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Madam YasuiAuthor: Mori Ōgai
| Original Title | 安井夫人 |
|---|---|
| Author | 森 鴎外 |
| Genre | Historical Fiction |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | In a rural village of Hyūga Province, Nakahei Yasui endures lifelong scorn for his disfigured appearance—scarred by smallpox, one-eyed, and diminutive in stature. Despite his scholarly brilliance and dedication to Confucian studies, whispers of his "unmanliness" shadow him, contrasting sharply with his handsome elder brother Bunji. When Bunji dies young, Nakahei’s isolation deepens, yet he persists in his academic pursuits, rising through Edo’s scholarly ranks while remaining an object of ridicule. His aging father, burdened by their shared fate, seeks a bride who might see beyond Nakahei’s exterior. A proposal to pragmatic cousin Toyo is bluntly rejected, but her younger sister Sashio—renowned for her beauty and dubbed “Komachi of Oka”—shocks the village by volunteering to marry him. Defying expectations, Sashio sheds her timid demeanor to become a steadfast partner, navigating poverty and societal disdain with quiet resolve. As Nakahei’s reputation grows, their bond challenges superficial judgments, weaving a tale of resilience where devotion transcends appearances. Yet beneath their unyielding partnership lingers the question: What unseen sacrifices anchor such unwavering loyalty? |
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