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What is form that is emptiness。 What is emptiness that is form。。。
Perception； name； concept； and knowledge； are also emptiness。。。 There is no
eye； ear； nose； tongue； body； and mind。。。 But when theenvelopment of
consciousness has been annihilated； then he ＇the seeker＇ becomes free from
all fear； and beyond the reach of change； enjoying final Nirvana。〃
OSHIDORI
＇1＇ From ancient time； in the Far East； these birds have been regarded as
emblems of conjugal affection。
＇2＇ There is a pathetic double meaning in the third verse； for the
syllables composing the proper name Akanuma （〃Red Marsh〃） may also be read
as akanu…ma； signifying 〃the time of our inseparable （or delightful）
relation。〃 So the poem can also be thus rendered： 〃When the day began to
fail； I had invited him to accompany me。。。！ Now； after the time of that
happy relation； what misery for the one who must slumber alone in the
shadow of the rushes！〃 The makomo is a short of large rush； used for
making baskets。
THE STORY OF O…TEI
（1） 〃…sama〃 is a polite suffix attached to personal names。
（2） A Buddhist term commonly used to signify a kind of heaven。
＇1＇ The Buddhist term zokumyo （〃profane name〃） signifies the personal
name； borne during life； in contradistinction to the kaimyo （〃sila…name〃）
or homyo （〃Law…name〃） given after death； religious posthumous
appellations inscribed upon the tomb； and upon the mortuary tablet in the
parish…temple。 For some account of these； see my paper entitled； 〃The
Literature of the Dead；〃 in Exotics and Retrospectives。
＇2＇ Buddhist household shrine。
（3） Direct translation of a Japanese form of address used toward young；
unmarried women。
DIPLOMACY
（1） The spacious house and grounds of a wealthy person is thus called。
（2） A Buddhist service for the dead。
OF A MIRROR AND A BELL
（1） Part of present…day Shizuoka Prefecture。
（2） The two…hour period between 1 AM and 3 AM。
（3） A monetary unit。
JIKININKI
（1） The southern part of present…day Gifu Prefecture。
＇1＇ Literally； a man…eating goblin。 The Japanese narrator gives also the
Sanscrit term； 〃Rakshasa；〃 but this word is quite as vague as jikininki；
since there are many kinds of Rakshasas。 Apparently the word jikininki
signifies here one of the Baramon…Rasetsu…Gaki； forming the twenty…sixth
class of pretas enumerated in the old Buddhist books。
＇2＇ A Segaki…service is a special Buddhist service performed on behalf of
beings supposed to have entered into the condition of gaki （pretas）； or
hungry spirits。 For a brief account of such a service； see my Japanese
Miscellany。
＇3＇ Literally； 〃five…circle ＇or five…zone＇ stone。〃 A funeral monument
consisting of five parts superimposed； each of a different form；
symbolizing the five mystic elements： Ether； Air； Fire； Water； Earth。
MUJINA
（1） A kind of badger。 Certain animals were thought to be able to transform
themselves and cause mischief for humans。
＇1＇ O…jochu （〃honorable damsel〃）； a polite form of address used in
speaking to a young lady whom one does not know。
（2） An apparition with a smooth； totally featureless face； called a
〃nopperabo；〃 is a stock part of the Japanese pantheon of ghosts and demons。
＇2＇ Soba is a preparation of buckwheat； somewhat resembling vermicelli。
（3） An exclamation of annoyed alarm。
（4） Well！
ROKURO…KUBI
＇1＇ The period of Eikyo lasted from 1429 to 1441。
＇2＇ The upper robe of a Buddhist priest is thus called。
（1） Present…day Yamanashi Prefecture。
（2） A term for itinerant priests。
＇3＇ A sort of little fireplace； contrived in the floor of a room； is thus
described。 The ro is usually a square shallow cavity； lined with metal and
half…filled with ashes； in which charcoal is lighted。
（3） Direct translation of 〃suzumushi；〃 a kind of cricket with a
distinctive chirp like a tiny bell； whence the name。
（4） Now a rokuro…kubi is ordinarily conceived as a goblin whose neck
stretches out to great lengths； but which nevertheless always remains
attached to its body。
（5） A Chinese collection of stories on the supernatural。
＇4＇ A present made to friends or to the household on returning from a
journey is thus called。 Ordinarily； of course； the miyage consists of
something produced in the locality to which the journey has been made： this
is the point of Kwairyo's jest。
（6） Present…day Nagano Prefecture。
A DEAD SECRET
（1） On the present…day map； Tamba corresponds roughly to the central area
of Kyoto Prefecture and part of Hyogo Prefecture。
＇1＇ The Hour of the Rat （Ne…no…Koku）； according to the old Japanese method
of reckoning time； was the first hour。 It corresponded to the time between
our midnight and two o'clock in the morning； for the ancient Japanese hours
were each equal to two modern hours。
＇2＇ Kaimyo； the posthumous Buddhist name； or religious name； given to the
dead。 Strictly speaking； the meaning of the work is sila…name。 （See my
paper entitled； 〃The Literature of the Dead〃 in Exotics and
Retrospectives。）
YUKI…ONNA
（1） An ancient province whose boundaries took in most of present…day
Tokyo； and parts of Saitama and Kanagawa prefectures。
＇1＇ That is to say； with a floor…surface of about six feet square。
＇2＇ This name； signifying 〃Snow；〃 is not uncommon。 On the subject of
Japanese female names； see my paper in the volume entitled Shadowings。
（2） Also spelled Edo； the former name of Tokyo。
THE STORY OF AOYAGI
（1） An ancient province corresponding to the northern part of present…day
Ishikawa Prefecture。
（2） An ancient province corresponding to the eastern part of present…day
Fukui Prefecture。
＇1＇ The name signifies 〃Green Willow；〃 though rarely met with； it is
still in use。
＇2＇ The poem may be read in two ways； several of the phrases having a
double meaning。 But the art of its construction would need considerable
space to explain； and could scarcely interest the Western reader。 The
meaning which Tomotada desired to convey might be thus expressed： 〃While
journeying to visit my mother； I met with a being lovely as a flower； and
for the sake of that lovely person； I am passing the day here。。。 Fair one；
wherefore that dawn…like blush before the hour of dawn？ can it mean that
you love me？〃
＇3＇ Another reading is possible； but this one gives the signification of
the answer intended。
＇4＇ So the Japanese story…teller would have us believe； although the
verses seem commonplace in translation。 I have tried to give only their
general meaning： an effective literal translation would require some
scholarship。
JIU…ROKU…ZAKURA
（1） Present…day Ehime Prefecture。
THE DREAM OF AKINOSUKE
（1） Present…day Nara Prefecture。
＇1＇ This name 〃Tokoyo〃 is indefinite。 According to circumstances it may
signify any unknown country； or that undiscovered country from whose
bourn no traveler returns； or that Fairyland of far…eastern fable； the
Realm of Horai。 The term 〃Kokuo〃 means the ruler of a country； therefore
a king。 The original phrase； Tokoyo no Kokuo； might be rendered here as
〃the Ruler of Horai；〃 or 〃the King of Fairyland。〃
＇2＇ The last phrase； according to old custom； had to be uttered by both
attendants at the same time。 All these ceremonial observances can still be
studied on the Japanese stage。
＇3＇ This was the name given to the estrade； or dais； upon which a feudal
prince or ruler sat in state。 The term literally signifies 〃great seat。〃
RIKI…BAKA
（1） Kana： the Japanese phonetic alphabet。
（2） 〃So…and…so〃： appellation used by Hearn in place of the real name。
（3） A section of Tokyo。
＇1＇ A square piece of cotton…goods； or other woven material； used as a
wrapper in which to carry small packages。
（4） Ten yen is nothing now； but was a formidable sum then。
INSECT STUDIES
BUTTERFLIES
（1） Haiku。
＇1＇ 〃The modest nymph beheld her God； and blushed。〃 （Or； in a more
familiar rendering： 〃The modest water saw its God； and blushed。〃） In this
line the double value of the word nympha used by classical poets both in
the meaning of fountain and in that of the divinity of a fountain； or
spring reminds one of that graceful playing with words which Japanese
poets practice。
＇2＇ More usually written nugi…kakeru； which means either 〃to take off and
hang up；〃 or 〃to begin to take off；〃 as in the above poem。 More loosely；
but more effectively； the verses might thus be rendered： 〃Like a woman
slipping off her haori that is the appearance of a butterfly。〃 One must
have seen the Japanese garment described； to appreciate the comparison。 The
haori is a silk upper…dress； a kind of sleeved cloak； worn by both
sexes； but the poem suggests a woman's haori； which is usually of richer
color or material。 The sleeves are wide； and the lining is usually of
brightly…colored silk； often beautifully variegated。 In taking off the
haori； the brilliant lining is displayed； and at such an instant the
fluttering splendor might well be lik