Lord Bag of Rice

Lord Bag of Rice Long ago in Japan there lived a brave warrior known to all as Tawara Toda, or “Lord Bag of Rice” (a lord due to his high ranking). His true name was Fujiwara Hidesato, and there is a very interesting story of how he came to change his name. Hidesato was a warrior and was always in search of adventures. One day he set out with his two swords and large bow which was much taller than himself and came upon the bridge of Seta-no-Karshi spanning one end of the beautiful Lake Biwa. As soon as he set foot on the bridge, he saw a huge serpent dragon lying across his path. Its body was so big it looked like the trunk of a large pine tree that took up the entire width of the bridge. Its huge claws rested over one side of the bridge and its tail over the other. The monster seemed to be asleep and as it breathed, fire and smoke came out of its nostrils. At first Hidesato could not help feeling alarmed at the sight of this horrible reptile lying in his path, he’d either have to turn back or walk right over its body. He was a brave man, however, and putting aside all fear went forward dauntlessly. Crunch, crunch! he stepped on the dragon’s body, between its coils, and without even one glance backward he went on his way. He had only gone a few steps when he heard someone calling him from behind. On turning back he was much surprised to see that the monster dragon had entirely disappeared and in its place was a strange-looking man, who was bowing ceremoniously to the ground. His red hair streamed over his shoulders and was surmounted by a crown in the shape of a dragon’s head, and his sea-green dress was patterned with shells. Hidesato knew at once that this was no ordinary mortal. He walked up to the man on the bridge and addressed him: “Was it you that called me just now?” “Yes, it was I,” answered the man: “I have an earnest request to make to you. Do you think you can grant it to me?” “If it is in my power to do so I will,” answered Hidesato, “but who are you?” “I am the Dragon King of the Lake, and my home is in these waters just under this bridge.” “And what is it you have to ask of me?” said Hidesato. “I want you to get rid of my mortal enemy the centipede, who lives on the mountain beyond,” and the Dragon King pointed to a high peak on the opposite shore of the lake. “I have lived now for many years in this lake and I have a large family of children and grand-children. For some time past we have lived in terror. The monster centipede has discovered our home, and night after night it comes and carries off one of my family. I am powerless to save them. If it goes on much longer like this, not only shall I lose all my children, but I myself will fall victim to the monster. In my desperation, I have decided to ask the help of a human being. For many days with this intention I have waited on the bridge in the shape of the horrible serpent-dragon that you saw, in the hope that someone strong and brave would come along. But all who came this way, as soon as they saw me, were terrified and ran away as fast as they could. You are the first person I have found able to look at me without fear, so I knew at once that you were a person of great courage. I beg you to have pity upon me. Will you help me get rid of the centipede?” Hidesato felt very sorry for the Dragon King on hearing his story, and readily promised to do what he could to help him. The Dragon King replied that its home was on the mountain Mikami, but it came every night at a certain hour to the palace of the lake, so it would be better to wait till then. So Hidesato was invited to the palace of the Dragon King, under the bridge. As he followed his host downwards the waters parted to let them pass, and his clothes did not even feel damp as he passed through the flood. Never had Hidesato seen anything so beautiful as this palace built of white marble beneath the lake. He had often heard of the Sea King’s palace at the bottom of the sea, where all the housekeepers were salt-water fishes, but here was a magnificent building in the heart of Lake Biwa. The dainty goldfishes, red carp, and silvery trout, waited upon the Dragon King and his guest. Hidesato was astonished at the feast that was spread for him. The dishes were crystallized lotus leaves and flowers, and the chopsticks were of the rarest ebony. As soon as they sat down, the sliding doors opened and ten lovely dancing goldfish came out, and behind them followed ten red-carp musicians with the koto and the samisen. The hours flew by till midnight, and the beautiful music and dancing had banished all thoughts of the centipede. The Dragon King was about to make a toast to the warrior when the palace was suddenly shaken by a tramp, tramp! as if a mighty army had begun to march not far away. Hidesato and his host both rose to their feet and rushed to the balcony, and the warrior saw on the opposite mountain two great balls of glowing fire coming nearer and nearer. The Dragon King stood by the warrior’s side trembling with fear. “The centipede! The centipede! Those two balls of fire are its eyes. It is coming for its prey! Now is the time to destroy it.” Hidesato looked where his host pointed, and, in the dim light of the starlit evening, behind the two balls of fire he saw the long body of an enormous centipede winding round the mountains, and the light in its hundred feet glowed like so many distant lanterns moving slowly towards the shore. Hidesato showed not the least sign of fear. He tried to calm the Dragon King. “Don’t be afraid. I will surely succeed. Just bring me my bow and arrows.” The Dragon King did as he was told, and the warrior noticed that he had only three arrows left in his quiver. He took the bow, and fitting an arrow to the notch, took careful aim and let it fly. The arrow hit the centipede right in the middle of its head but bounced off. Unfazed, Hidesato took another arrow, fitted it to the notch of the bow and let it fly. Again, the arrow hit the mark. It struck the centipede right in the middle of its head, only to bounce off and fall to the ground. The centipede was invulnerable to weapons! When the Dragon King saw that even this brave warrior’s arrows were powerless to destroy the centipede, he lost heart and began to tremble with fear. The warrior saw that he had now only one arrow left in his quiver, and he could not fail. He looked across the waters. The huge reptile had wound its horrid body seven times round the mountain and would soon come down to the lake. Nearer and nearer gleamed fireballs of eyes, and the light of its hundred feet began to throw reflections in the still waters of the lake. Thinking quickly, the warrior suddenly remembered that he had heard that human saliva was deadly to centipedes. But this was no ordinary centipede. This was so monstrous that even to think of such a creature made one shiver in horror. Hidesato determined this was his best shot for his final chance. So taking his last arrow and first putting the end of it in his mouth, he fitted the notch to his bow, took careful aim once more and let it fly. This time the arrow again hit the centipede right in the middle of its head, and it worked! The fiery light of its great eyes and hundred feet darkened to a dull glare like the sunset of a stormy day, and then went out in blackness. A great darkness now spread over the sky, the thunder rolled and the lightning flashed, and the wind roared in fury, and it seemed as if the world were coming to an end. The Dragon King, his children and all his housekeepers were all crouched in different parts of the palace, terrified, as the building was shaken to its foundation. At last the dreadful night was over. Day dawned beautiful and clear. The centipede was gone from the mountain. Hidesato called to the Dragon King to come out and everyone jumped for joy. The gratitude of the Dragon King knew no bounds. The whole family came and bowed down before the warrior, calling him the bravest warrior in all Japan. Another feast was prepared, more delicious than the first. All kinds of fish, prepared in every imaginable way, raw, stewed, boiled and roasted, served on coral trays and crystal dishes, were put before him. Everything Hidesato ate was the best he’d ever tasted in his life. The sun shone brightly, the lake glittered like a liquid diamond, and the palace was a thousand times more beautiful by day than by night. The King tried to persuade the warrior to stay a few days, but Hidesato insisted on going home, saying that he had now finished what he had come to do, and must return. The Dragon King and his family were all sad to see him leave so soon, and insisted he accept a few gifts as a token of their gratitude to him. As the warrior stood on the porch taking leave, a group of fish was suddenly transformed into a group of men, all wearing ceremonial robes and dragon’s crowns on their heads to show that represented the great Dragon King, each bearing gifts: a large bronze bell, a bag of rice, a roll of silk and a pot for cooking. The Dragon King himself accompanied the warrior as far as the bridge, and then took leave of him with many bows and good wishes, leaving the procession to accompany Hidesato to his home with the presents. The warrior’s family had been very much concerned when they found that he did not return the night before, but assumed he had taken shelter somewhere. When he was spotted, the whole household turned out to meet him, wondering much who this group of men bearing presents and banners that followed him were. As soon as the Dragon King’s retainers had put down the presents they vanished, and Hidesato began to tell his family what had happened to him. Hidesato gave the bell to a temple to use in their bell tower. The other gifts ended up having magical elements. No matter how much rice was taken from the bag, it was never empty. The roll of silk never grew shorter and allowed Hidesato and his family to wear the finest clothes to their special events. The pot cooked the most delicious meals, regardless of what was put into it, instantly. Without a fire and without hassle. These gifts helped him and his family save enough money to become quite prosperous in time and as the news of Hidesato’s good fortune spread, he then became known as Lord Bag of Rice.