The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

JAPANESE FAIRY TALE

ONE DAY LONG AGO, A HUNTER SHOT A CRANE. IT WAS TOO
BEAUTIFUL TO LET DIE, SO THE HUNTER CURED THE WOUND
WHICH WAS IN THE CRANE'S LEG. A FEW DAYS LATER, A
BEAUTIFUL GIRL APPEARED. THE HUNTER AND THE GIRL GOT
MARRIED.
THE HUNTER BEGAN WEAVING SOME CLOTH. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL AND
UNIQUE, BUT AS HE WOVE, HIS BEAUTIFUL WIFE GREW SMALLER.
ONE NIGHT HE LOOKED THROUGH THE KEY HOLE, AND HE SAW HIS
WIFE AS A CRANE, THE CRANE HE HAD SHOT. AS HE WATCHED, THE
CRANE WAS PULLING OUT ITS FEATHERS TO PROVIDE MATERIAL FOR
HIS WEAVING, SO THAT HIS TAPESTRY COULD GROW AND HE COULD
BECOME RICH--WHICH IS WHAT HE WANTED TO DO. SHE KEPT
GROWING SMALLER AND SMALLER.
SHE WAS SO ASHAMED TO HAVE HIM SEE HER AS A CRANE THAT SHE
CAME TO HIM AND SAID IT WAS TIME FOR THEM TO SEPARATE.
SHE TURNED INTO A CRANE AGAIN, AND FLEW AWAY.

Submitter comment: THIS STORY TELLS SOMETHING ABOUT THE NATURE OF MARRIAGE
IN JAPAN. IT SHOWS THAT THE WIFE IS TOTALLY SELF
SACRIFICING TO THE HUSBAND; AND THAT THE WOMAN DOES NOT
LIKE TO SHOW HER REAL SELF, BUT PREFERS TO PRESENT AN
ARTIFICIAL SIDE OR FACE TO HER HUSBAND.

James Callow comment: SEE SEKI NO. 25 FOR ANOTHER VARIANT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR

Date learned: 02-04-1968