the maiden of unai
the maiden unai dwelt with her parents in the village of ashinóya. she was extremely beautiful, and it so happened that she had two most ardent and persistent lovers—mubara, who was a native of the same countryside, and chinu; who came from izumi. these two lovers might very well have been twins, for they resembled each other in age, face, figure, and stature. unfortunately, however, they both loved her with an equal passion, so that it was impossible to distinguish between them. their gifts were the same, and there appeared to be no difference in their manner of courting. we get a good idea of the formidable aspect of these two lovers in the following, taken from mushimaro's poem on the subject:
"with jealous love these champions twain
the beauteous girl did woo;
each had his hand on the hilt of his sword,
and a full-charged quiver, too,
"was slung o'er the back of each champion fierce,
and a bow of snow-white wood
did rest in the sinewy hand of each;
and the twain defiant stood."
trans. by b. h. chamberlain.
in the meantime, the maiden of unai grew sick at heart. she never accepted the gifts of either mubara or chinu, and yet it distressed her to see them standing at the gate month after month, never relaxing for a moment the ardent expression of their feeling toward her.
the maiden of unai's parents do not seem to have appreciated the complexity of the situation, for they said to her: "sad it is for us to have to bear the burden of thine unseemly conduct in thus carelessly from month to[pg 314] month, and from year to year, causing others to sorrow. if thou wilt accept the one, after a little time the other's love will cease."
these well-meant words brought no consolation or assistance to the poor maiden of unai, so her parents sent for the lovers, explained the pitiful situation, and decided that he who should shoot a water-bird swimming in the river ikuta, which flowed by the platform on which the house was built, should have their daughter in marriage. the lovers were delighted at this decision, and anxious to put an end to this cruel suspense. they pulled their bow-strings at the same instant, and together their arrows struck the bird, one in the head and the other in the tail, so that neither could claim to be the better marksman. when the maiden of unai saw how entirely hopeless the whole affair was, she exclaimed:
"enough, enough! yon swiftly flowing wave
shall free my soul from her long anxious strife:
men call fair settsu's stream the stream of life,
but in that stream shall be the maiden's grave!"
trans. by b. h. chamberlain.
with these melodramatic words she flung herself from the platform into the surging water beneath.
the maiden of unai.
the maid's parents, who witnessed the scene, shouted and raved on the platform, while the devoted lovers sprang into the river. one held the maiden's foot, and the other her hand, and in a moment the three sank and perished. in due time the maiden was buried with her lovers on either side, and to this day the spot is known as the "maiden's grave." in the grave of mubara there was a hollow bamboo-cane, together with a bow, a quiver, and a long sword; but nothing had been placed in the grave of chinu.
[pg 315]
some time afterwards a stranger happened to pass one night in the neighbourhood of the grave, and he was suddenly disturbed by hearing the sound of fighting. he sent his retainers to inquire into the matter, but they returned to him saying they could hear or see nothing of an unusual nature. while the stranger pondered over the love-story of the maiden of unai he fell asleep. he had no sooner done so than he saw before him, kneeling on the ground, a blood-stained man, who told him that he was much harassed by the persecutions of an enemy, and begged that the stranger would lend him his sword. this request was reluctantly granted. when the stranger awoke he was inclined to think the whole affair a dream; but it was no passing fantasy of the night, for not only was his sword missing, but he heard near at hand the sound of a great combat. then the clash of weapons suddenly ceased, and once more the blood-stained man stood before him, saying: "by thine honourable assistance have i slain the foe that had oppressed me during these many years." so we may infer that in the spirit world chinu fought and slew his rival, and after many years of bitter jealousy was finally able to call the maiden of unai his own.
the grave of the maiden of unai
"i stand by the grave where they buried
the maiden of unai,
whom of old the rival champions
did woo so jealously.
"the grave should hand down through the ages
her story for evermore,
that men yet unborn might love her,
and think on the days of yore.
[pg 316]
"and so beside the causeway
they piled up the boulders high;
nor e'er, till the clouds that o'ershadow us
shall vanish from the sky,
"may the pilgrim along the causeway
forget to turn aside,
and mourn o'er the grave of the maiden;
and the village folk, beside,
"ne'er cease from their bitter weeping,
but cluster around her tomb;
and the ages repeat her story,
and bewail the maiden's doom.
"till at last e'en i stand gazing
on the grave where she lies low,
and muse with unspeakable sadness
on the old days long ago."
sakimaro. (trans. by b. h. chamberlain.)
the maiden of katsushika
"where in the far-off eastern land
the cock first crows at dawn,
the people still hand down a tale
of days long dead and gone.
"they tell of katsushika's maid,
whose sash of country blue
bound but a frock of home-spun hemp,
and kirtle coarse to view;
"whose feet no shoe had e'er confined,
nor comb passed through her hair;
yet all the queens in damask robes
might nevermore compare
"with this dear child, who smiling stood,
a flow'ret of the spring—
in beauty perfect and complete,
like to the full moon's ring.
[pg 317]
"and, as the summer moths that fly
towards the flame so bright,
or as the boats that seek the port
when fall the shades of night,
"so came the suitors; but she said:
'why take me for your wife?
full well i know my humble lot,
i know how short my life.'
"so where the dashing billows beat
on the loud-sounding shore,
hath katsushika's tender maid
her home for evermore.
"yes! 'tis a tale of days long past;
but, list'ning to the lay,
it seems as i had gazed upon
her face but yesterday."
trans. by b. h. chamberlain.
to the translation of this japanese ballad professor b. h. chamberlain adds the following note: "to the slight, but undoubtedly very ancient, tradition preserved in the foregoing ballad, there is nothing to add from any authentic source. popular fancy, however, has been busy filling up the gaps, and introduces a cruel stepmother, who, untouched by the piety of the maiden in drawing water for her every day from the only well whose water she cares to drink, is so angry with her for, by her radiant beauty, attracting suitors to the house, that the poor girl ends by drowning herself, upon which the neighbours declare her to be a goddess, and erect a temple in her honour. both the temple and the well are still among the show-places in the environs of tokyo."
the maiden with the wooden bowl
in ancient days there lived an old couple with their only child, a girl of remarkable charm and beauty.[pg 318] when the old man fell sick and died his widow became more and more concerned for her daughter's future welfare.
one day she called her child to her, and said: "little one, your father lies in yonder cemetery, and i, being old and feeble, must needs follow him soon. the thought of leaving you alone in the world troubles me much, for you are beautiful, and beauty is a temptation and a snare to men. not all the purity of a white flower can prevent it from being plucked and dragged down in the mire. my child, your face is all too fair. it must be hidden from the eager eyes of men, lest it cause you to fall from your good and simple life to one of shame."
having said these words, she placed a lacquered bowl upon the maiden's head, so that it veiled her attractions. "always wear it, little one," said the mother, "for it will protect you when i am gone."
shortly after this loving deed had been performed the old woman died, and the maiden was forced to earn her living by working in the rice-fields. it was hard, weary work, but the girl kept a brave heart and toiled from dawn to sunset without a murmur. over and over again her strange appearance created considerable comment, and she was known throughout the country as the "maiden with the bowl on her head." young men laughed at her and tried to peep under the vessel, and not a few endeavoured to pull off the wooden covering; but it could not be removed, and laughing and jesting, the young men had to be content with a glimpse of the lower part of the fair maiden's face. the poor girl bore this rude treatment with a patient but heavy heart, believing that out of her mother's love and wisdom would come some day a joy that would more than compensate for all her sorrow.
[pg 319]
one day a rich farmer watched the maiden working in his rice-fields. he was struck by her diligence and the quick and excellent way she performed her tasks. he was pleased with that bent and busy little figure, and did not laugh at the wooden bowl on her head. after observing her for some time, he came to the maiden, and said: "you work well and do not chatter to your companions. i wish you to labour in my rice-fields until the end of the harvest."
when the rice harvest had been gathered and winter had come the wealthy farmer, still more favourably impressed with the maiden, and anxious to do her a service, bade her become an inmate of his house. "my wife is ill," he added, "and i should like you to nurse her for me."
the maiden gratefully accepted this welcome offer. she tended the sick woman with every care, for the same quiet diligence she displayed in the rice-fields was characteristic of her gentle labour in the sick-room. as the farmer and his wife had no daughter they took very kindly to this orphan and regarded her as a child of their own.
at length the farmer's eldest son returned to his old home. he was a wise young man who had studied much in gay kyoto, and was weary of a merry life of feasting and frivolous pleasure. his father and mother expected that their son would soon grow tired of his father's house and its quiet surroundings, and every day they feared that he would come to them, bid farewell, and return once more to the city of the mikado. but to the surprise of all the farmer's son expressed no desire to leave his old home.
one day the young man came to his father, and said: "who is this maiden in our house, and why does she wear an ugly black bowl upon her head?"
[pg 320]
when the farmer had told the sad story of the maiden his son was deeply moved; but, nevertheless, he could not refrain from laughing a little at the bowl. the young man's laughter, however, did not last long. day by day the maiden became more fascinating to him. now and again he peeped at the girl's half-hidden face, and became more and more impressed by her gentleness of manner and her nobility of nature. it was not long before his admiration turned into love, and he resolved that he would marry the maiden with the bowl on her head. most of his relations were opposed to the union. they said: "she is all very well in her way, but she is only a common servant. she wears that bowl in order to captivate the unwary, and we do not think it hides beauty, but rather ugliness. seek a wife elsewhere, for we will not tolerate this ambitious and scheming maiden."
from that hour the maiden suffered much. bitter and spiteful things were said to her, and even her mistress, once so good and kind, turned against her. but the farmer did not change his opinion. he still liked the girl, and was quite willing that she should become his son's wife, but, owing to the heated remarks of his wife and relations, he dared not reveal his wishes in the matter.
all the opposition, none too kindly expressed, only made the young man more desirous to achieve his purpose. at length his mother and relations, seeing that their wishes were useless, consented to the marriage, but with a very bad grace.
the young man, believing that all difficulties had been removed, joyfully went to the maiden with the bowl on her head, and said: "all troublesome opposition is at an end, and now nothing prevents us from getting married."
[pg 321]
"no," replied the poor maiden, weeping bitterly, "i cannot marry you. i am only a servant in your father's house, and therefore it would be unseemly for me to become your bride."
the young man spoke gently to her. he expressed his ardent love over and over again, he argued, he begged; but the maiden would not change her mind. her attitude made the relations extremely angry. they said that the woman had made fools of them all, little knowing that she dearly loved the farmer's son, and believed, in her loyal heart, that marriage could only bring discord in the home that had sheltered her in her poverty.
that night the poor girl cried herself to sleep, and in a dream her mother came to her, and said: "my dear child, let your good heart be troubled no more. marry the farmer's son and all will be well again." the maiden woke next morning full of joy, and when her lover came to her and asked once more if she would become his bride, she yielded with a gracious smile.
great preparations were made for the wedding, and when the company assembled, it was deemed high time to remove the maiden's wooden bowl. she herself tried to take it off, but it remained firmly fixed to her head. when some of the relations, with not a few unkind remarks, came to her assistance, the bowl uttered strange cries and groans. at length the bridegroom approached the maiden, and said: "do not let this treatment distress you. you are just as dear to me with or without the bowl," and having said these words, he commanded that the ceremony should proceed.
then the wine-cups were brought into the crowded apartment and, according to custom, the bride and bridegroom were expected to drink together the "three times three" in token of their union. just as the[pg 322] maiden put the wine-cup to her lips the bowl on her head broke with a great noise, and from it fell gold and silver and all manner of precious stones, so that the maiden who had once been a beggar now had her marriage portion. the guests were amazed as they looked upon the heap of shining jewels and gold and silver, but they were still more surprised when they chanced to look up and see that the bride was the most beautiful woman in all japan.
