Stone Gate at Sonohyan Utaki
The story began here at this UNESCO World Heritage landmark.
Back in the
days of the Ryukyu Dynasty it was a custom of the King to pray at
Sonohyan Utaki
for a safe journey before making a pilgrimage to
Kudaka Island.
At the gates to
the shrine, the King asked for one of the guards to return to Shuri
Castle and
fetch his rain gear, in case it may rain, later in the
day.
The escorts, didn't think it could possibly rain, on a
beautiful sunny day so, conveniently forgot about the foul weather
attire.
Before the
procession reached Baten Port, to depart by ship for Kudaka Island, black
clouds appeared overhead and, started dumping freezing rain on the
pilgrimage.
Once the King
discovered, no one had bothered to bring his rain garments, he
roared, “We can't visit the sacred island of Kudaka, soaking wet.”
He was cross-eyed and shivering in his royal, water sloshed attire
and so enraged, the escort of soldiers feared for their lives.
No
amount of apologies could calm the fuming ruler down.
One crazy
servant came forward and, tried to cheer him up.
He told the King,
“I'm glad we got a good soaking from the heavens. It made me
realize, how fortunate we are and, we should be thankful."
The King became
even more enraged and, drew his sword, to chop off the fool's head.
Quick Wits
“Think
about it your Royal Highness” said the servant. “If our Creator
had made us, with our noses pointing in the opposite direction, we
couldn't breathe on rainy days.
We didn't come to earth, equipped
with nose shutters so, God made sure our noses, were placed pointing
downwards.”
Sketch by Atsushi Maezato
The King had
a good belly laugh. The thought of people, wearing “Nose Shutters” cheered him up and, they
probably, continued on the pilgrimage to Kudaka Island, in spite of
the rain.
REFERENCE:
Okinawan Folk
Stories ISBN978-4-99009-146-0
Condensed
from: Hana-no Amado P. 152