Hakumai Castle

This is one of the legends about the fall of a castle. When a castle on a mountain was surrounded by enemies and cut off from water, to show that there was an abundance of water, rice was poured on horses to make it look like they were washing them, or rice was dropped from a cliff to make it look like a waterfall. However, sparrows came to peck at the rice, and old women and others informed the enemy, revealing the plot, and the castle was finally captured. Many people have passed this story on as a historical fact, citing the fact that burnt rice was excavated from the castle ruins. However, with nearly 100 examples of this legend reported from all over the country, it is hard to believe that it is true. There are many examples recorded in local military records, and it is thought that there were people with special jobs who told this legend. Given the tragic aspect of the people who held grudges after the fall of the castle, and the informers being killed, it is thought that the legend was told by shrine maidens to appease their ghosts. As for the burnt rice that was excavated, it is likely that the place where it occurred was a sacred ritual site and that it was used as an offering to the gods.

[Junichi Nomura]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

落城を説く伝説の一つ。山上の城が敵に包囲され水の手を断たれたとき、水の豊富なことを示すために馬に白米をかけ、あたかも水で馬を洗う姿に似せたり、崖(がけ)上から白米を落として滝に見せかけて欺こうとする。しかし雀(すずめ)がそれをついばみにきたり、老女などが密告したりして策略がばれ、ついに落城の憂き目にあうという内容である。その城址(じょうし)から焼き米が出土するという事実をあげて、歴史的事実と伝承する向きが多い。しかし全国各地からの100例近い伝承報告からして、とうてい事実とは認めがたい。地方の軍談記類に記録されている例も多く、この伝説を語っていた特殊な職掌の人たちがいたと考えられる。落城で恨みを残していった人々、また密告者も斬殺(ざんさつ)されるという悲劇的な様相から、その亡霊を慰撫(いぶ)するために巫女(みこ)などが語ったのではないかと想像される。なお出土する焼き米については、その場所が神聖な祭祀(さいし)場であって、神への供物として用いられたものであろう。

［野村純一］

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