Japanese Mythology: Reading Diary B

Illustration from the Romances of Old Japan

• “the fickle Yamato”  Interesting description of him
• ““Mortal, behold Benten, Goddess of Deathless Love,” sang the mermaid.”  The names of these gods and goddess are really interesting.  Is deathless love the same as undying love?
• “Suddenly she cast him from her: “To win my love thou must dare death,” she demanded imperiously.”  Does this play into her name, deathless love?
• I like how so much of this tale seems to be either songs or poetry
• I wonder why, of all birds, he asks the stork to help him?
• One of the labors is the demon boar
• “Here the chieftains welcomed Yamato with feigned hospitality, inviting his warriors to a deer-hunt upon the moor.”  Why was it feigned?
• Yamato kind of reminds me of Odysseus
• Yamato is a huge jerk to Tacibana
• Wait, Susa-no-wo is evil?
• The part with the siren kind of reminds me of Lanval.
• A demon deer?  That seems a little odd.  I’ve never heard of deer being anything other than gentle.
• He finally wants Tacibana?  Bleh
• Seriously, what is up with all the serpents?  It’s like every story I’ve read this far has had one.
• Tacibana is the one to save Yamato from the siren
• “Reckless Yamato, thou hast adventured upon my ever-verdant Sea Plain and defied my father, the God of Ocean. Therefore shalt thou perish, else another victim be granted me.”  I feel like reckless is a very accurate description of Yamato
• Tacibana died to save Yamato