83

Bundle 83: Rescuing Distressed Animals in Folktales

Helping a distressed animal should reap big karma points, and most folktales in this bundle reflect that view—but not all do. One man obeys an entreaty to treat animals better and finds himself handsomely rewarded. In "The Magic Tea Kettle," told here bilingually, a tanuki goes to great lengths to reward a good Samaritan with wealth. Another folktale has a similar ending, but despite a woodcutter's kindness to an injured sparrow, the old man is still tested. A final story stands as an anomaly; Taro Urashima aids a turtle and ends up punished with sudden-onset old age.
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仙
hermit
JOK: 1490
Coming from an ancient Taoist context, 仙 blurs the line between what's real and fictional. It refers to a human who has become immortal with magical powers, as seen in Japanese folktales and art. People use 仙 in more grounded ways when discussing geniuses and oddballs. Find out why 仙 is in the name of a major Japanese city, one that pops up in the names of some beef dishes.
浦
inlet
JOK: 1785
See how 浦 conveys all that is beautiful about untouched seashores. Learn the folktale of Taro Urashima. Find out how people use 浦 to say that their hometowns have changed beyond recognition. And become acquainted with a word that features the "water" radical four times!
茂
overgrown
JOK: 1850
Learn to talk about overgrown gardens, elephants hiding in thickets, and Bruce Willis's sparse hair! Enjoy profiles of celebrities with 茂 in their names, from visionary architect Shigeru Ban to baseball great Hideo Nomo to Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Donkey Kong. Read a fun folktale about a tanuki and a tea kettle. Also find out about a place name that pops up all over Kyoto.
葛
arrowroot
JOK: 1974
Learn about a vine that has enhanced Japanese life. People use its root to thicken dishes, particularly desserts that turn out to be healthy, and to help cure fevers, hangovers, colds, and more. The fiber of the 葛 vine goes into fusuma screens and scrolls, and a word including 葛 plays a role in a famous folktale. There’s much more to tell you, but doing so would give away three quiz answers!
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