聖徳太子の十七条憲法を英訳

聖徳太子の十七条憲法を英訳
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聖徳太子(厩戸皇子、Prince Shōtoku)の十七条憲法(憲法十七条、十七条の憲法、The Seventeen-article constitution)の英語訳にチャレンジしてみたでござる。古典・歴史資料の中でも最も古い時代のものでござるのでかなりの苦労をしたでござるが、それだけに大変やりがいのある翻訳でござった。

第一条
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一曰、以和爲貴、無忤爲宗。人皆有黨。亦少達者。以是、或不順君父。乍違于隣里。然上和下睦、諧於論事、則事理自通。何事不成。

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一に曰わく、和(やわらぐ)を以(も)って貴(たっと)しとなし、忤(さから)うこと無きを宗(むね)とせよ。人みな党(たむら)あり、また達(さと)れるもの少なし。ここを以(も)って、あるいは君父に順わず、また隣里に違う。然(しか)れども、上和(やわら)ぎ下睦(むつ)びて、事を論(あげつら)うに諧(かな)うときは、すなわち事理おのずから通(つう)ず。何事か成らざらん。

英訳文　Article 1

Harmony should be valued and quarrels should be avoided. Everyone is apt to form a clique, and there are few people who are intelligent. Therefore some disobey their lords and fathers, and feud with their neighbors. But when the public officers are in harmony with each other and the common people are friendly, then affairs are discussed in cooperation, everything will be right spontaneously. Then there is nothing which cannot be accomplished.

第二条
原文

二曰、篤敬三寶。々々者佛法僧也。則四生之終歸、萬國之禁宗。何世何人、非貴是法。人鮮尤惡。能敎従之。其不歸三寶、何以直枉。

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二に曰わく、篤(あつ)く三宝(さんぼう)を敬え。三宝とは仏と法と僧となり、則(すなわ)ち四生(ししょう)の終帰(しゅうき)、万国(ばんごく)の極宗(ごくしゅう)なり。何(いず)れの世、何れの人かこの法を貴ばざる。人尤(はなは)だ悪(あ)しきもの鮮(すく)なし、能(よ)く教うれば従う。それ三宝に帰せずんば、何をもってか枉(まが)れるを直(ただ)さん。

英訳文　Article 2

Be respectful to the three treasures sincerely. The three treasures, Buddha, (Buddhism) commandments and priests, are the final refuge for all the people, and are the ultimate doctrine in all countries. What world or what person can fail to respect the doctrine? Few people are awfully bad. They should be taught and will follow the doctrine. But if they are not taught with the three treasures, how can their badness be corrected?

第三条
原文

三曰、承詔必謹。君則天之。臣則地之。天覆臣載。四時順行、萬気得通。地欲天覆、則至懐耳。是以、君言臣承。上行下靡。故承詔必愼。不謹自敗。

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三に曰く、詔(みことのり)を承(う)けては必ず謹(つつし)め。君をば天とす。臣をば地とす。天は覆(おお)い、地は載(いただ)く。四時(しじ)順行(じゅんこう)し、万気(ばんき)通(つう)ずることを得(う)る。地、天を覆わんとするときは、壊(やぶ)るることを致さん。ここをもって、君言(のたま)うときは臣承(うけたまわ)る。上(かみ)行うときは下(しも)靡(なび)く。ゆえに詔を承りては必ず謹め。謹まずば、自(おのず)から敗れん。

英訳文　Article 3

You must obey the imperial command certainly. An emperor is Heaven, the vassal is the ground. Heaven overspreads the ground, and the ground supports Heaven. Then four seasons rotates correctly and spirits of Nature run through whole the world. If the ground overspreads Heaven, it ruins order of Nature. Therefore the vassal must obey the lord. If superiors do it, subordinates follow it. Therefore you must obey the imperial command. Or you ruin National order.

第四条
原文

四曰。群卿百寮。以礼為本。其治民之本。要在乎礼。上不礼而下非齊。下無礼以必有罪。是以群臣有礼。位次不乱。百姓有礼。国家自治。

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四に曰わく、群卿百寮(ぐんけいひゃくりょう)、礼を以(も)って本(もと)とせよ。それ民(たみ)を治むるの本は、かならず礼にあり。上礼なきときは、下(しも)斉(ととの)わず、下礼なきときはもって必ず罪あり。ここをもって、群臣礼有るときは位次(いじ)乱れず、百姓(ひゃくせい)礼あるときは国家自(おのずか)ら治(おさ)まる。

英訳文　Article 4

The Ministers and public officers should be based on courtesy. It must be based on courtesy to rule the people. If the public officers are not courteous, the common people are disorderly. If the common people are not courteous, there must be offences. Therefore when the ministers and officers are courteous, the distinctions of class are not confused. And when the common people are courteous, the country will be in good order spontaneously.

第五条
原文

五曰、絶饗棄欲、明辨訴訟。其百姓之訟、一百千事。一日尚爾、況乎累歳。頃治訟者、得利爲常、見賄廳讞。便有財之訟、如右投水。乏者之訴、似水投石。是以貧民、則不知所由。臣道亦於焉闕。

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五に曰く、餐(あじわいのむさぼり)を絶ち、欲(たからのほしみ)を棄てて、明らかに訴訟(うったえ)を弁(わきま)えよ。それ百姓の訟(うったえ)は、一日に千事あり。一日すらなお爾(しか)るを、いわんや歳を累(かさ)ねてをや。このごろ訟を治むる者、利を得るを常とし、賄(まいない)を見てはことわりもうすを聴く。すなわち財のあるものの訟は、石をもって水に投ぐるが如(ごと)し。貧しき者の訟は、水をもって石に投ぐるに似たり。ここをもって、貧しき民は由(よ)る所を知らず。臣道またここにかく。

英訳文　Article 5

The public officers must suppress their desire for meals and treasures and deal impartially with the suits. There are more than 1000 complaints by the people in one day. And how many will there be in some years? The officers who manage complaints by the people take bribes recently, and make a decision after receiving bribes. Then the suits of the rich man are like a stone cast into water and the complaints of the poor are like water cast on a stone. Under the circumstances the poor people don't know on what to rely. These things are against the way of the public officers.

第六条
原文

六曰、懲惡勸善、古之良典。是以无匿人善、見-悪必匡。其諂詐者、則爲覆二國家之利器、爲絶人民之鋒劔。亦佞媚者、對上則好説下過、逢下則誹謗上失。其如此人、皆无忠於君、无仁於民。是大亂之本也。

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六に曰わく、悪を懲(こら)し善を勧(すす)むるは、古(いにしえ)の良き典(のり)なり。ここを以(も)って人の善を匿(かく)すことなく、悪を見ては必ず匡(ただ)せ。其(そ)れ諂(へつら)い詐(あざむ)く者は、則ち国家を覆(くつがえ)す利器(りき)たり、人民を絶つ鋒剣(ほうけん)たり。また佞(かたま)しく媚(こ)ぶる者は、上(かみ)に対しては則(すなわ)ち好んで下(しも)の過(あやまち)を説き、下に逢(あ)いては則ち上の失(あやまち)を誹謗(そし)る。それかくの如(ごと)きの人は、みな君に忠なく、民(たみ)に仁(じん)なし。これ大乱の本(もと)なり。

英訳文　Article 6

Encourage the good and punish the evil. This is the wonderful antique rule. Therefore praise good acts and correct evil acts. Flatterers and liars are effective weapons to overthrow the country, and sharp swords to ruin the people. Sycophants tell tales about inferiors to superiors, and backbite about superiors to inferiors. People of this kind don't have loyalty to their lord, and don't have any virtue to the common people. These are cause of a great confusion of the country.

第七条
原文

七曰、人各有任。掌宜-不濫。其賢哲任官、頌音則起。姧者有官、禍亂則繁。世少生知。剋念作聖。事無大少、得人必治。時無急緩。遇賢自寛。因此國家永久、社禝勿危。故古聖王、爲官以求人、爲人不求官。

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七に曰く、人おのおの任あり。掌(つかさど)ること、濫(みだ)れざるべし。それ賢哲(けんてつ)、官に任ずるときは、頌(ほ)むる音(こえ)すなわち起こり、奸者(かんじゃ)、官を有(たも)つときは、禍乱(からん)すなわち繁(しげ)し。世に、生まれながら知るひと少なし。よく念(おも)いて聖(ひじり)となる。事、大少となく、人を得て必ず治まる。時、急緩(きゅうかん)となく、賢に遇(あ)いておのずから寛(ゆたか)なり。これによりて、国家永久にして、社稷(しゃしょく)危うからず、故に、古の聖王、官のために人を求む。人のために官を求めず。

英訳文　Article 7

Each person has their own duty. They must not confuse their place of work. When a wise person is appointed suitable job, applause occur spontaneously. When an evil person is appointed some job, calamities occur frequently. There are few wise people from when they were born, diligence makes saints. Regardless of the importance, matters will be solved when suitable people do correctly. Regardless of speed of turning situations, the country will be well off naturally if there are sages. Therefore the country preserves eternity and will be free from danger. So legendary holy kings sought the officers for government posts, and did not seek posts for the officers.

第八条
原文

八曰、群卿百寮、早朝晏退。公事靡監。終日難盡。是以、遲朝不逮于急。早退必事不盡。

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八に曰く、群卿百寮(ぐんけいひゃくりょう)、早く朝(まい)りて晏(おそ)く退(しりぞ)け。公事いとまなし。終日(ひねもす)にも尽くしがたし。ここをもって、遅く朝るときは急なることに逮(およ)ばず。早く退(さが)るときは必(かなら)ず事尽くさず。

英訳文　Article 8

The public officers must attend the office early in the morning and retire late. Public duties cannot be managed carelessly. It is difficult to complete even if you take a day. Therefore, You will not be in time if an emergency occurs. And You cannot complete your duty if you retire early.

第九条
原文

九曰、信是義本。毎事有信。其善悪成敗、要在于信。群臣共信、何事不成。群臣无信、萬事悉敗。

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九に曰く、信はこれ義の本なり。事ごとに信あるべし。それ善悪成敗はかならず信にあり。群臣とも信あるときは、何事かならざらん。群臣信なきときは、万事ことごとく敗れん。

英訳文　Article 9

Faith is the foundation of right. In everything let there be faith. It depends on faith whether everything is good or bad, to succeed or to fail. If every vassal has a faith each other, everything will be accomplished. If they don't, everything will be failure.

第十条
原文

十曰、絶忿棄瞋、不怒人違。人皆有心。々各有執。彼是則我非。我是則彼非。我必非聖。彼必非愚。共是凡夫耳。是非之理、詎能可定。相共賢愚、如鐶无端。是以、彼人雖瞋、還恐我失。、我獨雖得、從衆同擧。

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十に曰く、忿(心のいかり)を絶ち、瞋(おもてのいかり)を捨て、人の違(たが)うことを怒らざれ。人みな心あり。心おのおの執(と)るところあり。かれ是とすれば、われ非とす。われかならずしも聖にあらず。かれかならずしも愚にあらず。ともにこれ凡夫のみ。是非の理、たれかよく定むべけんや。あいともに賢愚(けんぐ)なること、鐶(みみがね)の端(はし)なきごとし。ここをもって、かの人は瞋(いか)るといえども、かえってわが失(あやまち)を恐れよ。われひとり得たりといえども、衆に従いて同じく挙(おこな)え。

英訳文　Article 10

Keep your mind without wrath, and don't show anger at your face. Do not get anger when others differ from you. Everyone has their heart and opinion. Their right may be your wrong, your right may be their wrong. We are not necessarily sages. Others are not necessarily fools. All of us are ordinary people. Who is the person to distinguish right from wrong? All of us are wise and fool, like a ring which has no end. Therefore if others get anger, think about your error. Even if you have a firm opinion, listen to others opinion.

第十一条
原文

十一曰、明察功過、賞罰必當。日者賞不在功。罰不在罪。執事群卿、宜明賞罰。

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十一に曰わく、功過(こうか)を明らかに察して、賞罰(しょうばつ)を必ず当てよ。このごろ、賞は功においてせず、罰は罪においてせず、事(こと)を執(と)る群卿(ぐんけい)、よろしく賞罰を明らかにすべし。

英訳文　Article 11

Give clear appreciation to merit and demerit. and give sure reward and punishment. There are rewards without merit and punishments without demerit recently. All the high officers who has responsibility, make clear rewards and punishments.

第十二条
原文

十二曰、國司國造、勿収斂百姓。國非二君。民無兩主。率土兆民、以王爲主。所任官司、皆是王臣。何敢與公、賦斂百姓。

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十二に曰く、国司(こくし)・国造(こくそう)、百姓に斂(おさ)めとることなかれ。国に二君なし。民に両主なし。率徒(そつど)の兆民(ちょうみん)は王をもって主となす。所任の官司(かんじ)はみなこれ王の臣なり。何ぞあえて公と、百姓に賦斂(おさめと)らん。

英訳文　Article 12

The local public officers and governors must not impose taxes on people without leave. In the country, there are not two kings(emperor). The people cannot have two masters. The sovereign is the unique master of the people of the whole country. The public officers whom he appointed are all his vassals. How can they impose a tax except official taxes by the king?

第十三条
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十三曰、諸任官者、同知職掌。或病或使、有闕於事。然得知之日、和如曾識。其以非與聞。勿防公務。

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十三に曰く、もろもろの官に任ぜる者、同じく職掌(しょくしょう・しきしやう)を知れ。あるいは病し、あるいは使(つかい)して、事を闕(おこた)ることあらん。しかれども知ることを得る日には、和(あまな)うこと曽(かつ)てより識(し)かれるがごとくせよ。それを与(あずか)り聞かずということをもって、公務を妨(さまた)ぐことなかれ。

英訳文　Article 13

All officers entrusted with government affairs should attend equally to duties. Your work may sometimes be interrupted due to illness or missions. But when you come to the office, understand what should do as if you had known it from before. And do not obstruct public affairs for the reason that you are not personally familiar with them.

第十四条
原文

十四曰、群臣百寮、無有嫉妬。我既嫉人、々亦嫉我。嫉妬之患、不知其極。所以、智勝於己則不悦。才優於己則嫉妬。是以、五百之乃今遇賢。千載以難待一聖。其不得賢聖。何以治國。

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十四に曰く、群臣百寮(ぐんしんひゃくりょう)、嫉妬あることなかれ。われすでに人を嫉(うらや)むときは、人またわれを嫉む。嫉妬の患(うれ)え、その極(きわまり)を知らず。このゆえに、智おのれに勝るときは悦(よろこ)ばず。才おのれに優るときは嫉妬(ねた)む。ここをもって五百歳(いもとせ)にしていまし今賢に遇(あ)うとも、千載(せんざい)にしてひとりの聖を持つことに難(かた)し。それ賢聖を得ずば、何をもってか国を治めん。

英訳文　Article 14

All vassals and public officers must not be envious. If you envy others, they also will envy you. The evils of envy have no limit. If others excel us in intelligence, you are not pleased. If others excel us in ability, you envy them. Therefore, It is very difficult to obtain one sage in 1000 years, even if we can meet wise people in 500 years. Without wise people and sages, how shall we govern the country?

第十五条
原文

十五曰、背私向公、是臣之道矣。凡人有私必有恨。有憾必非同、非同則以私妨公。憾起則違制害法。故初章云、上下和諧、其亦是情歟。

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十五に曰わく、私に背(そむ)きて公(おおやけ)に向うは、これ臣の道なり。およそ人、私あれば必ず恨(うらみ)あり、憾(うらみ)あれば必ず同(ととのお)らず。同らざれば則ち私をもって公を妨(さまた)ぐ。憾(うらみ)起こるときは則ち制に違(たが)い法を害(そこな)う。故に、初めの章に云(い)わく、上下和諧(わかい)せよ。それまたこの情(こころ)なるか。

英訳文　Article 15

The vassal's way is to concentrate on official duties without one's own desire. If you do your duties with your desire, there will be a grudge. If there is a grudge, there will be discord. If there is discord, it will disturb official duties. When you have a grudge each other; that is, ruin an official system and laws. Therefore; as I said Article 1, "All vassals and officers must cooperate together".

第十六条
原文

十六曰、使民以時、古之良典。故冬月有間、以可使民。從春至秋、農桑之節。不可使民。其不農何食。不桑何服。

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十六に曰く、民を使うに時をもってするは、古の良き典(のり)なり。ゆえに、冬の月に間あらば、もって民を使うべし。春より秋に至るまでは、農桑(のうそう)の節なり。民を使うべからず。それ農(たつく)らずば、何をか食らわん。桑(くわと)らずば何をか着ん。

英訳文　Article 16

When you employ the people for public duties, you must consider seasons. This is an excellent rule from ancient times.. Therefore, you should employ them in winter, when they are at leisure. But from Spring to Autumn, they are engaged in agriculture and sericulture. Therefore, the people should not be employed. If they do not produce agricultural products, what can we eat? If they do not produce raw silk, what can we wear?

第十七条
原文

十七曰、夫事不可濁斷。必與衆宜論。少事是輕。不可必衆。唯逮論大事、若疑有失。故與衆相辮、辭則得理。

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十七に曰く、それ事は独り断(さだ)むべからず。かならず衆とともに論(あげつら)うべし。少事はこれを軽し。かならずしも衆とすべからず。ただ大事を論うに逮(およ)びては、もし失(あやまち)あらんことを疑う。ゆえに衆と相弁(あいわきま)うるときは、辞(こと)すなわち理を得ん。

英訳文　Article 17

When you make an important decision, discuss with other people. You may decide small matters alone. However, important matters should be discussed by many people not to make mistakes. If you discussed with others, you will obtain a reasonable conclusion.

Translated by へいはちろう
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