A Folk tale from Japan

The Mirror of Matsuyama

In ancient Days there lived in a remote part of Japan a man and his wife, and they were blessed with a little girl who was the pet and deity of her parents. On one occasion the man was went away on business to distant Kyoto. Before he went he told his daughter that if she could behave good and dutiful to her mother, he would bring her back a present she would prize very highly. Then the good man took his departure; mother and daughter watching him on his journey. After some weeks he returned to his home. His wife and child had taken off his large hat and sandals; he sat down upon the white mats and opened a bamboo basket, watching the cager gaze of his little child. He took out a wonderful doll and a box of cakes and put them into her outstretched hands. Once more he took from his basket and presented his wife with a metal mirror. It’s convex high-end replica patek philippe watches surface shone brightly-white; upon its back there was a design of pine trees and storks.

The good man’s wife had never seen a mirror before, and on gaying into it she was under the impression that another woman looked out upon her as she gayed with growing wonder. Her husband explained the mystery and told her to take great care of the mirror. After this happy home coming and distribution of presents the woman became very ill. Just before she died she called her little daughter, and said; “Dear child, when I am dead, take every care of your father. You will miss me when I leave you. But take this Replica Hermes Bags mirror, and when you feel most lonely look into it and you will always see me”. Having said these words she passed away.

In due time the man married again, and his wife was not at all kind to her step daughter. But the little one, remembering her mother’s words, would retire to a corner and eagerly look into the mirror. Where it seemed to her that she saw her dear mother’s face not drown in pain as she had seen it on her death bed, but young and beautiful.
One day this child’s step mother chanced to Replica Hermes Barda Bags see her crouching in a corner over an object she could not quite see, murmuring to herself. This ignorant woman, who detested the child and believed that her step daughter detested her, in return fancied that this little one was performing some strange magical art. Perhaps making an image and sticking pins into it. Full of these notions, the step mother went to her husband and told him that this wicked child was doing her best to kill her by witch craft.

When the master of the house had listened to this extraordinary recital he went straight to her daughter’s room. He took her by surprise and immediately the girl saw him she slipped the mirror into her sleeve. For the first time her affectionate father grew angry, and he feared that there was, after all truth in what his wife had told him and he repeated her tale forth with. When his daughter had heard this accusation she was amazed at her father’s words, and she told him that she loved him far too well ever to attempt or wish to kill his wife, who she knew was dear to him.

“What have you hidden in your sleeve? said her Replica Hermes So Kelly Bags father, only half convinced and still much puzzled” the mirror you gave to my mother and which she on her death bed gave to me. Every time I look into its shining surface I see the face of my dear mother, young and beautiful. When my heart aches and oh / it has ached so much lately- I take out the mirror, and mother’s face, with sweet, kind smile, brings me peace, and helps me to bear hard words and cruel looks”.

Then the man understood and loved his child more for her filial piety. Even the girl’s step mother when she knew what had really taken place, was ashamed and asked to for- give her. And this child, who believed she had seen her mother’s face in the mirror, for - gave and trouble forever departed from the home.

Posted by Annamalai Annamalai

Posted Date 04.04.2015