The Fisherman And The Turtle – A Virtuous Japanese Legend

Legends are narratives that are passed down over time, not just to entertain, but also to convey values ​​and lessons. They are stories that arouse emotions and make us think about our daily lives. The fisherman and the turtle  is one of them.

Although it is a short story, its message is clear and precise. It invites us to question the rhythm of our lives, what we use our time for, and above all the meaning of our decisions and actions – we hope you like it!

The fisherman and the turtle – a Japanese legend that we should think about every now and then

Many years ago a humble fisherman named Urashima lived in a small coastal village. One day, on his way home from a long day at sea, he noticed a group of children abusing a turtle on the shore. Without hesitation, he criticized their behavior and to make sure that they really left the turtle alone, he gave them a few coins.

When the animal was free, Urashima helped it return to the sea. The next day, when he was fishing at sea again, he heard a voice mentioning his name. When he searched for the source of this voice, he identified it as the turtle he had released the day before.

She told him that she was the maid of the Queen of the Seas, who lived in the Dragon Palace, where he was invited as thanks for his deed. So the fisherman climbed on the turtle’s back and traveled with her across the seabed until they reached the place where the queen lived.

Once there, he was amazed at the grandeur of the palace and the beauty of the queen. She entertained him and paid him attention. But when the fisherman had been there for three days, he told the ruler that he wanted to return home because he had dreamed that his elderly parents needed him.

The Japanese legend continues …

The Queen had no objection to his homecoming, but before he was about to leave, she gave him a beautifully painted box studded with pearls. And she also gave him an important warning: the box should not be opened under any circumstances. If he stuck to it, he could be happy.

After surfacing, Urashima made his way home. The further he got, the more it surprised him that he no longer recognized his people. When he got to the place where his home was supposed to be, there was another building, and when he asked the people who seemed to live there about his parents, they didn’t know how to answer him.

When he gave his name, a very old man turned to him, cleared his throat, and explained that in his childhood he had heard the story of a fisherman who had the same name and who disappeared into the sea. That happened many, many years ago; but only three days had passed for Urashima.

Alone, sad and desperate, he went back to the shore. Then he remembered the box the queen had given him. If he opened it, he might be able to go back to the Dragon Palace, he thinks. When he opened it, however, only white smoke broke out from inside.

Urashima grew older and older in the smoke. His face became more and more wrinkled, his body became heavier, and his hair turned white. At that moment he realized what was in this box: the years that had passed when he was in the palace and that were now returning to his body. The next day Urashima lay dead on the bank.

Lessons from the Japanese legend The Fisherman and the Turtle

The Japanese legend of the fisherman and the turtle invites us to reflect on the quality of our time and our actions, as well as the importance of being aware of the consequences of our actions.

• When we feel good and happy, we don’t even notice the passage of time. It goes by in a flash. It’s about not losing sight of the goal and always keeping in mind what is important: the people around us and our life plans. We must not confuse joy and desire with well-being, nor must we confuse the immediate satisfaction of our needs with the satisfaction that results from achieving long-term goals through our efforts and work.

• We must also not forget the effects of our decisions and actions. Everything has consequences, for better or for worse. The legend The Fisherman and the Turtle  illustrates this very well when Urashima opens the box despite being warned not to.

“The best life is not the longest, but the richest in good deeds.”

Marie Curie

Undoubtedly, this Japanese legend leaves us with valuable lessons that invite us to reflect and that can help us in our daily lives.