作品Free Graded Reading
壇ノ浦の鬼火The Ghost Fires of Dan no Ura
Dan no Ura no Onibi
by 下村 千秋 · Shimomura Chiaki
Ghostly flames haunt the site of a legendary sea battle.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnThe defeat of the Heike clan at Dan-no-ura leads to strange occurrences like ghost crabs and will-o'-the-wisps. To calm the spirits, a temple is built and a high priest is stationed there.
A blind biwa priest named Hōichi, famous for his rendition of the Dan-no-ura battle, lives at the Amidaji temple. One spring evening, while alone, a mysterious samurai summons him to perform for a noble lord.
Hōichi is led to a grand mansion where he performs the Dan-no-ura tale. The audience, including the lord, is deeply moved. After his performance, an old woman asks him to return for six nights to play again, but requests secrecy.
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 平家 (へいけ) | the Heike clan |
|---|---|
| 壇ノ浦 (だんのうら) | Dan-no-ura, location of a famous sea battle |
| びわ法師 (びわほうし) | biwa priest (blind musician) |
| 鬼火 (おにび) | will-o'-the-wisp; ghostly flame |
| 耳なし (みみなし) | earless |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～てからというもの N1Ever since; from the time that (emphasizing a change that occurred after that point)壇ノ浦のもくずときえてからというもの、この壇ノ浦いったいには、いろいろのふしぎなことがおこり
- ～とあって N1Because it is; given that; (used to explain a situation)この当時は、武士のことばに、そうむやみにそむくわけにはいきませんでしたので
- ～ごとき N1Such as; like; (humble or belittling expression)使いのものじゃ
- ～げ N3Seems; appears; -ish (attached to adjectives to show appearance)悲しげな苦しげな声が上がり
- ～ず N3Without doing; not doing (negative form of ～ない, used in literary/formal contexts)声もだせませんでした
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- The Tale of the Heike (平家物語)An epic account of the rise and fall of the Heike clan, a key work of Japanese literature. The story of Hōichi is closely tied to this tale, as Hōichi performs the 'Battle of Dan-no-ura' section.
- Biwa Hōshi (びわ法師)Blind monks who traveled and recited tales accompanied by the biwa, a Japanese lute. They were key in spreading stories like The Tale of the Heike. Hōichi is a famous fictional example.
- Dan-no-ura Battle (壇ノ浦の戦い)A decisive naval battle in 1185 where the Heike clan was defeated by the Genji, leading to the death of Emperor Antoku. The supernatural events in the story are said to originate from this battle.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhat strange creature appeared on the beach after the Heike defeat?
- Ghost crabs with human-like faces
- Giant sea serpents
- Mermaids singing mournful songs
- Flying kites with eerie faces
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to the narrative structure: the story is divided into clearly marked sections (一, 二, etc.) which can help comprehension.
Read a sample in Japanese
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