ヒスイの海

地図

親不知といえば、近年はヒスイが拾える海岸として全国的に知られるようになりました。「ヒスイ」という言葉自体、なんと神秘的な響きを持っていることでしょう。かつて親不知子不知海岸には他に道がなく、波の穏やかな時を見計らって断崖の下を歩くしかなかったと言われています。

写真で見ると美しいこの海岸も、かつては親も子も通ることが難しく、後ろを振り返ることさえ困難だったと伝えられています。それを詠んだ歌が、「親知らず 子はこの浦の波枕 越路の磯の泡と消え行く」です。道が整備される以前には、このような悲しい物語が数多くあったのかもしれません。

親不知を避けて山越えする上路の道もまた難所だったそうで、いずれにしても越後に入るのは非常に大変だった往時が偲ばれます。

この写真を撮影した前日は、海が荒れて底が洗われるようなシケとなり、水が白く濁り、まるでヒスイのような色に染まりました。後にも先にも、これほど美しい色を見たのは初めてです。ヒスイを見つけるよりも稀な、貴重な瞬間をカメラに収めることができたのは幸運でした。

When it comes to Oyashirazu, in recent years it has become known nationwide as a coast where jade can be found. The word “jade” itself has such a mysterious ring to it. It is said that in the past, there was no other road to Oyashirazu-koishirazu Coast, and people had no choice but to walk along the bottom of the cliff when the waves were calm.

This coast, which looks beautiful in photographs, is said to have been difficult for both parents and children to pass through in the past, and it was even difficult to look back. A poem that captures this scene goes, “Oya-shirazu, the child lies on the waves of this bay, fading away like the foam on the rocks of the crossing path.” Before the path was improved, there may have been many such sad stories.

The mountain pass route that bypassed Oya-shirazu was also said to be a difficult path, and it is easy to imagine how challenging it must have been to enter Echigo in those days.

The day before this photo was taken, the sea was rough, with the bottom being washed away, and the water turned white and murky, dyed a color resembling jade. I have never seen such a beautiful color before or since. It was a fortunate moment to capture this rare and precious scene with my camera.

PENTAX67 200mm

©️photo by Nakamura Osamu