Appearance
Excerpt
Excerpt from The Violet Fairy Book, by Andrew Lang
The moment he got into his own house he took a great handful of rice,
and began to shell off the husks, with the help of his wife. But,
instead of the gold pieces for which they looked, the rice turned into
berries with such a horrible smell that they were obliged to run away,
after smashing the mortar in a rage and setting fire to the bits.
The old people next door were naturally very much put out when they
learned the fate of their mortar, and were not at all comforted by the
explanations and excuses made by their neighbour. But that night the dog
again appeared in a dream to his master, and told him that he must go
and collect the ashes of the burnt mortar and bring them home. Then,
when he heard that the Daimio, or great lord to whom this part of the
country belonged, was expected at the capital, he was to carry the ashes
to the high road, through which the procession would have to pass. And
as soon as it was in sight he was to climb up all the cherry-trees and
sprinkle the ashes on them, and they would soon blossom as they had
never blossomed before.
This time the old man did not wait to consult his wife as to whether he
was to do what his dog had told him, but directly he got up he went to
his neighbour’s house and collected the ashes of the burnt mortar. He
put them carefully in a china vase, and carried it to the high road,
Sitting down on a seat till the Daimio should pass. The cherry-trees
were bare, for it was the season when small pots of them were sold to
rich people, who kept them in hot places, so that they might blossom
early and decorate their rooms. As to the trees in the open air, no one
would ever think of looking for the tiniest bud for more than a month
yet. The old man had not been waiting very long before he saw a cloud of
dust in the far distance, and knew that it must be the procession of the
Daimio. On they came, every man dressed in his finest clothes, and the
crowd that was lining the road bowed their faces to the ground as they
went by. Only the old man did not bow himself, and the great lord saw
this, and bade one of his courtiers, in anger, go and inquire why he had
disobeyed the ancient customs. But before the messenger could reach him
the old man had climbed the nearest tree and scattered his ashes far and
wide, and in an instant the white flowers had flashed into life, and the
heart of the Daimio rejoiced, and he gave rich presents to the old man,
whom he sent for to his castle.
Explanation
Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from The Violet Fairy Book by Andrew Lang
Context of the Source
The Violet Fairy Book (1901) is part of Andrew Lang’s Fairy Books series, a collection of folktales and fairy stories from various cultures, compiled and adapted for a Western audience. This particular tale is a Japanese folktale, likely derived from traditional mukashibanashi (old tales) or yōkai (supernatural) stories. The excerpt follows a common fairy-tale structure where an ordinary person (often poor or humble) receives magical assistance, leading to a reversal of fortune.
The story likely belongs to a broader category of grateful animal tales, where a creature (here, a dog) repays kindness with supernatural aid. Such tales often emphasize moral lessons about trust, obedience, and the rewards of virtue, while also reflecting cultural values—such as respect for authority (the Daimio) and the significance of natural symbols (cherry blossoms).
Summary of the Excerpt
The passage describes the aftermath of a magical mishap and the old man’s redemption through further supernatural intervention:
The Failed Rice Transformation – The old man and his wife attempt to shell rice, expecting it to turn into gold (as likely instructed by the dog in an earlier part of the story). Instead, the rice transforms into foul-smelling berries, driving them away in disgust. In their anger, they destroy the mortar (a tool for husking rice) and burn it.
The Neighbors’ Anger – The neighbors, whose mortar it was, are furious and unimpressed by the old man’s excuses.
The Dog’s Second Dream Instruction – That night, the dog (who had previously guided the old man) appears again in a dream, telling him to:
- Collect the ashes of the burnt mortar.
- Wait by the road where the Daimio (a feudal lord) will pass.
- Climb the cherry trees and sprinkle the ashes on them, causing them to blossom instantly.
The Old Man’s Obedience – Unlike before (when he may have hesitated or consulted his wife), he immediately follows the dog’s instructions, gathering the ashes and waiting by the road.
The Daimio’s Procession – The cherry trees are bare (as it is not yet blossom season), but when the Daimio’s procession approaches, the old man climbs a tree and scatters the ashes. The trees instantly bloom, astonishing the lord.
The Reward – The Daimio, pleased by the miraculous sight, rewards the old man with riches and invites him to his castle.
Key Themes
Faith and Obedience to the Supernatural
- The old man’s initial failure (with the rice turning to berries) may stem from doubt or impatience, but his unquestioning obedience the second time leads to success. This reinforces the fairy-tale moral that trust in magical guidance is rewarded.
- The dog, a humble creature, acts as a divine or spiritual messenger, testing the old man’s faith.
Transformation and Rebirth
- The mortar’s destruction and rebirth as ashes symbolizes a phoenix-like renewal—what was ruined becomes the source of magic.
- The cherry blossoms (sakura in Japanese culture) represent transience, beauty, and renewal, fitting the tale’s theme of sudden fortune.
Social Hierarchy and Reward
- The Daimio represents authority and wealth, and his favor elevates the old man’s status. This reflects feudal Japanese values, where loyalty and extraordinary deeds could earn a commoner a lord’s patronage.
- The old man’s defiance of custom (not bowing) is justified by his greater purpose (creating beauty for the lord), suggesting that true merit overrides rigid tradition.
Nature’s Magic
- The tale blends everyday realism (rice husking, cherry trees) with the supernatural (instant blossoming), a hallmark of folktales.
- The cherry blossoms are culturally significant in Japan, symbolizing life’s fleeting beauty—here, their unnatural early bloom suggests divine intervention.
Literary Devices
Magical Realism
- The sudden transformation of rice into berries and ashes into blossoms defies logic, creating a wonder-tale atmosphere.
- The dream instruction is a common fairy-tale device, bridging the mundane and the magical.
Symbolism
- Rice → Berries: The failed transformation may symbolize greed or misplaced expectations (gold vs. worthless berries).
- Ashes → Blossoms: Represents rebirth and hidden potential—what seems destroyed holds power.
- Cherry Blossoms: In Japanese culture, they symbolize beauty, mortality, and renewal, reinforcing the tale’s theme of sudden, fleeting fortune.
Foreshadowing & Suspense
- The neighbors’ anger creates tension, making the dog’s next instruction more urgent.
- The bare cherry trees set up the dramatic contrast when they bloom instantly.
Irony
- The old man’s destruction of the mortar (an act of rage) becomes the source of his salvation (the ashes).
- His disobedience (not bowing) leads to greater reward because he was following a higher command (the dog’s).
Cultural Allusions
- The Daimio’s procession reflects feudal Japanese pomp and hierarchy.
- The early blossoming of cherry trees was a luxury (as mentioned, rich people forced early blooms indoors), making the old man’s magic even more impressive.
Significance of the Passage
Moral Lesson
- The tale teaches that patience, faith, and obedience to wise guidance (even if it seems strange) lead to reward.
- It also suggests that misfortune can be a setup for greater fortune (the burnt mortar’s ashes become magical).
Cultural Reflection
- The story embodies Japanese values of respect for nature, hierarchy, and the supernatural.
- The cherry blossom motif ties into mono no aware (the pathos of things), a Japanese aesthetic concept appreciating life’s transient beauty.
Fairy-Tale Conventions
- Follows the "helper animal" trope, where a creature aids a human in exchange for kindness.
- Uses the "threefold test" structure (though only two attempts are shown here), common in folktales where the protagonist must prove their worth.
Psychological & Emotional Resonance
- The old man’s initial failure makes his final success more satisfying.
- The sudden beauty of the blossoms provides a visually striking climax, appealing to the reader’s sense of wonder.
Line-by-Line Analysis of Key Moments
"the rice turned into berries with such a horrible smell that they were obliged to run away"
- The disgusting transformation contrasts with their expectation of gold, highlighting the unpredictability of magic.
- Their violent reaction (smashing the mortar) shows human impatience and lack of faith.
"the dog again appeared in a dream to his master"
- The recurring dream reinforces the supernatural bond between the man and the dog.
- Dreams in folktales often serve as divine messages, requiring interpretation and action.
"he was to climb up all the cherry-trees and sprinkle the ashes on them"
- The specificity of the instruction adds mystery and ritual—why cherry trees? Why ashes?
- Climbing trees is humble yet bold, contrasting with the grand procession below.
"the heart of the Daimio rejoiced"
- The lord’s emotional reaction (joy) is the key to the reward—beauty moves him more than gold would.
- This suggests that true value lies in creating wonder, not just wealth.
"he gave rich presents to the old man, whom he sent for to his castle"
- The fairy-tale ending—the poor man is elevated socially.
- The castle invitation symbolizes a complete change in fortune, a common resolution in such tales.
Conclusion: Why This Passage Matters
This excerpt is a microcosm of classic fairy-tale storytelling, blending magic, morality, and cultural symbolism. It reinforces the idea that true reward comes from trust in the unknown and that beauty and obedience can outweigh material greed. The cherry blossoms, a powerful Japanese symbol, elevate the tale from a simple moral lesson to a celebration of nature’s fleeting miracles—a theme that resonates deeply in both folktale tradition and real-life Japanese aesthetics.
The passage also subverts expectations: the old man’s initial failure makes his final success more earned, and his defiance of custom (not bowing) is justified by a greater purpose. In this way, the tale challenges rigid social norms while still upholding the value of loyalty and wonder.
Ultimately, the story lingers in the reader’s mind because of its vivid imagery (the sudden blossoms), its emotional arc (from despair to joy), and its universal message—that magic often lies in the ashes of our mistakes.