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Dash101
Fukusho
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Sonnooh Yeah!
Joined: 03 Dec 2007
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Location: Setagaya, Tokyo
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 Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 3:36 pm Post subject: Letters of Sakamoto Ryoma |
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With all the talk and attention these days on Sakamoto Ryoma, it's important to realize that Ryoma was a man, and not a demi-god. For those of you who have seen the opening of the new Taiga-Drama, you'll understand what I mean.
No where else do we get a better understanding of who Sakamoto Ryoma was, then in the words he wrote to his friends and particularly to his sister. These words are so full of life and determination. Odd tales and interesting choice of words. It's him, its who he was.
I want to also point out that Tominaga Shintaro, my partner, was the lead in this effort because a lot of the content was really beyond me. I do a draft, and he edits and corrects me.
The most difficult part of this I think is that it's not just word translation, its translating the emotion, the meaning and the thoughts he is trying to get out. The context.
Heron, in a previous thread, came up with this great idea. So I'm happy to share a few translations of Sakamoto Ryoma's letters here. One thing I will note is that often, Ryoma wrote only the first character of his name 龍 which means 'Dragon'. We chose, instead of writing it Ryu, as is Japanese for dragon, to write it as Ryo.
This first letter was actually written by his father. But it's a letter that Ryoma kept and had great meaning to him. This letter has been translated several times but all the same, here's my version.
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修行中心得大意
一、片時も不忘忠孝、修行第一之事
一、諸道具に心移り、銀銭不費事
一、色情にうつり、国家之大事をわすれ、心得違有間じき事
右三ヶ条胸中ニ染め修行をつみ、目出度帰国専一に候
以上
丑ノ三月吉日 老父
龍馬殿
Kaei 6 (Lucky Day, March 1853)
To Ryōma from your father
“Code of Conduct during Training”
1.Never forget fidelity and respect for the lord and elderly, and concentrate on training
2.Do not be obsessed with material objects, on which do not squander money.
3.Do not be engrossed in sexual desire, forgetting the important matters in society. Do not stray from this.
Remember the above three credos always, and step up efforts in training. Afterwards, come back home safely.
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一筆啓上仕り候。
秋気次第に相増し候処、愈々御機嫌能御座成らせらる可く、目出度千万存じ奉り候。次に私儀無異に相暮申し候。御休心成下らる可く候。兄御許にアメリカ沙汰申し上げ候に付、御覧成らせらる可く候。先ずは急用御座候に付、早書乱書御推覧成らせらる可く候。異国船御手宛の儀は先ず免ぜられ候が、来春は又人数に加わり申す可く在じ奉り候。
恐惶謹言
龍
九月廿三日
尊父様御貴下
御状下せられ、有難き次第に在じ奉り候。金子御送り仰せ付けられ、何よりの品に御座候。
異国船処々に来り候へば、軍も近き内と在じ奉り候。其節は異国の首を打取り、帰国仕る可く候。かしく。
Kaei 6 (September 23, 1853)
Letter to Sakamoto Hachihei
To my esteemed father. Autumn has come and the weather is getting chilly. I am happy to hear you’ve been in good health. Talking about myself, I am spending life without any trouble. So I hope that you don’t worry about me much. You’ve probably already heard from elder brother of the incident by the American people. Since this is a very urgent matter, please forgive me for my fast and poor writing. I was relieved of my duties in participating in taking care of the arrival of the foreign ships, but next Spring I may be able to again take part in the protection force.
I am honored to receive a letter from you. I am very grateful for the money that you kindly sent to me. This certainly helps me a lot. Since the arrival of the foreign ships, it’s possible that war may break out with them in the near future. If it does happen, I will cut off foreign heads before returning home.
Humbly yours, Ryo |
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坂本乙女宛 文久三年三月二十日
扠も扠も人間の一世はがてんの行ぬは元よりの事、うんのわるいものはふろよりいでんとして、きんたまをつめわりて死ぬるものもあり。夫とくらべては私などは、うんがつよくなにほど死ぬるばへでゝもしなれず、じぶんでしのふと思ふても又いきねばならん事になり、今にては日本第一の人物勝憐太郎殿という人にでしになり、日々兼而思付所をせいといたしおり申候。其故に私年四十歳になるころまでは、うちにはかへらんよふにいたし申つもりにて、あにさんにもそふだんいたし候所、このごろはおゝきに御きげんよろしくなり、そのおゆるしがいで申候。国のため天下のためちからおつくしおり申候。どふぞおんよろこびねがいあげ、かしこ。
三月廿日
乙様
御つきあいの人にも、極御心安き人には内掌御見せ、かしこ。
Bunkyu 3 (March 20, 1863)
Letter to Sakamoto Otome
Well, the life of a human being is certainly full of unfathomable circumstances. Some unlucky guy may hurt his balls getting out of the bathtub and die. Compared with that, I have had good luck surviving when I thought I was about to die. Several times I really thought I was going to throw my life away, and instead I’ve been saved because I had a reason to live. Now I am a protégé of Katsu Rintaro the greatest man in Japan, and every day I can spend on matters I’ve dreamed about. This is the reason why if I live to be forty, I wouldn’t think of leaving to return home. When I consulted my elder brother about this, he gave his approval so I guess he’s in a good mood these days. I have been devoting myself to the glory of my country and society. I hope that you are pleased with my activities.
Sincerely, Ryo
PS: Otome, you can show this letter confidentially to your friends whom you really trust.
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この文は極大事の事ばかりにて、
けしてべちやべちやシヤベクリには、
ホヽヲホヽヲいややの、
けして見せられるぞえ。
六月廿日あまりいくかゝきょうのひは忘れたり。
一筆さしあげ申候。
先日杉の方より御書拝見仕候。ありがたし。
私事も、此せつはよほどめをいだし、一大藩によくよく心中を見込てたのみにせられ、今何事かでき候得ば、二三百人ばかりは私し預候得ば人数きまゝにつかい申侯よう相成、金子などは少し入ようなれば、十、廿両の事は誠に心やすくでき申候。
然に誠になげくべきことはながとの国に軍初り、後月より六度の戦に日本甚『利すくなく、あきれはてたる事は、其長州でたゝかいたる船を江戸でしふくいたし又長州でたゝかい申候。
是皆姦吏の夷人と内通いたし侯ものにて候。
右の姦吏などはよほど勢もこれあり、大勢にて侯へども、龍馬二三家の大名とやくそくをかたくし、同志をつのり、朝廷より先づ神州をたもつの大本をたて、それより江戸の同志、はたもと大名其余段々と心を合せ、右申所の姦吏を一事に軍いたし打殺、日本を今一度せんたくいたし申候事にいたすべくとの神願にて候。』
此思付を大藩にもすこむる同意して、使者を内々下さる事両度。
然に龍馬すこしもつかえをもとめず。
実に天下に人ぶつのなき事これを以てしるべく、なげくべし。
○先日下され候御文の内にぼうずになり、山のおくへでもはいりたしとの事聞へ、ハイハイエヘンおもしろき事兼て思い付おり申候。
今時は四方そうぞしく候得ども、其ぼうずになり大極のくされくされたるけさごろもをかたにかけ、諸国あんぎゃにでかけ候得ば、西はながさきより東はまつまえよリエゾまでもなんでもなく、道中銀は一文も用意におよばず。
それをやろうと思えば先つねのシンゴンしゅうのよむかんおんきょう、イッコウしゅうのよむあみだきょう、これはちとふしがありてむかしけれど、どこの国ももんとがはやり申候あいだ、ぜひよまねばいかんぞよ。
おもしろやおもしろや、おかしやおかしや。
それよりつねにあまのよむきょう一部、それでしんごんの所へいけばＬんごんのきょう、いっこうしゅうへいけばいっこうしゅうのきょうをよみ これはとまるやどの事にて候。ほうだんのような事もしんらんしょうにんのありがたきおはなしなどする也 いたし、まちを。ひる。おうらい。すればきょうよみよみゆけば、ぜには十分とれるなり。
これをぜひやれば。しっかり。おもしろかろうと思い申候。
なんのうきよは三文五厘よ。
ぶんと。へのなる。ほど。やって見よ。
死だら野べのこつは白石 チヽリヤ チリチリ
此事は必必一人りでおもい立事のけして相ならず候。
一人りでいたりやこそ 龍ははやしぬるやらしれんきにすぐにとりつく。
それはそれはおそーしいめを見るぞよ。
これをやろうと思えばよく人の心を見さだめなくてはいかん。
おまえもまだわかすぎるかと思うよ。
又けしてきりょうのよき人をつれになりたりいたしたればならぬ事なり。
ごつごついたしたるごうじょうばんばのつよばんばでなければいかん。
たんほう。おば。さんえぶくろの。内にいれ、二人か三人かででかけ万々一の時は、グワンとやいてとうぞくの金玉までひきたくり申候。
○私しをけしてながくあるものとおぼしめしはやたいにて候 然に人並のように中々めったに死なうぞ死なうぞ。
私が死日は天下大変にて生ておりてもやくにたゝず、おろんともたゝぬようにならねば、中々こすいいやなやつで死はせぬ。
然に土佐のいもほりともなんともいわれぬ、いそうろうに生て一人の力で天下うごかすべきは、是又天よりする事なり。
こう申てもけしてけしてつけあがりはせず、ますますすみこうて、どろの中のすゞめがいのように、常につちをはなのさきへつけ、すなをあたまへかぶりおり申候。御安心なされかし。
穴かしこや。
弟 直陰
大姉 足下
今日は後でうけたまわれば六月廿九日のよし、天下第一おおあらくれ先生を初めたてまつり、きくめ石の御君にもよろしく、むばにもすこしきくめいしの下女 とくますやへいておりたにしざいごのこんやのむすめ にもよろしく、そして平井の収次郎は誠に じゅうもんじ力 むごいむごい。
いもうとおかおがなげきいかばかりか、ひとふで私のようすなど咄してきかしたい。まだに少しはきづかいもする。
かしこ。
しもまちのまめぞうも、もうこわれはせんかえ
けんごなりや、なおおかしい。
Bunkyu 3 (June 29, 1863) *(Estimated)
Letter to Sakamoto Otome
I am writing about very important matters in this letter, so please don’t talk about it or show it to anyone while giggling and laughing. I have forgotten what day of the month today is, but I’ll just write this anyways.
Today I received a letter from Sugi-san, and indeed I am grateful for it. I have become an important man these days. The lord [Matsudaira Shungaku] understands my abilities quite well, and he trusts me too. At times, for an important project, he assigns me a few hundred people, leaving the details to my discretion. When I need some money, he allocates a budget of 10 Ryo or 20 Ryo for me, relieving me from worries.
By the way, war has broken out in Choshu unfortunately, but Japan has no hope of winning this battle. To my big surprise, foreign vessels used in the war against our people are even being repaired in Edo, and yet they return to fight against Choshu. This is occurring because bad people in the Edo Bakufu are slaves to the foreigners. There are many such corrupt government officials maintaining power now.
You know, I truly want to wash Japan thoroughly by forging agreements with a couple of Daimyo thereby recruiting comrades and allying with Hatamoto and other leaders based on the strategy of protecting the divine country of Japan by putting forth by the Imperial Court. [Matsudaira] firmly agrees to my idea, and has secretly sent his emissary to me twice already. I turned down his proposal to work for him directly though. It seems like there are not many capable people left in Japan now. It is sad in fact.
Ryo
You wrote the other time that you would like to be a monk and would get into the forest. Ah well, well, you really have interesting imaginations indeed. Recently everywhere in society has really been boisterous and unsettled. If you wore shabby monk clothes, traveling around Japan, you could. |
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『慶応元年九月九日 坂本乙女、おやべ宛』
［前略］
京のはなし然ニ内内ナリとし先年雷三木三郎、梅田源二郎、梁川星巖、春日などの、名のきこへし諸生太夫が朝廷の御為に世のなんおかふむりしものありけり。其頃其同志にてありし楢崎某と申医師、夫も近頃病死なりけるに、其妻とむすめ三人、男子二人、其男子太郎ハすこしさしきれなり。次郎ハ五歳、むすめ惣領ハ二十三、次ハ十六歳、次ハ十二なりしが、本十分大家にてくらし候ものゆへ、花いけ、香をきゝ、茶の湯おしなどハ致し候得ども、一向かしぎぼふこふする事ハできず、いつたい医者というものハ一代きりのものゆへ、おやがしんでハ、しんるいというものなし。たまたまあるハそのきよにじよふじて、家道具などめいめいぬすみてかへりたる位にて、そのとふじハ家やしきおはじめどふぐじぶんのきりものなどうりて、母やいもふとやしないありしよしなれども、ついにせんかたなく、めいめいとりかわり、ほふこふ致し候てありしに、十三歳の女ハ殊の外の美人なれバ、悪者これおすかし島原の里へまい子にうり、十六ニなる女ハだまして母にいゝふくめさせ、大坂に下し女郎ニうりしなり。五歳の男子ハ栗田口の寺へつかハせしなり。夫おあねさとりしより、自分のきりものをうり、其銭をもち大坂にくだり、其悪もの二人をあいてに死ぬるかくごにて、刄ものふところにしてけんくわ致し、とふとふあちのこちのといゝつのりけれバ、わるものうでにほりものしたるをだしかけ、ベラボヲ口にておどしかけしに、元より此方ハ死かくごなれバ、とびかゝりて其者むなぐらつかみ、かをしたかになぐりつけ、曰ク其方がだまし大坂につれ下り妹とをかへさずバ、これきりニであると申けれバ、わるもの曰ク、女のやつ殺すぞといゝけれバ「女曰ク、殺し殺サレニはるばる大坂にくだりてをる、夫ハおもしろい、殺セ殺セといゝけるニ、さすが殺すというわけニハまいらず、とふとふ其いもとおうけとり、京の方へつれかへりたり。めづらしき事なり。かの京の島原にやられし十三のいもふとハ、としもゆかねバさしつまりしきづかいなしとて、まづさしおきたり。
夫ハさておき、去年六月望月らが死し時、同志の者八人計も皆望月が如戦死したりし。そのまへ此者ら今の母むすめが大仏辺にやしないかくし、女二人してめしたきしてありしが、其さわぎの時、家の道具も皆とりでの人数が車につみとりかへりたれハハ、今ハたつきもなく、自分ハ母と知定院と言亡父が寺に行、やしなハれてありし。日日喰やくハずに、じつあわれなるくらしなり。
此あとハ又つぎニ申上る。
右女ハおもしろき女ニて月琴おひき申候。今ハさまでふじゆうもせずくらし候。此女私し故ありて十三のいもふと、五歳になる男子引きとりて人にあづけおきすくい候。又私のあよふき時よくすくい候事どもあり、万一命あれバどふかシテつかハし候と存候。此女乙大姉をして、しんのあねのよふニあいたがり候。乙大姉の名諸国ニあらハれおり候。龍馬よりつよいというひよふばんなり。
○なにとぞおびか、きものか、ひとつ此者ニ御つかハし被下度、此者内内ねがいいで候。此度の願候よふじハ、
乙さんニ頼候ほん
おやべニ頼みしほん
夫ニ乙さんのおびか、きものかひとすぢ是非御送り、今の女ニつかハし候。今のの名ハ龍と申、私しニにており候。早早たずねしニ、生レし時父がつれし名よし。
○そして早早忘れし事あり。あの私がをりし茶ざしきの西の通りがある、其上に竹が渡してゑやら字やらなにか、とふしニ記し候ものあり、其中、順蔵さんのかきしものあり。御送り、そして短尺箱に母上、父上の御哥、おばあさんの御哥、権兄さんのおうた、おまへさんの御うたこれありけり。なニとぞ父上母上おばあさんなど死うせたまいし時と日と、皆短尺のうらへおんしるしなされおんこし。この中ニ順蔵さんが私しニおくりし文がとふしニしるし、大てい半紙位のものあり、御こし。是ハ英太郎が父の者ほしがり候間、つかハし候。
夫ニ此度の御ねがいハ、それぞれおんききすてなく御こしねんじ、かしこ。
九月九日 龍
乙あねさん
おやべどん
御頼のものかずかず並ニおはなし長き御返じ被下度候。
Keio 1 (September 9, 1865)
Letter to Sakamoto Otome
<First Part snipped>
There are secret stories in Kyoto but in past years, Kai Mikisaburo, Umeda Genjiro, Yanagawa Seigan, Kasuga [Sen-an], all who were quite famous and great people fought for the Imperial Court and sacrificed themselves. During those days, one of the comrades there was Narasaki [Shosaku], a doctor of medicine who past away from disease leaving behind his wife, three daughters and two sons. One of the sons Taro is a bit retarded. Jiro is five years old, the first daughter is 23 years old, the second one is 16 years old, and the third is 12 years old. Formerly they were a wealthy family, learning the arts of flower arrangement, incense and tea and never had to cook for themselves at all.
After their parents died, they could not count on their relatives. While their family was in difficulty, some furniture was stolen. At the time, they sold the house, furniture, and Kimonos to survive, but at last each family member separated. A villain sold the 13 year-old girl to Shimabara [an entertainment district in Kyoto] as a dancer and cheated the 16 year-old to by sending her to Osaka as a whore. The five year old boy was sent to a temple in Awataguchi. When [Oryo] the elder sister found out about the situation, she sold all her spare cloths to raise money. She brought that money to Osaka with a knife in her clothes to fight the villains who sold her sister not minding the fact that she might die. She found and then quarreled and argued with them. They showed her their tattoos on their bodies to frighten her with cursing and barking. However, since she was prepared for death, she jumped on one of the villains, sizing him by the collar, and pummeled his face, saying “You’ve got to return my sister to me. Otherwise, you’ll be finished.” The villain said “It’s you who will be dead.” But she continued saying “I came all the way to Osaka to kill or to be killed. Oh it’s interesting. Why not kill me if you can huh?”
Then, they gave up on killing her, and she took her sister from them and returned to Kyoto together. This can seldom happen. The 13 year-old girl, who was sent to Shimabara in Kyoto was very young, and she would be treated well, so she didn’t worry about her right away. The woman in this letter is very intriguing, playing the moon guitar. Now she is carrying out her life without much trouble. I helped her with rescuing her 13 year-old sister and five year-old brother, of whom I asked someone else to take care of them. Actually, [Oryo] helped me when I was in a dangerous situation, and I really wish she be well taken care of as long as she is alive. This woman wants to meet you Otome, my respectful sister, because she regards you as if you where her sister. Your name is widely known in many places in Japan. Actually you have a reputation that you are much stronger than I am! I would be grateful if you could send me an obi or kimono for this woman, and please keep this matter confidential.
The purpose of this letter is as follows: I want you to send me a book (as I have written in the first part above) [NOTE: this part of the letter is missing]
I also want you to ask Oyabe-san to send the book to me (as I have written in the first part above) [NOTE: again, the book he is referencing is in the section of the letter that is missing]
By the way, this woman’s name is also Ryo, and she even looks like me. When I asked her about her name, she said that her father named her Ryo when she was born. <snip>
Ryoma
PS: I beg you that you will never ever tell anyone about what I asked you to do.
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This letter is the longest that we know of. I feel, reading this, that you can really feel the energy that Ryoma had as a person. Going on and on about things. Also the way he talks about Oryo, her past, I find it really beautiful! What is not indicated here are the illustrations that he did on his letter. Really incredible!!
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慶応二年十二月四日 坂本乙女宛』
おとめさんにさし上げる。
兼而申上妻龍女ハ、望月亀弥太が戦死の時のなんにもあい候もの、又御国より出候もの此家ニて大ニセ話ニなり候所、此家も国家をうれへ候より家をほろこし候也。
老母一人、龍女、いもと両人、男の子一人、かつへかつへニて、どふもきのどくニて、龍女と十二歳ニなる妹と九ツニなる男子をもらい候て、十二歳の妹名きみへ、男子太一郎ハ摂州神戸海軍所の勝安房ニ頼ミたり。
龍女事ハ伏見寺田や家内おとせニ頼ミ候。是ハ学文ある女尤人物也。今年正月廿三日夜のなんにあいし時も、此龍女がおれバこそ、龍馬の命ハたすかりたり。
京のやしきニ引取て後ハ小松、西郷などにも申、私妻と為知候。此よし兄上ニも御申可被遣候。御申上なれバ、
京師柳馬場三条下ル所、
楢崎将作 死後五年トナル。 此所にすミしが、国家のなんとともニ家ハほろびあとな くなりしなり。
右妻存命
私妻ハ則、将作女也。
今年廿六歳、父母の付
たる名龍、私が鞆トあらたむ。
正月廿三日ののちナリ。
京の屋敷ニおる内、二月末ニもなれバ嵐山にあそぶ人人、なぐさみにとて桜の花もて来り候。
中ニも中路某の老母神道学者奇人也ハ実おもしろき人也。和歌などよくで来候。此人共私しの咄しおもしろがり、妻をあいして度々遣をおこす。此人ハ曽て中川宮の姦謀を怒り、これおさし殺さんとはかりし人也。本禁中ニ奉行しておれバ、右よふの事ニハ、尤遣所おおき人ナリ。公卿方など不知者なし。
是より三日大坂ニ下り、四日に蒸気船ニ両人共ニのり込ミ、長崎ニ九日ニ来り十日ニ鹿児島ニ至り、此時京留居吉井幸助もどふどふニて、船中ものがたりもありしより、又温泉ニともにあそバんとて、吉井がさそいにて又両りづれにて霧島山の方へ行道にて日当山の温泉ニ止マリ、又しおひたしと云温泉に行。
此所ハお大隅の国ニて和気清麻呂がいおりおむすびし所、陰見の滝其滝の布ハ五十間も落て、中程にハ少しもさわりなし。実此世の外かとおもわれ候ほどのめづらしき所ナリ。此所に十日計も止りあそび、谷川の流にてうおおつり、短筒ピストヲルをもちて鳥をうちなど、まことにおもしろかし。
是より又山深く入りてきりしまの温泉に行、此所より又山上ニのぼり、あまのさかほこを見んとて、妻と両人づれニてはるばるのぼりしニ、立花氏の西遊記ほどニハなけれども、どふも道ひどく、女の足ニハむつかしかりけれども、とふとふ馬のせこへまでよぢのぼり、此所にひとやすみして、又はるばるとのぼり、ついにいただきにのぼり、かの天のさかほこを見たり。其形ハ
是ハたしかに天狗の面ナリ。両方共ニ
其顔が
つくり付てある
からかね也。
やれやれとこしおたたいて、はるバるのぼりしニ、かよふなるおもいもよらぬ天狗の面、げにおかしきかおつきにて、があり、大ニ二人りが笑たり。
此床所に来れバ実ニ高山なれバ目のとどくだけハ見へ渡り、おもしろかりけども何分四月でハまださむく、風ハ吹ものから、そろそろとくだりしなり。なる程きり島つつじが一面にはへて実つくり立し如くきれいなり。其山の大形ハ、
（裏表紙参照）
霧島より下り、きり島の社にまいりしが是は実大きなる杉の木があり、宮もものふり極とふとかりし。其所ニて一宿、夫より霧島の温泉の所ニ至ルニ、吉井幸助もまちており、ともどもにかへり、四月十二日ニ鹿児島ニかへりたり。
夫より六月四日より桜島と言、蒸気船ニて長州へ使を頼まれ、出船ス。此時妻ハ長崎へ月琴の稽古ニ行たいとて同船したり。夫より長崎のしるべの所に頼ミて、私ハ長州ニ行けバはからず別紙の通り軍をたのまれ、一戦争するに、うんよく打勝、身もつつがなかりし。其時ハ長州侯ニもお目ニかかり色色御咄しあり、らしやの西洋衣の地など送られ、夫より国ニかへり、其よしを申上て二度長崎へ出たりし時ハ、八月十五日ナリ。
世の中の事ハ月と雲、実ニどフなるものやらしらず、おかしきものなり。うちにおりてみそよたきぎよ、年のくれハ米うけとりよなどよりハ、天下のセ話ハ実ニおふざツパいなるものニて、命さへすてれバおもしろき事なり。
是から又春になれバ妻ハ鹿児島につれかへりて、又京師の戦はじまらんと思へバ、あの方へも事ニより出かけて見よふかとも思ひよります。私し其内ニも安心なる事ハ、西郷吉之助の家内も吉之助も、大ニ心のよい人なれバ此方へ妻などハ頼めバ、何もきづかいなし。
此西郷と云人ハ七年の間、島ながしニあふた人にて候。夫と言も病のよふニ京の事がきになり、先年初て「アメリカ」ヘルリ」が江戸ニ来りし頃ハ、薩州先ン侯の内命ニて水戸に行、藤田虎之助の方ニおり、其後又其殿様が死なれてより、朝廷おうれい候ものハ殺され、島ながしニあふ所に、其西郷ハ島流の上ニ其地ニてろふニ入てありしよし、近頃鹿児島にイギリスが来て戦がありてより国中一同、彼、西郷吉之助を恋しがり候て、とふとふ引出し今ハ政をあづかり、国の進退此人にあらざれバ一日もならぬよふなりたり。
人と言ものハ短気してめつたニ死ぬものでなし。又人おころすものでなしと、人人申あへり。まだ色色申上度事計なれども、いくらかいてもとてもつき不申、まあ鳥渡した事さへ、此よふ長くなりますわ。かしこかしこ。
極月四日夜認
乙様 龍馬
Keio 2 (December 4, 1866)
Letter to Sakamoto Otome
To my sister Otome.
O-Ryo, whom I already told you about, has been having a hard time since her friend Motizuki Kamayata was killed in a fight recently. Since I left home, I have been well taken care of by this inn where I’m staying now. The owner is actually highly concerned about our country as I am, so the inn has kindly provided us with a place where we can work.
Oryo, the old mother, her two sisters and the one boy were nearly starving and I really sympathized with them, so I asked the proprietress to look after Oryo, the 12 year-old girl and the 9 year-old boy here at her place. The 16 year-old girl called Kimie and the boy Taichiro are taken care by [Katsu Kaishu] in the Kobe Naval station in Sesshu. Oryo is now taken care of by Otose, the owner of this in, called the Teradaya. Otose is very intelligent by the way.
When I was in deadly trouble the night of January 3rd this year, thanks to this girl Oryo, my life was saved. After we were treated at the Satsuma Residence in Kyoto, I told Komatsu [Tatewaki] and Saigo [Takamori] to consider her to be my wife. Please convey this matter to my elder brother accordingly. [Oryo] lived at Sanjo-kudaru, Yanagibaba, in Kyoto where her father Narasaki Shosaku died, and his family fell apart because of the turmoil of society in Japan. It has already been five years since her father past away. She is 26 years old now, and her name is Ryo. I have changed her name to Tomo [to avoid confusion between our two names].
After January 23;
While I stayed at the Satsuma Residence in Kyoto, around the end of February people who went to Mt. Arashiyama to enjoy watching cherry trees visited me with some cherry flowers. One of them is an old lady called a Nakaji, who is a bit geeky with regards to her knowledge about Shintoism, but she really is an interesting person. She makes and reads Waka [Poems] very well.
On March 3, Oryo and I went to Osaka, where we got onboard a steamship on the 4th arriving at Nagasaki on the 9th, and reaching Kagoshima on the 10th. On this trip Yoshii Kosuke, a Satsuma-han samurai followed us as a bodyguard, and we enjoyed conversing with each other. He suggested to us that we take a trip to the hot springs. Oryo and I went to the Hinatayama Hot Spring inn on the way to Mt. Kirishima.
We also went to the Shio-hitashi Hot Spring inn. This place is called Oosumi where Wake-no Kiyomaro used to live. There is the Inken-no Taki waterfall and the water runs, from top to bottom, a distance of about 50 Ken [1ken equals approximately 182cm] and there is nothing which can disturb the water flowing down the fall. I have never seen a place like this, it is very magnificent indeed.
We stayed here for about 10 days, very much enjoying the fishing at the valley river and hunting birds with a pistol. From this place, we further went deep inside the woods to Kirishima hot springs, from where we climbed the mountain in order to see Amano Sakahoko [a spear monument said to be divine]. The road was not as bad as was explained in the book Saiyuuki written by Tatibana Nankei, but all the roads which we walked were actually very rough, and it was very difficult for a woman to walk as well, so we climbed all the way up the hill on the back of a horse. We took a rest, and we again climbed to the peak of the mountain where we finally saw the spear monument.
See the drawings about its shape. This is certainly the face of a Tengu [an imaginary Goblin]. On the both sides the same faces are made. It’s made of bronze.
Front view; We climbed painfully to this place, hitting our backs with our fists gently, as I mentioned saw the very interesting Tengu’s face, at which the grownups like us laughed a lot. The peak is so high that we saw a breathtaking panoramic view all around the mountain. It was so fun to see the scenery but we were still in the month of April, so it was cold with all the wind blowing. We decided to go back down the road. On the way back, we saw Kirishima azaleas flowers growing all over the place, which were so beautiful as if they were artificially made. The mountain’s figure is as follows:
----------------------
From Mt. Kirishima we went down to Kirishima Shrine where there was a large cedar tree which showed the shrine’s long history in an overwhelming solemn atmosphere. We stayed there over night. Then, we went to the Kirishima hot springs where our bodyguard Yoshii Kosuke was waiting for us, and all of us went back to Kagoshima together on April 12.
From June 4, we got onboard a steamship called “Sakurajima” for Choshu where I was asked to go on a mission. My wife also got onboard the ship because she wanted to go to Nagasaki to learn the moon guitar. Afterwards, I went to Choshu where I was asked to join a battle and luckily we won it, and I wasn’t injured at all. I met the lord of Choshu-han and he talked about many things with me, and he even gave me a woven wool cloth. I left for Kagoshima, explained what happened in Choshu, and then again went to Nagasaki on August 15th. Many things are changing in our society just like the moon and the clouds, which we can’t deal with appropriately because of our current infrastructure. That’s why all this is so interesting.
At home, people care about inconsequential matters such as buying miso, collecting firewood and are so busy receiving their rice handouts for years end. Compared with such matters, national political affairs are uncomplicated. It is fun because I am prepared for die if I have to.
In the coming Spring, I will take my wife to Kagoshima. Perhaps a battle in Kyoto may occur, and so I am that’s why I’m thinking of going there but it depends on the situation. What makes me feel safe is that I can count on Saigo [Takamori]’s wife and Yoshinosuke who have good personalities, to look after my wife without any worry. You know, Saigo was actually sent to a remote island for seven years? He was worried so much about national affairs while he was there he said. That started when [Commodore] Perry from America came to Edo for the first time a few years ago, under a secret order by the former lord of Satsuma, [Saigo] was sent to Mito where he stayed at the house of Fujita Toranosuke. Then, the former lord past away. Those who were proponents of the Imperial Court were killed or sent to remote islands and Saigo was also put in prison on that island.
Recently ships from Great Britain came to Kagoshima where battles broke out. So many people in Kagoshima wanted Saigo to come back home, and finally he was officially pardoned. Now he is in charge of important political affairs. The destiny of Satsuma is in the hands of this person.
There are too many things to write. Writing only trifle matters can be lengthy.
Sincerely Ryo |
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Familyguy1
Peasant
Member for 3 years
Joined: 27 Dec 2009
Posts: 13
Location: TN, United States
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| Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 7:00 pm Post subject: |
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Great..Great work Dash.
Very interesting to actually read letters that feel like they are written in the modern day and convey a sense of alarm to ones society. A truly interesting man Ryoma was. |
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heron
萩守
Veteran Member
2009 Benefactor
Joined: 27 Jan 2007
Posts: 1079
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2010 7:11 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for putting them up, Dash - fascinating content and they certainly reveal Ryoma's character.
I hope you get your website up soon - should be very interesting. |
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Obenjo Kusanosuke
Suo no Kami
Forum Kanrei
2009 Benefactor
Joined: 16 Dec 2006
Posts: 4503
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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Tatsunoshi
Miko no Kami
Forum Kanrei
Multi-Year Benefactor
Joined: 07 May 2006
Posts: 4611
Location: 京都日本 Cincinnati, OH
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| Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2010 12:30 am Post subject: |
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Very nice, Dash-thanks for posting these.
| Ryoma's Dad wrote: |
“Code of Conduct during Training”
1.Never forget fidelity and respect for the lord and elderly, and concentrate on training
2.Do not be obsessed with material objects, on which do not squander money.
3.Do not be engrossed in sexual desire, forgetting the important matters in society. Do not stray from this.
Remember the above three credos always, and step up efforts in training. Afterwards, come back home safely. |
Well, I think it's safe to say that Ryoma struck out on all three...  |
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Dash101
Fukusho
Veteran Member
2009 Benefactor
Sonnooh Yeah!
Joined: 03 Dec 2007
Posts: 776
Location: Setagaya, Tokyo
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| Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2010 3:42 am Post subject: |
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edit: so much for translating ability!  ha ha !
I do want to point out that I am aware of many grammatical short comings in the texts.
I've been meaning to farm that out at some point to have an editor look it over. I find that I've read this over so many times I can't tell anymore.
So yes, grammar is not perfect so please over-look this small detail for now.
I'll post more letters tonight when I get back from work.
Last edited by Dash101 on Sat Jan 09, 2010 12:17 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Wave Tossed
Tsushima no Kami
Veteran Member
Joined: 05 May 2006
Posts: 1698
Location: Columbia, Maryland U.S.A.
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| Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2010 10:41 am Post subject: |
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Thanks so much for your work and for posting the letters. They do give me some insight into Ryoma but also about his wife and his sister. I don't get the idea that either of them were long-suffering samurai wives at all. 
_________________
"Walk the thousand mile road, step by step" -- Miyamoto Musashi |
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Dash101
Fukusho
Veteran Member
2009 Benefactor
Sonnooh Yeah!
Joined: 03 Dec 2007
Posts: 776
Location: Setagaya, Tokyo
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| Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 9:24 am Post subject: |
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A couple more for anyone interested:
| Quote: |
元治元年(1864) 6月28日
坂本乙女あて
かの小野小町が名、哥よみても、よくひでりの順のよき時ハうけあい、雨がふり不申。あれハ北の山がくもりてきた所を、内々よくしりてよみたりし也。
につただヽ、つねの太刀おさめてしほの引しも、しほ時をしりての事なり。
天下に事をなすものハ、ねぶともよくよくはれずてハ、はりヘハうみをつけもふさず候。
おやべどのハ早、子ができたなど、申人あり、いかゞ私しがいゝよるというておやり、かしこ
六月廿八日 龍馬
おとめさまへ
此手がみ人にハけしてけして見せられんぞよ
かしこ
Ganji 1 (June 28, 1864)
To Sakamoto Otome
The legendary Ono-no Komachi made and read poems, which might have been able to forecast no rain when weather was dry. She read it knowing secretly that clouds are approaching the northern mountain Nitta Yoshisada threw a sword in the sea causing the sea water to subside, because he knew its right timing. If one wants to take action to contribute to the benefits of Japan, he wants to prick a blotch with a needle when it swells up enough.
I hear someone says that Oyabe-dono delivered a baby. Please convey my congratulations to her.
Never ever show this letter to anyone, please.
Sincerely,
Ryoma
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| Quote: |
『慶応三年六月二十四日 坂本乙女、おやべ宛』
［前略］ ○先頃より段段の御手がみ被下候。おおせこされ候文ニ、私を以て利をむさぼり、天下国家の事おわすれ候との御見付のよふ存ぜられ候。
○又、御国の姦物役人ニだまされ候よふ御申こし。右二ヶ条ハありがたき御心付ニ候得ども、およバずながら天下ニ心ざしおのべ候為とて、御国よりハ一銭一文のたすけおうけず、諸生の五十人もやしない候得バ、一人ニ付一年どふしても六十両位ハいり申候ものゆへ、利を求メ申候。
○又御国の為ニ力を尽すとおおせらるるが、是ハ土佐で生レ候人が、又外の国につかへ候てハ、天下の大義論をするに諸生ニまで二君ニつかへ候よふ申され、又女の二夫ニつかへ候よふ申て、自身の義論が貫らぬきかね候故ニ、浪人しつけるに、又ハ御国をたすけるに到さねバ、ゆかぬものニて候。夫で御国よりいで候人人ハ、皆私が元トにあつまりおり申候ゆへ、もふ土佐からハおかまいハなく、らくにけいこ致しおり候。
此頃私しも京へ出候て、日日国家天下の為、義論致しまじハり致候。御国の人人ハ後藤庄次郎、福岡藤次郎、佐々木三四郎、毛利荒次郎、石川清之助、これハずいぶんよきおとこナリ。中にも後藤ハ実ニ同志ニて人のたましいも志も、土佐国中で外ニハあるまいと存候。そのほかの人人は皆少少づづハ、人がらがくだり申候。
清二郎が出かけてきたニ付て、此人ニも早早に内達致し、兄さんの家にハきずハ付ハすまいかと、そふだん致し候所、夫レハ清次郎が天下の為に御国の事ニ付て、一家の事を忘れしとなれバ兄さんの家ニきずハ付まいと申事なり、安心仕候。
かれこれの所御かんがへ被成、姦物役人にだまされ候事と御笑被下まじく候。私一人ニて五百人や七百人の人のお引て、天下の御為するより廿四万石を引て、天下国家のの御為致すが甚よろしく、おそれながらこれらの所ニハ、乙様の御心ニハ少し心がおよぶまいかと存候。
［後略］
Keio 3 (June 24, 1867)
To Sakamoto Otome and Oyabe
<Snip>
I have received the letters you sent. I have the impression that you are saying that I may have been pursuing these goals for personal benefit at expense of the country. You also say that I have been deceived by a crooked person from Tosa. I appreciate these two opinions of yours based on the betterment of Japan. However, I have never received a single penny from Tosa. I have to look after 50 odd people who are from all over Japan. I need to secure at least 60 Ryo per person per year. That is the reason why I need to earn money.
You also tell me to contribute to my own province, to which I understand all right the reason. While I was born and raised in Tosa, I place importance on the prosperity of Japan as a whole. I will not confine myself only to a particular domain, or otherwise those who also left their respective domains would not trust me. A Samurai should be loyal to only one lord as a wife is so to only one husband. Under the circumstances, I would like to remain as a Ronin because I have devoted myself to the benefit of Japan without bothering to care about a particular domain while hoping that Tosa may be saved too. Those who leave Tosa are coming to me, and Tosa does not care about us, so we can focus on what we need to do now.
Recently, I’ve been going to Kyoto where I often join in discussions on what we should do about Japan. From Tosa there are men like Goto Shojiro, Fukuoka Tojiro, Sasaki Sanshiro, Mouri Arajiro, and Ishikawa Kiyonosuke. They are really good people. Among them, Goto is a true comrade having a very sound spirit and will, and I’ve never known anyone like him in Tosa. There are of course also some people who aren’t too bright here.
Seijiro came to me, and I informed my elder brother on this matter, asking if the Sakamoto family received any damage in reputation. My brother told me not to worry because Seijiro left the house worrying about society in Japan, and therefore his action does not damage the Sakamoto family.
You have given me many thoughts of yours, indicating that I have been deceived by a rogue Tosa official [Goto Shojiro]. I alone take care of 500 to 700 people for the entire society of Japan thereby leading Tosa that produces 240,000 goku rice, for the entire country of Japan. Perhaps you don’t understand the intricate circumstances, so please don’t worry about me on this matter so much.
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kitsuno
Forum Shogun
Joined: 04 May 2006
Posts: 8965
Location: Honolulu, HI
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| Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 10:51 am Post subject: |
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Shouldn't 元治 be "げんじ"?
Interesting stuff. If I ever get around to reading one of the Ryoma bios it will probably give me more context for these letters.
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Tatsunoshi
Miko no Kami
Forum Kanrei
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Joined: 07 May 2006
Posts: 4611
Location: 京都日本 Cincinnati, OH
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| Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 11:06 am Post subject: |
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| kitsuno wrote: |
| Shouldn't 元治 be "げんじ"? |
Yup. |
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Dash101
Fukusho
Veteran Member
2009 Benefactor
Sonnooh Yeah!
Joined: 03 Dec 2007
Posts: 776
Location: Setagaya, Tokyo
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| Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 12:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Shouldn't 元治 be "げんじ"? |
Kitsuno, you should start. Jansen's book is a must. |
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kitsuno
Forum Shogun
Joined: 04 May 2006
Posts: 8965
Location: Honolulu, HI
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Dash101
Fukusho
Veteran Member
2009 Benefactor
Sonnooh Yeah!
Joined: 03 Dec 2007
Posts: 776
Location: Setagaya, Tokyo
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| Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 12:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I'm guessing the letters make for great supplements to the Ryoma bios. I'm afraid of the kool-aid though.. |
haha... well... hmmm... 
While slightly off topic, it might be an idea to track down some translations of other letters from Ryoma's contemporaries like Saigo and Kido and Katsu.
It might be really interesting to compile a few of these from different available sources and post them. |
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