「ばけばけ」のあの場所　月照寺｜小泉八雲も描いた“哀しき大亀の物語”

「ばけばけ」のあの場所　月照寺｜小泉八雲も描いた“哀しき大亀の物語”

The morning drama Bakabake — this is one of its places. Gesshoji Temple. About two kilometers from Matsue Castle — just a five-minute drive. Gesshoji is the family temple of the Matsue domain’s ruling Matsudaira clan. From the first lord, Naomasa, to the ninth, Naritoki, they rest here. Its gate is adorned with delicate grape-vine carvings, and from the seventh lord’s mausoleum you can enjoy a splendid view over Matsue. Within the grounds stands a huge stone monument on the back of a giant tortoise. In Bakabake, Heaven and Toki sit together here, side by side, in the opening scene. This is the famous “Monster Tortoise of Gesshoji,” This is the famous “Monster Tortoise of Gesshoji,” which appears in Lafcadio Hearn’s Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan. But another legend tells a gentler story — the tortoise, unable to stop its own restless movement,
cried out in sorrow, and the compassionate abbot placed a heavy stone upon its back, allowing it to rest forever in peace. Kwaidan is not only frightening — they are often lonely and sad. これからものんびりと、 I’ll continue to share, at a leisurely pace,the many places of Bakabake. Please watch and enjoy.

NHK朝ドラ『ばけばけ』に登場した松江の古刹・月照寺（げっしょうじ）。
松平家の菩提寺として知られ、境内の「大亀の石碑」は小泉八雲『知られぬ日本の面影』にも登場します。
恐ろしくも、どこか寂しい物語——。