By Folktales of Okinawa
Bank of the Ryukyus International Foundation Naha Okinawa Japan
THE GOLDEN BIRD
Long ago on the island of Miyako,there lived an old man who was a hunter and very skillful with a bow and arrow.One day ,the old man was up in the mountains hunting for game.On this particular day,he could not get anything.not even one wild bird.He went further into the mountains and when he reached a certain spot.he saw a beautiful golden bird on the branch of a tree.Since the bird was so beautiful and stood there watching the bird.
The bird looked at the old hunter and called out to him. The hunter was surprised to see the bird was talking to him.
"if you promise me you will never hunt bird on this mountain again. I will reward you with whatever you desire," the bird said. "So what do you say,old man?"
The old man stood there with his mouth hanging open and after he regained his composure, thought over what the bird said. Finally, he thought of his grumbling old wife. She always complained that the house they lived was a shack and kept saying she wanted a nicer house. The old man, gentle and kind ,thought he could grant her wish right now.
"Here's my wish.Could you give me and my wife a fine house?'"
The bird nodded its head promised the old man a mansion.The old man promised not to hunt bird on the mountain, thanked the bird ,then walked home. When he reached his house. he saw a handsomely built mansion on the same spot. He couldn't believe his eyes and rubbed them. As he walked inside, he marvelled at the high ceilings and large size of the rooms.
"Wife, where are you?" He called out.
"You came back! I'm over here!"
The old man continued walking and found his wife sitting on a brand new tatami mat in the middle of a big room with one wall of shiny gold, called a fusuma. The old man asked her what happened.
"These carpenters came knocking at the door and asked about the mansion I've always wanted. I didn't dare ask why, so I told them to make it look like a castle, And they did."
----to be continue.