作品Free Graded Reading
天草四郎の妖術Amakusa Shiro's Sorcery
Amakusa Shiro no Yojutsu
by 国枝 史郎 · Kunieda Shiro
JLPT N1Short StoryClassical / archaicQuiz ready
What if the legendary rebel Amakusa Shiro used real sorcery in his uprising?
What you'll learn
What you'll learnIntroduction of Amakusa Shiro's background and his encounter with an old magician in Nagasaki.
Shiro follows the old man persistently through the countryside until nightfall.
The old man performs a stunning magic trick, creating a bridge of breath to the moon and a duplicate of himself.
Language difficultyExpert · 90/100
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 天草四郎時貞 (あまくさしろうときさだ) | Amakusa Shiro Tokisada, the historical leader of the Shimabara Rebellion |
|---|---|
| 白痴 (はくち) | idiot; imbecile |
| 芸当 (げいとう) | stunt; trick; performance |
| 十字架 (じゅうじか) | cross (Christian symbol) |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～てしまう N4Indicates completion, often with a nuance of regret or finality.縄が一匹の蛇と成ってヌッと鎌首を持ち上げたものです。
- ～たことがある N5Indicates past experience.或時四郎は父に連れられて長崎へ行ったことがございます。
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- 切支丹 (Christianity in Japan)Christianity (Kirishitan) was introduced to Japan in the 16th century but was later banned and persecuted. The Shimabara Rebellion was largely driven by Christian peasants. The text uses the term 切支丹 (archaic spelling) to refer to the faith.
- 天草一揆 (Shimabara Rebellion)A major uprising (1637-1638) led by Amakusa Shiro, involving mostly Christian peasants against the Tokugawa shogunate. The rebellion ended with the fall of Hara Castle and mass deaths. The novel centers on this event.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhat is unique about Shiro's appearance?
- He is extremely tall.
- He has a remarkably beautiful face.
- He wears strange clothing.
- He has a scar on his cheek.
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to classical grammatical constructions and archaic vocabulary; use a dictionary for unfamiliar kanji readings.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in Japanese一天草騒動の張本人天草四郎時貞は幼名を小四郎と云いました。九州天草大矢野郷越野浦の郷士であり曾ては小西行長の右筆まで為た増田甚兵衛の第三子でありましたが何より人を驚かせたのは其珠のような容貌で、倫を絶した美貌のため男色流行の寛永年間として諸人に渇仰されたことは沙汰の限りでありました。併し天は二物を与えず、四郎は利口ではありませんでした。是を講釈師に云わせますと「四郎天成発明にして一を聞いて十を悟り、世に所謂麒麟児にして」と必ず斯うあるところですが、尠くも十五の春の頃迄は寧ろ白痴に近かったようです。それは十五の春の頃でしたが、或時四郎は父に連れられて長崎へ行ったことがございます。或日四郎は只一人で港を歩いて居りました。それは一月の加之七日で七草の日でありましたので町は何んとなく賑かでした。南国のことでありますから一月と云っても雪などは無く、海の潮も紫立ち潮風も暖いくらいです。
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