The Story of a Man who became a Serpent - Part Two

 

The man looked at himself and he was horror struck because he had turned into a serpent. The man did not realise how he had turned into a serpent. 

Dejected, he crawled back through the cave and lay down at the foot of a huge pine tree.

There, the man fell asleep and he had a dream. 

In his dream a woman appeared and the woman looked kindly at him. “ I am the spirit of the pine tree. You have turned into a serpent because you have eaten the fruit of Fengtu.” 

The man was anguished because Fengtu was Hades.

The woman continued in the man's dream. “However, I shall give you a way out. If you climb to the topmost branches of this pine tree and throw yourself down on earth, you will return to who you originally were.”

The man woke up from his dream and realised that he had to follow the advice of the woman and the hunter was determined to follow the advice because he decided that it was better to be smashed into pieces because of the fall from the pine tree, than remain as a serpent.

The man did as he was told.

Luckily for the man, as soon as he followed the advice, he turned into his own self.

After that the hunter set up an inao which is an offering beneath the pine tree 

Adapted from Japanese Folklore

The Story of a Man who became a Serpent - Part One

A hunter was deep inside a forest. This time the hunter shot a bear when he was hunting.

The wounded bear ran from the hunter and entered a cavee.

Realizing that the wounded animal could not escape inside a cave, the hunter also entered the cave.

Strangely, inside the cave, the hunter could not find any bear.

The hunter tracked the bear and saw that the bear had walked further into the cave.

The cave itself seemed to slope further into the earth.

The hunter decided to finish his hunt and followed the bear’s tracks into the cave.

The hunter walked on and on, in this passage, but he found no bear.

Finally, there was light in front of him and the hunter was shocked because the light came from a beautiful garden.

The hunter looked around the garden with shock and awe. The garden had many trees the likes of which the hunter had never seen in his life.

The trees had many fruits and to the hunter, the fruits looked strange too.

Roaming around the garden, the hunter saw no one else in the garden.

There was no one to stop him, so the hunter plucked a few berries from around him and the hunter ate the berries.

The berries tasted good.

However the hunter suddenly felt strange, after eating the berries.

Adapted from Japanese Folklore

The Waste Paper Basket Man - Part Seven

Machi-Bugyo felt sorry for Bun-yemon’s wife. 

He ordered the clerk of the pawn-broker to come before him. Bun-yemon was also brought before him. 

Chobei heard that Bun-yemon had been arrested and he also appeared in court to help Bun-yemon.

Chobei explained in court about how he had given twenty-five gold rio to Bun-yemon.

After this Machi-Bugyo released Bun-yemon. The pawn-broker was sentenced to be put to death for giving false witness against an innocent man.

However, that was not all that Machi-Bugyo did. “Chobei, you have done a great debt of gratitude and your daughter has to be commended for being so obedient.” For this, Machi-Bugyo rewarded Chobei with a hundred yen.

After this, Iroku was returned to her parents.

Chohachi, Chobei’s friend, was rewarded for his kindness.

Soon, all this information reached Chobei’s old lord, from whom he had been removed from work.

Chobei was even restored to his work.

Chobei was called Shindo again.

Though Shindo was no longer called as the Waste Paper Man, there were still rumours about him, by the women of the streets that he roamed to and he was called as the man with the ‘coat of rags, heart of brocade’.

Adapted from Japanese Folktales

The Waste Paper Basket Man - Part Six

Bun-yemon scolded his wife. “He is a poor waste-paper basket man. I cannot take this money. You have to give the money back to him.”

His wife shook her head. “I do not know where he lives. How can I give it to him?”

At that time the wife had an idea. “You have pawned your sword. Take this money that Chobei has given you and redeem your sword. Then we can sell the sword for more money. We can pay Chobei back and have some money left over as well.”

Bun-yemon did not agree to this at first.

But eventually he agreed to this.

Bun-yemon however was in trouble.

The pawn-broker to whom Bun-yemon had pledged his sword wanted to take the sword for himself. He was sure that Bun-yemon could not repay the money and that thereafter he would own the sword.

However, the pawn-broker was shocked when Bun-yemon came with the money.

The pawn-broker became very angry and he accused Bun-yemon of stealing the money.

The officers came and took Bun-yemon to prison.

However, Bun-yemon’s wife was determined to free her husband. 

The only way Bun-yemon’s wife could get her husband to be free was if she talked to Machi-Bugyo who was the most righteous judge of all.

Bun-yemon’s wife was patient and she saw that there was a fire near the neighbourhood of Machi-Bugyo.

When all the other officers were busy with the fire and did not notice her and the people were excited watching the fire, Bun-yemon’s wife caught the bridle of Machi-Bugyo’s horse. 

“They have taken my husband away unjustly. You are the only one who can save him.”

Adapted from Japanese Folktales

The Waste Paper Basket Man - Part Five

 

Chobei was shocked when he found that the beggar was none other than the ronin who had come to his help - Bun-yemon.

Chobei took the man to his home.

After that, Chobei spoke with his wife Tsuiu. “If it had not been for this ronin, we would have died all those years ago.”

Tsuiu said nothing as Chobei continued. “Now that Bun-yemon is in trouble, it is our duty to help him.”

“We have to give him at least twenty-five gold rio.” Chobei announced.

“That is a fortune! How can we get that much money?” Tsuiu cried.

“We have to sell our daughter.” Chobei was sorrowful but firm.

Tsuiu wept bitterly.

Finally both of them agreed that this was the only way.

Chobei and Tsuiu went and told their daughter Iroka everything.

Iroka accepted it. “It is an honour for me to become a geisha for the debt of my parents.”

So Chobei and Tsuiu sold the beautiful Iroka and got twenty-five gold rio for her.

Chobei took the money and gave it to Bun-yemon.

Bun-yemon flatly refused to take the money.

Chobei pretended to take the money back, but he left the money in a box and left.

After Chobei had left, Bun-yemon’s wife found the money.

Bun-yemon was very angry because his wife had not been observant and that was the reason that Chobei had left the money here.

Adapted from Japanese Folktales

The Waste Paper Basket Man - Part Four

 

To practice hearing the sound of his own voice, Chobei shouted ‘Waste paper’ all day. 

The boys laughed at him and thought that Chobei was mad and threw stones at home.

Chobei went home that day and he was discouraged.

Chohachi laughed when he heard what had happened. “Chobei, rich people do not sell waste papers. Talk to women and flatter them and then suggest to them that they may have papers to sell.”

So Chobei tried again. He went to the poorer streets.

The women here worked and the old women were talking and children played around the pavement.

Chobei smiled and bowed at the women. “May the Sun Goddess smile upon you. I am very pleased to meet you.” Chobei spoke well and finally studied the women. “Do you have any waste paper to sell?”

The women were thrilled to hear his words. They searched hard in their house for waste paper and gave it to him.

He came to be called as Knightly Waste-Paper Man and soon Chobei came to have good trade.

Chohachi helped him spend the money carefully.

By this time, Chobei and O Tsuis San had a daughter. 

Chobei made good money and took good care of his family.

This went on for some time.

The Knightly Waste-Paper Man was calling out in the streets and there Chobei saw a man who fell down the road.

The others thought the man was a beggar.

But Chobei felt sorry for the man and helped him.

Adapted from Japanese Folktales

The Waste Paper Basket Man - Part Three

At Chohachi’s place, O Tsuis San recovered from her fatigue and Shindo’s wound also healed.

Then Chahachi told Shindo something important. “You are always welcome at my home, but my rice pot is enough to feed four people.” Chohachi studied Shindo. “Do you have any skills that can make the pot boil?”

Shindo sadly shook his head. “I have no skills.”

Chohachi was worried. “Can you teach men to fence?”

Shindo shook his head. “I have no skill as a swordsman.”

“Can you teach writing?”

Shindo shook his head again.

Chohachi wondered what task he could give the man before him that would earn money. The task had to be easy and something that the man could do easily. 

Finally, Chohachi figured it out. He wanted Shindo to be a Waste-Paper man. It was such an easy job that even a simpleton could do it.

Chohachi called Shindo as Chobei because Shindo did not seem the right name for a waste-paper man. After that, Chohachi purchased a pole of bamboo with baskets at both ends and gave it to Chobei.

Chobei went the next day to start his work.

However, the first day, Chobei lost his way. It was so bad that Chobei had to pay a man to guide him to the tradesman’s home.

He brought no waste-paper and Chohachi scolded him. “You have to call out. If you walk silently, how will anyone know what you want?”

Chobei anxiously listened to the words of the tradesman because he did not want to depend on the trader all the time. Moreso Chobei was worried because O Tsuiu San was at home trying her hand at embroidery to earn some coins.

Adapted from Japanese Folktales

The Waste Paper Basket Man - Part Two

Shindo woke up with a start. But even before he could think it out, he placed his wife behind him and pulled out his sword.

No sooner had this happened, two robbers attacked him.

Though Shindo fought fiercely, the two thieves overpowered him. He was injured too and there was blood from a wound in his arm.

Then suddenly a ronin appeared there. A ronin is a samurai who has lost their lord and is not employed anymore.

The ronin came and helped Shindo and it was because of his help that the robbers ran away from there.

Shido and Tsuiu thanked the ronin whose name was Bun-yemon.

The ronin studied the two people. “I can see that some misfortune has brought you here. Who are you and where are you going to go?”

The samurai looked sad. “I have very little yen and it would probably not be enough to buy breakfast for my wife.” The samurai then told the ronin his entire story.

The ronin heard the samurai and then nodded. “I cannot do anything for you by myself.” The ronin however pointed at a faraway city where the roof was gleaming in gold in the morning sun. “That is the towers and temples of Yedo. There lives a tradesman called Chohachi. He is poor, but he has a good heart. Tell him that I sent you to him.”

With these words the ronin walked away. “My path is different and so I will leave you now.”

Shindo and Tsuiu hurried to Yedo and found Chohachi.

The tradesman welcomed the two of them and there the two remained until they recovered from the fatigue of the journey.

Adapted from Japanese Folktales

The Waste-Paper Basket Man - Part One

There was once a Samurai called Shindo. Shindo had offended the lord for whom he worked and so Shindo had to leave the province and go away.

His wife Tsuiu accompanied Shindo.

Neither Shindo nor Tsuiu knew any work and so they could not find any work.

Shndo was very sad to see his wife suffer because of him.

However Tsuiu was kind and she did not complain. She sounded optimistic as they walked on.

The two of them walked for some time but they found no place to rest.

However, as night came, Tsuiu became nervous. She came closer to Shindo because in the dark, she felt like she saw thieves behind every tree and bush.

Shindo smiled at her. “Sleep under this sendai tree. Use my mantle to cover yourself and use my arm as your pillow. I will watch you as you sleep.”

Tsuiu was tired and soon fell asleep.

Shindo watched her for some time.

However Shindo was tired and soon his eyes closed.

Shindo had a strange dream. In his dream, there came two huge dragons who had come to eat him. Shindo cried out aloud in his dream for the safety of his wife, when a bigger dragon came and ate the first two dragons.

Shindo’s dream ended with him and his wife escaping from the two dragons.

Adapted from Japanese Folktales

The Shrine of ‘Hang-The-Money-Up’ Tree - Part Two

‘I will never be able to reach the shrine. Then how will my husband be brought back to me?’

Onanatakamura’s wife despaired.

A little later, Onanatakamura’s wife reached a decision. ‘The Gods will definitely hear the prayer of a faithful wife, no matter where she is.’

She offered her prayers at the very spot that she stood. She hung the coins that she had on a pine tree and prayed to the Gods to take her to her husband.

The unkind farmer was nearby and heard her prayers.

When the woman finally went to rest, the farmer tried to steal the money from the tree.

However the farmer was in for a shock.

The Gods had turned the tree into a terrible two-headed serpent. When the farmer went near the tree to steal the money, the heads of the serpent spat of fire on the farmer. 

The farmer was terrified when he saw this.

He realized that he had made a grave mistake and in an attempt to correct it, he led the woman to the Shrine of Ise, himself.

Onanatakamura’s wife reached the shrine and prayed to the Gods.

The Gods heard her prayer once more and they worked a miracle.

The Mikado’s heart suddenly softened.

When the Mikado heard that the wife had reached the Shrine of Ise, he sent for her to come to his palace. “Such a faithful woman deserves a reward.” The Mikado beamed. “What reward do you want?”

“I want my husband back.” The woman replied immediately.

The Mikado immediately had Ononatakamura come back from exile.

The pine tree on which the money had been hung was made into a shrine. Any ill person who was ill would be made well here and they would receive any favour in abundance. 

This place was called the Shrine of the ‘Hang-the-Money-Up’ Tree.

Adapted from Japanese Folktales

The Shrine of ‘Hang-The-Money-Up’ Tree - Part One

Once there was a man by the name Onanatakamura. He had offended the Mikado of his kingdom. 

For this reason the Mikado sent the man into exile. 

Onanatakamura’s wife loved him dearly and she also wanted to go on excel but the Mikado would not permit her to go on exile with her husband.

She despaired at being separated from her husband. So to help him she decided to go to the Sacred Shrine of Ise and pray for her husband.

This shrine was at the foot of Mount Hi-Yei.

Onanatakamura’s wife was undeterred and she started walking towards the shrine. 

However she was not used to walking for such a long time she soon grew tired and sat down to rest under a pine tree.

As she sat down tired she looked into the beautiful country. There bloomed flowers on the pine trees that waved in their green branches and the tall mountains rose high towards the sky and the gentle blowing wind also calmed and rested her.

A farmer came that way. The women turned to the farmer and spoke politely. “Can you please tell me how far it is to the temple of Ise?”

However the farmer was a very rude and unkind man.

Though the farmer knew that the shrine was not very far away he lied to the woman. “The shrine is at least twenty days away.” The farmer told the woman finally.

The woman believed the farmer and she was disappointed. When she heard it she realized that at her slow speed she would never be able to reach the sacred shrine.

Adapted from Japanese Folktales