The 'old Buddha

Prime Minister Choi Yun-tok was in mourning once for his mother. With a single horse and one servant he made a journey to the south where the road led through the county of Kai-ryong. At that very time two or three of the district magistrates had pitched a tent on the bank of the river and were having refreshments. They said to one another, "Who is that mourner that goes riding by without dismounting? It must be some country farmer who has never learned proper manners. We shall certainly have to teach him a lesson."

領議政の崔潤徳(チェ・ユンドク)は、あるとき母の喪に服していた。馬一頭と従者一人だけを連れて南へ旅をしたが、その道は開寧(ケリョン)の郡を通っていた。ちょうどそのとき、郡守が二、三人、川岸に天幕を張って酒肴を楽しんでいた。郡守たちは互いに言い合った。「馬から降りずに通り過ぎるあの喪服の男は誰だ。礼儀を学んだこともない田舎の百姓にちがいない。ひとつ思い知らせてやらねばなるまい。」

They sent an attendant to arrest and bring his servant, whom they asked, "Who is your master?"

郡守たちは下役をやって従者を捕らえて連れてこさせ、尋ねた。「お前の主人は誰だ。」

He replied, "Choi, the Old Buddha."

従者は答えた。「崔の老仏(ノブル)さまです。」

"But what's his real name?" they demanded.

「だがほんとうの名は何というのだ」と郡守たちは問いただした。

"The old Buddha," was the reply.

「老仏さまです」と答えが返ってきた。

Then they grew very angry at this, and said, "Your master has offended in not dismounting, and you offend in concealing his name. Both slave and master are equally ill-mannered." And so they beat him over the head.

これに郡守たちはひどく怒って言った。「お前の主人は馬から降りなかった罪を犯し、お前は名を隠す罪を犯している。奴も主人も同じくらい無礼だ。」そして従者の頭を打った。

Then the servant said slowly, "He is called Choi the Buddha, but his real name is Yun-tok, and he is now on his way to his country home in Chang-won." At once they recognized that it was no other than the Prime Minister, and great fear overcame them. They struck their tent, cleared away the eatables, and ran to make their deepest salaam and to ask pardon for their sin.

すると従者はゆっくりと言った。「崔の仏さまと呼ばれていますが、ほんとうの名は潤徳で、今、昌原(チャンウォン)の田舎の家へ向かっておられるところです。」たちまち郡守たちは、それがほかならぬ領議政だと気づき、ひどく恐れた。郡守たちは天幕をたたみ、酒肴を片づけ、駆けていってこの上なく深くお辞儀をして罪の許しを乞うた。

The old Buddha was a special name by which this famous minister was known.

老仏というのは、この名高い宰相が知られていた特別な呼び名だった。

Yi Ryuk.

李陸(イ・リュク)