The poor monkey sat up rubbing his back, and his face was very long as he screamed angrily. Not long after this, through the malice 1 of some of his friends, he fell into disgrace at Court and was dismissed. Not long after this he fell into disgrace at Court and was dismissed. It need hardly be said that Yama-uba was sad at parting with her boy, for he was all that was left to her. In this way, sometimes the one, sometimes the other, conquering, the little party amused themselves till they were tired. She saw that here was a wonderful chance of the one wish of her life being fulfilled—that of seeing Kintaro a SAMURAI before she died. answered the deer. Where have you been all the time?”, “I took my four friends, the bear, the deer, the monkey, and the hare, up into the hills, and there I made them try a wrestling match, to see which was the strongest. Your strength of arm, which I have just tried, proves what I saw this afternoon. If you were a samurai, what would you do to help your family? When his mother finished speaking, he exclaimed: "Oh, joy! She knew that it was for her boy’s good that he should leave her now, and she must not discourage him just as he was setting out. how my back hurts—my back hurts me!”. They looked at the intruder wonderingly and saw that he was some one they had never seen before. Kintaro was a little boy. He became friendly with the animals of the mountain, and later, after catching Shuten-dōji, the terror of the region around Mount Ōe, he became a loyal follower of Minamoto no Yorimitsu under the new name Sakata no Kintoki. On reaching the other side of the river he and the animals separated, they to their lairs in the woods and he to his mother, who was waiting for him. With Doug Smith, Matt Greenfield, Mitsuo Iwata, Gorô Naya. To do this, he thought that the best and surest way would be to get hold of the hare’s long ear. Then they all climbed a tree to see the last of him, and from that height they watched him and his shadow gradually grow smaller and smaller, till he was lost to sight. called out the deer. Your strength of arm, which I have just tried, proves what I saw this afternoon. There was no need for me to wrestle with any of them.”, “But next to you then, who is the strongest?”. Suddenly the deer went down on one of his knees, and the bear with the leaf on high declared him beaten. Because of his great strength as an infant I hid him away in this unknown part of the country, for he hurt every one that came near him. Yet he did not want to wrestle with his friends the animals, and was happy to umpire instead, What do you think this might say about true strength? Now the monkey got up looking very cross, and as they say in Japan “his stomach stood up,” for he felt that he had not been fairly beaten. Now, as every one knows, the monkey is a cunning animal by nature, and he made up his mind to get the best of the hare this time if it were possible. "What fun! He immediately started off, delighted at the prospect of trying his sword. “Oh, oh! (this to the monkey, who has a red back in Japan). To tell you the truth I am no woodcutter! Another favorite pastime of Kintaro’s was to smash up rocks and stones. Not long after this, through the malice of some of his friends, he fell into disgrace at Court and was dismissed. So the monkey and the hare, encouraged by their friends, tried their very hardest to beat each other. Now if you really wish him to be a SAMURAI (a knight), I will take him and present him to the Lord Raiko as a candidate for his service. Kintaro went from one tree to another that grew along the river bank. He was so shocked by his sudden dismissal that he died. I will make a good bridge for you all in a few minutes.”. Because of his great strength as an infant I hid him away in this unknown part of the country, for he hurt every one that came near him. At last he stopped in front of a very large tree that was growing at the water’s edge. Bridge there was none. Having arrived at their destination the general took Kintaro at once to his Lord, Minamoto-no-Raiko, and told him all about Kintaro and how he had found the child. Red-back! Bowing her head to the ground, she replied: "I will then intrust my son to you if you really mean what you say.". The monkey was now the victor and received, a rice-dumpling from Kintaro, which pleased him so much that he quite forgot his sore back. “Long-ears! All the animals, those he had tamed to serve him, the bear, the deer, the monkey, and the hare, as soon as they found out that he was going away, came to ask if they might attend him as usual. Please give me another chance and let the hare wrestle with me for another round.". All the animals, those he had tamed to serve him, the bear, the deer, the monkey, and the hare, as soon as they found out that he was going away, came to ask if they might attend him as usual. “You are, indeed, a very strong child. Lord Raiko was delighted with the story, and having commanded Kintaro to be brought to him, made him one of his vassals at once. Kintaro said, “Here is a place for a good game. Kintaro was a very strong boy. August 5, 2020. cultureattic Fairy Tale, Folk Tale, Japanese. There was no need for me to wrestle with any of them. Great was the fun they all had together. The Adventures of Kintaro, the Golden Boy Long, long ago there lived in Kyoto a brave soldier named Kintoki. Then Kintaro and the woodcutter both put out their right arms and grasped each other’s hands. After walking some little distance they came out on the banks of a river flowing through a valley. Read "The Adventures Of Kintaro, The Golden Boy" by Yei Theodora Ozaki available from Rakuten Kobo. The deer rubbed his horns against a tree for pleasure, the monkey scratched his back, the hare smoothed his long ears, and the bear gave a grunt of satisfaction. I shall give a prize to the one who wins in each round.”. The four animals followed. My name is Sadamitsu, and I am a vassal of the powerful Lord Minamoto-no-Raiko. When you are full-grown you will surely be the strongest man in all Japan. Hardly able to believe what I saw I followed you home. “And after the bear?” asked his mother again. Suddenly Kintaro and his mother were startled by a voice from outside. An old woman is cruel to a sparrow - and is repaid... Storyberries © Copyright Protected 2015 -2021, Bedtime Stories, Fairy Tales and Poems for Kids. Lord Raiko's army was famous for its band called "The Four Braves." The river rushed "don, don" on its way. ", "I took my four friends, the bear, the deer, the monkey, and the hare, up into the hills, and there I made them try a wrestling match, to see which was the strongest. He would like to join the sport too!". He took hold of the trunk and pulled it with all his might, once, twice, thrice! “Kimbo,” said his mother, “mind and be a good boy.”, “Mr. Bridge there was none. There are few men who can boast of the strength of my right arm!" Kintaro had all this time been sitting by his mother’s side listening to what they said. "You are, indeed, a very strong child. He married a beautiful wife and lived very happily, until…he was dismissed as a soldier. In this way, sometimes the one, sometimes the other, conquering, the little party amused themselves till they were tired. ", "But next to you then, who is the strongest?". Kintaro now rose to be the greatest hero of his country, and great was the power and honor and wealth that came to him. He hastened after the strange party and crossed the bridge behind them. These warriors were chosen by himself from amongst the bravest and strongest of his soldiers, and the small and well-picked band was distinguished throughout the whole of Japan for the dauntless courage of its men. “There,” said Kintaro, “what do you think of my bridge? A student of life, if you will. Now, as every one knows, the monkey is a cunning animal by nature, and he made up his mind to get the best of the hare this time if it were possible. What a nice place we have found for wrestling; let us come again to-morrow. After walking some little distance they came out on the banks of a river flowing through a valley. By good fortune, I have thus unexpectedly come across your son. Please give me another chance and let the hare wrestle with me for another round.”. ", "Mr. Kintaro," said the faithful animals, "we wish you good health on your travels.". He had fallen in love with a young women and married her. He now kept his promise and built a comfortable home for his old mother, who lived happily with him in the Capital to the end of her days. "Oh, oh! So he said to Kintaro and the others who were standing by: “I have not been fairly beaten. She called him Kintaro or the Golden Boy. joy! Then Kintaro and the woodcutter both put out their right arms and grasped each other's hands. Yet he did not want to wrestle with his friends the animals, and was happy to umpire instead, What do you think this might say about true strength? The general Sadamitsu went on his way rejoicing at having so unexpectedly found such a prodigy as Kintaro. Fearing her husband’s enemies, she fled to the Ashigara Mountains as soon as her husband was dead, and there in the lonely forests where no one ever came except woodcutters, a little boy was born to her. He is a popular figure in Bunraku and kabuki drama, and it is a custom to put up a Kintarō doll on Boy's … Now he fell in love with a beautiful lady and married her. He would like to join the sport too!”. ", Both the little wrestlers faced each other while the deer raised a leaf on high as signal. I am one of the great generals of Japan. Yama-uba and her son were both taken by surprise. The deer, as umpire, stood between the two and called out: “Red-back! Fearing her husband's enemies, she fled to the Ashigara Mountains as soon as her husband was dead, and there in the lonely forests where no one ever came except woodcutters, a little boy was born to her. While the monkey and the hare wrestled, the deer called out encouragingly or shouted warnings to each of them as the hare or the monkey pushed each other near the edge of the platform and were in danger of falling over. Tree to another that grew along the river bank we wish you good health on your travels..! 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