日本文語

鬼あり。食水[1]と名づく。長き髪乱れて、面

に覆下（り）塞がりて、物見ること能

はず。 飢渇の火、身の内を焼く。 耐え難さ

に、自ら河の辺に行きて、水を飲 

まむとすれば、水を守る鬼ども来

りて、 追ひて打たむとすれば、逃げ走り

惑ふ。又、自ら河を渡りたる人の

足の滴りを舐りて、命を生く。昔、

酒に水を入れて売り、 蚯蚓の沈

みたるをも顧みずして、酒を売りし人

これに墜つ。

English Translation

There are ghosts. They are called ‘jikisui[1].’ Their long hair is tangled, hiding and obstructing their faces, they lack the ability to see things (as they truly are). The fire of hunger and thirst burn the insides of their bodies. Due to the difficulty of bearing it, they go to the river’s edge to drink water, but when the demons who guard the water come and try to chase them away and strike them, they flee in confusion. They also sustain their lives by licking the drops of water off the feet of people who cross the river. [These ghosts] who fell into this realm are who, in the past, diluted wine with water and sunk worms inside wine, selling it without regrets.