Tonight’s story features a character who was popular in folklore throughout much of Japaense history: Otohime. She is the princess of the sea, daughter of the king of the sea, and technically also a dragon. The most famous story about her is the tale of Urashima Taro, but she is such a major figure in folklore that countless spin-off tales have been cooked up by people for hundreds of years. There are even books of what you could call Edo period “fan fiction” about her. So just by mentioning her name in the title of this tale, an Edo period reader would have known what this story was about, despite the fact that the text itself doesn’t mention her name or give any explanation as to why she does what she does. We already know that Otohime is a serpent, and that she has a thing for handsome young human men.
Speaking of Otohime, my newest book The Palace of the Dragon King is available on the yokai.com shop! This book is, like its predecessors, an illustrated encyclopedia of yokai; but this one has a special focus on aquatic yokai and an en entire chapter dedicated to the inhabitants of Ryugu, the castle that serves as home to Otohime and the oceanic royal family. Paperbacks, hardcovers, and collector’s editions are now available!
Otohime of Ryūgū’s Infatuation with Igarashi Heiemon’s Son
During the Genkyū era (1204-06), there was a rōnin in Kamisakamoto named Igarashi Heiemon, and he had one son. The boy was beautiful, with perfect features, and everyone was obsessed with him and constantly fought for his attention. His parents thought that this would be a burden on him, so they sent him up to Mt. Hiei to study.
One time the boy took a vacation to Karasaki, and while relaxing underneath a pine tree, a beautiful girl around 15 or 16 years old appeared out of nowhere and approached him.
She asked him, “Where are you from? I live near here, and I always come to this pine tree to relax. Come sit with me and watch the boats leaving from the north.”
The boy accepted her invitation, and joined the girl at the water’s edge. She seemed to cling to his sleeve, and then all of a sudden she turned into a serpent, wrapped around the boy seven times, and leaped into the sea. At that moment, the sky suddenly filled with dark clouds, heavy rain fell, and the sea became covered in white-crested waves.
Hey Matt!
I am loving reading about all of these Yokai! Are all of these stories in your previous books? I am happily waiting for my Dragon King book!
Thanks Christy!
These are not in my previous books (aside from maybe one or two). I may compile them into a book once I’ve finished all 100 stories. 🙂