[17] 八岐の大蛇（下） YAMATA NO OROCHI (2)

南山中学校　3年　日英バイリンガル通信　NO. 17　March 6, 1990

八岐の大蛇(やまたのおろち)（下）

　諸君は「八岐大蛇」の話の由来を知っているかな。いろんな説があるが、以下はそのひとつ。
　毎年、台風が出雲にやって来ると、斐伊川が荒れ狂い、上流で取れる砂鉄のために真っ赤に染まり、堤防が決壊し、木は根こそぎになって流れ、稲田（いなだ）という稲田は洪水で水浸しになった。　
　台風の季節になると、村人は悲しみに沈んだ。それと言うのも、川の怒りを鎮めるため、娘を生（いけ）にえにしなければならなかったからだ。すでに7人もの娘が犠牲になっていたが、その年も、また娘がひとり人柱になるところであった。
　素戔嗚尊（すさのおのみこと）は出雲に来てこの話を聞き、いたく感じ入り、村人に堤防をもっと強固に、もっと高くするように命じた。村人は汗水流して働き、やっと堤防が完成した。その年、また台風が来たが、堤防はびくともしなかった。村人は飲めや歌えやで喜んだ。お礼に上流の砂鉄でできた美しい剣を素戔嗚尊に贈った。また、例の娘は素戔嗚尊の嫁となった。

YAMATANO OROCHI (2)

　　Do you know the origin of the story of “Yamatano Orochi”? 　There are several opinions about it. This is one of them.
　　Every year, when typhoons came to Izumo, the Hii River became wild. It also became red because of the iron sand produced in the upper river. The banks were broken down. Trees were uprooted and washed away. The rice fields were flooded.
　　Every typhoon season, the villagers were sad, because they had to sacrifice a young girl to quiet the anger of the river. Seven girls were already sacrificed. That year again, another girl was going to be the sacrifice.
　　When Susanoo came to Izumo and heard about the story, he felt sorry for the girl. He ordered the villagers to make the banks stronger and higher. They worked hard, and at last they built strong banks. That year typhoons came, but the banks were quite all right. The villagers were happy. They drank, sang, and danced. They presented him a beautiful sword made from the iron sand in order to show their thanks to him. By the way, Susanoo married the girl.