180
In Ghostly Japan
41.—Karu-toki no Jizō-gao; nasu-toki no Emma-gao.
Borrowing-time, the face of Jizō; repaying-time, the face of Emma.[1]
42.—Kiité Gokuraku, mité Jigoku.
Heard of only, it is Paradise; seen, it is Hell.[2]
43.—Kōji mon wo idézu: akuji sen ri wo hashiru.
Good actions go not outside of the gate: bad deeds travel a thousand ri.
44.—Kokoro no koma ni tadzuna wo yurusuna.
Never let go the reins of the wild colt of the heart.
45.—Kokoro no oni ga mi wo séméru.
The body is tortured only by the demon of the heart.[3]
- ↑ Emma is the Chinese and Japanese Yama,—in Buddhism the Lord of Hell, and the Judge of the Dead. The proverb is best explained by the accompanying drawings, which will serve to give an idea of the commoner representations of both divinities.
- ↑ Rumor is never trustworthy.
- ↑ Or “mind.” That is to say that we suffer only from the consequences of our own faults.—The demon-torturer in the Buddhist hell says to his victim:—“Blame not me!—I am only the creation of your own deeds and thoughts: you made me for this!”—Compare with No. 36.
