Okinawan Folktale: Sacrifice a Virgin

Serpent of Yara Muruchi

Over 700 years ago an enormous, dragon-like serpent lived in Yara Muruchi Pond.

It was believed cycles of 7 months drought and 7 months of storms were caused by this monster.

King Gihon (1248-1260) consulted a shaman (yuta) concerning the problem.

The severe weather caused economic losses for the fisherman and farmers of the island.

The elderly woman, he talked to, was a person with extraordinary psychic powers.

She claimed, a 20 year old virgin girl, must be sacrificed to appease this demon of a dragon.

Then, farmers and fishermen, would have fair weather and the economic situation would improve.

The yuta told the king to have an altar and an incense burner built, overlooking the pond.

She would officiate (in private) rituals to placate the monster, serpent.

King Gihon, was already unpopular with the islanders because of economic losses.

Now, he had to devise a way to get someone's young daughter for a sacrifice.

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire ?

The king devised a plan, that would lessen his guilt in dealing with the wicked soothsayer.

He would insure, that no men would have to take part in the old woman's demonic rituals.

Couriers were dispatched throughout the kingdom, delivering messages to each village.

The family, willing to sacrifice a maiden, would live as royalty, the rest of their lives.

Filial Loyalty

One attractive young maiden stunned her family, volunteering to offer herself.

She would give her life in order to benefit family, community and country.

It may have driven her parents to madness but, it would end everyone's misery.

In a private meeting with the yuta, the girl was questioned extensively by the old woman.

She wanted to know the youngster's Zodiac sign, favorite foods, colors and fertility cycle.

From this conference, the shaman decided, when the sacrifice would take place.

It would be on the night of the full moon, during the sixth month, by the Lunar calendar.

Nervously the girl asked, “Will I be ravished, eaten alive or, both?”

The elder replied, “That is something, only the gods in heaven know.”

She was told to return on the appointed day before sunset, wearing her finest clothes.

The Fateful Night

An hour before the sun went down the maiden arrived at Yara Muruchi.

She was met by the yuta, carrying a wicker basket, on the road above the pond.

The priestess assured the girl, no other villagers would witness the event.

It was a hot and humid summer night. Slowly they walked down the forest trail.

Their sandals stirred up scents of decaying leaves and, the buzzing of mosquitoes.

Cicada bugs chirped loudly in the trees surrounding the wooded area.

Nearing the pond, the priestess stopped, placing her basket on the ground.

She instructed the girl, to remove her undergarments fold them and put them on the altar.

Apprehensive as she was, she did as she was told.

No one disobeys or, questions a Ryukyu yuta.

The shaman brought her ritual container to the altar and placed some burning incense.

She sprinkled flower petals and liquid scents on the offerings and clapped her hands twice.

She ordered the girl, to walk near the water's to edge where she should stand and pray.

The yuta began muttering and praying, in some unintelligible language.

The water rippling in the pond, suddenly raged and roared, as the monster appeared.

High above the pond, it hissed and stared down at the girl.

The sound of her knees knocking, drowned out the noises forest insects had been making.

Imagine her prayer - “Just one big swallow, please!”

Then it happened. An angry god, tossed a golden sphere.

It hit the serpent in the head and exploded. The monster disappeared, never to be seen again.

Aftermath

The virgin was spared. She would become the bride of a royal prince.

Her family was invited to live in the castle and cared for, the remainder of their lives.

Periods of drought and floods ended and, the islands prospered once more.

Every year, on the 15^th day of the 6^th month, by the Chinese calendar a ritual takes place.

Villagers pray at the altar and, toss eggs (gold spheres) into Yara Muruchi pond.


More Okinawan Folklore

Okinawan Folktale: Legend of Divorce Rock

A Folk Story May Vary

Depending on where it's heard and, who is telling the tale.

Several sources were checked in researching this one and, there are many different variations.

One thing for certain is, they are all, talking about this rock formation.

Wutu Fui Ishi

Traveling north on HWY 58, this outcropping may be seen with Kouri-jima in the background.

It is too far from the shores of this island or Kouri island, for the average person, to swim.

Back in the days of the Ryukyu Dynasty, marriages were often arranged by parents.

If, things didn't seem to be working out, between the couple, something drastic, had to be done.

The parents would hold, sort of a council and, try to get the wedded couple agreeing.

Whenever the stubborn rascals, couldn't see eye to eye, mom and pop, had a solution.

Daughter would go in her family boat and, the son would, ride with his family.

The group paddled their sabani boats out to Divorce Rock for a meeting.

At low tide, there's a nice little cove of a beach with a shaded area in the rocks nearby.

It's a great place, to picnic, negotiate peace and maybe, drink some spirits.

If the couple, hasn't resolved differences, by the end of the day, they get left behind.

The extended families, take the sabani boats and, row back to Okinawa.

Pretty soon the sun goes down, tide rises and the chilly ocean breeze starts blowing, out there.

The couple starts shaking and feeling miserable because, i Phones weren't invented yet.

They only way to get warm, seems to be, hug each other and get that good feeling.

When mothers and fathers, came back, to check on the couple, they were lovers, again.

And, if they hadn't solved their marital issues, they would get to spend another evening, free.

More Versions of the Story

Otofuishi posted by Brad

THE INFAMOUS "DIVORCE ROCK" by Okinawa Soba (Rob)

He gives you the Okinawan dialect "Wutu Fui Ishi" name for this Rejected Husband Rock.

And, don't pass up, reading his text, along with the interesting comments.

There's an Ugly Guy and Pretty Girl rendition of the tale.


Yokohama Toshi:

Gives a list containing nine resources, used in researching this story.

They range from wealthy man, ugly man, ugly girl, to unhappy couple and everything between.

The link comes from Google Translate and, possibly may be switched back to Japanese.

Okinawan Folktale: Kouri Island -- The First Man and Woman

An Adam and Eve Sort of Legend

 

 

This photo of a mural comes from the front of a religious center on Kouri-Jima.

Inside the building are all sorts of mysterious things about the island.

There's a Japanese children's book with this story in it, you can purchase if, you like.

 Outside, facing the ocean is the adult version of the story and, some different artwork.

The first man and woman are wearing some clothes in this rendition.

When stuff, gets etched in stone, there might be some truth, to the myth.

So, lately, I've been Geo-tagging images and shooting any text, I find.

Behind the man and woman are some utaki (shrines) where people pray.

In the left side of this photo is a plaque inscribed with Japanese Kanji.

Using the Google Translate camera, a broken English version of the story was obtained.

Take this image and scan if for translation if, you like.

An easier (to understand) interpretation was found at Chicago Okinawa Kenjinkai.

The First Humans of Kouri-Jima

They came down from above and, lived naked on this small island.

The only source of food was rice cakes, which came down from the skies on a daily basis.

They figured it would be a good idea, to store some food, in case the supply got cut off.

Once they started stashing rice cakes, the daily delivery suddenly stopped.

They began, begging the full moon, to start sending food again because they were starving.

Their prayers weren't answered and, they had to hunt for food for themselves.

One day, they noticed a pair of dugongs swimming near the shore.

That's when they realized male and females had different body parts.

Somebody must have gotten embarrassed and, they decided to start wearing clothes.

Clothing didn't stop them from being the best of friends and, they made lots of babies.

And, when the babies got older, they carried on the family tradition, making more babies.

Now, you know, where all these people on Okinawa came from!

MORE OKINAWA FOLKLORE

Okinawa Folktale: Origin of Star Shaped Sand

Babes of the Southern Cross

 

 

The legend comes to us from the Yaeyama Islands, far south in the Ryukyu Archipelago.

Two stars, the Southern Cross and North Star decided to have children.

God, told the Southern Star to have the babies at Taketomi Island in the warm seas. 

Master of the heavens, knows best so, she deposited thousands of babies, there.

Irritated the God of the Seas

 

 

 

 

  The Dragon God of the Seas didn't like what happened.

Nobody asked him if all those stars could be born there so, he took action.

He sent a sea serpent to kill all the baby stars.

The monster, ate them and spit out their remains, to float away in the ocean.

What was left of them, washed ashore, as particles of star sand.

A sacred woman from Taketomi-jima took pity on the baby stars.

She burned them along with her incense.

That way, they could rise with the smoke and, join the Southern Cross in the sky.

The say, look closely at the Southern Cross and, see the baby stars surrounding her. 

 REFERENCES:

Folktales of Okinawa ISBN4-947654-05-8  P.19

The Birth of Star Sand

Amusing Planet

Atlas Obscura

Chicago Okinawa Kenjinkai

Scribol

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