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In
issue 38 we introduced the folktale ぶんぶくちゃがま.
In this issue we introduce a story known to all Japanese children,
さるかにがっせん, the tale
of the battle between the monkey and the crab. |
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さる
usually refers to ニホンザル (Japanese
monkey),which lives in the forests of Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu.
It is 50~70cm in length and has a tail of 5~9cm. ニホンザル
can be seen at hot
springs in snowy mountain areas in winter. ニホンザル
have been observed to imitate human behaviour,so they are considered
to be intelligent and cheeky. かに are
found in most coastal reef areas in Japan. The biggest
かに in the world are
found in Japan, in sizes up to 3 metres when the claws are open. |
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As
in other cultures, かたきうち
is a popular subject
of theatre and folktales in Japan.Usually committed to avenge
the killing of an elder relation or a feudal superior,this type
of vendetta was regularly justified in earlier times by reference
to the Chinese Confucian classics,which contained such pronouncements
as:‘No one should live under the same heaven as his father's
enemy. かたきうち
was finally made illegal
in 1873. In the original story of さるかにがっせん,
the crab dies,and the monkey is killed by the crab's children
and their friends in revenge. However many Japanese children's
storybooks have less violent versions such as the one below. |
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Once
upon a time,a monkey and a crab went for a walk.
Along the way, the monkey found a persimmon seed
and the crab found a rice ball. The sly monkey
persuaded the crab to trade his rice ball for
the persimmon seed, and quickly ate the riceball.
The disappointed crab couldn't eat the persimmon
seed, but she took it home and planted it in her
garden, where she tended it until it grew into
a large tree full of beautiful persimmons. When
the monkey saw this, he climbed the tree and began
to eat them. The crab asked him to pick some for
her, but he threw down only a hard green persimmon,
which hit the crab on the head and hurt her badly.
The crab's children were very distressed to see
their mother hurt.Their friends, a bee, a chestnut
and a mortar came to see their mother, they asked
them to help take revenge on the monkey. To do
this, they invited the monkey to their house,
and when he sat down by the fireplace, the chestnut
burst out from the ashes and burnt him. As he
reached for the water jug, the bee flew out of
it and stung him. Then as he tried to run out
of the house, the mortar fell on him from above
the door and squashed him. The monkey saw there
was no escape. He apologised to the crab for hurting
her, to the delight of the children and their
friends.
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Task: |
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1.
Understanding
the story |
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| (1) |
Think
of 3 words to describe Saru in the story. |
| (2) |
Who took revenge on Saru?Name them in Japanese. |
| (3) |
What
other stories do you know that have something in common
with ‘さるかにがっせん’ |
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Website
for かみしばいversion:
http://www.digital-lib.nttdocomo.co.jp/kikakuten/mukashi/mukashi1/sarukani.html
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2.
Singing a Japanese song |
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Japanese
children often sing this song to the tune of
“Frere Jacques
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with actions from じゃんけん.
At the end of the song,they imitate a crab by making the チョキ
sign. |
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Once
the students become familiar with the song,they can create their
own!
eg
みぎてが ぱーで ひだりてが ぱーで コアラ コアラ.
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This
section co-ordinated by HimikoNegishi-Wood
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