Ainu Folk Tales

8/10/2019 Ainu Folk Tales

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Sacred Texts Japan Ainu Index

AINO FOLK-TALES.

BY

BASIL HALL CHAMBERLAIN

WITH AN INTRODUCTIONBY

EDWARD B. TYLOR, D.C.L., F.R.S.

[London, 1888]

{!d"#!d $o HTML %& C'()$o*'! M. W!(+! A"")$ ./

p. v

INTRODUCTION.

TWELVE hundred years ago a Chinese historian stated that "On

the eastern rontier o the !and o Japan there is a arrier o

great #ountains$ eyond %hich is the !and o the &airy 'en."

These %ere the Aino$ so na#ed ro# the %ord in their o%n

!anguage signiying "#an." Over #ost o the country o these

rude and he!p!ess indigenes the Japanese have !ong since

spread$ on!y a d%ind!ing re#nant o the# sti!! inhaiting the

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http://index.htm/



is!and o (e)o. Since the ear!y days %hen a coup!e o the#

%ere sent as curiosities to the E#peror o China their uncouth

!oo*s and haits have #ade the# o+ects o interest to #ore

civi!ised nations. 'any European %riters have descried the#$ ut hard!y any %ith such opportunities as 'r. ,asi! &a!!

Cha#er!ain$ -roessor o -hi!o!ogy at the T*y /niversity$

%ho has ta*en do%n ro# the Ainos the present co!!ection o

their ta!es$ and preaced it %ith an account o their %ays and

state o #ind. It %ou!d hard!y e or #e to oer inor#ation on

a su+ect so exce!!ent!y hand!ed$ ut the re0uest o the Editor o

the Folk-Lore Journal that I %ou!d %rite an Introduction

ena!es #e to dra% attention to the vie%s put or%ard y

-roessor Cha#er!ain in another pu!ication$1 %hich$ eing

printed in Japan$ #ay e over!oo*ed y #any Eng!ish o!*2!ore

students$ even o those interested in the curious Aino pro!e#.

As is %e!! *no%n$ the hairiness o the Ainos #ar*s the#

sharp!y o ro# the s#ooth2aced Japanese. 3o one can !oo*

at photographs o Ainos %ithout ad#itting that the oten2

repeated co#parison o the# to earded 4ussian peasants is#uch to the purpose. The !i*eness is #uch strengthened y the

o!d 0uasi2European eatures o the Ainos contrasting

extre#e!y %ith the Japanese type o ace. O p. vi course a!! this

has suggested a theory o the Ainos e!onging to the Aryan

race5 and$ a!though the idea co#es to nothing %hen exa#ined

strict!y$ its existence is an ac*no%!edge#ent o the specia!

Aino race2type. 'ention #ust a!so e #ade o an anato#ica! pecu!iarity o the Aino s*e!eton$ consisting o a re#ar*a!e

!attening o the ar#2 and !eg2ones. On the %ho!e it is evident

that the Ainos are an ancient race in this part o Asia$ and so ar

iso!ated that anthropo!ogy has not yet the #eans o sett!ing

their physica! connection %ith other Asiatic tries. -roessor

Cha#er!ain6s careu! exa#ination o the Aino !anguage !eads

hi# to a si#i!ar resu!t. It is #ade not on!y ro# his o%n

*no%!edge$ ut %ith the advantage o %or*ing %ith the 4ev.



John ,atche!or$ %ho has !ived as a #issionary a#ong the Ainos

or years$ and %ritten the 7ra##ar printed as a part o these

Aino Studies. In structure the rese#!ances %hich the Aino

presents to Japanese are out%eighed y the dierences5 and$though it #ay u!ti#ate!y prove to a!! into a north2east Asiatic

group o !anguages$ this is so ar ro# eing #ade out that it is

saest or the present to treat oth race and !anguage as

iso!ated. Inas#uch as the !itt!e civi!isation no% possessed y

the Ainos has in great #easure een !earnt ro# the Japanese$ it

is natura! that their #odern !anguage shou!d have pic*ed up

nu#ers o Japanese %ords$ ro# the na#e o kamui %hich

they give to their gods$ do%n to the rice2eer or sake in %hich

they see* continua! drun*enness$ no% their #ain source o

en+oy#ent. One purpose %hich their !anguage serves is to

prove ho% %ide!y they once spread over the country no%

Japan$ %here p!ace2na#es a!one re#ain to indicate a or#er

Aino popu!ation. So#e o these are un#ista*ea!y Aino$ as

(a#ashiro$ %hich #ust have #eant "!and o chestnut trees$"

and Shi*yu$ "p!ace o rushes." Others$ i interpreted asJapanese$ have a ar2etched sense$ as$ or instance$ the vi!!ages

o 'ennai and Tona#i$ %hich$ i treated as Japanese$ %ou!d

signiy "inside per#ission" and "hares in a ro%"5 %hereas$ i

ta*en to e origina!!y Aino they #ay ear the reasona!e sense

o "ad strea#" and "strea# ro# the !a*e." The inerence ro#

records and !oca! na#es$ %or*ed out %ith great care y

proessor Cha#er!ain$ is "that the Ainos %ere tru!y the

predecessors o the Japanese a!! over the Archipe!ago. Theda%n o history sho%s the# p. vii to us !iving ar to the south and

%ent o their present haunts5 and ever since then$ century y

century$ %e see the# retreating east%ards and north%ards$ as

steadi!y as the A#erican Indian has retreated %est%ards under

the pressure o the co!onists ro# Europe."

As %ith their !anguage$ so %ith their o!*2!ore$ %hich !arge!y

sho%s itse! adopted ro# the Japanese. In the present



co!!ection the stories o the Sa!#on2*ing 8xxxiv.9$ the Is!and o

Wo#en 8xxxiii.9$ and others$ are ased on episodes o Japanese

ta!es$ so#eti#es e!onging to %or!d2%ide cyc!es o #yth$ as in

the the#e o the #orta! %ho eats the dead!y ood o &ades8xxxv.9$ %hich has its typica! exa#p!e in the story o

-ersephone. On reading the short ut curious ta!e 8xvi.9$ &o% it

%as sett!ed %ho shou!d ru!e the Wor!d$ one sees at once that the

cunning :ox2god has co#e in ro# the %e!!2*no%n ox

#ytho!ogy o Japan5 and as to the very c!ever #ythic episode

o !oo*ing or the sunrise in the %est$ I ind$ on in0uiry o a

Japanese gent!e#an !iving in Oxord$ 'r. Tsneta 'ori$ that this

e!ongs to the ta!e o the Wager o the -h;nix$ *no%n to a!!

Japanese chi!dren$ and in %hich the -h;nix is p!ain!y derived

ro# China. On the other hand$ there is #uch genuine Aino

#atter in the present co!!ection. :or instance$ %e !earn ro#

-roessor Cha#er!ain6s aove2#entioned treatise %hy it is

that -anau#e 8"on the !o%er course o the river"9 does the

c!ever things$ %hi!e -enau#e 8"on the upper course o the

river"9 is the stupid i#itator %ho co#es to grie. It is si#p!ythe expression o the dis!i*e and conte#pt o the coast Ainos$

%ho te!! the stories$ or the hi!! Ainos urther up the rivers. It is

need!ess to #ention here the #any touches o Aino ideas$

#ora!s$ and custo#s$ %hich their stories disc!ose$ or it is in

noticing these that #uch o the interest consists %hich the

reader %i!! ee! in perusing the#. Their #ost i#portant

characteristic indeed is insisted on y -roessor Cha#er!ain$

in re#ar*s o %hich the va!ue #ust not e over!oo*ed. O a!!the diicu!ties e!t y the student o o!*2!ore the greatest is

that o +udging ho% ar those %ho te!! and !isten rea!!y e!ieve

their chi!dish %onder2ta!es o ta!*ing easts and the !i*e$ or

ho% ar they #a*e and ta*e the# as conscious un. We

ourse!ves are at the !atter sceptica! end$ and #any peop!es %e

can exa#ine are in a ha!%ay state$ not a!together dise!ieving

that ig stones #ay p. viii once have een giants$ or that it is a



proper incident in a hero6s career to e s%a!!o%ed y a #onster

and get out again$ ut at the sa#e ti#e ad#itting that ater a!!

these #ay e on!y o!d %ives6 ta!es. Even savage under contact

%ith civi!ised #en are #ost!y in this inter#ediate state$ andthus -roesser Cha#er!ain6s state#ent as to the p!ace o o!*2

!ore in the Aino #ind$ #ade$ as it has een$ under his persona!

scrutiny$ is a docu#ent o rea! conse0uence. &e satisied

hi#se! that his Ainos %ere not #a*ing e!ieve$ !i*e Europeans

%ith nursery ta!es$ ut that the exp!anatory #yths o natura!

pheno#ena are to the# theore#s o physica! science$ and the

%onder2ta!es are to!d under the i#pression that they rea!!y

happened. Those %ho #aintain the serious va!ue o o!*2!ore$

as e#odying ear!y ut 0uite rea! stages o phi!osophy a#ong

#an*ind$ %i!! e grateu! or this co!!ection$ in spite o its

repu!sive eatures$ as urnishing the c!earest evidence that the

asis o their argu#ent is not on!y theoretica! ut actua!.

E<WA4< ,. T(LO4 .

p. =

AINO FOLK-LORE.

,( ,ASIL &ALL C&A',E4LAI3.

Prefatory Remarks.

I VISITE< the is!and o (e)o or the third ti#e in the su##er

o =>>?$ in order to study the Aino !anguage$ %ith a vie% to

e!ucidate y its #eans the oscure pro!e# o the geographica!

no#enc!ature o Japan. ,ut$ as is apt to happen on such

occasions$ the chie o+ect o #y visit soon ceased to e the

on!y o+ect. &e %ho %ou!d !earn a !anguage #ust try to !isp in



it$ and #ore especia!!y #ust he try to induce the natives to

chatter in it in his presence. 3o% in (e)o$ su+ects o discourse

are e%. The Ainos stand too !o% in the sca!e o hu#anity to

have any notion o the civi!ised art o "#a*ing conversation."When$ thereore$ the ishing and the %eather are exhausted$ the

European so+ourner in one o their dreary$ i!thy seaside

ha#!ets %i!! ind hi#se!$@at !east I ound #yse!$@sad!y at a

!oss or any urther #eans o setting his native co#panions6

tongues in #otion. It is then that airy ta!es co#e to the rescue.

The Ainos %ou!d not suggest the ideas the#se!ves. To suggest

ideas is not their hait. ,ut they are de!ighted to o!!o% it %hen

suggested. Si#p!y to repeat so#ething %hich they have *no%n

y heart ever since the days o their chi!dhood is not such an

eort to their easi!y2tired rains as is the *eeping up o a

conversation %ith one %ho spea*s their !anguage i#perect!y.

Their tongues are at once !oosened.

In #y o%n case$ I ound #yse!$ ater a short ti#e$ !istening

to the p. stories or their o%n sa*e$@not #ere!y as !inguistic

exercises5 and I ventured to inc!ude a e% o the# in the"'e#oir on the Ainos" %hich %as pu!ished a e% #onths ago

y the I#peria! /niversity o Japan. So#e re#ar*s in a revie%

o this "'e#oir$" contained in Nature o the =th 'ay$ =>>B$

have encouraged #e to e!ieve that anthropo!ogists and

co#parative #ytho!ogists #ay e interested in having !aid

eore the# so#ething #ore than #ere sa#p!es o the #enta!

products o a peop!e %hich is interesting or three reasons$@ interesting ecause its do#ain once extended over the entire

Japanese archipe!ago$ interesting ecause aso!ute!y nothing

certain is *no%n as to its origin and ainities$ interesting

ecause it is$ so to spea*$ a!#ost at its !ast gasp. I have$

thereore$ no% co!!ected and c!assiied a!! the ta!es that %ere

co##unicated to #e y Ainos$ in Aino$ during #y !ast stay in

the is!and$ and #ore !atter!y in T*y$ %hen$ y the *ind

assistance o the -resident o the /niversity$ 'r. &. Watanae$



an exceptiona!!y inte!!igent Aino %as procured ro# the 3orth$

and spent a #onth in #y house. These ta!es or# the paper

%hich I no% have the honour to oer or the acceptance o

your !earned Society.

It %ou!d$ no dout$ e possi!e to treat the su+ect o Aino

o!*2!ore in great detai!. The g!oss #ight easi!y e #ade !onger

than the text. Each story #ight e ana!ysed according to the

#ethod proposed y the :o!*2Lore Society5 a "survey o

incidents" #ight e appended to each$ as in 'essrs. Stee! and

Te#p!e6s char#ing "Wide2A%a*e Stories$" ro# the -un+a and

Cash#ere. 'ore interesting to the anthropo!ogist than such#echanica! dissection o each ta!e considered as an

independent entity %ou!d e the atte#pt to unrave! the

ainities o these Aino ta!es. &o% #any o the#$ %hat parts o

the#$ are origina! &o% #any o the# are orro%ed$ and

%hence

To carry out such an investigation %ith that co#p!eteness

%hich %ou!d a!one give it serious va!ue$ %ou!d necessitate agreater expenditure o ti#e than #y duties %i!! a!!o% o$

perhaps a!so und o #u!tiarious *no%!edge %hich I do not

possess. I %ou!d$ thereore$ #ere!y suggest in passing that the

proai!ities o the case are in avour o the Ainos having

orro%ed ro# their on!y c!ever neighours$ p. D the Japanese.

8The advent o the 4ussians is so recent that they need hard!y

e counted in this connection.9 The reasons or attriuting to

the Japanese$ rather than to the Ainos$ the prior possession8%hich$ y the %ay$ y no #eans i#p!ies the invention9 o the

ta!es co##on to oth races$ are part!y genera!$ part!y specia!.

Thus it is a priori !i*e!y that the stupid and ararous %i!! e

taught y the c!ever and educated$ not the c!ever and educated

y the stupid and ararous. On the other hand$ as I have

e!se%here de#onstrated$ a co#parative study o the !anguages

o the t%o peop!es sho%s c!ear!y that this a priori vie% is u!!y

orne out so ar as ar as the !inguistic do#ain is concerned.



The sa#e re#ar* app!ies to socia! custo#s. Even in re!igion$

the #ost conservative o a!! institutions$ especia!!y a#ong

ararians$ the Ainos have suered Japanese in!uence to

intrude itse!. It is Japanese rice2eer$ under its Japanese na#eo sake$ %hich they oer in !iations to their gods. Their very

%ord or "prayer" see#s to e archaic Japanese. A #ediva!

Japanese hero$ (oshitsune$ is genera!!y a!!o%ed to e he!d in

re!igious reverence y the#. The idea o earth0ua*es eing

caused y the %rigg!ing o a gigantic ish under the earth is

shared y the Ainos %ith the Japanese and %ith severa! other

races.

At the sa#e ti#e$ the genera! tenour and tendency o the ta!es

and traditions o the Ainos %ear a %ide!y dierent aspect ro#

that %hich characterises the o!*2!ore o Japan. The Ainos$ in

their hu#!e %ay$ are addicted to #ora!ising and to specu!ating

on the origin o things. A perusa! o the o!!o%ing ta!es %i!!

sho% that a surprising!y !arge nu#er o the# are atte#pts to

exp!ain so#e natura! pheno#enon$ or to exe#p!iy so#e

si#p!e precept. In act they are science$@physica! science and#ora! science$@at a very ear!y stage. The exp!anations given

in these ta!es co#p!ete!y satisy the adu!t Aino #ind o the

present day. The Aino airy2ta!es are not$ as ours are$ surviva!s

ro# an ear!ier stage o thought. Even i not invented o recent

years they it in %ith the present Aino vie% o things$@so

#uch so$ that an Aino %ho recounts one o his stories does so

under the i#pression that he is narrating an actua! event. &edoes not "#a*e e!ieve" !i*e the European nurse$ even !i*e the

European chi!d$ %ho p. F has a!%ays$ in so#e noo* or corner o

his #ind$ a presenti#ent o the scepticis# o his !ater years.

So ar as I can +udge$ that "disease o !anguage" %hich %e

ca!! #etaphor$ and %hich is he!d y so#e great authorities to

have een the chie actor in the arication o Aryan #yth$ has

no p!ace in Aino airy2!and5 neither have the pheno#ena o the

%eather attracted #ore attention than other things. ,ut I spea*



su+ect to correction. -erhaps it is not %ise to invite

controversy on such a point un!ess one is %e!! ar#ed or the

ight.

:ai!ing an e!aorate ana!ysis o the Aino airy2ta!es$ and a

discussion o their origin and ainities$ %hat I venture to oer

or your Society6s acceptance is the si#p!e text o the ta!es

the#se!ves$ renderd into Eng!ish. 3ine o the# have a!ready

een printed in the Aino "'e#oir" a!ready reerred to. One has

een printed 8ut not 0uite in its genuine or#$ %hich decency

%as supposed to orid9 at the end o 'r. ,atche!or6s gra##ar

inc!uded in the sa#e "'e#oir." A!! the others are no% given tothe %or!d or the irst ti#e$ never having yet appeared in any

!anguage$ not even in Japanese.

I %ou!d dra% specia! attention to the character o the

trans!ation$ as eing an aso!ute!y !itera! one in the case o a!!

those stories %hich I origina!!y %rote do%n in Aino ro# the

dictation o native inor#ants. As ti#e pressed$ ho%ever$ I

so#eti#es had the story to!d #e #ore rapid!y$ and %rote itdo%n ater%ards in Eng!ish on!y$ ut never #ore than a e%

hours ater%ards. In such cases$ though every detai! is

preserved$ the rendering is o course not actua!!y !itera!. This$

and the act that there %ere severa! inor#ants$ %i!! account or

the dierence o sty!e et%een the various stories. I have

appended to each story either the %ords "trans!ated !itera!!y$" or

the %ords "%ritten do%n ro# #e#ory$" together %ith the date

and the na#e o the inor#ant$ in order that those %ho use theco!!ection #ay *no% exact!y %hat it is that they are hand!ing.

In a!! such #atters aso!ute accuracy$ aso!ute !itera!ness$

%herever attaina!e$ is sure!y the one thing necessary. 3ot a!!

the char# o diction$ not a!! the ingenious theories in the %or!d$

can or a #o#ent e set in the a!ance against rigid exactness$

even i so#e o the conco#itants o rigid exactness are such as

to spoi! the su+ect or popu!ar treat#ent. The p. G truth$ the star*

na*ed truth$ the truth %ithout so #uch as a !oin2c!oth on$



shou!d sure!y e the investigator6s so!e ai# %hen$ having

discovered a ne% set o acts$ he underta*es to present the# to

the consideration o the scientiic %or!d.

O course Aino ta!es$ !i*e other ta!es$ #ay a!so e treated

ro# a !iterary point o vie%. So#e o the ta!es o the present

co!!ection$ pretti!y i!!ustrated %ith pictures y Japanese artists$

and a!tered$ expurgated$ and arranged virginibus puerisque$ are

at the present #o#ent eing prepared y 'essrs. Tic*nor H

Co.$ o ,oston$ %ho thought %ith #e that such a venture #ight

p!ease our !itt!e ones oth in Eng!and and in the /nited States.

,ut such things have no scientiic va!ue. They are not #eant tohave any. They are #ere +uveni!e !iterature$ %hose Eng!ish

dressing2up has as !itt!e re!ation to the ararous origina! as the

-aris ashions have to the anato#y o the hu#an ra#e.

The present paper$ on the contrary$ is intended or the so!e

perusa! o the anthropo!ogist and ethno!ogist$ %ho %ou!d e

deprived o one o the est #eans o +udging o the state o the

Aino #ind i the hideous indecencies o the origina! %ereo#itted$ or its occasiona! ineptitude urished up. Aino

#others$ !u!!ing their aies to s!eep$ as they roc* the# in the

crad!e hung over the *itchen ire$ use %ords$ touch on su+ects

%hich %e never #ention5 and that precies!y is a note%orthy

characteristic. The innocent savage is not ound in Aino2!and$ i

indeed he is to e ound any%here. The Aino6s i#agination is

as prurient as that o any o!a$ and ar #ore outspo*en. -ray$

thereore$ put the !a#e on hi#$ i #uch o the !anguage o the present co!!ection is such as is not usua! to see in print. Aino

stories and Aino conversation are the inte!!ectua! counterpart o

the dirt$ the !ice$ and the s*in2disease %hich cover Aino odies.

:or the our2o!d c!assiication o the stories$ no i#portance

is p. ? c!ai#ed. It %as necessary to arrange the# so#eho%5 and

the division into "Ta!es Accounting or the Origin o

-heno#na$" "'ora! Ta!es$" "Ta!es o the -anau#e and



-enau#e Cyc!e$" and "'isce!!aneous Ta!es$" suggested itse!

as a convenient %or*ing arrange#ent. The "Scraps o :o!*2

Lore$" %hich have een added at the end$ #ay perhaps e

considered out o p!ace in a co!!ection o ta!es. ,ut I thought it etter to err on the side o inc!usion than on that o exc!usion.

:or it #ay e presu#ed that the o+ect o any such

investigation is rather to gain as #inute an ac0uaintance as

possi!e %ith the #enta! products o the peop!e studied$ than

scupu!ous!y to conor# to any syste#.

There #ust e a !arge nu#er o Aino airy2ta!es esides

those here given$ as the chie te!!ers o stories$ in Aino2!and asin Europe$ are the %o#en$ and I had #ine ro# #en on!y$ the

Aino %o#en eing #uch too shy o #a!e oreigners or it to e

possi!e to have #uch conversation %ith the#. Even o the

ta!es I #yse! heard$ severa! %ere !ost through the destruction

o certain papers$@a#ong others at !east three o the

-anau#e and -enau#e Cyc!e$ %hich I do not trust #yse! to

reconstruct ro# #e#ory at this distance o ti#e. 'any

precious hours %ere !i*e%ise %asted$ and #uch #ateria!rendered use!ess$ y the nationa! vice o drun*enness. A %ho!e

#onth at &a*odate %as spoi!t in this %ay$ and nothing otained

ro# an Aino na#ed To#tare$ %ho had een procured or #e

y the *indness o &. E. the 7overnor o &a*odate. One can

have intercourse %ith #en %ho s#e!! ad!y$ and %ho suer$ as

a!#ost a!! Ainos do ro# !ice and ro# a variety o disgusting

s*in2diseases. It is a #ere 0uestion o endurance and odisinectants. ,ut it is i#possi!e to otain inor#ation ro# a

drun*ard. A third reason or the co#parative!y s#a!! nu#er o

ta!es %hich it is possi!e to co!!ect during a !i#ited period o

intercourse is the re0uency o repetitions. 3o dout such

repetitions have a conir#atory va!ue$ especia!!y %hen the

repetition is o the nature o a variant. Sti!!$ one %ou!d

%i!!ing!y spare the# or the sa*e o ne% ta!es.

The Aino na#es appended to the stories are those o the #en



y %ho# they %ere to!d to #e$ vi). -enri$ the aged chie o

-iratori5 Ishanashte o Shu#un*ot5 annari*i o -oropet 8Jap.

&oroetsu95 p. B and uteashguru o Sapporo. To#tare o (Krap

does not appear or the reason #entioned aove$ %hich spoi!ta!! his useu!ness. The on!y #ytho!ogica! na#es %hich appear

are O*i*uru#i$ %ho# the Aino regard as having een their

civi!i)er in very ancient ti#es$ his sister2%ie Turesh$ or

TureshihiM and his hench#an Sa#ayunguru. The "divine

sy#o!s$" o %hich such constant #ention is #ade in the ta!es$

are the inao or %hitt!ed stic*s re0uent!y descried in oo*s o

trave!s.

,ASIL &ALL C&A',E4LAI3.

'iya#oshita$ Japan$

Nth Ju!y$ =>>B.

I.@TALES ACCO/3TI37 :O4 T&E O4I7I3 O:

-&E3O'E3A.

i.@ The Rat and the Ol .1

An o%! had put y or next day the re#ains o so#ething

dainty %hich he had to eat. ,ut a rat sto!e it$ %hereupon the

o%! %as very angry$ and %ent o to the rat6s house$ and

threatened to *i!! hi#. ,ut the rat apo!ogised$ saying "I %i!!

give you this gi#!et and te!! you ho% you can otain ro# it p!easure ar greater than the p!easure o eating the ood %hich I

%as so rude as to eat up. Loo* hereP you #ust stic* the gi#!et

%ith the sharp point up%ards in the ground at the root o this

tree5 then go to the top o the tree yourse!$ and s!ide do%n the

trun*."

Then the rat %ent a%ay$ and the o%! did as the rat had

instructed hi#. ,ut$ s!iding do%n on to the sharp gi#!et$ he



i#pa!ed hi#se! on it$ and suered great pain$ and$ in his grie

and rage$ %ent o to *i!! the rat. ,ut again the rat #et hi# %ith

apo!ogies$ and$ as a peace2oering$ gave hi# a cap or his

head.

These events account or the thic* cap o erect eathers %hich

the o%! %ears to this day$ and a!so or the en#ity et%een the

o%! and the rat.@8Written do%n ro# #e#ory. To!d y

Ishanashte$ Gth 3ove#er$ =>>?.9

ii.@ The Loves of the Thunder-!ods. T%o young thunder2gods$ sons o the chie thunder2god$ e!!

vio!ent!y in !ove %ith the sa#e Aino %o#an. Said one o the#

to p. > the other$ in a +o*ing %ay "I %i!! eco#e a !ea$ so as to

e a!e to hop into her oso#." Said the other "I %i!! eco#e a

!ouse$ so as to e a!e to stay a!%ays in her oso#."

"Are those your %ishes" cried their ather$ the chie thunder2

god. "(ou sha!! e ta*en at your %ord"5 and orth%ith the oneo the# %ho had said he %ou!d eco#e a !ea %as turned into a

!ea$ %hi!e he %ho said he %ou!d eco#e a !ouse %as turned

into a !ouse. &ence a!! the !eas and !ice that exist at the present

day.

This accounts or the act that$ %henever there is a thunder

stor#$ !eas +u#p out o a!! sorts o p!aces %here there %ere

none to e seen eore.@8Written do%n ro# #e#ory. To!d yIshanashte$ Bth 3ove#er$ =>>?.9

iii.@ "hy #ogs $annot speak .

:or#er!y dogs cou!d spea*. 3o% they cannot. The reason is

that a dog$ e!onging to a certain #an a !ong ti#e ago$

inveighed his #aster into the orest under the pretext osho%ing hi# ga#e$ and there caused hi# to e devoured y a



ear. Then the dog %ent ho#e to his #aster6s %ido%$ and !ied

to her$ saying "'y #aster has een *i!!ed y a ear. ,ut %hen

he %as dying he co##anded #e to te!! you to #arry #e in his

stead." The %ido% *ne% that the dog %as !ying. ,ut he *ept onurging her to #arry hi#. So at !ast$ in her grie and rage$ she

thre% a handu! o dust into his open #outh. This #ade hi#

una!e to spea* any #ore$ and thereore no dogs can spea*

even to this very day.@8Written do%n ro# #e#ory. To!d y

Ishanashte$ Qth 3ove#er. =>>?.9

iv.@ "hy the %o$k $annot fly.

When the Creator had inished creating the %or!d$ and had

returned to the s*y$ he sent do%n the coc* to see %hether the

%or!d %as good or not$ %ith orders to co#e ac* at once. ,ut

the %or!d %as so eautiu!$ that the coc*$ una!e to tear hi#se!

a%ay$ *ept !ingering on ro# day to day. At !ast$ ater a !ong

ti#e$ he %as on his %ay !ying ac* up to the s*y. ,ut 7od$

angry %ith hi# or his p. Q disoedience$ stretched orth hishand$ and eat hi# do%n to earth$ saying "(ou are not %anted

in the s*y any #ore."

That is %hy$ to this very day$ the coc* cannot !y high.@

8Written do%n ro# #e#ory. To!d y -enri$ =>th Ju!y$ =>>?.9

v.@ The Origin of the &are. Sudden!y there %as a !arge house on the top o a #ountain$

%herein %ere six peop!e eautiu!!y arrayed$ ut constant!y

0uarre!!ing. Whence they ca#e %as un*no%n. Thereupon

O*i*uru#i ca#e and said "OhP you ad haresP you %ic*ed

haresP %ho does not *no% your origin The chi!dren in the s*y

%ere pe!ting each other %ith sno%a!!s$ and the sno%a!!s e!!

into the %or!d o #en. As it %ou!d e a pity to %aste anything



that a!!s ro# the s*y$ the sno%a!!s %ere turned into hares$

and those hares are you. (ou$ %ho d%e!! in this %or!d$ %hich

e!ongs to #e$ shou!d not 0uarre!. What is it that you are

#a*ing such a noise aout"

With these %ords$ O*i*uru#i sei)ed a ire2rand$ and eat

each o the six %ith it in turn. Thereupon a!! the hares ran a%ay.

This is the origin o the hare2godM5 and or this reason the ody

o the hare is %hite ecause #ade o sno%$ %hi!e its ears@

%hich are the p!ace %here it %as charred y the ire2rand$@

are !ac*.@8Trans!ated !itera!!y. To!d y -enri$ =Nth Ju!y$

=>>?.9

vi.@ The Position of the Private Parts.

At the eginning o the %or!d it had een the Creator6s

intention to p!ace oth #en6s and %o#en6s genita!s on their

oreheads so that they #ight e a!e to procreate chi!dren

easi!y. ,ut the otter #ade a #ista*e in conveying the #essageto that eect5 and that is ho% the genita!s co#e to e in the

inconvenient p!ace they are no% in.@8Written do%n ro#

#e#ory. To!d y Ishanashte$ ==th Ju!y$ =>>?9

vii.@ The Reason for there being no Fi'ed Time for &uman

(eings to $opulate.

Ancient!y the Creator su##oned a!! the irds and easts$ thegods p. =N and devi!s together$ in order to instruct the# on the

su+ect o copu!ation. So the irds and a!! the others o every

sort asse#!ed$ and !earnt ro# the Creator %hen to copu!ate$

and %hen to give irth to their young.

Then the Creator said to the horse "OhP thou divine ancestor

o horsesP It %i!! e %e!! or thee to copu!ate one spring$ and to

give irth to thy young in the spring o the o!!o%ing year5 and



thou #ayest eat any o the grass that #ay gro% in any !and." At

these %ords$ the horse %as de!ighted$ and orth%ith trotted out.

,ut$ as he rose$ he *ic*ed 7od in the orehead. So 7od %as

very angry$ and pressed his hand to his head$ so #uch did ithurt hi#.

'ean%hi!e$ the ancestor o #en ca#e in$ and as*ed saying

"&o% aout #e When sha!! I copu!ate" To %hich 7od$ eing

sti!! angry$ rep!ied "Whenever you !i*eP" :or this reason$ that

race o creatures %hich is ca!!ed #an copu!ate at a!! ti#es.@

8Trans!ated !itera!!y. To!d y Ishanashte$ =th Ju!y$ =>>?9.

viii.@ The Ol and the Tortoise.

The tortoise2godM in the sea and the o%!2godM on !and %ere

very inti#ate$ The tortoise spo*e thus "(our chi!d is a oy$ 'y

chi!d is a gir!$ so it %i!! e good or us to unite the# in

#arriage. I I send into the river the ish that there are in the

sea your son and #y daughter$ eing oth o the# ena!ed toeat ish$ %i!! possess the %or!d." Thus spo*e the tortoise. The

o%! %as great!y o!iged. :or this reason$ the chi!d o the

tortoise and the chi!d o the o%! eca#e husand and %ie. :or

this reason$ the o%!$ %ithout the !east hesitation$ eats every ish

that co#es into the river.@8Trans!ated !itera!!y. To!d y -enri$

=Gth Ju!y$ =>>?.9

ix.@ &o a )an got the better of to Fo'es.

A #an %ent into the #ountains to get ar* to #a*e rope

%ith$ and ound a ho!e. To this ho!e there ca#e a ox$ %ho

spo*e as o!!o%s$ though he %as a ox$ in hu#an !anguage "I

*no% o so#ething ro# %hich great proit #ay e derived.

Let us go to the p!ace to2#orro%P" To %hich the ox inside the

ho!e rep!ied as p. == o!!o%s "What proita!e thing do you



a!!ude to Ater hearing aout it$ I %i!! go %ith you i it sounds

!i*e!y to e proita!e5 and i not$ not." The ox outside spo*e

thus "The proita!e thing to e done is this. I %i!! co#e here

to2#orro% aout the ti#e o the #id2day #ea!. (ou #ust e%aiting or #e then$ and %e %i!! go o together. I you ta*e the

shape o a horse$ and %e go o together$ I ta*ing the shape o a

#an and riding on your ac*$ %e can go do%n to the shore$

%here d%e!! hu#an eings possessed o p!enty o ood and a!!

sorts o other things. As there is sure to e a#ong the peop!e

so#e one %ho %ants a horse$ I %i!! se!! you to hi# %ho thus

%ants a horse. I can then uy a 0uantity o precious things and

o ood. Then I sha!! run a%ay5 and you$ having the appearance

o a horse$ %i!! e !ed out to eat grass$ and e tied up

so#e%here on the hi!!side. Then$ i I co#e and he!p you to

escape$ and %e divide the ood and the precious things e0ua!!y

et%een us$ it %i!! e proita!e or oth o us." Thus spo*e the

ox outside the ho!e5 and the ox inside the ho!e %as very g!ad$

and said "Co#e and etch #e ear!y to2#orro%$ and %e %i!! go

o together." The #an %as hidden in the shade o the tree$ and had een

!istening. Then the ox %ho had een standing outside %ent

a%ay$ and the #an$ too$ %ent ho#e or the night. ,ut he ca#e

ac* next day to the #outh o the ho!e$ and spo*e thus$

i#itating the voice o the ox %ho# he had heard spea*ing

outside the ho!e the day eore "&ere I a#. Co#e out at onceP

I you %i!! turn into a horse$ %e %i!! go do%n to the shore."The ox ca#e out. It %as a ig ox. The #an said "I have co#e

a!ready turned into a #an. I you turn into a horse$ it %i!! not

#atter even i %e are seen y other peop!e." The ox shoo*

itse!$ and eca#e a !arge chestnut lit . redM horse. Then the t%o

%ent o together$ and ca#e to a very rich vi!!age$ p!entiu!!y

provided %ith everything. The #an said "I %i!! se!! this horse

to anyody %ho %ants one." As the horse %as a very ine one$

every one %anted to uy it. So the #an artered it or a



0uantity o ood and precious things$ and then %ent a%ay.

3o% the horse %as such a pecu!iar!y ine one that its ne%

o%ner did not !i*e to !eave it out2o2doors$ ut a!%ays *ept it in

the house. &e shut the door$ and he shut the %indo%$ and cut

grass to eed it p. = %ith. ,ut though he ed it$ it cou!d not

8eing rea!!y a ox9 eat grass at a!!. A!! it %anted to eat %as

ish. Ater aout our days it %as !i*e to die. At !ast it #ade its

escape through the %indo% and ran ho#e5 and$ arriving at the

p!ace %here the other ox !ived$ %anted to *i!! it. ,ut it

discovered that the tric* had een p!ayed$ not y its co#panion

ox$ ut y the #an. So oth the oxes %ere very angry$ andconsu!ted aout going to ind the #an and *i!! hi#.

,ut though the t%o oxes had decided thus$ the #an ca#e

and #ade hu#!e excuses$ saying "I ca#e the other day$

ecause I had overheard you t%o oxes p!otting5 and then I

cheated you. :or this I hu#!y eg your pardon. Even i you do

*i!! #e$ it %i!! do no good. So henceor%ard I %i!! re% rice2

eer or you$ and set up the divine sy#o!s or you$ and%orship you$@%orship you or ever. In this %ay you %i!!

derive greater proit than you %ou!d derive ro# *i!!ing #e.

:ish$ too$ %henever I #a*e a good catch$ I %i!! oer to you as

an act o %orship. This eing so$ the creatures ca!!ed #en sha!!

%orship you or ever."

The oxes$ hearing this$ said "That is capita!$ %e thin*. That

%i!! do very %e!!." Thus spa*e the oxes. Thus does it co#eaout that a!! #en$ oth Japanese and Aino$ %orship the ox. So

it is said.@8Trans!ated !itera!!y. To!d y Ishanashte$ =Gth Ju!y$

=>>?.9

x.@ The )an ho )arried the (ear-!oddess.

There %as a very popu!ous vi!!age. It %as a vi!!age having

oth p!enty o ish and p!enty o venison. It %as a p!ace !ac*ing



no *ind o ood. 3everthe!ess$ once upon a ti#e$ a a#ine set

in. There %as no ood$ no venison$ no ish$ nothing to eat at a!!5

there %as a a#ine. So in that popu!ous vi!!age a!! the peop!e

died.

3o% the vi!!age chie %as a #an %ho had t%o chi!dren$ a oy

and a gir!. Ater a ti#e$ on!y those t%o chi!dren re#ained a!ive.

3o% the gir! %as the o!der o the t%o$ and the oy %as the

younger. The gir! spo*e thus "As or #e$ it does not #atter

even i I do die$ since I a# a gir!. ,ut you$ eing a oy$ can$ i

you !i*e$ ta*e up our ather6s inheritance. So you shou!d ta*e

these things %ith you$ p. =D use the# to uy ood %ith$ eat it$ and!ive." So spo*e the gir!$ and too* out a ag #ade o c!oth$ and

gave it to hi#.

Then the oy %ent out on to the sand$ and %a!*ed a!ong the

seashore. When he had %a!*ed on the sand or a !ong ti#e$ he

sa% a pretty !itt!e ho#e a short %ay in!and. 3ear it %as !ying

the carcase o a !arge %ha!e. The oy %ent to the house$ and

ater a ti#e entered it. On !oo*ing around$ he sa% a #an odivine appearance. The #an6s %ie$ too$ !oo*ed !i*e a goddess$

and %as dressed a!together in !ac* rai#ent. The #an %as

dressed a!together in spec*!ed rai#ent. The oy %ent in$ and

stood y the door. The #an said to hi# "We!co#e to you$

%hencesoever you #ay have co#e$" Ater%ards a !ot o the

%ha!e6s !esh %as oi!ed$ and the oy %as easted on it. ,ut the

%o#an never !oo*ed to%ards hi#. Then the oy %ent out and

etched his parce!$ %hich he had !et outside. &e rought in the ag #ade o c!oth %hich had een given to hi# y his sister$

and opened its #outh. On ta*ing out and !oo*ing at the things

inside it$ they %ere ound to e very precious treasures. "I %i!!

give you these treasures in pay#ent or the ood$" said the oy$

and gave the# to that divine2!oo*ing #an2o2the2house. The

god$ having !oo*ed at the#$ said "They are very eautiu!

treasures." &e said again "(ou need not have paid #e or the

ood. ,ut I %i!! ta*e these treasures o yours$ carry the# to #y



otherM house$ and ring you #y o%n treasures in exchange or

the#. As or this %ha!e6s !esh$ you can eat as #uch o it as you

!i*e$ %itnout pay#ent." &aving said this$ he %ent o %ith the

!ad6s treasures.

Then the !ad and the %o#an re#ained together. Ater a ti#e

the %o#an turned to the !ad$ and said "(ou !adP !isten to #e

%hen I spea*. I a# the ear2goddess. This husand o #ine is

the dragon2god. There is no one so +ea!ous as he is. Thereore

did I not !oo* to%ards you$ ecause I *ne% that he %ou!d e

+ea!ous i I !oo*ed to%ards you. Those treasures o yours are

treasures %hich even the gods do not possess. It is ecause heis de!ighted to get the# that he has ta*en the# %ith hi# to

countereit the# and ring you #oc* treasures. So %hen he

sha!! have rought those treasures and sha!! disp!ay the#$ you

#ust spea* thus 6We need not exchange treasures. I %ish to

uy the %o#anP6 I you spea* thus$ p. =F he %i!! go angri!y a%ay$

ecause he is such a +ea!ous #an. Then ater%ards %e can

#arry each other$ %hich %i!! e very p!easant. That is ho% you

#ust spea*." That %as %hat the %o#an said.

Then$ ater a certain ti#e$ the #an o divine appearance ca#e

ac* grinning. &e ca#e ringing t%o sets o treasures$ the

treasures %hich %ere treasures and his o%n other treasures. The

god spo*e thus "(ou$ !adP As I have rought the treasures

%hich are your treasures$ it %i!! e %e!! to exchange the# or

#y treasures." The oy spo*e thus "Though I shou!d !i*e to

have treasures a!so$ I %ant your %ie even #ore than I %ant thetreasures5 so p!ease give #e your %ie instead o the treasures."

Thus spo*e the !ad.

&e had no sooner uttered the %ords than he %as stunned y a

c!ap o thunder aove the house. On !oo*ing around hi#$ the

house %as gone$ and on!y he and the goddess %ere !et

together. &e ca#e to his senses. The treasures %ere there a!so.

Then the %o#an spo*e thus "What has happened is that #y



dragon2husand has gone a%ay in a rage$ and has thereore

#ade this noise$ ecause you and I %ish to e together. 3o%

%e can !ive together." Thus spo*e the goddess. Ater%ards they

!ived together. This is %hy the ear is a creature ha! !i*e ahu#an eing.@8Trans!ated !itera!!y. To!d y Ishanashte$ Qth

3ove#er$ =>>?.9

xi.@ The to Fo'es* the )ole* and the %ros.

T%o rother oxes consu!ted together thus "It %ou!d e un

or us to go do%n a#ong #en$ and assu#e hu#an shape." Sothey #ade treasures and they #ade gar#ents out o the !eaves

o various trees$ and they #ade various things to eat and ca*es

out o the gu# %hich co#es out o trees. ,ut the #o!e2godM

sa% the# #a*ing a!! these preparations. So the #o!e #ade a

p!ace !i*e a hu#an vi!!age$ and p!aced hi#se! in it under the

disguise o a very o!d #an. The oxes ca#e to that vi!!age5 they

ca#e to the very o!d #an6s house. And the #o!e hi#se! #ade

eautiu! treasures and #ade gar#ents out o various hers and!eaves o trees5 and$ ta*ing #u!erries and grapes ro# the tops

o the trees$ he #ade good ood. On the arriva! o the oxes$ the

#o!e invited a!! the cro%s in the p!ace and a!! sorts p. =G o irds.

&e gave the# hu#an shape$ and p!aced the# as o%ners in the

houses o the vi!!age. Then the #o!e$ as chie o the vi!!age$

%as a very o!d #an.

Then the oxes ca#e$ having assu#ed the shape o #en.They thought the p!ace %as a hu#an vi!!age. The o!d chie

ought a!! the things %hich the oxes had rought on their

ac*s$ a!! their treasures and a!! their ood. Then the o!d #an

disp!ayed to the# his o%n eautiu! treasures. The o!d #an

disp!ayed a!! his eautiu! things$ his gar#ents. The oxes %ere

#uch p!eased. Then the o!d #an spo*e thus "Oh you

strangersP as there is a dance in #y vi!!age$ it %i!! e %e!! or

you to see it." Then a!! the peop!e in the vi!!age danced a!! sorts



o dances. ,ut at !ast$ o%ing to their eing irds$ they egan to

!y up%ards$ not%ithstanding their hu#an shape. The oxes

sa% this$ and %ere #uch a#used. The oxes ate oth o the

#u!erries and o the grapes. They tasted very good. It %asgreat un$ too$ to see the dancing. Ater%ards they %ent ho#e.

The oxes thought thus "What is nicer even than treasures is

the de!icious ood %hich hu#an eings have. As %e do not

*no% %hat it is$ !et us go again and uy so#e #ore o it." So

they again #ade treasures out o hers. Then they again %ent

do%n to that vi!!age. The #o!e %as in a go!den house@a !arge

house. &e %as a!one in it$ having sent a!! the cro%s and the resta%ay. As the oxes entered the house and !oo*ed aout the#$

they sa% a very venera!e god. The god spo*e thus "OhP you

oxes5 ecause you had assu#ed hu#an shape$ you #ade a!!

sorts o countereit treasures. I sa% a!! that you did. It is y #e$

and ecause o this$ that you are rought here. (ou thin* this is

a hu#an vi!!age5 ut it is the vi!!age o #e$ your #aster the

#o!e. It see#s you constant!y do a!! sorts o ad things. I you

do so$ it is very %rong5 so do not assu#e hu#an shapeany#ore. I you %i!! cease to assu#e hu#an shape$ you #ay

henceorth eat your i!! o these #u!erries and grapes. (ou and

your co#panions the cro%s #ay eat together o the #u!erries

and o a!! ruits at the top o the trees$ %hich the cro%s cause to

drop do%n. This %i!! e #uch #ore proita!e or you than to

assu#e hu#an shape." Thus spo*e the #o!e.

O%ing to this$ the oxes !et o assu#ing hu#an shape$ and$ro# p. =? that ti#e or%ard$ ate as they p!eased o the

#u!erries and the grapes. When the cro%s !et any drop$ they

%ent underneath the trees and ate the#. They eca#e very

riend!y together.@8Trans!ated !itera!!y. To!d y Ishanashte$

==th 3ove#er$ =>>?.9

xii.@ The +tolen %harm.



A very rich #an *ept a puppy and a ox2cu. ,esides these he

possessed a tiny si!ver #ode! o a ship$@a char# given to hi#

y so#e god$ %hat god I *no% not. One day this char# %as

sto!en$ and cou!d no%here e ound. The rich #an %as sovio!ent!y grieved at this$ that he !ay do%n and reused a!! ood$

and %as !i*e to die. 'ean%hi!e the puppy and the ox2cu

p!ayed aout in his roo#. ,ut %hen they sa%$ ater so#e ti#e$

that the #an %as rea!!y going to die$ the ox2cu said to the

puppy "I our #aster dies$ %e sha!! die o hunger too5 so %e

had etter search or the char#." So they consu!ted as to the

est %ay to search or it5 and at !ast the ox2cu %as struc* y

the idea that the ogre %ho !ived at the top o the !arge #ountain

that stands at the end o the %or!d #ight have sto!en the char#

and put it into his ox. The ox2cu see#ed to see that this had

rea!!y happened. So the t%o !itt!e ani#a!s deter#ined to go and

rescue the char# ro# the ogre. ,ut they *ne% that they cou!d

not acco#p!ish this a!one$ and reso!ved to add the rat2godM to

their nu#er. So they invited the rat$ and the three %ent o$

dancing #erri!y. 3o% the ogre %as a!%ays !oo*ing steadi!y in the direction o

the sic* rich #an$ hoping that he %ou!d die. So he did not

notice the approach o the ox2cu$ the dog$ and the rat. So

%hen they reached the ogre6s house$ the rat$ %ith the he!p o the

ox2cu$ scooped out a passage under and into the house$ y

%hich a!! three #ade their %ay in. They then decided that it

#ust e !et to the rat to get ho!d o the char# y ni!ing aho!e in the ox in %hich it %as *ept. 'ean%hi!e the ox2cu

assu#ed the shape o a !itt!e oy$ and the puppy that o a !itt!e

gir!$@t%o eautiu! !itt!e creatures %ho danced and %ent

through a!! sorts o antics$ #uch to the a#use#ent o the ogre.

The ogre %as$ ho%ever$ suspicious as to ho% they had co#e

into the p. =B house$ and %hence they had co#e$ or the doors

%ere not open. So he deter#ined +ust to divert hi#se! a%hi!e

y %atching their ro!ics$ and then to *i!! the#. 'ean%hi!e the



rat had ni!ed a ho!e in the ox. Then getting into it$ he

rescued the char#$ and %ent out again through the passage in

the ground. The !itt!e oy and gir! disappeared too5 ho%$ the

ogre cou!d not te!!. &e #ade to pursue the# through the door$%hen he sa% the# !eeing. ,ut on second thoughts he ca#e to

the conc!usion that$ having once een ta*en in y a ox$ there

%as no use in urther endeavours. So he did not o!!o% the

three ani#a!s as they !ed a%ay.

They returned to the vi!!age5 the puppy and the ox2cu to

their #aster6s house$ the rat to its o%n p!ace. The puppy and the

ox2cu too* ho#e %ith the# the char#$ and p!aced it y their#aster6s pi!!o%$ p!aying aout near hi#$ and pu!!ing his c!othes

a !itt!e %ith their teeth. At !ength he !ited his head and sa% the

char#. Then he %orshipped it %ith great +oy and gratitude.

Ater%ards the ox2cu and the puppy caused hi# to see in a

drea# ho% the char# had een recovered through the rat6s

assistance. So he %orshipped the rat a!so.

:or this reason the Ainos do not thin* so very ad!y o the ratater a!!. The ox$ too$ though oten pursued y dogs$ %i!!

so#eti#es #a*e riends %ith the#5 and even %hen a dog is

pursuing a ox$ it %i!! not ite the !atter i it turns its ace

to%ards the pursuer.@8Written do%n ro# #e#ory. To!d y

Ishanashte$ =st 3ove#er$ =>>?.9

xiii.@ The Fo'* the Otter* and the )onkey.

In very ancient days$ at the eginning o the %or!d$ there

%ere a ox$ an otter$ and a #on*ey$ a!! three o %ho# !ived on

the #ost inti#ate ter#s o riendship.

One day the ox spo*e to the other t%o as o!!o%s "What do

you say to our going o so#e%here$ and stea!ing ood and

treasures ro# the Japanese" &is t%o co#panions having

consented$ they a!! %ent together to a distant p!ace$ and sto!e a



ag o eans$ a ag o sa!t$ and a #at ro# the house o a very

rich #an. When they had p. => co#e ho#e %ith their p!under$ the

ox said "OtterP (ou had etter ta*e the sa!t$ or it %i!! e

useu! to you in sa!ting the ish %hich you catch in the %ater%hen you go ishing. 'on*eyP do you ta*e the #at5 it %i!! e

very useu! or you to #a*e your chi!dren dance upon. As or

#yse!$ I %i!! ta*e the ag o eans."

Ater this$ a!! three retired to their respective houses5 and a

!itt!e !ater the otter %ent to the river to ish. ,ut$ as he too* his

ag o sa!t %ith hi# %hen he #ade the p!unge$ a!! the sa!t %as

#e!ted in a #o#ent$ to his great disappoint#ent. The #on*ey%as e0ua!!y un!uc*y5 or$ having ta*en his #at and spread it on

the top o a tree$ and #ade his chi!dren dance there$ the

chi!dren e!!$ and %ere dashed to pieces on the ground e!o%.

The #on*ey and the otter$ enraged y the #isortunes %hich

the ox6s %i!es had rought upon the#$ no% +oined together in

order to ight the ox. So the !atter too* a !ot o eans out o his

ag$ che%ed the# to a pu!p$ s#eared a!! his ody %ith the paste$ and !ay do%n pretending to e very i!!. And %hen the

otter and the #on*ey ca#e and #ade to *i!! hi#$ he said "See

to %hat a pitiu! p!ight I a# reducedP As a punish#ent or

having deceived you$ #y %ho!e ody is no% covered %ith

oi!s$ and I a# on the point o death. There is no need or you

to *i!! #e. 7o a%ayP I a# dying ast enough." The #on*ey

!oo*ed$ and sa% that the ox see#ed to e spea*ing the truth.

So he %ent testi!y a%ay$ across the sea to Japan. That is thereason %hy there are no #on*eys in the !and o the Ainos.@

8Written do%n ro# #e#ory. To!d y Ishanashte$ ==th Ju!y$

=>>?.9

xiv.@ The Fo' and the Tiger .@83o. I.9

Said the tiger to the ox "Let us run a race ro# the top o the





:or this reason there are no tigers in Aino2!and. :or this

reason$ a!so$ oxes are craty and e!o0uent even at the present

day.@8Written do%n ro# #e#ory. To!d y Ishanashte$ Bth

3ove#er$ =>>?.9

xv.@ The Punishment of %uriosity.

In very ancient days$ %hen the %or!d had +ust een #ade$

everything %as sti!! unsett!ed and dangerous. The crust o the

earth %as thin$ and a!! %as urning eneath. :or this reason the

peop!e did not dare to venture outside o their huts even tootain ood or they %ou!d have scorched their eet. So they

%ere ed y the god O*i*uru#i$ %ho used to ish or the#$ and

then send round his %ie p. N Turesh %ith %hat he had caught.

,ut he co##anded the peop!e to as* no 0uestions$ and never to

atte#pt to !oo* at Turesh6s ace. ,ut one day an Aino in one o

the huts %as not content %ith eing ed or nothing$ and

disoeyed O*i*uru#i6s co##ands. &e %ished to see %ho the

%o#an %as that ca#e round every day %ith ood. So he %aitedti!! her hand %as stretched in at the %indo%$ sei)ed ho!d o it$

and pu!!ed her in y #ain orce. She screa#ed and strugg!ed5

and$ %hen she %as inside the hut$ she turned into a %rigg!ing$

%rithing dragon. The s*y dar*ened$ the thunder crashed$ the

dragon vanished$ and the hut %as consu#ed y !ightning.

O*i*uru#i %as very angry at %hat the #an had done. So he

!et o eeding the peop!e$ and %ent a%ay$ none *ne% %hither.That is %hy the Ainos have een poor and #isera!e ever since

that ti#e.@8Written do%n ro# #e#ory. To!d y uteashguru$

Ju!y$ =>>?.9

xvi.@ &o it as settled ho should rule the "orld .

When the Creator had inished creating this %or!d o #en$

the good and the ad gods %ere a!! #ixed together



pro#iscuous!y$ and egan disputing or the possession o the

%or!d. They disputed$@the ad gods %anting to e at the head

o the govern#ent o this %or!d$ and the good gods !i*e%ise

%anting to e at the head. So the o!!o%ing arrange#ent %asagreed to Whoever$ at the ti#e o sunrise$ shou!d e the irst to

see the !u#inary$ shou!d ru!e the %or!d. I the ad gods shou!d

e the irst to see it rise$ then they shou!d ru!e5 and i the good

gods shou!d e the irst$ then they shou!d ru!e. Thereupon oth

the ad 7ods and the ri!!iant gods !oo*ed to%ards the p!ace

%here the !u#inary %as to rise. ,ut the ox2godM a!one stood

!oo*ing to%ards the %est. Ater a !itt!e ti#e$ the ox cried out

"I see the sunrise." On the gods$ oth ad and good$ turning

round and ga)ing$ they sa% in truth the reu!gence o the

!u#inary in the %est. This is the cause or %hich the ri!!iant

gods ru!e the %or!d.@8Trans!ated !itera!!y. To!d y Ishanashte$

=Nth Ju!y$ =>>?.9

p. =

xvii.@ The )an ho lost his "ife.

A #an had !ost his %ie$ and %as searching or her

every%here$ over hi!! and da!e$ orest and sea2shore. At !ast he

ca#e to a %ide p!ain$ on %hich stood an oa*2tree. 7oing up to

it he ound it to e not so #uch an oa*2tree as a house$ in

%hich d%e!t a *ind2!oo*ing o!d #an. Said the o!d #an "6I a#

the god o the oa*2tree. I *no% o your !oss$ and have seenyour aithu! search. 4est here a%hi!e$ and reresh yourse! y

eating and s#o*ing. Ater that$ i you hope to ind your %ie

again$ you #ust oey #y orders$ %hich are as o!!o%s Ta*e

this go!den horse$ get on his ac*$ !y up on hi# to the s*y$

and$ %hen you get there$ ride aout the streets$ constant!y

singing."

So the #an #ounted the horse$ %hich %as o pure go!d. The



sadd!e and a!! the trappings %ere o go!d a!so. As soon as he

%as in the sadd!e$ the horse !e% up to the s*y. There the #an

ound a %or!d !i*e ours$ ut #ore eautiu!. There %as an

i##ense city in it5 and up and do%n the streets o that city$ dayater day$ he rode$ singing a!! the %hi!e. Every one in the s*y

stared at hi#$ and a!! the peop!e put their hands to their noses$

saying "&o% that creature ro# the !o%er %or!d stin*sP" At

!ast the stench eca#e so into!era!e to the# that the chie god

o the s*y ca#e and to!d hi# that he shou!d e #ade to ind his

%ie i on!y he %ou!d go a%ay. Thereupon the #an !e% ac*

to earth on his go!den horse. A!ighting at the oot o the oa*2

tree$ he said to the oa*2god "&ere a# I. I did as you ade #e.

,ut I did not ind #y %ie." "Wait a #o#ent$" said the oa*2

god5 "you do not *no% %hat a tu#u!t has een caused y your

visit to the s*y$ neither have I yet to!d you that it %as a de#on

%ho sto!e your %ie. This de#on$ !oo*ing up ro# he!! e!o%$

%as so #uch astonished to see and hear you riding up and

do%n the streets o heaven singing$ that his ga)e is sti!! ixed in

that direction. I %i!! proit herey to go round 0uiet!y$ %hi!e hisattention is asored$ and !et your %ie out o the ox in %hich

he *eeps her shut up."

The oa*2god did as he had pro#ised. &e rought ac* the

%o#an$ and handed over oth her and the go!d horse to the

#an$ p. saying "<o not use this horse to #a*e any #ore

+ourneys to the s*y. Stay on earth$ and reed ro# it." The

coup!e oeyed his co##ands$ and eca#e very rich. The go!dhorse gave irth to t%o horses$ and these t%o red !i*e%ise$ ti!!

at !ast horses i!!ed a!! the !and o the Ainos.@8Written do%n

ro# #e#ory. To!d y Ishanashte$ =st Ju!y$ =>>?9

xviii.@ The First ,ppearan$e of the &orse in ,ino-land .

A very eautiu! %o#an had a husand. &e %as a very s*i!u!

e!!o%. Once he %ent to the #ountains$ and disappeared. ,ut at



night he returned$ earing a deer on his ac*. Ater easting on

the deer$ they %ent to ed. ,ut in the #idd!e o the night$ the

%o#an %ept and screa#ed$ saying "This #an is not #y

husand. Though %ith sha#e$ I %i!! dec!are the act as it is. &is penis is so ig$ so ig$ so ig$ that it %i!! not get into #y

vagina5 and i it did get in$ I shou!d die."

A!ar#ed y her cries$ the neighours ran out$ and ca#e into

her house5 and one strong e!!o% too* a stic*$ and eat the

husand$ saying "(ou #ust e so#e sort o devi!$" %hereupon

the husand turned into a horse$ and ran a%ay neighing.

Ater%ards he %as eaten to death. The truth %as that the husand had een *i!!ed and

supp!anted y the horse. That %as the irst the Ainos sa% o

horses. In ancient days every sort o creature cou!d thus assu#e

hu#an shape. So it is said.@8Trans!ated !itera!!y. To!d y

-enri$ =th Ju!y$ =>>?9.

xix.@ +unrise.

When the sun rises at the head o the %or!d ie in the eastM$ a

devi! tries to s%a!!o% it. ,ut so#e one thrusts t%o or three

cro%s or oxes into the devi!6s #outh. 'ean%hi!e the sun

#ounts on high. The creatures$ than %hich there are none #ore

nu#erous in this %or!d$ are the cro%s and the oxes. That is

%hy things are thus. In return or this service o theirs$ the

cro%s and oxes share in a!! #an6s eata!es. It is ecause o the

aove act.@8Trans!ated !itera!!y. To!d y -enri$ =Dth Ju!y$

=>>?.9

p. D

xx.@ The +e' of the To Luminaries.

:or#er!y it %as the e#a!e !u#inary that ca#e out at night.



,ut she %as so great!y shoc*ed at the i##ora!ities %hich she

sa% going on out o doors a#ong the grass$ that she exchanged

%ith the #a!e !u#inary$ %ho$ eing a #an$ did not care so

#uch. So no% the sun is a e#a!e deity$ and the #oon is a #a!edeity. ,ut sure!y the sun #ust e oten shoc*ed at %hat she

sees going on even in the dayti#e$ %hen the young peop!e are

in the open a#ong the grass.@8Written do%n ro# #e#ory.

To!d y Ishanashte$ 3ove#er$ =>>?.9

II.@'O4AL TALES.

xxi.@ The .ind !iver and the !rudging !iver .

A certain #an had !aid his net across the river5 having !aid his

net$ he *i!!ed a 0uantity o ish. 'ean%hi!e there ca#e a raven$

and perched eside hi#. It see#ed to e great!y hungering ater

the ish. It %as #uch to e pitied. So the isher#an %ashed one

o the ish$ and thre% it to the raven. The raven ate the ish %ithgreat +oy. Ater%ards the raven ca#e again. Though it %as a

raven$ it spo*e thus$ +ust !i*e a hu#an eing "I a# very

grateu! or having een ed on ish y you. I you %i!! co#e

%ith #e to #y o!d ather$ he too %i!! than* you$ So you had

etter co#e."

The #an %ent %ith the raven. ,eing a raven$ it !e% through

the air. The #an o!!o%ed it on oot. Ater they had gone a !ong%ay$ they ca#e to a !arge house. When they got there$ the

raven %ent into the house. The #an %ent in a!so. When he

!oo*ed$ it appeared !i*e a hu#an eing in or#$ though it %as a

raven. There %ere a!so a divine o!d #an and a divine o!d

%o#an esides the divine gir!. This gir! %as she %ho had !ed

the #an hither. The divine o!d #an spo*e thus "I a# very

grateu! to you. As I a# very grateu! to you or eeding #y

daughter %ith good ish$ I have had you rought here in order



to re%ard you." Thus spo*e the divine o!d #an.

Then there %ere a go!d puppy and a si!ver puppy. ,oth these

puppies %ere given to the #an. The divine o!d #an spo*e thus

p. F "Though I shou!d give you treasures$ it %ou!d e use!ess.

,ut i I give you these puppies$ you %i!! e great!y eneited.

As or the excre#ents o these t%o puppies$ the go!d puppy

excretes go!d and the si!ver puppy excretes si!ver. This eing

so$ you %i!! e great!y enriched i you se!! these excre#ents to

the oicia!s. /nderstand thisP" Then the #an$ %ith respectu!

sa!utations$ %ent a%ay$ carrying %ith hi# the t%o puppies$ and

ca#e to his o%n house. Then he gave the puppies a !itt!e oodat a ti#e. When the go!d puppy excreted$ it excreted go!d or

hi#. When the si!ver puppy excreted$ it exereted si!ver or hi#.

The #an great!y enriched hi#se! y se!!ing the #eta!.

Thereupon another #an$ or the sa*e o i#itation$ set his net

in the river. &e *i!!ed a 0uantity o ish. Then the raven ca#e.

The #an s#eared a ish %ith #ud$ and then thre% it to the

raven. The raven !e% a%ay %ith it. The #an %ent ater it$ andat !ast$ ater going a !ong %ay$ reached a !arge house. &e %ent

in there. The divine o!d #an %as very angry. &e spo*e thus

"(ou #an are a #an %ith a very ad heart. When you gave #y

daughter a ish$ you gave it s#eared a!! over %ith #ud. I a#

very angry. Sti!!$ though I a# angry$ I %i!! give you so#e

puppies$ as you have co#e to #y house. I you treat the#

proper!y$ you %i!! e eneited." Thus spo*e the divine o!d

#an$ and gave a go!d puppy and a si!ver puppy to the #an.With a o%$ the #an %ent ho#e %ith the#.

The #an thought thus "I I eed the puppies p!entiu!!y$ they

%i!! excrete p!enty o #eta!. It %ou!d e oo!ish to have the#

excreting on!y a !itt!e at a ti#e. So I %i!! do that$ and eco#e

very rich." Thin*ing thus$ he ed the puppies p!entiu!!y on

anything$ even on dirty things. Then they excreted no #eta! or

hi#. They on!y excreted dirty dung. The #an6s house %as u!!



o nothing ut dirty dung. As or the or#er #an$ %ho had

received puppies ro# the divine o!d #an$ he ed his on

nothing ut good ood$ a !itt!e at a ti#e. 7radua!!y they

excreted #eta! or hi#. &e %as great!y enriched.

Thus in ancient ti#es$ %ith regard to #en %ho %ished to

gro% rich$ they cou!d gro% rich i their hearts %ere as good as

possi!e. As or ad2hearted #en$ the gods eca#e angry at a!!

their various p. G #isdeeds. It %as or this reason that$ on

account o their anger$ even a go!d puppy excreted nothing ut

dung. As or the house o that ad2hearted #an$ it gre% so u!!

o dung as to e too dirty or other peop!e to enter. This eingso$ ohP #en$ do not e ad2hearted. That is the story %hich I

have heard.@8Trans!ated !itera!!y. To!d y Ishanashte$ Nth

Ju!y$ =>>?.9

xxii.@ The )an ho as $hanged into a Fo'.

A certain #an6s conduct %as as o!!o%s he %ent to every p!ace$ #a*ing it his usiness to do nothing ut te!! !ies and

extort things ro# peop!e. Then$ ater a ti#e$ %hen %anting to

extort again$ he %ent on to another p!ace. Whi!e %a!*ing a!ong

he used to thin* o %hat !ies he cou!d te!!. Ater%ards he heard

a voice. It %as not hu#an !anguage. &e %a!*ed saying@"-auP

pauP"1 When he !oo*ed at his o%n ody$ it %as a ox6s. Then he

thought that$ %hether he #ight return to his o%n vi!!age$ or go

to another p!ace$ the dogs %ou!d *i!! hi#. So$ %ith tears$ he%ent a%ay ro# the road into the #ountains. There he ound a

!arge$ !eay oa*2tree. &e !ay do%n crying eneath it.

Then he e!! as!eep. &e drea#t that there %as a !arge house.

&e %as outside o that house. A divine %o#an ca#e out o it$

and spo*e thus "OhP %hat a ad #anP %hat a vi!!ainP (ou have

eco#e a ad god$ a devi!$ as a divine punish#ent or your

#isdeeds. ,eing thus #ade into a devi!$ %hy do you co#e and



stand near #y house I shou!d !i*e to !eave you a!one. ,ut as I

a# this tree$ %hich is #ade the chie o trees y heaven$ and as

it %ou!d dei!e #e to have you die eside #y house$ I %i!! turn

you into a #an again and send you ho#e. <o not #isehaveyourse! henceorthP" Thus spo*e the divine %o#an.

Such %as his drea#. 'ean%hi!e the ranches at the top o

the tree ro*e$ and ca#e crashing do%n$ and he %as great!y

rightened. ,ut %hen he started up$ he %as a #an again. Then

he %orshipped the tree. Then he returned ho#e. Then

ater%ards he did not p. ? #isehave. So a!so #ust you not

#isehave$ you #en %ho !ive no%P@8Trans!ated !itera!!y. To!d y -enri$ =Qth Ju!y$ =>>?.9

xxiii.@ The Rat (oy.

In a certain vi!!age there !ived a very rich coup!e5 ut they

%ere chi!d!ess. They %ere very anxious or a chi!d. ,ut one

day$ as the %ie %ent to the #ountains to etch %ood$ she ounda !itt!e oy crying eside a tree. 4e+oiced at this$ she too* hi#

do%n %ith her to the vi!!age. Thenceorth they *ept the oy

%ith the#. It %as a p!ace %here there %as p!enty o deer and

a!so o ish5 it %as a p!ace provided %ith a!! the things %hich

peop!e !i*e to eat. ,ut though they hunted the deer$ they cou!d

not catch the#5 though they ang!ed or the ish$ they cou!d not

catch the#. They %ere very hungry. &earing that great

0uantities oth o ish and o deer %ere *i!!ed in the vi!!agenext to theirs$ to%ards the #ountains$ the %ie %ent o to uy

ood there$ ta*ing the chi!d %ith her. She %ent to the vi!!age

next to theirs$ to%ards the #ountains. She %ent to the house o

the chie. The %o#an !oo*ed and sa% ish hanging on po!es$

and !esh hanging on po!es. With tears she !onged or so#e.

She %ent in$ she %ent in to the chie6s house. Then she stayed

there. She %as easted on the est its o the ish and on the

est its o the !esh. Ater that$ as she !ay do%n %ith her !itt!e



oy$ he rose 0uiet!y in the #idd!e o the night. Then there %as

the sound o a rat ni!ing at the ish and !esh on the po!es.

The %o#an thought it very strange. So at da%n the oy ca#e

0uiet!y ac*$ !ay do%n y the %o#an6s side$ and s!ept there ti!!the day %as right. The peop!e o the house rose$ and the chie

%ent out and #u#!ed thus to hi#se! "3ever %ere there such

rats as this. There have een rats ni!ing #y good ish and #y

good !esh."

So the %o#an ought a 0uantity o ish and !esh and %ent

o %ith it. She %anted the !itt!e oy to %a!* in ront o her5 ut

he dis!i*ed to do so. &e %ou!d on!y %a!* ater her. Then there%as the sound o a rat ni!ing at her !oad. When she !oo*ed

ac*$ the !itt!e oy %as grinning. So they %ent on5 they %ent

ho#e. Then she put oth the ish and the !esh into the store2

house. Then she %hispered p. B to her husand. Then her

husand %ent into the next roo#$ and #ade a trap. Then the

trap %as set in the store2house. Then they %ent to ed. The

!itt!e oy !ay et%een the %o#an and her husand5 ut ater

a%hi!e he 0uiet!y rose and %ent out. &e stayed a%ay$ %ithoutco#ing ac*. <ay!ight ca#e. On the #an o the house going

into the store2house$ there %as a !arge rat in the trap. So he

rought it do%n$ eat it to death$ and s%ept it on to the dust2

heap. That night he had a drea#. A person o divine aspect

spo*e to hi# thus5 "(ou %ere chi!d!ess$ and %anting to have a

chi!d. The #ost %ic*ed o the rats$ seeing this$ too* the shape

o a !itt!e oy$ and d%e!t in your house. :or this reason$ yourvi!!age has een po!!uted. ,ut as you have no% *i!!ed the rat$

a!! %i!! no% e right. I a# sorry or you$ so you sha!! have a

chi!d." Thus did he drea# that the god spo*e to hi#. As it %as

true$ they got a chi!d$ though they had een chi!d!ess.

:or this reason$ %hether it e on the shore or in the

#ountains or any%here e!se that one inds either a chi!d or a

puppy$ one shou!d not !et it d%e!! in one6s house %ithout

*no%ing its origin.@8Trans!ated !itera!!y. To!d y -enri$ Nth



Ju!y =>>?.9

xxiv.@ #on/t thro 0seful Things aay.

A certain #an had a !itt!e oy. A divine !itt!e oy and a divine

!itt!e gir! used to co#e and p!ay %ith hi# every day. ,ut the

!itt!e oy a!one cou!d see the#. &is parents couId not see the#$

ut e!ieved their chi!d to e a!one.

3o% one day he e!! i!!$ and during his i!!ness his t%o

p!ay#ates did not co#e to see hi#. On!y at the very !ast did

they co#e$ %hen he see#ed to e on the point o death. Thenthey ca#e$ and the !itt!e gir! said "We *no% the cause o your

i!!ness. (our grandather possessed a eautiu! axe. I #yse! a#

a s#a!! tray %hich he ashioned %ith that axe$ and the !itt!e oy

%ho co#es %ith #e is a pest!e %hich %as a!so ashioned %ith

it. So the axe %as our chietain$ and %e are its chi!dren. ,ut

your ather has een ad. &e has thro%n a%ay the axe$ %hich is

no% rusting under the !oor. :or this reason are you i!!$ in order to punish your ather$ ecause our chietain p. > the axe is angry.

Thereore$ as %e %ere your p!ay#ates$ %e have co#e to %arn

you that$ i you %ish to !ive$ you #ust te!! your ather to search

or the axe$ to po!ish it$ to #a*e a ne% hand!e or it$ and to set

up the divine sy#o!s in its honour. Then #ay you e cured$

and the axe too %i!! pay you a visit in hu#an shape."

So the oy to!d his ather o this. The ather thought that his

son had een instructed in a drea#. &e searched under the !oor

o the house$ and ound the axe$ and po!ished it$ and #ade a

ne% hand!e or it$ and set up the divine sy#o!s in its honour.

Then his son %as i##ediate!y hea!ed.

Ater that$ the axe 8%ho appeared as a very handso#e #an9$

the tray$ and the pest!e a!! ca#e$ and eca#e the !itt!e oy6s

rothers and sisters. The axe$ eing a god$ *ne% a!! that %ent

on and the causes o everything5 and it and the tray and the



pest!e used a!%ays to te!! the oy everything. Thus$ i any one

%as sic*$ he *ne% %hy the sic*ness had co#e$ and ho% it

shou!d e treated. &e %as !oo*ed upon as a great soothsayer

and %i)ard$ %ho cou!d turn death into !ie. This %as ecauseother peop!e on!y sa% hi#. They did not see his divine

inor#ants$ the axe$ the tray$ and the pest!e.

:or this reason never thro% a%ay anything that has e!onged

to your ancestors. (ou %i!! e punished y the gods i you do

so.

In a variant o this ta!e$ the death o chi!d ater chi!d orne

y a certain %ornan %as o%ing to the act that the do!! %ith%hich she herse! had p!ayed as a chi!d 8a piece o %ood

shaped !i*e a ird9 had een thro%n a%ay in the grass$ and had

thus had its anger aroused. A conversation on the su+ect

et%een the spoon$ the cup$ and the iron chain %herey the

*ett!e is hung over the ire ro# a hoo* in the cei!ing$ is

overheard y a ha!2urnt piece o ire%ood$ %ho %arns the

%o#an6s husand in a drea#. The do!! is then !oo*ed or5 and$%hen ound$ the divine sy#o!s are set up in its honour.

Thereupon the %o#an ears again. This ti#e the chi!d

survives$ to the de!ight o oth its parents.M@8Written do%n

ro# #e#ory. To!d y Ishanashte$ nd <ece#er$ =>>?.9

p. Q

xxv.@ The "i$ked "i1ard punished .

One day a %i)ard to!d a #an %ho# he *ne% that$ i any one

%ere to c!i# a certain #ountain2pea* and +u#p o on to the

e!t o c!ouds e!o%$ he %ou!d e a!e to ride aout on the# as

on a horse$ and see the %ho!e %or!d. Trusting in this$ the #an

did as the %i)ard had to!d hi#$ and in very truth %as ena!ed to

ride aout on the c!ouds. &e visited the %ho!e %or!d in this

ashion$ and rought ac* a #ap %hich he had dra%n o the



%ho!e %or!d oth o #en and o gods. On arriving ac* at the

#ountain2pea* in Aino2!and$ he stepped o the c!oud on to the

#ountain$ and$ descending to the va!!ey$ to!d the %i)ard ho%

successu! and de!ightu! the +ourney had een$ and than*edhi# or the opportunity *ind!y granted hi# o seeing sights so

nu#erous and so strange.

The %i)ard %as overco#e %ith astonish#ent. :or %hat he

had to!d the other #an %as a !ie$ a %ic*ed !ie invented %ith the

so!e intention o causing his death5 or he hated hi#.

3everthe!ess$ seeing that %hat he had si#p!y #eant or an id!e

ta!e %as apparent!y an actua! act$ he decided to see the %or!dhi#se! in this easy ashion. So$ ascending the #ountain2pea*$

and seeing a e!t o c!ouds a short %ay e!o%$ he +u#ped o on

to it$ ut %as instant!y dashed to pieces in the va!!ey e!o%.

That night the god o the #ountain appeared to the good #an

in a drea#$ and said "The %i)ard has #et %ith the death %hich

his raud and o!!y deserve. (ou I *ept ro# hurt$ ecause you

are a good #an. So %hen$ oedient to the %i)ard6s advice$ you!eapt o on to the c!oud$ I ore you up$ and sho%ed you the

%or!d in order to #a*e you a %iser #an. Let a!! #en !earn ro#

this ho% %ic*edness !eads to condign punish#entP"@8Written

do%n ro# #e#ory. To!d y Ishanashte$ =st Ju!y$ =>>?.9

xxvi.@ The ,ngry %ro.

A #an ca#e to a certain vi!!age@%hence %as not *no%n$@

dressed on!y in ine !ac* roes. Whi!e he %as there$ so#e

rice2eer %as re%ed. On eing given so#e o it to drin*$ he

%as very +oyu!$ and p. DN then danced. Then$ as he %ent out2o2

doors$ he re2entered the house %ith a piece o hard dung in his

#outh$ and put it in the a!cove. As the #aster o the house

eca#e angry and eat hi#$ he$ eing a !arge cro%$ !e% out o

the %indo%$ #a*ing the sound "RP *RP" :or this reason$ even



cro%s are creatures to e dreaded. ,e very careu!P@

8Trans!ated !itera!!y. To!d y -enri$ ==th Ju!y$ =>>?.9

In another version o this story$ co##unicated to #e y 'r.

John ,atche!or$ the cro%$ enraged at not having received an

invitation to a east given y so#e o the #ore handso#e irds$

!ies high into the air %ith a piece o hard dung in its #outh$

and !ets it drop into the #idd!e o the party$ to the great

conusion o the guests. So#e o the s#a!!er irds ta*e counse!

together as to the advisai!ity o interering to restore the

har#ony o the occasion$ ut ina!!y decide that it is not or

the#$ %ho %ere a!so o#itted ro# the !ist o invitations$ to #ixthe#se!ves up %ith such a #atter. 'ora! I you give a east$

as* a!! your riends to it. I any are !et out$ they are sure to ee!

hurt.M

xxvii.@ Okikurumi* +amayunguru* and the +hark .

O*i*uru#i and his hench#an Sa#ayunguru %ent out oneday to sea$ and speared a !arge shar*$ %hich ran a%ay$ up and

do%n the sea$ %ith the !ine and the oat. The t%o #en gre%

very tired o pu!!ing at hi#$ and cou!d not prevent the oat

ro# eing pu!!ed aout in a!! directions. Their hands %ere

!oody and !istered oth on the ac*s and on the pa!#s$ ti!! at

!ast Sa#ayunguru san* dead in the otto# o the oat. At !ast

O*i*uru#i cou!d ho!d on no !onger$ and he cursed the shar*$

saying "(ou ad shar*P I %i!! cut the rope. ,ut the tip o theharpoons$ #ade ha! o iron and ha! o one$ sha!! re#ain

stic*ing in your !esh5 and you sha!! ee! in your ody the

revereration o the iron and the scraping o the one5 and on

your s*in sha!! gro% the rasupa2tree and the shiuri2tree o

%hich the spear2hand!e is #ade$ and the hai2grass y %hich the

tip o the harpoon is tied to the ody o it$ and the nipesh2tree

o %hich the rope tying the harpoon itse! is #ade$ so that$

though you are such a #ighty ish$ you sha!! not e a!e to



s%i# in the %ater5 and you sha!! die$ and at p. D= !ast e %ashed

ashore at the river2#outh o Saru5 and even the carrier2cro%s

and the dogs and oxes %i!! not eat you$ ut %i!! on!y void their

;ces upon you$ and you sha!! at !ast rot a%ay to earth."

The shar* !aughed$ thin*ing this %as #ere!y a hu#an eing

te!!ing a a!sehood. O*i*uru#i cut the rope$ and$ ater a !ong

ti#e$ #anaged to reach the !and. Then he revived

Sa#ayunguru$ %ho had een dead. And ater%ards the shar*

died and %as %ashed ashore at the river2#outh o Saru5 and the

tip o the harpoon #ade ha! o iron and ha! o one had stuc*

in its !esh5 and it had e!t in its ody the revereration o theha##ering o the iron and the scraping o the one5 and in its

s*in %ere gro%ing the rasupa2tree and the shiuri2tree o %hich

the spear2hand!e used y O*i*uru#i %as #ade$ and the hai2

grass y %hich the tip o the harpoon %as tied to the ody o it$

and the nipesh2tree o %hich the rope tying the harpoon itse!

%as #ade5 and even the carrion2cro%s and the dogs and oxes

%ou!d not eat the ad shar*$ ut on!y voided their ;ces upon

hi#5 and at !ast he rotted a%ay to earth.

Thereore ta*e %arning$ ohP shar*s o the present day$ !est

you die as this shar* diedP@8Written do%n ro# #e#ory. To!d

y Ishanashte$ Fth 3ove#er$ =>>?.9

III.@TALES O: T&E -A3A/',E A3< -E3A/',E

C(CLE.1

xxviii.@ Panaumbe* Penaumbe* and the "eeping Fo'es.

There %ere -anau#e and -enau#e. -anau#e %ent do%n

to the an* o a river$ and ca!!ed out "OhP you e!!o%s on the

c!i ehind yonder c!iP :erry #e acrossP" They rep!ied "We

#ust irst scoop out a oat. Wait or usP" Ater a !itt!e %hi!e



-anau#e ca!!ed out again. "We have no po!es$" said they5 "%e

are going to #a*e so#e po!es. Wait or usP" Ater a !itt!e

!onger$ he ca!!ed p. D out a third ti#e. They rep!ied thus "We

are co#ing or you$ Wait or usP" Then the oat started$@a ig oat a!! u!! o oxes.

So -anau#e$ having irst sei)ed ho!d o a good !udgeon$

eigned dead. Then the oxes arrived$ and spo*e thus

"-anau#eP (ou are to e pitied. Were you ro)en to death$ or

%ere you starved to death" With these %ords$ a!! the oxes

ca#e up c!ose to hi#$ and %ept. Thereupon -anau#e

randished his !udgeon$ struc* a!! the oxes$ and *i!!ed the#.On!y one ox did he !et go$ ater rea*ing one o its !egs. As or

the rest$ having *i!!ed the# a!!$ he carried the# ho#e to his

house$ and gre% very rich y se!!ing their !esh and their

s*insM.

Then -enau#e ca#e do%n to hi#$ and spo*e thus

"Whereas you and I %ere oth e0ua!!y poor$ ho% did you *i!!

such a nu#er o oxes$ and therey eco#e rich" -anau#erep!ied "I you %i!! co#e and dine %ith #e$ I %i!! instruct

you." ,ut -enau#e at once said "I have heard a!! aout it

eore." With these %ords he pissed against the door2si!!$ and

%ent out.

<escending to the an* o the river$ he ca!!ed$ crying out as

-anau#e had done. The rep!y %as "We are going to #a*e a

oat. Wait or usP" Ater a !itt!e %hi!e$ he ca!!ed out again. Theyrep!ied "We are going to #a*e the po!es. Wait or usP" Ater a

!itt!e !onger$ they started$@a %ho!e oatu! o oxes. So

-enau#e irst eigned dead. Then the oxes arrived$ and said

"-enau#e here is to e pitied. <id he die o co!d or did he

die ro# %ant o ood" With these %ords$ they a!! ca#e c!ose

to -enau#e and %ept. ,ut one ox a#ong the#$ a ox %ho

!i#ped$ spo*e thus "I re#e#er so#ething %hich once

happened. Weep at a greater distanceP" So a!! the oxes sat and



%ept ever urther and urther a%ay. -enau#e %as una!e to

*i!! any o those oxes5 and$ us he randished his !udgeon$

they a!! ran a%ay. &e did not catch a sing!e one$ and he hi#se!

died a #isera!e death.@8Litera! trans!ation. To!d yIshanashte$ Drd Ju!y$ =>>?.9

xxix.@ Panaumbe* Penaumbe* and the 2nse$ts.


to p. DD the sea2shore$ s0uatted on the sand$ pu!!ed up his c!othes$

and$ turning his ac* to the sea$ opened his anus as %ide!y as possi!e. Then a!! the %ha!es and the sa!#on and the other

good ishes$ oth great and s#a!!$ thought it %as a eautiu!

cavern in the roc*s. They a!! s%a# to%ards it$ and cro%ded

into it. -anau#e %as #uch p!eased. When his inside %as

0uite u!!$ he c!osed his anus and ran ho#e. When he got to the

house$ he c!osed the door and the %indo%. Then the opened his

anus again$ and !et out a!! the %ha!es and the sa!#on and the

other good ishes$ oth great and s#a!!$ so that the %ho!e house%as u!! o the#. They cou!d not s%i# a%ay$ ecause the door

and %indo% %ere shut. So -anau#e caught the# a!!. So#e he

ate$ and so#e he so!d. So he eca#e a very rich #an.

The -enau#e ca#e do%n$ and spo*e thus "(ou %ere poor

eore. 3o% you are rich. &o% have you #anaged to get so

rich" -anau#e said "Co#e and dine %ith #e. I can instruct

you %hi!e %e are eating." So$ %hen -anau#e had to!d-enau#e ho% he had eco#e rich$ -enau#e said "I *ne%

that eore." With these %ords$ he pissed against the thresho!d$

and %ent out$@do%n to the sea2shore. Then he did as

-anau#e had to!d hi#$ and opened his anus as %ide as

possi!e to%ard the sea. Then he e!t a!! the %ha!es and sa!#on

and the other ishes$ oth great and s#a!!$ cro%ding in. When

his inside %as 0uite u!!$ he c!osed his anus$ and ran ho#e very

0uic*!y. When he got to the house he c!osed the door and the



%indo%$ and stopped up even the s#a!!est chin*s. Then he

opened his anus again$ and !et out a!! the %ha!es and sa!#on$

and the other good ishes$ oth great and s#a!!$ so that the

%ho!e house %as u!! o the#. ,ut %hen they ca#e out$ %hathad e!t !i*e %ha!es and sa!#on$ and a!! sorts o ishes$ %ere

rea!!y %asps and horse2!ies and spiders and centipedes$ and

other poisonous insects$ %hich stung hi# terri!y. They cou!d

not get out$ ecause -enau#e had c!osed the %indo% and the

door$ and had stopped up even the s#a!!est chin*s. So

-enau#e %as stung to death y the %asps and centipedes and

other poisonous insects %hich had co#e ho#e in his inside.@

8Written do%n ro# #e#ory. To!d y annari*i$ June$ =>>?.9

p. DF

xxx.@ Panaumbe* Penaumbe* and the +ea-Lion.


to the sea2shore$ and %a!*ed up and do%n upon the sand. Thenhe sa% a sea2!ion in the %ater. &e %anted to catch that sea2!ion$

and eat its !esh. So he ca!!ed out to it "OhP 'r. Sea2Lion$ i

you %i!! co#e here$ I %i!! pic* the !ice out o your head." The

sea2!ion %as very g!ad to have the !ice pic*ed out o its head.

So it s%a# to hi#. Then he pretended to pic* the !ice out o its

head. ,ut in rea!ity he pic*ed the !esh o its head$ and the at$

and ate it. Then he said "A!! the !ice are pic*ed o. (ou #ay

go." Ater the sea2!ion had s%u# a short %ay$ it put its pa% upto its head$ in order to see %hether the !ice had rea!!y a!! een

ta*en o. Then it e!t that its !esh and at %ere a!! gone$ and

that on!y the ones re#ained. So it %as very angry$ and s%a#

ac* 0uic*!y to%ards the shore$ to catch -anau#e and *i!!

hi#.

-anau#e$ %hen he sa% the sea2!ion pursuing hi#$ ran

in!and to%ards the #ountains. Ater running so#e ti#e$ he



reached a p!ace %here the path divided. An o!d cro% %as

perching on a tree there$ and said "4ight or !etP right or !etP I

see a c!ever #an." The road to the right %as road$ and the

road to the !et %as narro%$ ecause it %as in a va!!ey %hichended in a point. -anau#e thought thus "I I ta*e the road

path to the right$ the sea2!ion %i!! overta*e #e$ and *i!! #e. ,ut

i I ta*e the narro% path to the !et$ he %i!! run so ast that he

%i!! get stuc* at the end o the narro% va!!ey$ and I$ eing

s#a!!$ can s!ip out et%een his !egs$ and eat in his head ro#

ehind$ and *i!! hi#." So -anau#e ran a!ong the narro% path

to the !et$ and the sea2!ion pursued hi#. ,ut the sea2!ion ran so

heed!ess!y and 0uic*!y that it got stuc* at the end o the narro%

va!!ey. Then -anau#e s!ipped out et%een the sea2!ion6s !egs$

and eat in his head ro# ehind$ and *i!!ed hi#$ and too*

ho#e his !esh and his s*in. Then -anau#e eca#e very rich.

Ater%ards -enau#e ca#e do%n to hi#$ and said "(ou and

I %ere oth poor. &o% is it that you are no% so rich"

-anau#e said "I you %i!! co#e and dine %ith #e$ I %i!!

instruct you." So they %ent together to -anau#e6s house$%here -anau#e6s #other$ p. DG and his %ie and chi!dren$ %ere

eating the !esh o the sea2!ion. ,ut -enau#e$ %hen he had

heard %hat -anau#e had done$ said "I *ne% that eore."

Then he stepped in the dishes set eore -anau#e6s #other

and %ie and chi!dren$ and spi!t their ood. Then pissed on the

thresho!d$ and %ent a%ay.

-enau#e %ent do%n to the sea2shore$ and sa% a sea2!ion$ as-anau#e had done. &e ca!!ed out to the sea2!ion "OhP 'r.

Sea2Lion$ i you %i!! co#e here$ I %i!! pic* the !ice out o your

head." So the sea2!ion s%a# to hi#. Then -enau#e pretended

to pic* the !ice out o its head. ,ut in rea!ity he pic*ed the !esh

and the at o its head$ and !et nothing ut the ones. The sea2

!ion e!t a !itt!e pain$ ut thought that it %as o%ing to the !ice

eing pic*ed out. So$ %hen -enau#e had inished pic*ing and

eating the !esh o its head$ it s%a# a%ay. ,ut ater%ards$





%i!! e %e!! to dry a!! the c!othes and eautiu! gar#ents upon

it." :or this reason$ a!! the c!othes and eautiu! gar#ents %ere

rought do%n$ and put upon the divine po!e. -enau#e %anted

to eco#e rich 0uic*!y y dra%ing ac* his penis. So he dre%it ac* 0uic*!y. The divine po!e #oved$ and the !ord o

'ato#ai spo*e thus "It happened thus eore. There %as a

po!e sent y the gods. :or this reason the c!othes and eautiu!

gar#ents %ere dried upon it. Then a thie sto!e the divine po!e

a%ay. We a!! eca#e poor. 3o% again our c!othes and eautiu!

gar#ents have een p!aced upon a po!e. 3o% there see#s to e

a thie again. uic*!y cut the divine po!e." :or that reason the

servants o the !ord a!! dre% their s%ords. They cut the divine

po!e$ and a!! the c!othes and eautiu! gar#ents %ere ta*en.

-enau#e %as !et %ith on!y ha! a penis. &e dre% it in. Then

he had nothing. Then he eca#e very poor. I -enau#e had

!istened to -anau#e6s advice$ he #ight have had ood to eat$

he #ight have eco#e rich. ,ut he did not !i*e to !isten to

advice. :or this reason he eca#e poor.@8Trans!ated !itera!!y.

Origina! co##unicated y 'r. John ,atche!or$ June$ =>>?5a!so printed in "Aino 'e#oir$" p. =DD$ ut %ith the indecent

expressions sotened do%n.9

xxxii.@ #rinking the +ea dry.

There %as the Chie o the 'outh o the 4iver and the Chie

o the /pper Current o the 4iver. The or#er %as veryvaing!orious$ p. DB and thereore %ished to put the !atter to

sha#e$ or to *i!! hi# y engaging hi# in the atte#pt to

peror# so#ething i#possi!e. So he sent or hi#$ and said

"The sea #ay e a useu! thing$ in so ar as it is the origina!

ho#e o the ish %hich co#e up the river. ,ut it is very

destructive in stor#y %eather$ %hen it eats %i!d!y upon the

each. <o you no% drin* it dry$ so that there #ay e rivers and

dry !and on!y. I you cannot do so$ then oreit a!! your



possessions." The other 8great!y to the vaing!orious #an6s

surprise9 said "I accept the cha!!enge."

So$ on their going do%n together to the each$ the Chie o

the /pper Current o the 4iver too* a cup$ and scooped up a

!itt!e o the sea2%ater %ith it$ dran* a e% drops$ and said "In

the sea2%ater itse! there is no har#. It is so#e o the rivers

!o%ing into it that are poisonous. <o you thereore irst c!ose

the #ouths o a!! the rivers oth in Aino2!and and in Japan$ and

prevent the# ro# !o%ing into the sea$ and then I %i!!

underta*e to drin* the sea dry." &ereupon the Chie o the

'outh o the 4iver e!t asha#ed$ ac*no%!edged his error$ andgave a!! his treasures to his riva!.@8Written do%n ro#

#e#ory. To!d y Ishanashte$ =>th 3ove#er$ =>>?.9

IV.@'ISCELLA3EO/S TALES.

xxxiii.@ The 2sland of "omen.

In ancient days$ an Aino chietain o I%anai %ent to sea in

order to catch sea2!ions$ ta*ing %ith hi# his t%o sons. They

speared a sea2!ion$ %hich$ ho%ever$ s%a# o %ith the spear

stic*ing in its ody. 'ean%hi!e a ga!e egan to !o% do%n

ro# the #ountains. The #en cut the rope %hich %as ast to the

spear. Then their oat !oated on. Ater so#e ti#e$ they reached

a eautiu! !and. When they had reached it$ a nu#er o %o#enin ine gar#ents ca#e do%n ro# the #ountains to the shore.

They ca#e earing a eautiu! %o#an in a !itter. Then a!! the

%o#en %ho had co#e to the shore returned to the #ountains.

On!y the one in the !itter ca#e c!ose to the oat$ and spo*e

thus "This !and is %o#an2!and. It is a !and %here no #en p. D>

!ive. It eing no% spring$ and there eing so#ething pecu!iar to

this country o #ine you sha!! e ta*en care o in #y house

unti! the autu#n5 and in the %inter you sha!! eco#e our



husands. The o!!o%ing spring I %i!! send you ho#e. So no%

do you ear #e to #y house."

Thereupon the Aino chie and his sons ore the %o#an in the

!itter to the #ountains. They sa% that the country %as a!! !i*e

#oor!and. Then the chietainess entered the house. There %as a

roo# there %ith a go!den netting$ !i*e a #os0uito2net. The

three #en %ere p!aced inside it. The chietainess ed the#

herse!. In the day2ti#e nu#ers o %o#en ca#e in. They sat

eside the go!den #os0uito2net$ !oo*ing at the #en. At

nighta!! they %ent ho#e. So gradua!!y it got to e autu#n.

Then the chietainess spo*e as o!!o%s$ "As the a!! o the !eahas no% co#e$ and as there are t%o vice2chietainesses esides

#e$ I %i!! send your t%o sons to the#. (ou yourse! sha!! e

husand to #e." Then t%o eautiu! %o#en ca#e in$ and !ed

o the t%o sons y the hand$ %hi!e the chietainess *ept the

chie or herse!.

So the #en d%e!t there. When spring ca#e$ the chietain6s

%ie spo*e thus to hi# "We %o#en o this country dier ro#yours. At the sa#e ti#e as the grass egins to sprout$ teeth

sprout in our vaginas. So our husands cannot stay %ith us. The

east %ind is our husand. When the east %ind !o%s$ %e a!!

turn our uttoc*s to%ards it$ and thus conceive chi!dren.

So#eti#es %e ear #a!e chi!dren. ,ut these #a!e chi!dren are

*i!!ed and done a%ay %ith %hen they eco#e it to !ie %ith

%o#en. :or that reason$ this is a !and %hich has %o#en on!y. It

is ca!!ed %o#an2!and. So %hen$ rought y so#e ad god$ youca#e to this !and o #ine$ there %ere teeth in #y vagina

ecause it %as su##er$ or %hich reason I did not #arry you.

,ut I #arried you %hen the teeth e!! out. 3o%$ as the teeth are

again sprouting in #y vagina ecause spring has co#e$ it is

no% i#possi!e or us to s!eep together. I %i!! send you ho#e

to2#orro%. So do te!! your sons to co#e here to2day in order to

e ready."



The sons ca#e. The chietainess stayed in the house. Then$

%ith tears strea#ing do%n her ace$ she spo*e thus "Though it

is p. DQ dangerous$ to2night is our !ast night. Let us s!eep

togetherP" Then the #an$ eing #uch rightened$ too* a eautiu! scaard in a ag in his oso#$ and !ay %ith the

%o#an %ith this scaard. The #ar* o the teeth re#ained on

the scaard. The next day da%ned. Then the #an %ent to his

oat$ ta*ing his sons %ith hi#. The chietainess %ept and spo*e

thus "As a air %ind is !o%ing a%ay ro# #y country$ you$ i

you set sai! and sai! straight ahead$ %i!! e a!e to reach your

ho#e at I%anai." So then the #en entered their oat$ and %ent

out to sea. A air %ind %as !o%ing do%n ro# the #ountains$

and they %ent a!ong under sai!. Ater a ti#e they sa% !and5

they sa% the #ountains aout I%anai. 7oing on or a ti#e$ they

ca#e to the shore o I%anai. Their %ives %ere %earing

%ido%s6 caps. So their husands e#raced the#. So the story

o %o#an2!and %as !istened to careu!!y. A!! the Ainus sa% the

eautiu! scaard %hich the chie had used %ith that %o#an.

@8Trans!ated !itera!!y. To!d y -enri$ =Bth Ju!y$ =>>?.9

xxxiv.@ The "orship of the +almon* the #ivine Fish.

A certain Aino %ent out in a oat to catch ish in the sea.

Whi!e he %as there$ a great %ind arose$ so that he drited aout

or six nights. Just as he %as !i*e to die$ !and ca#e in sight.

,eing orne on to the each y the %aves$ he 0uiet!y steppedashore$ %here he ound a p!easant rivu!et. &aving %a!*ed up

the an* o this rivu!et or so#e distance$ he sa% a popu!ous

p!ace. 3ear the p!ace %ere cro%ds o peop!e$ oth #en and

%o#en. 7oing on to it$ and entering the house o the chie$ he

ound an o!d #an o very divine aspect. That o!d #an said to

hi# "Stay %ith us a night$ and %e %i!! send you ho#e to your

country to2#orro%. <o you consent"

So the Aino spent the night %ith the o!d chie. When next day



ca#e$ the o!d chie spo*e thus "So#e o #y peop!e$ oth #en

and %o#en$ are going to your country or purposes o trade.

So$ i you %i!! e !ed y the#$ you %i!! e a!e to go ho#e.

When they ta*e you %ith the# in the oat$ you #ust !ie do%n$and not !oo* aout you$ ut co#p!ete!y hide your head. I you

do that$ you #ay return. p. FN I you !oo*$ #y peop!e %i!! e

angry. 'ind you do not !oo*." Thus spo*e the o!d chie.

We!!$ there %as a %ho!e !eet o oats$ inside o %hich

cro%ds o peop!e$ oth #en and %o#en$ too* passage. There

%ere as #any as ive score oats$ %hich a!! started o together.

The Aino !ay do%n inside one o the# and hid his head$ %hi!ethe others #ade the oats go to the #usic o a pretty song. &e

!i*ed this #uch. Ater a%hi!e$ they reached the !and. When they

had done so$ the Aino$ peeping a !itt!e$ sa% that there %as a

river$ and that they %ere dra%ing %ater %ith dippers ro# the

#outh o the river$ and sipping it. They said to each other

"&o% good this %ater isP" &a! the !eet %ent up the river. ,ut

the oat in %hich the Aino %as %ent on its voyage$ and at !ast

reached his native p!ace$ %hereupon the sai!ors thre% the Ainointo the %ater. &e thought he had een drea#ing. Ater%ards

he ca#e to hi#se!. The oat and its sai!ors had disappeared@

%hither he cou!d not te!!. ,ut he %ent to his house$ and$ a!!ing

as!eep$ drea#t a drea#. &e drea#t that the sa#e o!d chie

appeared to hi# and said "I a# no hu#an eing. I a# the chie

o the sa!#on$ the divine ish. As you see#ed in danger o

dying in the %aves$ I dre% you to #e and saved your !ie. (outhought you on!y stayed %ith #e one night. ,ut in truth that

night %as a %ho!e year. When it %as ended$ I sent you ac* to

your native p!ace. So I sha!! e tru!y grateu! i henceorth you

%i!! oer rice2eer to #e$ set up the divine sy#o!s in #y

honour$ and %orship #e %ith the %ords 6I #a*e a !iation to

the chie o the sa!#on$ the divine ish.6 I you do not %orship

#e$ you %i!! eco#e a poor #an. 4e#e#er this %e!!P" Such

%ere the %ords %hich the divine o!d #an spo*e to hi# in his



drea#.@8Trans!ated !itera!!y. To!d y Ishanashte$ =Bth Ju!y$

=>>?.9

xxxv.@ The &unter in &ades.

A handso#e and rave young #an$ %ho %as s*i!u! in the

chase$ one day pursued a !arge ear into the recesses o the

#ountains. On and on ran the ear$ and sti!! the young e!!o%

pursued it up heights and crags #ore and #ore dangerous$ ut

%ithout ever eing a!e to p. F= get near enough to shoot it %ith

his poisoned arro%s. At !ast$ on a !ea* #ountain2su##it$ the ear disappeared do%n a ho!e in the ground. The young #an

o!!o%ed it in$ and ound hi#se! in an i##ense cavern$ at the

ar end o %hich %as a g!ea# o !ight. To%ards this he groped

his %ay$ and$ on e#erging$ ound hi#se! in another %or!d.

Everything there %as as in the %or!d o #en$ ut #ore

eautiu!. There %ere trees$ houses$ vi!!ages$ hu#an eings.

With these$ ho%ever$ the young hunter had no concern. What

he %anted %as his ear$ %hich had tota!!y disappeared. The est p!an see#ed to e to see* it in the re#oter #ountain

district o this ne% %or!d underground. So he o!!o%ed up a

va!!ey5 and$ eing tired and hungry$ pic*ed the grapes and

#u!erries that %ere hanging to the trees$ and ate the# as he

trudged a!ong.

&appening sudden!y$ or so#e reason or other$ to !oo* do%n

upon his o%n ody$ %hat %as not his horror to ind hi#se!transor#ed into a serpentP &is very cries and groans$ on

#a*ing the discovery$ %ere turned into serpent6s hisses. What

%as he to do To go ac* !i*e this to his native %or!d$ %here

sna*es are hated$ %ou!d e certain death. 3o p!an presented

itse! to his #ind. ,ut$ unconscious!y$ he %andered$ or rather

crept and g!ided$ ac* to the entrance o the cavern that !ed

ho#e to the %or!d o #en5 and there$ at the oot o a pine2tree

o extraordinary si)e and height$ he e!! as!eep.



To hi# then$ in a drea#$ appeared the goddess o the pine2

tree$ and said "I a# sorry to see you in this state. Why did you

eat o the poisonous ruits o &ades The on!y thing you can do

to recover your proper shape is to c!i# to the top o this pine2tree$ and !ing yourse! do%n. Then you #ay$ perhaps$ eco#e

a hu#an eing again."

On %a*ing ro# this drea#$ the young #an$@or rather

sna*e$ as he sti!! ound hi#se! to e$@%as i!!ed ha! %ith

hope and ha! %ith ear. ,ut he reso!ved to o!!o% the goddess6

advice. So$ g!iding up the ta!! pine2tree$ he reached its top#ost

ranch$ and$ ater hesitating a e% #o#ents$ !ung hi#se!do%n. Crash he %ent. On co#ing to his senses$ he ound

hi#se! standing at the oot o the tree5 and c!ose y %as the

ody o an i##ense serpent$ ripped open so as to a!!o% o his

having cra%!ed out o it. Ater oering up than*s to p. F the

pine2tree$ and setting up the divine sy#o!s in its honour$ he

hastened to retrace his steps through the !ong$ tunne!2!i*e

cavern$ through %hich he had origina!!y entered &ades. Ater

%a!*ing or a certain ti#e$ he e#erged into the %or!d o #en$to ind hi#se! on the #ountain2top$ %hither he had pursued

the ear %hich he had never seen again.

On reaching his ho#e$ he %ent to ed$ and drea#t a second

ti#e. It %as the sa#e goddess o the pine2tree$ that appeared

eore hi# and said "I have co#e to te!! you that you cannot

stay !ong in the %or!d o #en ater once eating the grapes and

#u!erries o &ades. There is a goddess in &ades %ho %ishesto #arry you. She it %as %ho$ assu#ing the or# o a ear$

!ured you into the cavern$ and thence to the under2%or!d. (ou

#ust #a*e up your #ind to co#e a%ay."

And so it e!! out. The young #an a%o*e5 ut a grave

sic*ness overpo%ered hi#. A e% days !ater he %ent a second

ti#e to &ades$ and returned no #ore to the !and o the !iving.@

8Written do%n ro# #e#ory. To!d y Ishanashte$ nd Ju!y$



=>>?.9

xxxvi.@ ,n 2nquisitive )an/s 3'perien$e of &ades.

Three generations eore #y ti#e there !ived an Aino %ho

%ished to ind out %hether the stories to!d aout the existence

o an under%or!d %ere true. So one day he penetrated into an

i##ense cavern 8since %ashed a%ay y the %aves9 at the river2

#outh o Saruutsu. A!! %as dar* in ront$ a!! %as dar* ehind.

,ut at !ast there %as a g!i##er o !ight a2head. The #an %ent

on$ and soon e#erged into &ades. There %ere trees$ andvi!!ages$ and rivers$ and the sea$ and !arge +un*s !oading ish

and sea%eed. So#e o the peop!e %ere Ainos$ so#e %ere

Japanese$ +ust as in the every2day %or!d. A#ong the nu#er

%ere so#e %ho# he had *no%n %hen they %ere a!ive. ,ut$

though he sa% them$ they$@strange to say$@did not see# to

see him. Indeed he %as invisi!e to a!!$ excepting to the dogs5

or dogs see everything$ even spirits$ and the dogs o &ades

ar*ed at hi# ierce!y. &ereupon the peop!e o the p!ace$ +udging that so#e evi! spirit had co#e a#ong the#$ thre% hi#

dirty ood$ such as evi! p. FD spirits eat$ in order$ as they thought$

to appease hi#. O course he %as disgusted$ and !ung the

i!thy ish2ones and soi!ed rice a%ay. ,ut every ti#e that he

did so the stu i##ediate!y returned to the poc*et in his

oso#$ so that he %as great!y distressed.

At !ast$ entering a ine2!oo*ing house near the each$ heound his ather and #other$@not o!d$ as they %ere %hen they

died$ ut in the heyday o youth and strength. &e ca!!ed to his

#other$ ut she ran a%ay tre#!ing. &e c!asped his ather y

the hand$ and said ":atherP don6t you *no% #e can6t you see

#e I a# your son." ,ut his ather e!! ye!!ing to the ground.

So he stood a!oo again$ and %atched ho% his parents and the

other peop!e in the house set up the divine sy#o!s$ and prayed

in order to #a*e the evi! spirit depart.



In his despair at eing unrecogni)ed he did depart$ %ith the

unc!ean oerings that had een #ade to hi# sti!! stic*ing to his

person$ not%ithstanding his endeavours to get rid o the#. It

%as on!y %hen$ ater passing ac* through the cavern$ he hade#erged once #ore into the %or!d o #en$ that they !et hi#

ree ro# their po!!ution. &e returned ho#e$ and never %ished

to visit &ades again. It is a ou! p!ace.@8Written do%n ro#

#e#ory. To!d y Ishanashte$ nd Ju!y$ =>>?.9

xxxvii.@ The %hild of a !od .

There %as a very eautiu! %o#an$ %ho %as sti!! %ithout a

husand. A #an had a!ready een ixed upon to eco#e her

husand$ ut he had not yet !ain %ith her. 3everthe!ess the

%o#an sudden!y %as %ith chi!d. :or this reason she %as

great!y surprised. As or other peop!e$ they thought thus "She

has proa!y eco#e %ith chi!d through !ying %ith so#e other

#an." That %as %hat other peop!e said. The #an %ho %as to

e her husand %as very angry. ,ut he cou!d not *no% %henceit %as that she %as %ith chi!d.

Then she %as de!ivered. She ore a !itt!e sna*e. She %as

great!y asha#ed. &er #other too* the !itt!e sna*e$ %ent out$

and spo*e thus$ %ith tears "What god has deigned to eget a

chi!d in #y daughter Though he shou!d deign to eget one$ it

%ou!d at !east p. FD e %e!! i he had egotten a hu#an chi!d. ,ut

this !itt!e sna*e %e hu#an eings cannot *eep. As it is the chi!do the god %ho egot it$ he #ay as %e!! *eep it." So saying$ she

thre% it a%ay. Then the o!d %o#an %ent in.

This eing so$ ater%ards there %as the noise o a ay

crying. The o!d %o#an %ent out$ and !oo*ed. It %as a nice

ay. Then the o!d %o#an carried it in. The %o#an %ho had

given irth to the chi!d re+oiced %ith tears. Then the ay %as

ound to e a oy$ and %as *ept. 7radua!!y he gre% ig. Ater a



ti#e he eca#e a #an. Then$ eing a very ine #an$ he *i!!ed

!arge nu#ers oth o deer and o ears.

The %o#an %ho had given irth to hi# %as a!one

astonished. What had happened %as that$ %hi!e she s!ept$ the

!ight o the sun had shone upon her through the opening in the

roo. Thus had she eco#e %ith chi!d. Then she drea#t a

drea#$ %hich said "I$ eing a god$ have given you a chi!d$

ecause I !ove you. When you die$ you sha!! tru!y eco#e #y

%ie. (our and #y son$ %hen he gets a %ie$ sha!! have p!enty

o chi!dren." The %o#an drea#t thus$ and %orshipped. Then

that son o hers$ %hen pursued y the ears$ cou!d not ecaught. &e %as a great hunter$ a very rich #an.

Then the %o#an died$ %ithout having had a hu#an husand.

Ater%ards her son$ getting a %ie$ had chi!dren$ and eca#e

rich. &is descendants are !iving to this day .@8Trans!ated

!itera!!y. To!d y -enri$ =st Ju!y$ =>>?.9

xxxviii.@ (uying a #ream.

A certain thic*!y popu!ated vi!!age %as governed y six

chies$ the o!dest o %ho# !orded it over the other ive. One

day he #ade a east$ re%ed so#e rice2eer$ and invited the

other ive chies$ and easted the#. When they %ere departing$

he said "To2#orro% each o you #ust te!! #e the drea# %hich

he sha!! have drea#t overnight5 and i it is a good drea# I %i!!

uy it."

So next day our o the chies ca#e and to!d their drea#s.

,ut they %ere a!! ad drea#s$ not %orth uying. The ith$

ho%ever$ did not co#e$ though he %as %aited or at irst$ and

then sent or severa! p. FG ti#es. At !ast$ %hen rought y orce$

he %ou!d not open his !ips. So the senior chie !e% into a rage$

and caused a ho!e to e dug in ront o the door o his o%n

house$ and had the #an uried in it up to his chin$ and !et there



a!! that day and night.

3o% the truth %as that the senior chie %as a ad #an$ that

the +unior chie %as a good #an$ and that this +unior chie had

orgotten his drea#$ ut did not dare to say so. Ater dar*$ a

*ind god ca#e and said "(ou are a good #an. I a# sorry or

you$ and %i!! ta*e you out o the ho!e." This he did5 and$ at that

very #o#ent$ the chie re#e#ered ho% he had drea#t o

having een !ed up the an* o a strea# through the %oods to

the house o a goddess %ho s#i!ed eautiu!!y$ and %hose

roo# %as carpeted %ith s*ins5 ho% she had co#orted hi#$ ed

hi# p!enteous!y$ and sent hi# ho#e in gorgeous array$ and%ith instructions or deceiving and *i!!ing his ene#y$ the senior

chie. "I suppose you re#e#er it a!! no%$" said the god5 "it

%as I %ho caused you to orget it$ and thus saved you ro#

having it ought y the %ic*ed senior chie$ ecause I a#

p!eased %ith the %ay in %hich you *eep the privy c!ean$ not

even !etting grass gro% near it. And no% I %i!! sho% you the

rea!ity o that o %hich eore you sa% on!y the drea#2i#age."

So the #an %as !ed up the an* o a strea# through the

%oods to the house o the goddess$ %ho s#i!ed eautiu!!y$ and

%hose roo# %as carpeted %ith s*ins. She %as the adger2

goddess. She co#orted hi#$ ed hi# p!enteous!y$ and said

"(ou #ust deceive the senior chie$ saying that the god o door2

posts$ p!eased at your eing uried near hi#$ too* you out$ and

gave you these eautiu! c!othes. &e %i!! then %ish to have the

sa#e thing happen to hi#." So the #an %ent ac* to thevi!!age$ and appeared in a!! his sp!endid rai#ent eore the

senior chie$ %ho had ancied hi# to e sti!! in the ho!e$@a

punish#ent %hich %ou!d e successu! i it #ade hi# coness

his drea#$ and a!so i it *i!!ed hi#.

Then the good +unior chie to!d hi# the !ies in %hich the

adger2goddess had instructed hi#. Thereupon the senior chie

caused hi#se! to e uried in !i*e ashion up to the nec*$ ut



soon died o the eects. Ater%ards the adger2goddess ca#e

do%n to the vi!!age$ p. F? and #arried the good #an$ %ho

eca#e the senior o a!! the chies.@8Written do%n ro#

#e#ory. To!d y Ishanashte$ =?th 3ove#er$ =>>?.9

xxxix.@ The (aby in the (o'.

There %as once a %o#an %ho %as tender!y !oved y her

husand. At !ast$ ater so#e years$ she ore hi# a son. Then the

ather !oved this son even #ore than he !oved his %ie. She

thereore thought thus "&o% p!easant it used to e or#er!y$%hen #y husand !oved #e a!oneP ,ut no%$ since I have orne

hi# this nasty chi!d$ he !oves it #ore than he does #e. It %i!!

e %e!! or #e to #a*e a%ay %ith it."

Thus thin*ing$ she %aited ti!! her husand had gone o ear2

hunting in the #ountains$ and then put the ay into a ox$

%hich she too* to the river and a!!o%ed to !oat a%ay. Then she

returned ho#e. Later on$ her husand ca#e ac*5 and she$ %itheigned tears$ to!d hi# that the ay had disappeared@sto!en

or strayed$@and that she had vain!y searched a!! round aout

the house and in the %oods. The #an !ay do%n$ !i*e to die o

grie$ and reused a!! ood. On!y at !ength$ %hen he sa% that his

%ie$ too$ %ent %ithout her ood$ did he egin to eat a !itt!e$

earing$ in his aection or her$ that she too #ight die o

hunger. &o%ever$ it %as on!y %hen he %as present that she

asted. She ate her i!! ehind his ac*.

At !ast$ one day$ not *no%ing %hat to do to rouse hi#$ she

said to hi# "Loo* hereP I %i!! divert you %ith a story." Then

she to!d hi# the %ho!e story exact!y as it had happened$ eing

herse!$ a!! the %hi!e$ under the de!usion that she %as te!!ing

hi# an ancient airy2ta!e. Then he !e% into a rage$ too* his

!udgeon$ eat her to death$ and then thre% her corpse out2o2

doors. This %as the %ay in %hich the gods chose to punish her.



Then the husand$ *no%ing no% that his search #ust e

#ade do%n the strea#$ started o. At !ast$ ater see*ing or a

!ong ti#e$ he ca#e to a !one!y house$ %here he ound a very

venera!e2!oo*ing o!d #an$ an o!d %o#an$ and their #idd!e2aged daughter$ and a!so a oy. &e said to the o!d #an "6I co#e

to as* %hether you *no% p. FB anything o #y !itt!e oy$ %ho

%as p!aced in a ox and set to !oat do%n the strea#." The o!d

#an rep!ied "One day$ %hen #y daughter here %ent to dra%

%ater ro# the river$ she ound a ox %ith a !itt!e oy in it. We

*ne% not %hether the chi!d %as a hu#an creature$ a god$ or a

devi!. So dout!ess he is yours. We have *ept the ox too. &ere

it is. (ou can +udge y !oo*ing at it."

It turned out to e the sa#e ox$ and the sa#e oy. So the

ather re+oiced. Then the o!d #an said "4e#ain here. I %i!!

give to you or %ie this daughter o #ine$ #y on!y chi!d. Live

%ith us as !ong as #y o!d %ie and I re#ain a!ive. :eed us$ and

then you sha!! inherit ro# #e." The #an did so. When the o!d

peop!e died$ he inherited a!! their possessions5 and then$ %ith

his ne% %ie and his e!oved son$ returned to his o%n vi!!age.So you see that$ even a#ong us Ainos$ there are %ic*ed

%o#en.@8Written do%n ro# #e#ory. To!d y Ishanashte$

=Bth 3ove#er$ =>>?.9

x!.@ The (ride (eit$hed .

There once %as a very eautiu! gir! %ho had #any suitors.,ut$ as soon as she %as #arried to one$ and he !ay do%n eside

her and then stretched out his hand to%ard her vagina$ a voice

ca#e ro# it$ %arning hi# to desist. This so #uch a!ar#ed the

ridegroo# that he !ed. This happened nine or ten ti#es$ ti!! at

!ast the gir! %as in despair5 or none %ou!d no% %ed her$ and

her o!d ather %as put to sha#e. They p!unged her into the

%ater o the river$ ut it had no eect. So at !ast$ in her grie$

she ran to the #ountains$ and thre% herse! do%n at the oot o



a #agno!ia2tree.

When$ ater so#e diicu!ty$ she e!! as!eep$ she drea#t that

the tree %as a house$ outside o %hich she %as !aying$ and ro#

the %indo% o %hich a !ove!y goddess popped out her head and

said "What has happened is in no %ay your au!t. (our eauty

has caused a %ic*ed ox to a!! in !ove %ith you. It is he %ho

has got into your vagina$ and %ho spea*s out o it$ in order to

prevent the approach o any ordinary #orta! husand. &e$ too$

it is %ho has !ured you out here$ to carry you a%ay a!together.

,ut do not a!!o% yourse! to eco#e su+ect to his in!uence. I

%i!! give you so#e eautiu! c!othes$ and p. F> cause you toreach your house in saety. (ou #ust te!! your ather a!! aout

#e." Then the gir! a%o*e and %ent ho#e. &er ather exorcised

the ox at !ast y carving an exact !i*eness o his daughter$ and

oering it to the ox %ith respectu! %orship. Then she #arried$

and gave irth to chi!dren$ and %as happy a!! her !ie.@

8Written do%n ro# #e#ory. To!d y Ishanashte$ =Bth

3ove#er$ =>>?.9

x!i.@ The "i$ked +tepmother .

In ancient days$ %hen #en %ere a!!o%ed to have severa!

%ives$ a certain #an had t%o@one aout his o%n age$ the

other 0uite young$@and he !oved the# oth %ith e0ua!

tenderness. ,ut %hen the younger o the t%o ore hi# a

daughter$ his !ove or his daughter #ade hi# a!so perhaps a!itt!e onder o the #other o the chi!d than o his other %ie$ to

the !atter6s great rage. She revo!ved in her #ind %hat to do$ and

at !ast eigned a grave i!!ness$ pretending not to e a!e even to

eat$ though she did eat %hen everyody6s ac* %as turned. At

!ast$ eing to a!! appearance on the point o death$ she dec!ared

that one thing a!one cou!d cure her. She #ust have the heart o

her !itt!e step2chi!d to eat.



On hearing this$ the #an e!t very sad$ and *ne% not %hat to

do5 or he !oved this %ic*ed %ie o his and his !itt!e daughter

e0ua!!y dear!y. ,ut at !ast he decided that he #ight #ore easi!y

get another daughter than another %ie %ho# he %ou!d !ove as#uch as he did this one. So he co##anded t%o o his servants

to carry o the chi!d to the orest %hi!e her #other %as not

!oo*ing$ to s!ay her there$ and ring ac* her heart. &o they

too* her. ,ut$ eing #erciu! #en$ they s!e%$ instead o her$ a

dog that ca#e y that %ay$ and rought the chi!d ac* secret!y

to her #other$ %ho %as #uch rightened to hear %hat had

happened$ and %ho !ed %ith the chi!d. 'ean%hi!e the dog6s

heart %as rought to the step2#other$ %ho %as so over+oyed at

the sight o it$ that she dec!ared she re0uired no #ore. So$

%ithout even eating it$ she !et o pretending to e sic*.

:or so#e ti#e ater this$ she !ived a!one %ith her husand.

,ut at !ast he %as to!d o %hat had happened$ and he gre% very

su!!en. She$ seeing this$ %ished or a !ive!ier husand. So one

day$ %hen her p. FQ husand %as out hunting$ a young #an$

eautiu!!y dressed a!! in !ac*$ ca#e and courted her$ and she!irted %ith hi#$ and sho%ed hi# her reasts. Then they !ed

together$ and ca#e to a eautiu! house %ith go!d #ats$ %here

they s!ept together. ,ut %hen she %o*e in the #orning it %as

not a house at a!!$ ut a ru!e o !eaves and ranches in the

#idst o the orest5 and her ne% husand %as nothing ut a

carrion2cro% perching overhead$ and her o%n ody$ too$ %as

turned into a cro%6s$ and she had to eat dung. ,ut the or#er husand %as %arned in a drea# to ta*e ac*

his younger %ie and his chi!d$ and the three !ived happi!y

together ever ater. :ro# that ti#e or%ard #ost #en have !et

o the ad hait o having #ore than one %ie.@8Written

do%n ro# #e#ory. To!d y Ishanashte$ 3ove#er$ =>>?.9

x!ii.@ The %lever #e$eiver .



A !ong$ !ong ti#e ago there %as a rasca!$ %ho %ent to the

#ountains to etch %ood. As he did not *no% ho% to a#use

hi#se!$ he c!i#ed to the top o a very thic* pine2tree. &aving

#unched so#e rice e stuc* it aout the ranches o the tree$so as to #a*e it !oo* !i*e irds6 dung. Then he %ent ac* to the

vi!!age$ to the house o the chie$ and spo*e thus to hi# "I

have ound a p!ace %here a eautiu! peacoc* has its nest. Let

us go there togetherP ,eing such a poor #an$ I ee! #yse!

un%orthy o going too near the divine ird. (ou$ eing a rich

#an$ shou!d ta*e the peacoc*. It %i!! e a great treasure or

you. Let us goP"

So the chie %ent there %ith hi#. When the chie !oo*ed$

there tru!y %ere #any traces o irds6 dung near the top o the

ta!! pine2tree. &e thought the peacoc* %as there. So he said "I

do not *no% ho% to c!i# trees. Though you are a poor #an

you do *no% ho% to do so. So go and get the peacoc*$ and I

%i!! re%ard you %e!!. 7o and get the divine peacoc*P" So the

poor #an c!i#ed the tree. When he %as ha! %ay up it$ he

said "OhP sir$ your house see#s to e on ire." The chie %as#uch rightened. O%ing to his eing rightened$ he %as aout

to run ho#e. Then the rasca! spo*e thus p. GN ",y this ti#e your

house is 0uite urnt do%n. There is no use in your running

there." The rich #an thought he %ou!d go any%here to die5 so

he %ent to%ards the #ountains. Ater he had gone a short %ay$

he thought thus "(ou shou!d go and see even the traces o your

urnt house." So he %ent do%n there. When he !oo*ed$ heound that his house %as not urnt at a!!. &e %as very angry$

and %anted to *i!! that rasca!. Then the rasca! ca#e do%n. The

chie co##anded his servants$ saying "(ou e!!o%sP this #an

is not on!y poor$ ut a very ad!y ehaved deceiver. -ut hi#

into a #at$ and ro!! hi# up in it %ithout *i!!ing hi#. Then

thro% hi# into the river. <o thisP" Thus spo*e the chie.

The servants put the rasca! into the #at$ and tied it round

tight. Then t%o o the# carried hi# et%een the# on a po!e to



the riveran*. They %ent to the river. The rasca! spo*e thus

"Though I a# a very ad #an$ I have so#e very precious

treasures. <o you go and etch the#. I you do so$ it can e

arranged aout their eing given to you. Ater%ards you canthro% #e into the river." &earing this$ the t%o servants %ent

o to the rasca!6s house.

'ean%hi!e a !ind o!d #an ca#e a!ong ro# so#e%here or

other. &is oot struc* against so#ething %rapped up in a #at.

Astonished at this$ he tapped it %ith his stic*. Then the rasca!

said ",!ind #anP I you %i!! do as I te!! you$ the gods %i!! give

you eyes$ and you %i!! e a!e to see. So do so. I you %i!!untie #e and do as I te!! you$ I %i!! pray to the gods$ and your

eyes %i!! e opened." The !ind o!d #an %as very g!ad. &e

untied the #at$ and !et the rasca! out. Then the rasca! sa% that$

though the #an %as o!d and !ind$ he %as dressed very #uch

!i*e a god. The rasca! said "Ta*e o your c!othes and eco#e

na*ed$ %hereupon your eyes %i!! 0uic*!y e opened." This

eing so$ the !ind o!d #an too* o his c!othes. Then the rasca!

put hi# na*ed into the #at$ and tied it round tight. Then he%ent o %ith the c!othes$ and hid.

Short!y ater%ards$ the t%o #en ca#e$ and said "(ou rasca!P

you are tru!y a deceiver. So$ though you possess no treasures$

you possess p!enty o deceit. So no% %e sha!! !ing you into the

%ater." The !ind o!d #an said "I a# a !ind o!d #an. I a# not

that p. G= rasca!. -!ease do not *i!! #eP" ,ut he %as orth%ith

!ung into the river. Ater%ards the t%o #en %ent ho#e to their #aster6s house.

Ater%ards the rasca! put on the !ind o!d #an6s eautiu!

c!othes. Then he %ent to the chie6s house and said "'y

appearance o #isehaviour %as not rea!. The goddess %ho

!ives in the river %as very #uch in !ove %ith #e. So she

%anted to ta*e and #arry #y spirit ater I shou!d have een

*i!!ed y eing thro%n into the river. So #y #isdeeds are a!!



her doing. Though I %ent to that goddess$ I e!t un%orthy to

eco#e her husand$ ecause I a# a poor #an. I have arranged

so that you$ %ho are the chie o the vi!!age$ shou!d go and

have her$ and I have co#e to te!! you so. That eing so$ I a# inthese eautiu! c!othes ecause I co#e ro# the goddess." Thus

he spo*e. As the chie o the vi!!age sa% that the rasca! %as

dressed in nothing ut the est c!othes$ and thought that he %as

spea*ing the truth$ he said "It %i!! e %e!! or #e to e tied up

in a #at$ and !ung into the river." Thereore this %as done$ +ust

as had een done %ith the rasca!$ and he %as dro%ned in the

%ater.

A!ter that$ the rasca! eca#e the chie$ and d%e!t in the

dro%ned chie6s house. Thus very ad #en !ived in ancient

ti#es a!so. So it is said.@8Trans!ated !itera!!y. To!d y

Ishanashte$ =>th Ju!y$ =>>?.9

x!iii.@ 4oshitsune.

It has een genera!!y e!ieved$ oth y Japanese and

Europeans %ho have %ritten aout the Ainos$ that the !atter

%orship (oshitsune$ a Japanese hero o the t%e!th century$

%ho is said$@not$ indeed$ y Japanese historians$ ut y

Japanese tradition$@to have !ed to (e)o %hen the star o his

ortune had set. The o!!o%ing detai!s concerning (oshitsune

ear so co#p!ete!y the sta#p o the #yth$ that they #ay$

perhaps$ e a!!o%ed a p!ace in this co!!ection. It shou!d e#entioned that (oshitsune is *no%n to the Ainos under the

na#e o &ongai +ama. +ama is the Japanese or "'r." or

"Lord." &ongai is the or# in %hich$ according to a regu!ar !a%

o per#utation aecting %ords adopted into Aino ro#

Japanese$ the %ord &5gan$ %hich %as (oshitsune6s oicia!

tit!e$ appearsP The p. G na#e o &ongai +ama is$ ho%ever$ used

on!y in %orship$ not in the recounting o the #yth. 'r.

,atche!or$ %hose position as #issionary to the Ainos #ust give



his opinion great %eight in such #atters$ thin*s that the Ainos

do not %orship (oshitsune. ,ut I can on!y exact!y record that

%hich I %as to!d #yse!.M

O*i*uru#i$ acco#panied y his younger sister TureshihiM$

had taught the Ainos a!! arts$ such as hunting %ith the o% and

arro%$ netting and spearing ish$ and #any #ore5 and hi#se!

*ne% everything y #eans o t%o char#s or treasures. One o

these %as a piece o %riting$ the other %as an aacus5 and they

to!d hi# %hence the %ind %ou!d !o%$ ho% #any irds there

%ere in the orest$ and a!! sorts o other things.

One day there ca#e$@none *no% %hence$@a #an o divine

appearance$ %hose na#e %as un*no%n to a!!. &e too* up his

aode %ith O*i*uru#i$ and assisted the !atter in a!! his !aour

%ith %onderu! ai!ity. &e taught O*i*uru#i ho% to ro% %ith

t%o oars instead o si#p!y po!ing %ith one po!e$ as had een

usua! eore in Aino2!and. O*i*uru#i %as de!ighted to otain

such a c!ever o!!o%er$ and gave hi# his sister TureshihiM in#arriage$ and treated hi# !i*e his o%n son. :or this reason the

stranger got to *no% a!! aout O*i*uru#i6s aair$ even the

p!ace %here he *ept his t%o treasures. The resu!t o this %as

that one day %hen O*i*uru#i %as out hunting in the #ountains

the stranger sto!e these treasures and a!! that O*i*uru#i

possessed$ and then !ed %ith his %ie Tureshi in a oat$ o

%hich they each pu!!ed an oar. O*i*uru#i returned ro# the#ountains to his ho#e y the seaside$ and pursued the# a!one

in a oat5 ut cou!d not co#e up to the#$ ecause he %as on!y

one against t%o. Then Tureshi excreted so#e !arge ;ces in the

#idd!e o the sea$ %hich eca#e a !arge #ountain in the sea$ at

%hose ase O*i*uru#i arrived. ,ut so high %as it that

O*i*uru#i cou!d not c!i# over it. 'oreover$ even had not the

height prevented hi#$ the act o its eing nothing ut i!thy

ces %ou!d have done so. As or going round either side o it$



that %ou!d have ta*en hi# too #uch out o the %ay. So he %ent

ho#e again$ ee!ing 0uite spirit!ess and van0uished$ ecause

roed o his treasures.

p. GD

This is the reason %hy$ ever since$ %e Ainos have not een

a!e to read.@8Written do%n ro# #e#ory. To!d y

Ishanashte$ Gth 3ove#er$ =>>?.9

V.@SC4A-S O: :OL2LO4E.

x!iv.@ The !ood Old Times.

In ancient days$ rivers %ere very convenient!y arranged. The

%ater !o%ed do%n one an*$ and up the other$ so that you

cou!d go either %ay %ithout the !east trou!e. Those %ere the

days o #agic. -eop!e %ere then a!e to !y six or seven #i!es$

and to !ight on the trees !i*e irds$ %hen they %ent out hunting.,ut no% the %or!d is decrepit$ and a!! good things are gone. In

those days peop!e used the ire2dri!!. A!so$ i they p!anted

anything in the #orning$ it gre% up y #id2day. On the other

hand$ those %ho ate o this 0uic*!y2produced grain %ere

transor#ed into horses.@8Written do%n ro# #e#ory. To!d

y Ishanashte$ 3ove#er$ =>>?.9

x!v.@ The Old )an of the +ea.

The O!d 'an o the Sea 8 ,tui koro ekashi9 is a #onster a!e

to s%a!!o% ships and %ha!es. In shape it rese#!es a ag$ and

the suction o its #outh causes a rightu!!y rapid current. Once

a oat %as saved ro# this #onster y one o the t%o sai!ors in

it !inging his !oin2c!oth into the creature6s open #outh. That

%as too nasty a #orse! or even this #onster to s%a!!o%5 so it



!et go its ho!d o the oat.@8Written do%n ro# #e#ory. To!d

y Ishanashte$ Ju!y$ =>>?.9

x!vi.@ The %u$koo.

The #a!e cuc*oo is ca!!ed kakkok $ the e#a!e tutut . ,oth are

eautiu! irds$ and !ive in the s*y. ,ut in spring they co#e

do%n to earth$ to ui!d their eautiu! ott!e2shaped %hite

nests. &appy the #an %ho gets one o these nests$ and !ets no

one e!se see it. &e %i!! eco#e rich and prosperous.

3everthe!ess$ it is un!uc*y or a p. GF cuc*oo to !ight on the%indo%2si!! and !oo* into the house5 or disease %i!! co#e

there. I it !ights on the roo$ the house %i!! e urnt do%n.@

8Written do%n ro# #e#ory. To!d y -enri$ =?th Ju!y$ =>>?.9

x!vii.@ The 6&orned7 Ol .

There are six o%!s$@rethren. The e!dest o the# is on!y a

!itt!e igger than a sparro%. When perching on a tree$ it

a!ances itse! ac*%ards$ or %hich reason it is ca!!ed "The

:a!!er ,ac*%ards." The youngest o the six has a very !arge

ody. It is a ird %hich rings great !uc*. I anyone %a!*s

eneath this ird$ and there co#es the sound o rain a!!ing on

hi#$ it is a very !uc*y thing. Such a #an %i!! eco#e very rich.

:or this reason the youngest o the six o%!s is ca!!ed "'r.

O%!." The rain here #entioned is supposed to e a rain o go!d

ro# the o%!6s eyes.M@8Trans!ated !itera!!y. To!d y -enri$ =?th

Ju!y$ =>>?.9

x!viii.@ The Pea$o$k in the +ky.

A c!oud!ess s*y has a peacoc* in it$ %hose servants are the





three years$ ater irth. The na#e chosen is usua!!y ounded on

so#e circu#stance connected %ith the chi!d$ ut so#eti#es it

is #eaning!ess. The parent6s na#e is never given$ or that

%ou!d e un!uc*y. &o%$ indeed$ cou!d a chi!d continue to eca!!ed y such a na#e %hen its ather had eco#e a dead #an$

and conse0uent!y one not to e #entioned %ithout tears@

8Written do%n ro# #e#ory. To!d y -enri and Ishanashte$

Ju!y$ =>>?.9

!ii.@ The Pre-eminen$e of the Oak* Pine-tree* and )ugort .

At the eginning o the %or!d the ground %as very hot. The

ground %as so hot that the creatures ca!!ed #en even got their

eet urnt. :or this reason$ no tree or her cou!d gro%. The on!y

her that gre% at that ti#e %as the #ug%ort. O trees$ the on!y

ones %ere the oa* and the pine. :or this reason$ these t%o trees

are the o!dest a#ong trees. A#ong hers$ it is the #ug%ort.

This eing so$ these t%o trees are divine trees5 they are trees

%hich hu#an p. G? eings %orship. A#ong hers$ the #ug%ortis considered to e tru!y the o!dest.

Listen %e!! to this$ too$ you younger o!*sP@8Trans!ated

!itera!!y. To!d y -enri$ =Qth Ju!y$ =>>?.9

!iii.@ The #eer ith the !olden &orn.@8A speci#en o Aino

history.9 'y very ear!iest ancestor *ept a deer. &e used to tie the

divine sy#o!s to its horns. Then the deer %ou!d go to the

#ountains$ and ring do%n %ith it p!enty o other deer. When

they ca#e outside the house #y ancestor %ou!d *i!! the deer

%hich his deer had rought ro# the #ountains$ and thus %as

great!y enriched. The na#e o the vi!!age in %hich that deer

%as *ept %as Setaru*ot.



There %as a estiva! at a neighouring vi!!age. So the #an

%ho *ept the deer %ent o thither to the estiva! %ith a!! his

o!!o%ers. On!y his %ie %as !et ehind %ith the deer. Then a

#an ca!!ed Tun2u%o2ush ie "as ta!! as t%o #en"M$ ro# thevi!!age o Shipichara$ eing very ad2hearted$ ca#e in order to

stea! that deer. &e ound on!y the deer and the %o#an at ho#e.

&e sto!e oth the %o#an and the deer$ and ran a%ay %ith the#.

So the #an %ho *ept the deer$ eco#ing angry$ pursued ater

hi# to ight hi#. ,eing three rothers in a!!$ they %ent o a!!

three together. So Tun2u%o2ush invo*ed the aid o the %ho!e

neighourhood. &e ca!!ed together a great nu#er o #en.

Then those three rethren ca#e together to ight hi#. As they

%ere three o the#$ the e!dest$ having *i!!ed three score #en$

%as at !ast *i!!ed hi#se!. The second rother *i!!ed our score

#en$ and %as then *i!!ed hi#se!. Then the youngest rother$

seeing ho% things %ere$ thought it %ou!d e use!ess to go on

ighting a!one. :or this reason he ran a%ay. &aving run a%ay$

he got ho#e. &aving got ho#e$ he ca#e to his house. Then he

invo*ed the aid o a!! the neighourhood. &e invo*ed the aideven o those Ainos %ho d%e!t in the !and o the Japanese.

Then he %ent o %ith p!enty o #en. &aving gone o$ he

ought against Tun2u%o2ush. In the %ar$ he *i!!ed Tun2u%o2ush

and a!! his o!!o%ers. Then he got ac* oth the deer and the

%o#an. That %as the !ast o the Aino %ars.@8Trans!ated

!itera!!y. To!d y Ishanashte$ >th 3ove#er$ =>>?.9

p. GB

!iv.@ #reams.

To drea# o rice2eer$ a river$ s%i##ing$ or anything

connected %ith !i0uids$ causes rainy %eather. :or instance$ I

drea#t !ast night that I %as drin*ing rice2eer$ and according!y

it is raining to2day.



To drea# o eating #eat rings disease. So does drea#ing o

eating sugar or anything red.

To drea# o *i!!ing or *noc*ing a #an do%n is !uc*y. To

drea# o eing *i!!ed or *noc*ed do%n is un!uc*y.

To drea# that a heavy !oad %hich one is carrying ee!s !ight

is !uc*y. The contrary drea# prognosticates disease.

To drea# o a !ong rope %hich does not rea*$ and in %hich

there are no *nots even %hen it is %ound up$ is !uc*y$ and

prognosticates victory.

To drea# o !ying !i*e a ird$ and perching on a tree$ prognosticates rain and ad %eather.

When a #an is aout to start o hunting$ it is very !uc*y or

hi# to drea# o #eeting a god in the #ountains$ to %ho# he

gives presents$ and to %ho# he #a*es oeisance. Ater such a

drea#$ he is certain to *i!! a ear.

To drea# o eing pursued %ith a sharp %eapon is un!uc*y.

To drea# that one is %ounded$ and !eeding ree!y$ is a good

o#en or the chase.

To drea# o the sun and #oon is proa!y un!uc*y$

especia!!y i one drea#s o the %aning #oon. ,ut it is not

un!uc*y to drea# o the ne% #oon.

To drea# o a ridge rea*ing is un!uc*y. ,ut to drea# o

crossing a ridge in saety is !uc*y.

:or a husand to drea# o his asent %ie as s#i!ing$ %e!!2

dressed$ or s!eeping %ith hi#se!$ is un!uc*y.@8Written do%n

ro# #e#ory. To!d y Ishanashte$ 3ove#er$ =>>?.9

Sacred Texts Shinto Index

http://index.htm/

http://index.htm/

http://index.htm/



Foo$no$!)

p. v

1 The Language* )ythology* and !eographi$al Nomen$latureof Japan* vieed in the light of ,ino +tudies ,y ,asi! &a!!

Cha#er!ain. Inc!uding an ,inu !rammar y John ,atche!or.

8'e#oirs o the Literature Co!!ege$ I#peria! /niversity o

Japan$ 3o. =.9 T*y =>>B.

p. B

1 The Aino na#e here used 8ahunrashambe9 denotes a horned

species.

p. G

1 An ono#atop;ia or the ar* o the ox.

p. D=

1 -anau#e #eans "the person on the !o%er course o the

strea#." -enau#e #eans "the person on the upper course o

the strea#." Con. Aino "'e#oir$" p. >.

p. DG

1 The Aino pronunciation o )atsumae. 'atsu#ae is a to%n in

the south o (e)o. The !ord or #aimyo resident there %as

or#er!y the chie Japanese authority in the country.

p. GG

1 :or the on!y ti#e in its %ho!e !ieP



Documents

Ainu Folk Tales