𝙠𝙪𝙧𝙤𝙛𝙪𝙙𝙚 「黒筆」 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
hitsuzendo) wrote2023-04-02 09:47 pm
hitsuzendo) wrote2023-04-02 09:47 pm
Fairy Tales
むかしむかし...
Urashima Taro
Once upon a time, there was an upstanding and kindhearted young man named Urashima Taro. One day, Urashima Taro was walking on the beach when he happened upon a group of children jeering at something.
Curious, he stepped over to see what was going on. There he found a turtle lying helplessly on its back as children poked it with sticks.
"Now see here, stop that! What are you doing to that poor turtle?"
Urashima admonished the children sternly, but they were having so much fun that they refused to do as he said. Urashima resorted to paying the children money for the turtle. The children, happy to have coin to spend, left the turtle be without a second's thought.
"Now see here, stop that! What are you doing to that poor turtle?"
Urashima admonished the children sternly, but they were having so much fun that they refused to do as he said. Urashima resorted to paying the children money for the turtle. The children, happy to have coin to spend, left the turtle be without a second's thought.
The turtle offered to show its gratitude by taking Urashima Taro to the Dragon Palace at the bottom of the sea. Urashima Taro was hesitant at first, but he was touched by the turtle's gratitude and curious about the Dragon Palace. He decided to accept the offer. Urashima Taro climbed on the turtle's back. The turtle plunged into the sea and swam against the waves.
As the turtle promised, he did not drown beneath the waves. He could breath as easily as he did on land, and even his clothing stayed dry. Urashima Taro was thoroughly delighted as the turtle swam through the water. Finally, they arrived at the Dragon Palace, a splendid undersea palace.
As the turtle promised, he did not drown beneath the waves. He could breath as easily as he did on land, and even his clothing stayed dry. Urashima Taro was thoroughly delighted as the turtle swam through the water. Finally, they arrived at the Dragon Palace, a splendid undersea palace.
In the Dragon Palace, Urashima Taro was greeted by Otohime, ruler of this splendid castle. When Otohime learned that Urashima Taro had come to the turtle's rescue, she threw him a luxurious banquet as a reward.
Amid swaying seaweed and a brilliant forest of coral, schools of carp and flounder danced as lightly and gracefully as flower sprites. Urashima Taro was positively captivated by the sheer splendor of this highly heartfelt show of hospitality.
Amid swaying seaweed and a brilliant forest of coral, schools of carp and flounder danced as lightly and gracefully as flower sprites. Urashima Taro was positively captivated by the sheer splendor of this highly heartfelt show of hospitality.
Content with the night's proceedings, Urashima Taro motioned to take his leave, when Lady Otohime insisted he stay.
"I simply cannot leave this debt unpaid. Just one might night?" And Urashima Taro accepted, touched by her offer.
Again, on the day too, Urashima Taro accepted Lady Otohime's heartfelt hospitality. The dancing was gorgeous, the sake was delicious, and the conversation with Lady Otohime was delightful. Urashima Taro was content in a way he had never felt before and was far from weary at his stay. Hence why every night, when Lady Otohime would plead with him to stay another day, he would readily agree.
"I simply cannot leave this debt unpaid. Just one might night?" And Urashima Taro accepted, touched by her offer.
Again, on the day too, Urashima Taro accepted Lady Otohime's heartfelt hospitality. The dancing was gorgeous, the sake was delicious, and the conversation with Lady Otohime was delightful. Urashima Taro was content in a way he had never felt before and was far from weary at his stay. Hence why every night, when Lady Otohime would plead with him to stay another day, he would readily agree.
Urashima Taro spent his days enjoying the festivities, until one day, a thought crossed his mind. He thought about the light that illuminated the land. He reminisced about the blue sky and the sun, with its rays sometimes searing and sometimes warm.
How were his mother and friends doing?
His reminiscence grew into home-sickness, and soon, Urashima Taro was filled with a desire to go home. He mustered his resolve and made clear his desire to finally go back to the land. Lady Otohime consented with grace. Lady Otohime presented Urashima Taro with a small box as a parting gift on his way back to the land above.
"This is called the Tamatebako. It contains all of the time you have spent here. You must never, under any circumstances, open it." Lady Otohime informed him.
How were his mother and friends doing?
His reminiscence grew into home-sickness, and soon, Urashima Taro was filled with a desire to go home. He mustered his resolve and made clear his desire to finally go back to the land. Lady Otohime consented with grace. Lady Otohime presented Urashima Taro with a small box as a parting gift on his way back to the land above.
"This is called the Tamatebako. It contains all of the time you have spent here. You must never, under any circumstances, open it." Lady Otohime informed him.
Tamatebako in hand, Urashima Taro departed the Dragon Palace the way he had entered it, riding on the turtle's back. When he reached the beach from where he had left, it seemed strangely familiar yet unfamiliar to him. The sea, the sands, and the mountains in the distance were all the same. Yet the people and the buildings along the beach seemed different.
Upon speaking with one of these strangers, he learned that seven-hundred years had passed while he was staying at the Dragon Palace. Naturally, Taro's mother and friends were long gone. How worried his mother must have been when he suddenly vanished those seven-hundred years ago.
Taro was struck with shame for all the time he spent carousing in the Dragon Palace. He longed desperately to turn back time and do things differently. Urashima Taro surmised that if time was sealed within the Tamatebako, then releasing it would allow him a chance to do it all over.
When Urashima Taro opened the Tamatebako, white smoke poured out and engulfed him from head to toe.
Upon speaking with one of these strangers, he learned that seven-hundred years had passed while he was staying at the Dragon Palace. Naturally, Taro's mother and friends were long gone. How worried his mother must have been when he suddenly vanished those seven-hundred years ago.
Taro was struck with shame for all the time he spent carousing in the Dragon Palace. He longed desperately to turn back time and do things differently. Urashima Taro surmised that if time was sealed within the Tamatebako, then releasing it would allow him a chance to do it all over.
When Urashima Taro opened the Tamatebako, white smoke poured out and engulfed him from head to toe.
Within the smoke, he saw the dregs of amusement he had spent in the Dungeon Palace: Lady Otohime's generous hosting, the dancing fish, and the pleasant music.
The sea breeze blew the smoke away, and the images faded away. When the smoke cleared, there stood Urashima Taro, now an elderly man with white hair and a white beard.
The sea breeze blew the smoke away, and the images faded away. When the smoke cleared, there stood Urashima Taro, now an elderly man with white hair and a white beard.
Then something strange happened to Taro. That miserable old man transformed into a crane. The crane flapped its newfound wings and took flight for Mount Horai. At the same time, Lady Otohime transformed herself into a turtle and set out for Mount Horai as Taro had.
When reunited on Mount Horai, they got married and lived happily ever after.
When reunited on Mount Horai, they got married and lived happily ever after.