story about TENGU and HANAMATURI FESTIVAL dance

 story about TENGU and HANAMATURI FESTIVAL dance

1

In　old  time, 　people　 believed　that　TENGU　would  have  strange

power　and　would  be mysterious　 as 　it　 was　 hard to foresee when and where he  appeared.  Thus,  they  wished  him  to  stay  away  from  their  world.

In  Toei  Village  area, there  is  a  traditional  festival  called “HANAMATURI”,　and　people　believed　that　you should not dance nor play the  flute  at  the  festival  not  to  attract  him  and not to be taken away  by him.

 

 

In  the  Village,  there  lived  a man  called  KOUSAKU.  He took care of others well and was said to be very reliable. He was also very fond of attending 　HANAMATURI 　 and  dancing  there.

One day,  he  went  into a mountain near 　Mt.MYOJIN　 to pick up some tree branches  for  his  fireplace.  He  worked  hard, collected bunch of branches  full  of  his  whole  back  and  took  the  rest.

It  was  warm and  there  was  little  wind, so  he  began whistling and forgot  the  taboo.

Then  he  saw a trump of a tree and  began  hitting  it  with a　tree  branch　like　a  drum.  He got excited and began dancing.

While  dancing, he  felt  somebody  was  behind.  He turned back and observed a good  looking  person  with  a  feather  fan in  his hand,  sitting  on  a tree  branch  high  on a  tree.

To  his  surprise,  he  saw  a  big  and  long  nose  in the middle of his red  face.

(to be continued)

訳文　中村邦子、太田美代子