Lifetime candles- Comics: Japanese folk tales

2022年08月21日

ろうそくの長さが人間の寿命を示していて、ろうそくが消えるとき、その人の寿命も終わるという設定です。ここで紹介した広島県の話では、はしごを登って天空に行きます。天にろうそくが並んでいるのです。門番が鬼だというのが意外です。鬼が目覚めないか、子どもたちははらはらしながら聞きます。ろうそく＝寿命というモティーフは、グリム童話にあります。「死神の名づけ親」。こちらのろうそくは、洞窟の中に並んでいるそうです。ヨーロッパにはよくあるモティーフのようです。また、『死神』（しにがみ）は古典落語の演目の一つにもあります。幕末の初代三遊亭圓朝がグリム童話『死神の名付け親』を翻案したものです。(English) The length of the candle indicates a person's lifespan, and when the candle goes out, the person's lifespan also ends. In the Hiroshima prefecture story, he goes to heaven in the sky. by climbing a ladder. The candles are lined up in the sky. Surprisingly, the gatekeeper is an ogre. The children listen nervously to see if the ogre wakes up. The motif candle = life span is found in Grimm's Fairy Tales. "Der Gevatter Tod (Godfather of the Reaper)." These candles are said to be lined up in a cave. It seems to be a common motif in Europe. Also, "Shinigami" (The Grim Reaper) is also one of the performances in Japanese classical Rakugo. It is an adaptation of the Grimm's fairy tale by Sanyutei Encho at the end of the Edo period.

Lifetime candles - Comics: Japanese folk tales

A long time ago, in a village, there were twin brothers who were very close.

The best thing about them was that they were together in everything they did.

They were always together when working in the fields, eating, and sleeping.

They were born on the same day and month.

So the villagers joked that they might even die together.

They looked so much alike that the villagers could not tell them apart.

The elder brother called the younger brother 'Hey,' and the younger brother called the elder brother 'Yai.'

"Hey, little brother, I am hungry. Let's have some rice."

"Yes, Yai."

Although they were not given these names by their parents, as they called them 'Hey' and 'Yai,' they became like names.

"Hey, looks like it's going to be cold again this winter."

"Oh, yeah. Take care of yourself, Yai."

However, my older brother suddenly developed a fever.

They tried all doctors and medicines available, but his illness did not get better.

Not only did he not get better, but his life tomorrow was in danger.

"Yai, come on!"

"Hey, I might be dying. But, I hope you have a long life for me."

"Yai, what do you mean, if you die first, what will happen to me?"

"But, Hey, it's human life."

"That's not true. Please keep it going. Yai."

"Please, God, please. Yai and I have been together since birth.

If Yai dies first, I won't be able to live anymore.

Please save Yai's life. Please keep us."

The younger brother continued to pray desperately.

Then a white mist began to envelop the area around him.

10)

"Do you want to help your older brother so badly?"

"Oh, God!"

"If you ask so much, I can't leave you alone."

"Are you sure? Thank you."

11)

"But you must ascend to heaven in the sky.

You will also have to suffer terrible things.

Are you prepared for that?"

12)

"I will do whatever it takes to save my older brother's life. But, please, I beg you."

"Very well. Then go outside and strike your hand three times towards the sky."

13)

Then the area became dark, and they returned to their original room.

"My brother, did you hear that?

I don't know what it is, but God will give you a lifetime.

I will get it now, so hang on till then."

14)

"God!"

He went outside and clapped his hands three times to the sky.

'"Aah! The ladder!"

15)

A long, long ladder came down from the sky.

"You said I must ascend to heaven in the sky, but you mean to climb this?"

"It's for my older brother."

16)

He was climbing up a very long ladder to the top.

When he looked back, he saw that he had reached a very high place and was terrified.

He was terrified because he was so high up.

"I'm not afraid if it's to save my older brother's life."

17)

The end of the ladder led into the clouds.

He continued to climb up with his legs wobbling.

Eventually, he broke through the clouds and reached a large room in a blur.

18)

"This is a magnificent room. Now, what do I do?"

On closer inspection, there was a door that looked like an entrance.

But in front of it, a big red ogre was sleeping.

19)

He approached the door fearfully.

He thought he might as well run away.

But he was determined that behind this door, he would find a way to save his older brother.

Then, to the big red ogre's snoring, he gently opened the door.

Finally, he entered the next room.

20)

To his surprise, the blue ogre was there again.

And it was standing in front of the next door.

And the blue ogre stood there with its eyes open.

21)

"It's all over," he said.

And the man sat down.

He said,

"I am going to die anyway. Boil me, roast me, do with me what you will."

22)

However, the blue ogre did not appear to jump at him.

He also seemed to be snoring with his eyes wide open.

23)

He approached the blue ogre.

This blue ogre was only trying to scare him.

The big blue ogre was sleeping with its eyes open, standing still.

24)

He opened the next door.

"What is it? What is this room?"

This room was dark and endless, with countless red-burning candles.

"What is this?"

25)

On closer inspection, each candle had a person's name written.

Some of the candles were burning briskly, while others looked like they were about to go out.

"Maybe this is a lifetime candle!

When this candle goes out, that must be when a man dies!"

26)

"Then there must be my brother's candle in here, too."

We must do it quickly. Quickly!

He was horrified. Countless candles were flickering.

He looked around for the name of his brother.

27)

"Hurry, or my brother's candle will go out. Here it is!

No, no, no, this is another person's one.

Where is it? Where is the candle? Ah..."

28)

"Now, if you cry too loudly, the candle will be extinguished by your tears."

"God, where is my older brother's candle?"

29)

"Look, it's right in front of you."

"No, no..."

"Don't panic. It will go out if you rush to put it back up."

"Do you think you can put the candle back up with your hands shaking like that?"

"No, no, no. Calm down, calm down."

30)

"Calm down, calm down."

"Come on, come on. Quickly. Quickly, or the fire will go out."

31)

"Fire, don't go out. Don't go out. Don't go out."

"No. Burn it down."

"No."

"Don't die. Live. Live! Live!"

32)

" Yai! Stay with me!"

"Oh! Yai!Yai!Yai!Yai!Yai!Yai! Yai!"

33)

"Oh, I slept well."

"Yai, you okay?"

"Hey, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"

"Yai, are you feeling better?"

"Hey, I'm hungry. Let's eat."

"Yeah."

34)

The younger brother was back in the house before he knew it.

He cried and started to cook rice for his brother.

Lifetime candles- Comics: Japanese folk tales

Lifetime candles - Comics: Japanese folk tales

Lifetime candles - Comics: Japanese folk tales

Der Gevatter Tod - Godfather of the Reaper.

The Grim Reaper (Rakugo)

Rakugo: The God of Death, Kyotaro Yanagiya.

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