作品Free Graded Reading
親孝行Filial Piety
Oyakōkō
by 牧野 信一 · Makino Shin'ichi
A boy uses the logic of filial piety to justify sleeping in, while his mother gets increasingly annoyed.
About this story
About this storyA sleepy boy rationalizes that sleeping in is actually an act of filial piety.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in JapaneseSource
SourceThis text comes from Aozora Bunko (青空文庫), the volunteer-run library of Japanese writing that is out of copyright. See this work on Aozora Bunko
Base edition (底本): 「牧野信一全集第一巻」筑摩書房
2002（平成14）年8月20日初版第1刷
Typed in by 宮元淳一. Proofread by 門田裕志.
Yomimaru changed the spelling to modern kana and modern kanji, and replaced classical grammar and some archaic words with modern ones.
The furigana are Yomimaru's.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnA schoolboy named Shin'ichi uses elaborate rationalizations involving filial piety, philosophy, and religion to stay in bed when his mother tries to wake him, but finally gets up when his father is called.
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 亀の子 (かめのこ) | curled up like a turtle |
|---|---|
| 修身 (しゅうしん) | moral education (school subject) |
| 孝行 (こうこう) | filial piety |
| 重盛 (しげもり) | Taira no Shigemori (historical figure) |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～てしまう N4Indicates completion or regret. Here used to show the boy's thoughts about his efforts being wasted.今こゝで起きてしまつては、凡てが水泡に帰してしまふのだ。
- ～なければならない N4Must do something. The boy recalls that he must take care of his body.吾々は身体を大切にしなければならない。
- ～といふ (という) N4Quotation or definition. Here used to mark the moral lesson.「この身体は両親からさづかつたものだ、吾々は身体を大切にしなければならない、それが先づ第一の孝行である。」と。
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Filial Piety (孝行)A Confucian virtue emphasizing respect and obedience to parents. The boy in the story twists this virtue to justify staying in bed.
- Taira no Shigemori (平重盛)A historical figure from the Heian period known for his dilemma between filial piety and loyalty to the emperor. The boy references him to justify his own stubbornness.
- Heaven and Earth, Only I Am the Venerable One (天上天下唯我独尊)A famous saying attributed to the Buddha at his birth, meaning 'In heaven and on earth, I alone am the honored one.' The boy uses it to argue for his independence.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhy does Shin'ichi finally get out of bed?
- His mother convinces him with logic.
- His father calls and he fears his father.
- He decides it is time to be filial.
- O-Matsu's pleading moves him.
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipThis text uses historical kana usage (e.g., ゐる, をか) and classical literary style. Focus on context and common modern counterparts to understand unfamiliar words.
Topics & grammar
Topics & grammar
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