Introduction
Japanese folklore is a complex literary genre that can tell a lot about the country’s culture and how various beliefs and myths were formed. In addition, such stories often capture a large aspect of the instruction on which people can later rely to become virtuous. Such motifs are often intertwined with cruelty, depicted exaggeratedly, and combined with fantastic images. The Legend of Yamata-no-Orochi is a prominent representative of Japanese myths that can tell a lot about topics important to society.
Japanese Folklore: The Legend of Yamata-no-Orochi
The story vividly illustrates the concept of sacrifice, showing how desperate it can be. An elderly couple sacrificed almost all their daughters because the snake Yamata-no-Orochi demanded it. This act of sacrifice symbolizes the helplessness and defenselessness of people in the face of the global problem they are facing.
Thus, the sacrifice in this story is not something noble and sublime but a way to survive, which, at the same time, is distinguished by cruelty. The duty to give daughters to the snake has tightly bound the elderly couple and gives them no choice. Such sacrifices demonstrate their position ambiguously, as the couple is willing to sacrifice their daughters for the common good.
However, the snake is not known to do so without receiving payment, which raises questions that remain unanswered. For example, why couldn’t the family move to live in another quieter region where Yamata-no-Orochi would not take them? Instead, the difficult decision faced by the elderly couple leaves them no choice but to comply.
At the same time, the victim’s motive can be considered not only in the context of the murder of a daughter by a snake. When Susan O-o appears, he asks for the hand of the daughter of an elderly couple, Kushinada-hime, in exchange for killing the snake. This can be seen as a manifestation of the request for a sacrifice that people will have to make to rid themselves of the serpent. However, compared to the previous version, this one is much more humane as Kushinada-hime will stay alive and marry Susan O-o. Thus, it can be said that the elderly couple chose the lesser evil, having lost their last daughter to a certain extent.
The story also has much to say about temptation and ineptitude, which manifests itself, for example, in the character of Yamata-no-Orochi. An ancient and powerful being with a fearsome appearance cannot control his thirst for sake. This eventually leads to the snake being subdued with its favorite drink. Thus, temptation themes are seen as perverse and should be avoided.
Presenting this quality as a snake that died, the legend warns people against the fact that they should not be tempted. The inability to control the temptation made the serpent unable to resist the temptation and betray its desires and goals. This passage shows this: “After gulping it all down, it became very drunk, so much that it passed out” (Kankou Shimane). Thus, it became vulnerable to Susan O-o’s attack and died.
The theme of overindulgence is also explored in that Susan O-o did not think about his sword breaking. He embodied the strength and power of his master, and therefore, when the “sword struck something hard, and the blade broke,” Susan O-o was surprised (Kankou Shimane). He could not think that his powerful weapon could be broken, and did not foresee such a situation. This way, the legend reminds people that indulgence can lead to undesirable consequences.
The stories The Legend of Yamata-no-Orochi, The Bell of Dojoji, The Story of Urashima Taro, the Fisher Lad, and The Tongue-Cut Sparrow represent different themes, but they all have similarities. They can be called a focus on magic, opulence, and wealth. As described in the stories, Japanese life clearly defines respect and a sense of duty.
For example, in The Story of Urashima Taro, the Fisher Lad, this is shown when the protagonist forgoes wealth and comfort by saying, “O dear! I must not stay on here, for I have an old father and mother at home” (Ozaki). Similarly, in The Bell of Dojoji, the monk shows devotion to his practices and beliefs: “He was bound to his order by the strictest vows, but was content” (World of Tales). In The Legend of Yamata-no-Orochi, all the daughters of the elderly couple were also faithful and performed their duty of sacrifice without protest.
Thus, one can learn that loyalty is highly valued in Japanese culture, and betrayal is always condemned. At the same time, opulence and wealth can be used as a counterweight to test a person for the strength of the spirit. For example, in The Tongue-Cut Sparrow, the old man refuses a heavier gift: “The old man, not being greedy, said he would take the lighter one” (Griffis). This is rewarded by what he discovers: he took countless treasures while a cuttlefish lay in a large and heavy gift. Wealth and magic are used in stories to make it as straightforward as possible that value does not always show up directly and can be hidden in unexpected places.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Japanese culture is unusual and unique, and it tends to teach people valuable lessons through legends. The magical element is well combined with opulence and wealth to showcase the difficulty of choice and its rewards. At the same time, honesty and devotion are imperative in this culture and are promoted in every possible way through works of art.
Works Cited
“The Bell of Dōjōji.” World of Tales, n. d. Web.
“The Legend of Yamata-no-Orochi.” Kankou Shimane, n. d. Web.
“The Tongue-Cut Sparrow” Translated by William Griffis. n. d. Web.
Ozaki, Yei Theodora. “The Story of Urashima Taro, the Fisher Lad.” Japanese Fairy Tales. Lit2Go Edition. 1908. Web.