作品Free Graded Reading
夏と人形Summer and the Doll
Natsu to Ningyō
by 坂口 安吾 · Sakaguchi Ango
JLPT N1Short StoryClassical / archaicQuiz ready
A traveler's eerie encounter with a mysterious puppet master.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnThe narrator recounts a traveler's tale about a mysterious puppet show in Shikoku, focusing on the uncanny detail of sweat on the puppet's forehead after the performance.
Language difficultyExpert · 90/100
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 傀儡 (くぐつ) | puppet, marionette |
|---|---|
| 物識り (ものしり) | knowledgeable person |
| 霊妙 (れいみょう) | mysterious, spiritual |
| 傀儡師 (くぐつし) | puppet master |
| 演戯 (えんぎ) | performance, play |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～ものの N2Used to contrast two clauses, meaning 'although' or 'but'.文楽の舞台に比べては余り原始的でみすぼらしいものの
- ～なぞ N1A literary particle meaning 'such things as' or 'like', similar to など.物識りの旅行家の額には汗なぞ滲まないので
- ～てゐる N5Old spelling of ～ている, indicating an ongoing state or action.伝へられてゐるのです。
- ～のです N4Used to provide explanation or emphasis.伝へられてゐるのです。
- ～ので N4Indicates reason or cause, meaning 'because'.物識りの旅行家の額には汗なぞ滲まないので
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Bunraku (文楽)Bunraku is a traditional Japanese puppet theater known for its elaborate puppets and storytelling, often performed with chanted narration and shamisen music. The text contrasts the crude but spiritually charged puppet show with the refined Bunraku.
- Wandering Puppeteers (傀儡師)In Japan, itinerant puppet masters known as kugutsushi traveled to rural areas, performing with simple puppets. They were often regarded with a mix of awe and mystery, as reflected in the text's description of a 'mysterious puppet master' in Shikoku.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhat did the traveler notice after the puppet show ended?
- The puppet was broken.
- The puppet master was crying.
- Sweat was on the puppet's forehead.
- The audience had disappeared.
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to classical verb endings like ～てゐる, which correspond to modern ～ている but are spelled with historical kana usage.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in Japanese貴方は南国の傀儡を御存じですか？ （と物識りの旅行家が私に話してきかせました）文楽の舞台に比べては余り原始的でみすぼらしいものの、まことの名人気質と名も知られない人形造りが一心こめて残した霊妙な人形はむしろ棄てられた傀儡師に伝えられているのです。七年前のことです。四国の淋しい路傍で最も神秘な傀儡師を見ました。至妙な演戯よ！ 私の心は涯もない夢幻の奥へ誘われていたのです。けれども終生忘れることのできないのは（そして彼は暫く深々と感動の瞑目をつづけていました）ふと自分に返ったとき、芝居を終えた人形の額に汗のジットリ滲んでいるのを見出したのでした。私は物識りの旅行家の額には汗なぞ滲まないので、彼の話をきくのが好きです。
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