The Legend of the Shrine Treeご神木の言い伝え
Long ago, in the Itsutsuji neighborhood of Kyoto, there grew an old tree that was said to be inhabited by a kami, or god, and was treated by the local population with due awe and reverence.
Then one day, a certain man decided to cut down the tree, thinking it to be a nuisance. But before he could even swing his axe, he fell gravely ill.
When he returned home later that evening, he began to behave strangely, and in the end disemboweled himself in a final act of madness.
The truth is that he had been cursed by the spirit of the tree he had so rashly tried to cut down.
I just heard something very interesting indeed. A good friend told me that if you strike this shrine tree with an axe, you're sure to be blessed with good fortune.
You know, I've always thought this tree was a nuisance, growing right in the middle of this path. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I think I should just cut the darned thing down. And if it brings me luck into the bargain, well, so much the better!
I haven't had much work of late, and it's getting harder to keep my wife in the manner to which she's become accustomed. A spot of luck would make both our lives a lot easier.
And speaking of luck, I'm truly fortunate to be blessed with the kind of friend who would selflessly share such a juicy tip!
古い友人からいいことを聞いた。 何でもここのご神木に斧を打ち付けると、幸運が 舞い込むって話だ。 この道はよく歩くが、いつも邪魔に思っていたんだ。 いい機会だからぶった切ってやろう。それで幸運に なれるなら一石二鳥ってやつだ。 最近はめっきり仕事も減って、妻にも不自由をさせて いたしな。 これで舞い込んだ幸運で、安心させてやろう。 しかし、こんな有益な情報を教えてくれた友人には 感謝しかない。
I'm a little worried about my husband. He set off this morning carrying an axe, saying that life was about to get much easier for us both. Now it's nearly sundown and he still hasn't come home. Oh, I hope he hasn't got himself into some kind of trouble...
...Oh, there you are! Thank goodness! I was beside myself with worry. ...But what's this? Y-Your face—why, it-it's as white as a sheet! What in the world happened!?
Hey, did you hear the news! It's about our neighbor, you know, the fellow who's joined at the hip with his wife.
Well, it turns out that he came home the other day and killed himself in a fit of madness. That's right, it was the day we stopped him from cutting down that shrine tree. He died that very night!
...Brr! It's chilling, isn't it? But you've got to be careful around those shrine trees. They're inhabited by the gods, and the gods aren't known to forgive easily.
So the chump really went and did it! He tried to chop down that tree, and now he's dead! Heh heh, I still can't believe he swallowed my story! Well it just goes to show, you shouldn't believe everything you're told!
I couldn't have planned it better. Now all that remains is for me to go and console his lonely, grieving wife...
I mean, it's only fair that things have worked out this way. I loved her first, after all, and that bastard stole her away from me! And now he's paid the price! Gah hah!
- Where
- Nijo-jo Castle Entrance district
- Map
- Nijo-jo Castle
- Region
- Nijo-jo Castle
- Hand in to
- Lady Murasaki, Yasaka Shrine
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