悪魔The Devil

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What you'll learn

The missionary Urugan captures a demon sitting on a noblewoman's palanquin. When interrogated, the demon explains its internal conflict: it both wants to corrupt the pure soul and wishes to preserve it, leading to a poignant reflection on its own sadness.

Key vocabulary

Grammar points you'll meet

• ～さうである N3Seems like; appears to be. Attached to stem of verbs or adjectives to indicate appearance or hearsay.
  伴天連うるがんの眼には、外の人の見えないものまでも見えたさうである。
• ～と云ふ N4Called; said; a quotative phrase meaning 'they say' or 'it is said'.
  殊に、人間を誘惑に来る地獄の悪魔の姿などは、ありありと形が見えたと云ふ、
• ～たがる N4Shows a third person's desire to do something. 'Wants to...'
  が、さうと思へば思ふ程、愈堕落させたいと云ふ心もちもして来ます。
• ～のである N2Explanatory sentence ending; emphasizes a reason or explanation. Often in written narrative.
  そこでうるがんは姫君の為に、言を悪魔に藉りて、信長の暴を諫めたのであらうと云ふのである。
• ～らしい N4Seems like; appears to be; based on evidence or hearsay.
  ――うるがんの青い瞳を見たものは、誰でもさう云ふ事を信じてゐたらしい。

Cultural notes

• Nanban Trade and ChristianityThe term '南蛮' (Nanban) refers to the 'Southern Barbarians,' a Japanese term for Europeans (primarily Portuguese and Spanish) who arrived in Japan during the 16th-17th centuries. '南蛮寺' (Nanbanji) were Christian churches built during this period.
• Oda NobunagaOda Nobunaga (1534-1582) was a major daimyo who unified a significant portion of Japan. He is mentioned in the story as a powerful figure who shows interest in a noblewoman.
• Syncretism of Christianity and BuddhismThe text uses Buddhist terminology like '泥烏須如来' (Deus Nyorai) to refer to the Christian God, reflecting the early Japanese attempt to understand Christianity through a Buddhist framework.

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Topics & grammar

Short Storyhistoricalghost storyfaithsuperstitiondemonspowereeriephilosophicalaozora bunko〜んですn desu · explanatory (んだ / のだ)