The Story of Prince Yamato Take From Japanese Fairy Tales
The insignia of the great Japanese Em- er of the Japanese dynasty. This Prince was pire is composed of three treasures which the second son of the Emperor Keiko, and he have been considered sacred, and guarded was named Yamato. From his childhood he with jealous care from time immemorial. proved himself to be of remarkable strength, These are the Yatano-no-Kagami or the Mir- wisdom and courage, and his father noticed ror of Yata, the Yasakami-no-Magatama or with pride that he gave promise of great the Jewel of Yasakami, and the Murakumo- things, and he loved him even more than he no-Tsurugi or the Sword of Murakumo. did his elder son. Of these three treasures of the Empire, Now when Prince Yamato had grown the sword of Murakumo, afterwards known to manhood (in the olden days of Japa- as Kusanagi-no-Tsrugugi, or the grass- nese history, a boy was considered to cleaving sword, is considered the have reached man’s estate at the most precious and most highly to early age of sixteen) the realm be honored, for it is the symbol was much troubled by a band of of strength to this nation of war- outlaws whose chiefs were two riors and the talisman of invin- brothers, Kumaso and Takeru. cibility for the Emperor, while These rebels seemed to delight he holds it sacred in the shrine in rebelling against the King, in of his ancestors. breaking the laws and defying all Nearly two thousand years authority. ago this sword was kept at the At last King Keiko ordered his shrines of Ite, the temples dedicated younger son Prince Yamato to subdue to the worship of Amaterasu, the great and the brigands and, if possible, to rid the land beautiful Sun Goddess from whom the Japa- of their evil lives. Prince Yamato was only nese Emperors are said to be descended. sixteen years of age, he had but reached his There is a story of knightly adventure and manhood according to the law, yet though daring which explains why the name of the he was such a youth in years he possessed the sword was changed from that of Murakumo dauntless spirit of a warrior of fuller age and to Kasanagi, which means grass clearing. knew not what fear was. Even then there was Once, many, many years ago, there was no man who could rival him for courage and born a son to the Emperor Keiko, the twelfth bold deeds, and he received his father’s com- in descent from the great Jimmu, the found- mand with great joy.
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He at once made ready to start, and great met with great difficulties, for he found the was the stir in the precincts of the Palace as country exceedingly wild and rough. The he and his trusty followers gathered together mountains were high and steep, the valleys and prepared for the expedition, and pol- dark and deep, and huge trees and boulders ished up their armor and donned it. Before of rock blocked up the road and stopped the he left his father’s Court he went to pray at progress of his army. It was all but impossible the shrine of Ise and to take leave of his aunt to go on. the Princess Yamato, for his heart was some- Though the Prince was but a youth he what heavy at the thought of the dangers he had the wisdom of years, and, seeing that it had to face, and he felt that he needed the was vain to try and lead his men further, he protection of his ancestress, Amaterasu, the said to himself: Sun Goddess. The Princess his aunt came out “To attempt to fight a battle in this im- to give him glad welcome, and congratulated passable country unknown to my men only him on being trusted with so great a mission makes my task harder. We cannot clear the by his father the King. She then gave him roads and fight as well. It is wiser for me to one of her gorgeous robes as a keepsake to go resort to stratagem and come upon my en- with him and to bring him good luck, saying emies unawares. In that way I may be able to that it would surely be of service to him on kill them without much exertion.” this adventure. She then wished him all suc- So he now bade his army halt by the way. cess in his undertaking and bade him good His wife, the Princess Ototachibana, had ac- speed. companied him, and he bade her bring him The young Prince bowed low before his the robe his aunt the priestess of Ise had giv- aunt, and received her gracious gift with en him, and to help him attire himself as a much pleasure and many respectful bows. woman. With her help he put on the robe, “I will now set out,” said the Prince, and and let his hair down till it flowed over his returning to the Palace he put himself at the shoulders. Ototachibana then brought him head of his troops. Thus cheered by his aunt’s her comb, which he put in his black tress- blessing, he felt ready for all that might be- es, and then adorned himself with strings of fall, and marching through the land he went strange jewels just as you see in the picture. down to the Southern Island of Kiushiu, the When he had finished his unusual toilet, home of the brigands. Ototachibana brought him her mirror. He Before many days had passed he reached smiled as he gazed at himself—the disguise the Southern Island, and then slowly but was so perfect. surely made his way to the head-quarters He hardly knew himself, so changed was of the chiefs Kumaso and Takeru. He now he. All traces of the warrior had disappeared,
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and in the shining surface only a beautiful eyes glancing like a frightened deer. Charmed lady looked back at him. to distraction by the girl’s loveliness Kumaso Thus completely disguised, he set out for drank cup after cup of wine for the pleasure the enemy’s camp alone. In the folds of his of seeing her pour it out for him, till at last silk gown, next his strong heart, was hidden he was quite overcome with the quantity he a sharp dagger. had drunk. The two chiefs Kumaso and Takeru wore This was the moment for which the brave sitting in their tent, resting in the cool of the Prince had been waiting. Flinging down the evening, when the Prince approached. They wine jar, he seized the tipsy and astonished were talking of the news which had recently Kumaso and quickly stabbed him to death been carried to them, that the King’s son had with the dagger which he had secretly carried entered their country with a large army de- hidden in his breast. termined to exterminate their band. They had Takeru, the brigand’s brother, was terror- both heard of the young warrior’s renown, struck as soon as he saw what was happening and for the first time in their wicked lives and tried to escape, but Prince Yamato was they felt afraid. In a pause in their talk they too quick for him. Ere he could reach the tent happened to look up, and saw through the door the Prince was at his heel, his garments door of the tent a beautiful woman robed in were clutched by a hand of iron, and a dagger sumptuous garments coming towards them. flashed before his eyes and he lay stabbed to Like an apparition of loveliness she appeared the earth, dying but not yet dead. in the soft twilight. Little did they dream “Wait one moment!” gasped the brigand that it was their enemy whose coming they painfully, and he seized the Prince’s hand. so dreaded who now stood before them in Yamato relaxed his hold somewhat and this disguise. said. “What a beautiful woman! Where has “Why should I pause, thou villain?” she come from?” said the astonished Kumaso, The brigand raised himself fearfully and forgetting war and council and everything as said: he looked at the gentle intruder. “Tell me from whence you come, and He beckoned to the disguised Prince and whom I have the honor of addressing? Hith- bade him sit down and serve them with wine. erto I believed that my dead brother and I Yamato Take felt his heart swell with a fierce were the strongest men in the land, and that glee for he now knew that his plan would there was no one who could overcome us. succeed. However, he dissembled cleverly, Alone you have ventured into our strong- and putting on a sweet air of shyness he ap- hold, alone you have attacked and killed us! proached the rebel chief with slow steps and Surely you are more than mortal?”
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Then the young Prince answered with a As it was a hot summer’s day, the rebel proud smile:—”I am the son of the King and was nothing loath to take a plunge in the my name is Yamato, and I have been sent river, while his enemy was still swimming by my father as the avenger of evil to bring down the stream the Prince turned back and death to all rebels! No longer shall robbery landed with all possible haste. Unperceived, and murder hold my people in terror!” and he managed to change swords, putting his he held the dagger dripping red above the wooden one in place of the keen steel sword rebel’s head. of Takeru. “Ah,” gasped the dying man with a great Knowing nothing of this, the brigand effort, “I have often heard of you. You are in- came up to the bank shortly. As soon as deed a strong man to have so easily overcome he had landed and donned his clothes, the us. Allow me to give you a new name. From Prince came forward and asked him to cross henceforth you shall be known as Yamato swords with him to prove his skill, saying: Take. Our title I bequeath to you as the brav- “Let us two prove which is the better est man in Yamato.” swordsman of the two!” And with these noble words, Takeru fell The robber agreed with delight, feeling back and died. certain of victory, for he was famous as a fenc- The Prince having thus successfully put er in his province and he did not know who an end to his father’s enemies in the world, his adversary was. He seized quickly what he was prepared to return to the capital. On the thought was his sword and stood on guard to way back he passed through the province defend himself. Alas! for the rebel the sword of Idum. Here he met with another outlaw was the wooden one of the young Prince named Idzumo Takeru who he knew had and in vain Takeru tried to unsheathe it—it done much harm in the land. He again re- was jammed fast, not all his exerted strength sorted to stratagem, and feigned friendship could move it. Even if his efforts had been with the rebel under an assumed name. Hav- successful the sword would have been of no ing done this he made a sword of wood and use to him for it was of wood. Yamato Take jammed it tightly in the shaft of his own saw that his enemy was in his power, and strong sword. This he purposedly buckled to swinging high the sword he had taken from his side and wore on every occasion when he Takeru he brought it down with great might expected to meet the third robber Takeru, and dexterity and cut off the robber’s head. He now invited Takeru to the bank of In this way, sometimes by using his the River Hinokawa, and persuaded him to wisdom and sometimes by using his bodily try a swim with him in the cool refreshing strength, and at other times by resorting to waters of the river. craftiness, which was as much esteemed in
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those days as it is despised in these, he pre- When the time came for the Prince to vailed against all the King’s foes one by one, start, the King gave him a spear called the and brought peace and rest to the land and Eight-Arms-Length-Spear of the Holly Tree the people. (the handle was probably made from the When he returned to the capital the King wood of the holly tree), and ordered him to praised him for his brave deeds, and held a set out to subjugate the Eastern Barbarians as feast in the Palace in honor of his safe coming the Ainu were then called. home and presented him with many rare gifts. The Eight-Arms-Length-Spear of the From this time forth the King loved him more Holly Tree of those old days, was prized by than ever and would not let Yamato Take go warriors just as much as the Standard or Ban- from his side, for he said that his son was now ner is valued by a regiment in these modern as precious to him as one of his arms. days, when given by the King to his soldiers But the Prince was not allowed to live an on the occasion of setting out for war. idle life long. When he was about thirty years The Prince respectfully and with great old, news was brought that the Ainu race, reverence received the King’s spear, and leav- the aborigines of the islands of Japan, who ing the capital, marched with his army to the had been conquered and pushed northwards East. On his way he visited first of all the by the Japanese, had rebelled in the Eastern temples of Ise for worship, and his aunt the provinces, and leaving the vicinity which Princess of Yamato and High Priestess came had been allotted to them were causing great out to greet him. She it was who had given trouble in the land. The King decided that it him her robe which had proved such a boon was necessary to send an army to do battle to him before in helping him to overcome with them and bring them to reason. But and slay the brigands of the West. who was to lead the men? He told her all that had happened to Prince Yamato Take at once offered to go him, and of the great part her keepsake had and bring the newly arisen rebels into subjec- played in the success of his previous under- tion. Now as the King loved the Prince dear- taking, and thanked her very heartily. When ly, and could not bear to have him go out of she heard that he was starting out once again his sight even for the length of one day, he to do battle with his father’s enemies, she was of course very loath to send him on his went into the temple, and reappeared bear- dangerous expedition. But in the whole army ing a sword and a beautiful bag which she there was no warrior so strong or so brave had made herself, and which was full of flints, as the Prince his son, so that His Majesty, which in those times people used instead of unable to do otherwise, reluctantly complied matches for making fire. These she presented with Yamato’s wish. to him as a parting gift.
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The sword was the sword of Murakumo, towards him on all sides. He looked round one of the three sacred treasures which com- for a chance of escape. There was none. He prise the insignia of the Imperial House of was surrounded by fire. Japan. No more auspicious talisman of luck “This deer hunt was then only a cunning and success could she have given her nephew, trick of the enemy!” said the Prince, look- and she bade him use it in the hour of his ing round on the flames and the smoke that greatest need. crackled and rolled in towards him on every Yamato Take now bade farewell to his side. “What a fool I was to be lured into this aunt, and once more placing himself at the trap like a wild beast!” and he ground his head of his men he marched to the farthest teeth with rage as he thought of the gover- East through the province of Owari, and then nor’s smiling treachery. he reached the province of Suruga. Here the Dangerous as was his situation now, the governor welcomed the Prince right heart- Prince was not in the least confounded. In ily and entertained him royally with many his dire extremity he remembered the gifts feasts. When these were over, the governor his aunt had given him when they parted, told his guest that his country was famous and it seemed to him as if she must, with for its fine deer, and proposed a deer hunt prophetic foresight, have divined this hour for the Prince’s amusement. The Prince was of need. He coolly opened the flint-bag that utterly deceived by the cordiality of his host, his aunt had given him and set fire to the which was all feigned, and gladly consented grass near him. Then drawing the sword of to join in the hunt. Murakumo from its sheath he set to work The governor then led the Prince to a to cut down the grass on either side of him wild and extensive plain where the grass grew with all speed. He determined to die, if that high and in great abundance. Quite ignorant were necessary, fighting for his life and not that the governor had laid a trap for him with standing still waiting for death to come to the desire to compass his death, the Prince him. began to ride hard and hunt down the deer, Strange to say the wind began to change when all of a sudden to his amazement he and to blow from the opposite direction, saw flames and smoke bursting out from the and the fiercest portion of the burning bush bush in front of him. Realizing his danger he which had hitherto threatened to come upon tried to retreat, but no sooner did he turn his him was now blown right away from him, horse in the opposite direction than he saw and the Prince, without even a scratch on his that even there the prairie was on fire. At the body or a single hair burned, lived to tell the same time the grass on his left and right burst tale of his wonderful escape, while the wind into flames, and these began to spread swiftly rising to a gale overtook the governor, and he
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was burned to death in the flames he had set But the heart of the Prince was full of alight to kill Yamato Take. war and conquest and he cared little for the Now the Prince ascribed his escape en- faithful Ototachibana. From long exposure in tirely to the virtue of the sword of Murakumo, traveling, and from care and grief at her lord’s and to the protection of Amaterasu, the Sun coldness to her, her beauty had faded, and her Goddess of Ise, who controls the wind and ivory skin was burnt brown by the sun, and all the elements and insures the safety of all the Prince told her one day that her place was who pray to her in the hour of danger. Lift- in the Palace behind the screens at home and ing the precious sword he raised it above his not with him upon the warpath. But in spite head many times in token of his great respect, of rebuffs and indifference on her husband’s and as he did this he re-named it Kusanagi- part, Ototachibana could not find it in her no-Tsurugi or the Grass-Cleaving Sword, and heart to leave him. But perhaps it would have the place where he set fire to the grass round been better for her if she had done so, for on him and escaped from death in the burning the way to Idzu, when they came to Owari, prairie, he called Yaidzu. To this day there is her heart was well-nigh broken. a spot along the great Tokaido railway named Here dwelt in a Palace shaded by pine- Yaidzu, which is said to be the very place where trees and approached by imposing gates, the this thrilling event took place. Princess Miyadzu, beautiful as the cherry blos- Thus did the brave Prince Yamato Take som in the blushing dawn of a spring morn- escape out of the snare laid for him by his ing. Her garments were dainty and bright, enemy. He was full of resource and courage, and her skin was white as snow, for she had and finally outwitted and subdued all his never known what it was to be weary along foes. Leaving Yaidzu he marched eastward, the path of duty or to walk in the heat of a and came to the shore at Idzu from whence summer’s sun. And the Prince was ashamed he wished to cross to Kadzusa. of his sunburnt wife in her travel-stained gar- In these dangers and adventures he had ments, and bade her remain behind while he been followed by his faithful loving wife went to visit the Princess Miyadzu. Day after the Princess Ototachibana. For his sake she day he spent hours in the gardens and the counted the weariness of the long journeys Palace of his new friend, thinking only of his and the dangers of war as nothing, and her pleasure, and caring little for his poor wife love for her warrior husband was so great that who remained behind to weep in the tent at she felt well repaid for all her wanderings if the misery which had come into her life. Yet she could but hand him his sword when he she was so faithful a wife, and her character sallied forth to battle, or minister to his wants so patient, that she never allowed a reproach when he returned weary to the camp. to escape her lips, or a frown to mar the sweet
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sadness of her face, and she was ever ready wind howled, the lightning flashed and the with a smile to welcome her husband back or thunder rolled, and the boat which held usher him forth wherever he went. Ototachibana and the Prince and his men At last the day came when the Prince was tossed from crest to crest of the rolling Yamato Take must depart for Idzu and cross waves, till it seemed that every moment must over the sea to Kadzusa, and he bade his wife be their last and that they must all be swal- follow in his retinue as an attendant while he lowed up in the angry sea. For Kin Jin the went to take a ceremonious farewell of the Dragon King of the Sea, had heard Yamato Princess Miyadzu. She came out to greet him Take jeer, and had raised this terrible storm dressed in gorgeous robes, and she seemed in anger, to show the scoffing Prince how aw- more beautiful than ever, and when Yamato ful the sea could be though it did but look Take saw her he forgot his wife, his duty, and like a brook. everything except the joy of the idle present, The terrified crew lowered the sails and and swore that he would return to Owari and looked after the rudder, and worked for their marry her when the war was over. And as he dear lives’ sake, but all in vain—the storm looked up when he had said these words he only seemed to increase in violence, and all met the large almond eyes of Ototachibana gave themselves up for lost. Then the faith- fixed full upon him in unspeakable sadness ful Ototachibana rose, and forgetting all the and wonder, and he knew that he had done grief that her husband had caused her, for- wrong, hut he hardened his heart and rode on, getting even that he had wearied of her, in caring little for the pain he had caused her. the one great desire of her love to save him, When they reached the seashore at Idzu she determined to sacrifice her life to rescue his men sought for boats in which to cross him from death if it were possible. the straits to Kadzusa, but it was difficult to While the waves dashed over the ship find boats enough to allow all the soldiers to and the wind whirled round them in fury she embark. Then the Prince stood on the beach, stood up and said: and in the pride of his strength he scoffed “Surely all this has come because the and said: Prince has angered Rin Jin, the God of the “This is not the sea! This is only a brook! Sea, by his jesting. If so, I, Ototachibana, Why do you men want so many boats? I will appease the wrath of the Sea God who could jump this if I would.” desires nothing less than my husband’s life!” When at last they had all embarked and Then addressing the sea she said: were fairly on their way across the straits, “I will take the place of His Augustness, the sky suddenly clouded and a great storm Yamato Take. I will now cast myself into arose. The waves rose mountains high, the your outraged depths, giving my life for his.
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Therefore hear me and bring him safely to luminous mist in the great distance, where the shore of Kadzusa.” Ototachibana had given her life for him, and With these words she leaped quickly as he turned towards it he stretched out his into the boisterous sea, and the waves soon arms, and thinking of her love which he had whirled her away and she was lost to sight. scorned and his faithlessness to her, his heart Strange to say, the storm ceased at once, and burst out into a sorrowful and bitter cry: the sea became as calm and smooth as the “Azuma, Azuma, Ya!” (Oh! my wife, my matting on which the astonished onlookers wife!) And to this day there is a district in To- were sitting. The gods of the sea were now kio called Azuma, which commemorates the appeased, and the weather cleared and the words of Prince Yamato Take, and the place sun shone as on a summer’s day. where his faithful wife leapt into the sea to Yamato Take soon reached the opposite save him is still pointed out. So, though in shore and landed safely, even as his wife Oto- life the Princess Ototachibana was unhappy, tachibana had prayed. His prowess in war history keeps her memory green, and the sto- was marvelous, and he succeeded after some ry of her unselfishness and heroic death will time in conquering the Eastern Barbarians, never pass away. the Ainu. Yamato Take had now fulfilled all his He ascribed his safe landing wholly to the father’s orders, he had subdued all rebels, faithfulness of his wife, who had so willingly and rid the land of all robbers and enemies and lovingly sacrificed herself in the hour to the peace, and his renown was great, for in of his utmost peril. His heart was softened the whole land there was no one who could at the remembrance of her, and he never al- stand up against him, he was so strong in lowed her to pass from his thoughts even for battle and wise in council. a moment. Too late had he learned to esteem He was about to return straight for home the goodness of her heart and the greatness by the way he had come, when the thought of her love for him. struck him that he would find it more in- As he was returning on his homeward teresting to take another route, so he passed way he came to the high pass of the Usui through the province of Owari and came to Toge, and here he stood and gazed at the the province of Omi. wonderful prospect beneath him. The coun- When the Prince reached Omi he found try, from this great elevation, all lay open to the people in a state of great excitement and his sight, a vast panorama of mountain and fear. In many houses as he passed along he plain and forest, with rivers winding like sil- saw the signs of mourning and heard loud ver ribbons through the land; then far off he lamentations. On inquiring the cause of this saw the distant sea, which shimmered like a he was told that a terrible monster had ap-
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peared in the mountains, who daily came Prince could hardly see which way to take. In down from thence and made raids on the a short time, however, while he was groping villages, devouring whoever he could seize. his way down the pass, the weather cleared, Many homes had been made desolate and and our brave hero was able to make his way the men were afraid to go out to their daily quickly down the mountain. work in the fields, or the women to go to the When be got back he began to feel ill rivers to wash their rice. and to have burning pains in his feet, so he When Yamato Take heard this his wrath knew that the serpent had poisoned him. So was kindled, and he said fiercely: great was his suffering that he could hardly “From the western end of Kiushiu to the move, much less walk, so he had himself car- eastern corner of Yezo I have subdued all the ried to a place in the mountains famous for King’s enemies—there is no one who dares its hot mineral springs, which rose bubbling to break the laws or to rebel against the King. out of the earth, and almost boiling from the It. is indeed a matter for wonder that here in volcanic fires beneath. this place, so near the capital, a wicked mon- Yamato Take bathed daily in these wa- ster has dared to take up his abode and be the ters, and gradually he felt his strength come terror of the King’s subjects. Not long shall again, and the pains left him, till at last one it find pleasure in devouring innocent folk. I day he found with great joy that he was quite will start out and kill it at once.” recovered. He now hastened to the temples of With these words he set out for the Ibu- Ise, where you will remember that he prayed ki Mountain, where the monster was said to before undertaking this long expedition. His live. He climbed up a good distance, when aunt, priestess of the shrine, who had blessed all of a sudden, at a winding in the path, a him on his setting out, now came to welcome monster serpent appeared before him and him back. He told her of the many dangers he stopped the way. had encountered and of how marvelously his “This must be the monster,” said the life had been preserved through all—and she Prince; “I do not need my sword for a ser- praised his courage and his warrior’s prowess, pent. I can kill him with my hands.” and then putting on her most magnificent He thereupon sprang upon the serpent robes she returned thanks to their ancestress and tried to strangle it to death with his bare the Sun Goddess Amaterasu, to whose pro- arms. It was not long before his prodigious tection they both ascribed the Prince’s won- strength gained the mastery and the serpent derful preservation. lay dead at his feet. Now a sudden darkness Here ends the story of Prince Yamato came over the mountain and rain began to Take of Japan. fall, so that for the gloom and the rain the
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