Ochikubo-7
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 did his best to make a connection between Ukon’no Shoushou and Ochikubo-Hime, on the alert for any unfaithful sign found in Ukon’no ShouShou. Princess Ochikubo is his wife’s precious one so that he must prevent any flippant flirtation even of his foster brother. At the same time he owes his foster brother correspondence with the Princess and thus he has to persuade his wife to get the Princess write a reply.
Ukon’no Shoushou seems to be filled with the desire to see Princess Ochikubo. He may have a quality of getting too hot easily and cooling down soon. His such change of mind aggravates anxiety of Tachiwaki who cannot let him alone.
Akoki agreed to give the letter from Ukon’no Shoushou to Princess Ochikubo and even prompted the Princess to consider the possble relation with Ukon’no Shoushou.
Ochikubonokimi (Ochikubo-Hime, Princess Ochikubo) would not change her mind partly due to the stepmother who must be furious at any auspicious sign for the Princess.
Kitanokata seems to always criticize Princess Ochikubo. According to Akoki, she has never spoken favorbaly of the Princess.
While Ukon’no Shoushou seems to be instinctively driven by his interest, Tachiwaki rationally tries to strike a balance; concurrently limiting Ukon’no Shoushou’s egoism and guiding Akoki to induce the Princess to think about meeting Ukon’no Shoushou. Specifically he pays attention not to hurt Princess Ochikubo. Any disgrace to the Princess should outrage his wife, Akoki, which he must avoid in any way. His tactful handling of the situation seems to have worked well.
Culture and Society of Heian Period
Ukon’no Shoushou seems to be rich and not to seek the status of a husband of any house other than his father’s. His affluence may allow him to take Princess Ochikubo to his house as a wife. In such a way the Princess can get away out of the painful situations at her father’s house, far away from and beyond the reach of the stepmother, Kitanokata. Ukon’no Shoushou may find attraction in the Princess’s lineage, her mother related to the royal family. Such status may be beneficial to Ukon’no Shoushou (and his father and family). Maybe the relation of Ukon’no Shoushou and Princess Ochikubo brings reciprocal advantage to each other. Both Ukon’no Shoushou and Princess Ochikubo can be happy with respective merit obtained through their marriage. They may be a perfect couple.
Let’s look up the classical Japanese languages below from the text of this episode.
[Classical Japanese Languages Picked Out]
「帯刀、大将殿に参りたれば、「いかにぞ。かのことは」、「言ひはべりしかば、しかじかなむ申す。」
（Tachiwaki, Taishou-Dono-ni-Mairi-tareba, “Ikani-zo. Kano-Koto-ha," “Ii-haberi-shika-ba, Shikajika-nan-Mousu.）
まゐる（参る）
Mairu
move to the place of a noble man ⇒① meaning to visit or call on, indicating respect by lowering ② meaning to go or come, indicating respect by lowering ③ meaning to give or present, indicating respect by lowering ④ meaning to do or conduct, indicating respect by lowering ⑤ meaning to raise or pull down a lattice of the place of a noble man ⑥ meaning to drink or eat, indicating respect by honoring ⑦ meaning to do, indicating respect by honoring
①⇒⑧ (for empress to palace) meaning to go, indicating respect by lowering ⑨ (to shrine and temple) meaning to go, indicating respect by lowering
In the case above, まゐる may be used in meaning that Tachiwaki visits (calls on) the mansion of Sadaishou (father of Ukon’no Shoushou) indicating respect from Tachiwaki to Sadaishou and Ukon’no Shoushou by lowering.
はべり
Haberi
humbly wait by a noble man ⇒ meaning to serve or wait on, indicating respect by lowering
humbly and respectfully stand by ⇒ meaning to be there or exist, indicating politeness
⇒ used to add politeness by accompanying some word which shows an act
In the case above, はべり may be used in meaning that Tachiwaki explained Ukon’no Shoushou in a polite way that he told Akoki the words of Ukon’no Shoushou.
There are two ways of indicating respect in Japanese. One is to lower the relative position of a speaker and the other is to honor the person to whom the word of respect is given. In the former way, a speaker shows his respect by bringing down his position and raising the relative position of the person to whom his respect is given. In the latter, respect is given by raising the position of the person to whom the word of respect is given. Generally the words indicating respect by lowering are used for the acts of the speaker of those words and the words indicating respect by honoring are used for the acts of the person to whom the words of respect are given. The Japanese have traditionally shown respect by lowering or honoring in each case.
Apart from the Tale of Ochikubo-Hime, a variety of topics relating to the Heian Period are discussed in this series.
「野辺までに 心ばかりは通へども わが御幸とも 知らずやあるらん」
（Nobe-made-ni Kokoro-bakari-wa-Kayoe-domo Waga-Miyuki-tomo Shirazu-ya-aru-ran）
（To the field where your soul rests, my heart has gone even in deep snow, but you are not aware of my standing by you.）
The traditional Japanese poem above is made by Emperor Ichijo given to Empress Teishi upon her death. Soon after giving birth to the third child of Emperor Ichijo (at the house of a low-ranking officer where the tragedy occurred), Empress Teishi passed away at the young age of twenty five years old. She was separated from Emperor Ichijo, which may have led to her waivering mind. Emperor Ichijo, who may have known such state of Empress Teishi later, presented the poem above to her beloved wife. Even though she had already gone, Emperor Ichijo reminded her that his heart and mind is always together with her even if she forgets it. He has invariably loved her and loves and will love her forever. This poem shows a strong tie bound by love between Emperor Ichijo and Empress Teishi which cannot be broken by any evil, malicious plot controlled by Fujiwarano Michinaga (who should not know such love).
Sei Shounagon may have wanted to make a record of Empress Teishi. Her belief is that the memories of Empress Teishi should be remembered eternally. Maybe she also thought that cruel acts of Fijiwarano MIchinaga should be taken up and made known among the public. Depiction of Empress Teishi only implies the cold and heartless character of Fujiwarano Michinaga. Not mentioning Fujiwarano Michinaga may impress his acts behind the scenes all the more. The writing style of Sei Shounagon that no shadows are included in Makuna-no Soushi may highlight the shadows not written in it. Maybe she succeeds both in getting Empress Teishi recorded and in protecting the honor of Empress Teishi.
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Ukon’no Shoushou waiting eagerly for a good answer from Ochikubo-Hime immediately asked Tachiwaki how it went. “According to what my wife told me, I’m afraid that the Princess is unlikely to meet you. Usually parents push the seeking of the husband for their daughters; however, the Princess’s father would not act against the will of the Princess’s stepmother, Kitanokata." “So I told you to take me to the Princess. Considering the rank of my father’s, it would be a shame to have them take me as a husband. If she is lovely, I’ll take her to my place as my wife." And further, “If she’s not, I’ll tell her to forget and not to mention about me." This selfish words caused Tachiwaki to warn his foster brother that he must decide before Tachiwaki will ask his wife to arrange that the Princess will meet him. Nevertheless, his foster brother insisted that he could not decide without meeting her first. “I know nothing about her. How can I make up my mind? Look! You must present my proposal of marriage in a decent way. Even I would not throw away her." Again the distrustful remark made Tachiwaki to scold his foster brother that he could not accept such a cold and mean treatment. Trying to evade the accusation, Ukon’no Shoushou laughed and said, “I meant that I would swear an eternal love." Still laughing, he handed a letter for the Princess to Tachiwaki, who could not yet put faith in his foster brother but took the trouble to entrust it to her wife. Akoki’s response was a rejection; “Oh! What is it? What would you do with this letter? I cannot have my Princess touch any frivolous affair." However, upon Tachiwaki’s persuasion saying that an answer from the Princess to his foster brother would not lead to any undesirable consequences, Akoki gave the letter to Princess Ochikubo, referring to Ukon’no Shoushou. “I cannot have such a letter. I do not want any criticism or commotion with anyone, especially the mother." “Are in the world you not spoken ill of by that north quarter? You do not have to think of her reactions." The Princess would not say any more, falling in silence.
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