Rakusho no Goku #15
2011.02.02(Wed)Juuni Kokuki — 十二国記
(The Twelve Kingdoms)
Rakusho no Goku — 落照の獄
(A jail of the declining Light)
By Ono Fuyumi — 小野不由美
Translated by o6asan
San’yu(三宥) means Fushiki(不識), Kashitsu(過失), and Ibo(遺忘). Fushiki(不識) who doesn’t know to be a crime or who doesn’t understand to become a crime as a result. For example, this is Fushiki(不識) who killed someone because he/she dropped a luggage on someone from above, but if he/she didn’t have known someone being there. Kashitsu(過失) is a fault. For example, this is Kashitsu(過失) who accidentally dropped a luggage or had poor control over it though he/she tried throwing it avoiding someone. Ibo(遺忘) is forgetting. This is Ibo(遺忘) who forgot someone was there though he/she knew a luggage hit someone if dropped. –But, it is clear these are not to go for Shudatsu(狩獺).
Eiko(瑛庚) sighed.
“Our point is Sanshi(三刺)?”
Sotsuyu(率由) nodded.
Sanshi(三刺) is to consult vassals, to hear officials’ opinion, and to ask people’s voice. If some of them clame giving absolution, to commute the penalty is sometimes appealed because of it. Sotsuyu(率由), according to his own duty, sought advice to Rikkan(六官) widely, heard officials’ opinion, and listened to people’s voice.
“There is no voice that to commute the penalty is necessary. Nothing at all. Almost all the people claim his execution. Most of officials have the same opinion, but a few of them show doubt for a capital punishment. Rikkan(六官) say keeping to be careful. Most Rikkan(六官) quote Shujo(主上)’s intention and rest of them are deeply concerned about overuse of capital punishment that would happen in the future if they flightily execute him at this point.”
“I knew. …… I appreciate Rikkan(六官) have the cautious opinion, but,”
“I cannot say Sanshi(三刺) is not to go for him because some have the cautious opinion. But people’s rage is huge. Most of them accept nothing except the capital punishment. If Shikei(司刑) spares Shudatsu(狩獺)’s life, they demand to hand him to themselves.”
I see, Eiko(瑛庚) murmured. If he avoids the capital punishment, a fear of riots might be necessary. Riots themselves can be repressed. But people’s rage for judiciary or people’s rage for their country cannot be broken down. If they do it by force, people’s trust in judiciary collapses, and their trust in the country collapses, too.
“How about demands of victims’ family?”
Eiko(瑛庚) asked. Sometimes, victims and concerned people set up to commute the penalty. This had a full effect on Sanshi(三刺) though it happened when they identified the criminal’s penitent by his apologizing to the victim or by his expiating the crime.
“No offer to commute the penalty. To begin with, Shudatsu(狩獺) seems not to have contacted victims’ family at all. On the other hand, petitions of victims’ relatives say to execute him. Some of them make a daily visit to the national office.”
I suppose…… Eiko(瑛庚) thought.
“I can imagine the indignation of victims’ family. They could not be satisfied even if they killed the criminal.”
“That’s right, sir. Actually, some oppose a mere decapitation and propose a cruel punishment to us like Ho(芳). 16 murders and 23 victims. Therefore, punish him by Slow slicing(凌遅) and cut him 23 times, what they request.”
Slow slicing(凌遅) is the penalty which kills the criminal by inches. The criminal is killed by inches and he is pilloried after he died and was beheaded. Or his life is taken by cutting body or beheading at the verge of death. Its pattern is various and differs among countries and eras. There is an example decides how many times the criminal is sliced beforehand. Eiko(瑛庚) knew that some proposed to slice him by the number of victims to follow the example. Recently in Shiso(芝草), people made a thorough survey of cruel punishments in other countries and they argued what punishment is to go for Shudatsu(狩獺).
Jokyu(如翕) grunted indignantly.
Leave a comment
But, within 24 hours, the comment will be uneditable when it has any newer comments.