YOKOHAMA, Jan 21 (News On Japan) –
The legend of Urashima Taro is claimed to exist in numerous components of Japan, and traces of it have been found in Yokohama.
This story is broadly identified throughout Japan, however why does Yokohama have remnants of this historic folklore? Investigating this query brings us to Kanagawa Ward in Yokohama.
Walking by means of the world, the presence of the legend turns into evident. For instance, there’s a district named Urashima Town, and a park named Urashima Park. Furthermore, the world’s handle consists of “Kamesumi Town,” suggesting a deeper connection.
The widely known story of Urashima Taro tells of a fisherman who saves a turtle and is taken to the undersea palace of Ryugujo. However, the Yokohama model gives a stunning twist. According to Yokohama City’s History Museum, Urashima Taro originated from the Miura Peninsula. In this model, Taro catches a turtle whereas fishing, which transforms right into a princess who invitations him to Ryugujo.
This regional variation consists of one other notable distinction: as a substitute of merely receiving a tamatebako (treasure field), Taro is presented each a tamatebako and a statue of the Buddhist deity Kannon. Traces of this story are preserved at Keiunji Temple in Yokohama. At the temple, guests can view the Kannon statue, which is claimed to have been introduced again by Taro himself. Remarkably, the statue depicts Kannon standing atop a turtle.
Local fishermen’s accounts add one other layer to the story. They declare to have seen Urashima Taro and the princess driving a turtle, glowing in a radiant mild. Taro is claimed to have been granted everlasting life by Kannon, dedicating his time to serving to others fulfill their needs.
Interestingly, the legend additionally explains how Taro ended up in Yokohama. After coming back from Ryugujo, he mourned the lack of his mother and father and was guided by Kannon’s dream to deliver the statue again to his household’s ancestral land. This journey led him to Yokohama, the place he established a small shrine to honor Kannon and the tamatebako earlier than disappearing.
The traces of this legend are additional evident at Renpouji Temple, which homes Taro’s presumed grave. Historical data from the Edo interval depict these relics, which had been relocated to the temple after a hearth.
Additionally, the local people celebrates this legend by means of an annual competition in August. A grand float depicting Urashima Taro driving a turtle is paraded by means of the streets, embodying the city’s enduring connection to the story.
The Keiunji Temple, the place the Kannon statue resides, welcomes guests from 9 a.m. to five p.m., whereas Renpouji Temple, residence to Taro’s grave, is open from 8 a.m. to five p.m. These websites supply a glimpse into the wealthy cultural heritage surrounding Yokohama’s distinctive model of the Urashima Taro legend.
Source: ANN