Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
「希望」を信じて、男は覚悟する。慶国に新王が登極した。即位の礼で行われる「大射」とは、鳥に見立てた陶製の的を射る儀式。陶工である丕緒は、国の理想を表す任の重さに苦慮していた。希望を託した「鳥」は、果たして大空に羽ばたくのだろうか―表題作ほか、己の役割を全うすべく煩悶し、一途に走る名も無き男たちの清廉なる生き様を描く全4編収録。

358 pages, Paperback Bunko

First published January 1, 2013

2 people are currently reading
40 people want to read

About the author

Fuyumi Ono

167 books332 followers
Kanji Name: 小野 不由美.

Fuyumi Ono (小野 不由美, Ono Fuyumi) is a Japanese novelist who is best known for writing the Twelve Kingdoms (十二国記, Juuni Kokuki) series, on which a popular anime is based. Her name after marriage is Fuyumi Uchida (内田不由美, Uchida Fuyumi), but she writes under her maiden name.

Ono was born in Nakatsu, Ōita, Kyūshū in 1960. She graduated from Ōtani University in Kyōto with a degree in Buddhist Studies, and in 1988 was employed by the publisher Kōdansha. Her debut story is titled Sleepless on Birthday Eve.

Ono is married to Naoyuki Uchida (内田直行, Uchida Naoyuki), a mystery novelist who writes under the pseudonym Yukito Ayatsuji (綾辻行人 , Ayatsuji Yukito).

Before she started work on Twelve Kingdoms, Fuyumi Ono wrote The Demonic Child (魔性の子), a horror novel about a boy from another world. She later worked certain events from this novel into the Twelve Kingdoms series. Short stories set in the various kingdoms include: Kasho, Toei, Shokan, Kizan and Jogetsu. In February, 2008, the first new Twelve Kingdoms short story, Hisho no Tori (丕緒の鳥) was published in Shinchosha's Yomyom magazine.

According to an interview at the Anime News Network, she is "currently rewriting a girls' horror series (she) wrote long ago."

- Wikipedia

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
35 (46%)
4 stars
29 (38%)
3 stars
7 (9%)
2 stars
3 (4%)
1 star
1 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Profile Image for Mizuki.
3,387 reviews1,407 followers
September 24, 2016
Four short stories which take place in Fuyumi Ono's fictional 'ancient China lookalike' Twelve Kingdoms fantasy world.

All of the stories are narrated by ordinary people from different Kingdoms, from the view points of servants, low-ranking official and scholars etc. It helps us to get the closer look at the different ways of life in different Kingdoms. The author also sewed many realistic and delicate details into her story telling to enrich the world building. Although the anti-war, environmentalism and humanism messages are a bit heavy-handed, still I am satisfied with this short stories collection.
Profile Image for Mylove4book.
303 reviews19 followers
April 5, 2020
本書的中文版是在2015年發行的, 當時在出書之前我就在網路上看過"丕緒之鳥"部分的翻譯, 想說既然整本都是番外, 對主線沒有影響, 所以不用急著看......結果放著放著居然就晾了五年......
但回想起來, 當初的遺忘或許是個美麗的失誤吧. 五年前的我如果抱持著看主線的心情, 也許會大大的失望也說不定. 畢竟本篇的四個篇章都是在講述基層官僚和人民們, 在戰亂的時代中努力生存下來的故事. 跟主線毫無關係, 但卻切中了整個"十二國記"世界觀架構的核心--也就是國家與百姓的生死相依. 2015年的我恐怕是無法領會, 但2020年四月的今日, 肺炎肆虐, 全世界陷入堪比世界大戰的災禍(死亡人數). 看不見盡頭的瘟疫, 百業蕭條的街頭, 以及令人喪失信任的極權統治, 似乎離小野主上筆下的亂世也不很遙遠......

第一章-丕緒之鳥:
小時候看過網路上片段的翻譯, 只覺得是個意義不明的短篇. 現在看則是感慨萬千......是因為跟丕緒一樣身在基層而無能為力嗎XD" 時間真是把殺豬刀.

第二章-落照之獄:
本篇是針對困擾司法已久的死刑的辯駁, 和國家與人民之間的矛盾. 小野主上連番外篇都寫得這麼有深度, 難怪白銀之墟坑了18年......
司刑瑛庚等人拿不定主意, 不執行死刑會引起暴動, 但又唯恐重啟死刑會造成日後的濫用, 或產生比死刑更殘忍的刑罰. 瑛庚等人求助於曾經廢除死刑的劉王, 希望能由主上做最後的定奪, 但直到最後, 劉王都沒有干涉的打算. 所以他們非常的失望, 覺得主上對於治國已經失去興趣了. 但劉王登基一百二十年, 職業倦怠不也很正常嗎XD 況且若以總統的角度而言, 司法獨立不也是好事嗎...雖然瑛庚覺得劉王拋棄的責任, 但單就這件事而言, 個人覺得元首保持中立也沒甚麼錯.

第三章-青條之蘭:
其實看的時候根本搞不清楚這是在講哪個國, 直到最後看到玄英宮才發現...咦好像有點印象, GOOGLE才發現原來是雁國啊~XD 看來是尚隆剛登基那段時間的事情?看來我可以複習一下東之海神西之蒼海了呢... 總之, 在這之後雁國就從長久的荒蕪中開始漫長的重生之路, 讓人多少有點欣慰. 青條之蘭是我覺得最感人的一篇.
每次只要王走下坡國家就會開始慢慢荒廢, 王駕崩之後又是一段沒有王的民不聊生的日子, 直到新王上任又沒辦法即時的振興, 導致人民痛苦的時間拉得很長......也難怪黃昏之岸曉之天裡好像有誰說過, 與其花時間尋找驍宗跟泰麒, 還不如就讓他們自身自滅, 重新開始新的朝代算了......

第四章-風信:
麥州侯!這位是我難得記得的配角啊~就是那個一直不肯認舒榮為王, 後來陽子登基之後又被其他官僚中傷的那位嘛. 是說十二國記明明就是君權神授唯一解, 但偽王還是一個接一個跑出來, 看來大家是不挑戰不甘心捏XD (好啦我知道一切都是小野主上的授意)

複習完了世界觀, 可以開始白銀之墟了~昨天一查才發現居然有四本, 尖端趕快出完啊~
Profile Image for 二六 侯.
610 reviews32 followers
September 26, 2021
小野似乎覺得該是用平民視角補完十二國記系列的時候,但因為這部短篇所有的人物都是前此未登場過的平民,沒有時間翻轉人設或展現人物成長,只能純粹寓言化地討論典章制度如登基儀式、法律、林政、曆書。很多奇科幻短篇作都是寓言故事,我好像讀太多有點麻痺,覺得主題如果沒有像《愛因斯坦的夢》那麼跳就很難引起興趣,反而容易看出日本輕小說慣常的教條感(《奇諾之旅》就是一例),不過小野的功力還是在,依然把每個故事都扣回了十二國的設定。
Profile Image for Ayumi.
34 reviews1 follower
November 1, 2019
Twelve kingdoms series started in 1991 and this book, the latest was published in 2013. And yes! The new one(actually 4books!) is coming this fall(October and November,2019) I’m a big fan of this fantasy series so really can’t wait. So excited.
Profile Image for B. Sylphaen.
Author 10 books6 followers
June 24, 2025
What a fascinating read. Four short stories centered around topics most people wouldn't give a second glance at, and yet extremely engaging.

Story 4: Starting with this one because it's the weakest, but probably because it felt too short. It's about a teen losing everyone in her life and ending up working at the manor of a man (plus three assistants) that work studying weather patterns to create almanacs for farmers. Weird, very intense at times, lovely characters.

Story 1: A man lost his passion about designing and making skeets for an archery event. He has to find new meaning in his art. It's beautiful and moving, you can feel his grief and understand the limit of his soul he's arrived at.

Story 2: A three way debate in between a judge and two ministers trying to do what's best for the kingdom, while the kingdom is begging them to make the wrong choice to placate their feelings of injustice and sorrow. It's a bit repetitive, but it serves to enhace the frustration of the protagonists and pull you into the debate with them.

Story 3: A plague starts affecting some trees in a way that raises the value of their wood, so neither the people nor the government feel the need to do anything about it. Only three men see how catastrophic this will be for the ecosystem as a whole long term, so they're racing to find a cure and make the newly crowned emperor care about it. I expected this story to have a happy ending, but it still made me hold my breath all throughout. Passionate characters and great use of the worldbuilding.

All in all, amazing. I loved this book. The situations it presented where so very specific, and yet easy to connect to.

Now on to the last story in this world.
Profile Image for Anny.
508 reviews30 followers
October 26, 2022
More than epic tales of emperors and queens or heroic tales of generals, this was the kind of book that moved my heart. A story of everyday people just trying to do their best and live their life to the utmost.

- Hisho no Tori was about a low rank minister whose job is to make skeet (clay bird used for archery target) for ritual archery performance. A man who desperately wished to convey the suffering of his heart and the people to his sovereign. How I wish I could watch it in animation, it would've been a mesmerizing sight!

- Rakushou no Goku debated about the merits and demerits of death penalty from the perspective of judicial ministers. A heavy dialogue but one that everyone should give a thought into.

- Seijou no Ran was about a forest conservation minister trying to save beech trees from a mysterious disease. Strange as it may sound but this tales of saving trees actually brought tears to my eyes.

- Fuushin shocked me with the brutality inflicted upon commoners by the whim of a ruler. How a person can cope with such tragedy and still make the most of their life, it was such a beautifully heartrending story.
Profile Image for s.
184 reviews
November 14, 2017
20171113

#丕緒の鳥 #十二国記 #小野不由美 さん #読了

丕緒の鳥: 陶鵲を作る羅氏丕緒の話。自分の思いをのせて陶鵲を作る。でも伝わらないことも、伝わっても思いを拒否されることもある。渾身の思いをのせて贈った陶鵲。思いは届いても拒否をされたことで無情感に呑まれてしまう。少しだけ、がんばってみようかなと前を向けるような最後。
落照の獄: 人を裁く。公平に。そこにはこの先のことも考えなきゃいけないし、今の状況も考えなきゃいけない。民意と司法とは、と言ったら簡単だけど、そのバランスは危ういもの。元から均衡などないのかもしれない。人を裁き方に正解などないという苦悩を垣間みれる話。実際にわたしが瑛庚だったら、と考えるとまずは胃を壊していただろう。
青条の蘭: 標仲、包荒、興慶が山毛欅の疫病を調べ、これから起こりうる大災害を防ごうと奮起する話。立ち上がれなくなるまで前に進んだ標仲の思いが街の人にリレー式に運ばれていく。苗が着いたところでどうなる?って思ったけどそれはその時。町の人たちが真っ直ぐに思いを繋いでくれている場面も、包荒と興慶が群生している野木まわりの草を薬となるか研究する場面も。この話の大半の人が真っ直ぐに前を向いている。自分のことではなく山を、山毛欅を、民を、救うために。苗は新王のもとに届いただろうか。願ってやまない。
風信: 世間からは外れていて自分の好きなことに熱中しているように見える人たちの中で下女として引き取られた蓮花。自分は親も親友もなくしたのにこの人たちはのんきに、と憤る。が、支僑「けれど、暦は必要です。こんな時代だから必要なんです。(中略)誰かが暦を作らないといけない。だからそれしかできない私たちがやるんです。」「私たちは無力です」それしかできないことでも、使命感を誇り高く持ってやる。わたしに必要なものだ。
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Peggy.
53 reviews4 followers
January 10, 2019
原本這本最期待的是〈落照之獄〉這一篇,沒想到看完之後,我更喜歡〈青條之蘭〉,落照之獄的寫法有點讓人有點不習慣。

在〈青條之蘭〉小野一開始對讀者賣關子,直到最後才透露這是哪一國的故事。本篇的主角標仲是負責管理山林野樹上生長的新草木和鳥獸,而其友人包荒則是負責管理國家的山林,在國家因為王位懸缺而陷入一片慌亂時,他們發現山林裡的山毛櫸開始得了怪病而枯死,為了避免山毛櫸大量枯死而禍延人類,標仲與包荒,以及獵木師興慶開始尋找解藥......

本篇與其他三篇一樣,是由下而上的角度,從百姓的視角來看整個國家,標仲和包荒的身分其實跟一般百姓一樣,差別僅在於他們是仙人,不容易死亡,身為官員的他們,在亂世中至少能靠著微薄的薪水生存,但他們的無力感跟百姓是一樣的。當三人好不容易找到解藥──青條之蘭時,卻發現必須讓它附著生長在山毛櫸上,無法以其他方法做成解藥,但偏偏這種植物很難生存, 一旦脫離了原先生長的地方,很快就會枯死了。 好不容易找到能暫時讓蘭花活著的方法,但要如何讓其他地區也能使用到就只能呈給國王,讓王向天帝請求,讓各地的「里木」長出來,雖然王是選出來了,但要如何呈上卻是一個大問題。

原本打算以賄賂的方法,讓官位較高的人獻給王,但不幸的是那人是個蠢蛋,差點把植物給用死,最後決定用最下下策,也就是讓標仲趕路,以最快的速度到達首都,但天氣又下著大雪,而標仲的馬到一半又累垮了,所以只能在大雪中徒步。

十二國記這系列的特色中,就是在一連串的絕望中出現新的希望,當標仲走到不能再走時,出現了其他人願意幫他將東西送到王宮,大家以接力的方式運送。抱持著「有一個人為了這個''國家的希望'',不顧一切地趕路」的想法,靠著彼此間的努力將東西送到王宮。大家手裡的青條之蘭,象徵著人民對於新即位君王的期待,希望他能給人民帶來好日子,希望他能讓這國家長治久安。

故事的後段終於出現了線索「玄英宮」,答案揭曉了!這是雁國的故事,其實從前面的描述多少能看出端倪,因為在先王駕崩後王土嚴重荒廢大概就非雁國莫屬。在十二國記的故事一開始,雁國是治世500年的富庶之國,讓不少讀者為之嚮往,但從這篇可以看出,在500年前雁國有多慘。先王梟王莫名發瘋,將治世300年的一切破壞殆盡,新生的麒麟又在30歲之前沒找到新王而死��隨後長出來的延果則被蝕給衝走,雁國人陷入完全絕望的境地。而在絕望中標仲他們仍然用他們那微小的力量,希望能為這個國家做點甚麼。500年前那群體會到國家如此荒廢,而陷入絕境的人民,在盼到新王之後,或許比任何人都還堅強地重建家園。因為嚐到那絕望的感覺,更能了解承平的時代得來不易。

一開始雁國人民對於尚隆即位時的評價時不熱心於國政,標仲半路上也覺得膽戰心驚,深怕把東西送到王面前後,被擱置在旁。一開始人民多是抱持著這個王做不久的心態,戰戰兢兢,如履薄冰的過著每一天吧!然後十年、二十年、一百年就這樣過了,在〈歸山〉中利廣也曾說過原本不看好尚隆的。
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Zao.
15 reviews
December 1, 2014
I thought some of the themes were a bit repetitive - but nevertheless a good read and a good glimpse into the vast world that the author had created.
Profile Image for Mariana.
621 reviews2 followers
October 25, 2016
It was very boring. This colection of short stories didn't have any interesting story.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.