Yoshitsune

: SCRAPS OF FOLK-LORE.
: Aino Folktales

[It has been generally believed, both by Japanese and Europeans who

have written about the Ainos, that the latter worship Yoshitsune, a

Japanese hero of the twelfth century, who is said,--not, indeed, by

Japanese historians, but by Japanese tradition,--to have fled to

Yezo when the star of his fortune had set. The following details

concerning Yoshitsune bear so completely the stamp of the myth, that

they may, perhaps, be allowed a place in this collection. It should

be mentioned that Yoshitsune is known to the Ainos under the name of

Hongai Sama. Sama is the Japanese for "Mr." or "Lord." Hongai

is the form in which, according to a regular law of permutation

affecting words adopted into Aino from Japanese, the word Hogwan,

which was Yoshitsune's official title, appears! The name of Hongai

Sama is, however, used only in worship, not in the recounting of

the myth. Mr. Batchelor, whose position as missionary to the Ainos

must give his opinion great weight in such matters, thinks that the

Ainos do not worship Yoshitsune. But I can only exactly record

that which I was told myself.]





Okikurumi, accompanied by his younger sister Tureshi[hi], had taught the

Ainos all arts, such as hunting with the bow and arrow, netting and

spearing fish, and many more; and himself knew everything by means of

two charms or treasures. One of these was a piece of writing, the other

was an abacus; and they told him whence the wind would blow, how many

birds there were in the forest, and all sorts of other things.



One day there came,--none knew whence,--a man of divine appearance,

whose name was unknown to all. He took up his abode with Okikurumi, and

assisted the latter in all his labour with wonderful ability. He taught

Okikurumi how to row with two oars instead of simply poling with one

pole, as had been usual before in Aino-land. Okikurumi was delighted to

obtain such a clever follower, and gave him his sister Tureshi[hi] in

marriage, and treated him like his own son. For this reason the stranger

got to know all about Okikurumi's affair, even the place where he kept

his two treasures. The result of this was that one day when Okikurumi

was out hunting in the mountains the stranger stole these treasures and

all that Okikurumi possessed, and then fled with his wife Tureshi in a

boat, of which they each pulled an oar. Okikurumi returned from the

mountains to his home by the seaside, and pursued them alone in a boat;

but could not come up to them, because he was only one against two. Then

Tureshi excreted some large foeces in the middle of the sea, which

became a large mountain in the sea, at whose base Okikurumi arrived. But

so high was it that Okikurumi could not climb over it. Moreover, even

had not the height prevented him, the fact of its being nothing but

filthy foeces would have done so. As for going round either side of

it, that would have taken him too much out of the way. So he went home

again, feeling quite spiritless and vanquished, because robbed of his

treasures.



This is the reason why, ever since, we Ainos have not been able to

read.--(Written down from memory. Told by Ishanashte, 25th November,

1886.)