作品Free Graded Reading
術数Jutsusū
Jutsusū
by 小泉 八雲 · Koizumi Yakumo
JLPT N1Short StoryClassical / archaicQuiz ready
A samurai beheads a man who vows to take revenge from beyond the grave.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnA samurai executes a criminal in his garden. Before death, the criminal vows to return as a vengeful ghost, but the samurai challenges him to bite a stepping stone after being beheaded. The criminal's head bites the stone, and the ghost never returns. Later, the samurai explains to his fearful retainers that the criminal's focus was diverted.
Language difficultyAdvanced · 85/100
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 屋敷 (やしき) | mansion, residence |
|---|---|
| 罪人 (ざいにん) | criminal, sinner |
| 飛石 (とびいし) | stepping stone |
| 復讐 (ふくしゅう) | revenge |
| 施餓鬼 (せがき) | Segaki (offering to hungry ghosts) |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～事にきまった N3It was decided that... (passive form of 決まる meaning 'decide')屋敷の庭で死刑が執行される事にきまった。
- ～ずには居られない N1cannot help but ~; cannot refrain from ~どうでも私を殺すと云うなら、きっと私は復讐する。――そんな無法は胸晴しをせずには居られない。
- ～てみせないか N2won't you show (me) ~? (challenge or request to prove something)お前の恨みの何か証拠を――首が切れたあとで――自分等に見せてくれないか
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Japanese Stepping Stones (飛石)In traditional Japanese gardens, stepping stones (飛石, tobiishi) are placed to create a path. They are often irregularly shaped and arranged to encourage a mindful pace. In this story, the criminal's head bites the stone as a final act of defiance.
- Samurai Execution RitualThe scene describes a ritualized execution in a daimyo's garden. The criminal is bound and surrounded by straw bales. The samurai uses a long sword (tachi) to behead him. After cutting, the sword is cleaned with water and paper, reflecting the importance of ritual purity.
- Vengeful Ghosts (幽霊)In Japanese folklore, a person who dies with strong resentment becomes a vengeful ghost (幽霊) and seeks revenge. The samurai cleverly redirects the criminal's focus to the stepping stone, preventing the ghost from returning.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhat does the samurai challenge the criminal to do after his head is cut off?
- Touch a stepping stone
- Bite a stepping stone
- Speak a curse
- Spit blood
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to the use of classical Japanese verb forms like 云う (iu) and 報ゆる (mukuyuru).
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in Japanese屋敷の庭で死刑が執行されることに決まった。その罪人は引き出された。今も読者が日本庭園で見られるような飛石の一列が真ん中にある、砂を敷いた広場へ座らされた。彼は後ろ手に縛られていた。家来は手桶の水と小石の満ちた俵を運んだ。それから座っている男の周りに俵を詰めた、――動けないようにくさびどめにしておいた。主人が来て、その準備を見た。満足らしく、何も言わなかった。不意に罪人は彼に呼びかけた、――『お侍様、今からお仕置きを受けることになったが、私の過ちは、何も知って犯したんじゃございません。その過ちの元はただ私が馬鹿だったからです。何かの因果で愚鈍に生まれて来たのでいつも間違いをせずにはいられない。だが何も愚鈍に生まれついたって言うわけで、人を殺すのはそりゃひどい。――そんな無法は胸晴らしをせずにはいられない。どうでも私を殺すと言うなら、きっと私は復讐する。
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