Japanese Tale

Posted June 15th, 2009 in Japan, Ume's Interests 3 Comments »

I was told lots of Japanese old tales from my grand parents when I was little.  Some of them are famous stories like “Momo Taro” “Saru Kani Gassen” “Kachi Kachi  Yama” etc, but also they told me about “hell” quite often.

In Japan we say that liars will go to hell after death and get their tongues taken away by Enma as punishment.  We also say that people who go to hell will have to take bath in a pool filled with blood, have to walk on burning stones, and will be slaves of devils for ever.

I don’t remember all the stories that my grand parents told me, but here is one of them …

In hell, hungry people are sit in front of a big table.  There are lots of food on the table and everything looks so delicious.  Now, they can eat all the food as much as they want, but the rule is that they have to use the chopsticks that is 5 metres long.
People try to eat some food using the chopsticks, but they can’t pick up anything because the chopsticks are too long.  They are so hungry, they want to eat!  Everyone looks so furious and crazy; with anger, sadness, grudge and vexation…
One of them cries “There are delicious food in front of me, but I can’t eat.  ‘m so starving…  it is hell, indeed.”

At the same time, there is a same situation going on in heaven.  People are sit before lots of delicious food.  The rule is same: they can eat as much food as they want, but have to use 5 metres long chopsticks.
In haven, however, people start enjoying the food immediately without any troubles.  Their face is so peaceful and happy.  They are actually using the long chopsticks to feed each other!
One of them says, “There are delicious food in front of me, and people help each other to feed.  The food is so delicious, I’m so happy.  It is heaven, indeed.”

The circumstance for both is exactly same.  The difference is the way people think.

Summary: If you change a way of thinking , it can be heaven and hell.

Life is tough and we experience lots of bitter things, but we can at least try finding the way to change what we think of it, and enjoy everyday.  Life is short!  🙂
By the way if you want to tell some of famous Japanese tales, you can find them from here.

3 Comments on “Japanese Tale”

  1. 1 Yutsuki said at 11:04 am on June 16th, 2009:

    I have never heard about the story of heaven in which people have to use so long chopsticks!!
    That’s so funny…is it a kind of joke or somthing in heaven?

    I don’t believe in either heaven nor hell after death and I think our life(while we live)itself faces both heaven and hell.
    I mean we experience both of them through our life.
    I just always try to be positive.
    That’s the closest way to go to heaven(^o^)

  2. 2 Bishonencam said at 11:56 am on June 16th, 2009:

    Now tell the one about Jiraiya Goketsu Monogatari! ^_^

  3. 3 umepontarou said at 7:50 pm on June 16th, 2009:

    Yutsuki
    I agree with what you said about our life containing both heaven and hell.

    Bishonencam
    I’m surprised that you know about Jiraiya Goketsu Monogatari. Is it famous in foreign countries too?
    Jiraiya is actually a fictitious character in a book written in 1806. This character now is used often in cartoon, game and comic books. (eg: Naruto)
    I like reading Japanese old tales. Very mysterious and interesting. 🙂


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