TOKUGAWA YORINOBU CONCEALS A MISTAKE BY HIS CLEVERNESS
徳川頼宣は自身の機転によって一つのミスを隠しました。
Tokugawa Yorinobu had a kakemono of the writing of Kyodo that was one of the treasures of the Empire, and the Roju expressed a whish to be allowed to see it.
徳川頼宣は家宝であるＫｙｏｄｏ筆の掛け物を所持していて、ある日、一人の老中が拝見を所望しました。
• The reason for Kyodo's writing being so much prized was this, Before Shuko was entrusted by the Shogun Yoshimasa with the preparation of the rules of Tea it is related that he made Tea for his mastered the great Zen priest Ikkyu of the Daitokuji and asked for his opinion about it.
Ｋｙｏｄｏ筆の掛け物が尊重されたのは、足利義政に厚遇された村田珠光が点茶法を定めた事に由来します。珠光は大徳寺の一休禅師に教えを受け、禅味を茶に加え侘茶の祖と言われています。
“Tea opens the eyes of the mind,” said Ikkyu, “and therefore is a great help in Zen meditation.” And he presented him with a writing by Kyodo Zenji of the Keizanji in China , which was one of his most cherished possessions, and Shuko hung it up in his cell and drank his tea in front of it. (Cha-no-yu Shiori.)
「茶は心の目を開く」と一休禅師、「それは禅の思想による。」そして一番大切にしていた中国ＫｅｉｚａｎｊｉのＫｙｏｄｏ禅師の書を彼へ進呈しました。村田珠光は部屋にその書を掛け、その前て茶を飲みました。（茶の湯栞）
• Rojyu=The Shogun's Council.
老中とは直属の部下。
• Gongen Sama=Tokugawa Ieyasu.
権現様とは徳川家康のこと。
Yorinobu gladly assented and appointed a day on which he would receive them at a Cha-no-yu at his detached residence by the Akasaka Gate.
頼宣は快諾し、赤坂邸でのその茶の湯の日取りを決めました。
At the time arranged they all presented themselves and were received at the gate of the inner Roji by Miura Nagato-no-kami Tametoki as the representative of the host and conducted to the Tea-room.
当日全員が集まり、三浦長門守為時に促され露地へ入り茶室へ案内されました。
Yorinobu was just going through to meet them by the entrance from the residence, when he passed through the adjoining reception room and noticed the famous picture taken out of its box and lying on the shelf of the chigai-dana there.
頼宣がゲストに会うべくお屋敷から渡廊下に出て隣の応接間にさしかかり、ふと部屋のちがい棚に置いてある箱が開けられていて中の有名な絵が持ち出されている気が付きました。
In astonishment he called the Gogu-Bugyo, the official in charge of the tea utensils, and Sen Sosa, the Master of Tea, and questioned them about it.
びっくりして道具奉行、その日の道具係り、茶匠千宗左を呼び訳を尋ねました。
They explained that a mistake had been made and another kakemono hung in the Tea-room instead.
彼らは間違えて違う掛け物を茶室に掛けてしまったようです。
Yorinobu reported them sharply, but it seemed that the hitch could not well be corrected, when their lord's quickness found a way out of the difficulty.
頼宣は間違いを厳しく叱責しましたが、今更差し替えるのは難しいと判断しました。
Without the least flurry or hesitation he sent Watanabe Wakasa-no-kami Naotsuna with this massage to the waiting guests.
最小限混乱を避けるため渡辺若狭守直綱にメッセージを伝え、茶席の客人達の所へ向かわせました。
“Since the kakemono that I am about to show you was given to me by Gongen Sama with his own hand, it would not be proper to have it hanging in the Tokonoma as usual.
「通常の作法ではありませんが、権現様より賜りました掛け物を殿自ら床にお掛けする趣向でございます。
I will therefore bring it in and hang it ceremonially myself, and since it would not look well to receive you in a room with an empty Tokonoma, I have hung another picture there for the time.”
よりまして、それまで床がさびしゅうございますので私が代わりに違う掛け物をお掛けいたしております。」
All the Roju bowed assent to this, considering it a very proper sentiment.
老中が礼し、皆納得しました。
Naotsuna then announced: “The Master of Tea will enter and remove the kakemono,” and Sen Sosa came in with the notched bamboo used for this purpose and took down the picture.
直綱は「それではこれから茶匠が掛け物を交換いたします」と言いました。そして千宗左が竹の矢筈をもって茶室に入り、掛かっていた絵を片付けました。
Then Yorinobu himself entered quietly with the famous Kyodo in his hand and the bamboo in his right and hung it in its place, after which he proceeded to serve them with tea.
そして頼宣が自ら Kyoudo の軸を携え静かに入室、矢筈を右手に持ちそれを床に掛け、そして茶を点てました。
And in all this his demeanor was an unrehearsed incident.
この振る舞いは一つの秘話として残っています。
Now Hosokawa Tadaoki had been a fellow student of Cha-no-yu with Yorinobu when they were young as had also Sanada Nobuyuki, Tachibana Muneshige, and Date Masamune, and when he was old Tadaoki asked Watanabe Naotsuna, Yorinobu's chief retainer, if he could manage to arrange for him to see this famous writing of Kyodo, for he was now leaving the city for his own province, and as he was now old and infirm it was doubtful if he would live to come up again.
細川忠興は頼宣とともに茶の湯を修練者、真田信行、橘宗重、伊達政宗なども同様でした。忠興は晩年、頼宣の側近である渡辺尚綱に Kyodo の掛け軸を拝見したい旨を依頼しました。領地に帰り隠居することとなり身、高齢な故もう再びの上洛は無理と思っていたからです。
Yorinobu willingly assented and fixed a day to receive him, but when Tadaoki arrived and was shown into the Tearoom he was surprised and disappointed to see another writing by Seishun, and not the Kyodo he was expecting.
頼宣は快諾し拝見の日時を定めました。が、忠興が訪れて拝見するはずの茶室に入ると、床には所望した Kyodo ではなく Seishun 筆の軸が掛けてありました。
However, he showed no sign of what he felt in his face, and when Yorinobu served him the tea he said in explanation: “I am very sorry that I have not got here the writing that you came especially to see. I did not tell you before because I feared you would not come if I did, but I hope you will forgive the deceit.”
びっくりしましたが、彼は何食わぬ顔で着座し頼宣は彼に茶を立てました。そして「大変申し訳ないがあえてご期待にはそえる事といたしました。もう二度と会えぬなどと言わずに、再び会って Kyodo の掛け軸をお見せする事を約束しましょう。」
Tadaoki certainly had been looking forward to see it, but he answered cheerfully enough, “Oh, that's of no consequence. I will see it another time.”
忠興はそれを強く望むように見えましたが、楽観視するように「わかりませぬが、次回を楽しみにいたします。」と答えました。
After some further conversation he rose and the Tea-room and as he was just entering the corridor between the Black reception room and the White Wood reception room, Watanabe Naotsuna appeared at the door with a box from which he produced the famous Kyodo writing and presented it to Tadaoki, kneeling as he did so.
建設的な会話に陽気な二人に、のち忠興は茶室を出て黒と白の応接の間の廊下を渡っていた時、渡辺尚綱が木箱を携え現れました。正座しそれを差し出し Kyodo の掛け軸だと説明しながら忠興に進呈しました。
Tadaoki quarted down where he was and Watanabe said: “When you told me lately that you did not think your age would allow you to come again to Edo and so you wished to see this Kyodo now, I thought it was rather an ill-omened speech, and so in order to suggest instead a happy augury for the future we did not show you the picture. That we will do properly when next you come to Edo and we welcome you in good health and spirits. All the same, if you would care to took at it informally I will hang it up in this room, for that is why I brought it here.”
忠興は膝をつきそして渡辺が言いました「貴殿が私に年齢的にもう江戸に来るとは出来ないと考え Kyodo の掛け軸を見たいとおっしゃいました。私どもはそのお言葉を考えて、これは未来に向かい元気でいただく為にはあえてお見せしない方が良いと思いました。貴殿が再び江戸へ来られて、そして私どもがそのご健康を祝す事だと思います。ですが、あえて非公式ではありますが、どうしても見たいお心も察しておりまして、この部屋に飾ろうと思ってございます。」
This speech and its sentiment pleased Tadaoki immensely and he took the writing and handed it back as it was without looking at it with the answer: “I can hardly find words suitable to reply to your most kind and graceful suggestion. This shall certainly not be the last time I come to Edo , and I will as surely give myself the pleasure of visiting you and inspecting this picture.”
その心使いに忠興は感激し、掛け軸を渡辺へ戻し言いました「見たい気持ちを持ち続けて再びこの場へ参上つかまつる事が、皆さんのお心にお答えするものと存じます。私は江戸への再訪を誓い、貴殿とこの絵に会う事を楽しみといたしましょう。」
And he was as good as his word, for the next year he came up again and Yorinobu invited him and they spent a most enjoyable time with the Kyodo in the place of honor.
その言葉通り、忠興は翌年に上洛し頼宣を訪れ Kyodo の掛け軸とともに素晴しい時間を過しました。
Tokugawa Yorinobu had a Katatsuki Tea-caddy that was presented to him by his father Ieyasu and was considered to be one of the three first treasures of the Empire, and he naturally took great care of it and valued it highly.
徳川頼宣は父家康より拝領の肩衝茶入を持っていて徳川家宝物の一つに数えられ、もちろんとても大切にしていました。
Once at the time of the Midsummer Airing of the storehouses a certain Ando Hikoshiro Shigeyoshi approached of the official in charge and asked him to allow him to see this famous Tea-caddy on the quiet.
ある真夏の日、 Ando Hikoshiro Shigeyoshi という人物が保管庫を訪れ、その肩衝茶入を見たいと言いました。
This Shigeyoshi was the son of Ando Tatewaki Naotsugu, but was a great tippler and on this occasion also he was very drunk and exhaled the odor of sake like a cloud.
Shigeyoshi は Ando Tatewaki Naoysuna の子息、大酒呑みでその日も酔っ払って醜態を曝していました。
Consequently the official feared that something untoward might happen and tried to put him off.
当然保管庫番は承諾するはずもなく、彼を追う払おうとしました。
“This is not quite the proper place for you,” he said “it would be better if you went away.”
「おぬしにが来る場所ではござらぬ」彼は言い「お引取り下され」と言いました。
But, with the persistence of the drunken, Shigeyoshi would not be denied.
しかし酔っ払いは言う事を聞こうなどとはしません。
“That I should be a retainer of this house and never have seen it and I have to say no, then it make me feel a great fool.
「わしはこの家に仕えているが見たことがござらぬが今まで黙っておった、ばか者とお思いか。
Pray starch a point and let me have a look at it.”
このとうりでござる見せて下され。」
The official did not like to refuse any longer, so impressing on him that he must not say anything about it, he took him into a room and was going to show it to him when Shigeyoshi, who was so drunk that he could not walk steadily, suddenly fell over no top of the Tea-caddy and the hilt of his sword struck it and broke it.
倉庫番はこれ以上断りきれなくなり、何を言っても聞かない様子、 Shigeyoshi を中に入れ茶入の場所に案内しました。彼は泥酔状態でまともに歩くことは出来ずに、、案の定、彼の刀の柄が茶入にあたり棚から落下して割れてしまいました。
The official in great consternation went to his father Naotsugu and told him all about it, and he also in his turn was greatly troubled and repeated the tale to Miura Nagato-no-kami Tametoki the Karo of Yorinobu.
真っ青な倉庫番は彼の父の尚綱の所へ行き報告、彼はうろたえ頼宣の家老である三浦長門守為時に顛末を話しました。
When he reported it to his lord, Yorinobu said, “Have you the fragments?” and being told that they had, he ordered, “Then stick them together with lacquer.”
家老が頼宣へ報告すると「破片は在るのか？」、確認する在りました。「では漆で修繕だな」と言いました。
As he said no more Tametoki asked what kind of reprimand should be administered to Shigeyoshi.
そして頼宣は為時に対し、重義の叱責や処分は一切口にしませんでした。
Yorinobu smiled. “Even if the Tea-caddy is one of the three treasures of the Empire and was presented to me by my father it will not shoot an arrow or a bullet on the battlefield or wield a spear or a halberd.
頼宣は微笑み「この茶入は父家康より頂いた宝、当家の三大家宝の一つ。戦場で矢や弾丸、槍や斧を掻い潜って来た。
And if you proclaim there, ‘ Make way for one of the Three Treasures of the Empire! ' I don't think anyone will be very frightened.
言い換えれば“徳川幕府三つの宝の一つを作った者！”それはゆるがない。
Shigeyoshi may be a great tippler, but he is a man you can rely on in a fight, so let him alone.”
重義は大酒呑であるが、戦場の英雄である者ゆえすべてが勝る。」
Shigeyoshi eventually fell fighting fiercely in the Summer Campaign at Osaka .
重義は大阪夏の陣では勇猛果敢に戦ったそうです。
And since at this time Yorinobu was not more than fourteen years old his discrimination was remarkable for his age.
四十歳前の頼宣の対応は特筆しべきものが有ります。
Tokugawa Yorinobu had in his garden a stone lantern made by Kobori Enshu, and Sakai Tadakatsu, hearing of this, asked if he could see it.
徳川頼宣は庭に小堀遠州監修の燈篭があり、酒井忠勝という人物が拝見を望みました。
Yorinobu assented and immediately ordered his landscape gardener Yamamoto Dosaku and Kamada Teiun to put the garden in order and make some alterations in it.
頼宣は快諾しお抱え庭師の山本道作、鎌田帝雲両名へ庭の手入れと修正を指示しました。
Now the Tea Master of the Kishu house, Sen Sosa, happened to be indisposed, and Senga Doen was also unable to be in attendance, so that the two gardeners Doshku and Teiun had to side the arrangement of the lantern by themselves.
紀州徳川家の茶匠は千宗左でしたが病の為これませんでした。 Senga Doen と言う茶人も都合が悪く欠席となり、結局 Dosaku と Teiun と言う庭師二人が灯篭を扱う事になりました。
When they had examined it they went to the Bugyo Kageyama Uemon and told him that they thought the sun and moon shaped windows in the sides of the head were too small for the present taste and requested that he would have them enlarged.
彼らが庭をいじり始めしばらくして、奉行の景山右衛門の所に赴き、お日様とお月様の光の関係でこの灯篭の窓が少し小さいので大きくしたい旨を進言しました。
The Bugyo gave no particular thought to the affair but ordered a stone mason to make the windows larger according to the design of the gardeners, and when this had been done and the lantern put in the proper position, he reported on it to his lord.
奉行は疑念を持たずに庭師達の話を許可しました。そして、灯篭は削られ元の位置に戻され殿様に事後報告されました。
Yorinobu came out and inspected it, and when he saw the windows he at once asked the Bugyo what was the meaning of it.
頼宣はやってきて窓を見て奉行にこれはどう言うことかと尋ねます。
“That was done to the design of Dosaku and Teiun,” replied that official.
「 Dosaku と Teiun が修正いたしました」と答えると。
Yorinobu's face suddenly hardened.
頼宣の顔が強張りました。
“What is the use of a Bugyo, then?” he demanded.
「奉行が裁量したと申すか？」と詰問。
“If they did say it was to be done, why was I not told about it?
「我に相談もなく、彼らの言う通りにしたと申すか？」
You have allowed a splendid stone lantern like this to be damaged so that it is no longer of any use.
「そちがこの様に灯篭の穴を広げた許可をし傷を付けてしまって使えなくなってしまった。」
I never heard anything like the insolent clumsiness of these two gardeners who dare to later the work of a master like Kobori Enshu.
「小堀遠州候指示の仕事を無視した二人の無礼千万な庭師など聞いたことがないわ。」
And I have arranged for the lord Sakai to come and see it soon.
「近々佐々木殿をお迎えしご覧頂かなければならないのにだぞ。」
It will be difficult to alter it in so short a time.”
「整えなおすには時間が足りないではないか。」
And laying his hand on his sword he ejaculated; “Uemon, you dolt, what is the use of you?”
刀に手をかけ「右衛門、この間抜けめいかがいたすか？」
And the Bugyo, springing back in dismay, flung himself to the ground and crouched with his forehead to the earth.
奉行は転がるように庭に飛び降り、頭を地面に擦り付ける様に土下座しました。
But Yorinobu shut his eyes and thought deeply for a while.
そして、頼宣は目を閉じ、しばらく考えをめぐらせています。
Then he summoned Kano Gorozaemon Naotsune and put the question to him, “You see this fine lantern is unfortunately damaged in this way.
そして、加納五郎左衛門尚恒を呼び、彼へ「残念ながらこの灯篭は損傷を被ってしまった。」
Well, when I went up to Kyoto with my father I ordered this lantern from Kobori Enshu, and thinking that it would be as well to have two, I brought one down here with me, and the other I had put into a bamboo thicket in the detached residence at Kogawa in Kishu.
「しかし、私がそちの父と京都へ行って小堀遠州殿へ灯篭作りを願いした折、たしか二個頼んだ覚えがある。一つは私と共にここへ、もう一つは紀州の粉河の別邸の竹やぶへ据えた覚えがあるが、、」
Now what do you think? Can we get that one brought here in time?”
「そちはどう思う、期日内に此処へ運べると思うか？」
“Indeed you showed great foresight in having two made, my lord,” answered Naotsune, “and it is by no means impossible to get it here if you use a whale-boat and picked men.”
「さすが殿！確かに二つ作り申した」と尚恒「舟と運ぶ人手があれば出来ると存じます。」
So they sent a fleet messenger to Kishu and the officials there put the stone lantern into a whale-boot in charge of the best seamen they could find and sent it to Edo .
すぐさま早馬が紀州へ向かい、そして紀州ではその灯篭を捕鯨船に積み込み達者な船員と共に江戸へ向かいました。
The sailors plied the oars by night and day and fortunately the weather was favorable so that it was not long before they landed it at Hatcho-bori, and there Sosa had it put into a cart and brought to tha Akasaka residence.
船員達は昼夜なく漕ぎ続け、幸いにして天候も良く、敏速に八丁堀へ着岸しました。そして、荷車に載せかえられ赤坂の紀州屋敷へ送られたのです。
There Yorinobu came out and inspected it, and as it had been in the bamboo thicket for more than twenty years exposed to all the rain and dew, it had acquired a fine mellow antique appearance and become overgrown with fine moss so that it might have been of any age, and was in every day far more interesting than the other.
頼宣は早速やってきて見聞、竹林の中風雨に晒された二十年という歳月がその時代を醸し出し、苔むした石肌が他と比べ物にならないくらい素晴らしい物となっていました。
Yorinobu was naturally delighted and so were Sosa, Naotsune and Doen, for had it not been for their master's foresight the retainer's energy would have been of little use.
頼宣をはじめ宗左、尚恒、道園皆が感激しました。それは卓越した達人の所有管理することなど及びもつかないほどの業だったのです。
Sakai Tadakatsu came in due time and was overcome with admiration at the appearance of the lantern.
その後、佐々木忠勝がやって来て感嘆したのは言うまでもありませんでした。
The Tea shelf called Matsu-no-ki-dai was a great treasure of the Kishu house handed down from Yorinobu's father Ieyasu.
紀州徳川家には父である家康公より贈られた「松木台」と言う天目台がありました。
One day Mito Komon Yorifusa and Owari Asho Mitsutomo, the heads of the other two chief Tokugawa houses, came visit Yorinobu.
ある時、徳川御三家の水戸徳川家の水戸頼房、尾張徳川家の尾張光友が紀州徳川家の徳川頼宣を訪ねました。
Yorifusa was his younger brother and Mitsutomo his nephew.
頼房は弟で光友は甥にあたります。
After some conversation the two asked him if they could see this famous heirloom and he replied that he would be most pleased to show it to them, but that it was not correct to bring out a thing like that quite casually, so he would let them see it properly in a Cha-no-yu.
しばらく会話した後、二人は以前拝見し感動した先祖伝来の家宝である天目台を見たいと言いました。この事はあくまでも思いつきであり正式では有りませんでしたが、頼宣は茶の湯の支度をして見せる事にしました。
He then called his Tea Master Sen Sosa and he served the tea from the precious shelf.
彼はまず茶匠である千宗左を呼び、その家宝の天目台で茶を馳走しました。
When he had finished, Yorinobu said, “Allow me to introduce to you Sen Sosa, grandson of the great Sen Rikyu, and like him also a great Tea Master, of whom you may have heard.”
一連の所作が終わると頼宣は「千宗左殿についてご紹介をします。すでに聞き及んでいるとはおもいますが、千利休居士のご長男でこれまた偉大な茶匠であります。」
“The fame of Sen Sosa has already reached our ears,” said the two great lords, greeting him politely, “he is, as you say, a great Tea Master.
「千宗左殿のことはすでに我々の耳に入っておりまする。」二人の殿様は言うと丁寧に挨拶をして、「おっしゃったと通りの素晴しい茶匠ですね。」
We are pleased to meet him.”
会いできて光栄でござる」と言いました。
Sosa was so overcome by the courtesy extended to him by the three greatest daimyos in the Empire that he could hardly restrain his feelings as he bowed low and retired.
宗左は将軍御三家大名たちの賛辞に気絶するほど感動してしまい、ただただ恐縮し礼をして退席したのでした。
It was once reported to Yorinobu that a certain retainer of his whose income was only three hundred koku had paid three ryo of gold for a kakemono.
ある時、頼宣候に一つの報告がなされました。それは３百石取の家来が一幅の掛け物購入に三両もの金子を払ったと言うものでした。
Considering the expenditure excessive he ordered the Metsuke to investigate.
過度の買い物に対し目付けに対して調べるように命令がなされました。
These officials told him that they found that the report was quite true, upon which Yorinobu questioned them about the condition of his horses and men, his arms and his military reputation.
調べてみるとどうやら本当の話らしく、報告を聞いた頼宣候はその家来の馬の状態と武士としての評判をききました。
His horses, retainers and arms, they told him, were all in good order and above the average in quality, while he was himself a soldier of outstanding ability and keenness.
彼の馬、武士としての腕前などの報告はすべて上々で、戦士としても鋭敏で秀出ているとの事でした。
“In that case,” said Yorinobu, “he is quite justified in spending some time and money on pictures and Cha-no-yu.
「この場合」頼宣候は言いました。「彼は茶の湯と絵画に時間とお金をかけたかったのだろう。」
If he has a guest from another province it would be strange if he had nothing in his tokonoma or only some religious text.
「もし彼が他国より客人を招くとして、床の間に信じる言葉など何も無かったら変であろう。」
I do not mind anyone buying pictures or writings as long as he does his duty as a soldier.
「私は彼が武士として絵画や墨蹟を買う事は一つも変には思わない。」
Only he should not go to excess.”
「過分と言う事はない。」
So this retainer's soldierly qualities probably saved his neck.
この言葉により彼の武士としての身分は続いたのでした。
An instance to the contrary was that of Imagawa Ujizane lord of Suruga who neglected the military arts for Cha-no-yu and other amusement.
逆の例として、駿河の大名である今川氏真がいます。彼は武士の茶の湯美術や価値基準に否定的でした。
One of his officers, a certain Mitamura, gave three thousand kawnme for a Tea-bowl, and his lord praised his taste, observing that such a thing was more meritorious than seven exploits in battle.
家来の一人三村何がしという者は三千貫目の価値茶碗を拝領しましたが、氏真は七度の戦働の手柄としては過ぎていると付け加えたそうです。
Needless to say the Imagawa clan soon came to the ground.
言うまでもありませんが、その今川の家来はすぐ戦場へ帰って行きました。
When Yorinobu retired and handed over the headship of the family to his son the Chunagon Mitsusada, he left his famous tea utensils and arms to his second Yorizumi.
頼宣候は引退した時に家督を長男の中納言光貞に譲りました。そして、主な茶道具や武具は次男の頼純に譲りました。
His Councilor Watanabe Naotsuna complained that this did not seem fair, especially in the case of the tea utensils, because the head of the clan would have the important guests to entertain.
老中の渡辺尚綱はそれは公平ではないと、特に茶道具は客人等を招いた時に必要なのでと反対しました。
“Perhaps so,” replied Yorinobu with a laugh, “But the younger son will probably be hard up for money and will then ask hid elder brother to assist him.
「そうではあるが、、」頼宣候は笑いながら、「次男はもしお金が必要になった時に兄に援助を頼むであろう。」
And should this assistance be difficult to obtain, he can anyhow get money advanced on these treasures, and thus they will return to the main famly while Yorizumi will get the money.”
「単なる援助が難しい時に彼はこの宝物を売ればよろしい。結局の所、宝物は紀州徳川に戻り頼純にはお金が入る事になるではないか。」