batch.motif.japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki-gutenberg-l1697-l1832
---
record_id: batch.motif.japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki-gutenberg-l1697-l1832
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 1697-1832
start: '1697'
end: '1832'
translation: Japanese Fairy Tales
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: Kintaro presides over animal wrestling among the monkey, hare, deer, and
bear. On the way home he uproots a large tree to make a bridge across a river
for the animals. A woodcutter sees the feat, follows him to his mother's cottage,
and challenges him to a test of strength; their arm-wrestling ends in a draw.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The monkey defeats the hare in a wrestling match by pulling the hare's ear
and catching one of his legs.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Kintaro gives the victorious monkey a rice-dumpling.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: The deer and hare wrestle while the bear acts as umpire.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Kintaro leads the bear, deer, monkey, and hare away from the wrestling place
toward home.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Kintaro and the four animals reach a river in a valley where there is no bridge.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: Kintaro uproots a large tree at the water's edge and makes it fall across
the stream as a bridge.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: The four animals cross the tree bridge after Kintaro and remark on his strength.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: A woodcutter standing on a rock observes Kintaro uproot the tree and follows
him.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: Kintaro returns to a cottage in the pine woods where his mother is waiting.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:10
text: Kintaro tells his mother that he took his four animal friends into the hills
for wrestling and says that he himself is strongest.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:11
text: The woodcutter enters the cottage and asks to test strength with Kintaro.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:12
text: Kintaro and the woodcutter grasp right hands and test their arm strength until
the woodcutter declares a draw.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Kintaro
description: A boy living in the forest who leads animal companions, rewards the
wrestling victor, uproots a tree to make a bridge, returns to his mother, and
tests strength with the woodcutter.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: monkey
description: One of Kintaro's four animal friends; described as cunning and victorious
over the hare in a wrestling match.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: hare
description: One of Kintaro's four animal friends; wrestles with the monkey and
the deer.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: deer
description: One of Kintaro's four animal friends; wrestles with the hare.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: bear
description: One of Kintaro's four animal friends; comes forward as umpire and is
later named by Kintaro as next strongest after himself.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: woodcutter
description: An old man dressed as a woodcutter who observes Kintaro's strength,
follows him to the cottage, enters, and tests arm strength with him.
role_refs:
- role:7
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Kintaro's mother / Yama-uba
description: Kintaro's mother, waiting in the cottage in the pine woods; she questions
him about the day's wrestling.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
roles:
- id: role:1
label: extraordinarily strong child
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Kintaro uproots a large tree to form a bridge, and the watching woodcutter
says he is no ordinary child.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:2
label: leader of animal companions
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Kintaro organizes the wrestling, leads the animals home, and refers to them
as his four friends.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
- id: role:3
label: animal companion
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
basis: Kintaro calls the bear, deer, monkey, and hare his four friends, and they
follow him from the wrestling place.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
- id: role:4
label: cunning wrestler
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The monkey is described as cunning and uses the hare's ear and leg to win
the wrestling match.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:5
label: animal wrestler
assigned_to:
- fig:3
- fig:4
basis: The hare wrestles with the monkey and then with the deer.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:6
label: umpire
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The bear comes forward as umpire during the match between the deer and the
hare.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:7
label: hidden observer
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The woodcutter watches Kintaro and the animals from a rock overlooking the
stream and follows without Kintaro knowing.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:8
label: strength challenger
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The woodcutter enters the cottage and proposes a test of arm strength with
Kintaro.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: role:9
label: mother at forest cottage
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Kintaro returns to his mother in the cottage, and she questions him about
where he has been.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: tree bridge
literal_form: A large tree uprooted by Kintaro and laid across a river as a bridge.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:2
label: river crossing
literal_form: A river flowing through a valley with no bridge until Kintaro makes
one.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:3
label: rice-dumpling reward
literal_form: A rice-dumpling given by Kintaro to the victorious monkey.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:4
label: right-hand strength test
literal_form: Kintaro and the woodcutter grasp right hands and try to bend one another's
arm.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:5
label: pine-woods cottage
literal_form: A small cottage in the heart of the pine woods where Kintaro's mother
waits.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:7
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Animal wrestling under Kintaro's supervision
summary: The monkey defeats the hare and receives a rice-dumpling from Kintaro;
the deer and hare then wrestle with the bear as umpire.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Tree made into a bridge across the river
summary: Kintaro and the animals come to an unbridged river; Kintaro uproots a large
tree so they can cross.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Woodcutter witnesses Kintaro's strength
summary: A woodcutter watches Kintaro uproot the tree, judges him no ordinary child,
and follows him after the crossing.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Return to the forest cottage
summary: Kintaro returns to his mother, describes the animal wrestling in the hills,
and states that he is the strongest among the group.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:7
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:5
label: Arm-strength contest with the woodcutter
summary: The woodcutter enters the cottage and challenges Kintaro; their right-hand
strength contest ends as a draw.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: extraordinarily strong child
taxonomy_refs:
- miraculous_child
basis: Kintaro is a boy whose strength allows him to uproot a large tree and impress
a watching adult as not ordinary.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage shows extraordinary strength but does not describe Kintaro's
birth or divine origin.
- id: motif:2
label: child leader with animal companions
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Kintaro leads four animal friends, organizes their wrestling, and guides
them home.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy reference directly names this animal-companion pattern.
- id: motif:3
label: river crossing by improvised natural bridge
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: At an unbridged river, Kintaro uproots a tree and lays it across the stream
so the group can cross.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The motif is local to this episode; no broader comparative claim is made
from the passage alone.
- id: motif:4
label: test of strength with mysterious stranger
taxonomy_refs:
- initiation
basis: A woodcutter who has secretly observed Kintaro enters the cottage and challenges
him to a right-hand strength contest that ends in a draw.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: low
cautions: The passage presents a contest, but it does not explicitly frame the event
as an initiation.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 1697-1707
quote_or_summary: The monkey uses cunning tactics against the hare, wins their wrestling
match, and receives a rice-dumpling from Kintaro.
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 1709-1720
quote_or_summary: The deer asks the hare for another round; the bear acts as umpire,
and the animals continue wrestling for amusement.
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 1722-1728
quote_or_summary: Kintaro ends the day's wrestling and leads the animals away, with
the animals following him.
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 1729-1755
quote_or_summary: At a river with no bridge, Kintaro uproots a large tree at the
water's edge, makes it fall across the stream, crosses first, and the four animals
follow while praising his strength.
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 1756-1772
quote_or_summary: A woodcutter standing on a rock sees Kintaro uproot the tree,
thinks he is no ordinary child, and follows the party after they cross.
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 1773-1810
quote_or_summary: Kintaro returns to his mother's cottage in the pine woods, tells
her about taking the bear, deer, monkey, and hare into the hills for wrestling,
and says he is strongest, with the bear next.
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 1811-1824
quote_or_summary: A voice outside asks to join the next wrestling match; the old
woodcutter enters the cottage, surprising Kintaro and Yama-uba, and proposes a
test of strength.
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 1825-1832
quote_or_summary: Kintaro and the woodcutter grasp right hands and try to bend each
other's arm; after a long contest the woodcutter declares it a draw.
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: The extraction is based only on the supplied passage. Motif labels are conservative;
taxonomy references are used only where the passage gives direct support.
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 comparison claims were added because the passage itself does not explicitly support comparison to another text or tradition.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki-gutenberg__l1697-l1832
passage_sha256=d26aae5628c1ad3e0297cb49a80b1751e54f0092c893f09140b51ec01d674cb9