作品Free Graded Reading
死霊The Dead Spirit
Shiryō
by 小泉 八雲 · Koizumi Yakumo
JLPT N1Short StoryClassical / archaicQuiz ready
A dead official speaks through a servant to expose betrayal—then vanishes.
What you'll learn
What you'll learnAfter the death of Deputy Nomoto, his subordinates conspire to defraud his widow. A servant becomes possessed by Nomoto's spirit, reveals the fraud through accounting, and justice is restored.
Language difficultyExpert · 85/100
Key vocabulary
Key vocabulary| 代官 (だいかん) | deputy official (in feudal Japan) |
|---|---|
| 取りつかれる (とりつかれる) | to be possessed (by a spirit) |
| 下役 (したやく) | subordinate official |
| 未亡人 (みぼうじん) | widow |
| 宰相 (さいしょう) | prime minister (historical) |
Grammar points you'll meet
Grammar points you'll meet- ～の下に N2Under the pretext of; under the guise of債務の幾分を償却すると云う口実の下に
- ～ように見える N4Seems like; appears as if無法にも自分の資産の価値以上の債務を契約したように見える偽りの報告書
- ～たものであった N3Used to be (indicating a past custom or state)多少責任を負わされたものであった。
- ～と見られる N2It is considered that; it appears that彼女の書体は正しく野本彌治衞門の書体であると見られた。
Cultural notes
Cultural notes- Spirit Possession in Japanese FolkloreIn traditional Japanese belief, spirits (reikon) of the deceased can possess living individuals, often to convey messages or seek justice. This phenomenon is known as 'hyōi' (憑依) and appears in many folktales and literary works.
- Feudal Social Hierarchy and ResponsibilityIn the Edo period, the family of a deceased official could be held responsible for his actions. This reflects the strict hierarchical system where honor and shame extended to relatives.
Try a comprehension question
Try a comprehension questionWhy did the subordinates create a false report?
- To secure a loan from the prime minister
- To make it appear Nomoto owed more than he did and seize his property
- To clear Nomoto's name
- To file a tax return
Sensei's reading tip
Sensei's reading tipPay attention to classical verb endings like ～ける, ～し, and ～づけ which are common in literary texts.
Read a sample in Japanese
Read a sample in Japanese越前の国の代官、野本弥治衛門の没した時、その下役の者共相謀って、その故主人の遺族をだまそうとした、代官の負債の幾分を償却すると云う口実の下に、その家の財宝家具全部を押さえた。その上、故主人が無法にも自分の資産の価値以上の債務を契約したように見える偽りの報告書を整えた。この偽りの報告を彼等は宰相に送った、そこで宰相は越前の国から野本の妻子の追放命令を出した。その頃、代官の家族は、たとえ当主の死後でも、何かその人に非行があったときまれば、幾分責任を負わされたものであった。しかし、その追放命令が野本の未亡人に正式に交付された時、その家の女中に不思議な事が起った。何かものに取りつかれたようにひきつけて、身ぶるいをしだした、ひきつけが終った時、すっくと立ち上がって宰相の役人達と故主人の下役とに叫び出した。『さあ、おれの云う事をよく承れ。
Read the full text with furigana + instant lookups in Yomimaru →
Topics
More N1 reads
