Edition #2: Momotarô, The Peach Boy.
What the popular Japanese folktale really means.
Hi guys,
It's been a great week, filled with all the festive energy of Christmas. As we are only a few days away from the new year, I would like to wish you a Happy New Year. I hope you have a happy start to the new year. This is the second issue of Storeys of Stories, and this time we are looking back at one of the popular folktales of Japan.
Story
In Japan, there once lived an old woodcutter called Oji-san and his old wife called Oba-san. For some reason, they didn't have any children. In the afternoon, when the old man ventured into the forest to cut some wood, the old lady walked over to the river bank to wash some clothes. As she was washing, she saw a giant peach floating in the river. She quickly caught it and carried the massive peach over to their house. When her husband returned home, she showed him the peach. As a reward for his laborious work, Oji-san wanted to eat a peach as a refreshing treat. After he cut the peach with an axe, they discovered a small baby boy inside the peach who miraculously survived. The childless couple believed the boy was a gift from the heavens. They named him Momotarô (桃太郎) and took care of him as their own.
As Momotarô grew up, he became very strong, but also very lazy, spending most of his time sleeping. But as the only young man in the village, he always helped others and respected the elders. A demon army (Onis) frequently raided the village. One day, he heard that demons were camping on Onigashima Island (鬼ヶ島). The villagers urged him to confront and fight the demons. On the way to the battle, Momotarô met and befriended three animals, a dog, a monkey and a pheasant, that could all speak the human language. After sharing rice cakes with the animals, they agreed to accompany him to his battle with the demons. Upon reaching Onigashima, the pheasant flew into the fort and took the key to open the gate. Once inside, they fought the Onis. The pheasant pecked its eyes, the dog bit its legs, and the monkey jumped on the demons' backs. In the end, the Devils cried for mercy! After defeating the demons, he freed all the prisoners and slaves who were captured by the demons. They thanked Momotarô, and showed him where the demons kept their riches. Momotarô returned home and returned the village's possessions. He was rewarded by the villagers for defeating the Onis, and Momotarô, Oji-san, and Oba-san lived happily ever after.
Insights
During the Second World War, Momotarô was largely used in movies and cartoons as a representation of the Japanese government, the animals being the people, and the demons the United States. Onigashima may have been a symbol of Pearl Harbor. The legend originated in Okayama City, from where it is often linked today. In reference to the tale, demon statues were even carved there. Momotaro's legend is similar to the Okinawan legend of Urikohime, about a princess born from a melon. Similarities have also been found with the Indian Ramayana legend. This story also teaches about the values of respect for elders and teamwork.
So that's it for this week. I hope you liked this deep dive into a piece of Japanese folklore. I will leave you with a quote until next week.
Bye!
A single arrow is easily broken, but not ten in a bundle.
-Japanese Proverb