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第百十九季 水無月の三

3rd of the Month of Water (June), Season 119

神社の裏の木に大量の藁人形

Large Number of Straw Effigies Found In Forest Behind Shrine

○月○日、神社の裏の木々に大量の藁で出来た人形が打ち付けられていたことが判明した。

On the Xth of the Xth month, a great number of human-shaped dolls made from straw were found attached to trees behind the shrine.

藁で人の形を作り、人に見つからない様に木に釘で打ち付けるという、古来より伝えられてきた儀式。

The act of affixing human-shaped dolls to trees in a hard-to-find place is an ancient ritual.

今なお行われているとは驚きである。

It was a surprise to see it being practiced in modern times.

また、藁で出来た人形も出来は丁寧で、まさに職人技術の結晶の様な物だった。

However, calling them mere dolls is not an accurate depiction of their craftsmanship - they were practically works of art.

今回はその伝統を今に伝える職人に密着取財したいと思う。

I wanted to learn more about the craftsman continuing this tradition into the present.

それにはまず職人を捜さないといけないので、神社の裏で張り込みを開始した。

Since it would be a shame not to seek out this fine soul, I kept a close watch over the area behind the shrine.

三日目にしてようやく姿を現したのは人形職人、アリス・マーガトロイドさん(魔法使い)だった。

After three days, I finally came across the doll maker, Alice Margatroid (magician).

突然の取財を快く引き受けて頂けた。

Ms. Margatroid was happy to give me a brief statement.

「藁人形だって人形の一つ。

"These straw effigies are a type of doll."

手を抜いて作るわけにはいかないわ。

"You can't cut any corners making them."

それに藁人形が一番輝くときって何だと思います?

"So, when do you think their finest moment is?"

それは言うまでもなく木に打ち付けられた時。

"It's when they're tied to a tree, of course."

だからこうやってこっそりと打ち付けにくるの」

"That's why I secretly come here to put them up."

今に生きる伝統と職人技術

The Present-Day Tradition and The Artisan

藁人形は木に打ち付けられて初めて藁人形という職人。

The artisan began affixing the figures to the trees using nails.

今度は、何故藁人形というマイナーな伝統工芸品を創ろうと考えたのかを聞いてみた。

This time I tried to ask why she decided to use such a relatively minor traditional work as straw figures.

「藁人形は、一定のルールの上で完成させれば呪術対象の魂に作用させることが出来るって言うじゃない。

"Obviously, because they say if you make one according to certain rules, sorcery will work on the subject's soul."

これって人形の原点だと思うのよ。

"I believe this is the origin of dolls."

人形が何故人の形をしているかって言うと、そこには呪術的な概念である類似が存在するからなの。

"People ask why dolls are in the form of humans; I believe it's because it allows for a mystical connection to a subject."

藁人形が釘で打たれれば、類似の元も痛みを感じる。

"If you pierce the figure with a nail, the subject will feel pain as well."

この事実をもっと良く調べれば、私の目標である自立して動く人形の作成に一歩近づけると思うの。

"If I can understand this dynamic better, I believe I can come a step closer to my aim of creating an independently moving doll."

だから、藁人形を作っている訳です。

"That's why I'm creating these straw figures."

あ、決して誰かに恨みがある訳じゃないのよ、いやほんと」

"Oh, it's not like I have a grudge on anyone, honestly."

そういうと職人は再び釘を打ち始めた。

And so the artist began spiking the dolls again.

研究のためとはいえ熱のこもった演技と鬼気迫る表情に、これ以上話しかけるのは止めてここで取財を終了した。

Though she said it was only for research, she returned to her performance with such vigour and such a terrifying expression that I decided not to bother her any further and ended my questioning.

この様な伝統技術は時代の流れと共にどんどんと失われていく。

Traditional crafts such as this are being lost with the succession of the ages.

それを保守できるのは、何を隠そう人間ではなく妖怪だけなのだ。

The only ones who can preserve them, to be frank with you, are not the humans, but youkai.

それはあっという間に代を変える人間より、一人で長く生き続ける妖怪が習得した方が昔をそのまま残しやすいからだ。

This is because it's easier for youkai, who often live alone for long periods of time, to leave remnants of the past as they were in olden days than it is for the humans, whose society can change in the blink of an eye.

今に生きる妖怪の皆さん、未来を見て歩き続けるだけではなく、たまに立ち止まって後ろを振り返ってみてはいかがだろうか。

To all youkai living today, perhaps it would be best not only to keep walking into the future, but to occasionally stop and turn to examine the past.

(射命丸 文)

(Aya Shameimaru)


Interview[]

Alice

あらやだ。見てたの?

Oh no, you saw me?

Aya

見てました、というか取材もしましたが

I did, and I even interviewed you.

Alice

本当は、藁人形を打ち付けている間、誰にも見られちゃいけないの。だからせっかく人気のない場所と時間を選んでやったのに

It really doesn't work if I've been seen putting out the dolls. And I went to all that work picking an isolated place and time.

Aya

三日間張り込みました

Well, I was hiding for three days.

Alice

だから効果がいまいちだったのね......

So that's why the effects were so weak ...

Aya

効果、ですか?

The ... effects?

Alice

あ、いや何でもない。それで今日は何の用事かしら?

Oh, nothing. So, what did you come for today?

Aya

先日取財で聞けなかった事も含めて、職人の仕事場拝見という記事を書こうと思いまして。もう少しつっこんだ取財も一緒にお願いできればありがたいのですが

There were some things I didn't understand when I saw you working, so I thought I'd come back and write an article. I'd really appreciate it if you could tell me more about your workshop.

Alice

仕事場? まぁ良いけどね。整理してるつもりだけど、物が多いから入る時は気をつけて

My workshop? Well, I suppose. I've been meaning to clean up around here, so please be careful on your way in.

Aya

......凄い人形の量ですね。全部自分で作ったんでしょうか?

... You certainly have a lot of dolls. Did you make them all yourself?

Alice

全部じゃ無いと思うけど、ほぼ全部は私の作品ね

Well, not all of them, I think, but most of them are my work.

Aya

先日の取財では類似の話をしていましたが、藁人形よりここに飾ってあるような人形のほうが対象に類似していると思うのですが?

I think I asked you something similar yesterday, but the dolls you have here look much more like your subjects than the straw ones, don't they?

Alice

類似ってのは見た目が近づければ良いって物じゃないの。例えば私が貴方の人形を作ってその人形を指さしても、それは人形を指さした事に過ぎないでしょう? でも、貴方の名前を書いた紙を指さして、この人って言った場合はどうかしら? これは間接的にではあるけれど貴方のことを指すことになるでしょう?

Well, it's not just about how close the likeness is to the original. For example, if I made a doll of you and did something to it, then I've just done something to a doll, right? But what if I went after a piece of paper with your name on it? It's indirect, but doesn't that, rather, signify you, instead?

Aya

なるほど、つまり藁人形の場合は藁人形本体に釘を打つのでは無く、藁人形が意味している人物に釘を打つ、って事になるのですね

I see, so in other words, when you use straw dolls, it's like you're not pounding nails into the dolls, but into the person the dolls represent.

Alice

ま、名前を書いた紙は髪の毛のような体の一部でも使えなくもないんだけど。それから、決して誰かに恨みがある訳じゃないのよ

Well, a piece of paper with somebody's name on it isn't as useful as if you've got a bit of their hair, or something. But you know, it's really not like I'm holding a grudge, or anything.

Aya

あの藁人形は誰を意味していたんですか?

Just who were those dolls of?

Alice

さ、次の質問に行きましょう

Well, let's go onto the next question.

Aya

判りました、判りましたからその釘とカナヅチをしまってください

Okay, okay, I understand, so please put down that hammer and those nails.

Alice

それで何処まで話したかしら?

So, where were we just now?

Aya

そ、そうですね。ではアリスさんの目標とおっしゃっていた自立して動く人形についてですが、それは一体どういう物ですか?

Y-yes. Well, can you please tell us about your stated goal - an independently moving doll?

Alice

昔、何度か見かけたことがあるんだけどねぇ。一人で物を考え一人で動く人形。いざ作ろうと思ってもどうしても上手いかないのよ。定期的に私が命令してあげればそれなりに動くんだけど、それ以上にはなかなか……まだまだ修行が足りないわ

I'm sure I've seen something like that, a long time ago. An independently moving and thinking doll. No matter how many times I've tried, I've never been able to make one successfully. I mean, it's easy enough to make a doll that will do something if I command it to, but beyond that... I just can't seem to get anything to function.

Aya

本当にそんな人形見たことがあるのですか? 一人でものを考え一人で動く人形だなんて

Have you really seen such a thing as a doll that thinks and moves on its own?

Alice

誰が作ったのか、どうやって作ったのか。確かに自分の意思で動いていた様だったわ。取りあえず今はそういった人形が出来るまで研究を繰り返しているのよ。道は遠そうだけど

Who made it, and how? It certainly appeared to be moving by its own devices. In any case, I'll have to continue my research until I succeed. It looks like it'll be a long road.

Aya

本日は取材にご協力ありがとうございました

Thank you for your time and cooperation.


アリス・マーガトロイド

Alice Margatroid

見た目は人間と変わらないが、魔法使いという種族であって人間ではない。

Though she doesn't look any different from a human, since she is a member of the race of magicians, she is not human.

魔理沙と同様に蒐集家で、家には大量の人形やマジックアイテムが置かれている。

As she is an avid collector like Marisa, a large number of dolls and other magic items are scattered throughout her house.

出演作:『東方妖々夢』、『東方萃夢想』、『東方永夜秒』

Appearances: Perfect Cherry Blossom, Immaterial and Missing Power, Imperishable Night

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