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英語:“Remains of possible ancient dwelling of empress found in Kyoto”
Postholes and other archaeological remains that are believed to be from a dwelling for the empress at the Japanese imperial family’s official residence have been found in the ancient capital of Kyoto.
The remains appear to have been from the Tokaden pavilion, which served as a dwelling for the empress and female palace attendants, and is also mentioned in Heian literature, including “The Tale of Genji” and “The Pillow Book.” It was part of the emperor’s official residence located in the ancient Japanese capital and administrative center of Heian-kyo, as Kyoto was known during the Heian period (794-1185).
The postholes and other remains are thought to be from the time that the capital was moved to Heian-kyo toward the end of the 8th century. It is the first time that remains from a building that was evidently part of the Heian-kyo imperial residence have been discovered.
The remains were unearthed during excavation work in the city’s Kamigyo Ward, carried out in 2015 by the Kyoto City Archaeological Research Institute, ahead of the construction of a group home, and the institute compiled its findings in a report.
The emperor’s private residence is said to have stretched for about 182 meters from west to east, and some 226 meters from north to south, comprising 17 pavilions, among other structures. The excavation took place in the northwest part of the residence, which is believed to have housed the Tokaden pavilion as well as the Kokiden pavilion situated to its south. During the excavation, five holes with diameters of between 1.2 and 1.5 meters were found running from the north to south, with a distance of around 3 to 2.1 meters between each of them. According to the investigation, the holes were used to bury pillars in the ground without placing foundation stones
The research institute consulted a document from the Edo period (1603-1867), which detailed the positioning of the palace buildings, and determined that the holes had been located at the southwest section of the Tokaden pavilion, which extended about 12 meters from west to east, and about 27 meters from north to south.
Furthermore, an arrangement of stones forming an L-shaped ditch, which was used to carry off rainwater from the roof, was discovered in the southwest corner of the Tokaden, and a similar ditch was also found in the northern part of the Kokiden pavilion. A foundation stone was placed between the stone ditches, which may be traces of a corridor that connected the two buildings. The ditches are thought to be remains from the 10th century or later, after the original building was rebuilt using the method of placing pillars on foundation stones.
Emperor Kanmu, who established Japan’s capital at Heian-kyo in 794, was devoted to the culture of the Tang Dynasty in China. It is accordingly believed that major buildings at the time were constructed by placing pillars on foundation stones, which was a method that was introduced from China. The investigation at the site indicates that the Japanese traditional method of not using foundation stones was also adopted for Heian-kyo.
A representative of the research institute commented, “There is great significance in finding remains from a building from the time of the establishment of the ancient capital in Kyoto. This is first-class material.”
The postholes and other archaeological remains that were found have already been backfilled.
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日本語:“平安京の内裏で明確な建物跡初確認 皇后らが住んだ登華殿か”
平安京の中枢部で天皇が居住した「内裏(だいり)」にあり、中宮(皇后)らが住んだ「登華殿(とうかでん)」の遺構とみられる柱穴などが、京都市上京区で市埋蔵文化財研究所が行った発掘調査で確認された。8世紀末に遷都された当時の遺構とみられ、平安京の内裏で明確な建物跡が見つかったのは初めて。
発掘調査はグループホーム建設に伴って2015年に実施され、同研究所が報告書にまとめた。
内裏は東西約182メートル、南北約226メートルの区画で17の御殿などがあったとされる。調査地は内裏の北西部に位置し、皇后や女官らが住んだ登華殿、その南側の弘徽(こき)殿があったと推定される場所。調査の結果、礎石を置かず地中に柱を埋める「掘っ立て柱」の穴跡(直径1・2~1・5メートル)が南北に並ぶ形で、約3メートル~2・1メートル間隔で五つ見つかった。
同研究所は建物の詳しい配置を記した江戸時代の文献「大内裏図考証」と照合するなどし、柱穴は東西約12メートル、南北約27メートルあった登華殿の西南部分と判断した。
また、登華殿の西南隅で、屋根の雨水を受ける石組みの雨落ち溝をL字状に確認。さらに弘徽殿の北側でも雨落ち溝が見つかった。その間には礎石があり、二つの建物をつなぐ渡り廊下の遺構の可能性がある。溝などは10世紀以降、当初の建物が礎石に柱を立てる方式で建て替えられた後の遺構と考えられるという。
794年に遷都した桓武天皇は中国・唐の文化に傾倒していたことなどから、主要な建物は礎石の上に柱を立てる中国伝来の方法で建設されたとみられていた。調査結果は、それ以前の平城京や長岡京と同様、伝統的な掘っ立て柱方式も採用されていたことを示す。
同研究所の担当者は「(後世に市街開発が進んだ)京都で平安遷都当初の建物遺構が見つかった意義は大きい。一級の資料だ」としている。遺構は既に埋め戻されている。
登華殿、弘徽殿は「枕草子」や「源氏物語」にも記述があり、平安宮廷文学の舞台としても知られる。内裏は度重なる火災に見舞われ、天皇は平安京内の邸宅などを居所とするようになり、鎌倉時代の1227年に焼失した後は再建されず廃絶した。
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