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diff --git a/29337-h/29337-h.htm b/29337-h/29337-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ea66d4e --- /dev/null +++ b/29337-h/29337-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8035 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Japanese Fairy World, by William Elliot Griffis. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +h1 { + font-weight: 500; + margin-top: 3em; +} + +h4 { + font-weight: 600; + font-size: 120%; + margin-top: 4em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +span.dropcap { display: none; } +/* this goes around the first letter of the first word */ + +div.wrap_area { position: relative; } +div.wrap_area img { position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 0px; } +div.wrap_area p { position: relative; } + +div.shape_wrap div { float: left; clear: left; width: 152px; height: 50px} + +/* +div.wrap_area img { opacity: .5; filter: alpha(opacity=50); } +div.shape_wrap div { border: 1px solid #f0f; } +*/ + +.hr20 { + width: 20%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +.hr15 { + width: 20%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.hr45 { + width: 45%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +.hr65 { + width: 65%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 5em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +.gap { + padding-top: 4em; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + width: 22em; +} + +.td1 { + vertical-align: top; + text-align: right; + padding-right: 1em; +} + +.td2 { + vertical-align: top; + text-align: left; + padding-left: 1em; + margin-left: 0em; + text-indent: -1em; +} + +.td3 { + vertical-align: bottom; + text-align: right; + padding-left: 1em; +} + +.pagenum {/* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + visibility: hidden; + position: absolute; + left: 95%; + font-size: 10px; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + font-style: normal; + letter-spacing: normal; + text-indent: 0em; + text-align: right; + color: #999999; + background-color: #ffffff; +} /* page numbers */ + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.bbox {border: solid 2px; + padding: 5%; +} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.big {text-align: center; + font-size: 140%; +} + +.little {text-align: center; + font-size: 90%; +} + +.spread {text-align: center; + font-size: 80%; + letter-spacing: 5px; +} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.caption {font-weight: 500; + text-align: center; + padding-top: .5em; +} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + margin-top: 4em; + margin-bottom: 2em; +} + +dt { + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: -.5em; + font-weight: 600; + margin-left: .5em; + font-size: 110% +} + +dd { + margin-top: 1em; + font-weight: 200; + font-size: 90%; +} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Japanese Fairy World, by William Elliot Griffis + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Japanese Fairy World + Stories from the Wonder-Lore of Japan + +Author: William Elliot Griffis + +Illustrator: Ozawa + +Release Date: July 6, 2009 [EBook #29337] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JAPANESE FAIRY WORLD *** + + + + +Produced by Delphine Lettau, Jen Haines and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<p><a name="FrontCover" id="FrontCover"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 471px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="471" height="600" +alt="Front Cover" title="Front Cover" /> +</div> + +<p><a name="Frontis" id="Frontis"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/frontis.jpg" width="600" height="411" +alt="HOW THE SUN-GODDESS WAS ENTICED OUT OF HER CAVE." +title="HOW THE SUN-GODDESS WAS ENTICED OUT OF HER CAVE." /> +<p class="caption">HOW THE SUN-GODDESS WAS ENTICED OUT OF HER CAVE.</p> +</div> + +<h1>JAPANESE<br /><br /> + +<span class="big">FAIRY WORLD.</span><br /><br /></h1> + +<p class="center"><span class="big"><span class="smcap">Stories from the Wonder-lore of Japan.</span></span></p> + +<h3><br /><br />BY<br /><br /> + +WILLIAM ELLIOT GRIFFIS,</h3> + +<p class="little"><br /><br />AUTHOR OF "THE MIKADO'S EMPIRE."</p> + +<hr class="hr20" /> +<p class="spread">ILLUSTRATED BY OZAWA, OF TOKIO.</p> +<hr class="hr20" /> + +<p class="center">LONDON:</p> + +<p class="big">TRÜBNER & CO., LUDGATE HILL.</p> + +<p class="center">1887.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[Pg iii]</a></span></p><p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii">[Pg ii]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE"></a>PREFACE.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The thirty-four stories included within this volume +do not illustrate the bloody, revengeful or licentious +elements, with which Japanese popular, and juvenile +literature is saturated. These have been carefully +avoided.</p> + +<p>It is also rather with a view to the artistic, than to +the literary, products of the imagination of Japan, that +the selection has been made. From my first acquaintance, +twelve years ago, with Japanese youth, I became +an eager listener to their folk lore and fireside +stories. When later, during a residence of nearly +four years among the people, my eyes were opened +to behold the wondrous fertility of invention, the +wealth of literary, historic and classic allusion, of +pun, myth and riddle, of heroic, wonder, and legendary +lore in Japanese art, I at once set myself to find +the source of the ideas expressed in bronze and porcelain, +on lacquered cabinets, fans, and even crape +paper napkins and tidies. Sometimes I discovered +the originals of the artist's fancy in books, sometimes +only in the mouths of the people and professional +story-tellers. Some of these stories I first read +on the tattooed limbs and bodies of the native foot-runners, +others I first saw in flower-tableaux at the +street floral shows of Tokio. Within this book the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[Pg iv]</a></span> +reader will find translations, condensations of whole +books, of interminable romances, and a few sketches +by the author embodying Japanese ideas, beliefs and +superstitions. I have taken no more liberty, I think, +with the native originals, than a modern story-teller +of Tokio would himself take, were he talking in an +American parlor, instead of at his bamboo-curtained +stand in Yanagi Cho, (Willow Street,) in the +mikado's capital.</p> + +<p>Some of the stories have appeared in English before, +but most of them are printed for the first time. +A few reappear from <i>The Independent</i> and other +periodicals.</p> + +<p>The illustrations and cover-stamp, though engraved +in New York by Mr. Henry W. Troy, were, with +one exception, drawn especially for this work, by my +artist-friend, Ozawa Nankoku, of Tokio. The picture +of Yorimasa, the Archer, was made for me by +one of my students in Tokio.</p> + +<p>Hoping that these harmless stories that have tickled +the imagination of Japanese children during untold +generations, may amuse the big and little folks of +America, the writer invites his readers, in the language +of the native host as he points to the chopsticks +and spread table, <i>O agari nasai</i></p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 20.5em;">W.E.G.</span> +<br /> + +<span class="smcap">Schenectady</span>, N.Y., Sept. 28th, 1880.</p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</a></span></p> + +<h2 class="gap">CONTENTS.</h2> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" summary="Table of Contents with Hyperlinks"> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#THE_MEETING_OF_THE_STAR-LOVERS">I.</a></td> + <td class="td2">The Meeting of the Star Lovers.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#THE_TRAVELS_OF_TWO_FROGS">II.</a></td> + <td class="td2">The Travels of Two Frogs.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#THE_CHILD_OF_THE_THUNDER">III.</a></td> + <td class="td2">The Child of the Thunder.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#THE_TONGUE-CUT_SPARROW">IV.</a></td> + <td class="td2">The Tongue-cut Sparrow.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#THE_FIRE-FLYS_LOVERS">V.</a></td> + <td class="td2">The Fire-fly's Lovers.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#THE_BATTLE_OF_THE_APE_AND_THE_CRAB">VI.</a></td> + <td class="td2">The Battle of the Ape and the Crab.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#THE_WONDERFUL_TEA-KETTLE">VII.</a></td> + <td class="td2">The Wonderful Tea-Kettle.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#PEACH-PRINCE_AND_THE_TREASURE_ISLAND">VIII.</a></td> + <td class="td2">Peach-Prince and the Treasure Island.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#THE_FOX_AND_THE_BADGER">IX.</a></td> + <td class="td2">The Fox and the Badger.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#THE_SEVEN_PATRONS_OF_HAPPINESS">X.</a></td> + <td class="td2">The Seven Patrons of Happiness.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#DAIKOKU_AND_THE_ONI">XI.</a></td> + <td class="td2">Daikoku and the Oni.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#BENKEI_AND_THE_BELL">XII.</a></td> + <td class="td2">Benkei and the Bell.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#LITTLE_SILVERS_DREAM_OF_THE_SHOJI">XIII.</a></td> + <td class="td2">Little Silver's Dream of the Shoji.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#THE_TENGUS_OR_THE_ELVES_WITH_LONG_NOSES">XIV.</a></td> + <td class="td2">The Tengus, or the Elves with Long Noses.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#KINTARO_OR_THE_WILD_BABY">XV.</a></td> + <td class="td2">Kintaro, or the Wild Baby.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#JIRAIYA_OR_THE_MAGIC_FROG">XVI.</a></td> + <td class="td2">Jiraiya, or the Magic Frog.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#HOW_THE_JELLY-FISH_LOST_ITS_SHELL">XVII.</a></td> + <td class="td2">How the Jelly-Fish Lost its Shell.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#LORD_CUTTLE-FISH_GIVES_A_CONCERT">XVIII.</a></td> + <td class="td2">Lord Cuttle-Fish Gives a Concert.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#YORIMASA_THE_BRAVE_ARCHER">XIX.</a></td> + <td class="td2">Yorimasa, the Brave Archer.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#WATANABE_CUTS_OFF_THE_ONIS_ARM">XX.</a></td> + <td class="td2">Watanabé cuts off the Oni's Arm.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#WATANABE_KILLS_THE_GREAT_SPIDER">XXI.</a></td> + <td class="td2">Watanabé Kills the Great Spider.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#RAIKO_AND_THE_SHI-TEN_DOJI">XXII.</a></td> + <td class="td2">Raiko and the Shi Ten Doji.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#THE_SAZAYE_AND_THE_TAI">XXIII.</a></td> + <td class="td2">The Sazayé and the Tai.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#SMELLS_AND_JINGLES">XXIV.</a></td> + <td class="td2">Smells and Jingles.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#THE_LAKE_OF_THE_LUTE_AND_THE">XXV.</a></td> + <td class="td2">The Lake of the Lute and the Matchless Mountain.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#THE_WATERFALL_OF_YORO_OR_THE">...</a></td> + <td class="td2">The Waterfall of Yoro, or the Fountain of Youth.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#THE_EARTHQUAKE_FISH">XXVI.</a></td> + <td class="td2">The Earthquake Fish.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#THE_DREAM_STORY_OF_GOJIRO.">XXVII.</a></td> + <td class="td2">The Dream Story of Gojiro.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#THE_PROCESSION_OF_LORD_LONG-LEGS">XXVIII.</a></td> + <td class="td2">The Procession of Lord Long-Legs.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#KIYOHIME_OR_THE_POWER_OF_LOVE">XXIX.</a></td> + <td class="td2">Kiyohimé, or the Power of Love.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#THE_FISHERMAN_AND_THE_MOON-MAIDEN">XXX.</a></td> + <td class="td2">The Fisherman and the Moon-Maiden.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#THE_JEWELS_OF_THE_EBBING_AND">XXXI.</a></td> + <td class="td2">The Jewels of the Ebbing and the Flowing Tide.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#KAI_RIU_O_THE_DRAGON_KING_OF">XXXII.</a></td> + <td class="td2">Kai Riu O, or the Dragon King of the World Under the Sea.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#THE_CREATION_OF_HEAVEN_AND_EARTH">XXXIII.</a></td> + <td class="td2">The Creation of Heaven and Earth.</td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1"><a href="#HOW_THE_SUN_GODDESS_WAS">XXXIV.</a></td> + <td class="td2">How the Sun Goddess was Enticed out of her Cave.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<h2 class="gap">LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.</h2> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" summary="List of Illustrations with Hyperlinks"> +<tr><td class="td1">1.</td> + <td class="td2">Kanamé holding down the great Earthquake Fish,</td> + <td class="td3"><a href="#FrontCover"><i>Stamp on cover</i>.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1">2.</td> + <td class="td2">How the Sun-goddess was enticed out of her Cave,</td> + <td class="td3"><a href="#Frontis"><i>Frontispiece</i>.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1">3.</td> + <td class="td2">The Star-lovers Meeting on the Bridge of Birds,</td> + <td class="td3">Faces <a href="#PicPage06">page 6.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1">4.</td> + <td class="td2">The Egg, Wasp and Mortar attack the Monkey,</td> + <td class="td3"><a href="#PicPage54">54.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1">5.</td> + <td class="td2">The Oni submitting to Peach Prince,</td> + <td class="td3"><a href="#PicPage70">70.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1">6.</td> + <td class="td2">The Monkeys in Grief,</td> + <td class="td3"><a href="#PicPage150">150.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1">7.</td> + <td class="td2">Yorimasa and the Night-beast,</td> + <td class="td3"><a href="#PicPage176">176.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1">8.</td> + <td class="td2">The Fish Stall in Tokio,</td> + <td class="td3"><a href="#PicPage204">204.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1">9.</td> + <td class="td2">A Jingle for a Sniff,</td> + <td class="td3"><a href="#PicPage206">206.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1">10.</td> + <td class="td2">The Ascent of the Dragon's Gate,</td> + <td class="td3"><a href="#PicPage234">234.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1">11.</td> + <td class="td2">The Sorceress Melting the Bell,</td> + <td class="td3"><a href="#PicPage262">262.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="td1">12.</td> + <td class="td2">The Dragon King's Gift of the Tide Jewels,</td> + <td class="td3"><a href="#PicPage288">288.</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="THE_MEETING_OF_THE_STAR-LOVERS" id="THE_MEETING_OF_THE_STAR-LOVERS"></a>THE MEETING OF THE STAR-LOVERS.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_o.jpg" width= "150" height= "295" alt="O" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 90px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 55px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NE of the greatest days in the calendar +of old Japan was the +seventh of July; or, as the Japanese +people put it, "the seventh +day of the seventh month." It +was a vermilion day in the almanacs, to +which every child looked forward with eyes +sparkling, hands clapping, and fingers counting, +as each night rolled the time nearer. +All manner of fruits and other eatable vegetables +were prepared, and cakes baked, in +the household. The boys plucked bamboo +stalks, and strung on their branches bright-colored +ribbons, tinkling bells, and long<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> +streamers of paper, on which poetry was +written. On this night, mothers hoped for +wealth, happiness, good children, and wisdom. +The girls made a wish that they +might become skilled in needlework. Only +one wish a year, however, could be made. +So, if any one wanted several things—health, +wealth, skill in needlework, wisdom, +etc.—they must wait many years before +all the favors could be granted. Above all +things, rainy weather was not desired. It +was a "good sign" when a spider spun his +web over a melon, or, if put in a square box +he should weave a circular web. Now, the +cause of all this preparation was that on the +seventh of July the Herd-boy star and the +Spinning Maiden star cross the Milky Way +to meet each other. These are the stars +which we call Capricornus and Alpha Lyra. +These stars that shine and glitter so far up<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> +in the zenith, are the boy with an ox and +the girl with a shuttle, about whom the +story runs as follows:</p> + +<hr class="hr15" /> + +<p>On the banks of the Silver River of +Heaven (which we call the Milky Way) +there lived a beautiful maiden, who was the +daughter of the sun. Her name was Shokujo. +She did not care for games or play, +like her companions, and, thinking nothing +of vain display, wore only the simplest of +dress. Yet she was very diligent, and +made many garments for others. Indeed, +so busy was she that all called her the Weaving +or Spinning Princess.</p> + +<p>The sun-king noticed the serious disposition +and close habits of his daughter, and +tried in various ways to get her to be more +lively. At last he thought to marry her. +As marriages in the star-land are usually<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> +planned by the parents, and not by the foolish +lover-boys and girls, he arranged the +union without consulting his daughter. The +young man on whom the sun-king thus bestowed +his daughter's hand was Kingin, who +kept a herd of cows on the banks of the +celestial stream. He had always been a +good neighbor, and, living on the same side +of the river, the father thought he would +get a nice son-in-law, and at the same time +improve his daughter's habits and disposition.</p> + +<p>No sooner did the maiden become wife +than her habits and character utterly +changed for the worse, and the father had a +very vexatious case of <i>tadashiku suguru</i> ("too +much of a good thing") on his hands. The +wife became not only very merry and lively, +but utterly forsook loom and needle. She +gave up her nights and days to play and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> +idleness, and no silly lover could have been +more foolish than she.</p> + +<p>The sun-king became very much offended +at all this, and thinking that the husband +was the cause of it, he determined to separate +the couple. So he ordered the husband +to remove to the other side of the river of +stars, and told him that hereafter they +should meet only once a year, on the seventh +night of the seventh month. To make a +bridge over the flood of stars, the sun-king +called myriads of magpies, which thereupon +flew together, and, making a bridge, supported +him on their wings and backs as if +it were a roadway of solid land. So, bidding +his weeping wife farewell, the lover-husband +sorrowfully crossed the River of +Heaven. No sooner had he set foot on the +opposite side than the magpies flew away, +filling all the heavens with their chatter.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> +The weeping wife and lover-husband stood +for a long time wistfully gazing at each +other from afar. Then they separated, the +one to lead his ox, the other to ply her shuttle +during the long hours of the day with +diligent toil. Thus they filled the hours, +and the sun-king again rejoiced in his daughter's +industry.</p> + +<p>But when night fell, and all the lamps of +heaven were lighted, the lovers would come +and stand by the banks of the starry river, +and gaze longingly at each other, waiting +for the seventh night of the seventh month.</p> + +<p>At last the time drew near, and only one +fear possessed the loving wife. Every time +she thought of it her heart played pit-a-pat +faster. What if it should rain? For the +River of Heaven is always full to the brim, +and one extra drop of rain causes a flood +which sweeps away even the bird-bridge. +<a name="PicPage06" id="PicPage06"></a></p> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/pg006.jpg" width="600" height="445" +alt="THE STAR-LOVERS MEETING ON THE BRIDGE OF BIRDS." +title="THE STAR-LOVERS MEETING ON THE BRIDGE OF BIRDS." /> +<p class="caption">THE STAR-LOVERS MEETING ON THE BRIDGE OF BIRDS. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p> +<p>But not a drop fell. The seventh month, +seventh night, came, and all the heavens +were clear. The magpies flew joyfully in +myriads, making one way for the tiny feet +of the little lady. Trembling with joy, and +with heart fluttering more than the bridge +of wings, she crossed the River of Heaven, +and was in the arms of her husband. This +she did every year. The lover-husband +stayed on his side of the river, and the wife +came to him on the magpie bridge, save on +the sad occasion when it rained. So every +year the people hope for clear weather, and +the happy festival is celebrated alike by old +and young.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="THE_TRAVELS_OF_TWO_FROGS" id="THE_TRAVELS_OF_TWO_FROGS"></a>THE TRAVELS OF TWO FROGS.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_f.jpg" width= "150" height= "281" alt="F" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 90px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 55px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">F</span>ORTY miles apart, as the cranes +fly, stand the great cities of Ozaka +and Kioto. The one is the city +of canals and bridges. Its streets +are full of bustling trade, and its +waterways are ever alive with gondolas, +shooting hither and thither like the wooden +shuttles in a loom. The other is the sacred +city of the Mikado's empire, girdled with +green hills and a nine-fold circle of flowers. +In its quiet, clean streets, laid out like a +chessboard, walk the shaven monks and +gowned scholars. And very beautiful is +Kioto, with pretty girls, and temple gardens, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> +and castle walls, and towers, and moats in +which the white lotus blooms. +</p> +<hr class="hr15" /> + +<p>Long, long ago, in the good old days before +the hairy-faced and pale-cheeked men +from over the Sea of Great Peace (Pacific +Ocean) came to Japan; before the black +coal-smoke and snorting engine scared the +white heron from the rice-fields; before +black crows and fighting sparrows, which +fear not man, perched on telegraph wires, +or ever a railway was thought of, there lived +two frogs—one in a well in Kioto, the other +in a lotus-pond in Ozaka.</p> + +<p>Now it is a common proverb in the Land +of the Gods (Japan) that "the frog in the +well knows not the great ocean," and the +Kioto frog had so often heard this scornful +sneer from the maids who came to draw out +water, with their long bamboo-handled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +buckets that he resolved to travel abroad +and see the world, and especially the <i>tai kai</i> +(the great ocean).</p> + +<p>"I'll see for myself," said Mr. Frog, as he +packed his wallet and wiped his spectacles, +"what this great ocean is that they talk +about. I'll wager it isn't half as deep or +wide as well, where I can see the stars +even at daylight."</p> + +<p>Now the truth was, a recent earthquake +had greatly reduced the depth of the well +and the water was getting very shallow. +Mr. Frog informed his family of his intentions. +Mrs. Frog wept a great deal; but, +drying her eyes with her paper handkerchief, +she declared she would count the hours +on her fingers till he came back, and at every +morning and evening meal would set out his +table with food on it, just as if he were home. +She tied up a little lacquered box full of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +boiled rice and snails for his journey, wrapped +it around with a silk napkin, and, putting +his extra clothes in a bundle, swung it +on his back. Tying it over his neck, he +seized his staff and was ready to go.</p> + +<p>"<i>Sayonara</i>" ("Good-bye") cried he, as, +with a tear in his eye, he walked away.</p> + +<p>"<i>Sayonara. Oshidzukani</i>" ("Good-bye. +Walk slowly"), croaked Mrs. Frog and the +whole family of young frogs in a chorus.</p> + +<p>Two of the froggies were still babies, that +is, they were yet polywogs, with a half inch +of tail still on them; and, of course, were +carried about by being strapped on the back +of their older brothers.</p> + +<p>Mr. Frog being now on land, out of his +well, noticed that the other animals did not +leap, but walked on their legs. And, not +wishing to be eccentric, he likewise began +briskly walking upright on his hind legs or +waddling on all fours.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span></p> +<p>Now it happened that about the same +time the Ozaka father frog had become restless +and dissatisfied with life on the edges +of his lotus-ditch. He had made up his mind +to "cast the lion's cub into the valley."</p> + +<p>"Why! that <i>is</i> tall talk for a frog, I must +say," exclaims the reader. "What did he +mean?"</p> + +<p>I must tell you that the Ozaka frog was +a philosopher. Right at the edge of his +lotus-pond was a monastery, full of Buddhist +monks, who every day studied their sacred +rolls and droned over the books of Confucius, +to learn them by heart. Our frog had heard +them so often that he could (in frog language, +of course) repeat many of their wise sentences +and intone responses to their evening +prayers put up by the great idol Amida. +Indeed, our frog had so often listened to +their debates on texts from the classics that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> +he had himself become a sage and a philosopher. +Yet, as the proverb says, "the sage +is not happy."</p> + +<p>Why not? In spite of a soft mud-bank, +plenty of green scum, stagnant water, and +shady lotus leaves, a fat wife and a numerous +family; in short, everything to make a +frog happy, his forehead, or rather gullet, +was wrinkled with care from long pondering +of knotty problems, such as the following:</p> + +<p>The monks often come down to the edge +of the pond to look at the pink and white +lotus. One summer day, as a little frog, +hardly out of his tadpole state, with a small +fragment of tail still left, sat basking on a +huge round leaf, one monk said to the other:</p> + +<p>"Of what does that remind you?"</p> + +<p>"The babies of frogs will become but +frogs," said one shaven pate, laughing.</p> + +<p>"What think you?"</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span></p> +<p>"The white lotus flower springs out of the +black mud," said the other, solemnly, as both +walked away.</p> + +<p>The old frog, sitting near by, overheard +them and began to philosophize: "Humph! +The babies of frogs will become but frogs, +hey? If mud becomes lotus, why shouldn't +a frog become a man? Why not? If my +pet son should travel abroad and see the +world—go to Kioto, for instance—why +shouldn't he be as wise as those shining-headed +men, I wonder? I shall try it, anyhow. +I'll send my son on a journey to Kioto. +I'll 'cast the lion's cub into the valley' (send +the pet son abroad in the world, to see and +study) at once. I'll deny myself for the +sake of my offspring."</p> +</div> + +<p>Flump! splash! sounded the water, as a +pair of webby feet disappeared. The "lion's +cub" was soon ready, after much paternal +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span>advice, and much counsel to beware of being +gobbled up by long-legged storks, and trod +on by impolite men, and struck at by bad +boys. "<i>Kio ni no inaka</i>" ("Even in the +capital there are boors") said Father Frog.</p> + +<p>Now it so happened that the old frog from +Kioto and the "lion's cub" from Ozaka +started each from his home at the same +time. Nothing of importance occurred to +either of them until, as luck would have it, +they met on a hill near Hashimoto, which +is half way between the two cities. Both +were footsore, and websore, and very tired, +especially about the hips, on account of the +unfroglike manner of walking, instead of +hopping, as they had been used to.</p> + +<p>"<i>Ohio gozarimasu</i>" ("Good-morning") +said the "lion's cub" to the old frog, as he +fell on all fours and bowed his head to the +ground three times, squinting up over his +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>left eye, to see if the other frog was paying +equal deference in return.</p> + +<p>"<i>He, konnichi wa</i>" ("Yes, good-day") replied +the Kioto frog.</p> + +<p>"<i>O tenki</i>" ("It is rather fine weather to-day") +said the "cub."</p> + +<p>"<i>He, yoi tenki gozence</i>" ("Yes, it is very +fine") replied the old fellow.</p> + +<p>"I am Gamataro, from Ozaka, the oldest +son of Hiki Dono, Sensui no Kami" (Lord +Bullfrog, Prince of the Lotus-Ditch).</p> + +<p>"Your Lordship must be weary with your +journey. I am Kayeru San of Idomidzu +(Sir Frog of the Well) in Kioto. I started +out to see the 'great ocean' from Ozaka; but, +I declare, my hips are so dreadfully tired +that I believe that I'll give up my plan and +content myself with a look from this hill."</p> + +<p>The truth must be owned that the old +frog was not only on his hind legs, but also<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +on his last legs, when he stood up to look at +Ozaka; while the "cub" was tired enough +to believe anything. The old fellow, wiping +his face, spoke up:</p> + +<p>"Suppose we save ourselves the trouble +of the journey. This hill is half way between +the two cities, and while I see Ozaka +and the sea you can get a good look of the +Kio" (Capital, or Kioto).</p> + +<p>"Happy thought!" said the Ozaka frog.</p> + +<p>Then both reared themselves upon their +hind-legs, and stretching upon their toes, +body to body, and neck to neck, propped +each other up, rolled their goggles and +looked steadily, as they supposed, on the +places which they each wished to see. Now +everyone knows that a frog has eyes +mounted in that part of his head which is +<span class="smcap">front when he is down and back when he +stands up</span>. They are set like a compass on +gimbals.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span></p> +<p>Long and steadily they gazed, until, at last, +their toes being tired, they fell down on all +fours.</p> + +<p>"I declare!" said the old <i>yaze</i> (daddy) +"Ozaka looks just like Kioto; and as for 'the +great ocean' those stupid maids talked about, +I don't see any at all, unless they mean +that strip of river that looks for all the +world like the Yodo. I don't believe there +is any 'great ocean'!"</p> + +<p>"As for my part," said the 'cub', "I am +satisfied that it's all folly to go further; for +Kioto is as like Ozaka as one grain of rice is +like another." Then he said to himself: +"Old Totsu San (my father) is a fool, with +all his philosophy."</p> + +<p>Thereupon both congratulated themselves +upon the happy labor-saving expedient by +which they had spared themselves a long +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>journey, much leg-weariness, and some +danger. They departed, after exchanging +many compliments; and, dropping again +into a frog's hop, they leaped back in half +the time—the one to his well and the other +to his pond. There each told the story of +both cities looking exactly alike; thus +demonstrating the folly of those foolish folks +called men. As for the old gentleman in +the lotus-pond, he was so glad to get the +"cub" back again that he never again tried +to reason out the problems of philosophy. +And to this day the frog in the well knows +not and believes not in the "great ocean." +Still do the babies of frogs become but frogs. +Still is it vain to teach the reptiles philosophy; +for all such labor is "like pouring +water in a frog's face." Still out of the +black mud springs the glorious white lotus +in celestial purity, unfolding its stainless +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span>petals to the smiling heavens, the emblem of +life and resurrection.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="THE_CHILD_OF_THE_THUNDER" id="THE_CHILD_OF_THE_THUNDER"></a>THE CHILD OF THE THUNDER.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_i.jpg" width= "150" height= "281" alt="I" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 90px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 55px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">I</span>N among the hills of Echizen, +within sight of the snowy mountain +called Hakuzan, lived a farmer +named Bimbo. He was +very poor, but frugal and industrious. +He was very fond of children +though he had none himself. He longed to +adopt a son to bear his name, and often +talked the matter over with his old dame. +But being so dreadfully poor both thought +it best not to adopt, until they had bettered +their condition and increased the area of +their land. For all the property Bimbo +owned was the earth in a little gully, which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> +he himself was reclaiming. A tiny rivulet, +flowing from a spring in the crevice of the +rocks above, after trickling over the boulders, +rolled down the gully to join a brook in +the larger valley below. Bimbo had with +great labor, after many years, made dams +or terraces of stone, inside which he had +thrown soil, partly got from the mountain +sides, but mainly carried in baskets on the +backs of himself and his wife, from the +valley below. By such weary toil, continued +year in and year out, small beds of soil +were formed, in which rice could be planted +and grown. The little rivulet supplied the +needful water; for rice, the daily food of +laborer and farmer, must be planted and +cultivated in soft mud under water. So the +little rivulet, which once leaped over the +rock and cut its way singing to the valley, +now spread itself quietly over each terrace,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> +making more than a dozen descents before +it reached the fields below.</p> + +<p>Yet after all his toil for a score of years, +working every day from the first croak of +the raven, until the stars came out, Bimbo +and his wife owned only three <i>tan</i> (¾ acre) +of terrace land. Sometimes a summer would +pass, and little or no rain fall. Then the +rivulet dried up and crops failed. It seemed +all in vain that their backs were bent and +their foreheads seamed and wrinkled with +care. Many a time did Bimbo have hard +work of it even to pay his taxes, which +sometimes amounted to half his crop. Many +a time did he shake his head, muttering the +discouraged farmer's proverb "A new field +gives a scant crop," the words of which +mean also, "Human life is but fifty years."</p> + +<p>One summer day after a long drought, +when the young rice sprouts, just transplanted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +were turning yellow at the tips, the clouds +began to gather and roll, and soon a smart +shower fell, the lightning glittered, and the +hills echoed with claps of thunder. But +Bimbo, hoe in hand, was so glad to see the +rain fall, and the pattering drops felt so cool +and refreshing, that he worked on, strengthening +the terrace to resist the little flood +about to come.</p> + +<hr class="hr15" /> + +<p>Pretty soon the storm rattled very near +him, and he thought he had better seek +shelter, lest the thunder should strike and +kill him. For Bimbo, like all his neighbors, +had often heard stories of Kaijin, the +god of the thunder-drums, who lives in the +skies and rides on the storm, and sometimes +kills people by throwing out of the clouds +at them a terrible creature like a cat, with +iron-like claws and a hairy body.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p> +<p>Just as Bimbo threw his hoe over his +shoulder and started to move, a terrible +blinding flash of lightning dazzled his eyes. +It was immediately followed by a deafening +crash, and the thunder fell just in front of +him. He covered his eyes with his hands, +but finding himself unhurt, uttered a prayer +of thanks to Buddha for safety. Then he +uncovered his eyes and looked down at his +feet.</p> + +<p>There lay a little boy, rosy and warm, +and crowing in the most lively manner, and +never minding the rain in the least. The +farmer's eyes opened very wide, but happy +and nearly surprised out of his senses, he +picked up the child tenderly in his arms, +and took him home to his old wife.</p> + +<p>"Here's a gift from Raijin," said Bimbo. +"We'll adopt him as our own son and call +him Rai-taro," (the first-born darling of +the thunder).</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> +<p>So the boy grew up and became a very +dutiful and loving child. He was as kind +and obedient to his foster-parents as though +he had been born in their house. He never +liked to play with other children, but kept +all day in the fields with his father, sporting +with the rivulet and looking at the clouds +and sky. Even when the strolling players +of the Dai Kagura (the comedy which makes +the gods laugh) and the "Lion of Corea" +came into the village, and every boy and +girl and nurse and woman was sure to be +out in great glee, the child of the thunder +stayed up in the field, or climbed on the +high rocks to watch the sailing of the birds +and the flowing of the water and the river +far away.</p> +</div> + +<p>Great prosperity seemed to come to the +farmer, and he laid it all to the sweet child +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span>that fell to him from the clouds. It was +very curious that rain often fell on Bimbo's +field when none fell elsewhere; so that +Bimbo grew rich and changed his name +to Kanemochi. He believed that the boy +Raitaro beckoned to the clouds, and they +shed their rain for him.</p> + +<p>A good many summers passed by, and +Raitaro had grown to be a tall and handsome +lad, almost a man and eighteen years +old. On his birthday the old farmer and +the good wife made a little feast for their +foster-child. They ate and drank and talked +of the thunder-storm, out of which Raitaro +was born.</p> + +<p>Finally the young man said solemnly:</p> + +<p>"My dear parents, I thank you very +much for your kindness to me, but I must +now say farewell. I hope you will always +be happy."</p> + +<p>Then, in a moment, all trace of a human<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +form disappeared, and floating in the air, +they saw a tiny white dragon, which hovered +for a moment above them, and then +flew away. The old couple went out of +doors to watch it, when it grew bigger and +bigger, taking its course to the hills above, +where the piled-up white clouds, which form +on a summer's afternoon, seemed built up like +towers and castles of silver. Towards one +of these the dragon moved, until, as they +watched his form, now grown to a mighty +size, it disappeared from view.</p> + +<p>After this Kanemochi and his wife, who +were now old and white-headed, ceased from +their toil and lived in comfort all their days. +When they died and their bodies were reduced +to a heap of white cinders in the stone +furnace of the village cremation-house, their +ashes were mixed, and being put into one +urn, were laid away in the cemetery of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +temple yard. Their tomb was carved in +the form of a white dragon, which to this +day, in spite of mosses and lichens, may +still be seen among the ancient monuments +of the little hamlet.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="THE_TONGUE-CUT_SPARROW" id="THE_TONGUE-CUT_SPARROW"></a>THE TONGUE-CUT SPARROW.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_t.jpg" width= "150" height= "281" alt="T" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 90px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 55px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HERE was once an old man who +had a wife with a very bad temper. +She had never borne him +any children, and would not +take the trouble to adopt a son. +So for a little pet he kept a tiny sparrow, +and fed it with great care. The old dame +not satisfied with scolding her husband +hated the sparrow.</p> + +<p>Now the old woman's temper was especially +bad on wash days, when her old back +and knees were well strained over the low +tub, which rested on the ground.</p> + +<p>It happened once that she had made some +starch, and set it in a red wooden bowl to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +cool. While her back was turned, the sparrow +hopped down on the edge of the bowl, +and pecked at some of the starch. In a rage +the old hag seized a pair of scissors and cut +the sparrow's tongue out. Flinging the +bird in the air she cried out, "Now be off." +So the poor sparrow, all bleeding, flew +away.</p> + +<p>When the old man came back and found +his pet gone, he made a great ado. He asked +his wife, and she told him what she had +done and why. The sorrowful old man +grieved sorely for his pet, and after looking +in every place and calling it by name, gave +it up as lost.</p> + +<p>Long after this, old man while wandering +on the mountains met his old friend the +sparrow. They both cried "Ohio!" (good +morning,) to each other, and bowing low +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> +offered many mutual congratulations and inquiries +as to health, etc. Then the sparrow +begged the old man to visit his humble +abode, promising to introduce his wife and +two daughters.</p> + +<p>The old man went in and found a nice +little house with a bamboo garden, tiny +waterfall, stepping stone and everything complete. +Then Mrs. Sparrow brought in slices +of sugar-jelly, rock-candy, sweet potato +custard, and a bowl of hot starch sprinkled +with sugar, and a pair of chopsticks on a +tray. Miss Suzumi, the elder daughter +brought the tea caddy and tea-pot, and in +a snap of the fingers had a good cup of tea +ready, which she offered on a tray, kneeling.</p> + +<p>"Please take up and help yourself. +The refreshments are very poor, but I hope +you will excuse our plainness," said Mother +Sparrow. The delighted old man, wondering +in himself at such a polite family of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> +sparrows, ate heartily, and drank several +cups of tea. Finally, on being pressed he +remained all night.</p> + +<p>For several days the old man enjoyed +himself at the sparrow's home. He looked +at the landscapes and the moonlight, feasted +to his heart's content, and played <i>go</i> (the +game of 360 checkers) with Ko-suzumi the +little daughter. In the evening Mrs. Sparrow +would bring out the refreshments and +the wine, and seat the old man on a silken +cushion, while she played the guitar. Mr. +Sparrow and his two daughters danced, +sung and made merry. The delighted old +man leaning on the velvet arm-rest forgot +his cares, his old limbs and his wife's +tongue, and felt like a youth again.</p> + +<p>On the fifth day the old man said he must +go home. Then the sparrow brought out +two baskets made of plaited rattan, such as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> +are used in traveling and carried on men's +shoulders. Placing them before their guest, +the sparrow said, "Please accept a parting +gift."</p> + +<p>Now one basket was very heavy, and the +other very light. The old man, not being +greedy, said he would take the lighter one. +So with many thanks and bows and good-byes, +he set off homewards.</p> + +<p>He reached his hut safely, but instead of +a kind welcome the old hag began to scold +him for being away so long. He begged +her to be quiet, and telling of his visit to +the sparrows, opened the basket, while the +scowling old woman held her tongue, out of +sheer curiosity.</p> + +<p>Oh, what a splendid sight! There were +gold and silver coin, and gems, and coral, +and crystal, and amber, and the never-failing +bag of money, and the invisible coat and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span> +hat, and rolls of books, and all manner of +precious things.</p> + +<p>At the sight of so much wealth, the old +hag's scowl changed to a smile of greedy +joy. "I'll go right off and get a present +from the sparrows," said she.</p> + +<p>So binding on her straw sandals, and +tucking up her skirts, and adjusting her +girdle, tying the bow in front, she seized her +staff and set off on the road. Arriving at +the sparrow's house she began to flatter Mr. +Sparrow by soft speeches. Of course the +polite sparrow invited her into his house, +but nothing but a cup of tea was offered her, +and wife and daughters kept away. Seeing +she was not going to get any good-bye gift, +the brazen hussy asked for one. The sparrow +then brought out and set before her two +baskets, one heavy and the other light. +Taking the heavier one without so much as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +saying "thank you," she carried it back +with her. Then she opened it, expecting +all kinds of riches.</p> +</div> + +<p>She took off the lid, when a horrible +cuttle-fish rushed at her, and a horned <i>oni</i> +snapped his tusks at her, a skeleton poked +his bony fingers in her face, and finally a +long, hairy serpent, with a big head and +lolling tongue, sprang out and coiled around +her, cracking her bones, and squeezing out +her breath, till she died.</p> + +<p>After the good old man had buried his +wife, he adopted a son to comfort his old +age, and with his treasures lived at ease all +his days.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="THE_FIRE-FLYS_LOVERS" id="THE_FIRE-FLYS_LOVERS"></a>THE FIRE-FLY'S LOVERS.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_i.jpg" width= "150" height= "281" alt="I" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 90px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 55px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">I</span>N JAPAN the night-flies emit so +brilliant a light and are so beautiful +that ladies go out in the +evenings and catch the insects +for amusement, as may be seen +represented on Japanese fans. They imprison +them in tiny cages made of bamboo +threads, and hang them up in their rooms +or suspend them from the eaves of their +houses. At their picnic parties, the people +love to sit on August evenings, fan in hand, +looking over the lovely landscape, spangled +by ten thousand brilliant spots of golden +light. Each flash seems like a tiny blaze of +harmless lightning.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p> + +<p>One of the species of night-flies, the most +beautiful of all, is a source of much amusement +to the ladies. Hanging the cage of +glittering insects on their verandahs, they +sit and watch the crowd of winged visitors +attracted by the fire-fly's light. What brings +them there, and why the fire-fly's parlor is +filled with suitors as a queen's court with +courtiers, let this love story tell. +</p> +<hr class="hr15" /> + +<p>On the southern and sunny side of the +castle moats of the Fukui castle, in Echizen, +the water had long ago become shallow +so that lotus lilies grew luxuriantly. Deep +in the heart of one of the great flowers +whose petals were as pink as the lining of +a sea-shell, lived the King of the Fire-flies, +Hi-ō, whose only daughter was the lovely +princess Hotaru-himé. While still a child +the himé (princess) was carefully kept at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +home within the pink petals of the lily, never +going even to the edges except to see her +father fly off on his journey. Dutifully she +waited until of age, when the fire glowed in +her own body, and shone, beautifully illuminating +the lotus, until its light at night was +like a lamp within a globe of coral.</p> + +<p>Every night her light grew brighter and +brighter, until at last it was as mellow as +gold. Then her father said:</p> + +<p>"My daughter is now of age, she may fly +abroad with me sometimes, and when the +proper suitor comes she may marry whom +she will."</p> + +<p>So Hotaru-himé flew forth in and out +among the lotus lilies of the moat, then into +rich rice fields, and at last far off to the indigo +meadows.</p> + +<p>Whenever she went a crowd of suitors followed +her, for she had the singular power<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +of attracting all the night-flying insects to +herself. But she cared for none of their attentions, +and though she spoke politely to +them all she gave encouragement to none. +Yet some of the sheeny-winged gallants +called her a coquette.</p> + +<p>One night she said to her mother, the +queen:</p> + +<p>"I have met many admirers, but I don't +wish a husband from any of them. Tonight +I shall stay at home, and if any of +them love me truly they will come and pay +me court here. Then I shall lay an impossible +duty on them. If they are wise they +will not try to perform it; and if they love +their lives more than they love me, I do not +want any of them. Whoever succeeds may +have me for his bride."</p> + +<p>"As you will my child," said the queen +mother, who arrayed her daughter in her +most resplendent robes, and set her on her +throne in the heart of the lotus.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then she gave orders to her body-guard +to keep all suitors at a respectful distance +lest some stupid gallant, a horn-bug or a +cockchafer dazzled by the light should approach +too near and hurt the princess or +shake her throne.</p> + +<p>No sooner had twilight faded away, than +forth came the golden beetle, who stood on +a stamen and making obeisance, said:—</p> + +<p>"I am Lord Green-Gold, I offer my +house, my fortune and my love to Princess +Hotaru."</p> + +<p>"Go and bring me fire and I will be your +bride" said Hotaru-himé.</p> + +<p>With a bow of the head the beetle opened +his wings and departed with a stately whirr.</p> + +<p>Next came a shining bug with wings and +body as black as lamp-smoke, who solemnly +professed his passion.</p> + +<p>"Bring me fire and you may have me for +your wife."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span></p> + +<p>Off flew the bug with a buzz.</p> + +<p>Pretty soon came the scarlet dragon-fly, +expecting so to dazzle the princess by his +gorgeous colors that she would accept him +at once.</p> + +<p>"I decline your offer" said the princess, +"but if you bring me a flash of fire, I'll become +your bride."</p> +</div> + +<p>Swift was the flight of the dragon-fly on +his errand, and in came the Beetle with a +tremendous buzz, and ardently plead his suit.</p> + +<p>"I'll say 'yes' if you bring me fire" said +the glittering princess.</p> + +<p>Suitor after suitor appeared to woo the +daughter of the King of the Fire-flies until +every petal was dotted with them. One +after another in a long troop they appeared. +Each in his own way, proudly, humbly, +boldly, mildly, with flattery, with boasting, +even with tears, each proffered his love, told<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +his rank or expatiated on his fortune or +vowed his constancy, sang his tune or played +his music. To every one of her lovers the +princess in modest voice returned the same +answer:</p> + +<p>"Bring me fire and I'll be your bride."</p> + +<p>So without telling his rivals, each one +thinking he had the secret alone sped away +after fire.</p> + +<p>But none ever came back to wed the +princess. Alas for the poor suitors! The +beetle whizzed off to a house near by through +the paper windows of which light glimmered. +So full was he of his passion that thinking +nothing of wood or iron, he dashed his head +against a nail, and fell dead on the ground.</p> + +<p>The black bug flew into a room where a +poor student was reading. His lamp was +only a dish of earthenware full of rape seed +oil with a wick made of pith. Knowing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +nothing of oil the love-lorn bug crawled into +the dish to reach the flame and in a few +seconds was drowned in the oil.</p> + +<p>"Nan jaro?" (What's that?) said a thrifty +housewife, sitting with needle in hand, as +her lamp flared up for a moment, smoking +the chimney, and then cracking it; while +picking out the scorched bits she found a +roasted dragon-fly, whose scarlet wings were +all burned off.</p> + +<p>Mad with love the brilliant hawk-moth, +afraid of the flame yet determined to win +the fire for the princess, hovered round and +round the candle flame, coming nearer and +nearer each time. "Now or never, the +princess or death," he buzzed, as he darted +forward to snatch a flash of flame, but singeing +his wings, he fell helplessly down, and +died in agony.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span></p> +<p>"What a fool he was, to be sure," said +the ugly clothes moth, coming on the spot, +"I'll get the fire. I'll crawl up <i>inside</i> the +candle." So he climbed up the hollow paper +wick, and was nearly to the top, and inside +the hollow blue part of the flame, when +the man, snuffing the wick, crushed him to +death.</p> + +<p>Sad indeed was the fate of the lovers of +Hi-ō's daughter. Some hovered around the +beacons on the headland, some fluttered +about the great wax candles which stood +eight feet high in their brass sockets in +Buddhist temples; some burned their noses +at the top of incense sticks, or were nearly +choked by the smoke; some danced all +night around the lanterns in the shrines; +some sought the sepulchral lamps in the +graveyard; one visited the cremation furnace; +another the kitchen, where a feast<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +was going on; another chased the sparks +that flew out of the chimney; but none +brought fire to the princess, or won the +lover's prize. Many lost their feelers, had +their shining bodies scorched or their wings +singed, but most of them alas! lay dead, +black and cold next morning.</p> + +<p>As the priests trimmed the lamps in the +shrines, and the servant maids the lanterns, +each said alike:</p> + +<p>"The Princess Hotaru must have had +many lovers last night."</p> + +<p>Alas! alas! poor suitors. Some tried to +snatch a streak of green fire from the cat's +eyes, and were snapped up for their pains. +One attempted to get a mouthful of bird's +breath, but was swallowed alive. A carrion +beetle (the ugly lover) crawled off to the +sea shore, and found some fish scales that +emitted light. The stag-beetle climbed a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> +mountain, and in a rotten tree stump found +some bits of glowing wood like fire, but the +distance was so great that long before they +reached the castle moat it was daylight, and +the fire had gone out; so they threw their +fish scales and old wood away.</p> + +<p>The next day was one of great mourning +and there were so many funerals going on, +that Hi-marō the Prince of the Fire-flies on +the north side of the castle moat inquired +of his servants the cause. Then he learned +for the first time of the glittering princess. +Upon this the prince who had just succeeded +his father upon the throne fell in love +with the princess and resolved to marry +her. He sent his chamberlain to ask of her +father his daughter in marriage according +to true etiquette. The father agreed to the +prince's proposal, with the condition that +the Prince should obey her behest in one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> +thing, which was to come in person bringing +her fire.</p> + +<p>Then the Prince at the head of his glittering +battalions came in person and filled the +lotus palace with a flood of golden light. +But Hotaru-himé was so beautiful that her +charms paled not their fire even in the blaze +of the Prince's glory. The visit ended in +wooing, and the wooing in wedding. On +the night appointed, in a palanquin made of +the white lotus-petals, amid the blazing +torches of the prince's battalions of warriors, +Hotaru-himé was borne to the prince's palace +and there, prince and princess were joined +in the wedlock.</p> + +<p>Many generations have passed since +Hi-marō and Hotaru-himé were married, +and still it is the whim of all Fire-fly princesses +that their base-born lovers must +bring fire as their love-offering or lose their +prize. Else would the glittering fair ones<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> +be wearied unto death by the importunity +of their lovers. Great indeed is the loss, +for in this quest of fire many thousand insects, +attracted by the fire-fly, are burned to +death in the vain hope of winning the fire +that shall gain the cruel but beautiful one +that fascinates them. It is for this cause +that each night insects hover around the +lamp flame, and every morning a crowd of +victims drowned in the oil, or scorched in +the flame, must be cleaned from the lamp. +This is the reason why young ladies catch +and imprison the fire-flies to watch the war +of insect-love, in the hope that they may +have human lovers who will dare as much, +through fire and flood, as they.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="THE_BATTLE_OF_THE_APE_AND_THE_CRAB" id="THE_BATTLE_OF_THE_APE_AND_THE_CRAB"></a>THE BATTLE OF THE APE AND THE CRAB.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_i.jpg" width= "150" height= "281" alt="I" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 90px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 55px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">I</span>N THE LAND where neither the +monkeys or the cats have tails, +and the persimmons grow to be +as large as apples and with seeds +bigger than a melon's, there once +lived a land crab in the side of a sand hill. +One day an ape came along having a persimmon +seed, which he offered to swap with +the crab for a rice-cake. The crab agreed, +and planting the seed in his garden went +out every day to watch it grow.</p> + +<p>By-and-by the ape came to visit the crab, +and seeing the fine tree laden with the yellow-brown +fruit, begged a few. The crab,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> +asking pardon of the ape, said he could not +climb the tree to offer him any, but agreed +to give the ape half, if he would mount the +tree and pluck them.</p> + +<p>So the monkey ran up the tree, while the +crab waited below, expecting to eat the ripe +fruit. But the monkey sitting on a limb +first filled his pockets full, and then picking +off all the best ones, greedily ate the pulp, +and threw the skin and stones in the crab's +face. Every once in a while, he would pull +off a green sour persimmon and hit the crab +hard, until his shell was nearly cracked. At +last the crab thought he would get the best +of the ape. So when his enemy had eaten +his fill until he was bulged out, he cried out,</p> + +<p>"Now Mister Ape, I dare you to come +down head-foremost. You can't do it."</p> + +<p>So the ape began to descend, head downward. +This was just what the crab wanted,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +for all the finest persimmons rolled out of +his pockets on the ground. The crab quickly +gathered them up, and with both arms +full ran off to his hole. Then the ape was +very angry. He kindled a fire, and blew +the smoke down the hole, until the crab was +nearly choked. The poor crab to save his +life had to crawl out.</p> + +<p>Then the monkey beat him soundly, and +left him for dead.</p> + +<p>The crab had not been long thus, when +three travelers, a rice-mortar, an egg, and a +wasp found him lying on the ground. They +carried him into the house, bound up his +wounds and while he lay in bed they planned +how they might destroy the ape. They all +talked of the matter over their cups of tea, +and after the mortar had smoked several +pipes of tobacco, a plan was agreed on.</p> + +<p>So taking the crab along, stiff and sore as he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +was, they marched to the monkey's castle. +The wasp flew inside, and found that their +enemy was away from home. Then all +entered and hid themselves. The egg cuddled +up under the ashes in the hearth. The +wasp flew into the closet. The mortar hid +behind the door. They then waited for the +ape to come home. The crab sat beside the +fire.</p> + +<p>Towards evening the monkey arrived, +and throwing off his coat (which was just +what the wasp wanted) he lighted a sulphur +match, and kindling a fire, hung on the +kettle for a cup of tea, and pulled out his +pipe for a smoke. Just as he sat down by +the hearth to salute the crab, the egg burst +and the hot yolk flew all over him and in +his eye, nearly blinding him. He rushed +out to the bath-room to plunge in the tub +of cold water, when the wasp flew at him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> +and stung his nose. Slipping down, he fell +flat on the floor, when the mortar rolled on +him and crushed him to death. Then the +whole party congratulated the crab on their +victory. Grateful for the friendship thus +shown, the whole party, crab, mortar and +wasp lived in peace together.</p> + +<p>The crab married the daughter of a rich +crab that lived over the hill, and a great +feast of persimmons was spread before the +bride's relatives who came to see the ceremony. +By-and-by a little crab was born +which became a great pet with the mortar +and wasp. With no more apes to plague +them, they lived very happily.</p> +</div> + +<p><a name="PicPage54" id="PicPage54"></a></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/pg054.jpg" width="600" height="395" +alt="THE EGG, WASP AND MORTAR ATTACK THE MONKEY." +title="THE EGG, WASP AND MORTAR ATTACK THE MONKEY." /> +<p class="caption">THE EGG, WASP AND MORTAR ATTACK THE MONKEY. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="THE_WONDERFUL_TEA-KETTLE" id="THE_WONDERFUL_TEA-KETTLE"></a>THE WONDERFUL TEA-KETTLE.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_a.jpg" width= "150" height= "281" alt="A" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 120px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 75px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">A</span> LONG TIME AGO there was an +old priest who lived in the +temple of Morinji in the province +of Hitachi. He cooked his own +rice, boiled his own tea, swept +his own floor and lived frugally as an honest +priest should do.</p> + +<p>One day he was sitting near the square +fire-place in the middle of the floor. A rope +and chain to hold the pot and kettle hung +down from the covered hole in the ceiling +which did duty as a chimney. A pair of +brass tongs was stuck in the ashes and the +fire blazed merrily. At the side of the fire-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>place, +on the floor, was a tray filled with +tiny tea-cups, a pewter tea-caddy, a bamboo +tea-stirrer, and a little dipper. The priest +having finished sweeping the ashes off the +edges of the hearth with a little whisk of +hawk's feathers, was just about to put on +the tea when "suzz," "suzz," sang the tea-kettle +spout; and then "pattari"—"pattari" +said the lid, as it flapped up and down, and +the kettle swung backwards and forwards.</p> + +<p>"What does this mean?" said the old +bonze. "<i>Naru hodo</i>," said he, with a start +as the spout of the kettle turned into a +badger's nose with its big whiskers, while +from the other side sprouted out a long +bushy tail.</p> + +<p>"<i>Yohodo medzurashi</i>," shouted the priest +dropping the tea-caddy and spilling the green +tea all over the matting as four hairy legs +appeared under the kettle, and the strange<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +compound, half badger and half kettle, +jumped off the fire, and began running +around the room. To the priest's horror it +leaped on a shelf, puffed out its belly and +began to beat a tune with its fore-paws as if +it were a drum. The old bonze's pupils, +hearing the racket rushed in, and after a +lively chase, upsetting piles of books and +breaking some of the tea-cups, secured the +badger, and squeezed him in a keg used for +storing the pickled radishes called <i>daikon</i>, +(or Japanese sauer-kraut.) They fastened +down the lid with a heavy stone. They +were sure that the strong odor of the radishes +would kill the beast, for no man could possibly +survive such a smell, and it was not +likely a badger could.</p> + +<p>The next morning the tinker of the village +called in and the priest told him about +his strange visitor. Wishing to show him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> +the animal, he cautiously lifted the lid of the +cask, lest the badger, might after all, be still +alive, in spite of the stench of the sour +mess, when lo! there was nothing but the +old iron tea-kettle. Fearing that the utensil +might play the same prank again, the priest +was glad to sell it to the tinker who bought +the kettle for a few iron cash. He carried +it to his junk shop, though he thought it felt +unusually heavy.</p> + +<p>The tinker went to bed as usual that +night with his <i>andon</i>, or paper shaded lamp, +just back of his head. About midnight, +hearing a strange noise like the flapping up +and down of an iron pot-lid, he sat up in +bed, rubbed his eyes, and there was the iron +pot covered with fur and sprouting out legs. +In short, it was turning into a hairy beast. +Going over to the recess and taking a fan +from the rack, the badger climbed up on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +frame of the lamp, and began to dance on its +one hind leg, waving the fan with its fore-paw. +It played many other tricks, until the +man started up, and then the badger turned +into a tea-kettle again.</p> + +<p>"I declare," said the tinker as he woke +up next morning, and talked the matter over +with his wife. "I'll just 'raise a mountain'" +(earn my fortune) on this kettle. It certainly +is a very highly accomplished tea-kettle +I'll call it the Bumbuku Chagama (The Tea-Kettle +accomplished in literature and military +art) and exhibit it to the public.</p> + +<p>So the tinker hired a professional show-man +for his business agent, and built a little +theatre and stage. Then he gave an order +to a friend of his, an artist, to paint scenery, +with Fuji yama and cranes flying in the air, +and a crimson sun shining through the +bamboo, and a red moon rising over the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +waves, and golden clouds and tortoises, and +the Sumiyoshi couple, and the grasshopper's +picnic, and the Procession of Lord Long-legs, +and such like. Then he stretched a tight +rope of rice-straw across the stage, and the +handbills being stuck up in all the barber +shops in town, and wooden tickets branded +with "Accomplished and Lucky Tea-Kettle +Performance, Admit one,"—the show +was opened. The house was full and the +people came in parties bringing their tea-pots +full of tea and picnic boxes full of rice +and eggs, and dumplings, made of millet +meal, sugared roast-pea cakes, and other +refreshments; because they came to stay all +day. Mothers brought their babies with +them for the children enjoyed it most of all.</p> + +<p>Then the tinker, dressed up in his wide +ceremonial clothes, with a big fan in his +hand, came out on the platform, made his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> +bow and set the wonderful tea-kettle on the +stage. Then at a wave of his fan, the kettle +ran around on four legs, half badger and +half iron, clanking its lid and wagging its tail. +Next it turned into a badger, swelled out its +body and beat a tune on it like a drum. It +danced a jig on the tight rope, and walked +the slack rope, holding a fan, or an umbrella +in his paw, stood on his head, and finally at +a flourish of his master's fan became a cold +and rusty tea-kettle again. The audience +were wild with delight, and as the fame of +the wonderful tea-kettle spread, many people +came from great distances.</p> +</div> + +<p>Year after year the tinker exhibited the +wonder until he grew immensely rich. Then +he retired from the show business, and out +of gratitude took the old kettle to the temple +again and deposited it there as a precious +relic. It was then named Bumbuku Dai +Mio Jin (The Great Illustrious, Accomplished +in Literature and the Military Art).</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="PEACH-PRINCE_AND_THE_TREASURE_ISLAND" id="PEACH-PRINCE_AND_THE_TREASURE_ISLAND"></a>PEACH-PRINCE, AND THE TREASURE ISLAND.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_v.jpg" width= "150" height= "281" alt="V" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 110px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 75px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">V</span>ERY LONG, LONG AGO, there +lived an old man and woman in +a village near a mountain, from +which flowed a stream of purest +water. This old couple loved +each other so dearly and lived together so +happily, that the neighbors called them +<i>oshi-dori fu-fu</i> (a love-bird couple), after +the mandarin ducks which always dwell +together in pairs, and are so affectionate +that they are said to pine and die if one be +taken from the other. The old man was a +woodcutter, and the old woman kept house,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> +but they were very lonely for they had no +child, and often grieved over their hard lot.</p> + +<p>One day while the man was out on the +mountain cutting brush, his old crone took +her shallow tub and clothes down to the +brook to wash. She had not yet begun, +when she saw a peach floating with its stem +and two leaves in the stream. She picked +up the fruit and set it aside to take home +and share it with her old man. When he +returned she set it before him, not dreaming +what was in it. He was just about to cut +it open, when the peach fell in half, and +there lay a little baby boy. The happy old +couple rejoiced over him and reared him +tenderly. Because he was their first child +(taro) and born of a peach (momo) they +called him Momotarō or Peach-Darling.</p> + +<p>The most wonderful thing in the child, +was his great strength! Even when still a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> +baby, he would astonish his foster-mother +by standing on the mats, and lifting her +wash tub, or kettle of hot tea, which he +would balance above his head without spilling +a drop. The little fellow grew to be +strong and brave and good. He was always +kind to his parents and saved them many +a step and much toil. He practiced +archery, wrestling, and handling the iron +club, until he was not afraid of anybody or +anything. He even laughed at the oni, who, +were demons living in the clouds or on lonely +islands in the sea. Momotarō was also +very kind to birds and animals, so that they +were very tame, and became his friends, +knew him and called him by name.</p> + +<p>Now there was an island far out in the +ocean, inhabited by onis with horns in their +heads, and big sharp tusks in their mouths, +who ravaged the shores of Japan and ate<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +up the people. In the centre of the island +was the giant Oni's castle, built inside a +great cave which was full of all kinds of +treasures such as every one wants. These +are:</p> + +<p>1. The hat which makes the one who +puts it on invisible. It looks just like a +straw hat, but has a tuft of fine grass on +the top, and a pink fringe like the lining of +shells, around the brim.</p> + +<p>2. A coat like a farmer's grass rain-cloak, +which makes the wearer invisible.</p> + +<p>3. The crystal jewels which flash fire, +and govern the ebb and flow of the tide.</p> + +<p>4. Shippō, or "the seven jewels," namely +gold and silver, branch of red coral, agate, +emerald, crystal and pearl. All together +called <i>takare mono</i>, or precious treasures.</p> + +<p>Momotaro made up his mind to conquer +these demons, and get their treasures. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> +prepared his weapons and asked the old +woman to make him some millet dumplings. +So the old lady ground the millet seeds into +meal, the old man kneaded the dough, and +both made the dumplings which the little +hero carefully stuck on skewers and stowed +away in a bamboo basket-box. This he +wrapped in a silk napkin, and flung it over +his shoulder. Seizing his iron club he stuck +his flag in his back as the sign of war. The +flag was of white silk, crossed by two black +bars at the top, and underneath these, was +embroidered the device of a peach with a +stem and two leaves floating on a running +stream. This was his crest or <i>sashimono</i> +(banneret). Then he bade the old folks +good-bye and walked off briskly. He took +his little dog with him, giving him a millet +dumpling now and then.</p> +</div> + +<p>As he passed along he met a monkey<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> +chattering and showing his teeth. The +monkey said,</p> + +<p>"Where are you going, Mr. Peach-Darling?"</p> + +<p>"I'm going to the <i>oni's</i> island to get his +treasures."</p> + +<p>"What have you got good in your package?"</p> + +<p>"Millet dumplings. Have one?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, give me one, and I'll go with you," +said the monkey.</p> + +<p>So the monkey ate the dumpling, and boy, +dog and monkey all trudged on together. A +little further on a pheasant met them and +said:</p> + +<p>"Ohio, Momotarō, doko?" (Good morning, +Mr. Peach-Prince, where are you going?). +Peach-Prince told him, and at the same time +offered him a dumpling. This made the +pheasant his friend.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span></p> +<p>Peach-Prince and his little army of three +retainers journeyed on until they reached +the sea-shore. There they found a big boat +into which Peach-Prince with the dog and +monkey embarked, while the pheasant flew +over to the island to find a safe place to +land, so as to take the onis by surprise.</p> + +<p>They quietly reached the door of the +cave, and then Momotarō beat in the gate +with his iron club. Rushing into the castle, +he put the small onis to flight, and dashing +forward, the little hero would nearly have +reached the room where the giant oni was +just waking up after a nights' drunkenness. +With a terrible roar he advanced to gobble +up Peach-Prince, when the dog ran behind +and bit the oni in the leg. The monkey +climbed up his back and blinded him with +his paws while the pheasant flew in his face. +Then Peach-Prince beat him with his iron<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +club, until he begged for his life and +promised to give up all his treasures.</p> + +<p>The onis brought all their precious things +out of the storehouse and laid them on +great tables or trays before the little hero +and his little army.</p> + +<p>Momotaro sat on a rock, with his little +army of three retainers around him, holding +his fan, with his hands akimbo on his knees, +just as mighty generals do after a battle, +when they receive the submission of their +enemies. On his right sat kneeling on the +ground his faithful monkey, while the +pheasant and dog sat on the left.</p> + +<p>After the onis had surrendered all, they +fell down on their hands and knees with +their faces in the dust, and acknowledged +Peach-Prince as their master, and swore +they would ever henceforth be his slaves. +Then Peach-Prince, with a wave of his fan<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> +bade them rise up and carry the treasures to +the largest ship they had, and to point the +prow to the land. This done, Momotaro and +his company got on board, and the onis +bowed farewell.</p> + +<p>A stiff breeze sprang up and sent the ship +plowing through the waters, and bent out +the great white sail like a bow. On the prow +was a long black tassel like the mane of a +horse, that at every lurch dipped in the +waves, and as it rose flung off the spray.</p> + +<p>The old couple becoming anxious after +their Peach-Darling, had traveled down to +the sea shore, and arrived just as the treasure +ship hove in sight. Oh how beautiful it +looked with its branches of red coral, and +shining heaps of gold and silver, and the invisible +coat and hat, the dazzling sheen of +the jewels of the ebbing and the flowing +tide, the glistening pearls, and piles of agate +and crystal. +<a name="PicPage70" id="PicPage70"></a></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/pg070.jpg" width="600" height="397" +alt="THE ONI SUBMITTING TO PEACH PRINCE." +title="THE ONI SUBMITTING TO PEACH PRINCE." /> +<p class="caption">THE ONI SUBMITTING TO PEACH PRINCE. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p> +<p>Momotaro came home laden with riches +enough to keep the old couple in comfort all +their lives, and he himself lived in great +state. He knighted the monkey, the dog +and the pheasant, and made them his body-guard. +Then he married a beautiful princess +and lived happily till he died.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="THE_FOX_AND_THE_BADGER" id="THE_FOX_AND_THE_BADGER"></a>THE FOX AND THE BADGER.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_t.jpg" width= "150" height= "281" alt="T" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 90px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 55px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">T</span>HERE is a certain mountainous +district in Shikoku in which a +skillful hunter had trapped or +shot so many foxes and badgers +that only a few were left. These +were an old grey badger and a female fox +with one cub. Though hard pressed by +hunger, neither dared to touch a loose piece +of food, lest a trap might be hidden under +it. Indeed they scarcely stirred out of their +holes except at night, lest the hunter's arrow +should strike them. At last the two animals +held a council together to decide what +to do, whether to emigrate or to attempt to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> +outwit their enemy. They thought a long +while, when finally the badger having hit +upon a good plan, cried out:</p> + +<p>"I have it. Do you transform yourself +into a man. I'll pretend to be dead. Then +you can bind me up and sell me in the town. +With the money paid you can buy some +food. Then I'll get loose and come back. +The next week I'll sell you and you can +escape."</p> + +<p>"Ha! ha! ha! <i>yoroshiu</i>, <i>yoroshiu</i>," (good, +good,) cried both together. "It's a capital +plan," said Mrs. Fox.</p> + +<p>So the Fox changed herself into a human +form, and the badger, pretending to be dead, +was tied up with straw ropes.</p> + +<p>Slinging him over her shoulder, the fox +went to town, sold the badger, and buying +a lot of <i>tofu</i> (bean-cheese) and one or two +chickens, made a feast. By this time the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +badger had got loose, for the man to whom +he was sold, thinking him dead, had not +watched him carefully. So scampering away +to the mountains he met the fox, who congratulated +him, while both feasted merrily.</p> + +<p>The next week the badger took human +form, and going to town sold the fox, who +made believe to be dead. But the badger +being an old skin-flint, and very greedy, +wanted all the money and food for himself. +So he whispered in the man's ear to watch +the fox well as she was only feigning to be +dead. So the man taking up a club gave +the fox a blow on the head, which finished +her. The badger, buying a good dinner, +ate it all himself, and licked his chops, +never even thinking of the fox's cub.</p> + +<p>The cub after waiting a long time for its +mother to come back, suspected foul play, +and resolved on revenge. So going to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +badger he challenged him to a trial of skill +in the art of transformation. The badger +accepted right off, for he despised the cub +and wished to be rid of him.</p> + +<p>"Well what do you want to do first? said +Sir Badger."</p> + +<p>"I propose that you go and stand on the +Big Bridge leading to the city," said the +cub, "and wait for my appearance. I shall +come in splendid garments, and with many +followers in my train. If you recognize +me, you win, and I lose. If you fail, I win."</p> + +<p>So the badger went and waited behind a +tree. Soon a daimio riding in a palanquin, +with a splendid retinue of courtiers appeared, +coming up the road. Thinking this was +the fox-cub changed into a nobleman, +although wondering at the skill of the young +fox, the badger went up to the palanquin and +told the person inside that he was recognized +and had lost the game.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p> +<p>"What!" said the daimio's followers, +who were real men, and surrounding the +badger, they beat him to death.</p> + +<p>The fox-cub, who was looking on from a +hill near by, laughed in derision, and glad +that treachery was punished, scampered +away.</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="THE_SEVEN_PATRONS_OF_HAPPINESS" id="THE_SEVEN_PATRONS_OF_HAPPINESS"></a>THE SEVEN PATRONS OF HAPPINESS.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_e.jpg" width= "150" height= "278" alt="E" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 90px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 55px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">E</span>VERY child knows who the <i>Shichi +fuku Fin</i> or seven Patrons +of Happiness are. They have +charge of Long Life, Riches, +Daily Food, Contentment, +Talents, Glory, and Love. Their images +carved in ivory, wood, stone, or cast in bronze +are found in every house or sold in the stores +or are painted on shop signs or found in +picture books. They are a jolly company +and make a happy family. On New Year's +eve a picture of the Treasure-ship (Takaré-buné) +laden with shippō (the seven jewels) +and all the good things of life which men<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> +most desire is hung up in houses. The ship +is coming into port and the passengers are +the seven happy fairies who will make gifts +to the people. These seven jewels are the +same as those which Momotaro brought +back from the oni's island.</p> + +<p>First there is Fukoruku Jin the patron of +Long Life or Length of Days. He has an +enormously high forehead rounded at the +top which makes his head look like a sugar-loaf. +It is bald and shiny. A few stray +white hairs sometimes sprout up, and the +barber to reach them has to prop a ladder +against his head to climb up and apply his +razor. This big head comes from thinking +so much. His eyebrows are cotton-white, +and a long snowy beard falls down over his +breast.</p> + +<p>Once in a while in a good humor he ties +a handkerchief over his high slippery crown<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +and allows little boys to climb up on top—that +is if they are good and can write well.</p> + +<p>When he wants to show how strong and +lively he is even though so old, he lets +Daikoku the fat fellow ride on top of his head, +while he smokes his pipe and wades across +a river. Daikoku has to hold on tightly or +he will slip down and get a ducking.</p> + +<p>Usually the old shiny head is a very +solemn gentleman, and walks slowly along +with his staff in one hand while with the +other he strokes his long eyebrows. The +tortoise and the crane are always with him, +for these are his pets. Sometimes a stag +with hair white with age, walks behind him. +Every body likes Fukoruku Jin because +every one wants to get his favor and live +long; until, like a lobster, their backs are +bent with age. At a wedding you will +always see a picture of white-bearded and +shiny-pated Fukoruku Jin.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p> +<p>Daikoku is a short chubby fellow with +eyes half sunk in fat but twinkling with fun. +He has a flat cap set on his head like the +kind which babies wear, a loose sack over +his shoulders, and big boots on his feet. +His throne is two straw bags of rice, and +his badge of office is a mallet or hammer, +which makes people rich when he shakes it. +The hammer is the symbol of labor, showing +that people may expect to get rich only +by hard work. One end of it is carved to +represent the jewel of the ebbing and the +flowing tides, because merchants get rich by +commerce on the sea and must watch the +tides. He is often seen holding the arithmetic +frame on which you can count, do sums, +subtract, multiply, or divide, by sliding balls +up and down a row of sticks set in a frame, +instead of writing figures. Beside him is a +ledger and day-book. His favorite animal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> +is the rat, which like some rich men's pets, +eats or runs away with his wealth.</p> + +<p>The great silver-white radish called +daikon, two feet long and as big as a man's +calf is always seen near him because it signifies +flourishing prosperity.</p> + +<p>He keeps his bag tightly shut, for money +easily runs away when the purse is once +opened. He never lets go his hammer, for +it is only by constant care that any one can +keep money after he gets it. Even when +he frolics with Fukuroku Jin, and rides on +his head, he keeps his hammer ready swinging +at his belt. He has huge lop ears.</p> + +<p>Once in a while, when he wishes to take +exercise, and Fukuroku Jin wants to show +how frisky he can be, even if he is old, they +have a wrestling match together. Daikoku +nearly always beats, because Fukuroku Jin<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +is so tall that he has to bend down to grip +Daikoku, who is fat and short, and thus he +becomes top-heavy. Then Daikoku gets +his rival's long head under his left arm, +seizes him over his back by the belt, and +throws him over his shoulder flat on the +ground. But if Fukuroku Jin can only get +hold of Daikoku's lop ears, both fall together. +Then they laugh heartily and try +it again.</p> + +<p>Ebisu is the patron of daily food, which is +rice and fish, and in old times was chiefly +fish. He is nearly as fat as Daikoku, but +wears a court noble's high cap. He is always +fishing or enjoying his game. When very +happy, he sits on a rock by the sea, with his +right leg bent under him, and a big red fish, +called the tai, under his left arm. He carries +a straw wallet on his back to hold his +fish and keep it fresh. Often he is seen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> +standing knee-deep in the water, pole in +hand, watching for a nibble. Some say that +Ebisu is the same scamp that goes by the +other name of Sosanoō.</p> +</div> + +<p>Hotei is the patron of contentment, and +of course is the father of happiness. He +does not wear much clothing, for the truth +is that all his property consists of an old, +ragged wrapper, a fan, and a wallet. He is +as round as a pudding, and as fat as if rolled +out of dough. His body is like a lump of +<i>mochi</i> pastry, and his limbs like <i>dango</i> dumplings. +He has lop ears that hang down over +his shoulders, a tremendous double chin, +and a round belly. Though he will not let +his beard grow long, the slovenly old fellow +never has it shaven when he ought to. He +is a jolly vagabond, and never fit for company; +but he is a great friend of the children, +who romp over his knees and shoulders,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +pull his ears and climb up over his +shaven head. He always keeps something +good for them in his wallet. Sometimes he +opens it wide, and then makes them guess +what is inside. They try to peep in but +are not tall enough to look over the edge. +He makes tops, paints pictures or kites for +the boys, and is the children's greatest +friend. When the seven patrons meet together, +Hotei is apt to drink more wine +than is good for him.</p> + +<p>Toshitoku is almost the only one of the +seven who never lays aside his dignity. He +has a very grave countenance. He is the +patron of talents. His pet animal is a spotted +fawn. He travels about a good deal to +find and reward good boys, who are diligent +in their studies, and men who are fitted to +rule. In one hand he carries a crooked +staff of bamboo, at the top of which is hung<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> +a book or roll of manuscript. His dress is +like that of a learned doctor, with square +cap, stole, and high-toed slippers.</p> + +<p>Bishamon is the patron of glory and fame. +He is a mighty soldier, with a golden helmet, +breastplate and complete armor. He is the +protector of priests and warriors. He +gives them skill in fencing, horsemanship +and archery. He holds a pagoda in one +hand and a dragon sword in the other. His +pet animal is the tiger.</p> + +<p>Six out of the jolly seven worthies are +men. Benten is the only lady. She is the +patron of the family and of the sea. She +plays the flute and the guitar for the others, +and amuses them at their feasts, sometimes +even dancing for them. Her real home is +in Riu Gu, and she is the Queen of the world +under the sea. She often dwells in the sea +or ocean caves. Her favorite animal is the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +snake, and her servants are the dragons.</p> + +<p>Once a year the jolly seven meet together +to talk over old times, relate their adventures, +and have a supper together. Then +they proceed to business, which is to arrange +all the marriages for the coming year. They +have a great many hanks of red and white +silk, which are the threads of fate of those +to be married: The white threads are the +men, the red are the women. At first they +select the threads very carefully, and tie a +great many pairs or couples neatly and +strongly together, so that the matches are +perfect. All such marriages of threads +make happy marriages among human beings. +But by-and-by they get tired, and lazy, and +instead of tying the knots carefully, they +hurry up the work and then jumble them +carelessly, and finally toss and tangle up all +the rest in a muss.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></p> +<p>This is the reason why so many marriages +are unhappy.</p> + +<p>Then they begin to frolic like big boys. +Benten plays the guitar, and Bishamon lies +down on the floor resting with his elbows to +hear it. Hotei drinks wine out of a shallow +red cup as wide as a dinner plate. Daikoku +and Fukuroku Jin begin to wrestle, and +when Daikoku gets his man down, he pounds +his big head with an empty gourd while +Toshitoku and Ebisu begin to eat tai fish. +When this fun is over, Benten and Fukuroku +Jin play a game of checkers, while the +others look on and bet; except Hotei the +fat fellow, who is asleep. Then they get +ashamed of themselves for gambling, and +after a few days the party breaks up and +each one goes to his regular business again.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="DAIKOKU_AND_THE_ONI" id="DAIKOKU_AND_THE_ONI"></a>DAIKOKU AND THE ONI.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_a.jpg" width= "150" height= "281" alt="A" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 120px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 75px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">A</span> LONG WHILE AGO, when the +idols of Buddha and his host of +disciples came to Japan, after +traveling through China from +India, they were very much +vexed because the people still liked the little +black fellow named Daikoku. Even when +they became Buddhists they still burned incense +to Daikoku, because he was the patron +of wealth; for everybody then, as now, +wanted to be rich. So the Buddhist idols +determined to get rid of the little fat fellow. +How to do it was the question. At last they +called Yemma, the judge of the lower regions, +and gave him the power to destroy Daikoku.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span></p> +<p>Now Yemma had under him a whole +legion of <i>oni</i>, some green, some black, others +blue as indigo, and others of a vermillion +color, which he usually sent on ordinary +errands.</p> + +<p>But for so important an expedition he +now called Shino a very cunning old fellow, +and ordered him to kill or remove Daikoku +out of the way.</p> + +<p>Shino made his bow to his master, +tightened his tiger-skin belt around his +loins and set off.</p> + +<p>It was not an easy thing to find Daikoku, +even though every one worshipped him. +So the oni had to travel a long way, and +ask a great many questions of people, and +often lose his way before he got any clue. +One day he met a sparrow who directed +him to Daikoku's palace, where among all +his money-bags and treasure piled to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +ceiling, the fat and lop-eared fellow was +accustomed to sit eating daikon radish, and +amuse himself with his favorite pets, the +rats. Around him was stored in straw bags +his rice which he considered more precious +than money.</p> + +<p>Entering the gate, the oni peeped about +cautiously but saw no one. He went +further on till he came to a large store +house standing alone and built in the shape +of a huge rice-measure. Not a door or window +could be seen, but climbing up a narrow +plank set against the top edge he peeped +over, and there sat Daikoku.</p> + +<p>The oni descended and got into the room. +Then he thought it would be an easy thing +to pounce upon Daikoku. He was already +chuckling to himself over the prospect of +such wealth being his own, when Daikoku +squeaked out to his chief rat.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p> +<p>"<i>Nedzumi san</i>, (Mr. Rat) I feel some +strange creature must be near. Go chase +him off the premises."</p> + +<p>Away scampered the rat to the garden +and plucked a sprig of holly with leaves full +of thorns like needles. With this in his +fore-paw, he ran at the oni, whacked him +soundly, and stuck him all over with the +sharp prickles.</p> + +<p>The oni yelling with pain ran away as +fast as he could run. He was so frightened +that he never stopped until he reached +Yemma's palace, when he fell down breathless. +He then told his master the tale of +his adventure, but begged that he might +never again be sent against Daikoku.</p> + +<p>So the Buddhist idols finding they could +not banish or kill Daikoku, agreed to recognize +him, and so they made peace with him +and to this day Buddhists and Shintōists +alike worship the fat little god of wealth.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span></p> +<p>When people heard how the chief oni had +been driven away by only a rat armed with +holly, they thought it a good thing to keep +off all oni. So ever afterward, even to this +day, after driving out all the bad creatures +with parched beans, they place sprigs of +holly at their door-posts on New Year's eve, +to keep away the oni and all evil spirits.</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="BENKEI_AND_THE_BELL" id="BENKEI_AND_THE_BELL"></a>BENKEI AND THE BELL.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_o.jpg" width= "150" height= "295" alt="O" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 90px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 55px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>N ONE of the hills overlooking the +blue sky's mirror of Lake Biwa, +stands the ancient monastery of +Miidera which was founded over +1,200 years ago, by the pious +mikado Tenchi.</p> + +<p>Near the entrance, on a platform constructed +of stoutest timbers, stands a bronze +bell five and a half feet high. It has on it +none of the superscriptions so commonly +found on Japanese bells, and though its +surface is covered with scratches it was once +as brilliant as a mirror. This old bell, +which is visited by thousands of people from +all parts of Japan who come to wonder at it, +is remarkable for many things.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p> +<p>Over two thousand years ago, say the +bonzes, it hung in the temple of Gihon Shoja +in India which Buddha built. After his +death it got into the possession of the Dragon +King of the World under the Sea. When +the hero Toda the Archer shot the enemy +of the queen of the Under-world, she presented +him with many treasures and among +them this great bell, which she caused to be +landed on the shores of the lake. Toda +however was not able to remove it, so he +presented it to the monks at Miidera. With +great labor it was brought to the hill-top +and hung in this belfry where it rung out +daily matins and orisons, filling the lake +and hill sides with sweet melody.</p> + +<p>Now it was one of the rules of the Buddhists +that no woman should be allowed to +ascend the hill or enter the monastery of +Miidera. The bonzes associated females<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +and wicked influences together. Hence the +prohibition.</p> + +<p>A noted beauty of Kioto hearing of the +polished face of the bell, resolved in spite +of the law against her sex to ascend the hill +to dress her hair and powder her face in the +mirror-like surface of the bell.</p> + +<p>So selecting an hour when she knew the +priests would be too busy at study of the +sacred rolls to notice her, she ascended the +hill and entered the belfry. Looking into +the smooth surface, she saw her own sparkling +eyes, her cheeks, flushed rosy with exercise, +her dimples playing, and then her +whole form reflected as in her own silver +mirror, before which she daily sat. +Charmed as much by the vastness as the +brilliancy of the reflection, she stretched +forth her hand, and touching her finger-tips +to the bell prayed aloud that she might<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> +possess just such a mirror of equal size and +brightness.</p> + +<p>But the bell was outraged at the impiety +of the woman's touch, and the cold metal +shrank back, leaving a hollow place, and +spoiling the even surface of the bell. From +that time forth the bell gradually lost its +polish, and became dull and finally dark like +other bells.</p> + +<p>When Benkei was a monk, he was possessed +of a mighty desire to steal this bell and hang +it up at Hiyeisan. So one night he went over +to Miidera hill and cautiously crept up to +the belfry and unhooked it from the great +iron link which held it. How to get it +down the mountain was now the question.</p> + +<p>Should he let it roll down, the monks at +Miidera would hear it bumping over the +stones. Nor could he carry it in his arms, +for it was too big around (16 feet) for him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +to grasp and hold. He could not put his +head in it like a candle in a snuffer, for then +he would not be able to see his way down.</p> + +<p>So climbing into the belfry he pulled out +the cross-beam with the iron link, and hanging +on the bell put the beam on his shoulder +to carry it in <i>tembimbo</i> style, that is, like a +pair of scales.</p> + +<p>The next difficulty was to balance it, for +he had nothing but his lantern to hang on +the other end of the beam to balance the bell. +It was a prodigiously hard task to carry his +burden the six or seven miles distance to +Hiyeisan. It was "trying to balance a +bronze bell with a paper lantern."</p> + +<p>The work made him puff and blow and +sweat until he was as hungry as a badger, +but he finally succeeded in hooking it up in +the belfry at Hiyeisan.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span></p> +<p>Then all the fellow priests of Benkei got +up, though at night, to welcome him. They +admired his bravery and strength and +wished to strike the bell at once to show +their joy.</p> + +<p>"No, I won't lift a hammer or sound a +note till you make me some soup. I am +terribly hungry," said Benkei, as he sat down +on a cross piece of the belfry and wiped his +forehead with his cowl.</p> + +<p>Then the priests got out the iron soup-pot, +five feet in diameter, and kindling a fire +made a huge mess of soup and served it to +Benkei. The lusty monk sipped bowl after +bowl of the steaming nourishment until the +pot was empty.</p> + +<p>"Now," said he, "you may sound the bell."</p> +</div> + +<p>Five or six of the young bonzes mounted +the platform and seized the rope that held +the heavy log suspended from the roof.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> +The manner of striking the bell was to pull +back the log several feet, then let go the +rope, holding the log after the rebound.</p> + +<p>At the first stroke the bell quivered and +rolled out a most mournful and solemn +sound which as it softened and died away +changed into the distinct murmur:</p> + +<p>"I want to go back to Miidera, I want to +go back to Miidera, I want to go-o back to-o +M-i-i-de-ra-ra-a-a-a."</p> + +<p>"Naru hodo" said the priests. "What a +strange bell. It wants to go back. It is not +satisfied with our ringing."</p> + +<p>"Ah! I know what is the matter" said +the aged abbot. "It must be sprinkled +with holy water of Hiyeisan. Then it will +be happy with us. Ho! page bring hither +the deep sea shell full of sacred water."</p> + +<p>So the pure white shell full of the consecrated +water was brought, together with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +the holy man's brush. Dipping it in the +water the abbot sprinkled the bell inside +and out.</p> + +<p>"I dedicate thee, oh bell, to Hiyeisan. +Now strike," said he, signalling to the bell-pullers.</p> + +<p>Again the young men mounted the platform, +drew back the log with a lusty pull +and let fly.</p> + +<p>"M-m-m-mi-mi-de-de-ra-ra ye-e-e-e-ko-o-o-o-o" +"(Miidera ye ko, I want to go back to +Miidera)" moaned out the homesick bell.</p> + +<p>This so enraged Benkei that he rushed to +the rope waved the monks aside and seizing +the rope strained every muscle to jerk the +beam its entire length afield, and then let +fly with force enough to crack the bell. For +a moment the dense volume of sound filled +the ears of all like a storm, but as the vibrations +died away, the bell whined out:</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span></p> +<p>"Miidera-mi-mi-de-de-ra-a-a ye-e-e-ko-o-o-o-o." +"I want to go back to Miidera," +sobbed the bell.</p> + +<p>Whether struck at morning, noon or night +the bell said the same words. No matter +when, by whom, how hard or how gently it +was struck, the bell moaned the one plaint +as if crying, "I want to go back to Miidera." +"I want to go back to Miidera."</p> + +<p>At last Benkei in a rage unhooked the +bell, shouldered it beam and all, and set off +to take it back. Carrying the bell to the +top of Hiyeisan, he set it down, and giving +it a kick rolled it down the valley toward +Miidera, and left it there. Then the Miidera +bonzes hung it up again. Since that time +the bell has completely changed its note, +until now it is just like other bells in sound +and behavior.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="LITTLE_SILVERS_DREAM_OF_THE_SHOJI" id="LITTLE_SILVERS_DREAM_OF_THE_SHOJI"></a>LITTLE SILVER'S DREAM OF THE SHOJI.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_k.jpg" width= "150" height= "281" alt="K" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 100px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 75px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">K</span>O GIN SAN (Miss Little Silver) +was a young maid who did not +care for strange stories of animals, +so much as for those of +wonder-creatures in the form of human +beings. Even of these, however, she did not +like to dream, and when the foolish old +nurse would tell her ghost stories at night, +she was terribly afraid they would appear +to her in her sleep.</p> + +<p>To avoid this, the old nurse told her to +draw pictures of a tapir, on the sheet of white +paper, which, wrapped round the tiny pillow, +makes the pillow-case of every young<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +lady, who rests her head on two inches of a +bolster in order to keep her well-dressed +hair from being mussed or rumpled.</p> + +<p>Old grannies and country folks believe +that if you have a picture of a tapir under +the bed or on the paper pillow-case, you +will not have unpleasant dreams, as the +tapir is said to eat them.</p> + +<p>So strongly do some people believe this that +they sleep under quilts figured with the device +of this long-snouted beast. If in spite +of this precaution one should have a bad +dream, he must cry out on awaking, "tapir, +come eat, tapir, come eat"; when the tapir +will swallow the dream, and no evil results +will happen to the dreamer.</p> + +<p>Little Silver listened with both eyes and +open mouth to this account of the tapir, and +then making the picture and wrapping it +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span> +around her pillow, she fell asleep. I suspect +that the kowameshi (red rice) of which +she had eaten so heartily at supper time, +until her waist strings tightened, had something +to do with her travels in dream-land.</p> + +<hr class="hr15" /> + +<p>She thought she had gone down to Ozaka, +and there got on a junk and sailed far away +to the southwest, through the Inland sea. +One night the water seemed full of white +ghosts of men and women. Some of them +were walking on, and in, the water. Some +were running about. Here and there groups +appeared to be talking together. Once in a +while the junk would run against one of +them; and when Little Silver looked to see +if he were hurt or knocked over, she could +see nothing until the junk passed by, when +the ghost would appear standing in the same +place, as though the ship had gone through +empty air.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span></p> +<p>Occasionally a ghost would come up to the +side of the ship, and in a squeaky voice ask for +a dipper. While she would be wondering what +a ghost wanted to do with a dipper, a sailor +would quietly open a locker, take out a dipper +having no bottom, and give one every time he +was asked for them. Little Silver noticed +a large bundle of these dippers ready. The +ghosts would then begin to bail up water +out of the sea to empty it in the boat. All +night they followed the junk, holding on +with one hand to the gunwale, while they +vainly dipped up water with the other, +trying to swamp the boat. If dippers with +bottoms in them had been given them, +the sailors said, the boat would have been +sunk. When daylight appeared the shadowy +host of people vanished.</p> + +<p>In the morning they passed an island, the +shores of which were high rocks of red coral. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span>A great earthen jar stood on the beach, and +around it lay long-handled ladles holding a +half-gallon or more, and piles of very large +shallow red lacquered wine cups, which +seemed as big as the full moon. After the +sun had been risen some time, there came +down from over the hills a troop of the most +curious looking people. Many were short, +little wizen-faced folks, that looked very +old; or rather, they seemed old before they +ought to be. Some were very aged and +crooked, with hickory-nut faces, and hair of +a reddish gray tint. All the others had +long scarlet locks hanging loose over their +heads, and streaming down their backs. +Their faces were flushed as if by hard drinking, +and their pimpled noses resembled huge +red barnacles. No sooner did they arrive at +the great earthen jar than they ranged +themselves round it. The old ones dipped<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> +out ladles full, and drank of the wine till +they reeled. The younger ones poured the +liquor into cups and drank. Even the little +infants guzzled quantities of the yellow saké +from the shallow cups of very thin red-lacquered +wood.</p> + +<p>Then began the dance, and wild and furious +it was. The leather-faced old sots +tossed their long reddish-grey locks in the +air, and pirouetted round the big saké jar. +The younger ones of all ages clapped their +hands, knotted their handkerchiefs over +their foreheads, waved their dippers or cups +or fans, and practiced all kinds of antics, +while their scarlet hair streamed in the wind +or was blown in their eyes.</p> +</div> + +<p>The dance over, they threw down their +cups and dippers, rested a few minutes and +then took another heavy drink all around.</p> + +<p>"Now to work" shouted an old fellow<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> +whose face was redder than his half-bleached +hair, and who having only two teeth like +tusks left looked just like an <i>oni</i> (imp.) As +for his wife, her teeth had long ago fallen +out and the skin of her face seemed to have +added a pucker for every year since a half +century had rolled over her head.</p> + +<p>Then Little Silver looked and saw them +scatter. Some gathered shells and burned +them to make lime. Others carried water +and made mortar, which they thickened by +a pulp made of paper, and a glue made by +boiling fish skin. Some dived under the +sea for red coral, which they hauled up by +means of straw ropes, in great sprigs as +thick as the branches of a tree. They +quickly ran up a scaffold, and while some of +the scarlet-headed plasterers smeared the +walls, others below passed up the tempered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> +mortar on long shell shovels, to the hand +mortar-boards. Even at work they had +casks and cups of saké at hand, while children +played in the empty kegs and licked +the gummy sugar left in some of them.</p> + +<p>"What is that house for?" asked Little +Silver of the sailors.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that is the Kura (storehouse) in +which the King of the Shōji stores the +treasures of life, and health, and happiness, +and property, which men throw away, or +exchange for the saké, which he gives them, +by making funnels of themselves."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Yes," said Little Silver to herself, +as she remembered how her father had said +of a certain neighbor who had lately been +drinking hard, "he swills saké like a Shōji."</p> + +<p>She also understood why picnic or "chow-chow" +boxes were often decorated with +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +pictures of Shōji, with their cups and dippers. +For, at these picnics, many men get +drunk; so much so indeed, that after a while +the master of the feast orders very poor and +cheap wine to be served to the guests. He +also replaces the delicate wine cups of egg-shell +porcelain, with big thick tea-cups or +wooden bowls, for the guests when drunk, +do not know the difference.</p> + +<p>She also now understood why it was commonly +said of a Mr. Matsu, who had once +been very rich but was now a poor sot, "His +property has all gone to the Shōji."</p> + +<p>Just then the ship in which she was sailing +struck a rock, and the sudden jerk woke +up Little Silver, who cried out, "Tapir, +come eat; tapir, come eat."</p> + +<p>No tapir came, but if he had I fear Little +Silver would have been more frightened than +she was by her dream of the ghosts; for +next morning she laughed to think how<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> +they had all their work a-dipping water +for nothing, and at her old nurse for thinking +a picture of a tapir could keep off +dreams.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="THE_TENGUS_OR_THE_ELVES_WITH_LONG_NOSES" id="THE_TENGUS_OR_THE_ELVES_WITH_LONG_NOSES"></a>THE TENGUS, OR THE ELVES WITH LONG NOSES.</h2> + +<p class="center">(After Hokusai.)</p> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_c.jpg" width= "150" height= "281" alt="C" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 110px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 90px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">C</span>URIOUS CREATURES are the +tengus, with the head of a +hawk and the body of a man. +They have very hairy hands or +paws with two fingers, and feet +with two toes. They are hatched out of +eggs, and have wings and feathers, until +full grown. Then their wings moult, and +the stumps are concealed behind their dress, +which is like that of a man. They walk, +when grown up, on clogs a foot high, which +are like stilts, as they have but one support +instead of two, like the sort which men<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> +wear. The tengus strut about easily on +these, without stumbling.</p> + +<p>The Dai Tengu, or master, is a solemn-faced, +scowling individual with a very proud +expression, and a nose about eight finger-breadths +long. When he goes abroad, his +retainers march before him, for fear he might +break his nose against something. He wears +a long grey beard down to his girdle, and +moustaches to his chin. In his left hand he +carries a large fan made of seven wide +feathers. This is the sign of his rank. He +has a mouth, but he rarely opens it. He is +very wise, and rules over all the tengus in +Japan.</p> + +<p>The Karasu or crow-tengu is a black fellow, +with a long beak, in the place where +his nose and mouth ought to be. He looks +as if some one had squeezed out the lower<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> +part of his face, and pulled his nose down +so as to make a beak like a crow's. He is +the Dai Tengu's lictor. He carries the axe +of authority over his left shoulder, to chop +bad people's heads off. In his right fist +is his master's book of wisdom, and roll of +authority. Even these two highest in authority +in Tengu-land are servants of the +great lord Kampira, the long-haired patron +of sailors and mountaineers.</p> + +<p>The greatest of the Dai Tengu lived in +Kurama mountain and taught Yoshitsuné. +This lad, while a pupil in the monastery, +would slip out in the evening, when the +priests thought him asleep, and come to the +King of the Tengus, who instructed him in +the military arts, in cunning, magic, and +wisdom. Every night the boy would +spread the roll of wisdom before him, and +sit at the feet of the hoary-headed tengu,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +and learn the strange letters in which tengu +wisdom is written, while the long-nosed +servant tengus, propped up on their stilt-clogs, +looked on. The boy was not afraid, +but quickly learned the knowledge which +birds, beasts and fishes have, how to understand +their language and to fly, swim and +leap like them.</p> + +<p>When a tengu stumbles and falls down on +his nose, it takes a long while to heal, and if +he breaks it, the doctor puts it in splints +like a broken arm, until it straightens out +and heals up again.</p> + +<p>Some of the amusements in Tengu-land +are very curious. A pair of young tengus +will fence with their noses as if they were +foils. Their faces are well protected by +masks, for if one tengu should "poke his +nose" into the other's eye he might put it +out, and a blind tengu could not walk about,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +because he would be knocking his nose +against everything.</p> + +<p>Two old tengus with noses nearly two +feet long, sometimes try the strength of +their face-handles. One fellow has his beak +straight up in the air like a supporting post, +while the other sits a yard off with his elastic +nose stretched across like a tight-rope, +and tied with twine at the top of the other +one's nose. On this tight nose-rope a little +tengu boy, with a tiny pug only two inches +long, dances a jig. He holds an umbrella +in his hand, now dancing, and now standing +upon one foot. The tengu-daddy, whose +nose serves as a tent-pole, waves his fan +and sings a song, keeping time to the dance.</p> + +<p>There is another tengu who sometimes +quarrels with his wife, and when angry +boxes her ears with his nose.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> +A lady-tengu who is inclined to be literary +and sentimental, writes poetry. When +the mood seizes her she ties the pen to her +nose, dips it in ink and writes a poem on +the wall.</p> + +<p>A tengu-painter makes a long-handled +brush to whitewash the ceiling, by strapping +it to his nose.</p> + +<p>Sometimes the little tengus get fighting, +and then the feathers fly as they tear each +other with their little claws which have +talons on them shaped like a chicken's, but +which when fully grown look like hands.</p> + +<p>All the big tengus are fond of trying the +strength of their noses, and how far they +can bend them up and down without breaking. +They have two favorite games of +which they sometimes give exhibitions. +The player has long strings of iron cash +(that is, one hundred of the little iron coins, +with a square hole in the centre). Several<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> +of these he slides on a rope like buttons on +a string, or counters on a wire. Then he +lifts them off with the tip of his nose. Sometimes +his nose bends so much under the +weight that the coins slip off. Whichever +tengu can pick off the greater number of +strings without letting any slip, wins the +game, and is called O-hana (The King of +Noses).</p> +</div> + +<p>Another balances hoops and poles on his +nose and throws balls through the hoops; +or he poises a saucer of water on the tip of +his nose without spilling a drop. Another +fellow hangs a bell from the ceiling. Then, +with a handkerchief tied loosely round his +head, he pulls his nose back like a snapping-turtle's +beak, and then suddenly lets +go. His nose then strikes the bell and rings +it. It hurts very much, but he does not +mind it.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span></p> +<p>The tengus have one great fault. They +love liquor too much. They often get +drunk. They buy great casks of rice-wine, +sling them round their necks, and drink out +of long cups shaped like their faces, using +the nose for a handle. A drunken tengu +makes a funny sight, as he staggers about +with his big wings drooping and flapping +around him, and the feathers trailing in the +mud, and his long nose limp, pendulous and +groggy.</p> + +<p>When the master of the tengus wishes to +"see the flowers," which means to go on a +picnic, he punishes his drunken servant by +swinging the box of eatables over the fellow's +red nose. Putting the end over his +shoulders, he compels the sot to come along. +It sobers the fellow, for the weight on his +nose and the pulling on it hurts dreadfully, +and often makes him squeal.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span></p> +<p>Oyama, a mountain near Tokio, is said to +be full of these long-nosed elves, but many +other mountains are inhabited by them, for +they like lonely places away from men.</p> + +<p>Dancers often put on masks like the tengu's +face and dance a curious dance which +they call the Tengu's quadrille.</p> + +<p>The tengus are very proud fellows, and +think themselves above human beings. +They are afraid of brave men, however, and +never dare to hurt them. They scare children, +especially bad boys. They watch a +boy telling lies and catch him. Then the +tengus pull out his tongue by the roots, and +run away with it.</p> + +<p>When a tengu walks, he folds his arms, +throws back his head till his nose is far up +in the air, and struts around as if he were a +daimio. When a man becomes vain and +carries his nose too high, the people say "He +has become a tengu."</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="KINTARO_OR_THE_WILD_BABY" id="KINTARO_OR_THE_WILD_BABY"></a>KINTARO, OR THE WILD BABY.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_l.jpg" width= "150" height= "281" alt="L" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 80px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 55px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">L</span>ONG, LONG AGO, when the tallest +fir trees on the Hakoné +mountains were no higher than +a rice-stalk, there lived in that +part of the range called Ashigara, +a little ruddy boy, whom his mother +had named Kintarō, or Golden Darling. He +was not like other boys, for having no children +to play with, he made companions of +the wild animals of the forest.</p> + +<p>He romped with the little bears, and often +when the old she bear would come for her +cubs to give them their supper and put them +to bed, Kintarō would jump on her back +and have a ride to her cave. He also put<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> +his arms around the neck of the deer, which +were not afraid of him. He was prince of +the forest, and the rabbits, wild boars, squirrels +and martens, pheasants and hawks were +his servants and messengers.</p> + +<p>Although not much more than a fat baby, +Kintarō wielded a big axe, and could chop +a snake to pieces before he had time to +wriggle.</p> + +<p>Kintarō's father had been a brave soldier +in Kiōto, who through the malice of enemies +at court, had fallen into disgrace. He +had loved a beautiful lady whom he married. +When her husband died she fled eastward +to the Ashigara mountains, and there in +the lonely forests in which no human being +except poor woodcutters ever came, her +boy was born.</p> + +<p>She lived in a cave, nourishing herself on +roots and herbs. The woodcutters soon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> +learned about the strange pair living wild +but peacefully in the woods, though they +did not dream of her noble rank. The +boy was known among them as "Little +Wonder," and the woman as "The old nurse +of the mountain."</p> + +<p>Thus, all alone, the little fellow grew up, +exercising himself daily, so that even though +a child he could easily wrestle with a bear. +Among his retainers were the tengus, though +they were often rebellious and disobedient, +not liking to be governed by a boy.</p> + +<p>One day, an old mother-tengu, who had +always laughed at the idea of obeying a little +dumpling of a fellow like Kintarō, flew +up to her nest in a high fir tree. Kintarō +watched to see where it was, and waited till +she left it to go and seek for food. Then +going up to the tree, he shook it with all his +might, until the nest came tumbling down,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> +and the two young squabs of tengus with it.</p> + +<p>Now it happened that just at that time +the great hero and imp-killer, Raikō, +was marching through the mountains on +his way to Kiōto. Seeing that the ruddy +little fellow was no ordinary child, he found +out the mother and heard her story. He +then asked for the child and adopted him as +his own.</p> + +<p>So Kintarō went off with Raikō and grew +up to be a brave soldier, and taking his +father's name, he was known as Sakata +Kintoki. His mother, however, remained +in the mountains, and living to an extreme +old age, was always known as "The old nurse +of the mountains."</p> + +<hr class="hr15" /> + +<p>To this day, Kintaro is the hero of +Japanese boys, and on their huge kites will +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> +usually be seen a picture of the little black-eyed +ruddy boy of the mountains, with his +axe, while around him are his wild playmates, +and the young tengus rubbing their +long noses, which were so nearly broken by +their fall.</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="JIRAIYA_OR_THE_MAGIC_FROG" id="JIRAIYA_OR_THE_MAGIC_FROG"></a>JIRAIYA, OR THE MAGIC FROG.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_o.jpg" width= "150" height= "295" alt="O" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 90px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 55px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>GATA was the name of a castle-lord +who lived in the Island of +the Nine Provinces, (Kiushiu). +He had but one son, an infant, +whom the people in admiration +nicknamed Jiraiya (Young Thunder.) During +one of the civil wars, this castle was +taken, and Ogata was slain; but by the aid +of a faithful retainer, who hid Jiraiya in his +bosom, the boy escaped and fled northward +to Echigo. There he lived until he grew up +to manhood.</p> + +<p>At that time Echigo was infested with +robbers. One day the faithful retainer of +Jiraiya being attacked, made resistance, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> +was slain by the robbers. Jiraiya now left +alone in the world went out from Echigo +and led a wandering life in several provinces.</p> + +<p>All this time he was consumed with the +desire to revive the name of his father, and +restore the fortunes of his family. Being +exceedingly brave, and an expert swordsman, +he became chief of a band of robbers +and plundered many wealthy merchants, +and in a short time he was rich in men, +arms and booty. He was accustomed to +disguise himself, and go in person into the +houses and presence of men of wealth, and +thus learn all about their gates and guards, +where they slept, and in what rooms their +treasures were stored, so that success was +easy.</p> + +<p>Hearing of an old man who lived in +Shinano, he started to rob him, and for this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> +purpose put on the disguise of a pilgrim. +Shinano is a very high table-land, full of +mountains, and the snow lies deep in winter. +A great snow storm coming on, Jiraiya +took refuge in a humble house by the way. +Entering, he found a very beautiful woman, +who treated him with great kindness. This, +however, did not change the robber's nature. +At midnight, when all was still, he unsheathed +his sword, and going noiselessly to her +room, he found the lady absorbed in reading.</p> + +<p>Lifting his sword, he was about to strike +at her neck, when, in a flash, her body +changed into that of a very old man, who +seized the heavy steel blade and broke it in +pieces as though it were a stick. Then he +tossed the bits of steel away, and thus spoke +to Jiraiya, who stood amazed but fearless:</p> + +<p>"I am a man named Senso Dojin, and I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> +have lived in these mountains many hundred +years, though my true body is that of +a huge frog. I can easily put you to death +but I have another purpose. So I shall +pardon you and teach you magic instead."</p> + +<p>Then the youth bowed his head to the +floor, poured out his thanks to the old man +and begged to be received as his pupil.</p> + +<p>Remaining with the old man of the mountain +for several weeks, Jiraiya learned all +the arts of the mountain spirits; how to +cause a storm of wind and rain, to make a +deluge, and to control the elements at will.</p> + +<p>He also learned how to govern the frogs, +and at his bidding they assumed gigantic +size, so that on their backs he could stand +up and cross rivers and carry enormous +loads.</p> + +<p>When the old man had finished instructing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> +him he said "Henceforth cease from +robbing, or in any way injuring the poor. +Take from the wicked rich, and those who +acquire money dishonestly, but help the +needy and the suffering." Thus speaking, +the old man turned into a huge frog and +hopped away.</p> + +<p>What this old mountain spirit bade him +do, was just what Jiraiya wished to accomplish. +He set out on his journey with a +light heart. "I can now make the storm and +the waters obey me, and all the frogs are at +my command; but alas! the magic of the +frog cannot control that of the serpent. I +shall beware of his poison."</p> + +<p>From that time forth the oppressed poor +people rejoiced many a time as the avaricious +merchants and extortionate money +lenders lost their treasures. For when +a poor farmer, whose crops failed, could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> +not pay his rent or loan on the date +promised, these hard-hearted money lenders +would turn him out of his house, seize his +beds and mats and rice-tub, and even the +shrine and images on the god-shelf, to sell +them at auction for a trifle, to their minions, +who resold them at a high price for the +money-lender, who thus got a double benefit. +Whenever a miser was robbed, the people +said, "The young thunder has struck," and +then they were glad, knowing that it was +Jiraiya, (Young Thunder.) In this manner +his name soon grew to be the poor people's +watchword in those troublous times.</p> + +<p>Yet Jiraiya was always ready to help the +innocent and honest, even if they were rich. +One day a merchant named Fukutaro was +sentenced to death, though he was really +not guilty. Jiraiya hearing of it, went to +the magistrate and said that he himself was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> +the very man who committed the robbery. +So the man's life was saved, and Jiraiya was +hanged on a large oak tree. But during +the night, his dead body changed into a bull-frog +which hopped away out of sight, and +off into the mountains of Shinano.</p> +</div> + +<p>At this time, there was living in this +province, a young and beautiful maiden +named Tsunadé. Her character was very +lovely. She was always obedient to her +parents and kind to her friends. Her daily +task was to go to the mountains and cut +brushwood for fuel. One day while thus +busy singing at the task, she met a very old +man, with a long white beard sweeping his +breast, who said to her:</p> + +<p>"Do not fear me. I have lived in this +mountain many hundred years, but my real +body is that of a snail. I will teach you +the powers of magic, so that you can walk<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> +on the sea, or cross a river however swift +and deep, as though it were dry land."</p> + +<p>Gladly the maiden took daily lessons of +the old man, and soon was able to walk on +the waters as on the mountain paths. One +day the old man said, "I shall now leave +you and resume my former shape. Use your +power to destroy wicked robbers. Help +those who defend the poor. I advise you +to marry the celebrated man Jiraiya, and +thus you will unite your powers."</p> + +<p>Thus saying, the old man shrivelled up +into a snail and crawled away.</p> + +<p>"I am glad," said the maiden to herself, +"for the magic of the snail can overcome +that of the serpent. When Jiraiya, who has +the magic of the frog, shall marry me, we +can then destroy the son of the serpent, the +robber named Dragon-coil (Orochimaru)."</p> + +<p>By good fortune, Jiraiya met the maiden<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> +Tsunadé, and being charmed with her +beauty, and knowing her power of magic, +sent a messenger with presents to her parents, +asking them to give him their daughter +to wife. The parents agreed, and so +the young and loving couple were married.</p> + +<p>Hitherto when Jiraiya wished to cross a +river he changed himself into a frog and +swam across; or, he summoned a bull-frog +before him, which increased in size until as +large as an elephant. Then standing erect +on his warty back, even though the wind +blew his garments wildly, Jiraiya reached +the opposite shore in safety. But now, with +his wife's powers, the two, without any +delay, walked over as though the surface +was a hard floor.</p> + +<p>Soon after their marriage, war broke out +in Japan between the two famous clans of +Tsukikagé and Inukagé. To help them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> +fight their battles, and capture the castles of +their enemies, the Tsukikagé family besought +the aid of Jiraiya, who agreed to serve them +and carried their banner in his back. Their +enemies, the Inukagé, then secured the +services of Dragon-coil.</p> + +<p>This Orochimaru, or Dragon-coil, was a +very wicked robber whose father was a man, +and whose mother was a serpent that lived +in the bottom of Lake Takura. He was +perfectly skilled in the magic of the serpent, +and by spurting venom on his enemies, +could destroy the strongest warriors.</p> + +<p>Collecting thousands of followers, he made +great ravages in all parts of Japan, robbing +and murdering good and bad, rich and poor +alike. Loving war and destruction he joined +his forces with the Inukagé family.</p> + +<p>Now that the magic of the frog and snail +was joined to the one army, and the magic<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> +of the serpent aided the other, the conflicts +were bloody and terrible, and many men +were slain on both sides.</p> + +<p>On one occasion, after a hard fought battle, +Jiraiya fled and took refuge in a monastery, +with a few trusty vassals, to rest a short +time. In this retreat a lovely princess +named Tagoto was dwelling. She had fled +from Orochimaru, who wished her for his +bride. She hated to marry the offspring of +a serpent, and hoped to escape him. She +lived in fear of him continually. Orochimaru +hearing at one time that both Jiraiya +and the princess were at this place, changed +himself into a serpent, and distilling a large +mouthful of poisonous venom, crawled up to +the ceiling in the room where Jiraiya and +his wife were sleeping, and reaching a spot +directly over them, poured the poisonous +venom on the heads of his rivals. The fumes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> +of the prison so stupefied Jiraiya's followers, +and even the monks, that Orochimaru, instantly +changing himself to a man, profited +by the opportunity to seize the princess +Tagoto, and make off with her.</p> + +<p>Gradually the faithful retainers awoke +from their stupor to find their master and +his beloved wife delirious, and near the +point of death, and the princess gone.</p> + +<p>"What can we do to restore our dear +master to life?" This was the question each +one asked of the others, as with sorrowful +faces and weeping eyes they gazed at the +pallid forms of their unconscious master and +his consort. They called in the venerable +abbot of the monastery to see if he could +suggest what could be done.</p> + +<p>"Alas!" said the aged priest, "there is no +medicine in Japan to cure your lord's disease, +but in India there is an elixir which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> +is a sure antidote. If we could get that, the +master would recover."</p> + +<p>"Alas! alas!" and a chorus of groans +showed that all hope had fled, for the mountain +in India, where the elixir was made, +lay five thousand miles from Japan.</p> + +<p>Just then a youth named Rikimatsu, one +of the pages of Jiraiya, arose to speak. He +was but fourteen years old, and served +Jiraiya out of gratitude, for he had rescued +his father from many dangers and saved his +life. He begged permission to say a word +to the abbot, who, seeing the lad's eager +face, motioned to him with his fan to speak.</p> + +<p>"How long can our lord live," asked the +youth.</p> + +<p>"He will be dead in thirty hours," answered +the abbot, with a sigh.</p> + +<p>"I'll go and procure the medicine, and if<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> +our master is still living when I come back, +he will get well."</p> + +<p>Now Rikimatsu had learned magic and +sorcery from the Tengus, or long-nosed +elves of the mountains, and could fly high +in the air with incredible swiftness. Speaking +a few words of incantation, he put on +the wings of a Tengu, mounted a white +cloud and rode on the east wind to India, +bought the elixir of the mountain spirits, +and returned to Japan in one day and a +night.</p> + +<p>On the first touch of the elixir on the +sick man's face he drew a deep breath, +perspiration glistened on his forehead, and +in a few moments more he sat up.</p> + +<p>Jiraiya and his wife both got well, and +the war broke out again. In a great battle +Dragon-coil was killed and the princess +rescued. For his prowess and aid Jiraiya +was made daimio of Idzu.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span></p> +<p>Being now weary of war and the hardships +of active life, Jiraiya was glad to settle +down to tranquil life in the castle and rear +his family in peace. He spent the remainder +of his days in reading the books of the +sages, in composing verses, in admiring the +flowers, the moon and the landscape, and +occasionally going out hawking or fishing. +There, amid his children and children's +children, he finished his days in peace.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="HOW_THE_JELLY-FISH_LOST_ITS_SHELL" id="HOW_THE_JELLY-FISH_LOST_ITS_SHELL"></a>HOW THE JELLY-FISH LOST ITS SHELL.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_p.jpg" width= "150" height= "281" alt="P" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 90px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 55px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">P</span>ARTS of the seas of the Japanese +Archipelago are speckled with +thousands of round white jelly-fish, +that swim a few feet below +the surface. One can see the +great steamer go ploughing through them as +through a field of frosted cakes. The huge +paddle-wheels make a perfect pudding of +thousands of them, as they are dashed +against the paddle-box and whipped into a +froth like white of eggs or churned into a +thick cream by the propeller blades. Sometimes +the shoals are of great breadth, and +then it veritably looks as though a crockery<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> +shop had been upset in the ocean, and ten +thousand white dinner-plates had broken +loose. Around the bays and harbors the +Japanese boys at play drive them with paddles +into shoals, and sometimes they poke +sticks through them. This they can do +easily, because the jelly-fish has no jacket +of shell or bone like the lobster, nor any +skin like a fish, and so always has to swim +naked, exposed to all kinds of danger. Sometimes +great jelly-fishes, two or three feet in +diameter, sail gaily along near the shore, as +proud as the long-handled-umbrella of a +daimiō, and as brilliantly colored as a Japanese +parasol. Floating all around their +bodies, like the streamers of a temple festival, +or a court lady's ribbons, are their long +tentacles or feelers. No peacock stretching +his bannered tail could make a finer sight, +or look prouder than these floating sun-fishes, +or bladders of living jelly.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span></p> +<p>But alas for all things made of water! +Let but a wave of unusual force, or a sudden +gust of wind come, and this lump of pride +lies collapsed and stranded on the shore, +like a pancake upset into a turnover, in +which batter and crust are hopelessly mixed +together. When found fresh, men often +come down to the shore and cutting huge +slices of blubber, as transparent as ice, they +eat the solid water with their rice, in lieu of +drink.</p> + +<p>A jelly-fish as big as an umbrella, and +weighing as much as a big boy, will, after +lying a few hours in the sun leave scarcely +a trace on the spot for their bodies are little +more than animated masses of water. +At night, however where a jelly-fish has +stranded, the ground seems to crawl and +emit a dull fire of phosphorescence which +the Japanese call "dragon's light."</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span></p> +<p>But the jelly-fish once had a shell, and +was not so defenceless, say the fairy tales. +How it lost it is thus told.</p> + +<hr class="hr15" /> + +<p>In the days of old, the jelly-fish was one +of the retainers in waiting upon the Queen +of the World under the Sea, at her palace +in Riu Gu. In those days he had a shell, +and as his head was hard, no one dared to +insult him, or stick him with their horns, +or pinch him with their claws, or scratch +him with their nails, or brush rudely by +him with their fins. In short, this fish instead +of being a lump of jelly, as white and +helpless as a pudding, as we see him now, +was a lordly fellow that could get his back +up and keep it high when he wished to. He +waited on the queen and right proud was he +of his office. He was on good terms with +the King's dragon, which often allowed him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> +to play with his scaly tail but never hurt +him in the least.</p> + +<p>One day the Queen fell sick, and every +hour grew worse. The King became anxious, +and her subjects talked about nothing +else but her sickness. There was grief all +through the water-world; from the mermaids +on their beds of sponge, and the +dragons in the rocky caverns, down to the +tiny gudgeons in the rivers, that were considered +no more than mere bait. The jolly +cuttle-fish stopped playing his drums and +guitar, folded his six arms and hid away +moping in his hole. His servant the lobster +in vain lighted his candle at night, and tried +to induce him to come out of his lair. The +dolphins and porpoises wept tears, but the +clams, oysters and limpets shut up their +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> +shells and did not even wiggle. The flounders +and skates lay flat on the ocean's floor, +never even lifting up their noses. The +squid wept a great deal of ink, and the jelly-fish +nearly melted to pure water. The tortoise +was patient and offered to do anything +for the relief of the Queen.</p> + +<p>But nothing could be done. The cuttle-fish +who professed to be "a kind of a" doctor, +offered the use of all his cups to suck out +the poison, if that were the trouble.</p> + +<p>But it wasn't. It was internal, and nothing +but medicine that could be swallowed +would reach the disease.</p> + +<p>At last some one suggested that the liver +of a monkey would be a specific for the +royal sickness, and it was resolved to try it. +The tortoise, who was the Queen's messenger, +because he could live on both land and water, +swim or crawl, was summoned. He was +told to go upon earth to a certain mountain,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> +catch a monkey and bring him alive to the +Under-world.</p> + +<p>Off started the tortoise on his journey to +the earth, and going to a mountain where +the monkeys lived, squatted down at the +foot of a tree and pretended to be asleep +though keeping his claws and tail out. +There he waited patiently, well knowing +that curiosity and the monkey's love of +tricks would bring one within reach of his +talons. Pretty soon, a family of chattering +monkeys came running along among the +branches overhead, when suddenly a young +<i>saru</i> (monkey) caught sight of the sleeping +tortoise.</p> + +<p>"<i>Naru hodo</i>" (Is it possible?) said the +long-handed fellow, "here's fun; let's tickle +the old fellow's back and pull his tail."</p> + +<p>All agreed, and forthwith a dozen monkeys, +joining hand over hand, made a long<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> +ladder of themselves until they just reached +the tortoise's back. (They didn't use their +tails, for Japanese monkeys have none, except +stumps two inches long). However, he +who was to be the tail end of this living +rope, when all was ready, crawled along and +slipped over the whole line, whispering as +he slid:</p> + +<p>"'Sh! don't chatter or laugh, you'll wake +the old fellow up."</p> +</div> + +<p>Now the monkey expected to hold on the +living pendulum by one long hand, and +swinging down with the other, to pull the +tortoise's tail, and see how near he could +come to his snout without being snapped +up. For a monkey well knew that a tortoise +could neither jump off its legs nor +climb a tree.</p> + +<p>Once! Twice! The monkey pendulum +swung back and forth without touching.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span></p> +<p>Three! Four! The monkey's finger-nails +scratched the tortoise's back. Yet old +Hard Shell pretended to be sound asleep.</p> + +<p>Five! Six! The monkey caught hold +of the tortoise's tail and jerked it hard. Old +Tortoise now moved out its head a little, as +if still only half awake.</p> + +<p>Seven! Eight! This time the monkey +intended to pull the tortoise's head, when +just as he came within reach, the tortoise +snapped him, held him in his claws, and as +the monkey pendulum swung back he lost +his hold. In an instant he was jerked loose, +and fell head-foremost to the ground, half +stunned.</p> + +<p>Frightened at the loss of their end link, +the other monkeys of the chain wound themselves +up like a windlass over the branches, +and squatting on the trees, set up a doleful +chattering.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span></p> +<p>"Now," says the tortoise, "I want you +to go with me. If you don't, I'll eat you up. +Get on my back and I'll carry you; but I +must hold your paw in my mouth so you +won't run away."</p> + +<p>Half frightened to death, the monkey +obeyed, and the tortoise trotted off to the +sea, swam to the spot over the Queen's +palace, and in a fillip of the finger was down +in the gardens of Riu Gu.</p> + +<p>Here, let me say, that according to +another version of this story the monkeys +assembled in force when they suspected +what the tortoise had come after, and catching +him napping turned him over on his +back so that he could not move or bite. +Then they took his under shell off, so that +he had to travel back to Riu Gu and get +another one. This last version however is +uncertain and it looks like a piece of invention<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> +to suppose that the monkeys had a +sufficient medical knowledge to make them +suspicious of the design of the tortoise on +the monkey's liver. I prefer the regular +account. +<a name="PicPage150" id="PicPage150"></a></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 550px;"> +<img src="images/pg150.jpg" width="550" height="655" +alt="THE MONKEYS IN GRIEF." +title="THE MONKEYS IN GRIEF." /> +<p class="caption">THE MONKEYS IN GRIEF. +</p> +</div> + +<p>The Queen hearing of the monkey's arrival +thanked the tortoise, and commanded +her cook and baker to feed him well and +treat him kindly, for the queen felt really +sorry because he was to lose his liver.</p> + +<p>As for the monkey he enjoyed himself +very much, and ran around everywhere +amusing the star-fishes, clams, oysters and +other pulpy creatures that could not run, +by his rapid climbing of the rocks and coral +bushes, and by rolling over the sponge beds +and cutting all manner of antics.</p> + +<p>They had never before seen anything like +it. Poor fellow! he didn't suspect what +was to come.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span></p> +<p>All this time however the jelly-fish pitied +him in his heart, and could hardly keep +what he knew to himself. Seeing that the +monkey, lonely and homesick was standing +by the shore of a pond, the jelly-fish squeezed +himself up near him and said:</p> + +<p>"Excuse my addressing you, I feel very +sorry for you because you are to be put to +death."</p> + +<p>"Why?" said the monkey, "What have +I done?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, nothing," said the jelly-fish, "only +our queen is sick and she wants your liver +for medicine."</p> + +<p>Then if ever any one saw a sick looking +monkey it was this one. As the Japanese +say "his liver was smashed." He felt dreadfully +afraid. He put his hands over his +eyes, and immediately began to plan how to +save both his liver and his life.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span></p> +<p>After a while the rain began to fall +heavily, and the monkey ran in out of +the garden, and standing in the hall of the +Queen's palace began to weep bitterly. Just +then the tortoise, passing by, saw his captive.</p> + +<p>"What are you crying about?"</p> + +<p>"Aita! aita!" cried the monkey, "When +I left my home on the earth, I forgot to +bring my liver with me, but hung it upon a +tree, and now it is raining and my liver will +decay and I'll die. Aita! aita!" and the +poor monkey's eyes became red as a <i>tai</i> fish, +and streamed with tears.</p> + +<p>When the tortoise told the Queen's courtiers +what the monkey had said, their faces +fell.</p> + +<p>"Why, here's a pretty piece of business. +The monkey is of no use without his liver. +We must send him after it."</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span></p> +<p>So they dispatched the tortoise to the +earth again, the monkey sitting a-straddle +of his back. They came to the mountain +again, and the tortoise being a little lazy, +waited at the foot while the monkey scampered +off, saying he would be back in an +hour. The two creatures had become so +well acquainted that the old Hard Shell fully +trusted the lively little fellow.</p> + +<p>But instead of an hour the tortoise +waited till evening. No monkey came. So +finding himself fooled, and knowing all the +monkeys would take the alarm, he waddled +back and told the Queen all about it.</p> + +<p>"Then," said the Queen after reprimanding +her messenger for his silly confidence, +"the monkey must have got wind of our intention +to use his liver, and what is more, +some one of my retainers or servants must +have told him."</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span></p> +<p>Then the Queen issued an order commanding +all her subjects to appear before +the Dragon-King of the Sea. Whoever did +this wicked thing, Kai Riu O would punish +him.</p> + +<p>Now it happened that all the fish and +sea animals of all sorts, that swam, crawled, +rolled or moved in any way, appeared before +Kai Riu O, the Dragon-King, and his +Queen—all except the jelly-fish. Then the +Queen knew the jelly-fish was the guilty +one. She ordered the culprit to be brought +into her presence. Then publicly, before +all her retainers and servants, she cried out:</p> + +<p>"You leaky-tongued wretch, for your +crime of betraying the confidence of your +sovereign, you shall no longer remain among +shell-fish. I condemn you to lose your +shell."</p> + +<p>Then she stripped off his shell, and left<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> +the poor jelly-fish entirely naked and +ashamed.</p> + +<p>"Be off, you tell-tale. Hereafter all your +children shall be soft and defenceless."</p> + +<p>The poor jelly-fish blushed crimson, +squeezed himself out, and swam off out of +sight. Since that time jelly-fishes have had +no shells.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="LORD_CUTTLE-FISH_GIVES_A_CONCERT" id="LORD_CUTTLE-FISH_GIVES_A_CONCERT"></a>LORD CUTTLE-FISH GIVES A CONCERT.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_d.jpg" width= "150" height= "281" alt="D" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 90px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 70px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">D</span>ESPITE the loss of the monkey's +liver, the queen of the World under +the Sea, after careful attention +and long rest, got well again, +and was able to be about her +duties and govern her kingdom well. The +news of her recovery created the wildest +joy all over the Under-world, and from tears +and gloom and silence, the caves echoed +with laughter, and the sponge-beds with +music. Every one had on a "white face." +Drums, flutes and banjos, which had been +hung up on coral branches, or packed away +in shell boxes, were taken down, or brought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> +out, and right merrily were they struck or +thrummed with the ivory <i>hashi</i> (plectrum). +The pretty maids of the Queen put on their +ivory thimble-nails, and the Queen again +listened to the sweet melodies on the <i>koto</i>, +(flat harp), while down among the smaller +fry of fishy retainers and the scullions of +the kitchen, were heard the constant thump +of the <i>tsutsumi</i> (shoulder-drum), the bang +of the taiko (big drum), and the loud cries +of the dancers as they struck all sorts of +attitudes with hands, feet and head.</p> + +<p>No allusion was openly made either to +monkeys, tortoises or jelly-fish. This would +not have been polite. But the jelly-fish, in +a distant pool in the garden, could hear the +refrain, "The rivers of China run into the +sea, and in it sinks the rain."</p> + +<p>Now in the language of the Under-world +people the words for "river," and "skin,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> +(or "covering,") and "China," and "shell," +and "rain," and "jelly," are the same. So +the chorus, which was nothing but a string +of puns, meant, "The skin of the jelly-fish +runs to the sea, and in it sinks the jelly."</p> + +<p>But none of these musical performances +were worthy of the Queen's notice; although +as evidences of the joy of her subjects, they +did very well. A great many entertainments +were gotten up to amuse the finny +people, but the Queen was present at none +of them except the one about to be described. +How and why she became a spectator shall +also be told.</p> + +<p>One night the queen was sitting in the +pink drawing-room, arrayed in her queenly +robes, for she was quite recovered and expected +to walk out in the evening. Everything +in the room, except a vase of green +and golden colored sponge-plant, and a plume<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> +of glass-thread, was of a pink color. Then +there was a pretty rockery made of a pyramid +of pumice, full of embossed rosettes of +living sea-anemones of scarlet, orange, grey +and black colors, which were trained to fold +themselves up like an umbrella, or blossom +out like chrysanthemums, at certain hours of +the day, or when touched, behaving just +like four o'clocks and sensitive plants.</p> + +<p>All the furniture and hangings of the +rooms were pink. The floor was made of +mats woven from strips of shell-nacre, bound +at the sides with an inch border of pink +coral. The ceiling was made of the rarest +of pink shells wrought into flowers and +squares. The walls were decorated with the +same material, representing sea-scenes, jewels +and tortoise shell patterns. In the <i>tokonoma</i>, +or raised space, was a bouquet of sea-weed +of richest dyes, and in the nooks was an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> +open cabinet holding several of the queen's +own treasures, such as a tiara which looked +like woven threads of crystal (Euplectella), +and a toilet box and writing case made of +solid pink coral. The gem of all was a +screen having eight folds, on which was +depicted the palace and throne-room of Riu +Gu, the visit of Toda, and the procession of +the Queen, nobles and grandees that escorted +the brave archer, when he took his farewell +to return to earth.</p> + +<p>The Queen sat on the glistening sill of the +wide window looking out over her gardens, +her two maids sitting at her feet. The +sound of music wafted through the coral +groves and crystal grottoes reached her ear.</p> + +<p>"<i>O medzurashi gozarimasu!</i>" "(How +wonderful this is!)" exclaimed the queen, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span>half aloud. "What strange music is this? +It is neither guitar, nor hand, nor shoulder +drum, nor singing. It seems to be a mixture +of all. Hear! It sounds as if a band with +many instruments was playing to the accompaniment +of a large choir of voices."</p> + +<p>True enough! It was the most curious +music ever heard in Riu Gu, for to tell the +truth the voices were not in perfect accord, +though all kept good time. The sound +seemed to issue from the mansion of Lord +Cuttle-fish, the palace physician. The queen's +curiosity was roused.</p> + +<p>"I shall go and see what it is," said she, as +she rose up. Suddenly she recollected, and +exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"O, no, it would not be proper for me to +be seen in public at this hour of the evening, +and if it is in Lord Cuttle-fish's mansion, +I could not enter without a retinue, No, it +won't do for me, it's beneath my dignity,"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> +said her majesty to herself as she went over +to touch her anemones, while her maids +fanned her, seeing their mistress flushed +with excitement, and fearing a relapse.</p> + +<p>Curiosity got the better of the queenly +lady, and off she started with only her two +maids who held aloft over her head, the +long pearl-handled fans made of white +shark's fins.</p> + +<p>"Besides," thought she, "perhaps the concert +is outside, in the garden. If so, I can +look down and see from the great green +rock that overlooks it, and my lord Kai Riu +O need not know of it."</p> +</div> + +<p>The Queen walked over her pebbled +garden walk, avoiding the great high road +paved with white coral rock, and taking a +by-path trimmed with fan-coral. The sound +of the drums and voices grew louder, until +as she reached the top of a green rock back<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> +of Lord Cuttle-fish's garden, the whole performance +was open to her view.</p> + +<p>It was so funny, and the queen was so +overcome at the comical sight, that she +nearly fell down and got the hysterics, +laughing so heartily. She utterly forgot +her dignity, and laughed till the tears ran +down her face. She was so afraid she would +scream out, that she nearly choked herself +to death with her sleeve, while her alarmed +maids, though meaning nothing by their +acts but friendly help, slapped her back to +give her breath.</p> + +<p>There, at the top of a high green rock, all +covered with barnacles, on a huge tuft of +sponge, sat Lord Cuttle-fish, playing on +three musical instruments at once. His +great warty speckled head, six feet high, +like a huge bag upside down, was bent forward +to read the notes of his music book by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> +the light of a wax candle, which was stuck +in the feelers of a prickly lobster, and +patiently held. Of his six pulpy arms one +long one ran down like the trunk of an +elephant, fingering along the pages of a +music book. Two others were used to play +the guitar, one to grasp the handle and +pinch the strings, and the other to hold the +ivory stick to strike the strings. The tsutsumi +(small double drum) was held on his +shoulder and neck, while still another arm +curled up in a bunch, punched it like a fist. +Below him was a another, a bass drum, set +in a frame, and in his last leg, or arm, was +clutched a heavy drum-stick, which pounded +out tremendous noise, if not music. There +the old fellow sat with his head bobbing, +and all his six cuppy arms in motion, his +rolling blue eyes ogling the notes, and his +mouth like an elephant's, screeching out the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> +song, which was made up of puns on 'tortoises,' +'monkeys,' 'jelly-fishes,' 'livers' +and 'shell,' though the real words made an +entirely different sense.</p> + +<p>All this time, in front of Lord Cuttle-fish, +sat the lobster holding up the light, like the +<i>kurombo</i>, or black fellows who hold candles +at the end of long-handled candle-sticks on +the stage of the theatres so that the people +may see the faces of the actors.</p> + +<p>But the audience, or rather the orchestra +was the funniest part of all. They could +hardly be called listeners, for they were all +performers. On the left was the lusty red-faced +<i>tai</i> fish with its gills wide open, singing +at the top, or rather at the bottom, of +his throat, and beating time by flapping his +wide fins. Just back of him was a little +gudgeon, silent and fanning himself with a +blue flat fan, having disgracefully broken<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> +down on a high note. Next behind, on the +right, was a long-nosed gar-fish singing alto, +and proud of her slender form, with the last +new thing in folding fans held in her fin. +In the fore-ground squatted a great fat frog +with big bulging eyes, singing base, and +leading the choir by flapping his webbed +fingers up and down with his frightful cavern +of a mouth wide open. Next, sat the stately +and dignified mackerel who was rather +scandalized at the whole affair, and kept +very still, refusing to join in. At the mackerel's +right fin, squeaked out the stupid flat-headed +<i>fugu</i> fish with her big eye impolitely +winking at the servant-maid just bringing +in refreshments; for the truth was, she was +thirsty after so much vocal exercise. The +<i>fugu</i> was very vain and always played the +coquette around the hooks of the fishermen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> +who always liked to eat her because she was +so sweet, yet her flesh was poison.</p> + +<p>"How strange it is that men will angle +after that ugly hussy, when she poisons +them," was the oft-repeated remark of the +gar-fish.</p> + +<p>Just behind the herring, with one eye on +Lord Cuttle-fish and one on the coming +refreshments, was the skate. The truth +must be told that the entire right wing of the +orchestra was very much demoralized by the +smell of the steaming tea and eatables just +about to be served. The suppon, (tortoise +with a snout like a bird's beak,) though he +continued to sing, impolitely turned his +head away from Lord Cuttle-fish, and his +back to the frog that acted as precentor. +The sucker, though very homely, and bloated +with fat, kept on in the chorus, and pretended +not to notice the waiter and her tray<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> +and cups. Indeed, Madame Sucker thought +it quite vulgar in the tortoise to be so eager +after the cakes and wine.</p> + +<p>In truth the concert had been long, and +all were thirsty and ready for a bite and a +drink.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the music ceased, and the long +clatter on the drum announced the end. +Lord Cuttle-fish kicked over his drum, unscrewed +his guitar, and packed it away in +his music box. He then slid along on his +six slippery legs to the refreshments, and +actually amused the company by standing +on his head, and twirling his six cuppy arms +around.</p> + +<p>At this Miss Mackerel was quite shocked, +and whispered under her fan to the gar-fish, +"It is quite undignified. What would +the Queen say if she saw it?" not knowing +that the Queen was looking on.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span></p> +<p>Then all sat down on their tails, propped +upright on one fin, and produced their fans +to cool themselves off. The lobster pulled +off the candle stump and ate it up, wiped +his feelers, and joined the party.</p> + +<p>The liquid refreshments consisted of sweet +and clear <i>saké</i> (rice beer) tea, and cherry-blossom +water. The solids were thunder-cakes, +egg-cracknels, boiled rice, <i>daikon</i> +radishes and macaroni, lotus-root, <i>taro</i>, +and side-dishes piled up with flies, worms, +bugs and all kinds of bait for the small fry—the +finny brats that were to eat at the +second table. The tea was poured by the +servants of Lord Cuttle-fish. These were +the funniest little green <i>kappas</i>, or creatures +half way between a monkey and a tortoise, +with yellow eyes, hands like an ape, hair +clipped short on their heads, eyes like frogs, +and a mouth that stretched from ear to ear +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span>Poor creatures! they were only too happy +to know that though they looked like +monkeys their livers would not do for medicine.</p> + +<p>The Queen did not wait to see the end of +the feast, but laughing heartily, returned to +her palace and went to sleep.</p> + +<p>After helping himself with all the cups of +his arms out of the tub of boiled rice, until +Miss Mackerel made up her mind that he +was an <i>omeshi gurai</i>, (rice glutton,) and +drinking like a shoal of fishes, Lord Cuttle-fish +went home, coiled himself up into a +ball, and fell asleep. He had a headache +next morning.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="YORIMASA_THE_BRAVE_ARCHER" id="YORIMASA_THE_BRAVE_ARCHER"></a>YORIMASA, THE BRAVE ARCHER.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_g.jpg" width= "150" height= "281" alt="G" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 100px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 70px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">G</span>ENZAN YORIMASA was a brave +warrior and a very useful man +who lived more than eight thousand +moons ago. On account +of his valor and skill in the use +of the bow he was called to Kioto, and promoted +to be chief guard of the imperial +palace. At that time the emperor, Narahito, +could not sleep at night, because his rest +was disturbed by a frightful beast, which +scared away even the sentinels in armor +who stood on guard.</p> + +<p>This dreadful beast had the wings of a +bird, the body and claws of a tiger, the head +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> +of a monkey, a serpent tail, and the crackling +scales of a dragon. It came after night, +upon the roof of the palace, and howled +and scratched so dreadfully, that the poor +mikado losing all rest, grew weak and thin. +None of the guards dare face it in hand-to-hand +fight, and none had skill enough to hit +it with an arrow in the dark, though several +of the imperial corps of archers had tried +again and again. When Yorimasa received +his appointment, he strung his bow carefully, +and carefully honing his steel-headed arrows, +stored his quiver, and resolved to mount +guard that night with his favorite retainer.</p> + +<p>It chanced to be a stormy night. The +lightning was very vivid, and Kaminari, +the thunder-god was beating all his drums. +The wind swirled round frightfully, as +though Fuden the wind-god was emptying +all his bags. Toward midnight, the falcon +eye of Yorimasa saw, during a flash of lightning,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> +the awful beast sitting on the "devil's +tile" at the tip of the ridge-pole, on the +north-east end of the roof. He bade his +retainer have a torch of straw and twigs +ready to light at a moment's notice, to loosen +his blade, and wet its hilt-pin, while he +fitted the notch of his best arrow into the +silk cord of his bow.</p> + +<p>Keeping his eyes strained, he pretty soon +saw the glare now of one eye, now two eyes, +as the beast with swaying head crept along +the great roof to the place on the eaves +directly under the mikado's sleeping-room. +There it stopped.</p> + +<p>This was Yorimasa's opportunity. Aiming +about a foot to the right of where he saw +the eye glare, he drew his yard-length shaft +clear back to his shoulder, and let fly. A +dull thud, a frightful howl, a heavy bump<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> +on the ground, and the writhing of some +creature among the pebbles, told in a few +seconds time that the shaft had struck flesh. +The next instant Yorimasa's retainer rushed +out with blazing torch and joined battle +with his dirk. Seizing the beast by the +neck, he quickly despatched him, by cutting +his throat. Then they flayed the monster, +and the next morning the hide was shown +to his majesty.</p> + +<p>All congratulated Yorimasa on his valor +and marksmanship. Many young men, sons +of nobles and warriors, begged to become +his pupils in archery. The mikado ordered +a noble of very high rank to present to +Yorimasa a famous sword named Shishi-no-ō, +(King of Wild Boars), and to give him a +lovely maid of honor named Ayami, to wife. +And so the brave and the fair were married,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> +and to this day the fame of Yorimasa is like +the "umé-také-matsu," (plum-blossom, bamboo +and pine), fragrant, green and ever-during. +<a name="PicPage176" id="PicPage176"></a></p> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/pg176.jpg" width="600" height="488" +alt="YORIMASA AND THE NIGHT-BEAST." +title="YORIMASA AND THE NIGHT-BEAST." /> +<p class="caption">YORIMASA AND THE NIGHT-BEAST. +</p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="WATANABE_CUTS_OFF_THE_ONIS_ARM" id="WATANABE_CUTS_OFF_THE_ONIS_ARM"></a>WATANABE CUTS OFF THE ONI'S ARM.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_w.jpg" width= "150" height= "281" alt="W" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 70px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 70px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">W</span>HEN the capital of Japan was +the city of Kioto, and the +mikado dwelt in it with all his +court, there lived a brave captain +of the guard named Yorimitsu, +who belonged to the famous Minamoto +family. He was also called Raiko, +and by this name he is best known to all +the boys and girls in Great Japan. Under +Captain Raiko were three brave guardsmen, +one of whom was named Watanabé Tsuna. +The duty of these men-at-arms was to watch +at the gates leading to the palace.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span></p> +<p>It had come to pass that the blossom +capital had fallen in a dreadful condition, +because the guards at the other gates had +been neglected. Thieves were numerous +and murders were frequent, so that every +one in the city was afraid to go out into the +streets at night. Worse than all else, was +the report that oni or imps were prowling +around in the dark to seize people by the +hair of the head. Then they would drag +them away to the mountains, tear the flesh +off their bones, and eat them up.</p> + +<p>The worst place in the city, to which the +horned imps came oftenest, was at the +south-western gate called the Rajo-mon.</p> + +<p>To this post of danger, Raiko sent Tsuna, +the bravest of his guards.</p> + +<p>It was on a dark, rainy and dismal night, +that Tsuna started, well-armed, to stand +sentinel at the gate. His trusty helmet<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> +was knotted over his chin, and all the pieces +of his armor were well laced up. His +sandals were girt tight to his feet, and in +his belt was thrust the trusty sword, freshly +ground, until its edge was like a razor's, and +with it the owner could cut asunder a hair +floating in the air.</p> + +<p>Arriving at the red pillar of the gate, +Tsuna paced up and down the stone way +with eyes and ears wide open. The wind +was blowing frightfully, the storm howled +and the rain fell in such torrents that soon +the cords of Tsuna's armor and his dress +were soaked through.</p> + +<p>The great bronze bell of the temples on +the hills boomed out the hours one after +another, until a single stroke told Tsuna it +was the hour of the Rat (midnight).</p> + +<p>Two hours passed, and the hour of the +Bull sounded (2 <span class="smcap">A.M.</span>,) still Tsuna was wide<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> +awake. The storm had lulled, but it was +darker than ever.</p> + +<p>The hour of the Tiger (3 o'clock) rung +out, and the soft mellow notes of the temple +bell died away like a lullaby wooing one to +sleep, spite of will and vow.</p> + +<p>The warrior, almost without knowing it, +grew sleepy and fell into a doze. He started +and woke up. He shook himself, jingled +his armor, pinched himself, and even pulled +out his little knife from the wooden scabbard +of his dirk, and pricked his leg with +the point of it to keep awake, but all in vain. +Unconsciously overcome, he leaned against +the gate-post, and fell asleep.</p> + +<p>This was just what the imp wanted. All +the time he had been squatting on the cross-piece +at the top of the gate waiting his +opportunity. He now slid down as softly +as a monkey, and with his iron-like claws<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> +grabbed Tsuna by the helmet, and began to +drag him into the air.</p> + +<p>In an instant Tsuna was awake. Seizing +the hairy wrist of the imp with his left +hand, with his right he drew his sword, +swept it round his head, and cut off the +demon's arm. The oni, frightened and howling +with pain, leaped up the post and disappeared +in the clouds.</p> + +<p>Tsuna waited with drawn sword in hand, +lest the oni might come again, but in a few +hours morning dawned. The sun rose on +the pagodas and gardens and temples of the +capitol and the nine-fold circle of flowery +hills. Everything was beautiful and bright. +Tsuna returned to report to his captain, +carrying the oni's arm in triumph. Raiko +examined it, and loudly praised Tsuna for +his bravery, and rewarded him with a silken +sash.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span></p> +<p>Now it is said that if an oni's arm be cut +off it cannot be made to unite with the body +again, if kept apart for a week. So Raiko +warned Tsuna to lock it up, and watch it +night and day, lest it be stolen from him.</p> + +<p>So Tsuna went to the stone-cutters who +made idols of Buddha, mortars for pounding +rice, and coffers for burying money in to be +hidden away in the ground, and bought a +strong box cut out of the solid stone. It +had a heavy lid on it, which slid in a groove +and came out only by touching a secret +spring. Then setting it in his bed chamber, +he guarded it day and night, keeping +the gate and all his doors locked. He +allowed no one who was a stranger to look +at the trophy.</p> +</div> + +<p>Six days passed by, and Tsuna began to +think his prize was sure, for were not all +his doors tight shut? So he set the box out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> +in the middle of the room, and twisting some +rice-straw fringe in token of sure victory +and rejoicing, he sat down in ease before it. +He took off his armor and put on his court +robes. During the evening, but rather late, +there was a feeble knock like that of an old +woman at the gate outside.</p> + +<p>Tsuna cried out, "Who's there?"</p> + +<p>The squeaky voice of his aunt (as it seemed), +who was a very old woman, replied "Me, +I want to see my nephew, to praise him for +his bravery in cutting the oni's arm off."</p> + +<p>So Tsuna let her in and carefully locking +the door behind her, helped the old crone +into the room, where she sat down on the +mats in front of the box and very close to +it. Then she grew very talkative, and +praised her nephew's exploit, until Tsuna +felt very proud.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> +All the time the old woman's left shoulder +was covered with her dress while her +right hand was out. Then she begged +earnestly to be allowed to see the limb. +Tsuna at first politely refused, but she +urged, until yielding affectionately he slid +back the stone lid just a little.</p> + +<p>"This is my arm" cried the old hag, turning +into an oni, and dragging out the arm.</p> + +<p>She flew up to the ceiling, and was out of +the smoke-slide through the roof in a twinkling. +Tsuna rushed out of the house to +shoot her with an arrow, but he saw only a +demon far off in the clouds grinning horribly. +He noted carefully however that the +direction of the imps' flight was to the north-west.</p> + +<p>A council was now held by Raiko's band, +and it was decided that the lurking-place of +the demons must be in the mountains of Oyé +in the province of Tango. It was resolved +to hunt out and destroy the imps.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="WATANABE_KILLS_THE_GREAT_SPIDER" id="WATANABE_KILLS_THE_GREAT_SPIDER"></a>WATANABE KILLS THE GREAT SPIDER.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_d.jpg" width= "150" height= "281" alt="D" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 90px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 70px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">D</span>URING the time in which Watanabé +was forming his plan to +destroy the onis that lurked in +the Oyé mountains, the brave +Raiko fell sick, and daily grew +weaker and paler. When the demons found +this out they sent the three-eyed imp called +Mitsumé Kozo, to plague him.</p> + +<p>This imp, which had a snout like a hog's, +three monstrous blue eyes, and a mouth full +of tusks, was glad that the brave soldier +could no longer fight the onis. He would +approach the sick man in his chamber, leer +horribly at him, loll out his tongue, and pull<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> +down the lids of his eyes with his hairy +fingers, until the sight sickened Raiko more +and more.</p> + +<p>But Raiko, well or ill, always slept with +his trusty sword under his pillow, and pretending +to be greatly afraid, and to cower +under the bed-clothes, the kozo grew bolder +and bolder. When the imp was near the +bed, Raiko drew his blade, and cut the oni +across his huge double nose. This made the +demon howl, and he ran away, leaving +tracks of blood.</p> + +<p>When Tsuna and his band heard of their +brave master's exploit, they came to congratulate +him, and offered to hunt out the +demon and destroy him.</p> + +<p>They followed the red drops until they +came to a cavern in the mountains. Entering +this they saw in the gloom a spider six +feet high, with legs as long as a fishing-pole,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> +and as thick as a daikon radish. Two great +yellow eyes glared at them like lamps. They +noticed a great gaping wound as if done by +a sword-cut on his snout.</p> + +<p>It was a horrible, nasty hairy thing to +fight with swords, since to get near enough, +they would be in danger of the creature's +claws. So Tsuna went and chopped down +a tree as thick as a man's leg, leaving the +roots on, while his comrades prepared a rope +to tie up the monster like a fly in a web. +Then with a loud yell Tsuna rushed at the +spider, felled him with a blow, and held him +down with the tree and roots so he could +not bite or use his claws. Seeing this, his +comrades rushed in, and bound the monster's +legs tight to his body so that he could +not move. Drawing their swords they +passed them through his body and finished +him. Returning in triumph to the city,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> +they found their dear captain recovered +from his illness.</p> + +<p>Raiko thanked his brave warriors for +their exploits, made a feast for them, and +gave them many presents. At this feast +Captain Raiko told them that he had received +orders from the mikado to march +against the oni's den in Tango, slaughter +them all, and rescue the prisoners he should +find there. Then he showed them his commission +written in large letters,</p> + +<p>"I command you, Raiko, to chastise the +onis."</p> + +<p>He also allowed them to examine the +gold brocade bag, in which it was kept, and +which one of the fair ladies of the court had +made for him with her own tapering fingers.</p> + +<p>At this time many families in Kioto were +grieving over the loss of their children, and +even while Tsuna had been away, several<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> +lovely damsels had been seized and taken to +the demon's den.</p> + +<p>Lest the onis might hear of their coming, +and escape, the four trusty men disguised +themselves as Komuso or wandering priests +of the mountains. They put on over their +helmets, huge hats like wash-bowls, made of +straw, woven so tightly that no one could +see their faces. They covered their armor +with very cheap and common clothes, and +then after worshipping at the shrines, began +their march.</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="RAIKO_AND_THE_SHI-TEN_DOJI" id="RAIKO_AND_THE_SHI-TEN_DOJI"></a>RAIKO AND THE SHI-TEN DOJI.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_q.jpg" width= "150" height= "281" alt="Q" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 90px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 70px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">Q</span>UITE PATHLESS were the desolate +mountains of Tango, for no +one ever went into them except +once in a while a poor woodcutter +or charcoal-burner; yet +Raiko and his men set out with stout hearts. +There were no bridges over the streams, +and frightful precipices abounded. Once +they had to stop and build a bridge by felling +a tree, and walking across it over a dangerous +chasm. Once they came to a steep +rock, to descend which they must make a +ladder of creeping vines. At last they +reached a dense grove at the top of a cliff,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> +far up to the clouds, which seemed as if it +might contain the demon's castle.</p> + +<p>Approaching, they found a pretty maiden +washing some clothes which had spots of +blood on them. They said to her, "Sister, +Miss, why are you here, and what are you +doing?"</p> + +<p>"Ah," said she, with a deep sigh, "you +must not come here. This is the haunt of +demons. They eat human flesh and they +will eat yours." "Look there" said she +pointing to a pile of white bones of men, +women and children, "You must go down +the mountain as quickly as you came." Saying +this she burst into tears.</p> + +<p>But instead of being frightened or sorrowful, +the brave fellows nearly danced for +joy. "We have come here for the purpose +of destroying the demons by the mikado's +orders," said Raiko, patting his breast, where<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> +inside his dress in the damask bag was the +imperial order.</p> + +<p>At this the maiden dried her tears and +smiled so sweetly that Raiko's heart was +touched by her beauty.</p> + +<p>"But how came you to live among these +cannibal demons," asked Raiko.</p> + +<p>She blushed deeply as she replied sadly +"Although they eat men and old women, +they keep the young maidens to wait on +them."</p> + +<p>"It's a great pity" said Raiko, "but we +shall now avenge our fellow subjects of the +mikado, as well as your shame and cruel +treatment, if you will show us the way up +the cliff to the den."</p> + +<p>They began to climb the hill but they +had not gone far before they met a young +oni who was a cook in the great dōji's +kitchen. He was carrying a human limb<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> +for his master's lunch. They gnashed their +teeth silently, and clutched their swords +under their coats. Yet they courteously +saluted the cook-demon, and asked for an +interview with the chief. The demon +smiled in his sleeve, thinking what a fine +dinner his master would make of the four +men.</p> + +<p>A few feet forward, and a turn in the path +brought them to the front of the demon's +castle. Among tall and mighty boulders of +rock, which loomed up to the clouds, there +was an opening in the dense groves, thickly +covered with vines and mosses like an arbor. +From this point, the view over the plains +below commanded a space of hundreds of +miles. In the distance the red pagodas, +white temple-gables and castle towers of +Kioto were visible.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span></p> +<p>Inside the cave was a banqueting hall +large enough to seat one hundred persons. +The floor was neatly covered with new, clean +mats of sea-green rice-straw, on which +tables, silken cushions, arm-rests, drinking-cups, +bottles and many other articles of comfort +lay about. The stone walls were richly +decorated with curtains and hangings of fine +silken stuffs.</p> + +<p>At the end of the long hall, on a raised +dais, our heroes presently observed, as a +curtain was lifted, the chief demon, Shi-ten +dōji, of august, yet frightful appearance. He +was seated on a heap of luxurious cushions +made of blue and crimson crape, stuffed +with swan's down. He was leaning on a +golden arm-rest. His body was quite red, +and he was round and fat like a baby grown +up. He had very black hair cut like a small +boy's, and on the top of his head, just peeping<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span> +through the hair were two very short +horns. Around him were a score of lovely +maidens—the fairest of Kioto—on whose +beautiful faces was stamped the misery they +dared not fully show, yet could not entirely +conceal. Along the wall other demons sat +or lay at full length, each one with his handmaid +seated beside him to wait on him and +pour out his wine. All of them were of +horrible aspect, which only made the beauty +of the maidens more conspicuous. Seeing +our heroes walk in the hall led by the cook, +each one of the demons was as happy as a +spider, when in his lurking hole he feels the +jerk on his web-thread that tells him a fly +is caught. All of them at once poured out +a fresh saucer of saké and drank it down.</p> + +<p>Raiko and his men separated, and began +talking freely with the demons until the +partitions at one corner were slid aside, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> +a troop of little demons who were waiter-boys +entered. They brought in a host of +dishes, and the onis fell to and ate. The +noise of their jaws sounded like the pounding +of a rice mill.</p> + +<p>Our heroes were nearly sickened at the +repast, for it consisted chiefly of human flesh, +while the wine-cups were made of empty +human skulls. However, they laughed and +talked and excused themselves from eating, +saying they had just lunched.</p> + +<p>As the demons drank more and more they +grew lively, laughed till the cave echoed, +and sang uproarious songs. Every time +they grinned, they showed their terrible +tusks, and teeth like fangs. All of them had +horns, though most of these were very short.</p> + +<p>The dōji became especially hilarious, and +drank the health of every one of his four +guests in a skull full of wine. To supply<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> +him there was a tub full of saké at hand, +and his usual drinking-vessel was a dish +which seemed to Tsuma to be as large as a +full moon.</p> +</div> + +<p>Raiko now offered to return the courtesies +shown them by dancing "the Kioto dance," +for which he was famous. Stepping out into +the centre of the hall, with his fan in one +hand, he danced gracefully and with such +wonderful ease, that the onis screamed with +delight, and clapped their hands in applause, +saying they had never seen anything to +equal it. Even the maidens, lost in admiration +of the polished courtier, forgot their +sorrow, and felt as happy for the time as +though they were at home dancing.</p> + +<p>The dance finished, Raiko took from his +bosom a bottle of saké, and offered it to the +chief demon as a gift, saying it was the best +wine of Sakai. The delighted dōji drank and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> +gave a sip to each of his lords saying, "This +is the best liquor I ever tasted, you must +drink the health of our friends in it."</p> + +<p>Now Raiko had bought, at the most skillful +druggists' in the capital, a powerful sleeping +potion, and mixed it with the wine, +which made it taste very sweet. In a few +minutes all the demons had dropped off +asleep, and their snores sounded like the +rolling thunder of the mountains.</p> + +<p>Then Raiko rose up and gave the signal +to his comrades. Whispering to the maidens +to leave the room quietly, they drew their +swords, and with as little noise as possible +cut the throats of the demons. No sound +was heard but the gurgling of blood that +ran out in floods on the floor. The dōji +lying like a lion on his cushions was still +sleeping, the snores issuing out of his nose +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> +like thunder from a cloud. The four warriors +approached him and like loyal vassals +as they were, they first turned their faces +towards Kioto, reverenced the mikado, and +prayed for the blessing of the gods who made +Japan. Raiko then drew near, and measuring +the width of the doji's neck with his +sword found that it would be short. Suddenly, +the blade lengthened of itself. Then +lifting his weapon, he smote with all his +might and cut the neck clean through.</p> + +<p>In an instant, the bloody head flew up in +the air gnashing its teeth and rolling its +yellow eyes, while the horns sprouted out +to a horrible length, the jaws opening and +shutting like the edges of an earthquake +fissure. It flew up and whirled round the +room seven times. Then with a rush it flew +at Raiko's head, and bit through the straw +hat and into the iron helmet inside. But this +final effort exhausted its strength, it's motions +ceased and it fell heavily to the floor.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span></p> +<p>Anxiously the comrades helped their +fallen leader to rise, and examined his head. +But he was unhurt,—not a scratch was on +him. Then the heroes congratulated each +other and after despatching the smaller +demons, brought out all the treasure and +divided it equally. Then they set the castle +on fire and buried the bones of the victims, +setting up a stone to mark the spot. All +the maidens and captives were assembled +together, and in great state and pomp they +returned to Kioto. The virgins were restored +to their parents, and many a desolate +home was made joyful, and many mourning +garments taken off. Raiko was honored by +the mikado in being made a kugé (court +noble,) and was appointed Chief of the entire +garrison of Kiotō. Then all the people +were grateful for his valor.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="THE_SAZAYE_AND_THE_TAI" id="THE_SAZAYE_AND_THE_TAI"></a>THE SAZAYE AND THE TAI.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_s.jpg" width= "150" height= "281" alt="S" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 90px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 60px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">S</span>AZAYÉ is a shell-fish, which is +very proud of its shell. This is +high, full of points like towers, +and thick like a castle wall. +When feeding, enjoying itself or +moving around, its long neck and body are +stretched out before it, armed with its hard +operculum, which is like an iron shield, or +the end of a battering ram. The operculum +fits the entrance to its shell like a trap door. +As soon as any danger is near it pulls in its +head, and slams itself shut with a loud noise.</p> + +<p>On account of the hardness and thickness +of his shell, the sazayé is the envy of the +soft-bodied fishes that covet his security. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span>But on the other hand the sazayé, though a +slow moving creature, is apt to be too proud +of his defence and trust too much to his +fancied security.</p> +<hr class="hr15" /> + + +<p>One day a Tai (red fish) and a Herring +were looking at the strong shell of the sazayé, +and becoming quite envious, the Tai said:</p> + +<p>"What a mighty strong castle you do live +in, Mr. Sazayé. When you once shut up +your shell no one need even try to touch +you. You are to be envied sir."</p> + +<p>The Sazayé was tickled at the flattery, +but pretending to be very humble, shook +his head and said:</p> + +<p>"It is very kind in you, my lords, to say +so, but my little hut is nothing but a shell; +yet I must say that when I lock my door I +do not feel any anxiety, and I really pity +you poor fellows who have no shell at all."</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span></p> +<p>He had hardly got the last word out of +his grisly throat, when suddenly there was a +great splash, and away darted the tai and +herring, never resting their fins or tails a +moment till safe out of danger.</p> + +<p>The Sazayé drew in his flap in the twinkling +of an eye, and keeping as quiet as possible, +wondered what the noise was. Was it +a stone, or a net, or a fish-hook? He wondered +if the tai and herring were caught.</p> + +<p>"Surely they must be," thought he. +"However I'm safe, thanks to my castle +shell," he muttered.</p> + +<p>So drawing his trap tighter he took a long +nap. When he woke up, quite refreshed, he +cautiously loosened his trap and peeped out.</p> + +<p>"How strange every thing looks, am I +dreaming?" said he as he saw piles of fish, +clams, prawns and lobsters lying on a board +all around him.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span></p> +<p>"Ugh, what is that?" clapping himself +shut as a great black-nosed and long-whiskered +dog poked his muzzle near him.</p> + +<p>Poor shell-fish! There he lay in a fishmonger's +shop, with a slip of paper marked +"ten cash," (1-10 of a cent,) on his back. A +few hours later, purchased by a laborer's +wife for his dinner, he was stewing along +with several of his relative's in his own +juice. The castle, of which he was so proud, +serving first as a dinner-pot, then as a saucer, +after which it was thrown away in a +heap and burned into lime. +<a name="PicPage204" id="PicPage204"></a></p> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/pg204.jpg" width="600" height="404" +alt="THE FISH STALL IN TOKIO." +title="THE FISH STALL IN TOKIO." /> +<p class="caption">THE FISH STALL IN TOKIO. +</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="SMELLS_AND_JINGLES" id="SMELLS_AND_JINGLES"></a>SMELLS AND JINGLES.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_y.jpg" width= "150" height= "281" alt="Y" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 60px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 60px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">Y</span>EDO people are very fond of broiled +eels. A rich merchant, named +Kisaburo, who was very miserly +with his money, once moved his +quarters next door to the shop of +one Kichibei, who caught and cooked eels +for a living. During the night Mr. Kichibei +caught his stock in trade, and in the day-time +served them, smoking hot, to his customers. +Cut into pieces three or four inches +long, they were laid to sizzle on a grid-iron +over red hot charcoal, which was kept +in a glow by constant fanning.</p> + +<p>Kisaburo, wishing to save money, and +having a strong imagination, daily took his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> +seat at meal time close to his neighbor's door. +Eating his boiled rice, and snuffing in the +odors of the broiled eels, as they were wafted +in, he enjoyed with his nose, what he would +not pay for to put in his mouth. In this +way, as he flattered himself, he saved much +money, and his strong box grew daily +heavier.</p> + +<p>Kichibei, the eel-broiler, on finding this +out, thought he would charge his stingy +neighbor for the smell of his eels. So, making +out his bill he presented it to Kisaburo, +who seemed to be much pleased. He called +to his wife to bring his iron-bound money +box, which was done. Emptying out the +shining mass of <i>kobans</i> (oval gold pieces, +worth five or six dollars), <i>ichi-bu</i> and <i>ni-bu</i> +(square silver pieces, worth a quarter and a +half dollar respectively) he jingled the coins +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> +at a great rate, and then touching the eel-man's +bill with his fan, bowed, low and said +with a smile: +<a name="PicPage206" id="PicPage206"></a></p> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/pg206.jpg" width="600" height="470" +alt="A JINGLE FOR A SNIFF." +title="A JINGLE FOR A SNIFF." /> +<p class="caption">A JINGLE FOR A SNIFF. +</p> +</div> + +<p>"All right, neighbor Kichibei, we are +square now."</p> + +<p>"What!" cried the eel-frier, "are you not +going to pay me?"</p> + +<p>"Why yes, I have paid you. You have +charged me for the smell of your eels, and I +have paid you with the sound of my money."</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="THE_LAKE_OF_THE_LUTE_AND_THE" id="THE_LAKE_OF_THE_LUTE_AND_THE"></a> +THE LAKE OF THE LUTE AND THE MATCHLESS MOUNTAIN.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_o.jpg" width= "150" height= "295" alt="O" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 90px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 55px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>F ALL the beautiful objects in +"the land of the holy gods," as +the Japanese call their country, +none are more beautiful than +Fuji Mountain and Lake Biwa. +The one is a great cone of white snow, the +other is a sheet of heaven-blue water, in +shape like a lute with four strings.</p> + +<p>Sweeping from twenty square leagues of +space out of the plain and rising twelve +thousand feet in air, Fuji, or Fusi Yama, +casts its sunset shadow far out on the ocean, +and from fourteen provinces gleams the +splendor of its snowy crest. It sits like a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> +king on his throne in the heart of Suruga +Province.</p> + +<p>One hundred and thirty miles to the west +as the crane wings her flight, in the heart of +Omi, is Biwa Ko, the lake of the lute. It is +sixty miles long and as blue as the sky +whose mirror it is. Along its banks rise +white-walled castles and stretch mulberry +plantations. On its bosom rise wooded +islands, white, but not with frost; for thousands +of herons nestle on the branches of +the trees, like lilies on their stems. Down +under the blue depths, say the people, is the +Dragon shrine (Riu Gu), where dwell the +dragon-helmed Kai Riu O, and his consort, +the shell-crowned Queen of the World +Under the Sea.</p> + +<p>Why do the pilgrims from all over the +empire exclaim joyfully, while climbing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span> +Fuji's cinder-beds and lava-blocks, "I am a +man of Omi"? Why, when quenching their +thirst with the melted snow-water of Fuji +crater, do they cry out "I am drinking from +Lake Biwa"? Why do the children clap +their hands, as they row or sail over Biwa's +blue surface, and say: "I am on top of Fuji +Yama"?</p> + +<p>To these questions the Japanese legend +gives answer.</p> + +<hr class="hr15" /> + +<p>When Heaven and earth were first created, +there was neither Lake of Biwa nor Mountain +of Fuji. Suruga and Omi were both +plains. Even for long after men inhabited +Japan and the Mikados had ruled for centuries +there was neither earth so nigh to +heaven nor water so close to the Under-world +as the peaks of Fuji and the bottom +of Biwa. Men drove the plow and planted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> +the rice over the very spot where crater and +deepest depth now are.</p> + +<p>But one night in the ancient times there +was a terrible earthquake. All the world +shook, the clouds lowered to the earth, floods +of water poured from the sky, and a sound +like the fighting of a myriad of dragons filled +the air. In the morning all was serene and +calm. The sky was blue. The earth was +as bright and all was as "white-faced" as +when the sun goddess first came out from +her hiding in the cave.</p> + +<p>The people of Omi awoke, scarce expecting +to find either earth or heaven, when lo! +they looked on what had yesterday been +tilled land or barren moor, and there was a +great sheet of blue. Was it sky? Had a +sheet of the "blue field of heaven" fallen +down? Was it the ocean? They came +near it, tasted it. It was fresh and sweet<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> +as a fountain-rill. They looked at it from +the hill-tops, and, seeing its outline, called +it "the lake of the four-stringed lute." +Others, proud of their new possession, named +it the Lake of Omi.</p> + +<p>Greater still was the surprise of the Suruga +people. The sailors, far out at sea, rubbed +their eyes and wondered at the strange +shape of the towering white cloud. Was it +the Iwakura, the eternal throne of Heaven, +come down to rest on earth out of the many +piled white clouds of heaven? Some +thought they had lost their reckoning; but +were assured when they recognized familiar +landmarks on shore. Many a cottager woke +up to find his house, which lay in a valley +the day before, was now far up on the slope, +with the distant villages and the sea visible; +while far, far above shone the snowy head of +a mountain, whose crown lay in the blue sky. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span>At night the edges of the peak, like white +fingers, seemed to pluck the stars from the +Milky Way.</p> + +<p>"What shall we call this new-born child +of the gods?" said the people. And various +names were proposed.</p> + +<p>"There is no other mountain so beautiful +in all the earth, there's not its equal anywhere; +therefore call it Fuji, (no two such), +the peerless, the matchless mountain," said +one.</p> + +<p>"It is so tall, so comely, so grand, call it +Fuji, (rich scholar, the lordly mountain)," +said another.</p> + +<p>"Call it Fuji, (never dying, the immortal +mountain)," said a third.</p> +</div> + +<p>"Call it, after the festal flower of joy, +Fuji" (Wistaria) said another, as he decked +the peak of his hat with the drooping clusters +of the tender blue blossom. "It looks<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> +blue and purple in the distance, just like the +fuji flower." Various as the meanings of +the name were, they sounded all alike to the +ear. So, without any quarreling, all agreed +to call it Fuji and each to choose his own +meaning. To this day, though many a +learned dispute and the scratching of the +written character on the sand with walking +stick, or on paper with pencil, or on the +palm of the hand with forefinger takes place, +all pronounce the name alike as they rave +on the beauties of Fuji Yama.</p> + +<p>So went forth into the countries bounding +"the four seas" the belief that there was a +white mountain of perfect form in Japan, +and that whoever ascended it would live +long and even attain immortality; and that +somewhere on the mountain was hidden the +elixir of immortality, which if any one drank +he would live forever. Now in one of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> +kingdoms of far-off China there lived a rich +old king, who had abundance of treasures, +health, and many children. But he did not +wish to die, and, hence, spent his days in +studying the lore and arts of the alchemists, +who believed they would finally attain to +the transmutation of lead into gold, find the +universal solvent of all things, the philosophers' +stone, the elixir of life, and all the +wondrous secrets which men in Europe long +afterward labored to discover.</p> + +<p>Among the king's sages was one old man +of mighty wisdom, who had heard of the +immortal mountain of Japan, and, learning +of the manner of its appearance, concluded +that the Japan Archipelago contained the +Fortunate Isles and in it was the true elixir +of life. He divulged his secret to the king, +and advised him to make the journey to the +Land of the Rising Sun.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span></p> +<p>Overjoyed at the good news and the faithfulness +of his loyal sage, the king loaded +him with gifts and honors. He selected +five hundred of the most beauteous youths +and virgins of his kingdom, and, fitting out +a fleet, sailed away to the Happy Isles of +the East. Coasting along the shore until +they recognized the glorious form of the +mountain, they landed and began the +ascent. Alas! for the poor king. The +rough sea and severe storms had worn on +his aged frame and the fatigues of the ascent +were so great, that before reaching the top +he fainted away, and before the head of the +procession had set foot on the crater edge +the monarch was dead. Sadly they gave +up the search for the elixir of life, and, descending +the mountain, buried their master +in the Province of Kii. Then, in their exuberance +of youth and joy, thinking little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> +of the far future and wishing to enjoy the +present, they separated in couples, married, +and, disposing of their ship and cargo, settled +in the country, and colonized the eastern +part of Japan.</p> + +<p>Long afterward, when Buddhist believers +came to Japan, one of them, climbing Fuji, +noticed that around its sunken crater were +eight peaks, like the petals of their sacred +lotus flower. Thus, it seemed to them, +Great Buddha had honored Japan, by bestowing +the sacred symbol of Nirvana, or +Heaven, on the proudest and highest part +of Japan. So they also named it Fuji, "the +sacred mountain"; and to this day all the +world calls this sacred mountain Fuji, or +Fusi Yama, while the Japanese people believe +that the earth which sunk in Omi is +the same which, piled to the clouds, is the +lordly mountain of Suruga. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="THE_WATERFALL_OF_YORO_OR_THE" id="THE_WATERFALL_OF_YORO_OR_THE"></a> +THE WATERFALL OF YORO, OR THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_l.jpg" width= "150" height= "281" alt="L" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 80px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 55px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">L</span>ONG, LONG, AGO, when the oldest +stork was young, there lived +an aged woodcutter and his son +on the slopes of the mountain +Tagi, in the province of Mino. +They gained a frugal livelihood by cutting +brushwood on the hill-side, and carrying it +in bundles on their back to sell in the nearest +market town; for they were too poor to +own an ox. With the money thus received +they bought rice and radishes, their daily +food.</p> + +<p>Only once or twice a year, at New +Year's and on the mikado's birthday, could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> +they afford to treat themselves to a mess of +bean-curd or fresh fish. Yet the old man +was very fond of rice-wine, and every week +bought a gourd full to keep his old blood +warm.</p> + +<p>As the years rolled on the aged father's +limbs became so stiff that he was unable any +longer to climb the mountains. So his son, +now grown to be a sturdy man, cut nearly +double the quantity of wood and thus kept +the family larder full. The old man was so +proud of his son that he daily stood at sunset +in front of his rustic gate to welcome +him back. And to see the old daddy and +the young stripling remove their headkerchiefs, +and bow with hands on knees in +polite fashion, bending their backs and sucking +in their breath, out of respect to each +other, and to hear them inquiring after one +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> +another's health, showering mutual compliments +all the time, one would have thought +they had not seen each other for eight years, +instead of eight hours.</p> + +<p>One winter the snow fell long and thick, +until all the ground in field and forest was +covered several feet over. The bamboo +branches bent with their weight of white, +the pine boughs broke under their load, and +even the stone idols along the wayside were +covered up. At first, even with the hardest +work, the young woodcutter could scarcely +get and sell wood to buy enough food to +keep them both alive. He often went hungry +himself, so that his father might have +his warm wine.</p> + +<p>One day he went by another path up one +of the mountain dells with his rope basket +strapped to his back, and the empty gourd-bottle +at his belt. While gloomily grieving +over his hard luck, the faint odor of rice-wine +seemed borne on the breeze.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span></p> +<p>He snuffed the air. It was no mistake. +"Here's luck, surely," said he, throwing +down his bundle.</p> + +<p>Hurrying forward he saw a foaming waterfall +tumbling over the rocks in a thick stream.</p> + +<p>As he drew near, some of the spray fell +on his tongue. He tasted it, smacked his +lips and throwing down his cord and basket +to the ground, filled his gourd and hastened +home to his father.</p> + +<p>Every day, till the end of his father's life, +did he come to this wonderful cascade of +wine, and thus the old man was nourished +for many a long year.</p> + +<p>The news of this fountain of youth spread +abroad until it reached the court. The +mikado, hearing of it, made a journey to +Mino to see the wonderful waterfall. In +honor of this event, and as a reward of filial<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> +piety, the name of the year-period was +changed to Yoro, (Nourishing Old Age).</p> + +<hr class="hr15" /> + +<p>To this day, many people young and old +go out to enjoy picnic parties at the foot of +the waterfall; which now, however, runs +honest water only, which makes the cheeks +red; and not the wonderful wine that once +tipped the old daddy's nose with perpetual +vermilion.</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="THE_EARTHQUAKE_FISH" id="THE_EARTHQUAKE_FISH"></a>THE EARTHQUAKE FISH.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_m.jpg" width= "150" height= "281" alt="M" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 90px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 75px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">M</span>UKASHI, MUKASHI, (as most +Japanese stories begin), long, +long ago, when the gods came +down from heaven to subdue the +earth for the mikados, and civilize +the country, there were a great many +earthquakes, and nothing to stop them. The +world continually rocked, and men's houses +and lives were never safe.</p> + +<p>Now the two gods who were charged with +the work of subduing the northeastern part +of the world were Kashima and Katori. +Having done their work well, and quieted +all the enemies of the Sun-goddess, they +came to the province of Hitachi. Kashima,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> +sticking his sword into the earth, ran it +through to the other side, leaving the hilt +above the ground. In the course of centuries +this mighty sword shrunk and turned to +stone, and the people gave it the name of +<i>Kanamé ishi</i>, (The rock of Kanamé).</p> + +<p>Now Kanamé means the rivet in a fan, +that holds all the sticks together, and they +gave the name "rivet-rock," because it is +the rivet that binds the earth together. No +one could ever lift this rock except Kashima +the mighty one who first set it in the earth.</p> + +<p>Yet even Kashima never raises it, except +to stop an earthquake of unusual violence. +When the earth quivers, it is because the +great earthquake-fish or <i>jishin-uwo</i> is restless +or angry. This <i>jishin-uwo</i> is a great +creature something like a catfish. It is about +seven hundred miles long, and holds the +world on its back. Its tail is at Awomori<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> +in the north, and the base of its head is at +Kioto, so that all Japan lies on top of it. +To his mouth are attached huge twirling +feelers, which are just like the hideous moustaches +which the hairy-faced men from beyond +the <i>Tai-kai</i> (Pacific Ocean) wear on +their lips. As soon as these begin to move, +it is a sign that the monster is in wrath. +When he gets angry, and flaps his tail or +bumps his head, there is an earthquake. +When he flounders about or rolls over, there +is terrible destruction of life and property +on the surface of the earth above.</p> + +<p>In order to keep the earthquake-fish quiet, +the great giant Kashima is appointed to +watch him. His business is to stand near +by, and when the monster becomes violent +Kashima must jump up and straddle him, +and hold his gills, put his foot on his fin;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> +and when necessary lift up the great rock +of Kanamé and hold him down with its +weight. Then he becomes perfectly quiet, +and the earthquake ceases. Hence the people +sing this earthquake verse:</p> +</div> + +<div class="center"> +<p class="center">"No monster can move the Kanamé rock<br /> +Though he tug at it never so hard,<br /> +For over it stands, resisting the shock,<br /> +The Kashima Kami on guard."<br /><br /></p> + +<p class="center">Another verse they sing as follows:<br /><br /></p> + +<p class="center">"These are things<br /> +An earthquake brings;<br /> +At nine of the bell they sickness fortell,<br /> +At five and seven betoken rain,<br /> +At four the sky is cleared thereby,<br /> +At six and eight comes wind again."<br /></p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="THE_DREAM_STORY_OF_GOJIRO." id="THE_DREAM_STORY_OF_GOJIRO."></a>THE DREAM STORY OF GOJIRO.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_o.jpg" width= "150" height= "295" alt="O" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 90px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 55px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>NLY a few years ago there was a +gentleman in Fukui, Japan, who +had a son, a bright lad of twelve, +who was very diligent at school +and had made astonishing progress +in his studies. He was especially quick +at learning Chinese characters, of which +every Japanese gentleman who wishes to be +called educated must know at least two +thousand. For, although the Chinese and +Japanese are two very different languages, +yet the Japanese, Coreans and Chinese use +the same letters to write with, just as English, +Germans, French and Spaniards all +employ one and the same alphabet.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span></p> +<p>Now Gojiro's father had promised him +that when he read through five volumes of +the Nihongi, or Ancient History of Japan, +he would give him for a present a book of +wonderful Chinese stories. Gojiro performed +his task, and his father kept his +promise. One day on his return from a +journey to Kioto, he presented his son with +sixteen volumes, all neatly silk-bound, well +illustrated with wood-cuts, and printed +clearly on thin, silky mulberry paper, from +the best wooden blocks. It will be remembered +that several volumes of Japanese literature +make but one of ours, as they are +much lighter and thinner than ours.</p> + +<p>Gojiro was so delighted with the wonderful +stories of heroes and warriors, travelers +and sailors, that he almost felt himself in +China. He read far into the night, with the +lamp inside of his musquito curtain; and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> +finally fell asleep, still undressed, but with +his head full of all sorts of Chinese wonders.</p> + +<p>He dreamed he was far away in China, +walking along the banks of the great Yellow +River. Everything was very strange. +The people talked an entirely different +language from his own; had on different +clothes; and, instead of the nice shaven head +and top-knot of the Japanese, every one +wore a long pigtail of hair, that dangled at +his heels. Even the boats were of a strange +form, and on the fishing smacks perched on +projecting rails, sat rows of cormorants, +each with a ring around his neck. Every +few minutes one of them would dive under +the water, and after a while come struggling +up with a fish in its mouth, so big that the +fishermen had to help the bird into the boat. +The game was then flung into a basket, and +the cormorant was treated to a slice of raw<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> +fish, by way of encouragement and to keep +the bird from the bad habit of eating the +live fish whole. This the ravenous bird +would sometimes try to do, even though the +ring was put around his neck for the express +purpose of preventing him from gulping +down a whole fish at once.</p> + +<p>It was springtime, and the buds were +just bursting into flower. The river was +full of fish, especially of carp, ascending to +the great rapids or cascades. Here the current +ran at a prodigious rate of swiftness, +and the waters rippled and boiled and roared +with frightful noise. Yet, strange to say, +many of the fish were swimming up the +stream as if their lives depended on it. +They leaped and floundered about; but +every one seemed to be tossed back and left +exhausted in the river, where they panted +and gasped for breath in the eddies at the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> +side. Some were so bruised against the +rocks that, after a few spasms, they floated +white and stiff, belly up, on the water, dead, +and were swept down the stream. Still the +shoal leaped and strained every fin, until +their scales flashed in the sun like a host of +armored warriors in battle. Gojiro, enjoying +it as if it were a real conflict of wave +and fishes, clapped his hands with delight.</p> + +<p>Then Gojiro inquired, by means of writing, +of an old white-bearded sage standing +by and looking on: "What is the name of +this part of the river?"</p> + +<p>"We call it Lung Men," said the sage.</p> + +<p>"Will you please write the characters for +it," said Gojiro, producing his ink-case and +brush-pen, with a roll of soft mulberry paper.</p> + +<p>The sage wrote the two Chinese characters, +meaning "The Gate of the Dragons," +or "Dragons' Gate," and turned away to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> +watch a carp that seemed almost up into +smooth water.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I see," said Gojiro to himself. +"That's pronounced Riu Mon in Japanese. +I'll go further on and see. There must be +some meaning in this fish-climbing." He +went forward a few rods, to where the +banks trended upward into high bluffs, +crowned by towering firs, through the top +branches of which fleecy white clouds +sailed slowly along, so near the sky did the +tree-tops seem. Down under the cliffs the +river ran perfectly smooth, almost like a +mirror, and broadened out to the opposite +shore. Far back, along the current, he +could still see the rapids shelving down. It +was crowded at the bottom with leaping +fish, whose numbers gradually thinned out +toward the center; while near the top, close +to the edge of level water, one solitary fish,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> +of powerful fin and tail, breasted the steep +stream. Now forward a leap, then a slide +backward, sometimes further to the rear +than the next leap made up for, then steady +progress, then a slip, but every moment +nearer, until, clearing foam and ripple and +spray at one bound, it passed the edge and +swam happily in smooth water.</p> + +<p>It was inside the Dragon Gate.</p> + +<p>Now came the wonderful change. One +of the fleecy white clouds suddenly left the +host in the deep blue above, dipped down +from the sky, and swirling round and round +as if it were a water spout, scratched and +frayed the edge of the water like a fisher's +troll. The carp saw and darted toward it. +In a moment the fish was transformed into +a white dragon, and, rising into the cloud, +floated off toward Heaven. A streak or two +of red fire, a gleam of terrible eyes, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> +flash of white scales was all that Gojiro saw. +Then he awoke.</p> + +<p>"How strange that a poor little carp, a +common fish that lives in the river, should +become a great white dragon, and soar up +into the sky, to live there," thought Gojiro, +the next day, as he told his mother of his +dream.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said she; "and what a lesson for +you. See how the carp persevered, leaping +over all difficulties, never giving up till it +became a dragon. I hope my son will +mount over all obstacles, and rise to honor +and to high office under the government."</p> + +<p>"Oh! oh! now I see!" said Gojiro. "That +is what my teacher means when he says the +students in Tokio have a saying, 'I'm a +fish to day, but I hope to be a dragon to-morrow,' +when they go to attend examination; +and that's what Papa meant when +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span>he said: 'That fish's son, Kofuku, has +become a white dragon, while I am yet only +a carp.'" +<a name="PicPage234" id="PicPage234"></a></p> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/pg234.jpg" width="500" height="751" +alt="THE ASCENT OF THE DRAGON'S GATE." +title="THE ASCENT OF THE DRAGON'S GATE." /> +<p class="caption">THE ASCENT OF THE DRAGON'S GATE. +</p> +</div> + +<p>So on the third day of the third month, +at the Feast of Flags, Gojiro hoisted the +<i>nobori</i>. It was a great fish, made of paper, +fifteen feet long and hollow like a bag. It +was yellow, with black scales and streaks of +gold, and red gills and mouth, in which two +strong strings were fastened. It was hoisted +up by a rope to the top of a high bamboo +pole on the roof of the house. There the +breeze caught it, swelled it out round and +full of air. The wind made the fins work, +and the tail flap, and the head tug, until it +looked just like a carp trying to swim the +rapids of the Yellow River—the symbol of +ambition and perseverance.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="THE_PROCESSION_OF_LORD_LONG-LEGS" id="THE_PROCESSION_OF_LORD_LONG-LEGS"></a>THE PROCESSION OF LORD LONG-LEGS.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_l.jpg" width= "150" height= "281" alt="L" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 80px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 55px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">L</span>OVELY AND BRIGHT in the +month of May, at the time of rice-planting, +was the day on which +the daimio, Lord Long-legs, was +informed by his chamberlain, +Hop-hop, that on the morrow his lordship's +retinue would be in readiness to accompany +their worshipful Lord Long-legs on his +journey. This Lord Long-legs was a daimio +who ruled over four acres of rice-field in +Echizen, whose revenue was ten thousand +rice-stalks. His retainers, who were all +grasshoppers, numbered over six thousand, +while his court consisted only of nobles,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> +such as Mantis, Beetle, and Pinching-bug. +The maids of honor who waited on his queen +Katydid, were lady-bugs, butterflies, and +goldsmiths, and his messengers were fire-flies +and dragon-flies. Once in a while a +beetle was sent on an errand; but these +stupid fellows had such a habit of running +plump into things, and bumping their heads +so badly that they always forgot what they +were sent for. Besides these, he had a great +many servants in the kitchen—such as +grubs, spiders, toads, etc. The entire population +of his dominion, including the common +folks, numbered several millions, and +ranked all the way from horse-flies down to +ants, mosquitoes, and ticks.</p> + +<p>Many of his subjects were very industrious +and produced fine fabrics, which, however, +were seized and made use of by great monsters, +called men. Thus the gray worms<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span> +kept spinning-wheels in their heads. They +had a fashion of eating mulberry leaves, and +changing them into fine threads, called silk. +The wasps made paper, and the bees distilled +honey. There was another insect +which spread white wax on the trees. These +were all retainers or friendly vassals of Lord +Long-legs.</p> + +<p>Now it was Lord Long-legs' duty once a +year to go up to Yedo to pay his respects to +the great Tycoon and to spend several weeks +in the Eastern metropolis. I shall not take +the time nor tax the patience of my readers +in telling about all the bustle and preparation +that went on in the yashiki (mansion) +of Lord Long-legs for a whole week previous +to starting. Suffice it to say that clothes +were washed and starched, and dried on a +board, to keep them from shrinking; trunks +and baskets were packed; banners and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span> +umbrellas were put in order; the lacquer on +the brass ornaments; shields and swords +and spears were all polished; and every little +item was personally examined by the +daimio's chief inspector. This functionary +was a black-and-white-legged mosquito, who, +on account of his long nose, could pry into +a thing further and see it easier than any +other of his lordship's officers; and, if anything +went wrong, he could make more noise +over it than any one else. As for the retainers, +down to the very last lackey and +coolie, each one tried to outshine the other +in cleanliness and spruce dress.</p> + +<p>The Bumble-bee brushed off the pollen +from his legs; and the humbler Honey-bee, +after allowing his children to suck his +paws, to get the honey sticking to them, +spruced up and listened attentively to the +orders read to him by the train-leader, Sir<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> +Locust, who prided himself on being seventeen +years old, and looked on all the others +as children. He read from a piece of wasp-nest +paper: "No leaving the line to suck +flowers, except at halting-time." The Blue-tailed +Fly washed his hands and face over +and over again. The lady-bugs wept many +tears, because they could not go with the +company; the crickets chirped rather +gloomily, because none with short limbs +could go on the journey; while Daddy +Long-legs almost turned a somersault for joy +when told he might carry a bundle in the +train. All being in readiness, the procession +was to start at six o'clock in the morning. +The exact minute was to be announced +by the time-keeper of the mansion, Flea +san, whose house was on the back of Neko, +a great black cat, who lived in the porter's +lodge of the castle, near by. Flea san was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> +to notice the opening or slits in the monster's +moony-green eyes, which when closed +to a certain width would indicate six o'clock. +Then with a few jumps she was to announce +it to a mosquito friend of hers, who would +fly with the news to the gate-keeper of the +yashiki, one Whirligig by name.</p> + +<p>So, punctually to the hour, the great +double gate swung wide open, and the procession +passed out and marched on over the +hill. All the servants of Lord Long-legs +were out, to see the grand sight. They +were down on their knees, saying: "O +shidzukani," (please go slowly). When their +master's palanquin passed, they bowed their +heads to the dust, as was proper. The ladies, +who were left behind, cried bitterly, and +soaked their paper handkerchiefs with tears, +especially one fair brown creature, who was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> +next of kin to Lord Long-legs, being an ant +on his mother's side.</p> + +<p>The procession was closed by six old +daddies (spiders), marching two by two, +who were a little stupid and groggy, having +had a late supper, and a jolly feast the night +before. When the great gate slammed shut, +one of them caught the end of his foot in it, +and was lamed for the rest of the journey. +This old Daddy Long-legs, hobbling along, +with a bundle on his back, was the only +funny thing in the procession, and made +much talk among bystanders on the road.</p> + +<p>This is the order and the way they looked. +First there went out, far ahead, a plump, tall +Mantis, with a great long baton of grass, +which he swung to and fro before him, from +right to left, (like a drum-major), crying +out: "<i>Shitaniro</i>, down on your knees! +Get down with you!" Whereat all the ants,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> +bugs and lizards at once bent their forelegs, +and the toads, which were already squatting, +bobbed their noses in the dust. Even the +mud-turtles poked their heads out of the +water to see what was going on. All the +worms and grubs who lived up in trees or +tall bushes had to come down to the ground. +It was forbidden to any insect to remain on +a high stalk of grass, lest he might look +down on His Highness. Even the Inch-worm +had to wind himself up and stop +measuring his length, while the line was +passing. And in case of grubs or moths in +the nest or cocoon, too young to crawl out, +the law compelled their parents to cover +them over with a leaf. It would be an insult +to Lord Long-legs to look down on him. +Next followed two lantern-bearers, holding +glow-worms for lanterns in their fore-paws. +These were wrapped in cases made of leaves,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> +which they took off at night. Behind were six +fire-flies, well supplied with self-acting lamps, +which they kept hidden somewhere under +their wings. Next marched four abreast +the band of little weevils, carrying the umbrellas +of state, which were morning-glories—some +open, some shut. Behind them +strutted four green grasshoppers, who were +spear-bearers, carrying pink blossoms. Just +before the palanquin were two tall dandies, +high lords themselves and of gigantic stature +and imposing bellies, who, with arms akimbo +and feelers far up in the air, bore aloft high +over all the insignia of their Lord Long-legs. +All these fellows strutted along on +their hind legs, their backs as stiff as a hemp +stalk, their noses pointing to the stars, and +their legs striding like stilts. The priest in +his robes, a praying beetle, who was chaplain, +walked on solemnly.</p> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span></p> +<p>Meanwhile a great crowd of spectators +lined the path; but all were on their knees. +Frogs and toads blinked out of the sides of +their heads. The pretty red lizards glided +out, to see the splendid show; worms stopped +crawling; and all kinds of bugs ceased +climbing, and came down from the grass and +flower-stalks, to bow humbly before the +train of Lord Long-legs. Bug mothers +hastened, with their bug babies on their +backs, down to the road, and, squatting +down, taught their little nits to put their +fore-paws politely together and bow down +on their front knees. No one dared to speak +out loud; but the mole-cricket, nudging his +fellow under the wing, said: "Just look at +that green Mantis! He looks as though 'he +would rush out with a battle-ax on his +shoulder to meet a chariot.' See how he +ogles his fellow!"</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span></p> +<p>"Yes; and just behold that bandy-legged +hopper, will you? I could walk better than +that myself," said the other.</p> + +<p>"'Sh!" said the mole-cricket. "Here +comes the palanquin."</p> + +<p>Everybody now cast a squint up under +their eyebrows, and watched the palanquin +go by. It was made of delicately-woven +striped grass, bound with bamboo threads, +lacquered, and finished with curtains of +gauze, made of dragon-fly wings, through +which Lord Long-legs could peep. It was +borne on the shoulders of four stalwart hoppers, +who, carrying rest-poles of grass, +trudged along, with much sweat and fuss +and wiping of their foreheads, stopping occasionally +to change shoulders. At their +side walked a body-guard of eight hoppers, +armed with pistils, and having side-arms of +sword-grass. They were also provided with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> +poison-shoots, in case of trouble. Other +bearers followed, keeping step and carrying +the regalia, consisting of chrysanthemum +stalks and blossoms. Then followed, in +double rank, a long string of wasps, who +were for show and nothing more. Between +them, inside, carefully saddled, bridled, and +in full housings, was a horse-fly, led by a +snail, to keep the restive animal from going +at a too rapid pace.</p> + +<p>Three big, gawky helmet-headed beetles +next followed, bearing rice-sprouts, with +full heads of rice.</p> + +<p>"Oh! oh! look there!" cried a little grub +at the side of the road. "See the little +grasshopper riding on his father's back!"</p> + +<p>"Hai," said Mother Butterfly, putting one +paw on her baby's neck, for fear of being +arrested for making a noise.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span></p> +<p>It was so. The little 'hopper, tired of +long walking, had climbed on his father's +back for a ride, holding on by the feelers +and seeing everything.</p> + +<p>Finally, toward the end of the procession, +was a great crowd of common 'hoppers, +beetles, and bugs of all sorts, carrying the +presents to be given in Yedo, and the +clothing, food and utensils for the use of +Lord Long-legs on the journey; for the +hotels were sometimes very poor on the +Tokaido high road, and the daimio liked +his comforts. Besides, it was necessary for +Lord Long-legs to travel with proper dignity, +as became a daimio. His messengers +always went before and engaged lodging-places, +as the fleas, spiders and mosquitoes +from other localities, who traveled up and +down the great high road, sometimes occupied +the places first. The procession wound<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span> +up by the rear-guard of Daddy Long-legs, +who prevented any insult or disrespect from +the rabble. After the line had passed, insects +could cross the road, traffic and travel +were resumed, and the road was cleared, +while the procession faded from view in the +distance.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="KIYOHIME_OR_THE_POWER_OF_LOVE" id="KIYOHIME_OR_THE_POWER_OF_LOVE"></a>KIYOHIME, OR THE POWER OF LOVE.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_q.jpg" width= "150" height= "281" alt="Q" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 90px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 70px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">Q</span>UIET AND SHADY was the spot +in the midst of one of the loveliest +valley landscapes in the +empire, near the banks of the +Hidaka river, where stood the tea-house +kept by one Kojima. It was surrounded on +all sides by glorious mountains, ever robed +with deep forests, silver-threaded with +flashing water-falls, to which the lovers of +nature paid many a visit, and in which +poets were inspired to write stanzas in +praise of the white foam and the twinkling +streamlets. Here the bonzes loved to muse +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span> +and meditate, and anon merry picnic parties +spread their mats, looped their canvas +screens, and feasted out of nests of lacquered +boxes, drinking the amber saké from cups +no larger nor thicker than an egg-shell, +while the sound of guitar and drum kept +time to dance and song.</p> + +<p>The garden of the tea-house was as lovely +a piece of art as the florist's cunning could +produce. Those who emerged from the +deep woods of the lofty hill called the +Dragon's Claw, could see in the tea-house +garden a living copy of the landscape before +them. There were mimic mountains, (ten +feet high), and miniature hills veined by a +tiny, path with dwarfed pine groves, and +tiny bamboo clumps, and a patch of grass for +meadow, and a valley just like the great +gully of the mountains, only a thousand +times smaller, and but twenty feet long. So +perfect was the imitation that even the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> +miniature irrigated rice-fields, each no larger +than a checker-board, were in full sprout. +To make this little gem of nature in art +complete, there fell from over a rock at one +end a lovely little waterfall two feet high, +which after an angry splash over the stones, +rolled on over an absurdly small beech, all +white-sanded and pebbled, threading its +silver way beyond, until lost in fringes of +lilies and aquatic plants. In one broad space +imitating a lake, was a lotus pond, lined +with iris, in which the fins of gold fish +and silver carp flashed in the sunbeams. +Here and there the nose of a tortoise protruded, +while on a rugged rock sat an old +grandfather surveying the scene with one or +two of his grand-children asleep on his shell +and sunning themselves.</p> + +<p>The fame of the tea-house, its excellent +fare, and special delicacy of its mountain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span> +trout, sugar-jelly and well-flavored rice-cakes, +drew hundreds of visitors, especially +poetry-parties, and lovers of grand scenery.</p> + +<p>Just across the river, which was visible +from the verandah of the tea-house, stood +the lofty firs that surrounded the temple of +the Tendai Buddhists. Hard by was the +pagoda, which painted red peeped between +the trees. A long row of paper-windowed +and tile-roofed dwellings to the right made +up the monastery, in which a snowy eye-browed +but rosy-faced old abbot and some +twenty bonzes dwelt, all shaven-faced and +shaven-pated, in crape robes and straw +sandals, their only food being water and +vegetables.</p> + +<p>Not the least noticeable of the array of +stone lanterns, and bronze images with +aureoles round their heads, and incense +burners and holy water tanks, and dragon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span> +spouts, was the belfry, which stood on a +stone platform. Under its roof hung the +massive bronze bell ten feet high, which, +when struck with a suspended log like a +trip-hammer, boomed solemnly over the +valley and flooded three leagues of space +with the melody which died away as sweetly +as an infant falling in slumber. This +mighty bell was six inches thick and weighed +several tons.</p> + +<p>In describing the tea-house across the +river, the story of its sweetest charm, and +of its garden the fairest flower must not be +left untold. Kiyo, the host's daughter, was +a lovely maiden of but eighteen, as graceful +as the bamboo reed swaying in the breeze +of a moonlit summer's eve, and as pretty as +the blossoms of the cherry-tree. Far and +wide floated the fame of Kiyo, like the +fragrance of the white lilies of Ibuki, when<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span> +the wind sweeping down the mountain +heights, comes perfume-laden to the traveler.</p> + +<p>As she busied herself about the garden, +or as her white socks slipped over the mat-laid +floor, she was the picture of grace itself. +When at twilight, with her own hands, she +lighted the gay lanterns that hung in festoons +along the eaves of the tea-house above the +verandah, her bright eyes sparkling, her red +petticoats half visible through her semi-transparent +crape robe, she made many a +young man's heart glow with a strange new +feeling, or burn with pangs of jealousy.</p> + +<p>Among the priests that often passed by +the tea-house on their way to the monastery, +were some who were young and handsome.</p> + +<p>It was the rule of the monastery that none +of the bonzes should drink saké (wine) eat +fish or meat, or even stop at the tea-houses +to talk with women. But one young bonze<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span> +named "Lift-the-Kettle" (after a passage in +the Sanscrit classics) had rigidly kept the +rules. Fish had never passed his mouth; +and as for saké, he did not know even its +taste. He was very studious and diligent. +Every day he learned ten new Chinese +characters. He had already read several of +the sacred sutras, had made a good beginning +in Sanskrit, knew the name of every +idol in the temple of the 3,333 images in +Kioto, had twice visited the sacred shrine +of the Capital, and had uttered the prayer +"Namu miō ho ren gé kiō," ("Glory be to +the sacred lotus of the law"), counting it on +his rosary, five hundred thousand times. +For sanctity and learning he had no peer +among the young neophytes of the bonzerie.</p> + +<p>Alas for "Lift-the-Kettle!". One day, +after returning from a visit to a famous +shrine in the Kuanto, (Eastern Japan), as he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> +was passing the tea-house, he caught sight +of Kiyohimé, (the "lady" or "princess" +Kiyo), and from that moment his pain of +heart began. He returned to his bed of +mats, but not to sleep. For days he tried +to stifle his passion, but his heart only +smouldered away like an incense-stick.</p> + +<p>Before many days he made a pretext for +again passing the house. Hopelessly in love, +without waiting many days he stopped and +entered the tea-house.</p> + +<p>His call for refreshments was answered +by Kiyohimé herself!</p> + +<p>As fire kindles fire, so priest and maiden +were now consumed in one flame of love. +To shorten a long story, "Lift-the-Kettle" +visited the inn oftener and oftener, even +stealing out at night to cross the river and +spend the silent hours with his love.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span></p> +<p>So passed several months, when suddenly +a change come over the young bonze. His +conscience began to trouble him for breaking +his vows. In the terrible conflict between +principle and passion, the soul of the +priest was tossed to and fro like the feathered +seed-ball of a shuttlecock.</p> + +<p>But conscience was the stronger, and +won.</p> +</div> + +<p>He resolved to drown his love and break +off his connection with the girl. To do it +suddenly, would bring grief to her and a +scandal both on her family and the monastery. +He must do it gradually to succeed +at all.</p> + +<p>Ah! how quickly does the sensitive love-plant +know the finger-tip touch of cooling +passion! How quickly falls the silver +column in the crystal tube, at the first breath +of the heart's chill even though the words<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span> +on the lip are warm! Kiyohimé marked +the ebbing tide of her lover's regard, and +then a terrible resolve of evil took possession +of her soul. From that time forth, she +ceased to be a pure and innocent and gentle +virgin. Though still in maiden form and +guise, she was at heart a fox, and as to her +nature she might as well have worn the +bushy tail of the sly deceiver. She resolved +to win over her lover, by her importunities, +and failing in this, to destroy him by sorcery.</p> + +<p>One night she sat up until two o'clock in +the morning, and then, arrayed only in a +white robe, she went out to a secluded part +of the mountain where in a lonely shrine +stood a hideous scowling image of Fudo, +who holds the sword of vengeance and sits +clothed in fire. There she called upon the +god to change her lover's heart or else destroy +him.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span></p> +<p>Thence, with her head shaking, and eyes +glittering with anger like the orbs of a +serpent, she hastened to the shrine of Kampira, +whose servants are the long-nosed +sprites, who have the power of magic and +of teaching sorcery. Standing in front of +the portal she saw it hung with votive tablets, +locks of hair, teeth, various tokens +of vows, pledges and marks of sacrifice, +which the devotees of the god had hung up. +There, in the cold night air she asked for +the power of sorcery, that she might be able +at will to transform herself into the terrible +<i>ja</i>,—the awful dragon-serpent whose engine +coils are able to crack bones, crush rocks, +melt iron or root up trees, and which are +long enough to wind round a mountain.</p> + +<p>It would be too long to tell how this once +pure and happy maiden, now turned to an +avenging demon went out nightly on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> +lonely mountains to practice the arts of +sorcery. The mountain-sprites were her +teachers, and she learned so diligently that +the chief goblin at last told her she would +be able, without fail, to transform herself +when she wished.</p> + +<p>The dreadful moment was soon to come. +The visits of the once lover-priest gradually +became fewer and fewer, and were no longer +tender hours of love, but were on his part +formal interviews, while Kiyohimé became +more importunate than ever. Tears and +pleadings were alike useless, and finally one +night as he was taking leave, the bonze told +the maid that he had paid his last visit. +Kiyohimé then utterly forgetting all womanly +delicacy, became so urgent that the bonze +tore himself away and fled across the river. +He had seen the terrible gleam in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span> +maiden's eyes, and now terribly frightened, +hid himself under the great temple bell.</p> + +<p>Forthwith Kiyohimé, seeing the awful +moment had come, pronounced the spell of +incantation taught her by the mountain +spirit, and raised her T-shaped wand. In +a moment her fair head and lovely face, +body, limbs and feet lengthened out, disappeared, +or became demon-like, and a fire-darting, +hissing-tongued serpent, with eyes +like moons trailed over the ground towards +the temple, swam the river, and scenting +out the track of the fugitive, entered the +belfry, cracking the supporting columns +made of whole tree-trunks into a mass of +ruins, while the bell fell to the earth with +the cowering victim inside.</p> + +<p>Then began the winding of the terrible +coils round and round the metal, as with her +wand of sorcery in her hands, she mounted +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span>the bell. The glistening scales, hard as +iron, struck off sparks as the pressure increased. +Tighter and tighter they were +drawn, till the heat of the friction consumed +the timbers and made the metal glow hot +like fire. +<a name="PicPage262" id="PicPage262"></a></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/pg262.jpg" width="600" height="403" +alt="THE SORCERESS MELTING THE BELL." +title="THE SORCERESS MELTING THE BELL." /> +<p class="caption">THE SORCERESS MELTING THE BELL. +</p> +</div> + +<p>Vain was the prayer of priest, or spell of +rosary, as the bonzes piteously besought +great Buddha to destroy the demon. Hotter +and hotter grew the mass, until the +ponderous metal melted down into a hissing +pool of scintillating molten bronze; and +soon, man within and serpent without, timber +and tiles and ropes were nought but a +few handfuls of white ashes.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="THE_FISHERMAN_AND_THE_MOON-MAIDEN" id="THE_FISHERMAN_AND_THE_MOON-MAIDEN"></a>THE FISHERMAN AND THE MOON-MAIDEN.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_p.jpg" width= "150" height= "281" alt="P" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 90px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 55px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">P</span>EARLY and lustrous white, like a +cloud in the far-off blue sky, +seemed the floating figure of the +moon-maiden, as she flew to +earth. She was one of the fifteen +glistening virgins that wait attendant upon +the moon in her chambers in the sky. Looking +down from her high home to the earth, +she became enraptured with the glorious +scenery of Suruga's ocean shore, and longed +for a bath in the blue waters of the sea.</p> + +<p>So this fairy maid sped to the earth one +morning early, when the moon having shone +through the night was about to retire for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span> +the day. The sun was rising bright and red +over the eastern seas, flushing the mountains +and purpling the valleys. Out amid +the sparkling waves the ships sailed toward +the sun, and the fishermen cast their nets.</p> + +<p>It was in early spring, when the air was +full of the fragrance of plum blossoms, and +the zephyrs blew so softly that scarce a +bamboo leaf quivered, or a wave lapsed with +sound on the silvery shore.</p> + +<p>The moon-maiden was so charmed with +the scenery of earth, that she longed to linger +above it to gaze tranquilly. Floating +slowly through the air, she directed her +course to the pine groves that fringe the +strand near Cape Miwo. Lying at the base +of Fuji mountain, whose snowy crown glistens +above, fronting the ocean, whose blue +plain undulates in liquid glory till it meets +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> +the bending sky, the scenery of Miwo is renowned +everywhere under the whole heavens, +but especially in the land which the +mikado's reign blesses with peace.</p> + +<p>Full of happiness, the fairy maiden played +sweet music from her flute, until the air was +full of it, and it sounded to the dweller on +earth like the sweet falling of rain drops on +the thirsty ground. Her body shed sweet +fragrance through the air, and flowers fell +from her robes as she passed. Though none +saw her form, all wondered.</p> + +<p>Arriving over a charming spot on the sea +shore, she descended to the strand, and +stood at the foot of a pine tree. She laid +her musical instrument on a rock near by, +and taking off her wings and feathered suit +hung them carefully on the pine tree bough. +Then she strolled off along the shore to dip +her shining feet in the curling waves.</p> + +<p>Picking up some shells, she wondered with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> +innocent joy at the rich tints, which seemed +more beautiful than any color in the moon-world. +With one, a large smooth scallop, +she was particularly pleased; for inside one +valve was a yellow disc, and on its mate +was a white one.</p> + +<p>"How strange," said she. "Here is the +sun, and there is the moon. I shall call this +the <i>Tsuki-hi-kai</i>—'sun and moon shell'," and +she put them in her girdle.</p> + +<p>It chanced that near the edge of the pine +grove, not far away, there dwelt a lone fisherman, +who, coming down to the shore, +caught a whiff of sweet perfume such as had +never before delighted his nostrils. What +could it be? The spring zephyrs, blowing +from the west, seemed laden with the sweet +odor.</p> + +<p>Curiosity prompted him to seek the cause. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span> +He walked toward the pine tree, and looking +up, caught sight of the feathery suit of +wings. Oh! how his eyes sparkled. He +danced for joy, and taking down the robe +carried it to his neighbors. All were delighted, +and one old man said that the fairy +must herself be near by. He advised the +man to seek until he found her.</p> + +<p>So with feathered robe in hand the fisherman +went out again to the strand, and took +his place near the pine tree. He had not +waited long before a lovely being, with rose-tinted +white skin and of perfect form, appeared.</p> + +<p>"Please good sir, give me back my feathered +robe," said she, in a sad voice of liquid +sweetness, though she seemed greatly frightened.</p> + +<p>"No, I must keep it as a sacred treasure, +a relic from a heavenly visitor, and dedicate +it in the shrine yonder as a memorial of an +angel's visit" said the fisherman.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span></p> +<p>"Oh, wicked man, what a wretched and +impious thing to rob an inhabitant of heaven +of the robe by which she moves. How can +I fly back to my home again?"</p> + +<p>"Give me your wings, oh ye wild geese +that fly across the face of the moon, and on +tireless pinions seek the icy shores in spring +time, and soar unwearied homeward in +autumn. Lend me your wings."</p> + +<p>But the wild geese overhead only whirred +and screamed, and bit their sprays of pine +which they carried in their mouth.</p> + +<p>"Oh, ye circling gulls, lend me but for a +day your downy wings. I am prisoner here", +cried the weeping fairy.</p> + +<p>But the graceful gulls hovering for a +moment swept on in widening circles out +to farther sea.</p> + +<p>"Oh, breezes of the air which blow +whither ye list! Oh, tide of ocean which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span> +ebbs and flows at will! Ye may move all, +but I am prisoner here, devoid of motion. +Oh, good sir have pity and give me back +my wings," cried the moon-maiden, pressing +her hands together in grief.</p> + +<p>The fisher's heart was touched by the +pathos of her voice and the glittering of her +tears.</p> + +<p>"I'll give back your winged-robe if you'll +dance and make music for me", said he.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, good sir, I will dance and make +music, but first let me put on my feather-robe +for without it I have no power of motion."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes", said the suspicious mortal, "If +I give you back your wings you'll fly straight +to heaven."</p> + +<p>"What! can you not believe the word of +a heavenly being, without doubting? Trust +me in good faith and you'll lose nothing."</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span></p> +<p>Then with shamed face the fisherman +handed to the moon-maiden her feathered +robe, which she donned and began to dance. +She poured out such sweet strains from her +upright flute that with eye and ear full of +rapture, the fisherman imagined himself in +heaven. Then she sang a sweet song in +which she described the delights of life in +the moon and the pleasure of celestial residence.</p> +</div> + +<p>The fisherman was so overjoyed that he +longed to detain the fairy. He begged her +to dwell with him on earth, but in vain. +As he looked, he saw her rising. A fresh +breeze, rippling the face of the sea, now +sprang up, and wafted the pearly maiden +over the pine-clad hills and past Fuji mountain. +All the time sweet music rained +through the air until, as the fisherman +strained his eyes toward the fresh-fallen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span> +snow on Fuji's crest, he could no longer distinguish +the moon-maiden from the fleecy +clouds that filled the thin air.</p> + +<p>Pondering long upon the marvelous apparition, +the fisherman resolved to mark the +spot where the fairy first descended to earth. +So he prevailed upon the simple villagers +to build a railing of stone around the now +sacred pine.</p> + +<p>Daily they garlanded the old trunk with festoons +of tasseled and twisted rice-straw. +Long after, when by the storms of centuries +the old pine, in spite of bandages and +crutches, and tired of wrestling with the +blast, fell down like an old man, to rise no +more, a grateful posterity cleared the space +and built the shrine of Miwo, which still +dots with its sacred enclosure the strand of +Suruga on which the fairy danced. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="THE_JEWELS_OF_THE_EBBING_AND" id="THE_JEWELS_OF_THE_EBBING_AND"></a> +THE JEWELS OF THE EBBING AND +THE FLOWING TIDE.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_c.jpg" width= "150" height= "281" alt="C" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 110px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 90px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">C</span>HIUAI was the fourteenth mikado +of the Land of the Gods (Japan). +His wife, the empress, was named +Jingu, or Godlike Exploit. She +was a wise and discreet lady and +assisted her husband to govern his dominions. +When a great rebellion broke out in +the south island called Kiushiu, the mikado +marched his army against the rebels. The +empress went with him and lived in the +camp. One night, as she lay asleep in her +tent, she dreamed that a heavenly being appeared +to her and told her of a wonderful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span> +land in the west, full of gold, silver, jewels, +silks and precious stones. The heavenly +messenger told her if she would invade this +country she would succeed, and all its spoil +would be hers, for herself and Japan.</p> + +<p>"Conquer Corea!" said the radiant being, +as she floated away on a purple cloud.</p> + +<p>In the morning the empress told her husband +of her dream, and advised him to set +out to invade the rich land. But he paid +no attention of her. When she insisted, in +order to satisfy her, he climbed up a high +mountain, and looking far away towards the +setting sun, saw no land thither, not even +mountain peaks. So, believing that there +was no country in that direction he descended, +and angrily refused to set out on the +expedition. Shortly after, in a battle with +the rebels the mikado was shot dead with +an arrow.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span></p> +<p>The generals and captains of the host +then declared their loyalty to the empress +as the sole ruler of Japan. She, now having +the power, resolved to carry out her +daring plan of invading Corea. She invoked +all the <i>kami</i> or gods together, from +the mountains, rivers and plains to get their +advice and help. All came at her call. The +kami of the mountains gave her timber and +iron for her ships; the kami of the fields +presented rice and grain for provisions; the +kami of the grasses gave her hemp for cordage; +and the kami of the winds promised +to open his bag and let out his breezes to +fill her sails toward Corea. All came except +Isora, the kami of the sea shore. Again +she called for him and sat up waiting all +night with torches burning, invoking him +to appear.</p> + +<p>Now, Isora was a lazy fellow, always<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span> +slovenly and ill-dressed, and when at last he +did come, instead of appearing in state in +splendid robes, he rose right out of the sea-bottom, +covered with mud and slime, with +shells sticking all over him and sea-weed +clinging to his hair. He gruffly asked what +the empress wanted.</p> + +<p>"Go down to Riu Gu and beg his +majesty Kai Riu O, the Dragon King of the +World Under the Sea, to give me the two +jewels of the tides," said the imperial lady.</p> + +<p>Now among the treasures in the palace of +the Dragon King of the World Under the +Sea were two jewels having wondrous power +over the tides. They were about as large +as apples, but shaped like apricots, with +three rings cut near the top. They seemed +to be of crystal, and glistened and shot out +dazzling rays like fire. Indeed, they appeared +to seethe and glow like the eye of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span> +dragon, or the white-hot steel of the sword-forger. +One was called the Jewel of the +Flood-Tide, and the other the Jewel of the +Ebb-Tide. Whoever owned them had the +power to make the tides instantly rise or +fall at his word, to make the dry land appear, +or the sea overwhelm it, in the fillip +of a finger.</p> + +<p>Isora dived with a dreadful splash, down, +down to Riu Gu, and straightway presented +himself before Kai Riu O. In the name of +the empress, he begged for the two tide-jewels.</p> + +<p>The Dragon King agreed, and producing +the flaming globes from his casket, placed +them on a huge shell and handed them to +Isora, who brought the jewels to Jingu, who +placed them in her girdle.</p> + +<p>The empress now prepared her fleet for +Corean invasion. Three thousand barges<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span> +were built and launched, and two old kami +with long streaming gray hair and wrinkled +faces, were made admirals. Their names +were Suwa Daimiō Jin (Great Illustrious, +Spirit of Suwa) and Sumiyoshi Daimiō Jin, +the kami who lives under the old pine tree +at Takasago, and presides over nuptial ceremonies.</p> + +<p>The fleet sailed in the tenth month. The +hills of Hizen soon began to sink below the +horizon, but no sooner were they out of +sight of land than a great storm arose. The +ships tossed about, and began to butt each +other like bulls, and it seemed as though +the fleet would be driven back; when lo! +Kai Riu O sent shoals of huge sea-monsters +and immense fishes that bore up the ships +and pushed their sterns forward with their +great snouts. The shachihoko, or dragon-fishes, +taking the ship's cables in their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span> +mouths towed them forward, until the storm +ceased and the ocean was calm. Then they +plunged downwards into the sea and disappeared.</p> + +<p>The mountains of Corea now rose in sight. +Along the shore were gathered the Corean +army. Their triangular fringed banners, +inscribed with dragons, flapped in the breeze. +As soon as their sentinels caught sight of +the Japanese fleet, the signal was given, and +the Corean line of war galleys moved gaily +out to attack the Japanese.</p> + +<p>The empress posted her archers in the +bows of her ships and waited for the enemy +to approach. When they were within a +few hundred sword-lengths, she took from +her girdle the Jewel of the Ebbing Tide +and cast the flashing gem into the sea. It +blazed in the air for a moment, but no sooner +did it touch the water, than instantly the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span> +ocean receded from under the Corean vessels, +and left them stranded on dry land. The +Coreans, thinking it was a tidal wave, and +that the Japanese ships were likewise helpless +in the undertow, leaped out of their +galleys and rushed over the sand, and on to +the attack. With shouting and drawn +swords their aspect was terrible. When +within range of the arrows, the Japanese +bowmen opened volleys of double-headed, +or triple-pronged arrows on the Coreans, +and killed hundreds.</p> +</div> + +<p>But on they rushed, until near the Japanese +ships, when the empress taking out the +Flood-Tide Jewel, cast it in the sea. In a +snap of the finger, the ocean rolled up into +a wave many tens of feet high and engulfed +the Corean army, drowning them almost to +a man. Only a few were left out of the ten +thousand. The warriors in their iron armor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span> +sank dead in the boiling waves, or were cast +along the shore like logs. The Japanese +army landed safely, and easily conquered +the country. The king of Corea surrendered +and gave his bales of silk, jewels, mirrors, +books, pictures, robes, tiger skins, and +treasures of gold and silver to the empress. +The booty was loaded on eighty ships, and +the Japanese army returned in triumph to +their native country. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="KAI_RIU_O_THE_DRAGON_KING_OF" id="KAI_RIU_O_THE_DRAGON_KING_OF"></a> +KAI RIU O, THE DRAGON KING OF +THE WORLD UNDER THE SEA.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_s.jpg" width= "150" height= "281" alt="S" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 90px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 60px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">S</span>OON AFTER her arrival at home, +the empress Jingu gave birth to +a son, whom she named Ojin. +He was one of the fairest children +ever born of an imperial +mother, and was very wise and wonderful +even when an infant. He was a great favorite +of Takénouchi, the prime minister of the +empress. As he grew up, he was full of the +<i>Yamato Damashii</i>, or the spirit of unconquerable +Japan.</p> + +<p>This Takénouchi was a very venerable +old man, who was said to be three hundred +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span> +and sixty years old. He had been the counsellor +of five mikados. He was very tall, +and as straight as an arrow, when other old +men were bent like a bow. He served +as a general in war and a civil officer in +peace. For this reason he always kept on a +suit of armor under his long satin and +damask court robes. He wore the bear-skin +shoes and the tiger-skin scabbard which +were the general's badge of rank, and also +the high cap and long fringed strap hanging +from the belt, which marked the court noble. +He had moustaches, and a long beard fell +over his breast like a foaming waterfall, as +white as the snows on the branches of the +pine trees of Ibuki mountain.</p> + +<p>Now the empress, as well as Takénouchi, +wished the imperial infant Ojin to live long, +be wise and powerful, become a mighty +warrior, be invulnerable in battle, and to +have control over the tides and the ocean<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span> +as his mother once had. To do this it was +necessary to get back the Tide Jewels.</p> + +<p>So Takénouchi took the infant Ojin on his +shoulders, mounted the imperial war-barge, +whose sails were of gold-embroidered silk, +and bade his rowers put out to sea. Then +standing upright on the deck, he called on +Kai Riu O to come up out of the deep and +give back the Tide Jewels to Ojin.</p> + +<p>At first there was no sign on the waves +that Kai Riu O heard. The green sea lay +glassy in the sunlight, and the waves +laughed and curled above the sides of the +boat. Still Takénouchi listened intently +and waited reverently. He was not long in +suspense. Looking down far under the +sparkling waves, he saw the head and fiery +eyes of a dragon mounting upward. Instinctively +he clutched his robe with his +right hand, and held Ojin tightly on his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span> +shoulder, for this time not Isora, but the +terrible Kai Riu O himself was coming.</p> + +<p>What a great honor! The sea-king's servant, +Isora, had appeared to a woman, the +empress Jingu, but to her son, the Dragon +King of the World Under the Sea deigned +to come in person.</p> + +<p>The waters opened; the waves rolled up, +curled, rolled into wreaths and hooks and +drops of foam, which flecked the dark green +curves with silvery bells. First appeared a +living dragon with fire-darting eyes, long +flickering moustaches, glittering scales of +green all ruffled, with terrible spines erect, +and the joints of the fore-paws curling out +jets of red fire. This living creature was +the helmet of the Sea King. Next appeared +the face of awful majesty and stern mien, as +if with reluctant condescension, and then +the jewel robes of the monarch. Next rose<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span> +into view a huge haliotis shell, in which, on +a bed of rare gems from the deep sea floor, +glistened, blazed and flashed the two Jewels +of the Tides.</p> + +<p>Then the Dragon-King spoke, saying:</p> + +<p>"Quick, take this casket, I deign not to +remain long in this upper world of mortals. +With these I endow the imperial prince of +the Heavenly line of the mikados of the +Divine country. He shall be invulnerable +in battle. He shall have long life. To him +I give power over sea and land. Of this, let +these Tide-Jewels be the token."</p> + +<p>Hardly were these words uttered when +the Dragon-King disappeared with a +tremendous splash. Takénouchi standing +erect but breathless amid the crowd of rowers +who, crouching at the boat's bottom had +not dared so much as to lift up their noses,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span> +waited a moment, and then gave the command +to turn the prow to the shore.</p> + +<p>Ojin grew up and became a great warrior, +invincible in battle and powerful in peace. +He lived to be one hundred and eleven +years old, and was next to the last of the +long lived mikados of Everlasting Great +Japan.</p> +</div> + +<hr class="hr15" /> + +<p>To this day Japanese soldiers honor him +as the patron of war, and pray to him as the +ruler of battle.</p> + +<p>When the Buddhist priests came to +Japan they changed his name to Hachiman +Dai Bosatsu, or the "Great Buddha +of the Eight Banners." On many a hill +and in many a village of Japan may +still be seen a shrine to his honor. Often +when a soldier comes back from war, he +will hang up a tablet or picture-frame, on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span> +which is carved a painting or picture of the +two-edged short sword like that which Ojin +carried. Many of the old soldiers who +fought in armor wore a little silver sword of +Ojin set as a frontlet to their helmets, for a +crest of honor. On gilded or lacquered +Japanese cabinets and shrines, and printed +on their curious old, and new greenback +paper money, are seen the blazing Jewels of +the Tides. On their gold and silver coins +the coiled dragon clutches in his claws the +Jewels of the Ebbing and the Flowing +Tide. One of the iron-clad war ships of the +imperial Japanese navy, on which floats +proudly the red sun-banner of the Empire +of the Rising Sun, is named Kōgō (Empress) +after the Amazon empress who in the third +century carried the arms of the Island +Empire into the main land of Asia, and won +victory by her mastery over the ebbing and +the flowing tides. +<a name="PicPage288" id="PicPage288"></a></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/pg288.jpg" width="500" height="751" +alt="THE DRAGON KING'S GIFT OF THE TIDE JEWELS." +title="THE DRAGON KING'S GIFT OF THE TIDE JEWELS." /> +<p class="caption">THE DRAGON KING'S GIFT OF THE TIDE JEWELS. +</p> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="THE_CREATION_OF_HEAVEN_AND_EARTH" id="THE_CREATION_OF_HEAVEN_AND_EARTH"></a>THE CREATION OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_o.jpg" width= "150" height= "295" alt="O" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 90px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 55px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">O</span>F OLD the Heavens and the Earth +were not separated. Land and +water, solids and gases, fire and +stone, light and darkness were +mixed together. All was liquid +and turbid chaos.</p> + +<p>Then the mighty mass began to move +from within. The lighter particles of gas +and air began to rise, forming the sky and +heavens. The heavy parts sank and cohered, +becoming the earth. The water formed the +four seas. Then there appeared something +like a white cloud floating between heaven<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span> +and earth. Out of this came forth three +beings—The Being of the Middle of +Heaven, The High August Being, and The +Majestic Being. These three "hid their +bodies."</p> + +<p>Out of the warm mould of the earth something +like a rush sprouted up. It was clear +and bright like crystal. From this rush-sprout +came forth a being whose title is +"The Delightful and Honorable Rush-Sprout." +Next appeared another being out +of the buds of the rush-sprout whose name +is "The Honorable Heaven-born." These +five beings are called "the heavenly gods."</p> + +<p>Next came into existence four pairs of +beings viz.: (1) The Being Sprung from the +First Mud, and The Being of the Sand and +Mud; (2) The Being with Hands and Feet +Growing, and the Being Having Breath; (3) +The Male Being, and the Female Being of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span> +the Great Place (the earth); (4) The Being +of Complete Perfection, and the Being who +cried out "Strange and Awful" to her mate.</p> + +<p>Thus the last pair that came into existence +were the first man and woman called +Izanagi and Izanami.</p> + +<p>It is said that the other pairs of beings +before Izanagi and Izanami were only their +imperfect forms or the processes through +which they passed before arriving at perfection.</p> + +<p>These two beings lived in the Heavens. +The world was not yet well formed, and the +soil floated about like a fish in the water, +but near the surface; and was called "The +Floating Region." The sun, earth and moon +were still attached to each other like a head +to the neck, or arms to the body. They +were little by little separating, the parts +joining them growing thinner and thinner.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span> +This part, like an isthmus, was called +"Heaven's Floating Bridge." It was on +this bridge that Izanagi and Izanami were +standing when they saw a pair of wagtails +cooing and billing sweetly together. The +heavenly couple were so delighted with the +sight that they began to imitate the birds. +Thus began the art of love, which mortals +have practiced to this day.</p> + +<p>While talking together on this Bridge of +Heaven, they began to wonder if there was +a world beneath them. They looked far +down upon the green seas, but could see +nothing! Then Izanagi took his long jeweled +spear and plunged it into the turbid +mass, turning it round and round. As he +lifted it up, the drops which trickled from +it hardened into earth of their own accord; +and thus dry land was formed. As Izanagi +was cleansing his spear the lumps of muck<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span> +and mud which had adhered to it flew off +into space, and were changed into stars and +comets.</p> + +<p>[It is said that by turning his spear round +and round, Izanagi set the Earth revolving +in daily revolutions].</p> + +<p>To the land thus formed, they gave the +name of "The Island of the Congealed +Drop," because they intended to create a +large archipelago and wished to distinguish +this as the first island. They descended +from Heaven on the floating bridge and +landed on the island. Izanagi struck his +tall spear in the ground making it the axis +of the world. He then proceeded to build a +palace around the spear which formed the +central pillar. [This spot was formerly at +the North pole, but is now at Eshima, off +the central eastern coast of Japan]. They +then resolved to walk round the island and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span> +examine it. This done, they met together. +Izanami cried out, "What a lovely man!" +But Izanagi rebuked her for speaking first, +and said they must try it again. Then they +walked round the island once more. When +they met, Izanami held her tongue while +Izanagi said, "What a lovely woman!"</p> + +<p>Being now both in good humor, they began +the work of creating Japan. The first +island brought up out of the water was +Awaji; and then the main island. After +that, eight large islands were created, +whence comes one of the names of Japan, +"The Empire of the Eight Great Islands." +Six smaller islands were also produced. The +several thousand islets which make up the +archipelago of Everlasting Great Japan were +formed by the spontaneous consolidation of +the foam of the sea.</p> +</div> + +<p>After the country was thus formed the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span> +divine pair created eight millions of earthly +gods or kami, and the ten thousand different +things on the earth. Vegetation sprang up +over all the land, which was however still +covered with mist. So Izanagi created with +his breath the two gods, male and female of +the wind. All these islands are the children +of Izanagi and Izanami, and when first born +were small and feeble, but gradually grew +larger and larger, attaining their present size +like human beings, which are at first tiny +infants.</p> + +<p>As the gradual separation of the land and +sea went on, foreign countries were formed +by the congealing of the foam of the sea. +The god of fire was then born of Izanami, +his mother. This god often got very angry +at any one who used unclean fire. Izanami +then created by herself the gods of metals, +of clay and of fresh water. This latter was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span> +told always to keep the god of fire quiet, +and put him out when he began to do mischief.</p> + +<p>Izanagi and Izanami, though married but +a short time, began to quarrel, for Izanami +had once told her husband not to look at +her when she hid herself. But Izanagi did +not do what she requested, but intruded on +her privacy when she was unwell, and stared +at her when she wished to be alone. Izanami +then got very angry, and went down to the +lower world of darkness, and disappeared.</p> + +<p>In the dark world under the earth Izanami +stayed a long time, and after long waiting, +Izanagi went after her. In the darkness of +the Under-world he was horrified at what he +saw, and leaving his consort below, tried to +escape to the earth again.</p> + +<p>In his struggles several gods were created, +one of them coming out of his staff. When<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span> +he got up to daylight, he secured a large rock +to close up the hole in the earth. Turning +this rock into a god, he commanded him to +watch the place. He then rushed into the +sea and continued washing for a long time +to purify himself. In blowing out from his +lungs the polluted air inhaled in the Under-world, +the two evil gods sprang forth from +his breath. As these would commit great +harm and wickedness, Izanagi created two +other gods to correct their evil. But when +he had washed his eyes and could see clearly +again, there sprang out two precious and +lovely beings; one from his left eye, being a +rare and glistening maiden, whom he afterwards +named Ama Térasu, or "The Heaven +Illuminating Spirit." From his right eye +appeared Susa no O, the "Ruler of the +Moon." Being now pure again, and having +these lovely children, Izanagi rejoiced and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span> +said, "I have begotten child upon child, and +at the end of my begetting, I have begotten +me two jewel-children." Now the brightness +of the person of the maiden Ama Térasu +was beautiful, and shone through Heaven +and Earth. Izanagi, well pleased, said: +"Though my children are many, none of +them is like this wonder-child. She must +not be kept in this region." So taking off +the necklace of precious stones from his +neck and rattling it, he gave it to her, saying, +"Rule thou over the High Plain of +Heaven."</p> + +<p>At that time the distance between Heaven +and Earth was not very great, and he sent +her up to the blue sky by the Heaven-uniting +Pillar, on which the Heavens rested like a +prop. She easily mounted it, and lived in +the sun, illuminating the whole Heavens and +the Earth. The Sun now gradually separated<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span> +from the Earth, and both moved farther +and farther apart until they rested +where they now are.</p> + +<p>Izanagi next spoke to Susa no O the +Ruler of the Moon, and said, "Rule thou +over the new-born Earth and the blue Waste +of the Sea, with its Multitudinous Salt +Waters."</p> + +<p>[So then the Heavens and the Earth and +Moon were created and inhabited. And as +Japan lay directly opposite the sun when +it separated from the Earth, it is plain that +Japan lies on the summit of the globe. It +is easily seen that all other countries were +formed by the spontaneous consolidation of +the ocean foam, and the collection of mud +in the various seas. The stars were made +to guide warriors from foreign countries to +the court of the Mikado, who is the true Son +of Heaven]. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span></p> + +<hr class="hr65" /> +<h2><a name="HOW_THE_SUN_GODDESS_WAS" id="HOW_THE_SUN_GODDESS_WAS"></a>HOW THE SUN GODDESS WAS +ENTICED OUT OF HER CAVE.</h2> + +<div class="wrap_area"> + <img src="images/drop_w.jpg" width= "150" height= "281" alt="W" /> + + <div class="shape_wrap"> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 152px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 70px;" ></div> + <div style="width: 70px;" ></div> + </div> + +<p><span class="dropcap">W</span>HEN THE far-shining goddess, +on account of the evil pranks +of her brother, Susa no O, the +Ruler of the Moon, hid herself +in a cave, there was no more +light, and heaven and earth were plunged +into darkness.</p> + +<p>A council of all the gods was held in the +dry bed of one of the rivers [which we call +the Milky Way] in the fields of Heaven. +The question of how to appease the anger +of the goddess was discussed. A long-headed +and very wise god was ordered to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span> +think out a plan to entice her forth from +the cave.</p> + +<p>After due deliberation, it was resolved +that a looking-glass should be made to tempt +her to gaze at herself, and that tricks should +be played to arouse her curiosity to come +out and see what was going on.</p> + +<p>So setting to work with a will, the gods +forged and polished a mirror, wove cloth for +beautiful garments, built a pavilion, carved +a necklace of jewels, made wands, and tried +an augury.</p> + +<p>All being ready, the fat and rosy-cheeked +goddess of mirth with face full of dimples, +and eyes full of fun, named Uzumé, was +selected to lead the dance. She had a flute +made from a bamboo cane by piercing holes +between the joints, while every god in the +great orchestra had a pair of flat hard wood +clappers, which he struck together.</p> + +<p>She bound up her long flowing sleeves<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span> +with a creeper vine, and made for herself +a baton of twigs of bamboo grass, by which +she could direct the motions of the musicians. +This she held in one hand while in +the other was a spear wound round with +grass, on which small bells tinkled. Great +bonfires were lighted in front of the cave, +so that the audience of gods could see the +dance. A large circular box which resounded +like a drum when trod on, was set up for +Uzumé to dance upon. The row of cocks +now began to crow in concert.</p> + +<p>All being ready, the Strong-handed god +who was to pull the sun-goddess out of the +cave, as soon as overcome by her curiosity +she should peep forth, hid himself beside +the stone door of the cave. Uzumé mounted +the box and began to dance. As the drum-box +resounded, the spirit of folly seized her, +and she began to chant a song.</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span></p> +<p>Becoming still more foolish, Uzumé +waved her wand wildly, loosened her dress, +and danced till she had not a stitch of clothing +left on her. The gods were so amused +at her foolishness that they all laughed, until +the heavens shook as with claps of thunder.</p> + +<p>The Sun-goddess within the cave heard +all these strange noises; the crowing of the +cocks, the hammering on the anvil, the chopping +of wood, the music of the koto, the +clappering of the hard wood, the tinkling of +the bells, the shouting of Uzumé and the +boisterous laughter of the gods. Wondering +what it all meant, she peeped out.</p> + +<p>As she did so the Doubly Beautiful +goddess held up the mirror.</p> + +<p>The Far-Shining one seeing her own face +in it was greatly astonished. Curiosity got +the better of fear. She looked far out. +Instantly the strong-handed god pulled the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span> +rocky door open, and seizing her hand, +dragged her forth. Then all the heavens +and earth were lightened, the trees and +grass became green again, and the goddess +of colors resumed her work of tinting the +flowers. The gloom fled from all eyes, and +human beings again became "white-faced."</p> + +<p>Thus the calamity which had befallen +heaven and earth, by the sun-goddess hiding +in the cave became a means of much benefit +to mortals. For by their necessity the gods +were compelled to invent the arts of metal-working, +weaving, carpentry, jeweling and +many other useful appliances for the human +race. They also on this occasion first made +use of music, dancing, the Dai Kagura (The +comedy which makes the gods laugh) and +many of the games which the children play +at the present time.</p> +</div> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 436px;"> +<img src="images/backcover.jpg" width="436" height="600" +alt="Back Cover" title="Back Cover" /> +</div> + +<hr class="hr45" /> + +<div class="bbox"> + +<h2>TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES</h2> + +<p>Place names and proper names have various spelling throughout the +book. These have been left as written in the original book. Apart from +those items listed below, all parochial, unusual and non-standard +spelling, grammar and punctuation has been left as printed in the +original book.</p> + +<p>The use of the macron above the letter "O" in names throughout the +book is inconsistent. The same name may appear either with or without +a macron or the macron may appear above different letters when the +same name is printed in different places through the book. This has +been left as printed in the original book.</p> + +<h4>Inconsistencies between the table of contents and the Chapter headings +have been made consistent with the text. That is, the table of +contents has been changed to reflect the heading of the Chapter.</h4> + +<dl> + +<dt>XV</dt> +<dd> +KINTARO, THE WILD BABY. (in table of contents) has been changed to +KINTARO, OR THE WILD BABY. (as it appears in chapter heading).</dd> + +<dt>XXXI</dt> +<dd> +The Tide Jewels (in table of contents) has been changed to THE JEWELS +OF THE EBBING AND THE FLOWING TIDE. (as it appears in chapter heading).</dd> + +<dt>between XXV and XXVI</dt> +<dd> +THE WATERFALL OF YORO, OR THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH. - has been added to +table of contents. This chapter appears in the book, but was not +listed in the table of contents.</dd> +</dl> + +<h4>The following typographical, spelling and grammatical errors have been +identified and corrected as detailed below.</h4> + +<dl> +<dt> Preface - changed "tattoed" to "tattooed" +<br /> in <br /></dt> +<dd> Some of these stories I first read on the [tattoed] limbs + and bodies of the native foot-runners,</dd> + +<dt> page 7 - changed "staid" to "stayed" +<br /> in<br /></dt> +<dd> The lover-husband [staid] on his side of the river, and + the wife came to him on the magpie bridge, save on the + sad occasion when it rained.</dd> + +<dt> page 18 - changed "phoilosophy" to "philosophy" +<br /> in<br /></dt> +<dd> Then he said to himself: "Old Totsu San (my father) is a + fool, with all his [phoilosophy]."</dd> + +<dt> page 29 - changed "dragoon" to "dragon" +<br /> in<br /></dt> +<dd> Their tomb was carved in the form of a white [dragoon], + which to this day, in spite of mosses and lichens, may + still be seen among the ancient monuments of the little + hamlet.</dd> + +<dt> page 31 - changed "sarely" to "sorely" +<br /> in<br /></dt> +<dd> The sorrowful old man grieved [sarely] for his pet, and + after looking in every place and calling it by name, gave + it up as lost.</dd> + +<dt> page 59 - changed "shinning" to "shining" +<br /> in<br /></dt> +<dd> with Fuji yama and cranes flying in the air, and a + crimson sun [shinning] through the bamboo,</dd> + +<dt> page 61 - changed "masters'" to "master's" +<br /> in<br /></dt> +<dd> It danced a jig on the tight rope, and walked the slack + rope, holding a fan, or an umbrella in his paw, stood on + his head, and finally at a flourish of his [masters'] fan + became a cold and rusty tea-kettle again.</dd> + +<dt> page 100 - changed "way" to "away" +<br /> in<br /></dt> +<dd> For a moment the dense volume of sound filled the ears of + all like a storm, but as the vibrations died [way], the + bell whined out</dd> + +<dt> page 136 - changed "faught" to "fought" +<br /> in<br /></dt> +<dd> On one occasion, after a hard [faught] battle, Jiraiya + fled and took refuge in a monastery, with a few trusty + vassals, to rest a short time</dd> + +<dt> page 160 - changed "crysanthemums" to "chrysanthemums" +<br /> in<br /></dt> +<dd> or blossom out like [crysanthemums]</dd> + +<dt> page 162 - changed "accompainment" to "accompaniment" +<br /> in<br /></dt> +<dd> It sounds as if a band with many instruments was playing + to the [accompainment] of a large choir of voices."</dd> + +<dt> page 170 - changed "maccaroni" to "macaroni" +<br /> in<br /></dt> +<dd> The solids were thunder-cakes, egg-cracknels, boiled + rice, daikon radishes and [maccaroni]</dd> + +<dt> page 174 - changed "midado's" to "mikado's" +<br /> in<br /></dt> +<dd> the beast with swaying head crept along the great roof to + the place on the eaves directly under the [midado's] + sleeping-room.</dd> + +<dt> page 175 - changed "markmanship" to "marksmanship" +<br /> in<br /></dt> +<dd> All congratulated Yorimasa on his valor and + [markmanship].</dd> + +<dt> page 206 - changed "ells" to "eels" +<br /> in<br /></dt> +<dd> Eating his boiled rice, and snuffing in the odors of the + broiled [ells], as they were wafted in, he enjoyed with + his nose, what he would not pay for to put in his mouth.</dd> + +<dt> page 207 - changed "ells" to "eels" +<br /> in<br /></dt> +<dd> "Why yes, I have paid you. You have charged me for the + smell of your [ells], and I have paid you with the sound + of my money."</dd> + +<dt> page 212 - changed "suprise" to "surprise" +<br /> in<br /></dt> +<dd> Greater still was the [suprise] of the Suruga people.</dd> + +<dt> page 224 - changed "neans" to "means" +<br /> in<br /></dt> +<dd> Now Kanamé [neans] the rivet in a fan, that holds all the + sticks together, and they gave the name "rivet-rock," + because it is the rivet that binds the earth together.</dd> + +<dt> page 227 - changed "dilligent" to "diligent" +<br /> in<br /></dt> +<dd> Only a few years ago there was a gentleman in Fukui, + Japan, who had a son, a bright lad of twelve, who was + very [dilligent] at school and had made astonishing + progress in his studies.</dd> + +<dt> page 238 - changed "vessals" to "vassals" +<br /> in<br /></dt> +<dd> These were all retainers or friendly [vessals] of Lord + Long-legs.</dd> + +<dt> page 247 - changed "crysanthemum" to "chrysanthemum" +<br /> in<br /></dt> +<dd> Other bearers followed, keeping step and carrying the + regalia, consisting of [crysanthemum] stalks and + blossoms.</dd> + +<dt> page 264 - changed "attendent" to "attendant" +<br /> in<br /></dt> +<dd> She was one of the fifteen glistening virgins that wait + [attendent] upon the moon in her chambers in the sky.</dd> + +<dt> page 272 - changed "villiagers" to "villagers" +<br /> in<br /></dt> +<dd> So he prevailed upon the simple [villiagers] to build a + railing of stone around the now sacred pine.</dd> + +<dt> page 275 - changed "darling" to "daring" +<br /> in<br /></dt> +<dd> She, now having the power, resolved to carry out her + [darling] plan of invading Corea.</dd> + +<dt> page 280 - changed "engulphed" to "engulfed" +<br /> in<br /></dt> +<dd> In a snap of the finger, the ocean rolled up into a wave + many tens of feet high and [engulphed] the Corean army, + drowning them almost to a man</dd> + +<dt> page 302 - changed "too" to "to" +<br /> in<br /></dt> +<dd> All being ready, the Strong-handed god who was [too] pull + the sun-goddess out of the cave, as soon as overcome by + her curiosity she should peep forth, hid himself beside + the stone door of the cave.</dd> + +<dt> page 304 - changed "carpentery" to "carpentry" +<br /> in<br /></dt> +<dd> For by their necessity the gods were compelled to invent + the arts of metal-working, weaving, [carpentery], + jeweling and many other useful appliances for the human + race.</dd> + +</dl> +</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Japanese Fairy World, by William Elliot Griffis + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JAPANESE FAIRY WORLD *** + +***** This file should be named 29337-h.htm or 29337-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/3/3/29337/ + +Produced by Delphine Lettau, Jen Haines and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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