Ochikubo-14
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 went to Akoki to sound out the possibility of letting his master in. Does he conclude that the night will be good for coming of his master to the Princess? Or has he just been there for any chance so that he can respond to it at any time? He has asked his mother for confectioneries for his wife (and probably for the Princess); Is he getting this gift prepared for a plan to execute the order of Ukon’no Shoushou? Or just out of his pure kindness?
Akoki seems to show her true feelings to her husband without concealing; She probably has a faith in him. Does she sense any intent of Tachiwaki (and Ukon’no Shoushou)? Does she intend to allow the meeting of Ukon’no Shoushou and Princess Ochikubo? Or does she just meet Tachiwaki as she always does, irrespective of the Princess?
Ochikubonokimi (Ochikubo-Hime, Princess Ochikubo) knows the decency; she thinks that Akoki’s request to Tachiwaki (and Ukon’no Shoushou) without her awareness must be shameful. She is conscious of her position and conditions in the world and also her inability to change them. She is smart and discreet in avoiding any trouble, not to mention quarrel or fight. Her grace stands out in this episode.
Mother of Tachiwaki (nurse of Ukon’no Shoushou) gives consideration not only to her son’s wife but also even to the maid of her son’s wife. She seems to be tender and affectionate. Her sense may be old-fashioned according to the opinion of her daughter-in-law (Akoki), who does not criticize the mother-in-law but her son. Maybe such her personality prevents her daughter-in-law from making her a target of criticism.
In this episode, two gracious women (ladies) appear; Princess Ochikubo and Tachiwaki’s mother (nurse of Ukon’no Shoushou). Unexpectedly these two women (ladies) have a common man closely related to them (including in future); that is Ukon’no Shoushou. Tachiwaki’s mother breast-fed Ukon’no Shoushou as nurse since he was a baby. And Princess Ochikubo is to become the wife of Ukon’no Shoushou at his (father’s) house. Both of them should have a special significance to him as the one is practically his mother (actually foster mother) and the other will be his life-long partner. Ukon’no Shoushou seems to be greatly blessed with women close to him. Although he is to save and bring happiness to Princess Ochikubo, he will also be able to have a marvelous lady as his wife. He whom ladies with grace gather around may have something good or great, which may be worthy of the Prince.
Let’s look up the classical Japanese languages below from the text of this episode.
[Classical Japanese Languages Picked Out]
「「うたて、心無しと見しられたるやうにこそ。人に知られぬ人は無心なるこそよけれ」とて、ものしげに思ほしたり。」
（"Utate, Kokoronashi-to-Mishi-rare-taru-you-ni-koso. Hito-ni-Shirare-nu-Hito-wa-Mushin-naru-koso-yokere" tote, Monoshige-ni-Omooshi-tari.）
うたて
（Utate）
the way the situations or feelings progress or change regardless of the one’s own will ⇒ showing the grief over abnormal/unusual state/things
⇒① very (much) for some reason, somehow terribly/awfully, frequently/very often for no reason
⇒② disagreeable, unpleasant, offensive, disgusting, horrid, horrible, undesirable, unwelcome, tired, weary, sick, miserable, deplorable, shameful, disgraceful, painful, bitter, unbearable, abominable, detestable ⇒③ strange, eccentric, odd, queer, weird, grim, grotesque
④ ashamed, unwilling, reluctant, annoyed, bothered, troubled, embarrassed
⑤ unaccountable, gross, unreasonable, pathetic, abject
心無し
（Kokoronashi）
① unkind, unsympathetic ② impudent, thoughtless ③ insensitive, unrefined, uncultured ④ indiscretion, fool, careless person
やう
（You）
① figure, shape, appearance, state ② form, style, custom ③ reason, situation, circumstances ④ means, way, method ⑤ (referring to the things/conditions stated above) such things, similar things ⑥ equivalent to “that" in English introducing a block of information
心無しと見しられたるやうにこそ＝ (I believe) he should have noticed that I do not know the common knowledge/sense
無心
（Mushin）
① shallow/superficial thought, insensitive ② no taste ③ ask/press others for money and goods
人に知られぬ人は無心なるこそよけれ＝ it is appropriate that a person having no relation with the world (Princess Ochikubo) should not have any taste.
ものしげ
（Monoshige）
seemingly unpleasant/displeasing/disagreeable
思ほす
（Omoosu）
think/consider (of those who is respected)
The sentence above seems to show the (good) personality of Princess Ochikubo. She is far from pushy, brazen or shameless; on the contrary, she knows shame. Even she may restrain and restrict herself from seeking anything pleasing. Her mentality may be the one of a nun, severing the worldly affairs, including amusement and entertainment. Such her tranquility and simplicity may not be found in the world of Ukon’no Shoushou, who may see new attraction in them.
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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.)
Tachiwaki called Akoki on arriving at the house of Chunagon. “Where are paintings?" said Akoki sharply. Not daunted, Tachiwaki handed the letter to her, saying “Look! This is a sincere heart of Prince of your Princess. Please let her see." “Ah! you lied to me, didn’t you? I know," said Akoki, dealing with him coldly, but she did not refuse to have the Princess read it. Princess Ochikubo, relaxing, doing nothing special, saw the letter from Ukon’no Shoushou and said, as she did not get what he was saying, “I wonder what pictures. You didn’t ask, did you?" “My husband once said that they had pictures for you and so I have taken this opportunity and asked for those pictures at their goodwill. That letter of mine seems to have reached and attracted the eyes of Ukon’no Shoushou," said Akoki, explaining the circumstances to the Princess. “Oh ,my! He should have seen through it. Presumptuous for an obscure one like me to have a joy," said the Princess, falling into a sunken heart.
Again Tachiwaki called Akoki, who left the Princess alone for him. She was asked who stayed behind and how it was, which sounded as if arising from his care for wife. He also showed kindness to send for a basket of delicacies and offered other help seemingly to get rid of any anxiety or worry due to being left in an empty house for the sake of his wife and her Princess. Tachiwaki’s mother made a large basket and a small basket of various foods and got them delivered to her daughter-in-law together with an accompanying letter, which specifies those which will be given to the young maid working for Akoki. Some foods Akoki thinks inappropriate to include in such a basket of foods; Akoki considers it an indication of her husband’s nasty deed and blamed him. “Not me. You treat my mother’s goodness as unwanted favor. Look! You young girl take this," said Tachiwaki, giving the one for his wife’s maid. Then Akoki and Tachiwaki lied down together peacefully and exchanged particulars about their respective master and mistress fully. At night it rains and Tachiwaki judges that his master will not come here and has, unwound, fallen asleep.
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