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Taro Urashima, the Young Fisherman

(retold by Donna Rosenberg)* I have seen a tortoise like this one once before, Taro said to himself. I remember when a storm washed one ashore upon the beach, where it landed on its back. The village children had discovered it there before I did. And, by the time I came along, they were amusing themselves by prodding its tender belly with their sticks. But I soon put a stop to their game! I chased them away, saying, Shame on all of you! A tortoise can live for ten thousand years, and it is sacred to the Dragon-King of the Sea! Surely, it deserves your respect! Then I turned the tortoise right-side up. With a prayer to the gods, I sent it off toward the water. And the last I saw of it, the tortoise was swimming safely out to sea, mused Taro. This tortoise is as beautiful as that one was! he then exclaimed to himself. Its wet back reflects the colors of the rainbow as it shines in the sun! I do not have the heart to take the life of one that has lived for so many years. I will release it so that it can live to the natural end of its days. I still have fresh bait for my hook. And surely I will get another bite before I must return home. So it came to pass that Taro Urashima again with a prayer to the gods set the tortoise free and then settled back in his little boat to wait for another bite. However, the warmth of the sun and the gentle rocking motion of the waves put him to sleep. It was then that Taro heard someone calling his name. Taro Urashima! Taro Urashima! the voice called sweetly. Taro could not resist the appealing sound of that voice. He stood up in his boat and, to his surprise, he saw the tortoise whose life he had just saved. Speaking Taros language, the tortoise announced, Taro Urashima, because of the kindness and respect that you have shown to me on two occasions, the Dragon-King of the Sea invites you to accompany me to his palace in the Land Where Time Stands Still.

Taro Urashima was a strong, handsome youth who lived in a small fishing village called Midzunoye, in the province of Tango, in Japan. Taro was a fisherman, and the son of a fisherman. Every day, he would row himself out to sea in order to catch fish. Some days, he returned with bream, bonito, or brass. Other days, he returned with carp, trout, or abalone. Other days, he returned with no fish at all. One day, in the autumn of the year 477, during the reign of Emperor Yuriaku, Taro Urashima chose to row beyond the traditional fishing limits. He had been out for three days and four nights without catching a fish, and he decided that he might fare better if he rowed beyond the slope of the sea. His luck turned, and he caught a beautiful tortoise.

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Upon hearing the tortoises words, the young fisherman thought to himself, Who would believe that a tortoise has invited me to visit the place of the great Dragon-King of the Sea! What a special opportunity! What a great honor! I cannot imagine that I have anything to lose by accepting it. And so it came to pass that Taro Urashima climbed upon the tortoises back and set forth on this journey. Although the tortoise quickly descended into the depths of the sea, Taro found that he could breathe naturally and that his clothing remained completely dry. Before he had time to reflect upon this miracle, Taro found himself facing the beautiful palace of the Dragon-King of the Sea. Fashioned of coral and decorated with abalone shell and pearls, it was truly an awesome sight to behold. Moreover, it became clear that he was an expected and welcome guest. As soon as he arrived, flounder, carp, and sole, wearing royal robes, came out to welcome him. Meanwhile, the tortoise disappeared. The fish took Taro Urashima inside the palace and into a great hall. There swordfish, sea horses, and dolphins proceeded to escort him into an even greater room that was located deeper within the palace. There the Dragon-Kings daughter, Princess Otohime, was seated with her attendants, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the young fisherman who was as handsome as he was kind. Princess Otohime was the most beautiful woman that Taro Urashima had ever seen. Her long black hair flowed down her back to her feet. Her robes were as brilliant as the sun, shimmering with the reds and golds that waves reflect when the sun shines upon them. And it came to pass that Princess Otohime greeted Taro warmly, saying, Welcome, kind-hearted young fisherman! I had heard tales of your great heart, and twice I changed myself into the form of a tortoise in order to see for myself whether what I heard about you was true. Since it is true, I hereby promise to love you until the sun and moon no longer ride across the heavens to mark the passing of day, night, and the seasons. If you will accept my love, Taro Urashima, and if you love me in return, Princess Otohime promised, you will become my husband. And we will live together here in my fathers kingdom, a land where the seasons always smile in natural harmony. Here, day after day, the golden sun shines upon the golden hills, while night after night, the silver moon shines upon the silver hills. Here, flowers never fade and never die. Like these flowers, you will find that you will never age and that you will never die. You will find that your heart will be forever happy, for sorrow never enters this land. And you will find that my love for you will remain as strong as the rocks that form the mountains, and that it will always be as pure as spun gold, Princess Otohime declared. Upon hearing Otohimes words, the young fisherman thought to himself, Who would believe that the Princess of the Sea, daughter of the great Dragon-King, has asked to marry me! What a special opportunity! What a great honor! She is so beautiful that I cannot resist her love. And I cannot help but love her in return. I cannot imagine that I have anything to lose by accepting her offer. And so it came to pass that Taro Urashima replied, Oh, most beautiful princess, of course I will accept your love and will love you in return! I am honored to become your husband and to remain here with you in your fathers kingdom! And you will find that my love for you will remain as strong as the rocks that form the mountains, and that it will always be as pure as spun gold. Once again, swordfish, sea horses, and dolphins appeared before Taro. This time they were wearing long ceremonial robes in honor of the royal wedding and they were carrying great coral trays that were piled high with the great edible delicacies of the sea. Taro Urashima and Princess Otohime pledged to love one another to the end of time and shared the sacred drink that is part of the traditional marriage ceremony. Meanwhile, the fish of the sea danced on the white sand and sang to the strains of soft music, their silver scales and golden tails reflecting the golden sand and the silvery white pebbles that were strewn upon it.

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In time, Princess Otohime showed her husband the wonders of her fathers kingdom. And, truly, the land was just as remarkable as she had told him it was! Here, spring reigned eternally in the East. Warblers and nightingales sang lovely songs. Cherry trees and plum trees remained in full bloom, their pink and white blossoms providing nourishment to myriads of bright-winged butterflies that drank their nectar. Here, summer reigned eternally in the South. The cuckoo sang its song for the blooming iris. Frogs croaked in ponds adorned with floating lilies, and trees remained clothed with leaves that shimmered like emeralds in the light breeze. Here, autumn reigned eternally in the West. Maple trees remained fully clothed in their leaves of fiery red, and chrysanthemums bloomed continuously in the colors of the setting sun. The stag roamed through the woodlands, and the cries of wild geese filled the air. And here, winter reigned eternally in the North. Ice-covered ponds reflected the blue-tinted light of the pale sun, while wild ducks took refuge among the reeds. Winter trees gleamed silvery-white with snow, with their berries shining ruby-red and crackling in the frosty breeze. The wonders of the Land Where Time Stands Still might have been enough for Taro Urashima. However, he found that his marriage was just as remarkable as Princess Otohime had told him that it would be! Happiness always flooded his heart, for sorrow never entered that land. His wifes love for him remained as strong as the rocks that form the mountains. And, indeed, it was as pure as spun gold. However, it came to pass that in the Land Where Time Stands Still, time nevertheless passed quickly. Taros heart sensed that three days had passed as if they were but three days in his life. And as happy as he was in his new life, Taro began to think more and more about his parents. He remembered how he had left them suddenly and unexpectedly, without support and without even a loving farewell. Taros love for the couple who had reared him now fought in his heart with his love for his wife. And his eyes would fill with tears whenever he gazed at the woman he loved. One day, when Taro could stand the pain no longer, he said to Otohime, Dear one! As much as love for you floods my heart, I long to see my parents and take my loving farewell of them. Because of how I left them, sorrow must rule their hearts and their lives. So I ask you to let me leave you for just a day. I give you my word that I will return to you tomorrow. And then I will love you alone to the end of time with a love that, like yours, will remain as strong as the rocks that form the mountains and as pure as spun gold. To these words, Otohime tearfully replied, Your desire floods my heart with fear, Taro! I dread your departure, for my heart senses that I will never see you again! So I plead with you, dearest husband, stay with me but one day longer. And then I will send you back to your home! But Taro Urashima would not agree. Dear one! The duty that I owe my parents is forged of unbreakable metal! he declared. Just as I spared your life when you appeared to me in the form of a tortoise, so I must respect the life of my parents and leave you for a day in order to look after them. I am not breaking the promise that I made to you when we became husband and wife, Taro explained. I give you my word that I will return to you tomorrow. And then I will love you alone to the end of time with a love that, your yours, will remain as strong as the ricks that form the mountains and as pure as spun gold. To these words, Otohime tearfully replied, Taro, dearest husband, if nothing that I can say or do will dissuade you, then I will return you to your own land. But take this parting gift in memory of our love, and listen well to my parting words. I want you to have this beautiful little black-lacquered box as a keepsake, declared Otohime. However, once you return home, if you still remember me and if you still love me, no matter how much you may wish to do so, you must not untie these red silk tasseled cords and you must not open the box! Instead, if you wish to return to me, just hold the box in your hands and grip it with all your might.

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I must warn you, Taro: If you forget my words, or if you disobey my command, something terrible will happen! And you will never be able to return to my fathers kingdom or see me again! So remember, Taro! Never untie these silk cords. And never open this beautiful box! she concluded. To these words, Taro Urashima replied, Lovely Otohime, put your worries to rest. I promise that I will treasure your gift! And I will remember your warning. I will never open the box. In fact, I will never even loosen its silken cords! So it came to pass that, after a loving farewell, the tortoise reappeared and quickly carried Taro Urashima back to his own country. Of course, his journey through the sea left him as dry as it had originally. Taros heart flooded with joy as the tortoise entered the familiar bay and left him on its beach. His eyes flooded with you at the sight of his homeland. He quickly went forth to greet his parents. He smiled to see the familiar hills, with the mountains a soft blue in the distance beyond them. He laughed to see the familiar stream that meandered through his village. However, as he walked along, Taros smile froze on his face, and his laughter stuck in his throat. He expected to find the old road. However, he found that he was walking on a new road where the old road had been. He expected to find his old village. However, he found a larger, bustling town where his old village had been. Taro Urashima passed many townsfolk. However, he could not discover one familiar face. And the townspeople, in turn, regarded Taro as a stranger. Taro Urashima looked for his home. However, he found a large new house where his cottage had been. Nevertheless, he approached this house and knocked on the door. When a strange woman answered, Taro asked her, Madam, would you please show me the way to the house of the young fisherman Taro Urashima and his parents? Your house is not their house. But they should be living where your house now stands. To these words, the woman replied, Young man, I have never heard of a young fisherman called Taro Urashima, or his family. My own family has lived in this house since the time of my great-grandfather! You will have to ask someone else about those people. I wish you good luck in your search! So it came to pass that Taro Urashima continued on his way through the town. He searched every face to see if it was the face of one of his parents or, at least, the face of a friend or an acquaintance. However, he saw only strange faces where familiar faces had been. And as Taro walked and walked, he became more and more anxious with each step. Now he stopped each person he met and asked. Would you please show me the way to the house of the young fisherman Taro Urashima and his parents? However, these townspeople simply shook their heads form side to side and continued on their way. Finally, Taro came upon a very old man, who was slowly hobbling down the road. He was a great-great-grandfather and surely the town elder. Therefore, Taro greeted him and asked, Most Respected Grandfather, would you please show me the way to the house of the young fisherman Taro Urashima and his parents. To these words, the town elder replied, Young man, who are you? And where are you from that you ask me such a foolish question? Surely you know that it is now the year 825. The boy you mentioned, Taro Urashima and, of course, his family as well have been dead for well over three hundred years! Therefore, it is foolish to ask where their house is. However, if you wish to see their last home, go the old village burial ground, he advised Taro. It is just outside the town, near what remains of the old Shinto temple. No one goes there anymore, so the old gravestones are covered with moss and hard to read. Nevertheless,

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if you look closely, you will find what remains of Taro Urashima and his family. Villagers still talked about them when I was a child, the town elder added. They said that the young Urashima used to row out to sea in order to fish. One day, he was seen heading beyond the traditional fishing limits toward treacherous waters, where he drowned! His parents died of grief soon thereafter. And with these final words, the old man continued on his way, shaking his head from side to side in wonder as he slowly hobbled down the road. Taro Urashima stared after the old man in silence. The town elders words brought to his ears the same message that the sights of the town had brought to his eyes. More than a hundred years in this land had passed as only one year in the sea kingdom of the Dragon-King! Everything in his world as he had known it and every person he remembered was long gone! Taro Urashima easily found the old graveyard because that, at least, was just where it had been. And searching the gravestones for the names of his parents gave Taro the only sense of home that was left for him. For here, at last, in the graveyard, he found the village that he had left behind! Here, at last, he found the names of all the familiar faces that he had hoped to see upon his return. Finally, here at last, he found his parents. And, buried next to them, he found his own grave. Taro Urashima was alive among the dead, and dead among the living! Taro then left the graveyard. He turned his back on the town and returned to the sea. Overcome with shock and horror, he ran along the shore, ranting and raving in his sorrow. He waved his arms, stamped his feet, and rolled upon the ground. However, he could not capture Time and bring back the past. Finally, Taro Urashima lay still upon the sand, his eyes red with weeping and his heart worn thin with despair. The gentle lapping of the waves upon the shore brought the memory of beautiful Otohime and the sea kingdom of the Dragon-King into his mind. Suddenly, the waves became louder. Taros ears fastened onto their sound. Did he hear, Taro Urashima! Taro Urashima!? Was Otohime once again calling to him in her sweet voice? Taro rose to his feet and scanned the waves. However, he could not see the tortoise whose life he had saved. And so it came to pass that Taro Urashima remembered his wifes parting gift. He reached into his pocket and withdrew the beautiful black-lacquered box that his beloved had tied with red tasseled cords of silk. He stared at it thoughtfully. Then Taro Urashima broke the promise that he had made to Otohime. Slowly he untied the cords that sealed the box, and he began to remove the lid. As if it were longing to escape, a cold vapor instantly rushed out of the box. It flew up to Taros face, where it stopped for a moment. And then it floated out to sea on the wings of the wind as it if were a small white summer cloud. Except for that vapor, the box was empty. As Taro Urashima watched the cloud of vapor leave him, it seemed to him that it took the shape of his beloved wife. He reached out to the departing cloud and called, Otohime! Oh, Otohime! Please come back! I am so sorry that I broke my promise to you! Taro strained to see when and where the small white cloud had vanished. However, as he searched the horizon, suddenly he began to shiver and shake uncontrollably from head to toe. And suddenly his eyes became too dim to see the cloud. Taro instinctively stepped toward the waves, as if to follow the cloud to its home in the sea. However, suddenly his body cried out in agonizing protest and refused to obey his wishes. Suddenly his back was no longer able to support him. Instead, it forced him to bend forward until he found that he was staring down at his own feet and the sandy shore on which they rested. And it came to pass that, as Taro Urashima looked down at his feet, snow-white hair and a long, snowy-white beard blew across his face on the wings of the wind. And he knew that they belonged to him.

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With growing amazement, Taro noticed that his arms had shriveled to mere bones, with only a waxlike, wrinkled covering of skin to protect them. He saw that his legs were now withered and wobbly from the weight of his body. And then, suddenly, they gave way beneath him. Taro Urashima opened his mouth to cry out, and his teeth dropped upon the sand like seashells. His heart became too weak to beat in anger or in protest. Finally, even the process of beating became too difficult, and his heart, too collapsed. The next morning, children found Taro Urashimas body where it had crumpled upon the sand. They had never seen anything like it. And so they ran to tell their parents about the fearsome sight. Even the old ones of the town were awestruck by the sight of such an ancient being. The corpse that lay upon the beach was far older than the towns greatgreat-grandfather. Its face was shriveled like a dried peach; its hair was whiter than snow; and its limbs were as crooked as the branches of a gnarled tree. Only the town elder, that great-great-grandfather, thought that he could explain the sight. As he looked at the ancient, withered figure, whose crooked fingers still gripped the top of a beautiful black-lacquered box, he remembered the young stranger and his questions. And then he put the pieces of the puzzling tale into their proper places. This is the story that the town elder told to the people of Midzunoye, in the year 825. And this is the story that, through generations of storytellers, I have now passed down to you.

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* Donna Rosenberg, Folklore, Myths, and Legends: A World Perspective (Lincolnwood, IL: NTC Publishing Group, 1997), 421431.

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