“虎落笛” is read as “Mogaribue”.  A fence made by combining bamboo in a streaky manner, or a reed screen with bamboo branches is called “Mogari” .  The sound of “hyu-hyu-hyu” that sounds when the wind of winter blows on the Mogari is called Mogaribue.  “Mogari” is originally the place where noblemen were temporarily buried.  It also came to represent the bamboo fence that surrounds it, and it is said that the character “Mogari”, which means a fence to prevent tigers in China, was applied.  Yesterday, “Kogarashi No. 1” blew, and it is finally the beginning of full-scale winter.  Withered pampas grass emerges in the afterglow, and the Mogaribue echoes. Kohoku(the northern part of Biwa-lake) is a truly lonely landscape.  However, when I hear this Mogaribue, I get the courage to say “OK!”. That’s a wonder.

虎落笛は「もがりぶえ」と読みます。竹を筋違いに組み合わせた柵、または竹の枝付きの立てかけたものを虎落と言います。その虎落に冬の烈風がこれに吹き付けるときに鳴る「ひゅーひゅー」という音を虎落笛と言います。「もがり」とは本来、貴人を仮葬した場所である殯宮(ひんきゅう)のこと。それを囲う竹垣をも表すようになり、さらに中国で虎を防ぐ柵を意味する「虎落」の字を当てたそうです。昨日は「木枯らし一号」が吹き、いよいよ本格的な冬の入りです。残照に枯れススキが浮かび上がり、虎落笛がこだます湖北は実に寂しい風景です。しかし、この虎落笛を聞くと「よしっ！」と勇気が湧いてきます。不思議ですね。