THE STORY OF THE AGED MOTHER | A JAPANESE FOLKTALE | MATSUO BASHO

Summary

In a Japanese folk tale by Matsuo Basho, a poor farmer defies a despotic leader's cruel order to abandon the elderly. He secretly hides his aged mother in a mountain hut, marking the path with twigs for her return. The mother's wisdom later saves him from an impossible task, leading the governor to abolish the law and recognize the value of the aged.

Takeaways

• 🏞️ The story is set in a time and place where the elderly were abandoned due to harsh societal norms, reflecting the cultural practices of the era.
• 👨‍🌾 The protagonist is a poor farmer who deeply loves and reveres his aged mother, showing the importance of filial piety in the narrative.
• 👑 A despotic leader issues a cruel proclamation to put all aged people to death, revealing the dark side of the governance of the time.
• 😔 The farmer's heart is filled with sorrow due to the proclamation, but he decides to defy the order, showcasing his moral courage.
• 🌾 The farmer prepares for a journey, carrying rice and water, indicating his determination to ensure his mother's survival.
• 🛤️ The journey up the mountain is described as long and arduous, symbolizing the struggle against the cruel decree.
• 👀 The mother's keen observation and loving actions of marking the path with twigs highlight her wisdom and care for her son's safety.
• 🌲 The summit of Ubatsuyama, the 'mountain of the abandoning of the aged,' is reached, marking a turning point in the story.
• 💧 The farmer's emotional farewell to his mother and her selfless advice to follow the path of twigs underscore the deep bond between them.
• 🔁 The farmer decides against leaving his mother and instead chooses to return with her, showing his commitment to family and defiance of the decree.
• 🏡 The farmer hides his mother under the kitchen floor, demonstrating his resourcefulness and continued resistance to the law.
• 🪵 The governor's unreasonable demand for a 'rope of ashes' is met with ingenuity by the mother, who devises a way to fulfill the order.
• 🤴 The governor's realization of the wisdom of the aged leads to the abolition of the cruel law, illustrating the power of compassion and reason over tyranny.

Q & A

Who is the main character in the Japanese folk tale by Matsuo Basho?

The main character is a poor farmer who lives at the foot of a mountain with his aged mother.

What was the despotic leader's proclamation regarding the aged people in Shinano?

The despotic leader of Shinano issued a cruel proclamation that all aged people should be immediately put to death.

Why did the farmer prepare a quantity of rice and a gourd filled with water?

The farmer prepared the rice and water as provisions for his mother during their journey up the mountain, as part of the cruel mandate to abandon the aged.

What was the significance of the twigs that the mother snapped and left on their path?

The twigs were a trail left by the mother to guide her son back down the mountain safely, as he was unfamiliar with the paths.

What was the name of the mountain where the aged were abandoned?

The mountain where the aged were abandoned was called Ubatsuyama, which means 'the mountain of the abandoning of the aged'.

Why did the mother instruct her son to follow the path marked by the twigs?

The mother wanted her son to follow the path of twigs to ensure he could find his way back home safely, as she was concerned about the dangers of the mountain road.

How did the farmer's mother help him fulfill the governor's demand for a rope of ashes?

The mother advised the farmer to make a rope from twisted straw, then stretch it on a row of flat stones and burn it on a windless night to create a rope of ashes.

What was the governor's reaction to the rope of ashes and the farmer's wisdom?

The governor was pleased with the rope of ashes and praised the farmer's wisdom, which led him to inquire about the source of the idea.

What did the governor do after hearing the farmer's story about his mother?

Upon hearing the farmer's story, the governor meditated and then abolished the cruel law that mandated the abandonment of the aged, recognizing the wisdom that comes with age.

How did the farmer hide his mother to protect her from the governor's proclamation?

The farmer hid his mother beneath the kitchen floor in a wall closet for food, which was covered and hidden from view.