"Shippeitaro.” Japanese fairy tales, Teresa Peirce Williston, Chicago: Rand, McNally & Co, 1904, pp. 65-72.
Tale Summary
There was once a man named Brave Soldier, who was on a journey. He found himself in a dense forest during a storm and could not find anywhere to spend the night until he came across an old, worn-down temple. Some time after he had fallen asleep there, he awoke to the sound of shrieking, and heard a voice say: “Remember, don’t tell this to Shippeitaro. All is lost if Shippeitaro knows it.” Brave Soldier took note of this and went back to sleep. The next day he set out and came to a village, where everyone was weeping and dressed as though someone had died. He asked around as to what was the matter, and was directed to a young woman consoling her grandparents. She explained to Brave Soldier how every year, someone must be sacrificed at the old temple to prevent the village from being destroyed by a monster, and that she would be placed in a basket and taken there. He asked if she knew anyone by the name of Shippeitaro, and she told him that was the name of her black dog. Brave Soldier explained what he had heard at the temple the previous night, and asked the girl if he could borrow the dog. She agreed, and he had the dog placed in the basket in her stead and had him carried to the temple. At midnight, while standing guard, Brave Soldier saw a group of cats led by a fierce-looking tomcat. They opened the basket and the dog lept out and killed the tom-cat, who was really the monster, and the rest of the group ran away. Brave Soldier brought Shippeitaro back to the village and told the story, and the dog’s picture was hung over doors to ward away evil.
Fairy Tale Title
Shippeitaro
Fairy Tale Author(s)/Editor(s)
Teresa Peirce Williston
Fairy Tale Illustrator(s)
Sanchi O Gawa
Common Tale Type
Tale Classification
Page Range of Tale
pp. 65-72
Full Citation of Tale
"Shippeitaro.” Japanese fairy tales, Teresa Peirce Williston, Chicago: Rand, McNally & Co, 1904, pp. 65-72.
Original Source of the Tale
Tale Notes
Research and Curation
Kaeli Waggener, 2024
Book Title
Japanese fairy tales
Book Author/Editor(s)
Teresa Peirce Williston
Illustrator(s)
Sanchi O Gawa
Publisher
Rand, McNally & Co
Date Published
1904
Decade Published
1900-1909
Publisher City
Chicago
Publisher Country
United States
Language
English
Rights
Public Domain
Digital Copy
Available at the Internet Archive
Book Notes