What JLPT level is 殺生石?

殺生石 is suitable for JLPT N2 level readers (estimated JLPT N2).

How long does 殺生石 take to read?

殺生石 takes about 26 minutes (around 1846 words) to read at a learner's pace.

作品さくひんFree Graded Reading

殺生石The Killing Stone

Sesshōseki

by 楠山正雄 · Kusuyama Masao

JLPT N2Short StoryClassical / archaicQuiz ready

A cursed stone in a desolate plain reveals a vengeful spirit.

About this story

A monk's journey across a desolate plain leads to an encounter with a cursed stone.

Read a sample in Japanese

一むかし後深草天皇の御代に、玄翁和尚という徳の高い坊さんがありました。日本の国中方々めぐり歩いて、ある時奥州から都へ帰ろうとする途中、白河の関を越えて、下野の那須野の原にかかりました。那須野の原というのは十里四方もある広い広い原で、むかしはその間に一軒の家も無く、遠くの方に山がうっすら見えるばかりで、見渡す限り草がぼうぼうと生い茂って、きつねやしかがその中で寂しく鳴いているだけでした。玄翁はこの原を通りかかると、折ふし秋の末のことで、もう枯れかけたすすき尾花が白い綿をちらしたように一面にのびて、その間に咲き残った野菊やおみなえしが寂しそうにのぞいていました。玄翁和尚は一日野原を歩きどおしに歩いてまだ半分も行かないうちに、短い秋の日はもう暮れかけて、見る見るそこらが暗くなってきました。

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What you'll learn

The monk Gennō travels through Nasuno Plain and rests on a large stone. At night, the spirit of the stone appears and begins to tell her story.

The stone spirit, Tamamo-no-Mae, narrates her past as a nine-tailed fox who caused destruction in India, China, and Japan. Gennō vows to save her, breaks the stone with his staff, and the curse is lifted.

Language difficultyIntermediate · 55/100

Key vocabulary

玄翁和尚 (げんのうおしょう)	the monk Gennō
九尾のきつね (きゅうびのきつね)	nine-tailed fox
殺生石 (せっしょうせき)	killing stone; cursed stone
玉藻前 (たまものまえ)	Tamamo-no-Mae (name of the fox spirit)

Grammar points you'll meet

～てしまう N4Indicates completion or regret of an action.
わたしはとうとう泰成のために祈り伏せられて、正体を現してしまいました。
～ために N3Expresses purpose ('in order to') or cause ('because of').
日本の国をほろぼそうとしたわたしのたくらみは、だんだん成就しかけました。
～そうです (hearsay) N4Indicates hearsay or rumor ('I hear that...').
その後旅の人が殺生石のそばを通っても、もう災いはおこらなかったそうです。

Cultural notes

Sesshō-seki (Killing Stone)A famous cursed stone in Japanese folklore located in the Nasu highlands. It is said to have killed any living creature that touched it. The legend is associated with the nine-tailed fox Tamamo-no-Mae.
Tamamo-no-MaeA legendary nine-tailed fox spirit in Japanese mythology. She appears as a beautiful woman and causes the downfall of rulers. She is often conflated with Daji from Chinese mythology.
Genkō (Kamakura period monks)The monk Gennō is based on a historical figure, a Buddhist monk of the Kamakura period known for his virtue and exorcism abilities.