batch.motif.japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki-gutenberg-l1577-l1695
---
record_id: batch.motif.japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki-gutenberg-l1577-l1695
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
passage_locator:
label: THE TONGUE-CUT SPARROW / THE STORY OF URASHIMA TARO, THE FISHER LAD / THE
FARMER AND THE BADGER / THE ADVENTURES OF KINTARO, THE GOLDEN BOY; lines 1577-1695
start: '1577'
end: '1695'
translation: Japanese Fairy Tales
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: After Kintoki dies in disgrace, his widow flees to the Ashigara Mountains,
where she gives birth to Kintaro. Kintaro grows up with extraordinary strength
in the mountain wilds, befriends and speaks with animals, and plays with his animal
retainers. On a grassy plain, Kintaro arranges a wrestling match among the animals;
the hare defeats the monkey and receives a rice-dumpling prize, after which the
monkey protests that he was not fairly beaten.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Kintoki, a brave soldier in Kyoto, marries a beautiful lady, falls into disgrace
at Court, is dismissed, and dies.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Kintoki's widow flees to the Ashigara Mountains because she fears her husband's
enemies.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: A boy named Kintaro, or the Golden Boy, is born in lonely mountain forests.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:4
text: Kintaro is described as remarkably strong; by age eight he can cut down trees
as quickly as woodcutters and can smash rocks and stones.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: Kintaro grows up alone in the mountain wilds, makes friends with animals,
and learns to understand and speak their talk.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: The bear, deer, monkey, and hare are identified as Kintaro's special retainers.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: The bear lets Kintaro ride on her back to her cave; Kintaro also shows affection
for the deer by putting his arms around its neck.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: Kintaro and the four animals reach a wide grassy plain covered with wild flowers.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: Kintaro proposes a wrestling match, and the bear shapes a wrestling platform
with help from the deer, monkey, and hare.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:10
text: Kintaro assigns the monkey and hare to open the sports and appoints the deer
as umpire.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:11
text: The deer raises and drops a leaf as a signal for the monkey and hare to begin
wrestling.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:12
text: The hare pushes the monkey off the platform and is declared the winner by
the deer.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:13
text: Kintaro gives the hare a rice-dumpling from his luncheon box as the prize.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:14
text: The monkey says he was not fairly beaten because his foot slipped and asks
for another chance.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Kintoki
description: A brave soldier in Kyoto, Kintaro's father, who dies after disgrace
at Court.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Kintoki's wife / Kintaro's mother
description: A beautiful high-ranking woman who flees to the Ashigara Mountains
and gives birth to Kintaro.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Kintaro / the Golden Boy
description: A boy born in the mountain forests, remarkable for strength, able to
speak with animals, and organizer of the animals' wrestling match.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:10
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Bear
description: One of Kintaro's special retainers; she brings cubs, carries Kintaro
to her cave, and makes the wrestling platform.
role_refs:
- role:7
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Deer
description: One of Kintaro's special retainers; Kintaro embraces its neck, and
it acts as umpire in the wrestling match.
role_refs:
- role:7
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Monkey
description: One of Kintaro's special retainers; wrestles the hare, loses the round,
and protests the result.
role_refs:
- role:7
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:11
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Hare
description: One of Kintaro's special retainers; wrestles the monkey, wins the round,
and receives a rice-dumpling prize.
role_refs:
- role:7
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
roles:
- id: role:1
label: deceased father
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Kintoki dies before Kintaro's mountain upbringing.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: widowed mother in flight
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: She flees to the Ashigara Mountains after her husband's death because she
fears his enemies.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: hidden high-ranking woman
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Woodcutters call her the Old Nurse of the Mountains because they do not know
her high rank.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:4
label: extraordinarily strong child
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The passage emphasizes Kintaro's strength and calls him a Wonder-child.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:5
label: animal-speaking mountain child
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: He grows up in the mountain wilds and learns to understand and speak animal
talk.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:6
label: organizer and prize-giver
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: He arranges the wrestling match and gives the hare a rice-dumpling prize.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:10
- id: role:7
label: animal retainer
assigned_to:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
basis: The bear, deer, monkey, and hare are named as Kintaro's special retainers.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:8
label: platform maker
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The bear says she will make the wrestling platform and shapes the earth.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:9
label: umpire
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Kintaro appoints the deer as umpire, and the deer declares the winner.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: role:10
label: defeated wrestler and protester
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The monkey is pushed off the platform and later says he was not fairly beaten.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:11
- id: role:11
label: winning wrestler
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The hare defeats the monkey and receives the prize.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: Ashigara Mountains
literal_form: mountain range and wilderness refuge
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: sym:2
label: large ax
literal_form: ax given to Kintaro by his mother
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:3
label: trees
literal_form: forest trees cut by Kintaro and a tree rubbed by the deer
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
- id: sym:4
label: rocks and stones
literal_form: rocks and stones smashed by Kintaro
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:5
label: bear's cave
literal_form: cave reached by Kintaro riding on the bear's back
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs:
- cave
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:6
label: wrestling platform
literal_form: earthen platform made by the animals for wrestling
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: sym:7
label: leaf signal
literal_form: leaf raised and dropped by the deer to start the match
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:8
label: rice-dumpling prize
literal_form: rice-dumpling from Kintaro's luncheon box awarded to the winning hare
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Flight to the mountains and Kintaro's birth
summary: After Kintoki's death, his widow flees from his enemies to the Ashigara
Mountains, where Kintaro is born in the lonely forests.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Growth of the strong mountain child
summary: Kintaro grows in strength, receives an ax, helps woodcutters cut trees,
smashes stones, and is called Wonder-child.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Kintaro and the animal retainers
summary: Kintaro grows up without human companions, befriends animals, speaks their
language, and is especially attended by the bear, deer, monkey, and hare.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Wrestling match arranged on the plain
summary: Kintaro and the animals arrive on a grassy plain; Kintaro proposes a wrestling
match, and the bear and other animals make the platform.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:5
label: Hare defeats monkey
summary: The deer serves as umpire, starts the match with a leaf, and declares the
hare winner after the hare pushes the monkey off the platform.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: scene:6
label: Prize and protest
summary: Kintaro awards a rice-dumpling to the hare, while the monkey protests that
he slipped and asks for another round.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Extraordinarily strong child raised in the wilderness
taxonomy_refs:
- miraculous_child
basis: Kintaro is born in the mountain forests and is repeatedly described as having
remarkable strength from childhood, including cutting trees and smashing stones.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
confidence: high
cautions: The passage gives no supernatural conception or divine parentage; the
motif identification rests on extraordinary childhood strength and the Wonder-child
designation.
- id: motif:2
label: Hidden noble mother and child in mountain exile
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
basis: Kintaro's mother, whose high rank is unknown to local woodcutters, flees
to the mountains after her husband's death and raises the child there.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
confidence: medium
cautions: The taxonomy reference is broad; the passage describes flight and exile
but not a full quest departure by Kintaro.
- id: motif:3
label: Human child as master and companion of animals
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Kintaro learns animal speech, befriends animals, and is treated by them as
master, with four named animal retainers.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: No provided taxonomy family directly labels this human-animal companionship
pattern.
- id: motif:4
label: Contest among animal companions judged by an appointed umpire
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Kintaro organizes a wrestling match among animal companions, appoints the
deer as umpire, and awards a prize to the hare after victory.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: This is a local narrative pattern within the passage rather than a mapped
taxonomy motif.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 1577-1588
quote_or_summary: Kintoki marries, falls into disgrace, dies, and his widow flees
to the Ashigara Mountains, where she gives birth to Kintaro, the Golden Boy.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 1588-1595
quote_or_summary: 'Kintaro''s great strength is emphasized: by age eight he cuts
trees like woodcutters, receives a large ax, is called Wonder-child, and smashes
rocks and stones.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 1597-1602
quote_or_summary: Kintaro grows up alone in the mountain wilds, befriends animals,
learns their speech, is treated as master, and has the bear, deer, monkey, and
hare as special retainers.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 1604-1608
quote_or_summary: The bear brings cubs and carries Kintaro to her cave; Kintaro
also shows affection for the deer by embracing its neck.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 1610-1618
quote_or_summary: Kintaro and the bear, deer, monkey, and hare travel through the
mountains and reach a wide grassy plain with wild flowers, where the animals show
pleasure.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 1620-1634
quote_or_summary: Kintaro proposes a wrestling match; the bear volunteers to make
the platform, and the other animals help raise it.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 1635-1645
quote_or_summary: Kintaro says the monkey and hare will open the sports and appoints
the deer as umpire; the deer calls them to the platform.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 1646-1658
quote_or_summary: The deer calls the monkey Red-back and the hare Long-ears, raises
a leaf as signal, drops it, and the two begin wrestling.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 1660-1682
quote_or_summary: During the match the deer and bear encourage the wrestlers; the
hare pushes the monkey off the platform, and the deer declares the hare the winner.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 1684-1687
quote_or_summary: Kintaro opens his luncheon box and gives the hare a rice-dumpling
as the prize for winning.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: lines 1689-1695
quote_or_summary: The monkey becomes cross, says his foot slipped and that he was
not fairly beaten, and asks for another round with the hare.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: Extraction is based only on the supplied passage. Motif candidates are conservative;
no comparison claims are made because the passage itself does not support cross-textual
comparison.
reviewer_status:
status: needs_review
reviewer: ''
reviewed_at: ''
notes: Machine-generated draft from OpenAI Batch; not human-reviewed.
extracted_by: openai_batch:gpt-5.5
extracted_at: '2026-04-28'
notes: |-
No figures or comparisons outside the supplied line range were added.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki-gutenberg__l1577-l1695
passage_sha256=7492956ca2fc302b9326816fdebec732bfc3b0a9ec176acaa86dbfa6822d062f