作品Free Graded Reading
疑獄元兇The Chief Culprit of the Prison Scandal
Gigoku Genkyō
by 宮沢 賢治 · Miyazawa Kenji
JLPT N1Short StoryClassical / archaicQuiz ready
A prosecutor's intense inner battle during a corruption trial, blurring reality and hallucination.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnA prosecutor reflects on the etiquette and tension of a courtroom encounter with a young opponent. He struggles with internal anxiety, recalls Zen temples to regain composure, and resolves to maintain his stance despite the opponent's intense stare.
Language difficultyExpert · 92/100
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 検事 (けんじ) | prosecutor |
|---|---|
| 会釈 (えしゃく) | bow, greeting |
| 勲績 (くんせき) | meritorious service |
| 君子 (くんし) | gentleman, man of virtue |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～と雖ど N1Even though; even if. Classical conjunction expressing concession.いかなる明文制裁と雖ど、それが布かるゝ社会に於て、遵守し得ざるに至ったときは、その法既に悪法である
- ～に於て N1In; at; on. Formal location marker.それが布かるゝ社会に於て
- ～得る N3Can; able to. After verb stem.容易に了解するかも知れん。
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Zen Temples and MeditationThe narrator recalls temples like Kennin-ji (建仁寺), Tokugen-ji (徳玄寺), and Seigen-ji (清源寺), using them as anchors to calm his mind during the tense confrontation. This reflects a practice of meditative focus.
- Emperor Wu of Liang and BodhidharmaThe narrator references the famous Zen koan between Emperor Wu of Liang and Bodhidharma, where Bodhidharma replies 'Not knowing' (不識) to the emperor's question about his identity. This illustrates the narrator's attempt to transcend logical thought.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhat does the prosecutor do to calm his nerves during the standoff?
- He recites a poem about the mountains.
- He visualizes the names of Zen temples.
- He takes deep breaths.
- He looks away from the opponent.
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipFocus on the narrator's emotional progression rather than fully understanding every classical allusion.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in Japaneseとにかく向こうは検事の立場、今の会釈は悪くない。勲績のある上長として、盛名のある君子として、礼を尽した態度であった。わたしの方も声音から、動作一般自然であった。あるいはこういう調子でもって、政治の実というものを、容易に了解するかも知れん。それならわたしは、畢竟党から撰ばれて、若手検事の腕利きという この青年を対告に、社会一般教育のため、ここへ来たとも言い得よう。いかなる明文制裁といえども、それが布かれる社会において、遵守し得ないに至ったときは、その法既に悪法である、それが判らん筈もない。だが何のため、向こうは壇をのぼるのだ。整然として椅子を引いて、眼平らにこっちを見る。卓に両手を副えている。正に上司の儀容であるが、勿論職権止むを得まい。ただもう明るく話して来ればいいのである。しかし……物言うけはいでない。厳しく口を結んでいる。頬は烈しい決意を示す。
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