二人の母親 TWO MOTHERS

　　二人の母親　

 

大岡裁きにこんな話がある。ある子供に関して自分が本当の母親であると主張する二人の女性に対して大岡越前守は「子供の手を両方から引っ張り合い、子供を取った方に子供を与える」と言った。二人の女性が子供の手を引っ張ったところ、子供が「痛い」と言うから、一方の母親は手を離した。大岡は裁きを下した。
「今、手を離した方が本当の母親だ。本当の母親ならば子供が痛いのに無理して引くようなことはしない」
以上の話は桂万栄編「棠陰比事（とういんひじ）」第八話に原典がある。前漢の時代（紀元前206年～紀元8年）の太守黄霸（こうは）の裁きだ。　
似たような話がある。二人の女性がある赤ん坊を自分の赤ん坊だと言い争っているのを見てソロモン王（在位960年頃ー前922年頃）は「赤ん坊を剣で二つに裂き、女に半分ずつ与えよ」と言う。それを聞いて母親の一人が「王様、この子をこの人にあげてください」と言った。王はこの女性を母親だと裁いた。
ソロモンの話が中国に伝わって大岡裁きになったのだろうか。

Two Mothers

　　Judge Tadasuke Ohoka, who was well-known for his clever ruling during the Edo era (18th century), delivered a judgement in a case where two mothers (Mother A and B) fought against each other concerning a boy.
　　Each mother insisted that he was her child. Ohoka said, “All right, then. Mother A, grab the boy’s right hand, and Mother B, grab his left arm.” When they grabbed them, he said, “Pull his hand as hard as you can. The one who has pulled his hand stronger will get the boy. OK? Ready. Go!” They pulled his hands as hard as they could. The boy cried, “It hurts!” Hearing his cry, Mother B let go of his hand. “Stop!” Ohoka said. “The boy belongs to Mother B, because a real mother will let go of his hand so that he may not cry with pain. Case closed.”
　　The above episode originated in one of Judge Koha’s decisions written in “Toin-hiji” during the Era of Qianhan in China (BC206-AD8).
　　A similar decision was made by King Solomon (BC960-BC922). Two women fought against each other concerning a baby. Each of them insisted that the baby belonged to her. The king ordered his men to cut the baby into halves and give each half to each woman. Hearing his decision, one of the women said, “Please give the baby to this woman.” The king concluded that the woman who gave up was its real mother, because the real mother cannot bear the cruelty.”
　　Has Solomon’s decision been introduced to China and ultimately to Japan?