作品Free Graded Reading
法衣The Buddhist Robe
Hōi
by 田中 貢太郎 · Tanaka Kōtarō
JLPT N3Short StoryQuiz ready
A nun lends a Buddhist robe to a man, only to find it mysteriously returned—and then learns he died that very day.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnA nun lends a robe to a young man who frequently visited her temple. He returns it mysteriously, and later she learns he had died. His ghost had borrowed the robe because he disliked wearing a woman's sleeping robe.
Language difficultyAdvanced · 75/100
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 尼僧 (にそう) | nun |
|---|---|
| 法衣 (ほうい) | Buddhist robe |
| 幽魂 (ゆうこん) | ghost, spirit |
| 寝衣 (しんい) | sleepwear, nightclothes |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～てたまらない N1Expresses that the speaker cannot bear something; 'extremely' or 'unbearably'.不審でたまらなかった
- ～はずである N2Indicates that something is expected or supposed to be the case.何とか一言云うはずである
- ～にしても N2Even so; even considering that; used to concede a point but express a contrary opinion.それにしても、何とか一言云うはずである
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- 尼寺 (Nunnery)A Buddhist temple for nuns. In Japan, nunneries were often separate from monasteries and had their own traditions.
- 幽魂 (Ghost) in Japanese FolkloreIn Japanese folklore, ghosts (幽魂/ゆうれい) often return to fulfill unmet desires or to borrow items related to their former life. This story reflects a common motif.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhy did the young man borrow a robe from the nun?
- To wear it as a costume.
- Because his ghost needed it.
- For no particular reason.
- To give to his mother.
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to the use of 〜てたまらない (unbearably) to understand the nun's strong suspicion.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in Japanese千住か熊谷かのことであるが、其処に某尼寺があって、その住職の尼僧と親しい壮い男が何時も寺へ遊びに来ていたが、それがふっつりと来なくなった。尼僧はそれを心配して、何人かその辺の者が来たならその容子を聞いてみようと思っていると、ある日その男がひょっこりやって来た。「どうしたかと思って、心配してたのですよ」「少し病気でしてね」「もう好いのですか」「ああ、もう癒りました」壮い男はその後で、「今日は一つお願いがあって来ましたよ」と云った。「なんですか」「法衣を貸してくれませんか」「貸してあげましょうが、それをどうするのです」「少し入用です」で、尼僧は奥から一枚の法衣を持って来て、壮い男の前に置いた。壮い男は嬉しそうにそれを持って帰って往った。そして、暫くして、何かの用事で尼僧が寺の玄関へ往ってみると、壮い男に貸したはずの法衣が置いてあった。
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