Julius Martillana

BSEd II-N

The Story of the Aged Mother

(Japanese Folktale)

The story of the aged mother is a Japanese folktale which tells us about how important our parents even if they are already old. The story goes when Shinano received the proclamation of their despotic ruler which states that all aged people will immediately be put to death. Those times were barbarous, and the custom of abandoning aged people was common. However, it was not a law; and many of the helpless old people will live as long as nature allows them. In the case of Shinano, it was too difficult because he love his aged mother so much that he can’t let go of her. It was a mandate of Daimio that no one ever thought for the second time. Before the dawn and Shinano’s work ended, he prepared food for his mother. After doing such, Shinano lifted his helpless aged mother to his back and started on his painful journey up the mountain. It was a long and steep road that Shinano felt pity and his head was bent with weariness and his heart was heavy with sorrow. Obatsuyama, known as the mountain of the “abandoning of the aged”, was very hard to climb because it has so many crossroads and narrow paths. The eyes of Shinano’s mother were not so dim that she sees what path they are taking. Shinano’s mother knows that they are taking dangerous paths and she knows that his son doesn’t know about that so her loving heart grew anxious. She thought that her son will be in danger if he will return home because the mountain has so many dangerous paths. She stitched forth her hand and snapped the twigs from bushes as they pass and quietly dropped it every few steps of the way. Weary and heart-sick, Shinano gently released his burden and silently prepared a comfortable place for his aged-mother. After finishing what he was doing, he bade farewell to his aged mother. The trembling mother’s voice was full of unselfish love as she gave her last injunction, “Let not thine eyes be blind, my son, the road is full of danger, look carefully and follow the paths that holds the piles of twigs. They will guide you to the familiar way farther down.” Shinano was surprised, looked back to the path then to his mother only to find out that her hands are scratched and soiled by her work of love. Shinano’s heart had smitten by what his mother told him that he burst into tears. Shinano lifted his mother and he said that they will live together and will face death together. Shinano kept his aged mother in a walled closet for food which was covered and hidden. He supplied everything that his aged mother needed. One day, Despot sent unreasonable order which demands that the townsmen should present a rope of ashes. The entire province trembled with dread for it was ridiculous to do such thing. Who could have ever made a rope of ashes? One night, in a great distress, Shinano whispered the news to his hidden mother. Her mother thought of an answer. The second day, she told him what to do. She told him to prepare a rope of twisted straw and she said that after doing such, stretch it upon a row of flat stones and burn it then on a windless night. Shinano called the people together and did what her mother told him. They presented the rope of ashes and the Daimio was pleased at the wit of Shinano and praised him greatly. The Daimio demanded to know where din he got his wisdom. Shinano answered, “I need more than the strength of youth” and he also said the well-known saying, “Where the crown of snow, there cometh wisdom.” That very hour, the cruel Daimio abolished the order.

            The story is a very inspiring one. If I was asked to choose between my girlfriend and my mother, I will choose my mother. Why? The only answer is there will be no me without my mother. So for the story, it gives us another lesson in life. The child can turn their backs to their parents but parents cannot and will not. I appreciated this story so much because it is an eye-opener for those siblings who hold grudges against their parents. It also tells us that even our parents are already old; they cannot be replaced by any material things here on earth.

Source: Chips in World Literature

Virginia F. Malicdem, Ph.D

Virginia M. Nesperos, Ph.D

Title: The Story of the Aged Mother

(A Japanese Folktale)

Pages 15-16