HOME松室八千三系 > 『昔噺金太郎』(Mukashibanashi Kintaro)
 
The Story of Kintaro
MATSUMURO'S CREPE-PAPER BOOK


 
 
 
 
Matsumuro Yachizo Version 1900(Meiji 33)
Catalogue No. 181
 
『昔噺金太郎』(Mukashibanashi Kintaro
訳者:林弘之(Translator : Hiroyuki Hayashi)
絵師:不明(Illustrator : anonymous)
出版者:松室八千三(Publisher : Yachizo Matsumuro)

 
■ あらすじ 
  昔々、相模の国の足柄山に、山姥<やまんば>とその息子の金太郎が暮らしていた。金太郎は力の強い男の子で、鉞<まさかり>をおもちゃにして、熊、鹿、野兎、猿などと共に遊んでいた。ある日、橋のない川を渡るために、巨大な木を引き抜き、それを橋にして渡った。その様子を見ていた碓井貞光<うすいさだみつ>が、金太郎の腕力と勇敢さを認め、自分が仕える武士の源頼光<みなもとのらいこう>の家来として取りたてた。
金太郎はその後、坂田金時として頼光の四天王の一人と呼ばれる
ほどの活躍を見せ、大江山の鬼退治や土蜘蛛<つちぐも>退治で有名になった。

 
注釈
 童謡にもなっている有名な「金太郎」の話だが、長谷川弘文社の
ちりめん本の昔噺シリーズには入っておらず、民俗学的には昔話の
部類に入らないことが多い。坂田金時という実在の人物を扱っている
点でも、昔話と認知されている『桃太郎』などとは少し異なっている
ためであろう。この松室八千三<やちぞう>の昔噺シリーズは、現時点
で10冊が確認されているが、長谷川弘文社のものと並べて紹介した
他の9冊と同様、林弘之の英訳で挿絵は少なく、筋が細かいのが特徴である。
 
 
Outline of this story
 Long ago, on Mt. Ashigara in the province of Sagami (i.e., present-day Kanagawa Prefecture), there lived a Yamanba(i.e., a mountain witch) and her son Kintaro. Kintaro was a strong little boy; he handled a large axe like a toy and played with wild animals such as bears, deer, hares, and monkeys. One day, he uprooted a huge tree and used it as a bridge to get across a river. This act was witnessed by Sadamitsu Usui, who recruited Kintaro to be a retainer for his lord, Minamoto no Raiko, in recognition of his power and courage. Thereafter, Kintaro took the name Sakata-no-Kintoki and accomplished feats that made him known as one of the "Raiko’s four followers." He became famed for his part in the conquest of the ogres on Mt. Oyeyama and slaying of the giant spider.
 
■ Note
 The popular story of Kintaro also provided material for children's songs, but it was not included in the Crepe-paper book series of Japanese tales published by Hasegawa Kobunsha. Many folklorists do not classify it as a genuine folk tale. This is probably because, while taking up a historical figure in Sakata, it differs only slightly from the story of Momotaro or other heroes. Thus far, ten volumes have been confirmed as belonging to this series of tales published by Yachizo Matsumuro. Like the other nine volumes mentioned along with the series by Hasegawa Kobunsha, this one has an English translation by Hiroyuki Hayashi, few illustrations, and a story with an elaborate plot.