Tanaka Shozo after he read the New Testament
木下尚江
「神・人・自由」1934年 Kinoshita Naoe,
God,Man,Freedom
| 世間では、翁の鉱毒運動を佐倉宗吾と並べて語るものがあるが、宗吾の農民運動と並称すべき翁の行動は、既に二十歳の名主時代に一度やって居る。
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People compare the movement of Tanaka against the copper pollution to Sakura Sogo,who was said to have stand up against the oppressive ruler and been crucified in 1653.But this was not the first time for Tanaka.When he was 22 years old,he did a similar movement as village chief. |
| 六角越前守と云ふ幕府の高家が、野州の幾箇村を領して居て、翁もこの六角家領内の名主であった。 |
The village of which Tanaka was the chief was under the rule of Lord Rokkaku Echizen-nokami,one of the high-ranking 26 families of Tokugawa Shogunate who were granted exclusive authority to instruct other daimyō the ceremonial rules to be observed. |
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この六角家の弊政を改革して、農民の痛苦を救ふと云ふ相談が領内有志の間に盛になり、当時若年の翁はその総代となって奔走した。
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Some of the village chiefs under the rule of Lord Rokkaku met and agreed to cooperate to pay back the debt and solve the financial problems of Rokkaku family.Shozo was chosen their leader and worked hard. |
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この運動だけでも、実に無尽の興味ある物語になるのだが、一切略して、ここにはその最後の牢獄生活の一節を自叙伝中から抜いて君の一読を煩はす。
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His activities concerning Rokkaku family alone can make a most interesting story.For now,however,I will not go into it.Let me introduce here to you the final part of the story as narrated by himself in his autobiography: |
| 「予が封鎖されたる牢獄と云ふは、其広さ僅に三尺立方にして床に穴を掘って大小便を兼ねしめるが如き、其の窮屈さ能く言語の尽くし得る所にあらず。
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"The cell which I was thrown in was only 3 feet by 3 feet wide and 3 feet high.There was a hole dug in the ground which was used as latrine.It was beyond any description how I felt constrained to live in this condition." |
| 若し体の伸びを取らんとする時は、先づ両手を床に突き、臀を立てて、虎の怒るが如き状をなさざるべからず。また足の伸びを取らんとする時は、先づ仰向きに倒れ、足を天井に反らして、恰も獅子の狂ふが如き状をなさざるべからず。
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"When I wanted to stretch my body,I first put my hands on the ground and push my buttocks up just like an angry tiger.When I wanted to stretch my feet,I first lay on the back and push my feet up toward the ceiling like a mad lion." |
| 去りながら入牢中の困難は啻（ただ）に此に止まらず。予が如き入獄者の容易に毒殺せらるる例は、其当時珍しからぬ事
——予は実に大事を抱ける身なり、若し毒手にかかりて空しく斃るる事あらんには、予は死して瞑する能はざるなり。
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"The hardship of living in the cell was not limited to the cramped space.In those days prisoners like me were easily poisoned to death.I had an important mission entrusted by many villagers.I could not allow myself to die in vain by the hand of evil officials who had put me in prison." |
| 一念ここに至りて煩悶やる方なく、断じて獄食をなさじとの決心を起し、
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"I debated with myself for some time and finally made up mind not to touch the meals offered there.I had two bars of katsuobushi which Shozaemon,a friend of mine,had brought in." |
Katsuobushi is made from katsuo or skipjack tuna which is smoked,molded,fermented and sundried.Fine shavings are essential to make dashi soup stock.
| 生命を一縷の間に繋ぐこと三十日に及びぬ。」
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"I survived for as long as 30 days by nibbling these sticks." |
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「在獄すでに十個月と二十日。第四回の訟廷は開かれ、左の如き判決を受けぬ。
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"I had been incarcerated for ten months and 20 days when the fourth court was held.I was given the sentence as follows:" |
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即ち予は、『領分を騒がし、身分柄にも有るまじき容易ならざる企を起し僭越の建白をなせしは、不届の至なるに依り、厳重に仕置申し付くべきの処、格別の御慈悲を以て、一家残らず領分永の追放を申付くるもの也。』
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"You disturbed the peace of the territory.You disregarded your lowly position and made a proposal to reform the finance of the Lord.This is a serious felony.Here it was decided,however, with exceptional grace that you and all your family members should be expelled for ever from the village." |
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と申渡を受けーー此い於て一件全く落着を告げたるが、此事件の起りてより前後五年の久しきに亘り、村々名主等苟も此事件に関係あるもの、其間の運動費に巨額の金銭を投じたれば、落着後或は田畑を売り或は家屋敷を売り、妻子眷属また為に離散するの惨状を見るに至れり。
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"Thus this dispute came to an end.It took five years.Village chiefs and anyone who took part of the trial were forced to expend enormous amount of money to cover the various activities.Some of them sold their houses or rice paddies.Families of others were dissolved." |
明治2年 1869 27 years old
| 翁が六角の獄舎を出て見れば、世は既に明治二年と云ふ新時代になって居た。二十九歳。
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When he was released from prison,it was no longer the old Edo Era,but the 2nd year of the new age of Meiji,1869.He was 27 years old. |
| 領内追放の判決に従て、一細流を距てた隣村、井伊掃部頭の飛び領地堀米村の地蔵堂に閉居して、暫くは村の小児等に手習算術などを教へて居たが、勉学の雄志に駆られて東京へ出た。
| As dictated by the sentence,I moved to a neighboring village which was separated with a creek from my village.I lived in a one-room cabin built to house a Jizo where I taught school children writing and arithmetic for some time.Driven by my desire to study more,I went up to Tokyo. |
| それから妙な因縁で、翌三年に一小吏となって奥羽の山奥花輪と云ふ所へ赴任したが、ここで図らず同僚殺人の嫌疑を受けて、四か年に亘る惨酷な牢獄生活を嘗めた。
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By some strange twist of events he found himself to be appointed a local government clerk in the village of Hanawa of current Iwate-ken Prefecture,about 600 km north of Tokyo.There he was put into prison on suspicion of murder.He spent four years in prison under harsh conditions. |
| 君よ。たとひ明治時代とはいへ、法律は尚ほ拷問取調の時代であったことを念頭に置いて呉れ翁の自筆の文章から、当時拷問の実情を話して見たい。 |
I want to remind you that even after the Meiji Restoration in 1868,the code of criminal procedure interrogation with tortures was not prohibited.Let me tell from Tanaka's own words how tortures were used in those days: |
| 「・・・予は再び口を開き、弾正台は今尚隣県山形にあり。（当時弾正台と云ふ巡回裁判があったのだ）今一たび此の審問を受けたし、何卒片時も早く御取り計らひ下されたしと願ひたるに、聴訟吏は何思ひけん忽ち赫と怒り、せき込み、直に拷問に掛けたり。
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"...I opened my mouth again and said that the circuit court was in the neighboring prefecture of Yamagata and that I wanted to be heard once again at court." I pleaded that the necessary steps to be taken immediately.I didn't understand what the interrogator thought,but he got indignant, coughed and put me on a torture device at once." |
| 疑の点を糺すにはあらで、無法にも拷問の器械をば用ひたり。其は・・・云うて、木を以て製し、・・・たる上に、膝をまくりて座せしめ、膝の・・・、側より獄吏手を以て之を揺り動かす、・・・、
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"The official didn't ask me questions to clear any doubts he had.He in stead used the torture device unlawfully.The device was made of wood.I was made sit on the jagged seat...on my knees...the jailers rocked with their hands ..." |
| 予は大喝『何故拷問の必要ある』と。
石は取り除けられぬ。痛みは反動して、脛を持ち去らるるが如し。漸く獄吏に引立てられて獄に帰り、案外なる無法の処置に呆れたり。」
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"I protested with a loud voice that they had no need to torture me.The stone was removed.I felt a stronger pain as the stone was removed.I thought my knees would be removed.Later the jailers took me to my cell.I was at a loss having experienced the lawlessness and brutality of the authority." |
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始め、花輪支庁から足にはカセを打たれ、高手小手に縛められ、五十里の山を四日、牢籠に封じられたるまま、江刺県の本庁へ護送された時、その中間に下八里の七時雨峠と云ふがある。
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"First my feet were fastened with shackles.My hands were bound behind my back.I was put in the cage.It took four days to reach from the local division of Hanawa to the central division of Esashi Prefecture,current Iwate Prefecture.We crossed over the mountains in the 200 km(sic) journey.We went over Nanashigure Cross in the middle of the way." |
盛岡から北を望むと、岩手姫神両岳の間に横たわる高原の奥に、さざえ貝を伏せたる如く尖った峯が見える。
ここを超す時の翁の歌がある。
後ろ手を負はせられつつ七時雨しぐれの涙掩ふ袖もなし
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"When you look north from Morioka,you will see a pair of mountains,Mr.Iwate and Mt.Himegami.Between the two mountains a peak called Nanashigure in the shape of a horned turban seashell.Tanaka made a poem crossing the peak:
I now cross Nanashigure
My hands are bound in the back
I can't wipe my tears |
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この奥州の寒地に於ける翁が獄裡生活の一片を、自叙伝の自筆原稿より抜抄す。
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I here write an abstract from the manuscript of his autobiography to let you have a glimpse showing what it was like to live in a cell in the remote and cold place: |
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「さて、此地の寒気は、人も知る如く、人並みの衣類を纏へりとも、肌刺されて耳花そがれるるばかりなるに、
冬の支度の乏しきに寒気俄に速に進み来り、
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"The temperature dropped so low that even a properly clad person felt the coldness piercing through the skin.You felt your ears and nose fallen off.I didn't have clothes for winter and suddenly the chilliness began to increase." |
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故郷は山川遠く百五十里を隔てて運輸開けず、県庁の御用物すらに二か月に渉りて往返せる程なれば、衣類を故郷より取寄せんこと、囚人の身として迚も迚も覚束なく、また間に合ひもせぬ気候の切迫、いかがはせんと案じわづらひける折柄、
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"My home was 600km(sic) away and the transportation was poor.It took two months to obtain from Tokyo even the goods ordered by the central office of the prefecture.There was no way for me to get proper clothes from my home in time for the winter.I was worried what to do." |
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偶々囚人の中に赤痢を病みて斃れたる人ありしかば、獄丁に請ひて、死者の着せし衣類を貰ひ受けて、僅に寒気を凌ぎけり。此年、此獄中の越年者中、凍死せる者四人ありき。」
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"It so happened one prisoner had suffered from dysentery and died.I asked a jail guard and was given the clothes of the dead man.I could survive the winter.Four prisoners froze to death during the winter." |
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『獄中に書籍の差入もなく、只だ黙然するのみなれば、予は記憶力乏しきより難儀に至ること少なからざれば、茲に記憶の工夫を凝らして一種の発明せしものあり。
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"There was no one who visited me to give a book.All I could do was to meditate.I thought I might invent something to increase my power of memory,because I used to find myself in difficult situations due to my poor memory." |
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此事長ければ略すと云へども、要は只だ専門と云ふに外ならず。他の事は忘れよ、予が記憶乏しき生来にて、二課以上を兼ぬることは過りなりと。故に予は出獄以来、何事も兼ぬる事をば避けて為さざるなり。」
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"To make a long story short,I came to realize that concentration would be my best strategy.Concentrate on the single front and forget about the rest.I was born with poor memory.I decided to be careful not to pursue two things at one time.Since I got out of prison,I was careful not to be distracted from the one thing in front of me." |
| 「予は又た幼年の頃よりドモリにて、談話と喧嘩の区別なく、
議論も常に喧嘩と同一に聴取られて、其身を禍ひすること多ければ、
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"I stuttered from early childhood.When I spoke,people could not tell whether I was arguing in a fight or talking in normal way.People always thought I was fighting them when in fact I was trying to discuss with them.I often suffered much damage in this way." |
| せめては少しく
弁舌ドモらざる迄の研究をせばやと思ひしに、偶々中村敬宇が訳書西国立志編の文章、舌頭に上り易きを幸とし、
一語萬返、舌頭練磨、研究殆ど年余、他日獄を出でて人に接し、始めて其功の著しきを知れり。」
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"I wanted to find a way to cure my stuttering.I happened to read "Self-Help" by Samuel Smiles translated by Nakamura Keiu.I found his sentences easy to read aloud.I repeated to read aloud a word or a sentence over and over again,day and night over a year.When I got out of prison and talked with people,I found the remarkable effects of my training." |
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「明治七年四月、一日突然呼出されぬ。県令島惟精（此時県の併合ありて岩手県）厳然訟廷に現はれ予に申渡す事ありとて、
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"I was summoned to court in May,1874. Gov.Shima Isei sat at the bench solemnly and said that he had something to deliver to me.Esashi Pref.had been integrated into Iwate Pref.at that time." |
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『其方儀、明治四年四月某日以来、江刺県大属木村新八郎暗殺の嫌疑を以、入獄中付吟味中に候處、此度証人等申立により、其方の嫌疑は氷解せり、爾来取調に及ばず、
今日無罪放免を沙汰す。』
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'The accused was incarcerated since May,1871 on suspicion of assassinating Kimura Shinhachiro,assistant chief of the branch office.While the investigation was carried out and the testimony of witnesses made you clear of any suspicions.You are today released free.' |
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入獄三十六ヶ月と二十日なり。』
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"I was imprisoned for 36 months and 20 days." |
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かくて三十四歳、青天白日の身となりて、
久々にて故郷へ帰って見ればこの三月九日に亡き人の籍に入って居た。翁に取て如何ばかり悔恨の痛事であったことぞ。
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He came back home as an innocent 36-year-old man.But he found himself officially recorded as dead on the 9th of March.It must have been a great shock for him. |
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君よ。僕は田中翁が一身を政治運動に投じた動機に就て、
君の深き理解を求める為め、自叙伝の草稿からその一二節を抜書きする。
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I want you to understand fully what made Grandpa Tanaka dedicate himself into the world of politics.To read some of the sentences of his autobiography will be helpful: |
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「明治八年、正造、隣村酒屋の番頭となり、家政及親戚朋友の為に自ら模範者となり、樽拾ひまでに尽力せり。
一日、夏天、黒雲低く暴雨来らんとす。
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"I was employed as manager of a liquor store in the neighboring village in 1875.I worked hard and even carried barrels myself.I tried to make myself a model for the store,my relatives and friends.
One day in summer I saw menacing black clouds.A storm was apparently coming." |
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馬に石灰を積みたる馬丁、店頭に銅貨二銭を投じて酒を出せよと叫ぶ。正造其馬を見れば、背に汗して淋漓たり。正造おもへらく、今雨来らば此馬や病気せんに、憎むべき馬丁よと。 |
"A man who drew a horse with bags of lime came to the store.He threw two copper coins and cried to bring him a cup of sake.I saw the horse which was sweating profusely.I thought the coming rain would make this poor horse sick.What a heartless man this man was!" |
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依て汝は何人の雇人なりやと問ふ。
馬丁答へて、此方は足利郡稲岡村武井の作方奉公人なりと。
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"I asked him who was his employer.He answered that he was a servant of Takei in Inaoka Village,Ashikaga County." |
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正造更に、汝の名を言へ、汝は、馬は主人のなれば、
今将に雨降らんとするに不拘酒を飲まんとす。
馬の汗かきたるを知らざるか、汗かきたる背に雨をうたせば馬は忽ち病気せん。
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"I further demanded him to tell me his name.I told him that this horse was his master's and you wanted to drink sake while the rain was coming.I asked him whether he had not notice the horse sweating.I said that the horse would surely get sick if it got wet with so much sweat." |
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主人の荷、主人の馬、汝之を愛さざるか。
明日主人に、此旨を通ずべし、と罵りければ、 |
"I reproached him and said,'This is your master's goods and his horse.Don't you have any affection for them? I will report this to your master tomorrow.'" |
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馬丁の恐怖一方ならず、二銭の銭を取戻して、酒を呑まずに馬に鞭打ちて出て行きける。
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"He was terrified and took two coins back,gave his horse a whip and left without drinking. |
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今国家刑罰権の恩恵の為めに、四十日と云ふ豊かな安息時を監獄の一室に与へられ、青年キリストの生涯に照して静かに我が六十年の苦難の瘡痕を点検し、
更に我が真使命の何処に存在するかを黙想することができた。
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"Now by the grace of authority of punishment of the state he was given a quiet period of 40 days in prison. |
田中正造
1841年12月15日 - 1913年（大正2年）9月4日Tanaka Shozo dedicated his life for the farmers who were victimized by the pollution of Ashio Copper Mine. He is one of the pioneers of environmental movement in Japan.
| Year |
Age |
Events |
| 天保12年(1841) | 0才 | 11月3日（旧暦）下野国安蘇郡小中村（現栃木県佐野市小中町）に生まれる。名主富蔵の長男。
Shozo was born on December 15, in Konaka, a small village in western Aso, in what was then the fiefdom of Shimotsuke (Konaka, Sano City, Tochigi Pref.). Nanushi Tomizo's eldest son.
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| 文久元年(1861) | 19才 | 小中村六角家領の名主に公選される（21才説も有）。
He was elected Nanushi by the villagers.(or age 21)
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ODONTA PRESS
