55 things from this book went into her brain. Here are the first 6.
In Japanese Fairy Tales, Ozaki shows that the Dragon King chose Hidesato because he was the only traveller who could look at a frightening creature without running. Calm courage is what makes a person worth asking for help.
In Japanese Fairy Tales, Hidesato keeps his nerve and makes his last arrow count. Steady nerve under pressure, and trying the one option left, is what wins.
In The Tongue-Cut Sparrow, the bird owns her mistake and asks forgiveness politely, but the old woman refuses. Quick anger and refusing to forgive turn a small wrong into a cruel harm.
In The Tongue-Cut Sparrow, the bird bears no grudge for her cruel treatment and feels sorry for the old man instead. Letting go of a grudge leaves a person free and at peace.
In The Tongue-Cut Sparrow, greed blinds the old woman to her own cruelty, and her own wickedness is what finally brings her undone. Her husband's kind words and her later change of heart show that people can still learn to do better.
In Urashima Taro, the fisher lad does not fight the boys who are tormenting the tortoise. He wins them over with a kind smile and a fair offer, and the animal is saved.
In Urashima Taro, the fisher lad meets a grand and unfamiliar world calmly and without shame, and so he is able to enjoy it fully. Meeting new things with an open, steady heart lets a person make the most of them.
In Urashima Taro, Urashima is so absorbed in the joy of the palace that he forgets home for days. Pleasure can quietly crowd out the things and people we meant to return to.
In Urashima Taro, sadness pushes Urashima to talk himself into breaking his promise, persuading himself it is the right thing to do. A tempting excuse can feel reasonable in a weak moment, so it pays to check it against the promise you made.
In The Farmer and the Badger, the old woman's good nature is turned against her by a cunning creature who promises not to run. Kindness is a good thing, but it helps to notice when a promise does not match what someone really intends.
In The Farmer and the Badger, the grieving farmer is steadied when a kind neighbour comes up the mountain to sit with him. Being there for someone in their distress is one of the simplest and most useful kindnesses.
In The South Pointing Carriage, Emperor Kotei does not give up after his army is fooled by fog, and he thinks hard until he invents a way through. A setback is often the thing that pushes a person toward a better tool.
In The South Pointing Carriage, Kotei is stuck on a river until he watches a spider ride a leaf across a pond and builds the first boat. Good ideas often come from paying close attention to ordinary things.
In The Adventures of Kintaro, the monkey asks for a rematch and then wins by pulling the hare's ear. Asking for a second chance is fair, but a win gained by trickery is not really a win.
In The Adventures of Kintaro, the Golden Boy uses his great strength to build a bridge so his friends can get home. Strength is worth most when it is used to help the people around you.
In The Adventures of Kintaro, Kintaro's mother hides her grief so her son can leave for a better life, and she does not discourage him as he sets out. Loving someone well sometimes means letting them go.
In The Story of Princess Hase, the dying mother asks her daughter to be kind to everyone beneath her in station. Kindness that does not depend on rank is a value worth carrying through life.
In The Story of Princess Hase, the girl meets her stepmother's unkindness with patience and good conduct and never gives trouble. Steady, patient goodness is a quiet kind of strength.
In The Story of Princess Hase, the stepmother's jealousy grows into a wish to harm the girl, and her own child is the one who dies. Unchecked envy can hurt the people we love most.
In The Man Who Did Not Wish to Die, the Chinese Emperor who has everything is still miserable because he cannot stop fearing death. Wealth and comfort alone do not bring peace of mind.
In The Man Who Did Not Wish to Die, the hermit's god doubts Sentaro has the patience and endurance a hard goal needs. Wanting a result is not the same as being willing to do the work it takes.
In The Man Who Did Not Wish to Die, Sentaro finds that a life with no end grows wearisome, and he longs to go home. Meaning comes from the people and purpose in our lives, not simply from having more time.
In The Man Who Did Not Wish to Die, the teaching is to stop chasing what no person can have and to live a good, industrious life. Selfish wishes, even when granted, do not bring happiness.
In The Bamboo-Cutter and the Moon-Child, the First Knight is too daunted by the long journey and buys a temple bowl instead. A shortcut dressed up as a quest may fool others, but it does not fool the person who took it.
In The Bamboo-Cutter and the Moon-Child, the Fourth Knight blames the Princess for his failed quest instead of looking at his own choices. Blaming someone else for our setbacks stops us learning anything from them.
In The Bamboo-Cutter and the Moon-Child, the Princess grieves most that she cannot repay the love and care she was given. Gratitude to the people who raised us is worth keeping alive.
In The Bamboo-Cutter and the Moon-Child, the Princess keeps the impatient messengers waiting so she can write a proper goodbye to the Emperor. Taking the time to say goodbye well is a kindness, even when others are in a hurry.
In The Mirror of Matsuyama, the wife is told that a mirror shows your own face and, in the old saying, the state of your heart. Looking honestly at yourself is worth treating with care.
In The Mirror of Matsuyama, the grieving girl looks into her mother's mirror each morning for strength and each evening for comfort, and grows into her mother's gentle ways. Keeping a loved one's good qualities close can steady us through grief.
In The Mirror of Matsuyama, the stepmother admits her jealousy caused her to misjudge the girl, and asks for forgiveness. Owning a mistake openly and choosing to change can repair what suspicion has damaged.
In The Goblin of Adachigahara, the pilgrim promises not to look into the back room, then gives in to curiosity and peeks. Breaking a small promise for a moment's curiosity can lead straight into trouble.
In The Sagacious Monkey and the Boar, the monkey, facing the butcher, seeks wise counsel rather than giving up, then acts on the plan. Asking for good advice when we are cornered is a sensible first step.
In The Happy Hunter and the Skillful Fisher, the Happy Hunter takes the blame and offers hundreds of replacement hooks, but his brother wants only the one that was lost. Sometimes an apology is only complete when we return what was actually lost.
In The Happy Hunter and the Skillful Fisher, the Sea King's daughters are wary of the stranger until he speaks with dignity and courtesy. The way we ask for help can open doors that suspicion had closed.
In The Happy Hunter, the hunter admits the mistake was his own clumsiness and asks the Sea King to forgive the fish who swallowed the hook. Owning your share of a mistake makes it easier for others to be shown mercy.
In The Happy Hunter, when he has the power to drown his brother, the Happy Hunter pulls the tide back and saves him. Restraint matters most when we hold the power to hurt someone.
In The Happy Hunter, the brother who tried to kill him is forgiven only once he promises to throw away his evil ways. Forgiveness holds best when it comes with a real change in behaviour.
In The Old Man Who Made Withered Trees to Flower, the greedy neighbour blames the dog for his own disappointment rather than his greed. It is easy to blame the messenger when a result we chased for the wrong reasons lets us down.
In The Old Man Who Made Withered Trees to Flower, the envious neighbour copies the old man's visible steps, assuming the method is simple. Copying what people do without the skill and care behind it rarely gives the same result.
In The Jelly Fish and the Monkey, the monkey hides his fear when he learns the danger and calms himself to think of a way out. Staying composed under threat gives a clever mind room to find a way through.
In The Quarrel of the Monkey and the Crab, the young crab's first rage gives way to second thoughts, and he sees he cannot win alone. Knowing when you need friends to help you is a sensible kind of strength.
In The Quarrel of the Monkey and the Crab, the monkey tells himself nothing can be done about his wrong, yet he cannot rest while he hides his guilt. Telling yourself a wrong is over does not make it stop weighing on you.
In The White Hare of Inaba, a spiteful man pretends kindness and sends the hare off with harmful advice. Advice that sounds kind is not always kind, so it is worth checking who is giving it and why.
In The White Hare of Inaba, the hare admits his deceit and promises never to use it again, and then is helped by a kind man anyway. Owning a wrong openly is the first step towards putting it right.
In The Story of Prince Yamato Take, the young prince sees that a head-on attack will fail in rough country and chooses a cunning plan instead. Knowing when the direct approach will not work is a part of wisdom, at any age.
In The Story of Prince Yamato Take, when a grass fire closes in, the prince does not freeze. He uses what is at hand and acts rather than waiting for the end, and that calm action is often the way out of a trap.
In The Story of Prince Yamato Take, the prince scoffs at the sea as if it were only a brook, and a storm soon humbles him. Mocking what we do not respect can be a dangerous mistake.
In The Story of Prince Yamato Take, the wife he had scorned gives her life to save him, and he understands her worth only afterwards. Taking loyal people for granted is a mistake that can cost the most.
In Momotaro, the old man says raising a child is simply what a parent does, and that there is no profit or loss between them. Care given freely, without keeping a tally, is one of the most generous ways to love someone.
In Momotaro, the young leader tells his quarrelling companions that harmony comes first, and that unity among themselves is worth more than any gain. A team that cannot get along will struggle against any outside challenge.
In The Ogre of Rashomon, Watanabe rides into a storm because he cannot bear to look afraid in front of his companions. Pride can push a person into danger for the wrong reason, so ask whether a challenge is about the truth or about appearances.
In The Ogre of Rashomon, Watanabe holds firm against his old nurse's emotional pleading to see the box, because he understands the risk. A sensible boundary is not unkind, even when someone you trust asks hard.
In How an Old Man Lost His Wen, the old man's love of dancing overcomes his fear, and his skill wins over a crowd of demons. Doing what you love well can open doors, even in a frightening moment.
In The Stones of Five Colors, two rival generals nearly fight over who should lead, and the Empress settles it by giving each a share of command. Rivalry between capable people can often be turned into shared responsibility rather than a fight.
In The Stones of Five Colors, the Fire King finds out the secret of the wizard's power and prepares against it, and he wins without needing brute force. Understanding what makes a rival strong is often more useful than matching them blow for blow.
