地域観光資源の 多言語解説文データベース

Ohara and Literature

During the Heian period, Ohara was a quiet mountain village tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Kyoto. In fact, its seclusion attracted more than one member of the court seeking refuge from political rivals.

According to one story, in the second half of the ninth century, a prince named Koretaka no Miko (844–897) arrived in Ohara. He was the first son of the emperor, but decided to become a priest when his political ambitions were thwarted. Ariwara no Narihira, one of the leading poets of the day, recited the following waka poem when he visited the prince to express his sorrow for the prince’s sad destiny:

When I forget our fate,

I wonder if it is not a dream,

for how could I have imagined

I would have to toil so far in snow

to see my beloved prince.

(Wasurete wa / yume ka to zo omou / omoikiya / yuki fumi wakete / kimi o min to wa)

From The Tales of Ise (Penguin Books, 2016) p.122.

Eventually, more people came to settle in Ohara. The area became known as a place where one could seek peace of mind through Buddhism. Many of these newcomers chose not to join a large temple, however, but to practice their spirituality in nature. Some developed prodigious talents in various forms of Japanese literature, such as waka poetry.

In the second half of the eleventh century, a priest named Ryozen wrote the following poem in the famous anthology One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each (Ogura Hyakunin Isshu):

With a lonely heart,

I step outside my hut

and look around.

Everywhere’s the same—

autumn at dusk.

(Sabishisa ni / yado o tachiidete / nagamureba / izuko mo onaji / aki no yuugure)

From One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each (Penguin Books, 2018), p. 84.

Some believed literature contradicted Buddhist teachings and undermined spiritual progress. The poets in Ohara had to reflect deeply on the balance of faith and literature. Perhaps for this reason, themes of loneliness, tranquility, and purity of heart became associated with the area.

大原與文學

平安時代（794-1185）的大原，是遠離城邑喧囂的寧靜山鄉。作為逃離政治爭鬥的最佳去處，連皇族也會在此隱居。

據傳9世紀後半葉，惟喬皇子（844-897）歷盡艱辛來到大原。他是天皇的長子，在政治爭鬥中落敗後決定出家為僧。一位日本文學界頗具代表性的詩人——在原業平到大原拜訪皇子，並作詩一首感歎他的悲慘命運。

「忘忽以為夢，未料踏雪來見君」

（忘記了現實，以為這隻是一場夢。 我完全沒有想過，有一天我要走過厚厚積雪的山路來見您。）

之後，大原以佛教教義使人心情平靜而廣為人知，故移居此地的人越來越多。新來者大多不再委身大寺院，而是選擇在自然中獨自修行，其中也不乏在和歌等文學領域才華出眾的人物。

11世紀後半葉，僧人良暹創作了這樣一首和歌，被收錄於著名詩文集《百人一首》（小倉百人一首）中。

「懷揣孤寂心，獨自出小屋，

環顧四周圍，皆為秋黃昏。」

（因為覺得寂寞，所以我走出家門。 環顧四周，到處都是相同的寂寥秋日黃昏景色。）

有人認為文學與佛教教義相悖，會阻礙精神的成長。所以當時的大原詩人們不得不深刻反思如何去平衡信仰和文學。也正因為如此，大原逐漸成為一片能接受孤獨、讓人安逸，同時又能淨化人們心靈的樂土。

大原与文学

平安时代（794-1185）的大原，是远离城邑喧嚣的宁静山乡。作为逃离政治争斗的最佳去处，连皇族也会在此隐栖。

据传，9世纪后半叶，惟乔皇子（844-897）历尽艰辛来到大原。他是天皇的长子，在政治争斗中落败后决定出家为僧。一位日本文学界颇具代表性的诗人在原业平到大原拜访皇子，并作诗一首，感叹他的悲惨命运。

“忘忽以为梦，未料踏雪来见君”

（忘记了现实，以为这只是一场梦。我完全没有想过，有一天我要走过厚厚积雪的山路来见您。）

之后，大原以佛教教义使人心情平静而广为人知，故移居此地的人越来越多。新来者大多不再委身大寺院，而是选择在自然中独自修行，其中也不乏在和歌等文学领域才华出众的人物。

11世纪后半叶，僧人良暹创作了这样一首和歌，被收录于著名诗文集《百人一首》（小仓百人一首）中。

“怀揣孤寂心，独自出小屋，

环顾四周围，皆为秋黄昏。”

（因为觉得寂寞，所以我走出家门。环顾四周，到处都是相同的寂寥秋日黄昏景色。）

有人认为文学与佛教教义相悖，会阻碍精神的成长。所以当时的大原诗人们不得不深刻反思如何去平衡信仰和文学。也正因为如此，大原逐渐成为一片能接受孤独、让人安逸，同时又能净化人们心灵的乐土。