Ochikubo-13
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
Akoki takes delight in spending with her Princess without hindrance while almost all people has gone on a journey to the temple. She may also consider the Tachiwaki’s offer to come (possibly together with his master, Ukon’no Shoushou) a good opportunity to open the door for future happiness for her Princess and so accepted it on the condition that pictures which will please the Princess should be presented.
Ochikubonokimi (Ochikubo-Hime, Princess Ochikubo) may find joy in Akoki’s presence after she was forced to work alone for days as Kitanokata deprives her of her loyal maid. Although she could not join the trip, it may be better for the Princess to rest at her home (sunken place), not compelled to sew; this is also said a holiday for the Princess.
Tachiwaki never misses the golden chance for his master and quickly moves to set up the meeting of Ukon’no Shoushou and Princess Ochikubo by contacting his wife, Akoki, who is the most loyal maid and best friend (and guardian) of the Princess. He serves as mediator, doing his best to secure the benefits of all concerned. He seems to have a capability to concurrently consider the conflicting interests of people in a balanced way.
Ukon’no Shoushou behaves like a king; probably because he was born and grown up in the highest-ranking family of the upper-class society and it is his natural way of behaving (actually his sister is wed to the Emperor). Such aristocratic lineage intensifies his confidence and a tendency of self-importance; so he may be able to avoid providing the pictures requested. He really likes and is attracted to the Princess, but he also has a pride so that he cannot do anything as he is told or asked.
Ukon’no Shoushou may have gotten a thrill out of (no) communication with Princess Ochikubo. Maybe he savors exhillation while he can not see her but has expected anything good or joyful of the Princess. In this episode, he expresses his heartache, using a impromptu drawing of his own with some humor added. Although Princess Ochikubo probably thinks nothing about him and his letters, Ukon’no Shoushou is surely considering various possibilities and what should be conveyed to the Princess. Can his way of approach have any effect on the stiffened heart of the Princess?
Let’s look up the classical Japanese languages below from the text of this episode.
[Classical Japanese Languages Picked Out]
「ののしりて出でたまひぬれば、かいすみて心ぼそげなれど、わが君とうち語らひてゐたるほどに、帯刀がもとより、「御供に参りたまはずと聞くは、まことか。さらば参らむ」」
（Nonoshirite-Ide-tamai-nure-ba, Kai-Sumite-Kokorobosoge-nare-do, Waga-Kimi-to-Uchi-Kataraite-itaru-hodo-ni, Tachiwaki-ga-moto-yori, “Otomo-ni-Mairi-tamawazu-to-Kiku-ha, Makoto-ka. Saraba-Mairan"）
ののしる（←ののしり）
Nonoshiru（← Nonoshiri）
make a loud voice or sound ⇒① make noise in a loud voice, make so much fuss
② have a high reputation, be greatly talked about, rumor ⇒③ exercise power, get spirited, become full of life, at the height of one’s success, very influential
④ make a sound (both for humasn and animals) ⑤ make a fuss for, do something in a loud voice/loudly ⑥ abuse, rant, rave, shout
出づ（←出で）
Izu（← Ide）
① (from insider to outside) go out ② leave, start ③ (things hidden) appear, become known ④ leave, go away ⑤ (to the surface) let out, show up ⑥ adding a meaning of go out/take out
ののしりて出でたまひぬれば＝ because/as (they) started in hustle and bustle/uproar
かいすむ（←かいすみ）
Kaisumu（← Kaisumi）
かい(Kai)＋すむ(Sumu)
かい（掻い）＝ used to make good rhythm of words and emphasize meaning
すむ（澄む）＝① (opaque liquid) become transparent/clear ② clear up, become clear and clean ③ (of sound of things) clear, resound, resonant ④ quiet and calm, gentle, refined, sophisticated ⑤ (due to the determination of keeping away from the world) have peace of mind, be/feel relaxed/relieved, feel/be refreshed ⑥ pronounce a clear sound
心ぼそし（←心ぼそ）
Kokorobososhi（← Kokoroboso）
① uneasy without reliance, helpless, anxious, worried ② lonely, lonesome, forlorn
かいすみて心ぼそげなれど＝ although it seems deserted as quiet and tranquil
君
Kimi
① leader governing a nation, the Emperor (of Japan) ② master (having servants), lord ③ referring to a person in a high position/status, showing respect when refering to a person ④ (in the form of「君 of name/title」) showing respect ⑤ prostitute, whore ⑥ you(r)
語ふ
Katarau
① talk together, have a friendly chat, have a heart-to-heart talk ⇒② be good friends with, be on familiar terms with
②⇒③ (in the case of man and woman) exchange of vows (of love, marriage), see, have relationship with
②⇒④ seek/get advice, make an earnest request for
②⇒⑤ persuade, win over to one’s friends/company
わが君とうち語らひてゐたるほどに＝ when/while Akoki has been talking with her mistress (Princess Ochikubo) entirely in private
帯刀がもとより＝ from Tachiwaki
御供に参りたまはずと聞くは＝ the information gotten upon hearing that you have not accompanied your master’s family (Kitanokata and San’nokimi)
まこと
Makoto
「真 (true) ＋事 (things)・言 (words)」⇒① truth (true), showing no false part/aspect/element, fact, truth, the real thing, genuine article
② sincere, faithful, honest, candid, truthful, true heart, cordial
③ really, entirely, utterly, totally
④ using when suddenly remember somthing, probably, really so
さらば＝さ (Sa)＋（あ）(A) らば (raba) ＝ if it is so (true)
From the words of Tachiwaki above, the story toward happiness is expected to start for the Princess Ochikubo. The literal meaning is that Tachiwaki conveys his intention to visit Akoki, but the true aim will be to organize/fix up the meeting of Princess Ochikubo and Ukon’no Shoushou. In other words, Tachiwaki and Akoki is a deception to conceal the relationship of Princess Ochikubo and Ukon’no Shoushou (rather the joy and happiness of Princess Ochikubo considering Kitanokata). It seems that Tachiwaki and Akoki understand the true intent of each other and cooperate in unity to achieve the goal. That may be their way of serving their master and mistress.
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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.)