作品Free Graded Reading
悪魔The Devil
Akuma
by 芥川 竜之介 · Akutagawa Ryunosuke
JLPT N1Short StoryClassical / archaicQuiz ready
A missionary captures a demon that is torn between tempting and saving a pure soul.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnThe 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.
Language difficultyAdvanced · 85/100
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 伴天連 (ばてれん) | missionary (from Portuguese 'padre') |
|---|---|
| 悪魔 (あくま) | demon |
| 南蛮寺 (なんばんじ) | Southern Barbarian temple (Christian church in Japan, 16th-17th century) |
| 諷諭 (ふうゆ) | allegory, satire |
| 輿 (こし) | palanquin, sedan chair |
Grammar points you'll meet
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
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.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhy does the demon sit on the noblewoman's palanquin?
- To corrupt her
- To protect her
- It is conflicted between corrupting and protecting
- It was resting
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to the narrative frame: the story is presented as a translation or commentary on an ancient manuscript, which adds a layer of interpretation.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in Japanese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そうである。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言う、――うるがんの青い瞳を見たものは、誰でもそう言う事を信じていたらしい。少くとも、南蛮寺の泥烏須如来を礼拝する奉教人の間には、それが疑う余地のない事実だったと言う事である。古写本の伝える所によれば、うるがんは織田信長の前で、自分が京都の町で見た悪魔の容子を物語った。それは人間の顔と蝙蝠の翼と山羊の脚とを備えた、奇怪な小さい動物である。うるがんはこの悪魔が、或は塔の九輪の上に手を拍って踊り、或は四つ足門の屋根の下に日の光を恐れて蹲る恐しい姿を度々見た。いやそればかりではない。或時は山の法師の背にしがみつき、或時は内の女房の髪にぶら下っているのを見たと言う。
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