THE TONGUE-CUT SPARROW (舌切り雀, SHITA-KIRI SUZUME)
The Tongue-Cut Sparrow is a very well-known and beloved traditional Japanese folktale. It's a classic example of a moralistic story found in many cultures, where kindness is rewarded and greed is punished.
Once upon a time, there lived a kind old man and his greedy, ill-tempered wife. The old man loved a little sparrow that often visited their home, and he would feed it and care for it as if it were his own child. The sparrow, in turn, would sing beautiful songs for him.
One day, while the old man was out, the sparrow accidentally ate some starch that the old woman had prepared for her laundry. Enraged by this, the cruel old woman grabbed the sparrow and, in a fit of anger, cut out its tongue before driving it away.
When the old man returned and learned what had happened, he was heartbroken. He set out on a journey to find his beloved sparrow. After a long search, with the help of other animals, he finally found the sparrow's home in a bamboo grove.
The sparrow, despite its injury, welcomed the old man warmly. It introduced him to its family and entertained him with a grand feast and delightful sparrow dances. When it was time for the old man to leave, the sparrow offered him a choice of two baskets: a small, light one and a large, heavy one. Being humble and not wanting to impose, the old man chose the small, light basket.
Upon returning home, he opened the basket to find it filled with precious treasures, gold, and silver. The old man and his wife became wealthy and lived comfortably.
However, the greedy old woman, seeing their newfound riches, became consumed with envy. She demanded to know where the old man had gotten the treasures. When she heard about the sparrow's generosity, she decided to visit the sparrow herself, hoping to get even more treasure.
She found the sparrow's home and, despite her past cruelty, the sparrows still offered her hospitality. When it was time for her to leave, she was also presented with the choice of two baskets. Driven by her insatiable greed, she immediately chose the large, heavy basket, convinced it would contain even greater riches.
Struggling with the heavy basket, she rushed home. As soon as she opened it, instead of treasure, out poured horrifying creatures, snakes, and demons, that terrified her. Some versions of the tale say she was carried away by the creatures, or that she was so frightened she fell down a mountain to her demise.
The Moral of the Story:
The "Tongue-Cut Sparrow" teaches valuable lessons about:
* Kindness and compassion: The old man's kindness to the sparrow is ultimately rewarded.
* Greed and its consequences: The old woman's greed and cruelty lead to her downfall.
* Karma: The idea that good deeds are repaid with good fortune, and bad deeds lead to negative outcomes.
It's a popular tale that has been passed down through generations in Japan, often told to children to instill these moral values.
