WEBVTT - CZM Book Club: Three Stories From Japanese Folklore 0:00:01.720 --> 0:00:03.320 Cool Zone Media. 0:00:06.120 --> 0:00:10.520 Book Club book Club, book Club. It's the Cool Zone 0:00:10.600 --> 0:00:17.079 Media book Club. Hello, welcome to the Cool Zone Media 0:00:17.120 --> 0:00:20.000 book Club. I'm your host, Margaret Kiljoy, and every week 0:00:20.120 --> 0:00:23.480 I read you stories. This week, I'm going to read 0:00:23.520 --> 0:00:28.880 you three stories, all for the price of I guess 0:00:29.040 --> 0:00:33.640 zero stories. Well, I guess the price of advertisers on 0:00:33.680 --> 0:00:38.000 our podcast. But I have stories for you. This is 0:00:38.040 --> 0:00:40.880 a folklore a week. I'm going to read you three 0:00:40.920 --> 0:00:44.800 stories from an eighteen eighty book of Japanese folklore. And 0:00:44.960 --> 0:00:49.160 this particular book was written by American man who lived 0:00:49.159 --> 0:00:53.360 in Japan for a very long time named William Elliott Griffiths, 0:00:53.960 --> 0:00:56.800 and in eighteen eighty he published a book called Japanese 0:00:56.840 --> 0:00:59.320 Fairy World that seemed to have been written with help 0:00:59.360 --> 0:01:02.160 from his Japanese students and is illustrated with art from 0:01:02.280 --> 0:01:07.039 Japanese artists. There's no particular moral or whatever that I'm 0:01:07.080 --> 0:01:10.360 going for with this week's stories. I just kind of 0:01:10.480 --> 0:01:12.640 liked them, and I thought you might like them too. 0:01:13.640 --> 0:01:17.840 I like fairy tales, especially of two particular types, adventures 0:01:17.959 --> 0:01:21.560 and guy falls in love with a mystical lady. And 0:01:21.640 --> 0:01:25.680 so today I'm going to manage to read you two adventures, 0:01:25.720 --> 0:01:28.600 and one guy falls in love with a mystical lady. 0:01:29.440 --> 0:01:36.319 So here we go. The first story is called Watanabe 0:01:36.600 --> 0:01:40.840 cuts off the one's arm. When the capital of Japan 0:01:41.040 --> 0:01:44.039 was the city of Kyoto and the Mikado dwelt in 0:01:44.080 --> 0:01:46.400 it with all his court, there lived a brave captain 0:01:46.440 --> 0:01:49.760 of the guard named Yoramitsu, who belonged to the famous 0:01:49.800 --> 0:01:54.120 Minimotok family. He was also called Raiko, and by this 0:01:54.280 --> 0:01:56.400 name he is best known to all the boys and 0:01:56.440 --> 0:02:00.280 girls in Great Japan. Under Captain Rako there were three 0:02:00.400 --> 0:02:05.240 brave guardsmen, one of whom was named Wuanatabe Suna. The 0:02:05.320 --> 0:02:07.320 duty of these men at arms was to watch at 0:02:07.320 --> 0:02:11.240 the gates leading to the palace. It had come to 0:02:11.320 --> 0:02:14.600 pass that the Blossom capital had fallen in a dreadful 0:02:14.639 --> 0:02:18.360 condition because the guards at the other gates had been neglected. 0:02:19.600 --> 0:02:23.000 Thieves were numerous, and murders were frequent, so that every 0:02:23.040 --> 0:02:25.280 one of the city was afraid to go out into 0:02:25.280 --> 0:02:28.720 the streets at night. Worse than all else was the 0:02:28.760 --> 0:02:32.160 report that one or imps were prowling around in the 0:02:32.280 --> 0:02:35.000 dark to seize people by the hair of their head. 0:02:35.880 --> 0:02:38.600 Then they would drag them away to the mountains, tear 0:02:38.680 --> 0:02:42.960 the flesh off their bones, and eat them up. The 0:02:43.000 --> 0:02:45.480 worst place in the city to which the horned imps 0:02:45.520 --> 0:02:49.640 came oftenest was at the southwestern gate, called the Rajaman. 0:02:50.639 --> 0:02:54.480 To this post of danger, Raiko sent Suna, the bravest 0:02:54.600 --> 0:02:57.920 of all of his guards. It was on a dark, 0:02:58.200 --> 0:03:01.320 rainy and dismal night that soun Sa started, well armed 0:03:01.440 --> 0:03:04.880 to stand sentinel at the gate. His trusty helmet was 0:03:04.960 --> 0:03:07.680 knotted over his chin, and all the pieces of his 0:03:07.800 --> 0:03:11.520 armor wore well laced up. His sandals were girt tight 0:03:11.600 --> 0:03:14.320 to his feet, and in his belt was thrust the 0:03:14.360 --> 0:03:18.000 trusty sword, freshly ground until its edge was like a razor's, 0:03:18.520 --> 0:03:21.400 and with it the owner could cut asunder a hare 0:03:21.680 --> 0:03:26.160 floating in the air. Arriving at the red pillar of 0:03:26.200 --> 0:03:29.040 the gate, Soona paced up and down the stone way 0:03:29.160 --> 0:03:33.200 with eyes and ears wide open. The wind was blowing frightfully, 0:03:33.600 --> 0:03:36.400 The storm howled, and the rain fell in such torrents 0:03:36.440 --> 0:03:39.480 that soon the cords of Sonna's armor and his dress 0:03:39.880 --> 0:03:43.920 were soaked through. The great bronze bell of the temples 0:03:43.960 --> 0:03:47.000 on the hills boomed out the hours one after another, 0:03:47.480 --> 0:03:51.000 until a single stroke told Suna. It was the hour 0:03:51.080 --> 0:03:55.360 of the rat midnight. Two hours passed and the hour 0:03:55.400 --> 0:03:58.800 of the bowl sounded two a m. And Suna was 0:03:58.840 --> 0:04:01.560 still wide awake. The storm had lulled, but it was 0:04:01.640 --> 0:04:05.320 darker than ever. The hour of the Tiger three o'clock 0:04:05.480 --> 0:04:08.400 rung out, and the soft, mellow notes of the temple 0:04:08.400 --> 0:04:11.560 bell died away like a lullaby, wooing one to sleep. 0:04:12.440 --> 0:04:18.040 Spite of will and vow. The warrior, almost without knowing it, 0:04:18.320 --> 0:04:21.400 grew sleepy and fell into a doze. He started and 0:04:21.480 --> 0:04:25.000 woke up. He shook himself, jingled his armor, pinched himself, 0:04:25.279 --> 0:04:27.560 and even pulled out his little knife from the wooden 0:04:27.600 --> 0:04:30.520 scabbard of his dirk, and pricked his leg with the 0:04:30.560 --> 0:04:33.559 point of it to keep awake, but all in vain. 0:04:34.400 --> 0:04:39.560 Unconsciously overcome, he leaned against the gate post and fell asleep. 0:04:41.560 --> 0:04:44.760 This is just what the imp wanted all the time 0:04:44.760 --> 0:04:46.800 he had been squatting on the cross piece at the 0:04:46.800 --> 0:04:50.360 top of the gate, waiting his opportunity. He now slid 0:04:50.400 --> 0:04:53.040 down as softly as a monkey, and with his iron 0:04:53.200 --> 0:04:55.600 like claws, grabbed Sooner by the helmet and began to 0:04:55.680 --> 0:04:59.960 drag him into the air. In an instant, Suna was awake, 0:05:00.680 --> 0:05:03.239 seizing the hairy wrist of the imp with his left hand, 0:05:03.279 --> 0:05:06.400 and with his right he drew his sword. He swept 0:05:06.400 --> 0:05:09.400 it around his head and cut off the demon's arm. 0:05:09.640 --> 0:05:13.440 The one, frightened and howling with pain, leaped up the 0:05:13.480 --> 0:05:17.680 post and disappeared in the Clouds. Soon awaited with drawn 0:05:17.800 --> 0:05:20.760 sword in hand, lest the onone might come again. But 0:05:20.839 --> 0:05:23.960 in a few hours morning dawned. The sun rose on 0:05:24.000 --> 0:05:27.200 the pagodas and gardens and temples of the capital, and 0:05:27.240 --> 0:05:32.320 the ninefold circle of flowery hills. Everything was beautiful and bright. 0:05:33.279 --> 0:05:36.240 Soona returned to report to his captain, carrying the one's 0:05:36.320 --> 0:05:40.400 arm in triumph. Raicho examined it and loudly praised Soona 0:05:40.480 --> 0:05:43.920 for his bravery, and rewarded him with a silken sash. 0:05:45.320 --> 0:05:48.200 Now it is said that if an one's arm be 0:05:48.279 --> 0:05:50.279 cut off, it cannot be made to unite with the 0:05:50.279 --> 0:05:54.320 body again if kept apart for a week. So Raiko 0:05:54.440 --> 0:05:57.000 warned Suna to lock it up and watch it night 0:05:57.040 --> 0:06:01.120 and day, lest it be stolen from him. So Souna 0:06:01.200 --> 0:06:03.799 went to the stone cutters, who made idols of Buddha 0:06:04.040 --> 0:06:07.120 mortars for pounding rice and coffers for bearing money in 0:06:07.240 --> 0:06:09.960 to be hidden away in the ground, and bought a 0:06:10.000 --> 0:06:13.920 strong box cut out of the solid stone. It had 0:06:13.920 --> 0:06:16.400 a heavy lid on it, which slid in a groove 0:06:16.440 --> 0:06:20.200 and came out only by touching a secret spring. Then 0:06:20.240 --> 0:06:23.360 settling it in his bed chamber, he guarded it day 0:06:23.400 --> 0:06:26.560 and night, keeping the gate and all his doors locked. 0:06:27.240 --> 0:06:29.560 He allowed no one who was a stranger to look 0:06:29.600 --> 0:06:33.880 at the trophy. Six days passed by, and soon A 0:06:33.920 --> 0:06:36.800 began to think his prize was sure, for were not 0:06:36.960 --> 0:06:40.479 all his doors tight shut. So he set the box 0:06:40.520 --> 0:06:42.880 out in the middle of the room, and twisting some 0:06:43.000 --> 0:06:46.040 rice straw fringe in token of shore victory and rejoicing, 0:06:46.760 --> 0:06:49.760 he sat down in ease before it. He took off 0:06:49.760 --> 0:06:53.679 his armor and put on his court robes. During the evening, 0:06:54.080 --> 0:06:57.159 but rather late, there was a feeble knock like that 0:06:57.279 --> 0:07:01.800 of an old woman at the gate outside. Suna cried out, 0:07:02.320 --> 0:07:06.800 who's there. The squeaky voice of his aunt, as it seemed, 0:07:07.120 --> 0:07:11.080 who was a very old woman, replied me, I want 0:07:11.080 --> 0:07:13.680 to see my nephew to praise him for his bravery 0:07:13.680 --> 0:07:17.560 and cutting the one's arm off. So Soona let her 0:07:17.560 --> 0:07:20.520 in and carefully locking the door behind her. Helped the 0:07:20.560 --> 0:07:23.360 old crone into the room, where she sat down on 0:07:23.480 --> 0:07:25.760 the mats in front of the box and very close 0:07:25.800 --> 0:07:29.200 to it. Then she grew very talkative and praised her 0:07:29.200 --> 0:07:34.680 nephew's exploit, until Suna felt very proud all the time. 0:07:34.760 --> 0:07:37.320 The old woman's left shoulder was covered with her dress, 0:07:37.640 --> 0:07:41.120 while her right hand was out. Then she begged earnestly 0:07:41.360 --> 0:07:44.600 to be allowed to see the limb. Soona at first 0:07:44.600 --> 0:07:49.360 politely refused, but she urged until yielding affectionately, he slid 0:07:49.400 --> 0:07:53.720 back the stone lid just a little. This is my arm, 0:07:54.080 --> 0:07:57.120 cried the old hag, turning into an onony and dragging 0:07:57.120 --> 0:08:00.160 out the arm. She flew up to the ceiling and 0:08:00.240 --> 0:08:02.320 was out of the smoke, slide through the roof in 0:08:02.360 --> 0:08:05.600 a twinkling. Sooner rushed out of the house to shoot 0:08:05.600 --> 0:08:08.200 her with an arrow, but he saw only a demon 0:08:08.280 --> 0:08:12.960 far off in the clouds. Grinning horribly. He noted carefully, however, 0:08:13.080 --> 0:08:16.400 that the direction of the IMP's flight was to the northwest. 0:08:17.840 --> 0:08:20.400 A council was now held by Rako's band, and it 0:08:20.480 --> 0:08:23.560 was decided that the lurking place of the demons must 0:08:23.560 --> 0:08:26.000 be in the mountains of oh ye in the province 0:08:26.040 --> 0:08:29.400 of Tango. It was resolved to hunt out and destroy 0:08:29.600 --> 0:08:34.120 the imps the end of that story. The other stories 0:08:34.160 --> 0:08:36.160 continue on from there. You'll be shocked to know. But 0:08:36.679 --> 0:08:41.120 what will come before those stories is advertisers. And that's 0:08:41.160 --> 0:08:42.840 why I would like to remind all of you that 0:08:42.880 --> 0:08:46.240 Cool Zone Media book Club is sponsored by by your 0:08:46.280 --> 0:08:50.320 trans Friend's Swords. They all want them. No one is 0:08:50.400 --> 0:08:52.439 sad when they are given a sword, as long as 0:08:52.480 --> 0:08:56.160 it's like, you know, politely and not stabbily. You might 0:08:56.200 --> 0:08:59.000 want to check with people first, but remember this podcast 0:08:59.040 --> 0:09:03.160 brought to you by fire Transfriend's Swords. Here's some other 0:09:03.160 --> 0:09:18.360 ads to and Rebecca. This story is called Raiko in 0:09:18.480 --> 0:09:23.160 the she ten Doji, quite pathless were the desolate mountains 0:09:23.160 --> 0:09:25.880 of Tango, for no one ever went into them, except 0:09:25.960 --> 0:09:29.120 once in a while a poor woodcutter or charcoal burner. 0:09:29.800 --> 0:09:32.679 Yet Raiko and his men set out with stout hearts. 0:09:33.480 --> 0:09:37.199 There were no bridges over the streams, and frightful precipices abounded. 0:09:37.920 --> 0:09:40.000 Once they had to stop and build a bridge by 0:09:40.000 --> 0:09:43.240 felling a tree and walking across it over a dangerous chasm. 0:09:44.040 --> 0:09:46.920 Once they came to a steep rock to descend, which 0:09:47.000 --> 0:09:50.680 they must make a ladder of creeping vines. At last 0:09:50.800 --> 0:09:52.880 they reached a dense grove at the top of a 0:09:52.920 --> 0:09:56.240 cliff far up to the clouds, which seemed as if 0:09:56.240 --> 0:10:01.440 it might contain the demon's castle. Approaching, they found a 0:10:01.480 --> 0:10:04.280 pretty maiden washing some clothes which had spots of blood 0:10:04.320 --> 0:10:08.800 on them. They said to her, sister, miss, why are 0:10:08.800 --> 0:10:12.480 you here and what are you doing? Ah, said she, 0:10:12.800 --> 0:10:15.800 with a deep sigh. You must not come here. This 0:10:16.000 --> 0:10:19.040 is the haunt of demons. They eat human flesh, and 0:10:19.120 --> 0:10:22.520 they will eat yours. Look there, said she, pointing to 0:10:22.559 --> 0:10:25.520 a pile of white bones of men, women and children. 0:10:25.920 --> 0:10:28.319 You must go down the mountain as quickly as you came. 0:10:29.240 --> 0:10:34.320 Saying this, she burst into tears. But instead of being 0:10:34.360 --> 0:10:38.199 frightened or sorrowful, the brave fellows nearly danced for joy. 0:10:39.000 --> 0:10:41.280 We have come here for the purpose of destroying the 0:10:41.320 --> 0:10:45.120 demons by the Mikido's order, said Riicho, patting his breast, 0:10:45.520 --> 0:10:48.520 where inside his dress in the damask bag was the 0:10:48.520 --> 0:10:53.160 imperial order. At this the maiden dried her tears and 0:10:53.200 --> 0:10:56.720 smiled so sweetly that Riiko's heart was touched by her beauty. 0:10:57.520 --> 0:11:00.280 But how came you to live among these cannibal demons, 0:11:00.320 --> 0:11:05.120 asked Raicho. She blushed deeply as she replied sadly. Although 0:11:05.160 --> 0:11:07.440 they eat men and old women, they keep the young 0:11:07.480 --> 0:11:11.440 maidens to wait on them. It's a great pity, said Riicho. 0:11:12.160 --> 0:11:14.880 But we shall now avenge our fellow subjects of the mikido, 0:11:15.320 --> 0:11:17.920 as well as your shame and cruel treatment, if you 0:11:17.960 --> 0:11:20.040 will show us the way up the cliff to the den. 0:11:21.480 --> 0:11:23.320 They began to climb the hill, but they had not 0:11:23.400 --> 0:11:26.040 gone far before they met a young one who was 0:11:26.160 --> 0:11:29.920 a cook in the Great Doji's kitchen. He was carrying 0:11:29.920 --> 0:11:33.240 a human limb for his master's lunch. They gnashed their 0:11:33.280 --> 0:11:36.920 teeth silently and clutched their swords under their coats. Yet 0:11:36.920 --> 0:11:40.000 they courteously saluted the cook demon and asked for an 0:11:40.040 --> 0:11:43.880 interview with the chief. The demon smiled in his sleeve, 0:11:43.960 --> 0:11:46.360 thinking what a fine dinner his master would make of 0:11:46.400 --> 0:11:49.920 the four men. A few feet forward in a turn 0:11:49.960 --> 0:11:51.720 in the path brought them to the front of the 0:11:51.720 --> 0:11:55.960 demon's castle. Among tall and mighty bowlders of rock which 0:11:56.000 --> 0:11:58.599 loomed up to the clouds, there was an opening in 0:11:58.640 --> 0:12:02.480 the dense groves covered with vines and mosses like an arbor. 0:12:03.280 --> 0:12:06.240 From this point, the view over the plains below commanded 0:12:06.280 --> 0:12:09.640 a space of hundreds of miles. In the distance, the 0:12:09.679 --> 0:12:13.280 red pagodas, white temple gables, and castle towers of Kyoto 0:12:13.679 --> 0:12:18.280 were visible. Inside the cave was a banqueting hall large 0:12:18.360 --> 0:12:22.240 enough to seat one hundred persons. The floor was neatly 0:12:22.280 --> 0:12:25.160 covered in new, clean mats of sea green rice straw, 0:12:25.880 --> 0:12:30.720 on which tables, silken cushions, armrests, drinking cups, bottles, and 0:12:30.800 --> 0:12:34.640 many other articles of comfort lay about. The stone walls 0:12:34.679 --> 0:12:38.960 were richly decorated with curtains and hangings of fine silken stuffs. 0:12:40.720 --> 0:12:42.600 At the end of the long haul, on a raised 0:12:42.640 --> 0:12:46.559 dais our, heroes presently observed as a curtain was lifted. 0:12:47.080 --> 0:12:51.280 The chief demon she ten Doji, of a gust yet 0:12:51.320 --> 0:12:55.080 frightful appearance. He was seated on a heap of luxurious 0:12:55.080 --> 0:12:59.760 cushions made of blue and crimson crape, stuffed with swans down. 0:13:00.840 --> 0:13:04.640 He was leaning on a golden armrest. His body was 0:13:04.760 --> 0:13:07.440 quite red, and he was round and fat, like a 0:13:07.440 --> 0:13:10.920 baby grown up. He had very black hair cut like 0:13:10.960 --> 0:13:13.880 a small boy's, and on top of his head just 0:13:14.000 --> 0:13:19.160 peeping through the hair were two very short horns. Around 0:13:19.200 --> 0:13:22.680 him were a score of lovely maidens, the fairest of Kioto, 0:13:23.520 --> 0:13:26.640 on whose beautiful faces was stamped the misery they dared 0:13:26.679 --> 0:13:31.760 not fully show, yet could not entirely conceal. Along the wall, 0:13:31.800 --> 0:13:35.160 other demons sat or lay at full length, each one 0:13:35.200 --> 0:13:38.080 with his handmaiden seated beside him to wait on him 0:13:38.400 --> 0:13:41.800 and pour out his wine. All of them were of 0:13:41.880 --> 0:13:45.160 horrible aspect, which only made the beauty of the maidens 0:13:45.160 --> 0:13:49.200 more conspicuous. Seeing our heroes walk in the hall led 0:13:49.240 --> 0:13:52.200 by the cook, each one of the demons was happy 0:13:52.200 --> 0:13:55.160 as a spider when in his lurking hole he feels 0:13:55.200 --> 0:13:57.880 the jerk on his web thread that tells him a 0:13:58.000 --> 0:14:01.880 fly is caught. All of them at once poured out 0:14:01.920 --> 0:14:06.600 a fresh saucer of sake and drank it down. Raiko 0:14:06.679 --> 0:14:09.640 and his men separated and began talking freely with the demons, 0:14:09.720 --> 0:14:12.640 until the partitions at one corner were slid aside, and 0:14:12.720 --> 0:14:15.280 a troop of little demons who were waiter boys entered. 0:14:15.760 --> 0:14:17.959 They brought in a host of dishes, and the onees 0:14:18.000 --> 0:14:21.160 fell to and ate. The noise of their jaws sounded 0:14:21.200 --> 0:14:25.120 like the pounding of a rice mill. Our heroes were 0:14:25.160 --> 0:14:27.960 nearly sickened at the repast, for it consisted chiefly of 0:14:28.040 --> 0:14:31.040 human flesh, while the wine cups were made of empty 0:14:31.160 --> 0:14:35.400 human skulls. However, they laughed and talked and excused themselves 0:14:35.440 --> 0:14:39.720 from eating, saying they had just lunched. As the demons 0:14:39.800 --> 0:14:43.080 drank more and more, they grew lively, laughed till the 0:14:43.120 --> 0:14:46.800 cave echoed and sang up roarious songs. They showed their 0:14:46.880 --> 0:14:51.760 terrible tusks and teeth like fangs. All of them had horns, 0:14:52.160 --> 0:14:55.880 though most of these were very short. The Dojie became 0:14:56.080 --> 0:14:59.120 especially hilarious and drank the health of every one of 0:14:59.120 --> 0:15:02.480 his four guests and a skull full of wine. To 0:15:02.520 --> 0:15:05.200 supply him. There was a tub full of sake at hand, 0:15:05.600 --> 0:15:08.440 and his usual drinking vessel was a dish which seemed 0:15:08.440 --> 0:15:10.520 to Suma to be as large as a full moon. 0:15:12.000 --> 0:15:14.800 Raiko now offered to return the courtesies shown them by 0:15:14.880 --> 0:15:19.560 dancing the Kyoto dance for which he was famous. Stepping 0:15:19.600 --> 0:15:21.680 out in the center of the hall with his fan 0:15:21.800 --> 0:15:25.040 in one hand, he danced gracefully and with such wonderful 0:15:25.080 --> 0:15:28.240 ease that the one screamed with delight and clapped their 0:15:28.280 --> 0:15:30.840 hands in applause, saying they had never seen anything to 0:15:30.920 --> 0:15:34.520 equal it. Even the maidens, lost in admiration of the 0:15:34.520 --> 0:15:38.760 polished courtier, forgot their sorrow and felt as happy for 0:15:38.800 --> 0:15:42.280 the time as though they were at home dancing. The 0:15:42.360 --> 0:15:45.480 dance finished, Raiko took from his bosom a bottle of 0:15:45.520 --> 0:15:48.000 sake and offered it to the chief demon as a gift, 0:15:48.400 --> 0:15:51.320 saying it was the best wine of Sakai. The delighted 0:15:51.320 --> 0:15:54.240 Doji drank and gave a sip to each of his lords, saying, 0:15:54.880 --> 0:15:57.400 this is the best liquor I ever tasted. You must 0:15:57.440 --> 0:16:01.720 drink the health of our friends in it. Now, Riicho 0:16:01.760 --> 0:16:04.560 had bought at the most skillful druggists in the capitol 0:16:05.040 --> 0:16:07.920 a powerful sleeping potion and mixed it with the wine, 0:16:08.280 --> 0:16:12.040 which made it taste very sweet. In a few minutes, 0:16:12.080 --> 0:16:14.520 all the demons had dropped off asleep, and their snores 0:16:14.560 --> 0:16:19.320 sounded like the rolling thunder of the mountains. Then Riicho 0:16:19.640 --> 0:16:23.040 rose up and gave the signal to his comrades, whispering 0:16:23.080 --> 0:16:25.920 to the maidens to leave the room quietly. They drew 0:16:26.000 --> 0:16:28.960 their swords, and with as little noise as possible, cut 0:16:29.000 --> 0:16:32.360 the throats of the demons. No sound was heard but 0:16:32.440 --> 0:16:35.280 the gurgling of blood that ran out in floods on 0:16:35.320 --> 0:16:39.400 the floor. The Doji, lying like a lion on his cushions, 0:16:39.800 --> 0:16:42.880 was still sleeping, the snores issuing out of his nose 0:16:43.000 --> 0:16:47.240 like thunder from a cloud. The four warriors approached him, and, 0:16:47.440 --> 0:16:50.520 like loyal vassals as they were, they first turned their 0:16:50.560 --> 0:16:54.600 faces towards Kyoto, reverenced the mikido and prayed for the 0:16:54.640 --> 0:16:58.880 blessing of the gods who made Japan. Riicho then drew near, and, 0:16:58.920 --> 0:17:01.240 measuring the width of the dome Oji's neck with his sword, 0:17:01.680 --> 0:17:05.520 found that it would be too short. Suddenly, the blade 0:17:05.880 --> 0:17:09.879 lengthened of itself. Then, lifting his weapon, he smote with 0:17:10.040 --> 0:17:14.320 all his might and cut the neck clean through in 0:17:14.359 --> 0:17:16.760 an instant. The bloody head flew up in the air, 0:17:16.840 --> 0:17:20.320 gnashing its teeth and rolling its yellow eyes, while the 0:17:20.359 --> 0:17:23.960 horns sprouted out to a horrible length, the jaws opening 0:17:24.000 --> 0:17:27.280 and shutting like the edges of an earthquake fissure. It 0:17:27.359 --> 0:17:30.680 flew up and whirled round the room seven times. Then 0:17:30.720 --> 0:17:32.880 with a rush, it flew at Raiko's head and bit 0:17:33.040 --> 0:17:37.760 through the straw hat into the iron helmet inside. But 0:17:37.880 --> 0:17:42.159 this final effort exhausted its strength, its motion ceased, and 0:17:42.240 --> 0:17:46.840 it fell heavily to the floor. Anxiously, the comrades helped 0:17:46.840 --> 0:17:50.119 their fallen leader to rise and examined his head, but 0:17:50.200 --> 0:17:54.080 he was unhurt. Not a scratch was on him. Then 0:17:54.119 --> 0:17:58.240 the heroes congratulated each other, and after dispatching the smaller demons, 0:17:58.640 --> 0:18:02.200 brought out all the treasure and divided it equally. Then 0:18:02.240 --> 0:18:04.800 they set the castle on fire and buried the bones 0:18:04.800 --> 0:18:08.000 of the victims, setting up a stone to mark the spot. 0:18:08.840 --> 0:18:11.919 All the maidens and captives were assembled together, and in 0:18:12.000 --> 0:18:15.800 great state and pomp they returned to Kyoto. The virgins 0:18:15.840 --> 0:18:18.920 were restored to their parents, and many a desolate home 0:18:19.000 --> 0:18:23.679 was made joyful, and many mourning garments taken off. Raiko 0:18:23.840 --> 0:18:26.879 was honored by the Mikado in being made a coujay, 0:18:27.280 --> 0:18:30.359 a court noble, and was appointed chief of the entire 0:18:30.400 --> 0:18:34.800 garrison of Kyoto. Then all the people were grateful for 0:18:34.920 --> 0:18:40.119 his valor. The end of that story, but not of 0:18:40.160 --> 0:18:43.199 this episode, because there's one more story to go. But 0:18:43.400 --> 0:18:47.080 first you get to learn about products and services. Really, 0:18:47.119 --> 0:18:50.600 they are their own fairy tale. They tell you sweet, 0:18:50.840 --> 0:19:04.360 beautiful untruthful things. Here they are, and we're back. 0:19:06.560 --> 0:19:06.840 All right. 0:19:06.920 --> 0:19:09.800 The story is not part of the same continuity as 0:19:09.840 --> 0:19:13.240 the other two stories. This story is called The Fisherman 0:19:13.640 --> 0:19:19.040 and the Moon Maiden. Pearly and lustrous, white like a 0:19:19.080 --> 0:19:22.360 cloud in the far off blue sky, seemed the floating 0:19:22.400 --> 0:19:25.240 figure of the Moon Maiden as she flew to Earth. 0:19:26.200 --> 0:19:29.040 She was one of the fifteen glistening virgins that weait 0:19:29.119 --> 0:19:31.639 attendant upon the Moon in her chambers in the sky. 0:19:32.640 --> 0:19:34.919 Looking down from her high home to the earth, she 0:19:35.000 --> 0:19:39.240 became enraptured with the glorious scenery of Surroga's ocean shore, 0:19:39.720 --> 0:19:41.879 and longed for a bath in the blue waters of 0:19:41.920 --> 0:19:45.720 the sea. So this fairy maid sped to the Earth 0:19:45.760 --> 0:19:48.920 one morning early when the moon, having shone through the night, 0:19:49.040 --> 0:19:52.199 was about to retire for the day. The sun was 0:19:52.280 --> 0:19:55.520 rising bright and red over the eastern seas, flushing the 0:19:55.560 --> 0:19:59.680 mountains and purpling the valleys. Out amid the sparkling waves. 0:19:59.720 --> 0:20:02.359 The shit sailed toward the sun, and the fishermen cast 0:20:02.400 --> 0:20:05.919 their nets. It was early spring, when the air was 0:20:05.960 --> 0:20:08.600 full of the fragrance of plum blossoms, and the zephyrs 0:20:08.640 --> 0:20:12.560 blew so softly that scarce, a bamboo leaf quivered, or 0:20:12.560 --> 0:20:16.840 a wave lapsed with sound on the silvery shore. The 0:20:16.880 --> 0:20:19.359 moon maiden was so charmed with the scenery of earth 0:20:19.400 --> 0:20:22.000 that she longed to linger above it, to gaze tranquility. 0:20:22.800 --> 0:20:25.639 Floating slowly through the air, she directed her course to 0:20:25.680 --> 0:20:29.760 the pine groves that fringe the strand, near Cape Miwoh, 0:20:29.880 --> 0:20:32.560 lying at the base of Fuji Mountain, whose snowy crown 0:20:32.640 --> 0:20:36.800 glistens above, fronting the ocean, whose blue plaine undulates in 0:20:36.880 --> 0:20:40.440 liquid glory till it meets the bending sky. The scenery 0:20:40.440 --> 0:20:43.960 of Miwo is renowned everywhere under the whole heavens, but 0:20:44.080 --> 0:20:47.679 especially in the land which the Mikido's rain blesses with peace. 0:20:49.440 --> 0:20:52.560 Full of happiness, the fairy maiden played sweet music from 0:20:52.560 --> 0:20:55.080 her flute until the air was full of it, and 0:20:55.160 --> 0:20:58.120 it sounded to the dweller on earth like the sweet 0:20:58.160 --> 0:21:02.359 falling of rain drops on the thirsty ground. Her body 0:21:02.400 --> 0:21:05.679 shed sweet fragrance through the air, and flowers fell from 0:21:05.720 --> 0:21:08.960 her robes as she passed, though none saw her form, 0:21:09.840 --> 0:21:15.000 all wondered. Arriving over a charming spot on the sea shore, 0:21:15.119 --> 0:21:17.920 she descended to the strand and stood at the foot 0:21:17.920 --> 0:21:21.119 of a pine tree. She laid her musical instrument on 0:21:21.160 --> 0:21:23.680 a rock near by, and, taking off her wings and 0:21:23.720 --> 0:21:26.720 feathered suit, hung them carefully on the pine tree bough. 0:21:27.720 --> 0:21:30.000 Then she strolled off along the shore to dip her 0:21:30.040 --> 0:21:34.680 shining feet in the curling waves. Picking up some shells, 0:21:35.000 --> 0:21:37.680 she wondered with innocent joy at the rich tints, which 0:21:37.680 --> 0:21:40.359 seemed more beautiful than any color in the moon world, 0:21:41.359 --> 0:21:45.000 with one a large smooth scallop. She was particularly pleased 0:21:45.440 --> 0:21:48.240 for inside one valve was a yellow disk, and on 0:21:48.320 --> 0:21:52.760 its mate was a white one. How strange, said she, 0:21:53.680 --> 0:21:56.840 here is the sun and there is the moon. I 0:21:56.880 --> 0:22:00.480 shall call this the suki Kai sun and moon unshell, 0:22:01.040 --> 0:22:04.439 and she put them in her girdle. It chanced that 0:22:04.520 --> 0:22:06.560 near the edge of the pine grove, not far away, 0:22:07.200 --> 0:22:09.919 there dwelt a lone fishermen, who, coming down the shore, 0:22:10.440 --> 0:22:12.880 caught a whiff of sweet perfume, such as had never 0:22:13.000 --> 0:22:17.240 before delighted his nostrils. What could it be? The spring 0:22:17.320 --> 0:22:20.520 zephyrs blowing from the west seemed laden with the sweet odor. 0:22:21.440 --> 0:22:24.880 Curiosity prompted him to seek the cause. He walked toward 0:22:24.920 --> 0:22:26.920 the pine tree, and looking up, caught sight of the 0:22:26.960 --> 0:22:31.199 feathery suit of wings. Oh, how his eyes sparkled. He 0:22:31.320 --> 0:22:33.720 danced for joy, and, taking down the robe, carried it 0:22:33.760 --> 0:22:37.000 to his neighbors. All were delighted, and one old man 0:22:37.080 --> 0:22:40.400 said that the fairy must herself be nearby. He advised 0:22:40.440 --> 0:22:43.399 the man to seek until he found her. So, with 0:22:43.480 --> 0:22:45.800 feathered robe in hand, the fisherman went out again to 0:22:45.840 --> 0:22:48.119 the strand and took his place near the pine tree. 0:22:48.600 --> 0:22:50.959 He had not waited long before a lovely bean with 0:22:51.080 --> 0:22:56.480 rose tinted white skin and of perfect form appeared. Please get, sir, 0:22:56.760 --> 0:22:59.560 give me back my feathered robe, said she, in a 0:22:59.560 --> 0:23:04.480 sad v of liquid sweetness, though she seemed greatly frightened. No, 0:23:04.640 --> 0:23:07.280 I must keep it as a sacred treasure, a relic 0:23:07.320 --> 0:23:10.520 from a heavenly visitor, and dedicated in the shrine yonder 0:23:10.560 --> 0:23:14.600 as a memorial of an angel's visit, said the fisherman. Oh, 0:23:14.720 --> 0:23:17.800 wicked man, what a wretched and impious thing to rob 0:23:17.840 --> 0:23:20.960 an inhabitant of heaven of the robe by which she moves. 0:23:21.640 --> 0:23:25.040 How can I fly back to my home again? Give 0:23:25.080 --> 0:23:27.679 me your wings? Oh ye. Wild geese that fly across 0:23:27.680 --> 0:23:30.560 the face of the moon and on tireless pinions seek 0:23:30.640 --> 0:23:34.920 the icy shores in springtime, and soar unwearied homeward in autumn. 0:23:35.400 --> 0:23:39.159 Lend me your wings, But the geese overhead only word 0:23:39.200 --> 0:23:41.639 and scream and bit their sprays of pine which they 0:23:41.640 --> 0:23:45.520 carried in their mouth. Oh ye, circling gulls, lend me 0:23:45.600 --> 0:23:48.480 but for a day your downy wings. I am prisoner here, 0:23:49.000 --> 0:23:52.560 cried the weeping fairy. But the graceful gulls, hovering for 0:23:52.600 --> 0:23:55.240 a moment, swept on and widening circles out to the 0:23:55.280 --> 0:23:59.919 farther sea. Oh breezes of air which blow whither ye live, 0:24:00.600 --> 0:24:03.280 Oh tide of ocean, which ebbs and flows at will, 0:24:04.080 --> 0:24:06.880 Ye may move all. But I am prisoner here, devoid 0:24:06.920 --> 0:24:09.560 of motion. Oh good sir, have pity and give me 0:24:09.640 --> 0:24:13.000 back my wings, cried the moon maiden, pressing her hands 0:24:13.040 --> 0:24:16.959