Oyako-iwa (Parent and Child Rocks)親子岩

Numerous Ainu Legends about Parents and Children

親子にまつわる数々のアイヌ伝説

Three rocks stand together over the sea, as if they were parents snuggling close to their child.
These are the "Oyako-iwa" rocks, said to be the symbol of Samani Town.

まるで、親子が寄りそうように、海上に並ぶ 3 つの岩。
これが、様似町とのシンボルとも言われる「親子岩」です。

Long ago, the chieftain of a village that was defeated in a great battle in the East came to this sea, following his wife and child who he had sent ahead to flee.

その昔、東で起きた大きな戦いに敗れた村の長が、先に逃がした妻子を追って海へやってきます。

When he looked upon the form of his wife and child, who had abandoned their escape from the enemy and entered the sea, transforming into a rock (Sobira-iwa), the chieftain entered the sea himself, and became a large rock.

敵から逃げることをあきらめ、海に入って岩に姿を変えた妻子（ソビラ岩）を見て、長も自ら海へ入り、大きな岩へと姿を変えます。

Oyako-iwa depicted in "Picture of Samani Kaisho", Samani Folk Museum Collection

「シャマニ会所絵図」に描かれた親子岩／様似郷土館所蔵

Oyako-iwa depicted in "View of Samani, Eastern Ezo", Samani Folk Museum Collection

「東蝦夷シャマニ之景」に描かれた親子岩／様似郷土館所蔵

The enemy chief, who had pursued them there, became angry at the sight of the rocks, and released an arrow with full fury.

そこへ敵の長がやってきて、岩を見てたいそう悔しがり、思い切り矢を放ちました。

The arrow struck the chieftain's rock perfectly, and split it into three pieces.
These three pieces are called "Umpe Repunke”(Unbe Rocks = Parent and Child Rocks) in the Ainu language.

その矢は見事に長の岩に命中し、3 つに割れてしまいます。
この 3 つに割れた岩をアイヌ語で「ウンペ　レプンゲ（ウンべの岩＝親子岩）」と呼ばれています。

(Left side of photo) Sobira-iwa and Cape Enrumu, Showa 26 (1951)

昭和26年（1951年）左にソビラ岩、エンルム岬

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