The Literary Man of Imsil

[The calling of spirits is one of the powers supposed to be possessed by disciples of the Old Philosopher (Taoists), who reach a high state of spiritual attainment. While the natural desires remain they cloud and obstruct spiritual vision; once rid of them, even angels and immortal beings become unfolded to the sight. They say, "If once all the obstructions of the flesh are eliminated even God can be seen." They also say, "If I have no selfish desire, the night around me will shine with golden light; and if all injurious thoughts are truly put away, the wild deer of the mountain will come down and play beside me."

〔霊を呼ぶことは、老子の弟子たち(道士)のうち、霊的に高い境地に達した者が持つとされる力のひとつである。自然の欲が残っているあいだは、それが霊の目を曇らせさえぎる。いったんそれを取り除けば、天使や不死の者さえ目の前に姿を現す。道士たちは言う。「いったん肉のさまたげがすっかり取り除かれれば、神さえも見える。」また言う。「わたしに私欲がなければ、わたしのまわりの夜は金色の光で輝くだろう。人を害する思いをまことにすっかり捨て去れば、山の野鹿も下りてきてわたしのそばで遊ぶだろう。」

Ha Sa-gong, a Taoist of high attainment, as an old man used to go out fishing, when the pigeons would settle in flights upon his head and shoulders. On his return one day he told his wife that they were so many that they bothered him. "Why not catch one of them?" said his wife. "Catch one?" said he. "What would you do with it?" "Why, eat it, of course." So on the second day Ha went out with this intent in heart, but no birds came near or alighted on him. All kept a safe distance high up in mid-air, with doubt and suspicion evident in their flying.]

高い境地に達した道士ハ・サゴンは、年老いてから釣りに出かけるのが習いで、すると鳩の群れがその頭や肩に舞い降りた。ある日帰ってくると、ハは妻に、鳩があまりに多くて煩わしいと話した。「一羽つかまえたらどうです」と妻は言った。「つかまえるだと」とハは言った。「それをどうするのだ。」「どうするって、もちろん食べるのですよ。」そこで二日目、ハはそのつもりで出かけたが、鳥は一羽も近づいてこず、ハにとまりもしなかった。みな疑いと警戒をはっきり見せて飛びながら、はるか宙の安全な距離を保っていたのである。〕

The Story

話

In the year 1654 there was a man of letters living in Imsil who claimed that he could control spirits, and that two demon guards were constantly at his bidding. One day he was sitting with a friend playing chess, when they agreed that the loser in each case was to pay a fine in drink. The friend lost and yet refused to pay his wager, so that the master said, "If you do not pay up I'll make it hot for you." The man, however, refused, till at last the master, exasperated, turned his back upon him and called out suddenly into the upper air some formula or other, as if he were giving a command. The man dashed off through the courtyard to make his escape, but an unseen hand bared his body, and administered to him such a set of sounding blows that they left blue, seamy marks. Unable to bear the pain of it longer, he yielded, and then the master laughed and let him go.

一六五四年、任実(イムシル)に一人の文人が住んでいて、自分は霊を操ることができ、二人の鬼の護衛がいつも自分の言いつけに従っていると言っていた。ある日、この文人が友と座って将棋を指していると、二人は負けたほうがそのたびに罰として酒をおごろうと取り決めた。友が負けたのに賭けを払おうとしないので、主は言った。「払わないなら、痛い目にあわせるぞ。」けれども男は拒み続けたので、とうとう主は腹を立てて男に背を向け、命令を下すかのように、何かの呪文を突然空に向かって叫んだ。男は逃げようと中庭を駆け抜けたが、見えない手が男の体をむき出しにして、青くみみず腫れの残るほどの音高い打擲を加えた。男は痛みにそれ以上耐えられなくなって降参し、すると主は笑って男を放してやった。

At another time he was seated with a friend, while in the adjoining village a witch koot (exorcising ceremony) was in progress, with drums and gongs banging furiously. The master suddenly rushed out to the bamboo grove that stood behind the official yamen, and, looking very angry and with glaring eyes, he shouted, and made bare his arm as if to drive off the furies. After a time he ceased. The friend, thinking this a peculiar performance, asked what it meant. His reply was, "A crowd of devils have come from the koot, and are congregating in the grove of bamboos; if I do not drive them off trouble will follow in the town, and for that cause I shouted."

またあるとき、文人が友と座っていると、隣の村でクッ(祓いの儀式)が行われていて、太鼓や銅鑼が激しく打ち鳴らされていた。主は突然、役所の裏にある竹林へ飛び出していき、たいそう怒った顔で目をむいて叫び、復讐の女神たちを追い払うかのように腕をむき出しにした。しばらくして主はそれをやめた。友はこれを妙なふるまいだと思って、どういうことかと尋ねた。主は答えた。「クッから鬼の群れがやって来て、竹林に集まっているのだ。追い払わなければ町に災いが起こる。それで叫んだのだ。」

Again he was making a journey with a certain friend, when suddenly, on the way, he called out to the mid-air, saying, "Let her go, let her go, I say, or I'll have you punished severely."

またあるとき、文人がある友と旅をしていると、途中で突然空に向かって叫んだ。「その娘を放せ、放せと言っているのだ。さもないと厳しく罰させるぞ。」

His appearance was so peculiar and threatening that the friend asked the cause. For the time being he gave no answer, and they simply went on their way.

そのようすがあまりに奇妙で恐ろしげだったので、友はわけを尋ねた。そのときは文人は何も答えず、二人はただ道を続けた。

That night they entered a village where they wished to sleep, but the owner of the house where they applied said that they had sickness, and asked them to go. They insisted, however, till he at last sent a servant to drive them off. Meanwhile the womenfolk watched the affair through the chinks of the window, and they talked in startled whispers, so that the scholar overheard them.

その夜、二人は泊まろうと思った村に入ったが、頼んだ家の主人は、家に病人がいるから行ってくれと言った。けれども二人が言い張ったので、とうとう主人は召し使いをやって二人を追い払わせた。そのあいだ、女たちは窓のすきまからこのようすを眺めていて、驚いたささやき声で話したので、学者にはそれが聞こえた。

A few minutes later the man of the house followed in the most humble and abject manner, asking them to return and accept entertainment and lodging at his house. Said he, "I have a daughter, sir, and she fell ill this very day and died, and after some time came to life again. Said she, 'A devil caught me and carried my soul off down the main roadway, where we met a man, who stopped us, and in fierce tones drove off the spirit, who let me go, and so I returned to life.' She looked out on your Excellency through the chink of the window, and, behold, you are the man. I am at my wits' end to know what to say to you. Are you a genii or are you a Buddhist, so marvellously to bring back the dead to life? I offer this small refreshment; please accept."

数分後、家の主人がこの上なくへりくだった卑屈なようすであとを追ってきて、戻って自分の家でもてなしと宿を受けてくれと頼んだ。主人は言った。「わたくしには娘がおりまして、ちょうど今日病にかかって死に、しばらくしてまた生き返ったのです。娘が言うには、『鬼がわたしをつかまえて、魂を大通りへ連れていったの。そこで一人の男の人に会って、その人が鬼を止めて、恐ろしい声で追い払ってくれたので、鬼はわたしを放して、それでわたしは生き返ったの』と。娘は窓のすきまから閣下を見て、なんと、あなたさまがその方だったのです。何と申し上げればよいのか途方に暮れております。あなたさまは仙人でいらっしゃるのか、それとも仏僧でいらっしゃるのか、これほど不思議に死者を生き返らせるとは。ささやかなおもてなしを差し上げますので、どうかお受けください。」

The scholar laughed, and said, "Nonsense! Just a woman's haverings. How could I do such things?" He lived for seven or eight years more, and died.

学者は笑って言った。「馬鹿な! 女のたわごとにすぎぬ。わたしにどうしてそんなことができよう。」学者はそれから七、八年生きて、死んだ。

Im Bang.

任埅(イム・バン)