Cerita Rakyat Jepang "The Stonecutter"

The Stonecutter

Once upon a time there lived a stonecutter, who went every day to a great rock in the side of a big mountain and cut out slabs for gravestones or for houses. He understood very well the kinds of stones wanted for the different purposes, and as he was a careful workman he had plenty of customers. For a long time he was quite happy and contented, and asked for nothing better than what he had.

Now in the mountain dwelt a spirit which now and then appeared to men, and helped them in many ways to become rich and prosperous. The stonecutter, however, had never seen this spirit, and only shook his head, with an unbelieving air, when anyone spoke of it. But a time was coming when he learned to change his opinion.

One day the stonecutter carried a gravestone to the house of a rich man, and saw there all sorts of beautiful things, of which he had never even dreamed. Suddenly his daily work seemed to grow harder and heavier, and he said to himself: "Oh, if only I were a rich man, and could sleep in a bed with silken curtains and golden tassels, how happy I should be!"

And a voice answered him: "Your wish is heard; a rich man you shall be!"

At the sound of the voice the stonecutter looked around, but could see nobody. He thought it was all his fancy, and picked up his tools and went home, for he did not feel inclined to do any more work that day. But when he reached the little house where he lived, he stood still with amazement, for instead of his wooden hut was a stately palace filled with splendid furniture, and most splendid of all was the bed, in every respect like the one he had envied. He was nearly beside himself with joy, and in his new life the old one was soon forgotten.

It was now the beginning of summer, and each day the sun blazed more fiercely. One morning the heat was so great that the stonecutter could scarcely breathe, and he determined he would stop at home till the evening. He was rather dull, for he had never learned how to amuse himself, and was peeping through the closed blinds to see what was going on in the street, when a little carriage passed by, drawn by servants dressed in blue and silver. In the carriage sat a prince, and over his head a golden umbrella was held, to protect him from the sun's rays.

"Oh, if I were only a prince!" said the stonecutter to himself, as the carriage vanished around the corner. "Oh, if I were only a prince, and could go in such a carriage and have a golden umbrella held over me, how happy I should be!"

And a prince he was. Before his carriage rode one company of men and another behind it; servants dressed in scarlet and gold bore him along, the coveted umbrella was held over his head, everything his heart could desire was his. But yet it was not enough. He looked around still for something to wish for, and when he saw that in spite of the water he poured on the grass the rays of the sun scorched it, and that in spite of the umbrella held over his head each day his face grew browner and browner, he cried in his anger: "The sun is mightier than I; oh, if I were only the sun!"

And the mountain spirit answered: "Your wish is heard; the sun you shall be."

And the sun he was, and felt himself proud in his power. He shot his beams above and below, on earth and in heaven; he burnt up the grass in the fields and scorched the faces of princes as well as of poorer folk. but in a short time he began to grow tired of his might, for there seemed nothing left for him to do. Discontent once more filled his soul, and when a cloud covered his face, and hid the earth from him, he cried in his anger: "Does the cloud hold captive my rays, and is it mightier than I? Oh, that I were a cloud, and mightier than any!"

And the mountain spirit answered: "Your wish is heard; a cloud you shall be!"

And a cloud he was, and lay between the sun and the earth. He caught the sun's beams and held them, and to his joy the earth grew green again and flowers blossomed. But that was not enough for him, and for days and week he poured forth rain till the rivers overflowed their banks, and the crops of rice stood in water. Towns and villages were destroyed by the power of the rain, only the great rock on the mountainside remained unmoved. The cloud was amazed at the sight, and cried in wonder: "Is the rock, then, mightier than I? Oh, if I were only the rock!"

And the mountain spirit answered; "Your wish is heard; the rock you shall be!"

And the rock he was, and gloried in his power. Proudly he stood, and neither the heat of the sun nor the force of the rain could move him. "This is better than all!" he said to himself. But one day he heard a strange noise at his feet, and when he looked down to see what it could be, he saw a stonecutter driving tools into his surface. Even while he looked a trembling feeling ran all through him, and a great block broke off and fell upon the ground. Then he cried in his wrath: "Is a mere child of earth mightier than a rock? Oh, if I were only a man!"

And the mountain spirit answered: "Your wish is heard. A man once more you shall be!"

And a man he was, and in the sweat of his brow he toiled again at his trade of stone cutting. His bed was hard and his food scanty, but he had learned to be satisfied with it, and did not long to be something or somebody else. And as he never asked for things he did not have, or desired to be greater and mightier than other people, he was happy at last, and never again heard the voice of the mountain spirit.

 

source: http://www.belajarbahasainggris.us/2012/02/japanese-folktales-stonecutter-cerita.html

Cerita Rakyat Jepang "The Mirror of Matsuyama"

The Mirror of Matsuyama
 

In ancient days there lived in a remote part of Japan a man and his wife, and they were blessed with a little girl, who was the pet and idol of her parents. On one occasion the man was called away on business in distant Kyoto. Before he went he told his daughter that if she were good and dutiful to her mother he would bring her back a present she would prize very highly. Then the good man took his departure, mother and daughter watching him go.

At last he returned to his home, and after his wife and child had taken off his large hat and sandals he sat down upon the white mats and opened a bamboo basket, watching the eager gaze of his little child. He took out a wonderful doll and a lacquer box of cakes and put them into her outstretched hands. Once more he dived into his basket, and presented his wife with a metal mirror. Its convex surface shone brightly, while upon its back there was a design of pine trees and storks.

The good man's wife had never seen a mirror before, and on gazing into it she was under the impression that another woman looked out upon her as she gazed with growing wonder. Her husband explained the mystery and bade her take great care of the mirror.

Not long after this happy homecoming and distribution of presents the woman became very ill. Just before she died she called to her little daughter, and said: "Dear child, when I am dead take every care of your father. You will miss me when I have left you. But take this mirror, and when you feel most lonely look into it and you will always see me." Having said these words she passed away.

In due time the man married again, and his wife was not at all kind to her stepdaughter. But the little one, remembering her mother's words, would retire to a corner and eagerly look into the mirror, where it seemed to her that she saw her dear mother's face, not drawn in pain as she had seen it on her deathbed, but young and beautiful.

One day this child's stepmother chanced to see her crouching in a corner over an object she could not quite see, murmuring to herself. This ignorant woman, who detested the child and believed that her stepdaughter detested her in return, fancied that this little one was performing some strange magical art--perhaps making an image and sticking pins into it. Full of these notions, the stepmother went to her husband and told him that his wicked child was doing her best to kill her by witchcraft.

When the master of the house had listened to this extraordinary recital he went straight to his daughter's room. He took her by surprise, and immediately the girl saw him she slipped the mirror into her sleeve. For the first time her doting father grew angry, and he feared that there was, after all, truth in what his wife had told him, and he repeated her tale forthwith.

When his daughter had heard this unjust accusation she was amazed at her father's words, and she told him that she loved him far too well ever to attempt or wish to kill his wife, who she knew was dear to him.

"What have you hidden in your sleeve?" said her father, only half convinced and still much puzzled.

"The mirror you gave my mother, and which she on her deathbed gave to me. Every time I look into its shining surface I see the face of my dear mother, young and beautiful. When my heart aches--and oh! it has ached so much lately--I take out the mirror, and mother's face, with sweet, kind smile, brings me peace, and helps me to bear hard words and cross looks."

Then the man understood and loved his child the more for her filial piety. Even the girl's stepmother, when she knew what had really taken place, was ashamed and asked forgiveness. And this child, who believed she had seen her mother's face in the mirror, forgave, and trouble forever departed from the home.

 

source:http://www.belajarbahasainggris.us/2012/02/japanese-folktales-mirror-of-matsuyama.html

Cerita Bahasa Inggris Rakyat Jepang "Little Peachling"

ONCE upon a time there was an old man and his old wife living in the country in Japan. The old man was a woodcutter. He and his wife were very sad and lonely because they had no children.

One day the old man went into the mountains to cut firewood and the old woman went to the river to wash some clothes.



No sooner had the old woman begun her washing than she was very surprised to see a big peach come floating down the river. It was the biggest peach she'd ever seen in all her life. She pulled the peach out of the river and decided to take it home and give it to the old man for his supper that night.

Late in the afternoon the old man came home, and the old woman said to him: "Look what a wonderful peach I found for your supper." The old man said it was truly a beautiful peach. He was so hungry that he said: "Let's divide it and eat it right away."

So the old woman brought a big knife from the kitchen and was getting ready to cut the peach in half. But just then there was the sound of a human voice from inside the peach. "Wait! Don't cut me!" said the voice. Suddenly the peach split open, and a beautiful baby boy jumped out of the peach.

The old man and woman were astounded. But the baby said: "Don't be afraid. The God of Heaven saw how lonely you were without any children, so he sent me to be your son."

The old man and woman were very happy, and they took the baby to be their son. Since he was born from a peach, they named him Momotaro, which means Peach Boy. They loved Momotaro very much and raised him to be a fine boy.

When Momotaro was about fifteen years old, he went to his father and said: "Father, you have always been very kind to me. Now I am a big boy and I must do something to help my country. In a distant part of the sea there is an island named Ogre Island. Many wicked ogres live there, and they often come to our land and do bad things like carrying people away and stealing their things. So I'm going to go to Ogre Island and fight them and bring back the treasure which they have there. Please let me do this."

The old man was surprised to hear this, but he was also very proud of Momotaro for wanting to help other people. So he and the old woman helped Momotaro get ready for his journey to Ogre Island. The old man gave him a sword and armor, and the old woman fixed him a good lunch of millet dumplings. Then Momotaro began his journey, promising his parents that he would come back soon.



Momotaro went walking toward the sea. It was a long way. As he went along he met a spotted dog. The dog growled at Momotaro and was about to bite him, but then Momotaro gave him one of the dumplings. He told the spotted dog that he was going to fight the ogres on Ogre Island. So the dog said he'd go along too and help Momotaro.

Momotaro and the spotted dog kept on walking and soon they met a monkey. The spotted dog and the monkey started to have a fight. But Momotaro explained to the monkey that he and the spotted dog were going to fight the ogres on Ogre Island. Then the monkey asked if he couldn't go with them. So Momotaro gave the monkey a dumpling and let the monkey come with them.

Momotaro and the spotted dog and the monkey kept on walking. Suddenly they met a pheasant. The spotted dog and the monkey and the pheasant were about to start fighting. But when the pheasant heard that Momotaro was going to fight the ogres on Ogre Island, he asked if he could go too. So Momotaro gave the pheasant a dumpling and told him to come along.



So, with Momotaro as their general, the spotted dog and the monkey and the pheasant, who usually hated each other, all became good friends and followed Momotaro faithfully. They walked a long, long way, and finally reached the sea. At the edge of the sea Momotaro built a boat. They and all got in the boat and started across the sea toward Ogre Island.

When they came within sight of the island, they could see that the ogres had a very strong fort there. And there were many, many ogres. Some of them were red, some blue, and some black.

First the pheasant flew over the walls of the fort and began to peck at the ogres' heads. They all tried to hit the pheasant with their clubs, but he was very quick and dodged all their blows. And while the ogres weren't looking, the monkey slipped up and opened the gate of the fort. Then Momotaro and the spotted dog rushed into the fort and started fighting the ogres too.



It was a terrible battle! The pheasant pecked at the heads and eyes of the wicked ogres. And the monkey clawed at them. And the spotted dog bit them. And Momotaro cut them with his sword. At last the ogres were completely defeated. They all bowed down low before Momotaro and promised never to do wicked things again. Then they brought Momotaro all the treasure they had stored in the fort.

It was the most wonderful treasure you can imagine. There was much gold and silver and many precious jewels. There was an invisible coat and hat, arid a hammer that made a piece of gold every time you hit it on the ground, and many other wonderful things. Momotaro and his three helpers carried all this in their boat back to the land. Then they made a cart and put all the treasure in the cart and pulled it back to Momotaro's house.

How happy the old man and woman were when they saw their son return safely from Ogre IsIand! They were very rich now with all the treasure that Momotaro had brought, and they all lived together very, very, happily.

source:http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=214x300465

The Legend A Woman and the Bell of Miidera

A Woman and the Bell of Miidera

A Story from Japan

In the ancient monastery of Miidera there was a great bronze bell. It rang out every morning and evening, a clear, rich note, and its surface shone like sparkling dew. The priests would not allow any woman to strike it, because they thought that such an action would pollute and dull the metal, as well as bring calamity upon them.

When a certain pretty woman who lived in Kyoto heard this, she grew extremely inquisitive, and at last, unable to restrain her curiosity, she said: "I will go and see this wonderful bell of Miidera. I will make it send forth a soft note, and in its shining surface, bigger and brighter than a thousand mirrors, I will paint and powder my face and dress my hair."

At length this vain and irreverent woman reached the belfry in which the great bell was suspended, at a time when all were absorbed in their sacred duties. She looked into the gleaming bell and saw her pretty eyes, flushed cheeks, and laughing dimples. Presently she stretched forth her little fingers, lightly touched the shining metal, and prayed that she might have as great and splendid a mirror for her own. When the bell felt this woman's fingers, the bronze that she touched shrank, leaving a little hollow, and losing at the same time all its exquisite polish.

source: http://www.belajarbahasainggris.us/2012/02/japanese-folktales-woman-and-bell-of.html

Legenda Malin Kundang English & Indonesia

Malin Kundang
A Legend From Indonesia

Long long time ago, there was a poor family consist of a mother and her son named Malin Kundang. Because of her husband had left her, the mother should worked alone.
 

Malin was smart boy but little naughty. When he was getting old, Malin felt sorry with his mother and asked for finding a job in big city.

“Mom, I want to go to big city to find a job” asked Malin.

“don’t leave me alone, son” said his mother.

“let me go Mom” said Malin.
“Ok, but remember, don’t forget me and this village when you succeed there” said his mother.
 

The next day Malin went to the big city by a ship. After for years worked hard in the big city, he became rich man, he had many merchant ships. And he had married with a beautiful lady there. The news that Malin become rich man came to his mother. His mother felt so happy to hear that. She always waited her son came back in the beach every day, but Malin never came.
 

One day Malin’s wife want to see Malin’s mother. So Malin prepare the voyage to his village with big and beautiful ship to see his mother. Finally Malin came to his village with his wife. His mother had waited  Malin in the beach.

“Is that you, Malin? I’m your mother, you remember” asked the mother.

“I don’t know who are you old poor lady” said Malin.

“is that your mother Malin?” said Malin’s wife

“No, I don’t have old ugly poor mother like this” Malin said.
 

Hearing her son said like that, the mother felt sad and angry.
“Oh my mighty God, if he is my son, I cruse him and please turn him be a stone” the mother said.

Then the wind and storm rumbled and hit Malin’s ship. And after that, Malin’s body became stone and allied with the reef. 

Terjemah

Malin Kundang
Cerita dari Indonesia

Dahulu kala, tersebutlah sebuah keluarga miskin yang terdiri dari seorang ibu dan anaknya yang bernama Malin Kundang. Karena ayahnya telah meninggalkanya, sang ibu harus berkerja sendiri.
 

Malin adalah anak yang pintar tapi sedikit nakal. Ketika dia sudah dewasa, dia merasa kasihan pada ibunya dan miminta untuk mencari sebuah pekerjaan di kota besar.

“bu, saya ingin pergi ke kota besar untuk mencari pekerjaan” pinta Malin.

“jangan tinggalin ibu sendiri, nak” kata sang ibu.

“biarkan saya pergi bu” kata malin.
“baiklah, tapi ingat, jangan lupakan aku dan desa ini ketika kamu sukses di sana” kata sang ibu.
 

Keesokan harinya Malin pergi ke kota besar menggunakan sebuah kapal. Setelah beberapa tahun berkerja keras, dia menjadi orang kaya, dia mempunya banyak kapal dagang. Dan dia sudah menikah dengan wanita cantik disana. Berita tentang malin yang menjadi orang kaya sampai lah ke ibunya. Sang ibu sangat senang mendengarnya. Dia selalu menunggu di pantai setiap hari, tetapi Malin tak pernah datang.
 

Suatu hari istirinya Malin ingin bertemu dengan Ibunya Malin. Sehingga malin menyiapkan perjalanan menuju desanya menggunakan kapla besar yang cantik. Akhirnya Malin datang ke desanya. Ibunya sudah menunggunya disana.

“apa itu kamu Malin? Ini ibu mu, kamu ingat” Tanya sang Ibu.

“saya tidak kenal kamu wanita tua miskin” kata Malin. 

“apakah dia ibu mu Malin?” Tanya istri malin.

Mendengar anaknya berkata seperti itu, sang ibu merasa sedih dan marah.
"Oh tuhan ku yang kuasa, jika dia adalah anak ku, Saya kutuk dia dan ku mohon rubahlah dia menjadi batu" kata sang ibu.

Kemudian angin dan petir bergemuruh dan menghantam kapalnya malin. Setelah itu, Tubuh Malin menjadi batu dan menyatu dengan karang.

source:http://www.belajarbahasainggris.us/2012/02/indonesian-folktales-malin-kundang.html

Tangkuban Perahu English & Indonesia

Tangkuban Perahu
A Legend from Indonesia

Once upon a time, there was a beatiful lady named Dayang Sumbi who had a boy named Sangkuriang. When Sangkuriang was old enough to hunt, he was asked to hunt  with Tumang which actually his father who transformed to be a dog.

“Mom, I will give a deer’s liver to you” promised Sangkuriang.
 “Huff…. Hufff” barked Tumang.
 

Sangkuriang and Tumang started to hunt a deer. After hunting all day with empty-handed, Sangkuriang worried. Thinking shortly, he took his arrow and shot Tumang and took the liver, then went home.
 

At home sangkuriang gave the liver to his Mom. But dayang Sumbi relized that it was not deer’s liver but dog’s liver, Tumang. She was angry and she hit Sangkuriang by a spoon. She sent her son away with a big wound on his head.
 

Then Sangkuriang travelled around the world till he arrived back to his village without recognized it. In there he met a beautiful lady who actually his mother.
 

Sangkuriang and the beautiful lady fallen in love each other and decided to marry. But leter Dayang Sumbi realized that the man who she loved was her son. And then Dayang Sumbi asked him two things.

“if you want to marry me, please make a big lake and a boat in one night” request Dayang Sumbi.

“OK, If you want them” Sangkuriang agreed.
 

Then he built a lake by dammed Citarum river and made a boat. Worried Sangkuriang will finish them all,Dayang Sumbi prayed to the God. Then eastern horizon lit up and the morning came.
 

Thought his effort was useless. Angrily, he kicked the boat so it up-side down. Then the boat become a mountain which well known as Tangkuban Perahu mountain. Tangkuban means up-side down and Perahu means boat. 

 

 

 

Terjemah

Tangkuban Perahu

Cerita dari Indonesia

Suatu ketika, tersebutlah seorang wanita cantik bernama Dayang Sumbi yang mempunyai seorang anak bernama Sangkuriang. Ketika Sangkuriang sudah cukup dewasa untuk berburu, dia disuruh berburu dengan Tumang yang sebenarnya adalah ayahnya ayng berubah menjadi seekor anjing.
 

“bu, saya akan membawakan sebuah hati rusa untuk mu” janji Sangkuriang.
“huff…huff” gonggong Tumang.
 

Sangkuriang dan Tumang mulai berburu seekor rusa. Setelah berburu seharian tanpa hasil, Sangkuriang kawatir. Berpikir singkat, dia mengambil panahnya dan menembakannya ke Tumang dan mengambil hatinya dan membawanya pulang.
 

Di rumah Sangkuriang memberikan hati tersebut kepada ibunya. Tetapi Dayang Sumbi menyadari ahwa itu bukan hati rusa tetapi hati anjing, Tumang. Dia marah dan memukul Sangkuriang dengan sendok. Dia mengusir anaknya dengan luka yang besar di kepalnya.

Kemudian Sangkuriang berkeliling keseluruh dunia hingga dia kembali tiba di desanya tanpa mengenalinya. Di sana dia bertemu seorang wanita cantik yang sebenarnya adalah ibunya.
 

Sangkuriang dan wanita cantik itu sang jatuh cinta satu sama lain dan mereka memutuskan untuk menikah.
Tetapi Dayang Sumbi menyadari bahwa lelaki yang dia cintai adalah anaknya. Dan kemudian dayang Sumbi meminta dua hal.
 

“jika kamu ingin menikahi ku, buatlah sebuah danau yang besar dan sebuah perahu dalam satu malam” pinta Dayang Sumbi.
“siap, jika kamu menginginkanya” Sangkuriang setuju.
 

Kemudian dia membuat sebuah danau dengan membendung sungai citarum dan membuat sebuah perahu. Kawatir Sangkuriang akan menyelesaikanya, Dayng Sumbi berdoa kepada Tuhan. Kemudian cahaya horizon dari timur muncul dan pagipun datang.

Berpikir bahwa usahanya siasia. Dengan marah dia menendang perahu tersebut sehingga terbalik. Kemudia perhau tersebut menjadi sebuah gunung yang terkenal dengan nama Gunung Tangkuban Perahu. Tangkuban berarti terbalik dan Perahu berarti perahu.

 

 

source:http://www.belajarbahasainggris.us/2012/02/indonesian-folktales-tangkuban-perahu.html