作品Free Graded Reading
ゐろりの中の街The City in the Hearth
Irori no Naka no Machi
by スティーブンソン ロバート・ルイス · Sutībunson Robāto Ruisu
JLPT N2Short StoryClassical / archaic
A magical poem: a city hidden in the fireplace flames.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnThe poem describes a miniature city that appears inside a sunken hearth, where a soldier is seen walking among towers and valleys, only to vanish and reappear as the fire flickers. The speaker asks the soldier and the fire about their destination and the nature of this vision.
Language difficultyIntermediate · 45/100
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| ゐろり (いろり) | sunken hearth |
|---|---|
| 靄 (もや) | mist |
| 榾 (ほた) | firewood |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～がいる N5Indicates existence of animate objects.兵士が又見える
- ～てしまう N4Expresses completion or regret; here contracted to ～てつた.兵士も光も消えてつた
- ～てゐる N4Archaic spelling of ～ている, indicating ongoing action or state.みんな真赤にてらされる
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Irori (Sunken Hearth)An irori is a traditional Japanese sunken hearth used for heating and cooking. It is often a central feature in old houses, and its flickering fire creates a cozy, meditative atmosphere often referenced in literature.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhere does the city in the poem appear?
- Inside a sunken hearth (irori)
- In a garden
- Under a tower
- In a valley
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipNotice archaic kana usage (ゐ, ゑ) and poetic contractions like ～てつた for ～てしまった.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in Japaneseいろりの中に街がある、かすかな足音きこえてる。ランプがともり、靄がある、庭の木などに壁などに。靄のなかから火がもえて照らし出される部屋がある。屋根やご本も見えている。みんな真っ赤に照らされる。いろりの中の街中の、塔の下かげ行く兵士。けれど私が見てるうち、兵士も光も消えてった。こうと再び火がもえる。ふたたび街を照らしだす。ほらこんどは谷もある。ほら兵士がまた見える。燃えてる榾よ兵士らは、どこまで行くの、聞かせてよ。いろりのなかのこの街は、これは何なの、聞かせてよ。
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