古事記から生まれたストーリー

第9話「悲しき勇者・ヤマトタケルノミコト」

『古事記』中つ巻「景行天皇」より

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倭建命(やまとたけるのみこと)の物語は、『古事記』の中でも、最もよく知られたもののひとつではないでしょうか。

景行天皇の息子・小碓命(おうすのみこと)は、とても気性が荒い少年でした。それを恐れた天皇は彼を遠ざけようと、西国に行って熊曾建(くまそたける)兄弟を討つよう命じます。まだ幼い小碓命は、わずかの兵をつれて西へと旅立ちます。

熊曾建兄弟の館は、多くの兵士によってかたく守られていました。そこで小碓命は、たばねていた長い髪をたらし、叔母からもらった衣装を身にまとって少女になりすますと、宴の時を見はからって館へ。美しい少女の姿にすっかり浮かれた兄弟のすきをついて、小碓命は一気に兄を刺し殺し、続いて逃げる弟を追い詰めます。弟は「西方に敵なしのわれら兄弟をしのぐ強者が、大倭(おおやまと)の国にはいたようだ」と武勇をたたえ、「倭建命」の名をさずけました。

みごと西方征伐を果たした倭建命でしたが、天皇はその労をねぎらうことなく、さらに東方への遠征を命じます。「父は、わたしに『早く死ね』とお思いなのだろうか? 西方征伐より帰って間もない私に、今また、兵卒も与えられず東方へ行けとおっしゃる。父は、わたしの死を願っておられるのか…」倭建命は涙にくれ、叔母に打ち明けるのです。

東国遠征は、苦難の連続でした。相武国(さがむのくに=神奈川県)では、野原の中で国造(地方官)の火攻めにあいます。また、走水の海(浦賀水道)では、海峡の神が荒波を起こして行く手をはばみました。この時、后の弟橘比売命(おとたちばなひめのみこと)は「倭建命さま、どうか立派に役目を果たし、大倭の地にお帰りくださいませ」と言い残し、みずから海に入って荒波をしずめます。

その後、東国の勇敢な神や人々を下した倭建命ですが、都へ帰る途中、伊吹山の神を討ちに行き、逆に大氷雨を浴びせられます。倭建命は瀕死の体で都を目指しますが、ついに能煩野(のぼの=三重県)で力尽きました。

「倭は 国のまほろば たたなづく 青垣 山隠れる 倭しうるわし」
──倭は、国の中でもっともすばらしい場所だ。青々とした垣根のように重なりあった山々が取り囲む、うるわしき我がふるさとよ。

胸にあるのは、望郷の想いか、父への無念か。その最期に数首の歌をよみ終えた倭建命は、能煩野の地で短い命を終えました。哀しき勇者の魂は、大きな白い鳥となって空を駆け上がり、西方へ飛び立ったといいます。



英訳文を表示する(For English)

Episode 9:
Yamatotakeru no Mikoto, the Unfortunate Hero

From the Kojiki, Volume II
“Emperor Keiko”

The story of Yamatotakeru no Mikoto is one of the best-known stories from the Kojiki. Ousu no Mikoto, son of Emperor Keiko, was a very rough-natured boy. The emperor was afraid of his misbehavior and ordered him to conquer the Kumasotakeru brothers in the west. Young Ousu no Mikoto set out for the west accompanied by only a few soldiers.

The house of the brothers was heavily guarded, so he used his wits to gain access. He let his hair down and put on clothes he had received from his aunt. Disguising himself as a girl, he successfully slipped into the house. A feast was being held, during which the brothers were utterly enchanted by their beautiful visitor. Ousu no Mikoto immediately seized the chance to stab the older brother to death. On seeing this, the younger brother ran off, but was held at bay. He praised Ousu no Mikoto's bravery, and presented him with the name "Yamatotakeru".

Thus, Yamatotakeru no Mikoto achieved a brilliant success, but the Emperor didn’t appreciate his exploits, and again ordered him to go and subdue his enemies, this time in the east. Yamatotakeru no Mikoto complained to his aunt in tears: “Does my father seek my death? As soon as I returned from the west, he dispatched me to the east without soldiers. Maybe he doesn't want me to live much longer.”

His journey to conquer the east was a succession of hardships. In Sagamu-no-kuni (now Kanagawa Prefecture), a local governor attacked and entrapped him by setting fire to the plains he was on. At Hashirimizu-no-umi (known as the Uraga Strait today), the sea-deity blocked his way by raising rough waves. At that time, his wife, Ototachibanahime no Mikoto, threw herself into the sea for him in order to calm the waves for him, expressing her dying wish saying, “I hope that you successfully complete your duties and return home soon.”

Later, Yamatotakeru no Mikoto pacified warlike deities and people of the east. On his way back to the capital, he tried to defeat the deity of Mount Ibuki. However, he was caught in a heavy hailstorm and became ill. He kept on heading for the capital despite being on the verge of death, but finally collapsed and died at a young age in Nobono (now Mie Prefecture), leaving several poems.

My hometown, Yamato
Beautiful place
Surrounded by mountains upon mountains
Like a layer of green hedges
Oh, my sweet hometown

Who knows what lay deep inside his heart: nostalgia for his hometown or frustration at his father?
The soul of this unfortunate hero is said to have transformed into a big white bird, which soared up into the sky and flew off to the west.



Related tourism site:

Monument inscribed with his poem near Idera Pond at Hibara-jinja Shrine, Miwa, Sakurai City
Yamatotakeru no Mikoto’s last poem yearning for his hometown is inscribed on a stone monument. The characters were written by Yasunari Kawabata. From the bank, people can see exceptionally beautiful sunsets behind Mount Nijo.

ゆかりスポット

檜原神社前 井寺池 川端康成揮毫の歌碑 【桜井市三輪】

ヤマトタケルノミコト終焉の地で歌われた国思歌は、時を越え、命のふるさとの地で川端康成氏揮毫による歌碑に刻まれた。歌碑のある池提からの二上山へと沈む夕日の美しさは格別。


関連情報はこちらへ・・・

井寺池 川端康成揮毫の歌碑