作家梔子分享了他對蝦蟆(蟾蜍)的記憶，讓我想起了一個有關蝦蟆的故事。

在日本戰前的年代裡，四處兜賣膏藥的郎中有一個治燙傷和割傷的祕方。他們會將一隻有四隻前腿和六隻後腿的蝦蟆放在一個四面都是鏡子的的箱子裡，蝦蟆會因為從各種角度看到自己在鏡子中的映像嚇出一身汗油來。賣藥郎中於是將這些汗油收集起來，慢慢的用柳樹枝絆著熬煮三千七百二十一天。之後，這些汗油就成了燙傷與割傷的良藥。

黑澤明在他的自傳前言中提到這個傳說，來指射他自己在寫自傳的時候就像從各種角度在鏡子中看著自己的蝦蟆，不管他看到的是愉快的還是不愉快的。

A writer shares his memory about toads. It reminds me a story illustrated by Akira Kurosawa in the preface of his autobiography.

Before the second war, in Japan, itinerant home-remedy venders had a traditional ointment for burns and cuts. They would place a toad of four front legs and six behind in a box with mirrors attached on the four walls. After seeing its own reflection from every angle in the mirrors, it would break into sweaty oil. The venders collected and simmered the oil with a willow branch for 3,721 days. The result was this legendary ointment.

Kurosawa explained the state of writing his autobiography as if he was like the toad in the mirror box. He could see himself from every angle, but at the same time, he couldn’t only see the pleasant past. He had to accept the unpleasant memories, too.