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Urashima Taro: The Timeless Tale of a Japanese Fisherman and a Magical Turtle
The polite, kind hearted, and brave Urashima Taro is one of the most beloved figures in Japanese folklore. His exemplary character led him on adventures we can only dream about. Join us as we explore the story of Urashimataro. We’ll reveal everything there is to know about the tale, including its plot and impact on Japanese culture.
Introduction:
Urashima Taro may be a folklore figure, but he has had more impact on Japanese culture than most people could dream of. His story has been passed down from one generation to another, even getting incorporated into the elementary school curriculum from the 1970s. Today, people still read books about Urashima Taro. His legend has inspired countless other famous stories and adaptations.
After rescuing a turtle, Urashima Taro's life changed for good. He traveled to a supernatural palace under the sea. He also befriended the lovely princess of the palace. After spending a few days in paradise, he asked to return home. On getting to his village, Urashima realized that he had in fact been away for hundreds of years. Distraught, he opened the princess’ mysterious box given to him as a gift. Unfortunately, it contained his old age and Urashima transformed into an old man.
The tale of Urashima and the magical turtle is more than a bedtime story. It contains moral lessons that we can all apply to our everyday lives, teaching us to be kind to every living creature and that time waits for no man.
Who is Urashima Taro?
Urashima Tarō is the main character in a popular Japanese folklore that has been in existence since the 15th century. The story first appeared as part of the Otogizōshi, a group of unattributed stories written in the Muromachi Period (1333 - 1573). It was also adapted into a kyōgen play in the same period. An older version of the story existed since the 8th century, but the protagonist was named “Urashima no ko.”
According to the lore, Urashima Taro was a smart fisherman who spent his day hunting for fish in the river. He lived in Mizu-no-ye, a small fishing village in Japan. Just like his father, Urashima inherited the skill of fishing. No other fisherman was as skilled in the village. Urashima was also kind-hearted in nature. He hated to see others suffer. Growing up, his peers would make fun of him for not partaking in any form of cruelty against people or animals. These characteristics would turn out to be the reason for his famous adventure with the magical turtle.
The unattributed story of Urashima is a traditional legend with different versions. These variations created in the centuries following the creation of the first story include slight differences in character and plot points. Before we unpack the fictional life and adventures of Urashima Taro, we need to recount the modern version of the story.
The Story of Urashima Taro (The Fisher Lad)
The following text is a summarized version of the Urashima legend based on the modern textbook series:
Long ago, in the village of Mizu-no-ye, located in the Tango Province, there lived a young fisherman named Urashima Taro. He was the most skillful of all the fishermen in the village. One day, Urashima stumbled on a group of children tormenting a small turtle. He managed to persuade them to release the animal to his care in exchange for some money. Urashima took the turtle to the sea and set it free.
The next day, a giant sea turtle came to him while he was fishing on his boat. The creature told him that the turtle he saved was the daughter of the Sea Emperor and dragon god, Ryūjin. It also claimed that the Emperor wanted to thank Urashima in person. Using its magical powers, the turtle granted him gills, and carried him on its back to the depths of the ocean where they reached the Dragon Palace (Ryugu-jo).
Upon getting to the palace, Urashima met the Dragon King and his daughter, Princess Otohime. He learned that she was the turtle he saved. During his stay, Urashima enjoyed everything about the palace, including its views of the four seasons, the food he was served, and the company of Princess Otohime. However, after spending three days there, he became homesick and asked to leave. The princess tried to dissuade him at first, but she eventually agreed and wished him well, offering him a mysterious jeweled box (tamatebako) as a parting gift. According to her, the box would keep him safe but he was never to open it. A grateful Urashima rode the giant turtle back to the seashore.
He realized that everything had changed in his village the second he arrived. Everyone he knew, including his mother, was nowhere to be found. When he asked passersby if they knew of a man called Urashima Tarō, they replied that someone by that name existed centuries ago but had disappeared at sea. Urashima soon realized that he had actually been away for 300 years. Grief-stricken and not thinking clearly, he opened the jeweled box. A white cloud shot out of it, covering him with smoke. By the time it subsided, Urashima Taro had turned into an old man with white hair, wrinkles, and a bent back. He had suddenly aged hundreds of years. He heard the voice of Princess Otohime coming from the sea, saying the box had held his old age and he shouldn’t have opened it.
Symbolic Elements in Urashima Taro’s Tale
Although many people might see Urashima Taro’s as a regular folklore, however, the story reveals hidden messages by leveraging Japanese symbolism. Many key elements in the plot like the turtle and mysterious box are symbolic in nature. The following are the main symbolic elements in the story:
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Turtle: In Japanese culture the turtle symbolizes good fortune, longevity, and immortality. Its appearance in the story is the first hint that immortal beings were at play. We’ll reveal more about turtles and their role in Japanese culture later in this post.
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Mysterious box (tamatebako): The tamatebako is a different type of box with each story version. Most versions tag it a jeweled box, treasure box, or casket. The word “tama” has a double meaning since it could mean “jewel” and “soul.” So, Urashima may have been handed his soul box.
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Four seasons: The four sides of the Ryūgū-jō represent the natural beauty of the four seasons in Japan. East lies the blooming cherry blossoms of spring, west sits the maple leaves of autumn, on the north is snow-covered grounds of winter, and south lies the buzzing cicadas of summer.
Urashima Taro in Japanese Culture
Urashima Taro has been integrated into various aspects of Japanese culture, including literature, art, and education. Records of the story appear in various Japanese literature dating back to the 8th century. A variation of it is well documented in the Fudoki manuscript. It also appears as one of the stories in Nihon Shoki (The Chronicles of Japan), the second-oldest book dedicated to Japan’s history. Urashima’s legend takes the form of a poem in the Manyoshu collection. In 1945, Osamu Dazai published Otogizōshi, a fairy-tale book filled with traditional Japanese folklore. The book featured an expanded version of Urashima Taro’s tale.
Prominent Japanese artists like Matsuki Heikichi, Gekkō zuihitsu, and Utagawa Kuniteru have created art pieces depicting scenes from the tale. Perhaps Urashima Taro’s biggest impact is in the Japanese educational sector. During the Meiji Period (1868–1912), a condensed version of the tale appears in the nationally designated textbook for Japanese elementary schools. Nearly every student in the country became aware of the tale.
Comparative Myths: Urashima Taro and Similar Legends
The story of Urashima Taro is as unique as can be. However, it inevitably shares certain similarities with myths and legends from other cultures. The tale shares many similarities with Rip Van Winkle, a fictional work written by American author Washington Irving. Both legends focus on the concept of being lost in a world that has moved on in your absence. We can say the same for the Chinese anecdote associated with the woodcutter Wang Zhi, only he lost track of time watching immortals.
Other similar myths from foreign cultures are the legend of Oisín (Ireland), the legend of Từ Thức (Vietnam), and The Marsh King's Daughter (Denmark).
Lessons from Urashima Taro
We can agree that the story of Urashima Taro is an interesting one. Some might even consider it fascinating. But underneath all the plot are some key moral takeaways that you can apply to your everyday life. The following are the moral and philosophical lessons conveyed through Urashima Taro’s adventures:
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Don’t forget those you love: Urashima forgot about his mother and the rest of his family while he was having fun at the palace. By the time he remembered to go back, it was too late and they were long gone.
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Time waits for no man: Time does not stand still, whether you spend it wisely or not. In the end, Urashima accidentally traded decades of his lifetime for three days of fun.
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Obedience is key: No matter how upset we get, we should always abide by the rules and instructions of higher authority. Urashima lost his head and defied the instructions of the dragon princess by opening the box, leading to his early demise.
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Be kind to all creatures: Despite his work as a fisherman, Urashima cared for all creatures, including animals. By helping the turtle when he didn’t have to, he became worthy enough to meet deities.
The Role of Turtles in Japanese Folklore
In Japan, the turtle or kame is seen as a symbol of good fortune, longevity, and wisdom. Turtles have a recurring role in Japanese folklore where they play immortal creatures with magical powers. Although the Urashima Taro story is the most famous mythical appearance of the turtle, there have been many others, including tales about Mt. Ogura, the Turtle Mountain in Japan.
Turtle legends also have a dark side. The kappa is a yokai (supernatural creature) with a turtle-like shell, and it can be evil when it feels disrespected. According to ghost stories, this water monster would lure people to the river and wrestle them in the water until they drown.
Urashima Taro in Popular Media
There have been several modern adaptations and references of Urashima Taro’s tale in popular media.The plot of an episode in the Ultra Q television series titled “Grow Up! Little Turtle” is inspired by Urashima’s tale. In the episode, we see a schoolboy attempt to grow a turtle in hopes that it would carry him to the Dragon Palace. In 1918, Urashima Taro, one of the oldest anime produced in Japan, was an adaptation of the tale. Several more references exist in Japanese anime and manga, including Folktales from Japan, Gintama, and Ya boy Kongming.
Teaching Urashima Taro: Educational Uses
Thanks to the Japanese Ministry of Education, the story of Urashima Taro is used in textbooks for children in the country, particularly those in elementary school. These books help to teach children about traditional values and the richness of Japanese folklore. A school song of the same name became popular in the 1910s. The lyrics of the song told the story of how Urashima and the turtle dove into the sea, and the events that occurred after.
Visiting Sites Associated with Urashima Taro
There are many places in Japan that are linked to the legend of Urashima Taro. The following are some of the most popular of such sites:
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Urashima Shrine, Ine: On the outskirts of the small fishing village of Ine lies the Urashima Shrine. The locals believe that the story took place in their village because their young men often go out into the sea to fish.
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Takuma: There are many places in the town of Takuma, Miyoto District that are associated with the legend of Urashima. You’ll find where he was born (Namari), where he died (Nirohama ), the beach on which he rescued the turtle (Kamonokoshi), and many more cultural landmarks.
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Urashima-Kannon Temple, Yokohama: The temple houses a statue of Kannon believed to have been taken from the Dragon Palace. The site has statues of Urashima Taro and Princess Orihime.
Urashima Taro Festivals and Celebrations
Japanese festival celebrations often incorporate Urashima Taro in their rituals and performances. For example, most festivals that take place in the Ine fishing village feature a theatrical performance of the story which helps to keep the legend alive in the community. Also, the Karatsu Kunchi Festival of Saga Prefecture, which takes place in the beginning of November every year, features a three-day parade where people carry a massive float of Urashima Taro.
Conclusion:
The Urashima Taro story is more than a fictional story. It also offers universal insights into human nature and morality. Its simplicity makes it an ideal tale for people of all age groups, further solidifying its timeless nature. We suspect that for centuries to come, people will still be talking about Urashima Taro and the magical turtle.
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