作品Free Graded Reading
昔の大名の心意気The Spirit of a Daimyo of Old
Mukashi no Daimyo no Kokorogiki
by 三遊亭 円朝 · Sanyutei Encho
A daimyo struggles to describe the moon without sounding like a child.
About this story
About this storyA feudal lord's innocent question about the moon prompts a humorous exchange with his formal retainer.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in JapaneseWhat you'll learn
What you'll learnA lord asks his retainer about the moon on the fifteenth night. The retainer criticizes the lord for using childish language like 'お月さま' for the moon, suggesting he should use proper poetic terms. The lord then asks more bluntly, and the retainer reports the moon is clear and bright.
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 十五夜 (じゅうごや) | fifteenth night, full moon night |
|---|---|
| 御座います (ございます) | archaic polite verb 'to be' |
| 近侍 (きんじ) | attendant, retainer |
| 小児童子 (しょうにどうじ) | children, infants |
| ぞんざい | rough, rude |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～で御座います N1Archaic polite copula, equivalent to modern ～でございます.十五夜の事で御座います
- ～て有る N1Archaic form of ～ている, indicating ongoing state or action.お月さまはモウ出たか
- ～やう存ます N1Archaic expression meaning 'I think that...', equivalent to ～ように思います.歌俳諧にでも月は月で事は足り居ますやう存ます
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- 十五夜 (Juugoya)The fifteenth night of the lunar month, traditionally celebrated with moon viewing (tsukimi). In Japan, the full moon on the 15th night of the 8th month (and 13th night) is celebrated with offerings of dango and pampas grass.
- 大名 (Daimyo)Feudal lords during the Edo period. The text refers to the lord as 御前さま and お大名の御身, indicating high social status.
- 歌俳諧 (uta haikai)Poetry and haiku, traditional Japanese verse forms. The retainer suggests the lord should use proper poetic terms for the moon rather than childlike speech.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhat does the retainer criticize the lord about?
- Calling the moon 'お月さま'
- Asking about the moon too often
- Using polite language
- Not being formal enough
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to honorific verbs and polite expressions; they indicate the social hierarchy between the speakers.
Topics & grammar
Topics & grammar
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