 INTRODUCTION II. CHAPTER 0. To Eleanor Marion Crawford. I dedicate this book to you and to the sweet child friendship that you gave me in the days spent with you by the Southern Sea, when you used to listen with unfeigned pleasure to these fairy stories from far Japan. May they now remind you of my changeless love and remembrance. Y.T.O. Tokyo, 1908. Preface. This collection of Japanese fairy tales is the outcome of a suggestion made to me indirectly through a friend by Mr. Andrew Lang. They have been translated from the modern version written by Sadanami Sanjin. These stories are not literal translations, and though the Japanese story and all quaint Japanese expressions have been faithfully preserved, they have been told more with the view to interest young readers of the West than the technical student of folklore. Grateful acknowledgment is due to Mr. Y. Yasuoka, Ms. Fusa Okamoto, my brother, Nobomori Ozaki, Dr. Yoshihiro Takaki, and Ms. Kameko Yamau, who have helped me with translations. The story which I have named the story of the man who did not wish to die is taken from a little book written a hundred years ago by one Shinsui Tameinaga. It is named Shosei Furo or Longevity. The bamboo cutter and the moon child is taken from the classic Taketari Monogatari, and is not classed by the Japanese among their fairy tales, though it really belongs to this class of literature. The pictures were drawn by Mr. Kakuzo Fujiyama, a Tokyo artist. In telling these stories in English, I have followed my fancy in adding such touches of local color or description as they seem to need or as pleased me, and in one or two instances I have gathered in an incident from another version. At all times among my friends both young and old, English or American, I have always found eager listeners to the beautiful legends and fairy tales of Japan, and in telling them I have also found that they were still unknown to the vast majority, and this has encouraged me to write them for the children of the West. YTO, Tokyo, 1908 For more information or to volunteer, please visit Livvrivox.org Recording by John Rose Japanese Fairy Tales by Ye Tsuya-Dora Ozaki Chapter 1 My Lord Bag of Rice Long, long ago, there lived in Japan a brave warrior known to all as Tawara Toda, or My Lord Bag of Rice. His true name was Fujiwara Hidesato, and there is a very interesting story of how he came to change his name. One day he saluted forth in search of adventures, for he had the nature of a warrior and could not bear to be idle. So he buckled on his two swords, took his huge bow much taller than himself in his hand, and slinging his quiver on his back started out. He had not gone far when he came to the bridge of Seto no Karashi, spanning one end of the beautiful Lake Biwa. No sooner had he set foot on the bridge than he saw lying right across his path a huge serpent dragon. Its body was so big that it looked like the trunk of a large pine tree, and it took up the whole width of the bridge. One of its huge claws rested on the parapet on one side of the bridge, while its tail lay right against the other. The monster seemed to be asleep, and as it breathed, fire and smoke came out of its nostrils. At first Hidesato could not help feeling alarmed at the sight of this horrible reptile lying in his path, for he must either turn back or walk right over its body. He was a brave man, however, and putting aside all fear went forward dauntlessly. Crunch, crunch, he stepped now on the dragon's body, now between its coils, and without even one glance backward, he went on his way. He had only gone a few steps when he heard someone calling him from behind. Unturning back, he was much surprised to see that the monster dragon had entirely disappeared, and in its place was a strange-looking man who was bowing most ceremoniously to the ground. His red hair streamed over his shoulders and was surmounted by a crown in the shape of a dragon's head, and his sea-green dress was patterned with shells. Hidesato knew at once that this was no ordinary mortal, and he wondered much at the strange occurrence. Where had the dragon gone in such a short space of time? Or had it transformed itself into this man, and what did the whole thing mean? While these thoughts passed through his mind, he had come up to the man on the bridge and now addressed him. Was it you that called me just now? Yes, it was I, answered the man. I have an earnest request to make to you. Do you think you can grant it to me? If it is in my power to do so, I will, answered Hidesato. But first, tell me who you are. I am the dragon king of the lake, and my home is in these waters, just under this bridge. And what is it you have to ask of me? said Hidesato. I want you to kill my mortal enemy, the centipede, who lives on the mountain beyond, and the dragon king pointed to a high peak on the opposite shore of the lake. I have lived now for many years in this lake, and I have a large family of children and grandchildren. For some time past we have lived in terror, for a monster centipede has discovered our home, and night after night it comes and carries off one of my family. I am powerless to save them. If it goes on much longer like this, not only shall I lose all my children, but I myself must fall a victim to the monster. I am therefore very unhappy, and in my extremity I determine to ask the help of a human being. For many days with this intention I have waited on the bridge in the shape of the horrible serpent dragon that you saw, in the hope that some strong brave man would come along. But all who came this way as soon as they saw me were terrified, and ran away as fast as they could. You are the first man I have found able to look at me without fear, so I knew at once that you were a man of great courage. I beg you to have pity upon me. Will you not help me and kill my enemy, the centipede? It is out to have felt very sorry for the dragon king on hearing his story, and readily promised to do what he could to help him. The warrior asked where the centipede lived so that he might attack the creature at once. The dragon king replied that its home was on the mountain of Mikami, but that as it came every night at a certain hour to the palace of the lake it would be better to wait till then. So Hidesato was conducted to the palace of the dragon king under the bridge. Strange to say, as he followed his host downwards the waters parted to let them pass, and his clothes did not even feel damp as he passed through the flood. Never had Hidesato seen anything so beautiful as this palace built of white marble beneath the lake. He had often heard of the sea king's palace at the bottom of the sea, where all the servants and retainers were saltwater fishes. But here was a magnificent building in the heart of Legbiwa. The dainty goldfishes, red carp, and silvery trout waited upon the dragon king and his guest. Hidesato was astonished at the feast that was spread for him. The dishes were crystallized lotus leaves and flowers, and the chopsticks were of the rarest ebony. As soon as they sat down the sliding doors opened and ten lovely goldfish dancers came out, and behind them followed ten red carp musicians with the koto and the samisen. Thus the hours flew by till midnight, and the beautiful music and dancing had banished all thoughts of the centipede. The dragon king was about to pledge the warrior in a fresh cup of wine when the palace was suddenly shaken by a tramp, as if a mighty army had begun to march not far away. Hidesato and his host both rose to their feet and rushed to the balcony, and the warrior saw on the opposite mountain two great balls of glowing fire coming nearer and nearer. The dragon king stood by the warrior's side, trembling with fear. The centipede! The centipede! Those two balls of fire are its eyes. It is coming for its prey. Now is the time to kill it. Hidesato looked where his host pointed, and in the dim light of the starlit evening behind the two balls of fire he saw the long body of an enormous centipede winding round the mountains, and the light in its hundred feet glowed like so many distant lanterns moving slowly towards the shore. Hidesato showed not the least sign of fear. He tried to calm the dragon king. Don't be afraid. I shall surely kill the centipede. Just bring me my bow and arrows. The dragon king did his he was bid, and the warrior had noticed that he had only three arrows left in his quiver. He took the bow and, fitting an arrow to the notch, took careful aim and let fly. The arrow hit the centipede right in the middle of its head, but instead of penetrating it glanced off harmless and fell to the ground. Nothing daunted, Hidesato took another arrow, fitted it to the notch of the bow, and let fly. Again the arrow hit the mark, it struck the centipede right in the middle of its head, only to glance off and fall to the ground. The centipede was invulnerable to weapons. When the dragon king saw that even this brave warrior's arrows were powerless to kill the centipede, he lost heart and began to tremble with fear. The warrior saw that he had now only one arrow left in his quiver, and if this one failed he could not kill the centipede. He looked across the waters. The huge reptile had wound its horrid body seven times around the mountain and would soon come down to the lake. Nearer and nearer gleamed fireballs of eyes and the weight of its hundred feet began to throw reflections in the still waters of the lake. Then suddenly the warrior remembered that he had heard that human saliva was deadly to centipedes, but this was no ordinary centipede. This was so monstrous that even to think of such a creature made one creep with horror. Hidesato determined to try his last chance, so taking his last arrow and first putting the end of it in his mouth he fit the notch to his bow to careful aim once more and let fly. This time the arrow again hit the centipede right in the middle of its head, but instead of glancing off harmlessly as before it struck home to the creature's brain. Then with a convulsive shutter the serpentine body stopped moving and the fiery light of its great eyes and hundred feet darkened to a dull glare like the sunset of a stormy day and then went out in blackness. A great darkness now overspread the heavens, the thunder rolled and the lightning flashed and the wind roared in fury and it seemed as if the world were coming to an end. The dragon king and his children and retainers all searched in different parts of the palace frightened to death for the building was shaken to its foundation. At last the dreadful night was over. Day dawned, beautiful and clear, the centipede was gone from the mountain. Then Hidesato called to the dragon king to come out with him on the balcony for the centipede was dead and he had nothing more to fear. Then all the inhabitants of the palace came out with joy and Hidesato pointed to the lake. There lay the body of the dead centipede floating under water which was dyed red with its blood. The gratitude of the dragon king knew no bounds. The whole family came and bowed down before the warrior calling him their preserver and the bravest warrior in all Japan. Another feast was prepared, more sumptuous than the first. All kinds of fish prepared in every imaginable way, raw, stewed, boiled and roasted, served on curdle trays and crystal dishes were put before him and the wine was the best that Hidesato had ever tasted in his life. To add to the beauty of everything the sun shone brightly, the lake glittered like a liquid diamond and the palace was a thousand times more beautiful by day than by night. His host tried to persuade the warrior to stay a few days but Hidesato insisted on going home saying that he had now finished what he had come to do and must return. The dragon king and his family were all very sorry to have him leave so soon but since he would go they begged him to accept a few small presents, so they said, in token of their gratitude to him for delivering them forever from their horrible enemy the centipede. As the warrior stood in the porch taking leave, a train of fish was suddenly transformed into a retinue of men, all wearing ceremonial robes and dragons crowns on their heads to show that they were servants of the great dragon king. The presents that they carried were as follows. First a large bronze bell. Second a bag of rice. Third a roll of silk. Fourth a cooking pot. Fifth a bell. Hidesato did not want to accept all these presents but as the dragon king insisted he could not well refuse. The dragon king himself accompanied the warrior as far as the bridge and then took leave of him with many bows and good wishes leaving the procession of servants to accompany Hidesato to his house with the presents. The warrior's household and servants had been very much concerned when they found that he did not return the night before but they finally concluded that he had been kept under the violent storm and had taken shelter somewhere. When the servants on the watch for his return caught sight of him they called to everyone that he was approaching, wondering much what the retinue of men bearing presents and banners that followed him could mean. As soon as the dragon king's retainers had put down the presents they vanished and Hidesato told all that had happened to him. The presents which he had received from the grateful dragon king were found to be of magic power. The bell only was ordinary and as Hidesato had no use for it he presented it to the temple nearby where it was hung up to boom out the hour of day over the surrounding neighborhood. The single bag of rice however much was taken from it day after day for the meals of the night and his whole family never grew less. The supply in the bag was inexhaustible. The roll of silk too never grew shorter though time after time long pieces were cut off to make the warrior a new suit of clothes to go to court in at the new year. The cooking pot was wonderful too. No matter what was put into it it cooked deliciously whatever was wanted without any firing. Truly a very economical saucepan. The fame of Hidesato's fortune spread far and wide and as there was no need for him to spend money on rice or silk or firing he became very rich and prosperous and was henceforth known as My Lord Bag of Rice. Long long ago in Japan there lived an old man and his wife. The old man was a good, kind-hearted, hard-working old fellow but his wife was a regular cross-patch who spoiled the happiness of her home by her scolding tongue. She was always grumbling about something from morning to night. The old man had for a long time seized to take any notice of her crossness. He was out most of the day at work in the fields and as he had no child for his amusement when he came home he kept a tame sparrow. He loved the little bird just as much as if she had been his child. When he came back at night after his hard days work in the open air it was his only pleasure to pet the sparrow to talk to her and to teach her little tricks which she learned very quickly. The old man would open her cage and let her fly about the room and they would play together. Then when supper time came he always saved some tidbits from his meal with which to feed his little bird. Now one day the old man went out to chop wood in the forest and the old woman stopped at home to wash clothes. The day before she had made some starch and now when she came to look for it it was all gone. The bowl which she had filled full yesterday was quite empty. While she was wondering who could have used or stolen the starch Dan flew the pet's sparrow and bowing her little feathered head a trick which she had been taught by her master the pretty bird chirped and said, It is I who have taken the starch. I thought it was some food put out for me in that basin and I ate it all. If I made a mistake I beg you to forgive me. Tweet, tweet, tweet. You see from this that the sparrow was a truthful bird and the old woman ought to have been willing to forgive her at once when she asked her pardon so nicely but not so. The old woman had never loved a sparrow and had often quarreled with her husband for keeping what she called a dirty bird about the house saying that it only made extra work for her. Now she was only too delighted to have some cause of complaint against the pet. She scolded and even cursed the poor little bird for her bad behavior and not content with using this harsh and feeling words in the fit of rage she seized the sparrow who all this time had spread out her wings and bowed her head before the old woman to show how sorry she was and fetched the scissors and cut off the poor little bird's tongue. I suppose she took my starch with that tongue. Now you may see what it is like to go without it. And with these dreadful words she drove the bird away not carrying in the least what might happen to it and without the smallest pity for its suffering so unkind was she. The old woman after she had driven the sparrow away made some more rice-paste grumbling all the time at the trouble and after starching all her clothes spread the things on board so dry in the sun after varning them as they do in England. In the evening the old man came home as usual on the way back he looked forward to the time when he should reach his gate and see his pet come flying and chirping to meet him ruffling out her feathers to show her joy and less coming to rest on his shoulder. But tonight the old man was very disappointed for not even the shadow of his dear sparrow was to be seen. He quickened his steps, hastily drew off his straw sandals and stepped on to the veranda. Still no sparrow was to be seen. He now felt sure that his wife in one of her cross-tempers had shut the sparrow up in its cage so he called her and said anxiously Where is Susamethon, Miss Sparrow today? The old woman pretended not to know at first and answered Your sparrow! I am sure I don't know. Now I come to think of it I haven't seen her all the afternoon I shouldn't wonder if the ungrateful bird had flown away and left you after all your petting. But at last when the old man gave her no peace but after her again and again insisting that she must know what had happened to his pet she confessed all. She told him crassly how the sparrow had eaten the rice paste she had specially made for starching her clothes and how when the sparrow had confessed what she had done in great anger she had taken her scissors and cut out her tongue and how finally she had driven the bird away and forbidden her to return to the house again. Then the old woman showed her husband the sparrow's tongue saying Here is the tongue I cut off! Horrid little bird! Why did it eat all my starch? How could you be so cruel? Oh! How could you be so cruel? I saw that the old man could answer. He was too kind-hearted to punish his true of a wife but he was terribly distressed at what had happened to his full little sparrow. What a dreadful misfortune for my poor susume son to lose her tongue! He said to himself he won't be able to chirp any more and surely the pain of the cutting of it out in that rough way must have made her ill. Is there nothing to be done? The old man shed many tears after his cross-wife had gone to sleep. While he wiped away the tears with the sleeve of his cotton-robe a bright thought comforted him. He would go and look for the sparrow on the morrow. Having decided this he was able to go to sleep at last. The next morning he rose early as soon as ever the day broke and snatching a hasty breakfast started out over the hills and through the woods stopping at every clump of bamboos to cry. Where? Oh, where does my tongue cut sparrow stay? Where? Oh, where does my tongue cut sparrow stay? He never stopped to rest for his noon-day meal and was far on in the afternoon when he found himself near a large bamboo-wood. Bambo-groves are the favorite haunts of sparrows and there, sure enough, at the edge of the wood he saw his own dear sparrow waiting to welcome him. He could hardly believe his eyes for joy and went forward quickly to greet her. She bowed her little head and went through a number of the tricks her master had taught her to show her pleasure at seeing her old friend again and, wonderful to relate, she could talk as of old. The old man told her how sorry it was for all that had happened and inquired after her tongue wondering how she could speak so well without it. Then the sparrow opened her beak and showed him that a new tongue had grown in place of the old one and begged him not to think any more about the past for she was quite well now. Then the old man knew that his sparrow was a fairy and no common bird. It would be difficult to exaggerate the old man's rejoicing now. He forgot all his troubles. He forgot even how tired he was for he had found his lost sparrow and instead of being ill and without a tongue as he had feared and expected to find her she was well and happy and with a new tongue and without a sign of the ill treatment she had received from his wife and above all she was a fairy. The sparrow asked him to follow her and flying before him she led him to a beautiful house in the heart of the bamboo grove. The old man was utterly astonished when he entered the house to find what a beautiful place it was. It was built of the whitest wood the soft cream-coloured mats which took the place of carpets for the finest he had ever seen and the cushions that the sparrow brought out for him to sit on were made of the finest silk and crepe. Beautiful vases and lacquer boxes adorned a tokenoma. Footnotes and alcove repressive objects are displayed of every room. The sparrow led the old man to the place of honour and then, taking her place at a humble distance she thanked him with many polite bows for all the kindness he had shown her for many long years. Then the lady's sparrow, as we will now call her introduced all her family to the old man. This done her daughters robed in dainty grape counts brought in beautiful old-fashioned trays a feast of all kinds of delicious foods the old man began to think he must be dreaming. In the middle of the dinner some of the sparrow's daughters performed a wonderful dance called the susomeodori or the sparrow's dance to amuse the guest. Never had the old man enjoyed himself so much the hours flew by too quickly in this lovely spot with all this very sparrow's to wait upon him and to feast him and to dance before him. But the night came on and the darkness reminded him that he had a long way to go and must think about taking his leave and return home. He thanked his kind hostess for her splendid entertainment and begged her for his sake to forget all she had suffered at the hands of his cross-old wife. He told the lady's sparrow that it was a great comfort and happiness to him to find her in such a beautiful home and to know that she wanted for nothing. It was his anxiety to know how she fared and what had really happened to her that had led him to seek her. Now he knew that all was well he could return home with a light heart. If ever she wanted him for anything she had only to send for him and he would come at once. The lady's sparrow begged him to stay and rest several days and enjoy the change but the old man said he must return to his old wife who would probably be cross at his not coming home at the usual time and to his work and therefore much as he wished to do so he could not accept her kind invitation. But now that he knew where the lady's sparrow lived he would come to see her whenever he had the time. When the lady's sparrow saw that she could not persuade the old man to stay longer she gave an order to some of her servants and they at once brought in two boxes one large and the other small. These were placed before the old man and the lady's sparrow asked him to choose whichever he liked for a present which she wished to give him. The old man could not refuse this kind proposal and he chose the smaller box same. I am now too old and feeble to carry the big and heavy box. As you are so kind as to say that I may take whichever I like I will choose the small one which will be easier for me to carry. Then the sparrow's all helped him put it on his back and went to the gate to see him off bidding him good-bye with many bows and then treating him to come again whenever he had the time. Thus the old man and his pet sparrow separated quite happily the sparrow showing not the least ill will for all the unkindness she had suffered at the hands of the old wife. Indeed she only felt sorrow for the old man who had to put up with it all his life. When the old man reached home he found his wife even crustal than usual for it was late on in the night and she had been waiting up for him for a long time. Where have you been all this time? She asked in a big voice Why do you come back so late? The old man tried to pacify her by showing her the box of presents he had brought back with him and then he told her of all that had happened to him and how wonderfully he had been entertained at the sparrow's house. Now let us see what is in the box said the old man not giving her time to grumble again. You must help me open it. And they both sat down before the box and opened it. To their utter astonishment they found the box filled to the brim with gold and silver coins and many other precious things. The mats of their little cottage fairly glittered as they took out the things one by one and put them down and handled them over and over again. The old man was overjoyed at the sight of the riches there were now his. Beyond his brightest expectations was the sparrow's gift which would enable him to give up work and live in ease and comfort the rest of his days. He said, Thanks to my good little sparrow thanks to my good little sparrow many times. But the old woman after the first moments of surprise and satisfaction at the sight of the gold and silver were over could not suppress her greed of a wicked nature. She now began to reproach the old man for not having brought home the big box of presents for in the innocence of his heart he had told her how he had refused the large box of presents which the sparrow had offered him preferring the smaller one because it was light and easy to carry home. You silly old man! said she. Why did you not bring the large box? Just think what we have lost. We might have had twice as much silver and gold as this. You are certainly an old fool! She screamed and that went to bed as angrily she could be. The old man now wished that he had said nothing about the big box but it was too late. The greedy old woman not contented with the good luck which had so unexpectedly befallen them and which she so little deserved made up her mind if possible to get more. Early the next morning she got up and made the old man describe the way to the sparrow's house. When he saw what was in her mind he tried to keep her from going but it was useless. She would not listen to one word he said. It is strange that the old woman did not feel ashamed of going to see the sparrow after the cruel way she had treated her in cutting off her tongue in a fit of rage. But her greed to get the big box made her forget everything else. They did not even enter her thoughts that the sparrows might be angry with her, as indeed they were and might punish her for what she had done. Ever since the lady sparrow had returned home in the sad plight in which they had first found her weeping and bleeding from the mouth her whole family and relations had done little else but speak of the cruelty of the old woman. How could she they asked each other inflict such a heavy punishment for such a trifling offence a stat of eating some rice paced by mistake. They all loved the old man who was so kind and good and patient under all his troubles but the old woman they hated and they determined if ever they had a chance to punish her she deserved. They had not long to wait. After walking for some hours the old woman had at last found the bamboo grove which she had made her husband carefully describe and now she stood before it crying out Where is the tankard sparrow's house? Where is the tankard sparrow's house? At last she saw the eaves of the house peeping out from amongst the bamboo foliage she hastened to the door and knocked loudly when the servants told the lady sparrow that her old mistress was at the door asking to see her she was so much surprised at the unexpected visit after all that had taken place and she wondered not a little about the coldness of the old woman in venturing to come to the house The lady sparrow however was a polite bird and so she went out to greet the old woman remembering that she had once been her mistress The old woman intended however to waste no time in words she went right to the point without the least shame and said You need not trouble to entertain me as you did my old man I have come myself to get the box which she so stupidly left behind I shall soon take my leave if you will give me the big box that is all I want The lady sparrow at once consented and told her servants to bring out the big box The old woman eagerly ceased it and hoisted it on her back and without even stopping to thank the lady sparrow began to hurry homewards The box was so heavy that she could not walk fast much less run as she would have liked to too so anxious was she to get home and see what was inside the box but she had often to sit down and rest herself by the way While she was staggering along under the heavy load her desire to open the box became too great to be resisted She could wait no longer for she supposed this big box to be full of gold and silver and precious jewels like the small one her husband had received At last this greedy and selfish old woman put down the box by the wayside and opened it carefully expecting to gloat her eyes on a mine of wealth What she saw however so terrified her that she nearly lost her senses As soon as she lifted the lid a number of horrible and frightful looking demons bounced out of the box and surrounded her as if they intended to kill her Not even in nightmares that she ever seen such horrible creatures as her much coveted box contained A demon with one huge eye right in the middle of its forehead came and glared at her Monsters with gaping mouths looked as if they would devour her A huge snake cold and hissed about her and a big frog hopped and croaked towards her The old woman had never been so frightened in her life and ran from the spot as fast as her quaking legs would carry her glad to escape alive When she reached home she fell to the floor and told her husband with tears all that had happened to her in how she had been nearly killed by the demons in the box Then she began to blame the sparrow but the old man stopped her at once saying Don't blame the sparrow It is your wickedness which has at last met with its reward I only hope this may be a lesson to you in the future The old woman said nothing more and from that day she repented of her cross and kind ways and by degrees became a good old woman Sought out her husband hardly knew her to be the same person and they spent their last days together happily free from want or care spending carefully the treasure the old man had received from his pet the tongue cut sparrow End of chapter 2 Recording by Winna Hathaway in faithful North Carolina Chapter 3 of Japanese Fairy Tales This is a Libby Vox recording All Libby Vox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibbyVox.org This recording by Winna Hathaway Japanese Fairy Tales by Ye Theodoro Osaki Chapter 3 The Story of Rishima Taro The Fisher Lad Long long ago in the province of Tango there lived on the shore of Japan in the little fishing village of Misanoe a young fisherman named Rishima Taro His father had been a fisherman before him and his skill had more than delby descended to his son Rishima was the most skillful fisher in all that countryside and could catch more bonito and thai in a day than his comrades could in a week But in the little fishing village more than for being a clever fisher of the sea was he known for his kind heart in his whole life he had never hurt anything either great or small and when a boy his companions had always laughed at him for he would never join with them in teasing animals but always tried to keep them in support One soft summer twilight he was going home at the end of a day's fishing when he came upon a group of children they were all screaming and talking at the tops of their voices and seemed to be in a state of great excitement about something and on his going up to them to see what was the matter he saw that they were tormenting a tortoise first one boy pulled it this way then another boy pulled it that way while a third child beat it with a stick and the fourth hammered its shell with a stone now Orishima felt very sorry for the poor tortoise and made up his mind to rescue it he spoke to the boys look here boys you are treating that poor tortoise so badly that it will soon die the boys who were all of an age when children seemed to delight in being cruel to animals took no notice of Orishima's gentle reproof but went on teasing it as before one of the older boys answered who cares whether it lives or dies we do not here boys go on go on as they began to treat the poor tortoise more cruelly than ever Orishima waited a moment turning over in his mind but would be the best way to deal with the boys he would try to persuade them to give the tortoise up to him so he smothered them and said I am sure you are all good kind boys now won't you give me the tortoise I should like to have it so much no we won't give you the tortoise said one of the boys why should we we call it ourselves what you say is true said Orishima but I do not ask you to give it to me for nothing I will give you some money for it in other words the Orishima uncle will buy it of you won't that too for you my boys he held up the money to them strung on a piece of string a hole in the center of each coin look boys you can buy anything you like with this money you can do much more with this money than you can with that poor tortoise see what good boys you are to listen to me so boys were not bad boys at all they were only mischievous and as Orishima spoke they were worn by his kind smile and gentle words and began to be of his spirit as they say in Japan gradually they all came up to him as the leader of the little band holding out the tortoise to him very well logisan you will give it a tortoise if you will give us some money and Orishima took the tortoise and gave the money to the boys who were calling to each other scampered away and were soon out of sight then Orishima struck the tortoise back saying as he did so oh you poor thing poor thing you are safe now they say that the stock is for a thousand years for ten thousand years you have the longest life of any creature in this world and you are in great danger of having that precious life cut short by those cruel boys luckily I was passing by and saved you and so life is still yours now I'm going to take you back to your home to see it once do not let yourself be caught again for there might be no one to save you next time all the time that kind fisherman was speaking he was walking quickly to the shore he looked upon the rocks then putting the tortoise into the water he watched the animal disappear and turned homewards himself for he was tired and the sun had set the next morning Orishima went out as usual in his boat the weather was fine and the sea and sky were both blue and soft in the tender haze of the summer morning Orishima got into his boat and dreamily pushed out to sea throwing his line as he did so he soon passed the other fishing boats and left them behind him until they were lost to sight in the distance and his boat drifted further and further out upon the blue waters somehow he knew not why he felt unusually happy that morning and he could not help wishing that like the tortoise he set free the day before he had thousands of years to live instead of his own short span of human life he was suddenly startled from his reverie by hearing his own name called Orishima clear as a bell and soft as the summer wind the name floated over the sea he stood up and looked in every direction thinking that one of the other boats had overtaken him but gaze as he might over the wide expanse of water near or far there was no sign of a boat so the voice could not have come from any human being startled at wondering who or what it was that had called him so clearly he looked in all directions round about him and saw that without knowing it a tortoise had come to the side of the boat Orishima saw with surprise that it was the very tortoise he had rescued the day before well Mr. Tortoise said to Orishima was it you who called my name just now the tortoise nodded its head several times and said yes it was I yesterday in your honourable shadow of Kagesama day my life was saved and I have come to offer you my thanks and to tell you how grateful I am for your kindness to me indeed said Orishima that is very polite of you come up into the boat I would offer you a smoke but as your tortoise tells you do not smoke and the fisherman laughed at his joke he he he he laughed at tortoise sake rice wine is my favourite refreshment but I do not care for tobacco Orishima I regret very much that I have no sake in my boat to offer you but come up and dry your back in the sun tortoises always love to do that so the tortoise climbed into the boat the fisherman helping him and day after an exchange of complimentary speeches the tortoise said have you ever seen ringing the palace of the dragon king of the sea Orishima the fisherman shook his head and replied no year after year the sea has been my home but though I have often heard of the dragon kings realm under the sea I have never yet set eyes on that wonderful place it must be very far away if it exists at all is that really so you have never seen the sea kings palace then you have missed seeing one of the most wonderful sights in the whole universe it is far away at the bottom of the sea but if I take you there we shall soon reach the place if you would like to see the sea kings land I will be your guide I should like to go there, certainly and you are very kind to think of taking me but you must remember that I am only a poor mortal and I have not the power of swimming like the sea creatures such as you are before the fisherman could say more the tortoise stopped him saying what? you need not swim yourself if you ride on my back I will take you without any trouble on your part but said the Rishima how is it possible for me to ride on your small back it may seem absurd to you but I assure you that you can do so try it once just come and get on my back and see if it is as impossible as you think as the tortoise finished speaking Rishima looked at its shell and strange to say he saw that the creature had suddenly grown so big that a man could easily sit on its back this is strange indeed said the Rishima then Mr. Tortoise with your kind permission I will get on your back footnote all right only used by lower classes he exclaimed as he jumped on the tortoise with an unmoved face as if this strange proceeding were quite an ordinary event said now we will set out at our leisure and with this word he leapt into the sea and his back down through the water the tortoise dived for a long time these two strange companions rode through the sea Rishima never grew tired nor his clothes moist with water at last far away in the distance a magnificent gate appeared and behind the gate the long sloping roofs of a palace on the horizon yeah exclaimed the Rishima that looks like the gate of some large palace Mr. Tortoise can you tell what that palace is we can now see that is the great gate of the Rindian palace the large roof that you see behind the gate is the sea king's palace itself then we have at last come to the realm of the sea king and to his palace said the Rishima and don't you think we have come very quickly and while he was speaking the tortoise reached the side of the gate and here we are and you must please walk from here the tortoise now went in front and speaking to the gatekeeper said this is Rishima Taro from the country of Japan I've had the honor of bringing him as a visitor to this kingdom please show him the way then the gatekeeper who was a fish at once led the way through the gate before them the red bream the flounder the soul the cuttlefish and all the chief vices of the dragon king of the sea now came out with courtly bows to welcome the stranger Rishima-sama Rishima-sama welcome to the sea palace the home of the dragon king of the sea thrice welcome are you having come from such a distant country and you Mr. Tortoise we are greatly indebted to you for all your trouble in bringing Rishima here then turning again to Rishima they said please follow us this way and from here the whole band of fishes became his guides Rishima being only a poor fisher lad did not know how to behave in a palace but strange though it was all to him he did not feel ashamed or embarrassed but followed his kind guides quite calmly where they led to the inner palace when he reached the portals a beautiful princess with her attendant maidens came out to welcome him she was more beautiful than any human being and was robed in flowing garments of red and soft green like the underside of a wave and golden threads glimmered through the folds of her gown her lovely black hair streamed over her shoulders in the fashion of a king's daughter many hundreds of years ago and when she spoke her voice sounded like music over the water Rishima was lost in wonder while her looked upon her and you could not speak or remember to the ought to bow but before you could make a little obeisance the princess took him by the hand and led him to a beautiful hall and to the seat of honor of the upper end and bathed him be seated Rishima Taro it gives me the highest pleasure to welcome you to my father's kingdom said the princess yesterday you set free your tortoise and I have sent for you to thank you for saving my life for I was set tortoise now if you like you shall live here forever in the land of eternal youth where summer never dies and where sorrow never comes and there will be your bride if you will we will live together happily forever afterwards and as Rishima listened to her sweet words and gazed upon her lovely face his heart was filled with a great wonder and joy and he answered her wondering if it was not all a dream thank you a thousand times for your kind speech there is nothing I could wish for more than to be permitted to stay here with you in this beautiful land of which I have often heard but have never seen to this day beyond all words this is the most wonderful place I have ever seen while he was speaking a train of fishes appeared all dressed in a ceremonial trailing garment one by one silently and with stately steps they enter the hall bearing on coral trays delicacies of fish and seaweed such as no one can dream of and this wondrous feast was set before the bride and bridegroom the bridal was celebrated with dazzling splendor and in the sea kings realm there was great rejoicing as soon as the young pair had pledged themselves in the wedding cup of wine three times three music was played and songs were sung and fishes with silver scales and golden tails stepped in from the waves and danced Rishima enjoyed himself with all his heart never in his whole life had he sat down to such a marvelous feast when the feast was over the princess asked the bridegroom if he would like to walk through the palace and see all there was to be seen then the happy fisherman following his bride the sea kings daughter was shown all the wonders of that enchanted land where youths and joy go hand in hand and neither time nor age can touch them the palace was built of coral and adorned with pearls and the beauties and wonders of the place were so great that the town fails to describe them but to Rishima more wonderful than the palace was the garden that surrounded it here was to be seen at one time the scenery of the four different seasons the beauties of summer and winter spring and autumn were displayed to the one-week visitor at once first when you look to the east the cherry trees were seen in full bloom the nightingales sang in the pink avenues and butterflies flitted from flower to flower looking through the cells all the trees were green in the fullest of summer and the day cicada and the night cricket chirped loudly looking through the west the autumn maples were ablaze like a sunset sky and the chrysanthemums were in perfection looking through the north the change made Rishima start for the ground was silver white with snow and trees and bamboos were also covered with snow and the pond was thick with ice and each day there were new joys and new wonders for Rishima and so great was his happiness that he forgot everything even the home he had left behind and his parents and his own country and three days passed without his even thinking of all he had left behind then his mind came back to him and he remembered who he was and that he did not belong to this wonderful land on the sea king's palace and he said to himself oh dear I must not stay on here for I have an old father and mother at home what can have happened to them all this time how anxious they must have been these days when I did not return as usual I must go back at once without letting one more day pass and he began to prepare for the journey in great haste then he went to his beautiful wife the princess and bowing low before her he said indeed I have been very happy with you for a long time Otahime sama for that was her name and you have been kinder to me than any words can tell but now I must say goodbye I must go back to my old parents then Otahime sama began to weep and said softly and sadly they sit not well with you here Orashima that you wish to leave me so soon where is the haste stay with me yet another day only but Orashima had remembered his old parents and in Japan the duty to parents is stronger than everything else stronger even than pleasure or love and he would not be persuaded but answered indeed I must go and say that I wish to leave you it is not that I must go and see my old parents let me go for one day and I will come back to you then said the princess sorrowfully there is nothing to be done I will send you back today to your father and mother and instead of trying to keep you with me one more day I shall give you this as a token of our love please take it back with you a beautiful lacquer box tied about with a silken cord and tassels of red silk Orashima had received so much from the princess already that he felt some compunction in taking the gift and said it does not seem right for me to take yet another gift from you after all the many favors I have received at your hands but because it is your wish I will do so and then he added tell me what is this box answer to princess he is the tamatable box of the jewel hand it contains something very precious you must not open this box whatever happens if you open it something dreadful will happen to you now promise me that you will never open this box and Orashima promised that he would never, never open the box whatever happened then bidding goodbye to Otahime-sama who went down to the seashore princess and her attendants following him and then he found a large tortoise waiting for him he quickly mounted the creature's back and was carried away over the shining seas into the east he looked back to wave his hand to Otahime-sama till at last you could see her no more and the land of the sea king and the roofs of the wonderful palace were lost in the far, far distance then with his face turned eagerly towards his own land he looked for the rising of the blue hills on the horizon before him at last the tortoise carried him into the bay he knew so well and saw the shore from whence he had set out he stepped onto the shore and looked about him while the tortoise rode away back to the sea king's realm but what is the strange fear that sees Orashima as he stands and looks about him why does he gaze so fixly at the people that pass him by and why do they in turn stand and look at him the shore is the same and the hills are the same but the people that he sees walking past him have very different faces to those he had known so well before wondering what it can mean he walks quickly towards his old home even that looks different but a house stands on the spot and he calls out Father, I have just returned and he was about to enter when he saw a strange man coming out perhaps my parents have moved while I have been away and have gone somewhere else was the fisherman's thought somehow he began to feel strangely anxious he could not tell why excuse me said he to the man who was staring at him but till within the last few days I have lived in this house my name is Orashima Taro where have my parents gone whom I have left here a very bewildered expression came over the face of the man and still gazing intently on Orashima's face he said what? are you Orashima Taro? yes, said the fisherman I am Orashima Taro hahaha I laugh at the man you must not make such jokes it is true that once upon a time a man called Orashima Taro did live in this village but that is a story 300 years old he could not possibly be alive now when Orashima heard these strange words he was frightened and said please please you must not choke with me I am greatly perplexed I am really Orashima Taro and I certainly have not lived 300 years till four or five days ago I lived on this spot tell me what I want to know without more choking please but the man's face grew more and more grave and he answered you may or may not be Orashima Taro I don't know what the Orashima Taro of whom I have heard lived 300 years ago perhaps you are his spirit come to revisit your old home why do you mock me said Orashima I am no spirit I am a living man do you not see my feet and don don he stamped on the ground first with one foot and then with the other to show the man Japanese ghosts have no feet but Orashima Taro lived 300 years ago that is all I know each chronicles persisted the man who could not believe what the fisherman said Orashima was lost in bewilderment and trouble he stood looking all around him terribly puzzled and indeed something in the appearance of everything was different to what he remembered before he went away and the awful feeling came over him so what the man said was perhaps true he seemed to be in a strange dream the few days he had spent in the sea king's palace beyond the sea had not been days at all they had been hundreds of years and in that time his parents had died in all the people he had ever known and the village had written down his story there was no use in staying here any longer he must get back to his beautiful wife beyond the sea he made his way back to the beach carrying in his hand the box which the princess had given him but which was the way he could not find it alone suddenly he remembered the box the tamate buckle the princess told me when she gave me the box never to open it that it contained a very precious thing but now that I have no home now that I have lost everything that was dear to me here and my heart grows thin with sadness at such a time if I open the box surely I shall find something that will help me something that will show me the way back to my beautiful princess over the sea there is nothing else for me to do now yes yes I will open the box and look in and so his heart consented to this act of disobedience he tried to persuade himself that he was doing the right thing in breaking his promise slowly, very slowly he untied the red silk cord slowly and wanderingly he lifted the lid of the precious box and what did he find? strange to say only a beautiful little purple cloud rose out of the box in three soft wisps for an instant it covered his face and wavered over him as if close to go and then it floated away like a vapor over the sea Orishima who had been till that moment like a strong and handsome youth of 24 suddenly became very very old his back doubled up with age his hair turned snowy white his face wrinkled and he fell down, dead on the beach poor Orishima because of his disobedience he could never return to the sea kings realm or the lovely princess beyond the sea little children never be disobedient to those who are wiser than you for disobedience was the beginning of all the miseries and sorrows of life Japanese fairy tales by Ye Theodora Ozaki Chapter 4 The Farmer and the Badger Long, long ago there lived an old farmer and his wife who had made their house in the mountains far from any town their only neighbor was a bad and malicious badger this badger used to come out every night and run across the farmer's field and spoil the vegetables and the rice which the farmer spent his time in carefully cultivating the badger at last grew so ruthless in his malicious work and had so much harm everywhere on the farm that the good-natured farmer could not stand it any longer and determined to put a stop to it so he laid in wait day after day and night after night with a big club hoping to catch the badger in vain then he laid traps for the wicked animal the farmer's trouble and patience was rewarded for one fine day on going his rounds he found the badger caught in a hole he had dug for that purpose the farmer was delighted having caught his enemy and carried him home securely bound with rope when he reached the house the farmer said to his wife I've at last caught the bad badger you must keep an eye on him while I go out to work and not let him escape because I want to make him into soup tonight saying this he hung the badger up to the raptors in the storehouse and went out to his work in the fields the badger was in great distress he did not at all like the idea of being made into soup that night and he thought and thought for a long time trying to hit upon some plan by which he might escape it was hard to think clearly in his uncomfortable position for he had been hung upside down very near him at the entrance of the storehouse looking out towards the green fields and the trees and the pleasant sunrise stood the farmer's old wife pounding barley she looked tired and old her face was seamed with many wrinkles and was as brown as leather and every now and then she stopped to wipe the perspiration which rolled down her face deal lady said the wily badger you must be very weary doing such work in your old age won't you let me do that for you my arms are very strong and I could relieve you for a while thank you for your kindness said the old woman but I cannot let you do this work for me because I must not untie you for you might escape if I did and my husband would be very angry if he came home and found you gone now the badger is one of the most cunning of animals and he said again in a very sad gentle voice you are very unkind you might untie me for I promise not to try to escape if you are afraid of your husband I will let you bind me again before his return when I have finished pounding the body I am so tired and sore tied up like this if you would only let me down for a few minutes I would indeed be thankful the old woman had a good and simple nature and could not think badly of anyone unless did she think that the badger was only deceiving her in order to get away she felt sorry too for the animal as she turned to look at him he looked in such a sad plight hanging downwards from the ceiling by his legs which were all tied together so tightly that the rope and the knots were cutting into the skin so in the kindness of a heart and believing the creature's promise that he would not run away and let him down the old woman then gave him the wooden pestle and told him to do the work for a short time while she rested he took the pestle but instead of doing the work as he was told the badger at once sprang upon the old woman and knocked her down with a heavy piece of wood he then killed her and cut her up and made soup of her and waited for the return of the old farmer the old man worked hard in the fields all day and as he worked he thought with pleasure that no more now would his labour be spoiled by the destructive badger towards sunset he left his work and turned to go home he was very tired but the thought of the nice supper of hot badger soup awaiting his return cheered him the thought of the badger might get free and take revenge on the poor old woman who never once came into his mind the badger meanwhile assumed the old woman's form and as soon as he saw the old farmer approaching came out to greet him on the veranda of the little house saying so you've come back at last I have made the badger soup and have been waiting for you for a long time the old farmer quickly took off his straw sandals and sat down before his tiny dinner tray the innocent man never even dreamed that it was not his wife but the badger who was waiting upon him and asked at once for the soup then the badger suddenly transformed himself back into his natural form and cried out you wife-eating old man look out for the bones in the kitchen laughing loudly and deviously he escaped out of the house and ran away from his den in the hills the old man was left behind alone he could hardly believe what he had seen and heard then when he understood the whole truth he was so scared and horrified that he fainted right away after a while he came around and burst into tears he cried loudly and bitterly he rocked himself to and fro in his hopeless grief it seemed too terrible to be real that his faithful old wife had been killed and cooked by the badger while he worked quietly in the fields knowing nothing of what was going on at home and congratulating himself on having once and for all gotten rid of the wicked animal who had so often spoiled his fields and oh the terrible thought that he had very nearly drunk the soup which the creature had made of his poor old woman oh dear, oh dear, oh dear he wailed aloud now not far away they lived in the same mountain a kind, good-natured old rabbit he heard the old man crying and sobbing and at once set out to see what was the matter and if there was anything he could do to help his neighbour the old man told him all that had happened when the rabbit heard the story of the wicked and deceitful badger and told the old man to leave everything to him and he would avenge his wife's death the farmer was at last comforted and wiped away his tears thanking the rabbit for his goodness in coming to him in his distress the rabbit seeing that the farmer was growing calmer went back to his home to lay plans for the punishment of the badger the next day the weather was fine and the rabbit went out to find the badger he was not to be seen in the woods or on the hillside or in the field anywhere so the rabbit went to his den and found the badger hiding there for the animal had been afraid to show himself ever since he had escaped from the farmer's house for fear of the old man's wrath the rabbit called out why are you not out on such a beautiful day come out with me and we will go and cut grass on the hill together the badger never doubting but the rabbit was his friend willingly consented to go out with him only too glad to get away from the neighborhood of the farmer and the fear of meeting him the rabbit led the way miles away from their homes out on the hills where the grass grew tall and thick and sweet they both said to work to cut down as much as they could carry home to store up for their winter's food when they hit each cut down all they wanted they tied it in bundles and then started home-hood each carrying his bundle of grass on his back this time the rabbit made the badger go first when they had gone a little way the rabbit took out a flint and steel and striking it over the badger's back as he stepped along in front set his bundle of grass on fire the badger heard the flint striking and asked what is that noise crack crack oh that is nothing replied the rabbit I only said crack crack because this mountain is called Crackle Mountain the fire soon spread in the bundle of dry grass on the badger's back the badger hearing the crackle of the burning grass asked what is that now we have come to the burning mountain answered the rabbit by this time the bundle was nearly burned out and all the hair had been burned off the badger's back he now knew what had happened by the smell of the smoke of the burning grass screaming with pain the badger went home the rabbit followed and found him lying on his bed groaning with pain what an unlucky fellow you are said the rabbit I can't imagine how this happened I will bring you some medicine which will heal your back quickly the rabbit went away glad and smiling to think that the punishment upon the badger had already begun he hoped that the badger would die for he felt that nothing could be too bad for the animal who was guilty of murdering a poor helpless old woman who had trusted him he went home and made an ointment by mixing some sauce and red pepper together he carried this to the badger but before putting it on he told him that it would cause him great pain but that he must bear it patiently because it was a very wonderful medicine for burns and skulls and such wounds the badger thanked him and begged him to apply it at once but no language can describe the agony of the badger as soon as the red pepper had been pasted all over his sore back he rolled over and over and howled loudly the rabbit looking on felt that the farmer's wife was finished the badger was in bed for about a month but at last in spite of the red pepper application the burns healed and he got well when the rabbit saw that the badger was getting well he thought of another plan by which he could compass the creature's death so he went one day to pay the badger a visit and to congratulate him on the rabbit mentioned that he was going fishing and described how pleasant fishing was when the weather was fine and the sea smooth the badger listened with pleasure to the rabbit's account of the way he passed his time now and forgot all his pains and his month's illness and thought what fun it would be if he could go fishing too so he asked the rabbit if he would take him the next time he went out to fish this was just what the rabbit wanted so he agreed then he went home and built two boats one of wood and the other of clay and last they were both finished and as the rabbit stored and looked at his work he felt that all his troubles would be well rewarded if his plan succeeded and he could manage to kill the wicked badger now the day came when the rabbit had arranged to take the badger fishing he kept the wooden boat himself and gave the badger the clay boat the badger who knew nothing about boats was delighted with his new boat and thought how kind it was of the rabbit to give it to him they both got into their boats and set out after going some distance from the shore the rabbit proposed that they should try their boats and see which one could go the quickest the badger fell in with the proposal and they both set to work to row as fast as they could for some time in the middle of the race the badger found his boat going to pieces for the water now began to soften the clay he cried out in great fear to the rabbit to help him but the rabbit answered that he was avenging the old woman's murder and that this had been his intention all along and that he was happy to think the badger had at last met his desserts for all of his evil crimes and was to drown with no one to help him then he raised his oar and struck the badger with all his strength till he fell with the sinking clay boat and was seen no more thus at last he kept his promise to the old farmer the rabbit now turned in rowed shoreward and having landed and pulled his boat upon the beach hurried back to tell the old farmer everything and how the badger his enemy had been killed the old farmer thanked him with tears in his eyes he said that till now he could never sleep at night or be at peace in the daytime thinking of how his wife's death was un-avange but from this time he was able to sleep and eat as of old he begged the rabbit to stay with him and share his home so from this day the rabbit went to stay with the old farmer and they both lived together as good friends to the end of their days the end of chapter 4 the farmer and the badger recorded by Eliza Horne for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Scott Robbins Japanese fairytales by Ye Theodora Ozaki chapter 5 the Shinansha or the South Pointing Carriage the compass with its needle always pointing to the north is quite a common thing and no one thinks that it is remarkable now though when it was first invented it must have been a wonder now long ago in China there was a still more wonderful invention called the Shinansha it was a kind of chariot with the figure of a man on it always pointing to the south no matter how the chariot was placed the figure always wheeled about and pointed to the south this curious instrument was invented by Kote one of the three Chinese emperors of the mythological age Kote was the son of the emperor Yuhei before he was born his mother had a vision which foretold that her son would be a great man one summer evening she went out to walk in the meadows to seek the cool breezes of the day and to gaze with pleasure at the starlit heavens above her as she looked at the north star strange to relate it shot forth vivid flashes of lightning in every direction soon after this her son Kote came into the world Kote in time grew to manhood and succeeded his father the emperor Yuhei his early reign was greatly troubled by the rebel Shiyu this rebel wanted to make himself king and many were the battles which he fought to this end Shiyu was a wicked magician his head was made of iron and there was no man that could conquer him at last Kote declared war against the rebel and led his army to battle and the two armies met on a plane called Takuroku the emperor boldly attacked the enemy but the magician brought down a dense fog upon the battlefield and while the royal army were wandering about in confusion trying to find their way Shiyu retreated with his troops laughing at having fooled the royal army no matter however strong and brave the emperor's soldiers were the rebel with his magic could always escape in the end Kote returned to his palace and thought and pondered deeply as to how he should conquer the magician for he was determined not to give up yet after a long time he invented the Shinnonsha with the figure of a man always pointing south for there were no compasses in those days with this instrument to show him the way he need not fear the dense fogs raised up by the magician to confound his men Kote again declared war against Shiyu he placed the Shinnonsha in front of his army and led the way to the battlefield the battle began in earnest the rebel was being driven backward by the royal troops when he again resorted to magic and upon his saying some strange words and a loud voice immediately a dense fog came down upon the battlefield but this time no soldier minded the fog not one was confused Kote by pointing to the Shinnonsha could find his way and directed the army without a single mistake he closely pursued the rebel army and drove them backward till they came to a big river this river Kote and his men found was swollen by the floods and impossible to cross Shiyu by using his magic art quickly passed over with his army and shot himself up in a fortress on the opposite bank when Kote found his march checked he was wild with disappointment for he had very nearly overtaken the rebel when the river stopped him he could do nothing for there were no boats in those days so the emperor ordered his tent to be pitched in the pleasantest spot that the place afforded one day he stepped forth from his tent and after walking about for a short time he came to a pond here he sat down on the bank and was lost in thought it was autumn the trees growing along the edge of the water were shedding their leaves which floated hither and thither on the surface of the pond by and by Kote's attention was attracted to a spider on the brink of the water the little insect was trying to get on to one of the floating leaves nearby it did so at last and was soon floating over the water to the other side of the pond this little incident made the clever emperor think that he might try to make something that he would carry himself and his men over the river in the same way that the leaf had carried over the spider he set to work and persevered till he invented the first boat when he found that it was a success he set all his men to make more and in time there were enough boats for the whole army Kote now took his army across the river and attacked Shiyu's headquarters he gained a complete victory and so put an end to the war which had troubled his country for so long this wise and good emperor did not rest till he had secured peace and prosperity throughout his whole land he was beloved by his subjects who now enjoyed their happiness of peace for many long years under him he spent a great deal of time in making inventions which would benefit his people and he succeeded in many besides the boat and the south-pointing Chinansha he had reigned about a hundred years when one day as Kote was looking upwards the sky became suddenly red and something came glittering like gold towards the earth as it came near Kote saw that it was a great dragon the dragon approached and bowed down its head before the emperor the empress and the courtiers were so frightened that they ran away screaming but the emperor only smiled and called them to stop and said do not be afraid this is a messenger from heaven here is finished then he mounted the dragon which began to ascend towards the sky when the empress and the courtiers saw this they all cried out together wait a moment we wish to come too and they all ran and caught hold of the dragon's beard and tried to mount him but it was impossible for so many people to ride on the dragon several of them hung on to the creature's beard so that when it tried to mount the hair was pulled out and fell to the ground meanwhile the empress and a few of the courtiers were safely seated on the dragon's back the dragon flew up so high in the heavens that in a short time the inmates of the palace who had been left behind disappointed could see them no more after some time a bow and an arrow dropped to the earth in the courtyard of the palace they were recognized as having belonged to the emperor Kote put them up carefully and preserve them as sacred relics in the palace end of chapter 5 the Shinansha or the south pointing carriage recording by Scott Robbins Chapter 6 of Japanese fairy tales this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Jonathan Feldman Japanese fairy tales by Ye Theodora Ozaki Chapter 6 the adventures of Kintaro the Golden Boy long long ago they lived in Kyoto a brave soldier named Kintoki now he fell in love with a beautiful lady and married her not long after this through the malice of some of his friends he fell into disgrace at court and was dismissed this misfortune so preyed upon his mind that he did not long survive his dismissal he died leaving behind him his beautiful young wife to face the world alone fearing her husband's enemies she fled to the Ashigara mountains as soon as her husband was dead and there in the lonely forests where no one ever came except woodcutters a little boy was born to her she called him Kintaro Golden Boy now the remarkable thing about this child was his great strength and as he grew older he grew stronger and stronger so that by the time he was 8 years of age he was able to cut down trees as quickly as the woodcutters then his mother gave him a large axe and he used to go out into the forest and help the woodcutters who called him Wonder Child and his mother the old nurse of the mountains for they did not know her high rank another favorite pastime of Kintaro's was to smash up rocks and stones you can imagine how strong he was quite unlike other boys Kintaro grew up all alone in the mountain wilds and as he had no companions he made friends with all the animals and learned to understand them and to speak their strange talk by degrees they all grew quite tame and looked upon Kintaro as their master and to use them as his servants and messengers but his special retainers were the bear, the deer the monkey and the hare the bear often brought her cubs for Kintaro to romp with and when she came to take them home Kintaro would get on her back and have a ride to her cave he was very fond of the deer too and he would often put his arms around the creature's neck to show that its long horns did not frighten him great was the fun they all had together one day as usual Kintaro went up into the mountains followed by the bear, the deer the monkey and the hare after walking for some time uphill and down dale and over rough roads they suddenly came out upon a wide and grassy plain covered with pretty wild flowers here indeed was a nice place where they could all have a good romp together the deer rubbed his horns against a tree for pleasure the monkey scratched his back and the hare smoothed his long ears and the bear gave a grunt of satisfaction Kintaro said here is a place for a good game what do you all say to a wrestling match the bear being the biggest and oldest answered for the others that will be great fun said she I am the strongest animal so I will make a platform for the wrestlers and she set to work with a wheel to pick up the earth and pat it into shape alright said Kintaro I will look on while you all wrestle with each other I shall give a prize to the one who wins in each round what fun we shall all try to get the prize said the bear the deer, the monkey and the hare set to work to help the bear raise the platform on which they were all to wrestle when this was finished Kintaro cried out now begin the monkey and the hare shall open the sports and the deer shall be umpire now Mr. Deer you are up to be umpire he he answered the deer I will be umpire now Mr. Monkey and Mr. Hare if you are both ready please walk out and take your places on the platform then the monkey and the hare both hopped out quickly and nimbly to the wrestling platform the deer as umpire stood between the two and called out red back, red back this to the monkey who has a red back in Japan are you ready then he turned to the hare long ears, long ears, are you ready both the little wrestlers faced each other while the deer raised a leaf on high as a signal when he drops the leaf the monkey and the hare rushed upon each other crying yoisho, yoisho while the monkey and the hare wrestled the deer called out encouragingly or shouted warnings to each of them as the hare or the monkey pushed each other near the edge of the platform and were in danger of falling over red back, red back stand your ground called out the deer long ears, long ears be strong, be strong don't let the monkey beat you grunted the bear so the monkey and the hare encouraged by their friends tried their very hardest to beat each other the hare at last gained on the monkey the monkey seemed to trip up and the hare giving him a good push sent him flying off the platform with a bound the poor monkey sat up rubbing his back and his face was very long as he screamed angrily oh, oh, how my back hurts my back hurts me seeing the monkey in this plight on the ground the deer holding his leaf on high said this round is finished the hare has won Kintaro then opened his luncheon box and taking out a rice dumpling gave it to the hare saying here is your prize and you have earned it well now the monkey got up looking very cross and as they say in Japan his stomach stood up for he felt that he had not been fairly beaten so he said to Kintaro and the others who were standing by I have not been fairly beaten my foot slipped and I tumbled please give me another chance and let the hare wrestle with me for another round then Kintaro consenting the hare and the monkey began to wrestle again now as everyone knows the monkey is a cunning animal by nature and he made up his mind to get the best of the hare this time if it were possible to do this he thought that the best and surest way would be to get hold of the hare's long ear this he soon managed to do the hare was quite thrown off his guard by the pain of having his long ear pulled so hard and the monkey seizing his opportunity at last caught hold of one of the hare's legs and sent him sprawling in the middle of the days the monkey was now a victor and received a rice dumpling from Kintaro which pleased him so much that he quite forgot his sore back the deer now came up and asked the hare if he felt ready for another round and if so whether he would try a round with him and the hare consenting they both stood up to wrestle the bear came forward as umpire the deer with long horns and the hare with long ears it must have been an amusing sight to those who watched this queer match suddenly the deer went down on one of his knees and the bear with the leaf on high declared him beaten in this way sometimes the one comes the other conquering the little party amused themselves till they were tired at last Kintaro got up and said this is enough for today what a nice place we have found for wrestling let us come again tomorrow now we will all go home come along so saying Kintaro led the way while the animals followed after walking some little distance they came out on the banks of a river flowing through a valley Kintaro and his four furry friends stood and looked about for some means of crossing bridge there was none the river rushed dawn dawn on its way all the animals looked serious wondering how they could cross the stream and get home that evening Kintaro however said wait a moment I will make a good bridge for you all in a few minutes the bear, the deer, the monkey and the hare looked at him to see what he would do now Kintaro went from one tree to another that grew along the riverbank at last he stopped in front of a very large tree that was growing at the water's edge he took hold of the trunk and pulled it with all his might once, twice, thrice at the third pool so great was Kintaro's strength that the roots gave way and merry, merry crash, crash over fell the tree forming an excellent bridge across the stream there said Kintaro what do you think of my bridge it is quite safe so follow me and he stepped across first the four animals followed never had they seen anyone so strong before and they all exclaimed how strong he is how strong he is while all this was going on by the river a woodcutter who happened to be standing on a rock overlooking the stream had seen all that passed beneath him he watched with great surprise Kintaro and his animal companions he rubbed his eyes to be sure that he was not dreaming when he saw this boy pull over a tree by the roots and throw it across the stream to form a bridge the woodcutter for such he seemed to be by his dress marveled at all he saw and said to himself this is no ordinary child whose son can he be I will find out before this day is done he hastened after the strange party and crossed the bridge behind them Kintaro knew nothing of all this and little guess that he was being followed on reaching the other side of the river he and the animals separated they to their lairs in the woods and he to his mother who was waiting for him as soon as he entered the cottage which stood like a matchbox in the heart of the pine woods he went to greet his mother saying okasan mother here I am oh Kimbo said his mother with a bright smile glad to see her boy home safe after the long day how late you are today I feared that something had happened to you where have you been all this time I took my four friends the bear, the deer the monkey and the hare up into the hills and there I made them try a wrestling match to see which was the strongest we all enjoyed the sport and we are going to the same place tomorrow to have another match now tell me who is the strongest of all asked his mother pretending not to know oh mother said Kintaro don't you know that I am the strongest there was no need for me to wrestle with any of them but next to you who is the strongest the bear comes next to me in strength answered Kintaro and after the bear asked his mother again next to the bear it is not easy to say which is the strongest for the deer, the monkey and the hare all seem to be as strong as each other said Kintaro suddenly Kintaro and his mother were startled by a voice from outside listen to me little boy next time you go to the wrestling match he would like to join the sport too it was the old woodcutter who had followed Kintaro from the river he slipped off his clogs and entered the cottage Yama Uba and her son were both taken by surprise they looked at the intruder wonderingly and saw that he was someone they had never seen before who are you they both exclaimed then the woodcutter laughed and said it does not matter who I am yet but let us see who has the strongest arm this boy or myself then Kintaro who had lived all his life in the forest answered the old man without any ceremony saying we will have a try if you wish it but you must not be angry whoever is beaten then Kintaro and the woodcutter both put out their right arms and grasped each other's hands for a long time Kintaro and the old man sat together in this way each trying to bend the other's arm but the old man was very strong and the strange pair were evenly matched at last the old man desisted declaring at a drawn game you are indeed a very strong child there are a few men who can boast the strength of my right arm said the woodcutter I saw you first on the banks of the river a few hours ago a bridge across the torrent hardly able to believe what I saw I followed you home your strength of arm which I have just tried proves what I saw this afternoon when you are full grown you will surely be the strongest man in all Japan it is a pity that you are hidden away in these wild mountains then he turned to Kintaro's mother and you mother have you no thought of taking your child to the capital and teaching him to carry a sword as befits a samurai you are very kind to take so much interest in my son replied the mother but he is as you see wild and uneducated and I fear it would be very difficult to do as you say because of his great strength as an infant I hid him away in this unknown part of the country for he heard everyone that came near him I have often wished that I could one day see my boy at night wearing two swords but as we have no influential friend to introduce us at the capital I fear my hope will never come true you need not trouble yourself about that to tell you the truth I am no woodcutter I am one of the great generals of Japan my name is Saramitsu and I am a vassal of the powerful lord Minamoto Norayuko he ordered me to go around the country and look for boys who give promise of remarkable strength so that they may be trained as soldiers for his army I thought that I could best do this by assuming the disguise of a woodcutter by good fortune I have thus unexpectedly come across your son now if you really wish him to be a samurai I will take him and present him to the lord Raiiko as a candidate for his service what do you say to this as the kind general gradually unfolded his plan the mother's heart was filled with a great joy she saw that he was a wonderful chance of the one wish of her life being fulfilled that of seeing Kentaro a samurai before she died bowing her head to the ground she replied I will then entrust my son to you if you really mean what you say Kentaro had all this time been sitting by his mother's side listening to what they said when his mother finished speaking he exclaimed oh joy joy I am to go with the general and one day I shall be a samurai thus Kentaro's fate was settled and the general decided to start for the capital at once taking Kentaro with him it need hardly be said that Yama Uba was sad parting with her boy for he was all that was left to her but she hid her grief with a strong face as they say in Japan she knew that it was for her boy's good that he should leave her now and she must not discourage him just as he was setting out Kentaro promised never to forget her and said that as soon as he was a knight wearing two swords he would build her a home and take care of her in her old age all the animals those he had tamed to serve him the bear, the deer, the monkey and the hare as soon as they found out that he was going away came to ask if they might attend him as usual when they learnt that he was going away for good they brought him to the foot of the mountain to see him off Kimbo said his mother mind and be a good boy Mr. Kentaro said the faithful animals we wish you good health on your travels then they all climbed the tree to see the last of him and from that height they watched him and his shadow gradually grow smaller and smaller till he was lost to sight the general Sada Mitsu and under prodigy as Kentaro having arrived at their destination the general took Kentaro once to his lord Minamoto no Raiko and told him all about Kentaro and how he had found the child Lord Raiko was delighted with the story and having commanded Kentaro to be brought to him made him one of his vassals at once Lord Raiko's army was famous for its band called the Four Braves these warriors were chosen by himself from amongst the bravest and strongest of his soldiers and the small and well picked band was distinguished throughout the whole of Japan for the dauntless courage of its men when Kentaro grew up to be a man his master made him the chief of the Four Braves he was by far the strongest of them all soon after this event news was brought to the city that a cannibal monster had taken up his abode not far away the people were stricken with fear Lord Raiko ordered Kentaro to the rescue he immediately started off delighted at the prospect of trying his sword surprising the monster and its den he made short work of cutting off its great head which he carried back in triumph to his master Kentaro now rose to be the greatest hero of his country and great was the power and honor and wealth that came to him he now kept his promise and built a comfortable home for his old mother who lived happily with him in the capital to the end of her days is this not the story of a great hero? End of chapter 6 The Adventures of Kentaro the Golden Boy