Folk Tales of Japan
The Farmer and the Samurais
Once, a Samurai was going to a town with his baggage and his favourite sword.On the way, he had to pass through a dense forest. The Samurai pretended to be a brave warrior but in reality, he was a coward. He was very scared of wild animals. He thought, 'How nice it would be if I had a friend to accompany me through this forest!'
Meanwhile, one other Samurai was also travelling in the same forest. He too was carrying a heavy baggage. He thought, 'Alas! It would have been so nice if I had a servant to carry my burden'.
Both the Samurais happened to meet each other at a cross road. They both felt happy on seeing each other and they decided to continue their journey together. After walking some distance, they saw a farmer coming that way. Suddenly, an idea struck in one of the Samurai's mind and he told the plan to other Samurai.
The first Samurai said to the farmer,"Dear friend,you are going all alone in this dense forest.You might fall prey to any wild beast."
The farmer's face become pale with fear when he heard this.The other Samurai assured him, "You don't need to worry.We, the brave Samurais can protect you with our swords."
The farmer pleaded to them, "Valiant and kind gentlemen, please escort me to my home. I have a little child to look after. If something happens to me, my child will become an orphan."
The first Samurai said to the farmer, "You don't need to worry my dear friend. You can come along with us if you help us a little."
"It would be my pleasure, but how can I help you?" asked the farmer. The second Samurai replied, "We are coming from a long journey with our heavy baggages. We are feeling exhausted. Can you carry our baggages?"
Farmer promptly replied, "Why not? It would be my pleasure to help you with the task." The farmer took no time in picking up their baggages. Then all three of them resumed their journey. They had merely walked a few miles, when the two Samurais started finding faults with the farmer. One of the Samurai commented, "This farmer seems a fool! He doesn't even know how to behave with warriors like us."
The other one said, "He doesn't know to hold baggage properly. I have many precious things in my bag. I fear, his foolishness might break them."
Farmer was listening to all that they were talking about him, but he thought to keep quiet at that time. He was waiting for the right time to teach a lesson to the ill- mannered Samurais.
On the way, when both Samurais were busy talking to each other and had no attention towards the farmer, he quickly drew out one of the sword of the Samurais and place it in one of the Samurai's throat. Then he roared, "Give me all your money or I will cut your throat."
The 'valiant' Samurais were trembling with fear. They handed overall there money to the farmer without a word of protest. The farmer ordered them to carry their baggages on their heads. The 'warriors'obeyed the farmer. Then, they starting heading towards their path. After a while, when they passed through a village, the villagers felt astonished at the sight. The farmer proclaimed, "Have you ever seen two Samurais carrying baggages on their heads with sword on their throat!" The Samurais felt very ashamed and became the laughing stock of the village.
Journey of Two Frogs
Many years ago, two frogs used to live in Japan. One of them made his house in ditch, near the town of Osaka. Osaka was situated near the sea coast. The other frog resided near the city of Kyoto. His house was in a stream that flowed near the city.
Once, it happened that a same idea struck both of them. They thought, "I have been living in this place for many years. Now I should visit the world outside, which is very beautiful and full of adventures."
By sheer chance, the frog who lived in Kyoto, wished to visit Osaka while the frog at Osaka decided to go to Kyoto.
One day, both of them started their journey through the same road that linked that city of Osaka and Kyoto. Both started from their own ends.
The two frogs met each other on the way. They shook hands and started talking. The frog from Osaka asked the frog from Kyoto, "Where are you going, dear friend?" The frog from Kyoto answered, "I am going to visit Osaka."
The frog from Osaka was delighted to hear the answer. He said, "What a wonder! I am visit going to Kyoto."
As both the frog were very tired, they decided to take some rest before heading towards their destinations. They reached a cool, damp place under a stone and sat down there. Then, The frog from Osaka said, "It would be nice, if we were bigger." The frog from Kyoto stared
at him and exclaimed, "Why?"
The Osaka frog replied, "Then we would be able to have a view of the cities we are going to visit, by climbing up a mountain and decided whether they visit are worth visiting or not." Then Kyoto frog replied, "But this is not a difficult task. We can still manage this."
"How?" asked the Osaka frog.
The Kyoto frog replied, "It is very easy. We just have to climb up the nearby mountain, stand on our hind legs and legs and hold each other. Then we can see the city, that we want to visit."
The Osaka frog was so eager to have a look of Kyoto that he lost no time in climbing up the mountain. The Kyoto frog closely followed him. They hope and at last reached the top of the mountain. They were feeling very tired but were happy that they would be able to see their destinations.
Then, the Osaka frog jumped up and put his front paw on the shoulder of his friend. The frog from Kyoto too did the same. Now, both the frog stood on their hind legs with their balance on each other's shoulders. But they didn't notice one thing. They put their backs towards the cities, they wanted to visit. They held each other tightly, so they might not fall from the mountain. Now, the frog from Osaka was still watching Osaka, while the frog from Kyoto was looking at Kyoto. Then, the frog from Osaka said, "Oh! I have wasted my time, friend! Kyoto is exactly like Osaka." The frog from Kyoto also felt the same as he was looking Kyoto too. So, both of them decided to return back to their homes towns.
The Mirror
There was a beautiful village near Yokohama. A man lived in the village with his sweet wife and obedient daughter.
One day, the aman had to go for some work to the city of Kyoto, which was far from his village. Before setting off on his journey, he called his daughter and said, "I am going to Kyoto for somework. Pay attention to the words of your mother after my departure. Don't be afraid, if I do not return in time. I ill bring gifts for you."
Saying so, he set off on his journey. After a few days, he returned from Kyoto. Soon after his arrival, the mother and the daughter sat near him to see, what he had brought for them.
Then, he opened a bamboo basket, took out a beautiful doll dressed in colorful clothes and gave it to his daughter. She ran away with joy to show the doll to her friends.
Then, he took out a mirror from the basket and gave it to his wife. The wife had never seen a mirror. When his wife looked into the mirror, she saw her reflection in it. The astonished wife asked her husband in anger, "Who is this other lady in the mirror? Why have you brought her with you?"
The man laughed heartily on listening this. He explained about the mirror. The wife was satisfied with the answer. Then, he asked her to take special care with the mirror. One day, the woman fell ill. Many doctors tried their level best, but they could not save her. Before her death, she called her daughter and said, "I am dying. Take care of your father after me and always obey him."
Then, she gave her the mirror and told her to look into it whenever she feel sad, or lonely. The girl knew that her mother was very fond of the mirror. She took the mirror with tears in her eyes.
After sometime, the man married again. The stepmother was not kind to the girl. Whenever the daughter felt lonely, she looked into the mirror. The mirror kindled fond memories of her mother in her heart and she used to find solace. One day, the performing some magical tricks to kill her. She trashed her severely and complained about her daugher's deed to her husband.
Listening to her words, the anguished father went straight to the daughter's room. As he entered the room, the daughter hid the mirror under her sleeve. But the father noticed that she was trying to hide something. So, he believed the words of his second wife.
In a fitof anger, he accused her of attempting to kill her new mother. He also said that he deeply regretted at her being his daughter.
When daughter heard those harsh words, she deeply hurt.
Unable to tolerate the accusations, she told her father all about the mirror and the last words of his mother. She told, "Whenever I feel hurt or feel alone, I should look in the mirror. I can see the beautiful and loving face of my mother in it and this provides comfort to me."
The father realised his mistake and felt very sorry. He felt ashamed of ignoring his child after his wife's death. He start taking care of his daughter that day. When the step mother came to know about the mirror, she also felt ashamed of her rude behavior. After that day, the daughter never felt lonely.
'Little Peachling'
Once upon a time, an honest woodcutter lived with his wife in a remote village. One day, the woodcutter went to the forest to cut wood while his wife went to the river to wash dirty clothes. When she reached the bank of the river, she saw a peach flowing in the river currently she picked up the peach and decided to serve in to her husband with meal.
When the woodcutter returned from the forest, she served him the peach. As the old man was about to eat the peach, it split into two parts. The couple was astonished to see a little their own child as they did not have any child.
As their son was born from the peach, they named him Momotaro or Little peachling. They considered him as the gift of God.
Little Peachling grow into a brave and sturdy youth with time. Inspite of their poverty, the old couple tried their best to provide him every possible comfort. They never let him feel that he was not their real son.
The woodcutter never allowed Little Peachling to accompany him to the forest. He did not want his dear son to see him sweating under the blazing sun. But one day, Little Peaching followed him. When his saw his father cutting woods, tears came into his eyes. He decided to go to Ogree island, the home of treasures. On returning home, he told to his parents, "I will go to Ogree island to bring you some of the reachers stored there. I cannot see you suffering anymore."
The old couple tried to stop him, "the King of Ogree island is veery cruel. It is hard to win his heart. It is useless to ask him for anything."
Peachling said, "do not worry, dear parents! I am capable of handling him. Just prepared some millet dumplings for my journey." So, the old mother made millet dumplins for him. Then, he took the blessing of his parents and set out on his journey. On the way, he met a monkey, who asked him, "Kia! Kia! Kia! Where are you going, Little Peachling?"
"I am going to Ogree island to bring some of their treasures," said Little Peaching.
"What do you have in your sack?" Peachling replied, "I am carrying millet dumplings prepared by my mother."
Monkey asked for one to him.Then,the monkey went along with him.Then, he an eagle who asked him, "Ken! Ken! Ken! Where are you going Peachling?"
He replied that he was going to Ogree island to bring some treasure.The Eagle too asked for a millet dumpling. He gave one to him and the eagle also accompanied him.
Then he met a dog, who asked, "Bow! Bow! Bow!
Where are you going, Master Peachling?"
Peachling told him that he was going to the Ogree island to collect some of the treasure and gave him one dumpling too. The dog also accompanied them.
Soon, all of them reached the Ogree island. The eagle flew over the castle gate while the monkey climed up the wall. Little Peachling broke through the gate with the dog. They fought bravely against the Ogree army and forced their king to hands over a part of his treasure. Peachling then returned to his parents.
Thereafter, they lived happily for many years.
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Pray and Work
Once, there lived a woodcutter in the plains of Urawa. His name was Visu. He lived in a hut with his wife and children.
One day, when he was cutting logs of wood outside his hut, an old priest visited him. The priest scolded him, "I have never seen you praying to God.
God will punish you."
Visu throught for a moment and said, "If you had a wife and large family to look after, then you too would not get any time to pray."
The priest was very angry to hear Visu's words.
He told him that he would have to live as an insect, dog ect. for millions of years after the death as a punishment for never praying to God.
Visu felt very scared on listening those horrifying facts. He assured the priest that he will pray regularly.
Visu misinterprited the priest's words. Now he started devoting all his time in prayer and neglected his work. As a result, his crops dried and his wife and family starved.
His wife became very sad to see the poor condition of her children. She told Visu, "Have you forgotten all your responsibilities? Take the axe and bring some wood from the forest. Our children are starving."
Visu got furious to hear such words from his wife. He exclaimed, "Foolish woman! The priest has told me that no other work is as important on Earth as praying to God. You should understand my point of view."
The wife became very angry when she heard such preachings of Visu. She started shouting and forced her husband to pick up his axe and to go to the forest.
Visu went to the forest but was in no mood to cut the wood.
He sat on a stone to meditate. Suddenly, he heard a fox howling.
As he was very superstitious, he felt lucky to hear the voice of a fox. In hope of listening it's voice again, he decided to follow the fox.
He searched the fox for a long time in the forest but was unable to find it. When he was about to give up, he saw two beautiful ladies playing cards near a stream. Visu was stunned by their beauty. He forgot everything and sat beside them. The ladies did not pay any attention towards him. They kept on playing their game.
Visu was observing their game. He could not keep his mouth shut for a long time and uttered some words. As soon as he spoke, the ladies transformed into foxes and ran away.
Visu was astonished to see the sight. Then, he thought to return back to his home. But when he returned to his hut, he saw an old lady there instead of his wife.
When he asked the lady about his wife and children, the old lady told him, "This hut once belonged to Visu but now he and his family are no more. He left this place many years ago and never returned back. After that, his wife and children died of hunger."
Tears rolled down from the eyes of Visu. He said, "We should always pray while doing work!"
Saying these words, he climbed the Fujiyama mountain and never returned.
People say that he is still searching for his wife and children.
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Gift of the Sparrow
Long ago, and old couple lived in a village. They had a pet sparrow. The old man love the sparrow very much but his his wife hated it. She was always in search of an excuse to chase the sparrow out of the hut.
One day, the old woman was drinking milk. Just then, the sparrow happened to fly by her side. The old woman got scared and split the milk. She burst into rage. She got hold of the sparrow and threw it out of the hut. The shocked sparrow flew away.
When the old man returned in the evening, he could not find sparrow in his hut. He asked his wife, "where is my dear sparrow?"
The old woman told him, "I have chased that foolish creature out of the house, for it was of no use."
The old man was shocked to hear this. He started searching for his dear sparrow. He wandered in forest and mountain. He was crying all the way, "dear sparrow! Poor little bird! Where are you?"
At last, he found his sparrow at the foot of a mountain.
Both of them were very happy to see each other. They inquired about each other well being.
Then, the sparrow took him to his home. The man met the sparrow's wife and children. They welcomed him warmly and serve him many delicacies and sweets. The old man felt very comfortable in the sparrow's home.
The old man stayed in the sparrow's home for one night. When he was about to leave in the morning, the sparrow said, "Sir, please honour me by staying at my home for some more days."
The old man stayed at the sparrow's home for a week. Then, the old man said to him, "Now, I must leave, as my wife must be looking for me."
"Can't you stay here for some more days? I would feel very obliged," said the sparrow.
At this, the old man replied, "No, I can't. I will come again, my dear. But now I must go."
Then, the sparrow offered him two baskets and requested him to take them as a gift. He accepted the lighter of the two baskets as he did not want to hurt the sparrow's feelings.
"Where were you for so long?"
He replied, "I was staying with our sparrow and his family. Look, he has given me a basket as a gift." When they opened the basket, they were astonished. The basket was full of precious stones and gold. Then, the greedy old lady asked the sparrow's address and went to his home. She stay there for a night and ask for a gift. When she was about to leave in the morning. The sparrow presented her two baskets and ask her to select one of them as a gifts. She selected the heavier of the two. Then, the greedy woman left the sparrow's home and hurried to her home. She was very eager to find out the present inside the basket. As soon as the sparrow's home was out of sight, she opened the basket to look into it. Suddenly, many monkeys jumped out from eat and started beating her. She started crying loudly and soon fainted.
The old man waited for his wife for a long time. When she did not return, he adopted a little boy and lived happily with him for many years.
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The Stone Cutter
Once, a stone- cutter lived in a village near Yokohama. He earned his bread by cutting stones by cutting rock. He used to cut slabs for graves and houses. He was happy and satisfied with his work.
One day, a spirit came to live on the rock. He had a power to help men become rich and prosperous. The stone- cutter when to cut regularly on that rock but he had no idea about the presence of the spirit.
One day, a stone - cutter when to rich man's house. He felt jealous of the comfort and leisures, the rich man enjoyed. The work of the stone cutting seemed useless to him now.
One day, while cutting stones in the rock, he thought, 'If I were a rich man, my life would also be comfortable'.
"Your wish will be fulfilled," said the voice. The stone- cutter look here and there but he could not see anyone there. He thought that it was an illusion. When he reached his home, he saw a big house in the place of his old hut. When he went inside the house, he saw all soft of comforts and luxuries- huge bed, magnificent furniture, etc. All those thing he had thought were to present in the house. He became almost mad with joy and started leaving happily in the house.
One day, when he was sitting at the window of his house, he saw a prince passing by his house. He was sitting comfortably in a chariot, under the shade of the golden umbrella that was fixed at the centre of chariot.
He thought, how nice it would be if I were a prince! Then I would get many servants and attendants to serve me.
Now sooner he thought of it, that he became a prince. He got a magnificent palace and many servants, who were always ready to carry out his commands. He became very happy.
But as wise men have said, man's desires are unlimited. One day, he was going to forest on his chariot.
The sun was blazing. The scorching heat forced him to get down from the chariot and seek shelter under the shade of the tree.
He thought, 'Oh! The Sun is mightier than me. If I were the Sun....!'
No sooner he thought so, he become the sun. He felt very happy to see people seeking shelter to escape his heat. He blazed fiercely and burnt many plants and trees.
On day, a cloud covered him and stop his rays from reaching the earth.
Now he thought that the cloud was mightier than him. He wished, 'If I were the cloud!' He became a cloud next moment. Then, he stop the rays of the sun and started raining on the earth. He wanted to prove his might to everybody on earth so he started raining heavily. All the creatures were running here and there in panic but the mountains and rocks stood calmly and unaffected. The cloud rained heavily to washed out the mountains but to no avail. He thought once again, 'Mountains and rocks mightier than me. I wish, I were a mountain!' The spirit fulfilled his desired.
Now, he stood as a giant mountain on the earth. He thought that no one on the earth was as powerful as him. He became arrogant and boasted about his strength to his fellow maintains.Once, he saw a stone- cutter coming that way. He climbed up the mountain and lifted his hammer to crush a stone. The 'Mountain' started trembling with fear. He cried, 'I wish, I were a stone- cutter!'
The next moment, The mountain transformed into a stone- cutter. Then he realized his folly. He again wish to become a prince of a rich man. But nothing happened. The spirit refused to help a greedy man like him.
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source: Folk Tales of Japan
Retold by: Karishma
Illustrated by: Tulika
Published by: TINY TOT PUBLICATION
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