2024 is coming to a close. Being the year of the dragon, there were plans to have much more articles related to the Zodiac animal. Unfortunately, real life events took precedence, keeping me away from writing as much as I had intended. Now that things have slowed down, I have this window of opportunity to put out one(!) article in accordance to the dragon-theme. It’s a nice one.
In Asia, dragons are greatly associated with water of all forms, which includes rivers, clouds, and rain. There are all sorts of cultural practices related to old tales of dragons in Japan. One story in particular that will be discussed today is tied to a unique folklore dance called “Gaku Odori”, which is preserved as a cultural practice in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Entitled, “Ryū-Ou Baasan ” (竜王ばあさん, Dragon Lord Grandma), this version of the story¹ gives a superstitious account on how the Gaku Odori came to be, and why it is important to the people. It comes from the following website here.
Below is the full folktale of Ryū-Ou Baasan. To the left is the original Japanese text, along with my English transliteration to the right.
| むかしむかし、中村という所に、赤ちゃんの取り上げが上手なおばあさんがいました。 どんなに難産でも、このおばあさんの手にかかればすぐに産まれるので、『中村の取り上げばあさま』と呼ばれていました。 | A long time ago, there was an old woman who, residing in a place known as Central Village, was skilled in assisting in child birth. She was called “Midwife grandma of Central Village”, for no matter how complicated the birth, she was able to resolve the situation and have the baby delivered. |
| ある日の真夜中、おばあさんが寝ていると家の戸を叩く者がいます。 ドンドン、ドンドンドン。 こんな時間に来るのは急産の取り上げに違いないと思い、おばあさんはすぐに支度(したく)をすると外へ飛び出しました。 | One late night, someone came knocking on the door while she was sleeping. KNOCK KNOCK, KNOCK KNOCK Thinking that no one would show up unless there was an emergency with someone in labor, the old woman got up, prepared the necessary supplies, and headed out. |
| 外には、使いの男がいて、 「こんなに遅くにすまんが、一緒に来て下さい」 と、言いました。 「それは良いが、どこの家かいの？」 おばあさんが尋ねると男は、 「ずっと遠くです。案内しますから、足元に気をつけてください」 と、先に立ってどんどん歩いて行きました。 | As she opened the door, she met a messenger boy². “I’m sorry to disturb you so late in the night, but I need you to please come with me,” He said to her. “I’d gladly do so…but to which house?” The old woman inquired, in which he answered, “It’s one that’s very far away. I’ll take you there. Please watch your step,” With that, they started walking, with the messenger boy taking the lead. |
| 外に真暗闇(まっくらやみ)ですが、なぜか足元だけは明るいので、おばあさんは何とか転ばずに歩けました。 そのうち波の音が聞こえて来たので、 (これは、海の近くだな) と、思ったとたん、おばあさんは気を失ってしまいました。 | Although it was pitch dark outside, not once did the woman stumble while walking, as the path they took was surprisingly bright. Just then, sounds of waves of water could be heard in the distance. “We must be near the ocean,” She thought to herself. At the same moment, everything became black as the old woman lost consciousness. |
| おばあさんが気がつくと、そこは金銀(きんぎん)がキラキラと光り輝く龍宮城(りゅうぐうじょう)だったのです。 おばあさんがびっくりしていると、龍宮城の主の龍王が現れました。 「夜中に、遠い所をごくろうであった。そちに、姫のお産のかいぞえを頼みたいのだ」 「お産？」 お産と聞いては、ジッとしていられません。 おばあさんがさっそく姫の部屋へ行くと、それはひどい難産(なんざん)で、姫の顔には血の気がありませんでした。 | When the old woman came to, she discovered that she was at the Dragon Palace³, (竜宮城, Ryūgūjō), a place that shimmered with lots of precious gold and silver treasures around⁴. As she looked surprised at her surroundings, the Dragon Lord⁵, ruler of the Dragon Palace, appeared before her. “I thank you for making such a long trip in the middle of the night to reach here. I wish to make a request, that you assist as a midlady for the princess’ childbirth.” “The princess⁶ is having a baby now?” Upon hearing the word “childbirth”, the old woman didn’t pause for a moment to help where she was needed. She hastily went to the princess’ room, and saw before her the princess as pale as a ghost, as she was having labor dystocia⁷. |
| 「よしよし、すぐに楽にしてやるからな」 おばあさんはさっそく仕度に取りかかり、それからすぐに玉の様な男の子が産まれました。 「おおっ、良くやってくれた。お礼に、何でもやろう」 龍王は大喜びで、おばあさんの前にお礼の金銀サンゴを山の様に積み上げました。 けれど、おばあさんはそれを受取ろうとしません。 「どうした？ 気に入らんのか？ ・・・そちは一体、何が欲しいのじゃ？ 何なりと取らせるゆえ、申してみるがよい」 龍王がそう言うと、おばあさんは恐る恐る答えました。 | “Very well. We will proceed with the deliver after administering some medicine,” The old woman made the necessary preparations, and in due time the princess was successful in giving birth to a baby boy, who looked as cute as a round gemstone. “Oh, you did it! To show my appreciation for your assistance in the delivery of the princess’ baby, I will grant you whatever you wish.” Filled with joy, the Dragon Lord had a heap of gold & silver coral ornaments brought before the old woman as a reward. However, the old woman made no movement to accept it. “What’s wrong, you don’t have any interest in something like this? Please tell me, what is it you want? Say whatever’s on your mind, for I will grant it no matter what it is.” Hearing this, the old woman’s voice trembled as she responded to the Dragon Lord. |
| 「はい。実はわたくしの村にあまり雨が降らず、田んぼのイネが枯れようとしています。どうか龍王さまのお力で、雨を降らせてもらいたいのです」 この村人を思う気持ちに感心して、龍王はその願いを聞き入れました。 「それでは、今後はわしをまつって、豊年踊りを踊るがよい。さすれば大雨を降らせよう」 | “Okay, I will. Actually, the rice crops in the fields are drying up in my village, as we haven’t had any rain. Dragon Lord, is there any way you can use your power to make it rain for us?” Moved by her feelings for her fellow villagers, the Dragon Lord accepted her wish. “From now on, your people must give worship to me, and perform the Harvest Dance (豊年踊り, Hōnen Odori). If followed as so, I will then let forth great rainfall for your fields⁸.” |
| さて、それからおばあさんが龍宮城を去って村に帰りつくと、いなくなったおばあさんを探して村中が大騒ぎでした。 おばあさんが訳を話して龍王との約束を伝えると、村人は大喜びです。 「これで、村は救われる！」 「取り上げばあさまは、ありがとう」 この時から村人たちは、このおばあさんの事を『龍王ばあさま』と呼ぶようになりました。 | With all that’s said & done, the old woman left the Dragon Palace and returned back to her village. There, she found the villagers to be in an uproar, as they were out & about looking for her during her absence. She explained to the villagers what happened while she was away, and the promise that was made to her by the Dragon Lord. Hearing her tale made the villagers very excited. “If this is so, then we can save out village!” “Thank you so much, Midwife grandma!” From this day on, the old woman was then nicknamed “Dragon Lord Grandma” by the villagers. |
| そしてこの踊りが山口県に今に伝えられる、楽踊り(がくおどり)の始まりだという事です。 | Within Yamaguchi Prefecture, the origins of “Gaku Odori” is passed down to present day as coming from this special dance. |
To summarize, this folklore refers to showing appreciation for bountiful harvests each year when it rains. The rain is through the auspicious power of a dragon, thus farmers can give praise and worship to divine beings as such…with one method being the Hōnen Odori (豊年踊り), or Harvest Dance. There are many different types of Hōnen Odori still preserved today.
This concludes the final article of 2024, closing on the dragon theme. Wish everyone a happy and prosperous new year!
1) Take note that there are different versions of the story, each with slight variations. This version, as told in Yamaguchi Prefecture, may have been styled in a way to fit local practices there.
2) There may have been an event prior to the messenger boy coming to pick up the old woman. Possibly, one where she had to deliver a baby of spiritual beings posing as human, as a test.
3) Although not mentioned in this story, it is hinted that the old woman may have been carried on the back of a dragon to the Dragon Palace.
4) Where is the Dragon Palace located? A hidden island? Up in the clouds? We have to use our imagination for this one.
5) This divine being is inspired from Buddhism, which tells of a deity beast of the same name. Or, we can go even further and say the idea dates back to Hindu beliefs, which depicts various god-like beings with snake-like bodies.
6) While it’s not mentioned, it’s no secret that the princess is the Dragon Lord’s daughter.
7) There are various reasons for the difficult childbirth. In one version of this story, it is said that the baby complained it was facing the wrong direction, so the old woman had to turn it the right direcion manually. Yes, this is not a typo, the baby told her.
8) The details to performing this special dance was actually explained to the old woman by the Dragon Lord, although it is not stated in this version of the story.
