蜘蛛の糸The Spider's Thread

What you'll learn

Buddha walks by the lotus pond in paradise and sees the criminal Kandata suffering in hell. Remembering that Kandata once spared a spider's life, Buddha lowers a spider's thread from paradise to hell to give him a chance at salvation.

Kandata sees the spider's thread and begins to climb up from the blood pool. Exhausted, he rests and looks down to see many other sinners climbing behind him. Fearing the thread will break, he shouts at them to get off, at which point the thread snaps and he falls back into hell.

Buddha watches the entire scene from the lotus pond. Seeing Kandata fall back into hell due to his selfish heart, Buddha looks sad and resumes his walk, while the lotus flowers continue to bloom beautifully, indifferent to the drama.

Key vocabulary

Grammar points you'll meet

• ～て居ります N3Polite progressive/state form of 'いる', often used in literary writing.
  池の中に咲いている蓮の花は、みんな玉のようにまっ白で、そのまん中にある金色の蕊からは、何とも云えない好い匂が、絶間なくあたりへ溢れて居ります。
• ～でございます N4Polite copula (です), often used in formal or polite speech.
  ある日の事でございます。
• ～ながら N4While doing A, do B; indicates simultaneous actions.
  御釈迦様は極楽の蓮池のふちを、独りでぶらぶら御歩きになっていらっしゃいました。
• ～てしまう N4Indicates completion or regret; 'to finish doing something (unfortunately)'.
  見る見る中に暗の底へ、まっさかさまに落ちてしまいました。
• ～て参る N3Humble form of '来る' (to come) or motion verb '行く' (to go), often used in polite narrative.
  銀色の蜘蛛の糸が、まるで人目にかかるのを恐れるように、一すじ細く光りながら、するすると自分の上へ垂れて参るのではございませんか。

Cultural notes

• Buddhist Cosmology: Hell and ParadiseIn Buddhism, hell (地獄, jigoku) is a realm of suffering for those who committed evil deeds, while Paradise (極楽, gokuraku) is a Pure Land of bliss. The story illustrates the concept of karma and the possibility of salvation through good deeds, as well as the danger of selfishness.
• The Spider's Web as a Buddhist SymbolThe spider's thread represents the fragile connection between salvation and damnation. In Buddhist art, the spider's web can symbolize illusion or the interconnectedness of all beings. Here, it serves as a lifeline that breaks under the weight of selfishness.
• Akutagawa's Literary StyleRyunosuke Akutagawa (1892-1927) was a master of the short story, known for his psychological depth and use of classical Japanese. 'The Spider's Thread' (1918) blends Buddhist allegory with a modern narrative, showcasing his ability to adapt traditional themes for contemporary readers.

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Topics

Short Storyfolklorehistoricalkarmaredemptionsincompassionhuman naturephilosophicalpoeticsuspensefulaozora bunko