cajoling words to his wife and he derives from her as much compromise as possible; maybe he is smarter than his wife. It may be said that Akoki is purer; she does not have any doubt.).
Ochikubonokimi (Ochikubo-Hime, Princess Ochikubo) lives a life of fear; her daily state of mind is fright, or even terror. What a power Kitanokata has! The Princess always gives priority to other persons before herself. Unhappy Princess makes other persons happy even with her own sacrifice. Such a way of behavior is stunning. The Princess should be the authentic princess.
The future Prince saw the Princess for the first time in a one-sided way (actually stealthily hiding in the dark). His impression of her will be favorable as he indirectly orders his servant to make the Princess alone so that he would meet her without any other person. And the servant quickly took action as ordered and succeeded. Now the conditions for Ukon’no Shoushou to meet Princess Ochikubo are fulfilled. Can he really meet the Princess? WIll the Princess accept him? Or rather, does the Princess have a choice of refusing him? Is she only allowed to bear anything happening to her?
Let’s look up the classical Japanese languages below from the text of this episode.
[Classical Japanese Languages Picked Out]
「心のうちには、衣どもぞ萎えためる、恥づかしと思はむものぞと思ほしけれど、」
（Kokoro-no-Uchi-niwa, Kinu-domo-zo-Nae-tameru, Hazukashi-to-Omowan-mono-zo-to-Omooshi-kere-do,）
心
Kokoro
① heart, mind, spirit ② feeling, emotion, consideration ③ will, intention ④ discretion, sense, reason ⑤ taste, ability to understand taste ⑥ attitude, preparation ⑦ essence, truth, meaning, aim, object ⑧ center, the deepest part
ぞ
Zo
① (emphasize the words described above) even ② (showing strong conclusion/decision/assertion) ③ (emphasizing doubt) in the world
萎ゆ
Nayu
① dead tired/tired out/exhausted without strength in arms and legs ② (after wearing many times) wither with lost starch used in clothes
萎えためる＝萎え（Nae）＋ためる（Tameru）＝ witherd cloth whose starch has been lost after much wearing ＋ seemingly/apparently/look like
恥づかし
Hazukashi
sense of inferiority (of oneself) ⇒① embarrassed, ill at ease, hesitate, shy ② excellent, superior
ど
Do
① although, but, however ② even if/even though, necessarily, inevitably
心のうちには（Kokoro-no-Uchi-niwa）、〜思ほしけれど（Omooshi-kere-do）＝ although Ukon’no Shoushou thought in his heart that —-
衣どもぞ（Kinu-domo-zo）萎えためる（Nae-tameru）＝ the clothes of Ochikubo-hime appear to have withered as their starch has been lost
恥づかしと（Hazukashi-to）思はむものぞ（Omowan-mono-zo）＝ that Princess Ochikubo would be embarassed and ill at ease and worried
The sentence above shows the consideration of Ukon’no Shoushou for Princess Ochikubo. He also seems to know and understand how women feel and think (about their appearance including clothes). Will such tenderness be one of the merits of Ukon’no Shoushou for the Princess? He also has a sharp observation as his attention did not just go to her fine hair or others. He kept his cool, not swallowed by the excitement. On the contrary, he may have thought what and how he should do and behave for the Princess (who would feel shame because of her clothes) on the condition that he would see her face to face that night. He may be also shrewd, cunning and tough in getting what he wanted. Such personality of his may be enough for protection, defense and (counter)attack against Kitanokata, the stepmother of Princess Ochikubo. Should he be worthy of the Prince for 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.)