Kwaidan

第4章

Dr。Howard’sbookdeclaresthat,inordertoridaneighborhoodofmosquitoes,itisonlynecessarytopouralittlepetroleum,orkeroseneoil,intothestagnantwaterwheretheybreed。Onceaweektheoilshouldbeused,"attherateofonceounceforeveryfifteensquarefeetofwater-surface,andaproportionatequantityforanylesssurface。"……Butpleasetoconsidertheconditionsinmyneighborhood!

IhavesaidthatmytormentorscomefromtheBuddhistcemetery。Beforenearlyeverytombinthatoldcemeterythereisawater-receptacle,orcistern,calledmizutame。Inthemajorityofcasesthismizutameissimplyanoblongcavitychiseledinthebroadpedestalsupportingthemonument;

butbeforetombsofacostlykind,havingnopedestal-tank,alargerseparatetankisplaced,cutoutofasingleblockofstone,anddecoratedwithafamilycrest,orwithsymboliccarvings。Infrontofatombofthehumblestclass,havingnomizutame,waterisplacedincupsorothervessels,——forthedeadmusthavewater。Flowersalsomustbeofferedtothem;andbeforeeverytombyouwillfindapairofbamboocups,orotherflower-vessels;andthese,ofcourse,containwater。Thereisawellinthecemeterytosupplywaterforthegraves。Wheneverthetombsarevisitedbyrelativesandfriendsofthedead,freshwaterispouredintothetanksandcups。Butasanoldcemeteryofthiskindcontainsthousandsofmizutame,andtensofthousandsofflower-vesselsthewaterinallofthesecannotberenewedeveryday。Itbecomesstagnantandpopulous。Thedeepertanksseldomgetdry;——therainfallatTokyobeingheavyenoughtokeepthempartlyfilledduringninemonthsoutofthetwelve。

Well,itisinthesetanksandflower-vesselsthatmineenemiesareborn:

theyrisebymillionsfromthewaterofthedead;——and,accordingtoBuddhistdoctrine,someofthemmaybereincarnationsofthoseverydead,condemnedbytheerrorofformerlivestotheconditionofJiki-ketsu-gaki,orblood-drinkingpretas……AnyhowthemalevolenceoftheCulexfasciatuswouldjustifythesuspicionthatsomewickedhumansoulhadbeencompressedintothatwailingspeckofabody……

Now,toreturntothesubjectofkerosene-oil,youcanexterminatethemosquitoesofanylocalitybycoveringwithafilmofkeroseneallstagnantwatersurfacestherein。Thelarvaedieonrisingtobreathe;andtheadultfemalesperishwhentheyapproachthewatertolaunchtheirraftsofeggs。

AndIread,inDr。Howard’sbook,thattheactualcostoffreeingfrommosquitoesoneAmericantownoffiftythousandinhabitants,doesnotexceedthreehundreddollars!……

Iwonderwhatwouldbesaidifthecity-governmentofTokyo——whichisaggressivelyscientificandprogressive——weresuddenlytocommandthatallwater-surfacesintheBuddhistcemeteriesshouldbecovered,atregularintervals,withafilmofkeroseneoil!Howcouldthereligionwhichprohibitsthetakingofanylife——evenofinvisiblelife——yieldtosuchamandate?Wouldfilialpietyevendreamofconsentingtoobeysuchanorder?Andthentothinkofthecost,inlaborandtime,ofputtingkeroseneoil,everysevendays,intothemillionsofmizutame,andthetensofmillionsofbambooflower-cups,intheTokyograveyards!……Impossible!

Tofreethecityfrommosquitoesitwouldbenecessarytodemolishtheancientgraveyards;——andthatwouldsignifytheruinoftheBuddhisttemplesattachedtothem;——andthatwouldmeanthedisparitionofsomanycharminggardens,withtheirlotus-pondsandSanscrit-letteredmonumentsandhumpybridgesandholygrovesandweirdly-smilingBuddhas!SotheexterminationoftheCulexfasciatuswouldinvolvethedestructionofthepoetryoftheancestralcult,——surelytoogreatapricetopay!……

Besides,Ishouldlike,whenmytimecomes,tobelaidawayinsomeBuddhistgraveyardoftheancientkind,——sothatmyghostlycompanyshouldbeancient,caringnothingforthefashionsandthechangesandthedisintegrationsofMeiji(1)。Thatoldcemeterybehindmygardenwouldbeasuitableplace。Everythingthereisbeautifulwithabeautyofexceedingandstartlingqueerness;eachtreeandstonehasbeenshapedbysomeold,oldidealwhichnolongerexistsinanylivingbrain;eventheshadowsarenotofthistimeandsun,butofaworldforgotten,thatneverknewsteamorelectricityormagnetismor——keroseneoil!Alsointheboomofthebigbellthereisaquaintnessoftonewhichwakensfeelings,sostrangelyfar-awayfromallthenineteenth-centurypartofme,thatthefaintblindstirringsofthemmakemeafraid,——deliciouslyafraid。NeverdoIhearthatbillowingpealbutIbecomeawareofastrivingandaflutteringintheabyssalpartofmyghost,——asensationasofmemoriesstrugglingtoreachthelightbeyondtheobscurationsofamillionmilliondeathsandbirths。Ihopetoremainwithinhearingofthatbell……And,consideringthepossibilityofbeingdoomedtothestateofaJiki-ketsu-gaki,Iwanttohavemychanceofbeingreborninsomebambooflower-cup,ormizutame,whenceImightissuesoftly,singingmythinandpungentsong,tobitesomepeoplethatIknow。

ANTS

I

Thismorningsky,afterthenight’stempest,isapureanddazzlingblue。

Theair——thedeliciousair!——isfullofsweetresinousodors,shedfromthecountlesspine-boughsbrokenandstrewnbythegale。Intheneighboringbamboo-groveIheartheflute-callofthebirdthatpraisestheSutraoftheLotos;andthelandisverystillbyreasonofthesouthwind。Nowthesummer,longdelayed,istrulywithus:butterfliesofqueerJapanesecolorsareflickeringabout;semi(1)arewheezing;waspsarehumming;

gnatsaredancinginthesun;andtheantsarebusyrepairingtheirdamagedhabitations……IbethinkmeofaJapanesepoem:——

Yukuenaki:

Arinosumaiya!

Go-getsuame。

[Nowthepoorcreaturehasnowheretogo!……Alasforthedwellingsoftheantsinthisrainofthefifthmonth!]

Butthosebigblackantsinmygardendonotseemtoneedanysympathy。

Theyhaveweatheredthestorminsomeunimaginableway,whilegreattreeswerebeinguprooted,andhousesblowntofragments,androadswashedoutofexistence。Yet,beforethetyphoon,theytooknoothervisibleprecautionthantoblockupthegatesoftheirsubterraneantown。Andthespectacleoftheirtriumphanttoilto-dayimpelsmetoattemptanessayonAnts。

IshouldhaveliketoprefacemydisquisitionswithsomethingfromtheoldJapaneseliterature,——somethingemotionalormetaphysical。ButallthatmyJapanesefriendswereabletofindformeonthesubject,——exceptingsomeversesoflittleworth,——wasChinese。ThisChinesematerialconsistedchieflyofstrangestories;andoneofthemseemstomeworthquoting,——

fautedemieux。

*

IntheprovinceofTaishu,inChina,therewasapiousmanwho,everyday,duringmanyyears,ferventlyworshipedacertaingoddess。Onemorning,whilehewasengagedinhisdevotions,abeautifulwoman,wearingayellowrobe,cameintohischamberandstoodbeforehim。He,greatlysurprised,askedherwhatshewanted,andwhyshehadenteredunannounced。Sheanswered:"Iamnotawoman:Iamthegoddesswhomyouhavesolongandsofaithfullyworshiped;andIhavenowcometoprovetoyouthatyourdevotionhasnotbeeninvain……AreyouacquaintedwiththelanguageofAnts?"Theworshiperreplied:"Iamonlyalow-bornandignorantperson,——

notascholar;andevenofthelanguageofsuperiormenIknownothing。"Atthesewordsthegoddesssmiled,anddrewfromherbosomalittlebox,shapedlikeanincensebox。Sheopenedthebox,dippedafingerintoit,andtooktherefromsomekindofointmentwithwhichsheanointedtheearsoftheman。"Now,"shesaidtohim,"trytofindsomeAnts,andwhenyoufindany,stoopdown,andlistencarefullytotheirtalk。Youwillbeabletounderstandit;andyouwillhearofsomethingtoyouradvantage……OnlyrememberthatyoumustnotfrightenorvextheAnts。"Thenthegoddessvanishedaway。

ThemanimmediatelywentouttolookforsomeAnts。HehadscarcelycrossedthethresholdofhisdoorwhenheperceivedtwoAntsuponastonesupportingoneofthehouse-pillars。Hestoopedoverthem,andlistened;

andhewasastonishedtofindthathecouldhearthemtalking,andcouldunderstandwhattheysaid。"Letustrytofindawarmerplace,"proposedoneoftheAnts。"Whyawarmerplace?"askedtheother;——"whatisthematterwiththisplace?""Itistoodampandcoldbelow,"saidthefirstAnt;"thereisabigtreasureburiedhere;andthesunshinecannotwarmthegroundaboutit。"ThenthetwoAntswentawaytogether,andthelistenerranforaspade。

Bydiggingintheneighborhoodofthepillar,hesoonfoundanumberoflargejarsfullofgoldcoin。Thediscoveryofthistreasuremadehimaveryrichman。

AfterwardsheoftentriedtolistentotheconversationofAnts。Buthewasneveragainabletohearthemspeak。Theointmentofthegoddesshadopenedhisearstotheirmysteriouslanguageforonlyasingleday。

*

NowI,likethatChinesedevotee,mustconfessmyselfaveryignorantperson,andnaturallyunabletoheartheconversationofAnts。ButtheFairyofSciencesometimestouchesmyearsandeyeswithherwand;andthen,foralittletime,Iamabletohearthingsinaudible,andtoperceivethingsimperceptible。

II

Forthesamereasonthatitisconsideredwicked,insundrycircles,tospeakofanon-Christianpeoplehavingproducedacivilizationethicallysuperiortoourown,certainpersonswillnotbepleasedbywhatIamgoingtosayaboutants。Buttherearemen,incomparablywiserthanIcaneverhopetobe,whothinkaboutinsectsandcivilizationsindependentlyoftheblessingsofChristianity;andIfindencouragementinthenewCambridgeNaturalHistory,whichcontainsthefollowingremarksbyProfessorDavidSharp,concerningants:——

"Observationhasrevealedthemostremarkablephenomenainthelivesoftheseinsects。Indeedwecanscarcelyavoidtheconclusionthattheyhaveacquired,inmanyrespects,theartoflivingtogetherinsocietiesmoreperfectlythanourownspecieshas;andthattheyhaveanticipatedusintheacquisitionofsomeoftheindustriesandartsthatgreatlyfacilitatesociallife。"

Isupposethatafewwell-informedpersonswilldisputethisplainstatementbyatrainedspecialist。Thecontemporarymanofscienceisnotapttobecomesentimentalaboutantsorbees;buthewillnothesitatetoacknowledgethat,inregardtosocialevolution,theseinsectsappeartohaveadvanced"beyondman。"Mr。HerbertSpencer,whomnobodywillchargewithromantictendencies,goesconsiderablyfurtherthanProfessorSharp;

showingusthatantsare,inaveryrealsense,ethicallyaswellaseconomicallyinadvanceofhumanity,——theirlivesbeingentirelydevotedtoaltruisticends。Indeed,ProfessorSharpsomewhatneedlesslyqualifieshispraiseoftheantwiththiscautiousobservation:——

"Thecompetenceoftheantisnotlikethatofman。Itisdevotedtothewelfareofthespeciesratherthantothatoftheindividual,whichis,asitwere,sacrificedorspecializedforthebenefitofthecommunity。"

——Theobviousimplication,——thatanysocialstate,inwhichtheimprovementoftheindividualissacrificedtothecommonwelfare,leavesmuchtobedesired,——isprobablycorrect,fromtheactualhumanstandpoint。Formanisyetimperfectlyevolved;andhumansocietyhasmuchtogainfromhisfurtherindividualization。Butinregardtosocialinsectstheimpliedcriticismisopentoquestion。"Theimprovementoftheindividual,"saysHerbertSpencer,"consistsinthebetterfittingofhimforsocialcooperation;andthis,beingconducivetosocialprosperity,isconducivetothemaintenanceoftherace。"Inotherwords,thevalueoftheindividualcanbeonlyinrelationtothesociety;andthisgranted,whetherthesacrificeoftheindividualforthesakeofthatsocietybegoodorevilmustdependuponwhatthesocietymightgainorlosethroughafurtherindividualizationofitsmembers……Butasweshallpresentlysee,theconditionsofant-societythatmostdeserveourattentionaretheethicalconditions;andthesearebeyondhumancriticism,sincetheyrealizethatidealofmoralevolutiondescribedbyMr。Spenceras"astateinwhichegoismandaltruismaresoconciliatedthattheonemergesintotheother。"Thatistosay,astateinwhichtheonlypossiblepleasureisthepleasureofunselfishaction。Or,againtoquoteMr。Spencer,theactivitiesoftheinsect-societyare"activitieswhichpostponeindividualwell-beingsocompletelytothewell-beingofthecommunitythatindividuallifeappearstobeattendedtoonlyjustsofarasisnecessarytomakepossibledueattentiontosociallife,……theindividualtakingonlyjustsuchfoodandjustsuchrestasareneedfultomaintainitsvigor。"

III

Ihopemyreaderisawarethatantspractisehorticultureandagriculture;

thattheyareskillfulinthecultivationofmushrooms;thattheyhavedomesticated(accordingtopresentknowledge)fivehundredandeighty-fourdifferentkindsofanimals;thattheymaketunnelsthroughsolidrock;thattheyknowhowtoprovideagainstatmosphericchangeswhichmightendangerthehealthoftheirchildren;andthat,forinsects,theirlongevityisexceptional,——membersofthemorehighlyevolvedspecieslivingforaconsiderablenumberofyears。

ButitisnotespeciallyofthesemattersthatIwishtospeak。WhatI

wanttotalkaboutistheawfulpropriety,theterriblemorality,oftheant[1]。Ourmostappallingidealsofconductfallshortoftheethicsoftheant,——asprogressisreckonedintime,——bynothinglessthanmillionsofyears!……WhenIsay"theant,"Imeanthehighesttypeofant,——not,ofcourse,theentireant-family。Abouttwothousandspeciesofantsarealreadyknown;andtheseexhibit,intheirsocialorganizations,widelyvaryingdegreesofevolution。Certainsocialphenomenaofthegreatestbiologicalimportance,andofnolessimportanceintheirstrangerelationtothesubjectofethics,canbestudiedtoadvantageonlyintheexistenceofthemosthighlyevolvedsocietiesofants。

Afterallthathasbeenwrittenoflateyearsabouttheprobablevalueofrelativeexperienceinthelonglifeoftheant,Isupposethatfewpersonswouldventuretodenyindividualcharactertotheant。Theintelligenceofthelittlecreatureinmeetingandovercomingdifficultiesofatotallynewkind,andinadaptingitselftoconditionsentirelyforeigntoitsexperience,provesaconsiderablepowerofindependentthinking。Butthisatleastiscertain:thattheanthasnoindividualitycapableofbeingexercisedinapurelyselfishdirection;——Iamusingtheword"selfish"initsordinaryacceptation。Agreedyant,asensualant,anantcapableofanyoneofthesevendeadlysins,orevenofasmallvenialsin,isunimaginable。Equallyunimaginable,ofcourse,aromanticant,anideologicalant,apoeticalant,oranantinclinedtometaphysicalspeculations。Nohumanmindcouldattaintotheabsolutematter-of-factqualityoftheant-mind;——nohumanbeing,asnowconstituted,couldcultivateamentalhabitsoimpeccablypracticalasthatoftheant。Butthissuperlativelypracticalmindisincapableofmoralerror。Itwouldbedifficult,perhaps,toprovethattheanthasnoreligiousideas。Butitiscertainthatsuchideascouldnotbeofanyusetoit。Thebeingincapableofmoralweaknessisbeyondtheneedof"spiritualguidance。"

Onlyinavaguewaycanweconceivethecharacterofant-society,andthenatureofant-morality;andtodoeventhiswemusttrytoimaginesomeyetimpossiblestateofhumansocietyandhumanmorals。Letus,then,imagineaworldfullofpeopleincessantlyandfuriouslyworking,——allofwhomseemtobewomen。Nooneofthesewomencouldbepersuadedordeludedintotakingasingleatomoffoodmorethanisneedfultomaintainherstrength;

andnooneofthemeversleepsasecondlongerthanisnecessarytokeephernervoussystemingoodworking-order。Andallofthemaresopeculiarlyconstitutedthattheleastunnecessaryindulgencewouldresultinsomederangementoffunction。

Theworkdailyperformedbythesefemalelaborerscomprisesroad-making,bridge-building,timber-cutting,architecturalconstructionofnumberlesskinds,horticultureandagriculture,thefeedingandshelteringofahundredvarietiesofdomesticanimals,themanufactureofsundrychemicalproducts,thestorageandconservationofcountlessfood-stuffs,andthecareofthechildrenoftherace。Allthislaborisdoneforthecommonwealth——nocitizenofwhichiscapableevenofthinkingabout"property,"exceptasarespublica;——andthesoleobjectofthecommonwealthisthenurtureandtrainingofitsyoung,——nearlyallofwhomaregirls。Theperiodofinfancyislong:thechildrenremainforagreatwhile,notonlyhelpless,butshapeless,andwithalsodelicatethattheymustbeverycarefullyguardedagainsttheleastchangeoftemperature。

Fortunatelytheirnursesunderstandthelawsofhealth:eachthoroughlyknowsallthatsheoughttoknowinregardtoventilation,disinfection,drainage,moisture,andthedangerofgerms,——germsbeingasvisible,perhaps,tohermyopicsightastheybecometoourowneyesunderthemicroscope。Indeed,allmattersofhygienearesowellcomprehendedthatnonurseevermakesamistakeaboutthesanitaryconditionsofherneighborhood。

Inspiteofthisperpetuallabornoworkerremainsunkempt:eachisscrupulouslyneat,makinghertoiletmanytimesaday。Butaseveryworkerisbornwiththemostbeautifulofcombsandbrushesattachedtoherwrists,notimeiswastedinthetoilet-room。Besideskeepingthemselvesstrictlyclean,theworkersmustalsokeeptheirhousesandgardensinfaultlessorder,forthesakeofthechildren。Nothinglessthananearthquake,aneruption,aninundation,oradesperatewar,isallowedtointerruptthedailyroutineofdusting,sweeping,scrubbing,anddisinfecting。

IV

Nowforstrangerfacts:——

ThisworldofincessanttoilisamorethanVestalworld。Itistruethatmalescansometimesbeperceivedinit;buttheyappearonlyatparticularseasons,andtheyhavenothingwhatevertodowiththeworkersorwiththework。Noneofthemwouldpresumetoaddressaworker,——except,perhaps,underextraordinarycircumstancesofcommonperil。Andnoworkerwouldthinkoftalkingtoamale;——formales,inthisqueerworld,areinferiorbeings,equallyincapableoffightingorworking,andtoleratedonlyasnecessaryevils。Onespecialclassoffemales,——theMothers-Electoftherace,——docondescendtoconsortwithmales,duringaverybriefperiod,atparticularseasons。ButtheMothers-Electdonotwork;andtheymostaccepthusbands。Aworkercouldnotevendreamofkeepingcompanywithamale,——

notmerelybecausesuchassociationwouldsignifythemostfrivolouswasteoftime,noryetbecausetheworkernecessarilyregardsallmaleswithunspeakablecontempt;butbecausetheworkerisincapableofwedlock。Someworkers,indeed,arecapableofparthenogenesis,andgivebirthtochildrenwhoneverhadfathers。Asageneralrule,however,theworkeristrulyfemininebyhermoralinstinctsonly:shehasallthetenderness,thepatience,andtheforesightthatwecall"maternal;"buthersexhasdisappeared,likethesexoftheDragon-MaidenintheBuddhistlegend。

Fordefenseagainstcreaturesofprey,orenemiesofthestate,theworkersareprovidedwithweapons;andtheyarefurthermoreprotectedbyalargemilitaryforce。Thewarriorsaresomuchbiggerthantheworkers(insomecommunities,atleast)thatitisdifficult,atfirstsight,tobelievethemofthesamerace。Soldiersonehundredtimeslargerthantheworkerswhomtheyguardarenotuncommon。ButallthesesoldiersareAmazons,——or,morecorrectlyspeaking,semi-females。Theycanworksturdily;butbeingbuiltforfightingandforheavypullingchiefly,theirusefulnessisrestrictedtothosedirectionsinwhichforce,ratherthanskill,isrequired。

[Whyfemales,ratherthanmales,shouldhavebeenevolutionallyspecializedintosoldieryandlaborersmaynotbenearlysosimpleaquestionasitappears。Iamverysureofnotbeingabletoanswerit。Butnaturaleconomymayhavedecidedthematter。Inmanyformsoflife,thefemalegreatlyexceedsthemaleinbulkandinenergy;——perhaps,inthiscase,thelargerreserveoflife-forcepossessedoriginallybythecompletefemalecouldbemorerapidlyandeffectivelyutilizedforthedevelopmentofaspecialfighting-caste。Allenergieswhich,inthefertilefemale,wouldbeexpendedinthegivingoflifeseemheretohavebeendivertedtotheevolutionofaggressivepower,orworking-capacity。]

Ofthetruefemales,——theMothers-Elect,——thereareveryfewindeed;andthesearetreatedlikequeens。Soconstantlyandsoreverentiallyaretheywaiteduponthattheycanseldomhaveanywishestoexpress。Theyarerelievedfromeverycareofexistence,——exceptthedutyofbearingoffspring。Nightanddaytheyarecaredforineverypossiblemanner。Theyalonearesuperabundantlyandrichlyfed:——forthesakeoftheoffspringtheymusteatanddrinkandreposerightroyally;andtheirphysiologicalspecializationallowsofsuchindulgenceadlibitum。Theyseldomgoout,andneverunlessattendedbyapowerfulescort;astheycannotbepermittedtoincurunnecessaryfatigueordanger。Probablytheyhavenogreatdesiretogoout。Aroundthemrevolvesthewholeactivityoftherace:allitsintelligenceandtoilandthriftaredirectedsolelytowardthewell-beingoftheseMothersandoftheirchildren。

ButlastandleastoftheracerankthehusbandsoftheseMothers,——thenecessaryEvils,——themales。Theyappearonlyataparticularseason,asI

havealreadyobserved;andtheirlivesareveryshort。Somecannotevenboastofnobledescent,thoughdestinedtoroyalwedlock;fortheyarenotroyaloffspring,butvirgin-born,——parthenogeneticchildren,——and,forthatreasonespecially,inferiorbeings,thechanceresultsofsomemysteriousatavism。Butofanysortofmalesthecommonwealthtoleratesbutfew,——barelyenoughtoserveashusbandsfortheMothers-Elect,andthesefewperishalmostassoonastheirdutyhasbeendone。ThemeaningofNature’slaw,inthisextraordinaryworld,isidenticalwithRuskin’steachingthatlifewithouteffortiscrime;andsincethemalesareuselessasworkersorfighters,theirexistenceisofonlymomentaryimportance。

Theyarenot,indeed,sacrificed,——liketheAztecvictimchosenforthefestivalofTezcatlipoca,andallowedahoneymoonoftwentydaysbeforehisheartwastornout。Buttheyarescarcelylessunfortunateintheirhighfortune。Imagineyouthsbroughtupintheknowledgethattheyaredestinedtobecomeroyalbridegroomsforasinglenight,——thataftertheirbridaltheywillhavenomoralrighttolive,——thatmarriage,foreachandallofthem,willsignifycertaindeath,——andthattheycannotevenhopetobelamentedbytheiryoungwidows,whowillsurvivethemforatimeofmanygenerations……!

V

Butalltheforegoingisnomorethanaproemtothereal"RomanceoftheInsect-World。"

——Byfarthemoststartlingdiscoveryinrelationtothisastonishingcivilizationisthatofthesuppressionofsex。Incertainadvancedformsofant-lifesextotallydisappearsinthemajorityofindividuals;——innearlyallthehigherant-societiessex-lifeappearstoexistonlytotheextentabsolutelyneededforthecontinuanceofthespecies。Butthebiologicalfactinitselfismuchlessstartlingthantheethicalsuggestionwhichitoffers;——forthispracticalsuppression,orregulation,ofsex-facultyappearstobevoluntary!Voluntary,atleast,sofarasthespeciesisconcerned。Itisnowbelievedthattheywonderfulcreatureshavelearnedhowtodevelop,ortoarrestthedevelopment,ofsexintheiryoung,——bysomeparticularmodeofnutrition。Theyhavesucceededinplacingunderperfectcontrolwhatiscommonlysupposedtobethemostpowerfulandunmanageableofinstincts。Andthisrigidrestraintofsex-lifetowithinthelimitsnecessarytoprovideagainstextinctionisbutone(thoughthemostamazing)ofmanyvitaleconomieseffectedbytherace。Everycapacityforegoisticpleasure——inthecommonmeaningoftheword"egoistic"——hasbeenequallyrepressedthroughphysiologicalmodification。Noindulgenceofanynaturalappetiteispossibleexcepttothatdegreeinwhichsuchindulgencecandirectlyorindirectlybenefitthespecies;——eventheindispensablerequirementsoffoodandsleepbeingsatisfiedonlytotheexactextentnecessaryforthemaintenanceofhealthyactivity。Theindividualcanexist,act,think,onlyforthecommunalgood;

andthecommunetriumphantlyrefuses,insofarascosmiclawpermits,toletitselfberuledeitherbyLoveorHunger。

Mostofushavebeenbroughtupinthebeliefthatwithoutsomekindofreligiouscreed——somehopeoffuturerewardorfearoffuturepunishment——nocivilizationcouldexist。Wehavebeentaughttothinkthatintheabsenceoflawsbaseduponmoralideas,andintheabsenceofaneffectivepolicetoenforcesuchlaws,nearlyeverybodywouldseekonlyhisorherpersonaladvantage,tothedisadvantageofeverybodyelse。Thestrongwouldthendestroytheweak;pityandsympathywoulddisappear;andthewholesocialfabricwouldfalltopieces……Theseteachingsconfesstheexistingimperfectionofhumannature;andtheycontainobvioustruth。Butthosewhofirstproclaimedthattruth,thousandsandthousandsofyearsago,neverimaginedaformofsocialexistenceinwhichselfishnesswouldbenaturallyimpossible。ItremainedforirreligiousNaturetofurnishuswithproofpositivethattherecanexistasocietyinwhichthepleasureofactivebeneficencemakesneedlesstheideaofduty,——asocietyinwhichinstinctivemoralitycandispensewithethicalcodesofeverysort,——asocietyofwhicheverymemberisbornsoabsolutelyunselfish,andsoenergeticallygood,thatmoraltrainingcouldsignify,evenforitsyoungest,neithermorenorlessthanwasteofprecioustime。

TotheEvolutionistsuchfactsnecessarilysuggestthatthevalueofourmoralidealismisbuttemporary;andthatsomethingbetterthanvirtue,betterthankindness,betterthanself-denial,——inthepresenthumanmeaningofthoseterms,——might,undercertainconditions,eventuallyreplacethem。Hefindshimselfobligedtofacethequestionwhetheraworldwithoutmoralnotionsmightnotbemorallybetterthanaworldinwhichconductisregulatedbysuchnotions。Hemustevenaskhimselfwhethertheexistenceofreligiouscommandments,morallaws,andethicalstandardsamongourselvesdoesnotproveusstillinaveryprimitivestageofsocialevolution。Andthesequestionsnaturallyleaduptoanother:Willhumanityeverbeable,onthisplanet,toreachanethicalconditionbeyondallitsideals,——aconditioninwhicheverythingthatwenowcallevilwillhavebeenatrophiedoutofexistence,andeverythingthatwecallvirtuehavebeentransmutedintoinstinct;——astateofaltruisminwhichethicalconceptsandcodeswillhavebecomeasuselessastheywouldbe,evennow,inthesocietiesofthehigherants。

Thegiantsofmodernthoughthavegivensomeattentiontothisquestion;

andthegreatestamongthemhasansweredit——partlyintheaffirmative。

HerbertSpencerhasexpressedhisbeliefthathumanitywillarriveatsomestateofcivilizationethicallycomparablewiththatoftheant:——

"Ifwehave,inlowerordersofcreatures,casesinwhichthenatureisconstitutionallysomodifiedthataltruisticactivitieshavebecomeonewithegoisticactivities,thereisanirresistibleimplicationthataparallelidentificationwill,underparallelconditions,takeplaceamonghumanbeings。Socialinsectsfurnishuswithinstancescompletelytothepoint,——andinstancesshowingus,indeed,towhatamarvelousdegreethelifeoftheindividualmaybeabsorbedinsubservingthelivesofotherindividuals……Neithertheantnorthebeecanbesupposedtohaveasenseofduty,intheacceptationwegivetothatword;norcanitbesupposedthatitiscontinuallyundergoingself-sacrifice,intheordinaryacceptationofthatword……[Thefacts]showusthatitiswithinthepossibilitiesoforganizationtoproduceanaturewhichshallbejustasenergeticinthepursuitofaltruisticends,asisinothercasesshowninthepursuitofegoisticends;——andtheyshowthat,insuchcases,thesealtruisticendsarepursuedinpursuingendswhich,ontheirotherface,areegoistic。Forthesatisfactionoftheneedsoftheorganization,theseactions,conducivetothewelfareofothers,mustbecarriedon……

"Sofarfromitsbeingtruethattheremustgoon,throughoutallthefuture,aconditioninwhichself-regardistobecontinuallysubjectedbytheregardforothers,itwill,contrari-wise,bethecasethataregardforotherswilleventuallybecomesolargeasourceofpleasureastoovergrowthepleasurewhichisderivablefromdirectegoisticgratification……

Eventually,then,therewillcomealsoastateinwhichegoismandaltruismaresoconciliatedthattheonemergesintheother。"

VI

Ofcoursetheforegoingpredictiondoesnotimplythathumannaturewilleverundergosuchphysiologicalchangeaswouldberepresentedbystructuralspecializationscomparabletothosebywhichthevariouscastesofinsectsocietiesaredifferentiated。Wearenotbiddentoimagineafuturestateofhumanityinwhichtheactivemajoritywouldconsistofsemi-femaleworkersandAmazonstoilingforaninactiveminorityofselectedMothers。Eveninhischapter,"HumanPopulationintheFuture,"

Mr。Spencerhasattemptednodetailedstatementofthephysicalmodificationsinevitabletotheproductionofhighermoraltypes,——thoughhisgeneralstatementinregardtoaperfectednervoussystem,andagreatdiminutionofhumanfertility,suggeststhatsuchmoralevolutionwouldsignifyaveryconsiderableamountofphysicalchange。Ifitbelegitimatetobelieveinafuturehumanitytowhichthepleasureofmutualbeneficencewillrepresentthewholejoyoflife,woulditnotalsobelegitimatetoimagineothertransformations,physicalandmoral,whichthefactsofinsect-biologyhaveprovedtobewithintherangeofevolutionalpossibility?……Idonotknow。ImostworshipfullyreverenceHerbertSpencerasthegreatestphilosopherwhohasyetappearedinthisworld;andIshouldbeverysorrytowritedownanythingcontrarytohisteaching,insuchwisethatthereadercouldimagineittohavebeeninspiredbySyntheticPhilosophy。Fortheensuingreflections,Ialoneamresponsible;

andifIerr,letthesinbeuponmyownhead。

IsupposethatthemoraltransformationspredictedbyMr。Spencer,couldbeeffectedonlywiththeaidofphysiologicalchange,andataterriblecost。Thoseethicalconditionsmanifestedbyinsect-societiescanhavebeenreachedonlythrougheffortdesperatelysustainedformillionsofyearsagainstthemostatrociousnecessities。Necessitiesequallymercilessmayhavetobemetandmasteredeventuallybythehumanrace。Mr。Spencerhasshownthatthetimeofthegreatestpossiblehumansufferingisyettocome,andthatitwillbeconcomitantwiththeperiodofthegreatestpossiblepressureofpopulation。Amongotherresultsofthatlongstress,I

understandthattherewillbeavastincreaseinhumanintelligenceandsympathy;andthatthisincreasesofintelligencewillbeeffectedatthecostofhumanfertility。Butthisdeclineinreproductivepowerwillnot,wearetold,besufficienttoassuretheveryhighestofsocialconditions:

itwillonlyrelievethatpressureofpopulationwhichhasbeenthemaincauseofhumansuffering。Thestateofperfectsocialequilibriumwillbeapproached,butneverquitereached,bymankind——

Unlesstherebediscoveredsomemeansofsolvingeconomicproblems,justassocialinsectshavesolvedthem,bythesuppressionofsex-life。

Supposingthatsuchadiscoveryweremade,andthatthehumanraceshoulddecidetoarrestthedevelopmentofsixinthemajorityofitsyoung,——soastoeffectatransferrenceofthoseforces,nowdemandedbysex-lifetothedevelopmentofhigheractivities,——mightnottheresultbeaneventualstateofpolymorphism,likethatofants?And,insuchevent,mightnottheComingRacebeindeedrepresentedinitshighertypes,——throughfeminineratherthanmasculineevolution,——byamajorityofbeingsofneithersex?

Consideringhowmanypersons,evennow,throughmerelyunselfish(nottospeakofreligious)motives,sentencethemselvestocelibacy,itshouldnotappearimprobablythatamorehighlyevolvedhumanitywouldcheerfullysacrificealargeproportionofitssex-lifeforthecommonweal,particularlyinviewofcertainadvantagestobegained。Nottheleastofsuchadvantages——alwayssupposingthatmankindwereabletocontrolsex-lifeafterthenaturalmanneroftheants——wouldbeaprodigiousincreaseoflongevity。Thehighertypesofahumanitysuperiortosexmightbeabletorealizethedreamoflifeforathousandyears。

Alreadywefindlivestooshortfortheworkwehavetodo;andwiththeconstantlyacceleratingprogressofdiscovery,andthenever-ceasingexpansionofknowledge,weshallcertainlyfindmoreandmorereasontoregret,astimegoeson,thebrevityofexistence。ThatSciencewilleverdiscovertheElixiroftheAlchemists’hopeisextremelyunlikely。TheCosmicPowerswillnotallowustocheatthem。Foreveryadvantagewhichtheyyieldusthefullpricemustbepaid:nothingfornothingistheeverlastinglaw。Perhapsthepriceoflonglifewillprovetobethepricethattheantshavepaidforit。Perhaps,uponsomeelderplanet,thatpricehasalreadybeenpaid,andthepowertoproduceoffspringrestrictedtoacastemorphologicallydifferentiated,inunimaginableways,fromtherestofthespecies……

VII

Butwhilethefactsofinsect-biologysuggestsomuchinregardtothefuturecourseofhumanevolution,dotheynotalsosuggestsomethingoflargestsignificanceconcerningtherelationofethicstocosmiclaw?

Apparently,thehighestevolutionwillnotbepermittedtocreaturescapableofwhathumanmoralexperiencehasinallareascondemned。

Apparently,thehighestpossiblestrengthisthestrengthofunselfishness;

andpowersupremeneverwillbeaccordedtocrueltyortolust。Theremaybenogods;buttheforcesthatshapeanddissolveallformsofbeingwouldseemtobemuchmoreexactingthangods。Toprovea"dramatictendency"inthewaysofthestarsisnotpossible;butthecosmicprocessseemsneverthelesstoaffirmtheworthofeveryhumansystemofethicsfundamentallyopposedtohumanegoism-

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NotesTHESTORYOFMIMI-NASHI-HOICHI

[1]SeemyKotto,foradescriptionofthesecuriouscrabs。

[2]Or,Shimonoseki。ThetownisalsoknownbythenameofBakkan。

[3]Thebiwa,akindoffour-stringedlute,ischieflyusedinmusicalrecitative。FormerlytheprofessionalminstrelswhorecitedtheHeike-Monogatari,andothertragicalhistories,werecalledbiwa-hoshi,or"lute-priests。"Theoriginofthisappellationisnotclear;butitispossiblethatitmayhavebeensuggestedbythefactthat"lute-priests"aswellasblindshampooers,hadtheirheadsshaven,likeBuddhistpriests。

Thebiwaisplayedwithakindofplectrum,calledbachi,usuallymadeofhorn。

(1)Aresponsetoshowthatonehasheardandislisteningattentively。

[4]Arespectfulterm,signifyingtheopeningofagate。Itwasusedbysamuraiwhencallingtotheguardsondutyatalord’sgateforadmission。

[5]Orthephrasemightberendered,"forthepityofthatpartisthedeepest。"TheJapanesewordforpityintheoriginaltextis"aware。"

[6]"Travelingincognito"isatleastthemeaningoftheoriginalphrase,——"makingadisguisedaugust-journey"(shinobinogo-ryoko)。

[7]TheSmallerPragna-Paramita-Hridaya-SutraisthuscalledinJapanese。

BoththesmallerandlargersutrascalledPragna-Paramita("TranscendentWisdom")havebeentranslatedbythelateProfessorMaxMuller,andcanbefoundinvolumexlix。oftheSacredBooksoftheEast("BuddhistMahayanaSutras")。——Aproposofthemagicaluseofthetext,asdescribedinthisstory,itisworthremarkingthatthesubjectofthesutraistheDoctrineoftheEmptinessofForms,——thatistosay,oftheunrealcharacterofallphenomenaornoumena……"Formisemptiness;andemptinessisform。

Emptinessisnotdifferentfromform;formisnotdifferentfromemptiness。

Whatisform——thatisemptiness。Whatisemptiness——thatisform……

Perception,name,concept,andknowledge,arealsoemptiness……Thereisnoeye,ear,nose,tongue,body,andmind……Butwhentheenvelopmentofconsciousnesshasbeenannihilated,thenhe[theseeker]becomesfreefromallfear,andbeyondthereachofchange,enjoyingfinalNirvana。"

OSHIDORI

[1]Fromancienttime,intheFarEast,thesebirdshavebeenregardedasemblemsofconjugalaffection。

[2]Thereisapatheticdoublemeaninginthethirdverse;forthesyllablescomposingthepropernameAkanuma("RedMarsh")mayalsobereadasakanu-ma,signifying"thetimeofourinseparable(ordelightful)

relation。"Sothepoemcanalsobethusrendered:——"Whenthedaybegantofail,Ihadinvitedhimtoaccompanyme……!Now,afterthetimeofthathappyrelation,whatmiseryfortheonewhomustslumberaloneintheshadowoftherushes!"——Themakomoisashortoflargerush,usedformakingbaskets。

THESTORYOFO-TEI

(1)"-sama"isapolitesuffixattachedtopersonalnames。

(2)ABuddhisttermcommonlyusedtosignifyakindofheaven。

[1]TheBuddhisttermzokumyo("profanename")signifiesthepersonalname,borneduringlife,incontradistinctiontothekaimyo("sila-name")

orhomyo("Law-name")givenafterdeath,——religiousposthumousappellationsinscribeduponthetomb,anduponthemortuarytabletintheparish-temple。——Forsomeaccountofthese,seemypaperentitled,"TheLiteratureoftheDead,"inExoticsandRetrospectives。

[2]Buddhisthouseholdshrine。

(3)DirecttranslationofaJapaneseformofaddressusedtowardyoung,unmarriedwomen。

DIPLOMACY

(1)Thespacioushouseandgroundsofawealthypersonisthuscalled。

(2)ABuddhistserviceforthedead。

OFAMIRRORANDABELL

(1)Partofpresent-dayShizuokaPrefecture。

(2)Thetwo-hourperiodbetween1AMand3AM。

(3)Amonetaryunit。

JIKININKI

(1)Thesouthernpartofpresent-dayGifuPrefecture。

[1]Literally,aman-eatinggoblin。TheJapanesenarratorgivesalsotheSanscritterm,"Rakshasa;"butthiswordisquiteasvagueasjikininki,sincetherearemanykindsofRakshasas。ApparentlythewordjikininkisignifieshereoneoftheBaramon-Rasetsu-Gaki,——formingthetwenty-sixthclassofpretasenumeratedintheoldBuddhistbooks。

[2]ASegaki-serviceisaspecialBuddhistserviceperformedonbehalfofbeingssupposedtohaveenteredintotheconditionofgaki(pretas),orhungryspirits。Forabriefaccountofsuchaservice,seemyJapaneseMiscellany。

[3]Literally,"five-circle[orfive-zone]stone。"Afuneralmonumentconsistingoffivepartssuperimposed,——eachofadifferentform,——

symbolizingthefivemysticelements:Ether,Air,Fire,Water,Earth。

MUJINA

(1)Akindofbadger。Certainanimalswerethoughttobeabletotransformthemselvesandcausemischiefforhumans。

[1]O-jochu("honorabledamsel"),apoliteformofaddressusedinspeakingtoayoungladywhomonedoesnotknow。

(2)Anapparitionwithasmooth,totallyfeaturelessface,calleda"nopperabo,"isastockpartoftheJapanesepantheonofghostsanddemons。

[2]Sobaisapreparationofbuckwheat,somewhatresemblingvermicelli。

(3)Anexclamationofannoyedalarm。

(4)Well!

ROKURO-KUBI

[1]TheperiodofEikyolastedfrom1429to1441。

[2]TheupperrobeofaBuddhistpriestisthuscalled。

(1)Present-dayYamanashiPrefecture。

(2)Atermforitinerantpriests。

[3]Asortoflittlefireplace,contrivedinthefloorofaroom,isthusdescribed。Theroisusuallyasquareshallowcavity,linedwithmetalandhalf-filledwithashes,inwhichcharcoalislighted。

(3)Directtranslationof"suzumushi,"akindofcricketwithadistinctivechirplikeatinybell,whencethename。

(4)Nowarokuro-kubiisordinarilyconceivedasagoblinwhoseneckstretchesouttogreatlengths,butwhichneverthelessalwaysremainsattachedtoitsbody。

(5)AChinesecollectionofstoriesonthesupernatural。

[4]Apresentmadetofriendsortothehouseholdonreturningfromajourneyisthuscalled。Ordinarily,ofcourse,themiyageconsistsofsomethingproducedinthelocalitytowhichthejourneyhasbeenmade:thisisthepointofKwairyo’sjest。

(6)Present-dayNaganoPrefecture。

ADEADSECRET

(1)Onthepresent-daymap,TambacorrespondsroughlytothecentralareaofKyotoPrefectureandpartofHyogoPrefecture。

[1]TheHouroftheRat(Ne-no-Koku),accordingtotheoldJapanesemethodofreckoningtime,wasthefirsthour。Itcorrespondedtothetimebetweenourmidnightandtwoo’clockinthemorning;fortheancientJapanesehourswereeachequaltotwomodernhours。

[2]Kaimyo,theposthumousBuddhistname,orreligiousname,giventothedead。Strictlyspeaking,themeaningoftheworkissila-name。(Seemypaperentitled,"TheLiteratureoftheDead"inExoticsandRetrospectives。)

YUKI-ONNA

(1)Anancientprovincewhoseboundariestookinmostofpresent-dayTokyo,andpartsofSaitamaandKanagawaprefectures。

[1]Thatistosay,withafloor-surfaceofaboutsixfeetsquare。

[2]Thisname,signifying"Snow,"isnotuncommon。OnthesubjectofJapanesefemalenames,seemypaperinthevolumeentitledShadowings。

(2)AlsospelledEdo,theformernameofTokyo。

THESTORYOFAOYAGI

(1)Anancientprovincecorrespondingtothenorthernpartofpresent-dayIshikawaPrefecture。

(2)Anancientprovincecorrespondingtotheeasternpartofpresent-dayFukuiPrefecture。

[1]Thenamesignifies"GreenWillow;"——thoughrarelymetwith,itisstillinuse。

[2]Thepoemmaybereadintwoways;severalofthephraseshavingadoublemeaning。Buttheartofitsconstructionwouldneedconsiderablespacetoexplain,andcouldscarcelyinteresttheWesternreader。ThemeaningwhichTomotadadesiredtoconveymightbethusexpressed:——"Whilejourneyingtovisitmymother,Imetwithabeinglovelyasaflower;andforthesakeofthatlovelyperson,Iampassingthedayhere……Fairone,whereforethatdawn-likeblushbeforethehourofdawn?——canitmeanthatyouloveme?"

[3]Anotherreadingispossible;butthisonegivesthesignificationoftheanswerintended。

[4]SotheJapanesestory-tellerwouldhaveusbelieve,——althoughtheversesseemcommonplaceintranslation。Ihavetriedtogiveonlytheirgeneralmeaning:aneffectiveliteraltranslationwouldrequiresomescholarship。

JIU-ROKU-ZAKURA

(1)Present-dayEhimePrefecture。

THEDREAMOFAKINOSUKE

(1)Present-dayNaraPrefecture。

[1]Thisname"Tokoyo"isindefinite。Accordingtocircumstancesitmaysignifyanyunknowncountry,——orthatundiscoveredcountryfromwhosebournnotravelerreturns,——orthatFairylandoffar-easternfable,theRealmofHorai。Theterm"Kokuo"meanstherulerofacountry,——thereforeaking。Theoriginalphrase,TokoyonoKokuo,mightberenderedhereas"theRulerofHorai,"or"theKingofFairyland。"

[2]Thelastphrase,accordingtooldcustom,hadtobeutteredbybothattendantsatthesametime。AlltheseceremonialobservancescanstillbestudiedontheJapanesestage。

[3]Thiswasthenamegiventotheestrade,ordais,uponwhichafeudalprinceorrulersatinstate。Thetermliterallysignifies"greatseat。"

RIKI-BAKA

(1)Kana:theJapanesephoneticalphabet。

(2)"So-and-so":appellationusedbyHearninplaceoftherealname。

(3)AsectionofTokyo。

[1]Asquarepieceofcotton-goods,orotherwovenmaterial,usedasawrapperinwhichtocarrysmallpackages。

(4)Tenyenisnothingnow,butwasaformidablesumthen。

INSECTSTUDIES

BUTTERFLIES

(1)Haiku。

[1]"ThemodestnymphbeheldherGod,andblushed。"(Or,inamorefamiliarrendering:"ThemodestwatersawitsGod,andblushed。")Inthislinethedoublevalueofthewordnympha——usedbyclassicalpoetsbothinthemeaningoffountainandinthatofthedivinityofafountain,orspring——remindsoneofthatgracefulplayingwithwordswhichJapanesepoetspractice。

[2]Moreusuallywrittennugi-kakeru,whichmeanseither"totakeoffandhangup,"or"tobegintotakeoff,"——asintheabovepoem。Moreloosely,butmoreeffectively,theversesmightthusberendered:"Likeawomanslippingoffherhaori——thatistheappearanceofabutterfly。"OnemusthaveseentheJapanesegarmentdescribed,toappreciatethecomparison。Thehaoriisasilkupper-dress,——akindofsleevedcloak,——wornbybothsexes;butthepoemsuggestsawoman’shaori,whichisusuallyofrichercolorormaterial。Thesleevesarewide;andtheliningisusuallyofbrightly-coloredsilk,oftenbeautifullyvariegated。Intakingoffthehaori,thebrilliantliningisdisplayed,——andatsuchaninstanttheflutteringsplendormightwellbelikenedtotheappearanceofabutterflyinmotion。

[3]Thebird-catcher’spoleissmearedwithbird-lime;andtheversessuggestthattheinsectispreventingthemanfromusinghispole,bypersistentlygettinginthewayofit,——asthebirdsmighttakewarningfromseeingthebutterflylimed。Jamasurumeans"tohinder"or"prevent。"

[4]Evenwhileitisresting,thewingsofthebutterflymaybeseentoquiveratmoments,——asifthecreatureweredreamingofflight。

[5]AlittlepoembyBasho,greatestofallJapanesecomposersofhokku。

Theversesareintendedtosuggestthejoyousfeelingofspring-time。

[6]Literally,"awindlessday;"buttwonegativesinJapanesepoetrydonotnecessarilyimplyanaffirmative,asinEnglish。Themeaningis,thatalthoughthereisnowind,theflutteringmotionofthebutterfliessuggests,totheeyesatleast,thatastrongbreezeisplaying。

[7]AlludingtotheBuddhistproverb:Rakkwaedanikaerazu;ha-kyofutatabiterasazu("Thefallenflowerreturnsnottothebranch;thebrokenmirrorneveragainreflects。")Sosaystheproverb——yetitseemedtomethatIsawafallenflowerreturntothebranch……No:itwasonlyabutterfly。

[8]Alludingprobablytothelightflutteringmotionoffallingcherry-petals。

[9]Thatistosay,thegraceoftheirmotionmakesonethinkofthegraceofyounggirls,daintilycostumed,inrobeswithlongflutteringsleeves……

AndoldJapaneseproverbdeclaresthatevenadevilisprettyateighteen:

Onimojiu-hachiazaminohana:"Evenadevilateighteen,flower-of-the-thistle。"

[10]Orperhapstheversesmightbemoreeffectivelyrenderedthus:"Happytogether,doyousay?Yes——ifweshouldberebornasfield-butterfliesinsomefuturelife:thenwemightaccord!"ThispoemwascomposedbythecelebratedpoetIssa,ontheoccasionofdivorcinghiswife。

[11]Or,Tarenotama?[Digitizer’snote:Hearn’snotecallsattentiontoanalternativereadingoftheideogramfor"spirit"or"soul。"]

[12]Literally,"Butterfly-pursingheartIwishtohavealways;’——i。e。,IwouldthatImightalwaysbeabletofindpleasureinsimplethings,likeahappychild。

[13]Anoldpopularerror,——probablyimportedfromChina。

[14]Anamesuggestedbytheresemblanceofthelarva’sartificialcoveringtothemino,orstraw-raincoat,wornbyJapanesepeasants。Iamnotsurewhetherthedictionaryrendering,"basket-worm,"isquitecorrect;——butthelarvacommonlycalledminomushidoesreallyconstructforitselfsomethingmuchlikethecoveringofthebasket-worm。

(2)Averylarge,whiteradish。"Daikon"literallymeans"bigroot。"

[15]Pyrusspectabilis。

[16]Anevilspirit。

(3)Acommonfemalename。

MOSQUITOES

(1)Meiji:TheperiodinwhichHearnwrotethisbook。Itlastedfrom1868

to1912,andwasatimewhenJapanplungedhead-firstintoWestern-stylemodernization。Bythe"fashionsandthechangesandthedisintegrationsofMeiji"HearnislamentingthatthisprocessofmodernizationwasdestroyingsomeofthegoodthingsintraditionalJapaneseculture。

ANTS

(1)Cicadas。

[1]AninterestingfactinthisconnectionisthattheJapanesewordforant,ari,isrepresentedbyanideographformedofthecharacterfor"insect"combinedwiththecharactersignifying"moralrectitude,"

"propriety"(giri)。SotheChinesecharacteractuallymeans"ThePropriety-Insect。"

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