batch.motif.japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki-gutenberg-l3062-l3176
---
record_id: batch.motif.japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki-gutenberg-l3062-l3176
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
passage_locator:
label: THE FARMER AND THE BADGER / THE ADVENTURES OF KINTARO, THE GOLDEN BOY / THE
STORY OF THE MAN WHO DID NOT WISH TO DIE / THE BAMBOO-CUTTER AND THE MOON-CHILD;
lines 3062-3176
start: '3062'
end: '3176'
translation: Japanese Fairy Tales
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: 'The passage concludes the Moon-Child episode: moon beings bring Princess
Moonlight a winged robe and the Elixir of Life, she writes a farewell to the Emperor,
ascends toward the moon in a chariot, and the Emperor has the elixir and letter
burned on Mount Fuji at sunrise, explaining the smoke seen there. The passage
then begins The Mirror of Matsuyama, describing a happy family in Echigo, the
daughter''s early rites, and the father''s departure on a difficult journey to
Kyoto while the mother and child remain at home.'
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Moon beings arrive in a chariot with a coat of wings and a phial of the Elixir
of Life for the Princess.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The Princess drinks a little of the elixir and tries to give the rest to the
old man, but she is prevented.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Before the robe of wings is put on her, the Princess asks to write a final
farewell to the Emperor while still in human form.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: The Princess places the phial of the Elixir of Life with the letter and asks
the old man to deliver them to the Emperor.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: The chariot rolls heavenward toward the moon and disappears among clouds at
dawn.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: The Emperor is afraid to touch the Elixir of Life and sends it with the letter
to Mount Fuji, where royal emissaries burn it on the summit at sunrise.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:7
text: The narrative connects the burning on Mount Fuji with smoke said to rise from
the mountain to the clouds.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: A man and wife in Echigo have one young daughter who is described as the joy
and pride of their lives.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: 'The daughter is described through childhood observances: a temple visit at
thirty days old, a dolls festival, and the tying of her first scarlet-and-gold
obi at age three.'
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:10
text: The father is summoned to the capital, and the journey from Matsuyama to Kyoto
is described as long and difficult in the period of the story.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:11
text: The husband tells his wife to care for everything, especially their daughter,
while he is away.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:12
text: The child asks her father to bring her a present and says she will be good
while waiting for him.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:13
text: The wife carries the child to the gate and watches the departing husband until
he disappears from view.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:14
text: After the father leaves, the mother tells the child they must take care of
everything until he returns and says the child should think of him and pray for
his safe journey.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Princess Moonlight
description: A Princess in human form who is given the Elixir of Life and is taken
heavenward toward the moon in the moon-chariot.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: moon beings, messengers, and charioteers
description: Beings associated with the moon-chariot who bring the winged coat and
elixir and wait while the Princess writes.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: old man
description: The old man receives the Princess's letter and the phial of the Elixir
of Life to deliver to the Emperor.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: the Emperor
description: The ruler who receives Princess Moonlight's letter and the Elixir of
Life, fears touching the elixir, and sends both to Mount Fuji.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Royal emissaries
description: Emissaries who burn the letter and Elixir of Life on the summit of
Mount Fuji at sunrise.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: father / husband of the Matsuyama family
description: A man in Echigo who is summoned to the capital and leaves his wife
and daughter at home.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: wife / mother of the Matsuyama family
description: The wife who prepares for her husband's journey, remains responsible
for the home, and comforts and instructs the child after his departure.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: little daughter
description: The seven-year-old daughter of the Matsuyama family, associated with
childhood rites and with waiting for her father's return.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:10
- ev:12
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: family household god
description: The household god under whose patronage the daughter is placed during
a temple visit when she is thirty days old.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
roles:
- id: role:1
label: celestial returnee
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Princess Moonlight is in human form, receives a winged robe and elixir, and
departs toward the moon.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: role:2
label: otherworldly escorts
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The moon beings and charioteers bring the objects and conduct the chariot's
departure toward the moon.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- id: role:3
label: human intermediary
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The old man is entrusted with the letter and elixir for delivery to the Emperor.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:4
label: royal recipient
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The Emperor is the intended recipient of the Princess's farewell letter and
the Elixir of Life.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
- id: role:5
label: royal agents of burning
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The royal emissaries burn the elixir and letter on Mount Fuji's summit.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:6
label: departing traveler
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The father is summoned to the capital and leaves home on a difficult journey.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:11
- id: role:7
label: household caretaker during absence
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The wife remains at home, is told to care for everything, and tells the child
they must take care of things until the father returns.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:12
- id: role:8
label: waiting child
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The child says she will be good while waiting for her father and later is
told to think of him and pray for his safe journey.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:12
- id: role:9
label: patron deity of family rite
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: The daughter is brought to the temple to be put under the patronage of the
family's household god.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: coat or robe of wings
literal_form: A wonderful coat of wings, later called the robe of wings, meant to
be placed on the Princess's shoulders.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: sym:2
label: Elixir of Life
literal_form: A phial full of the Elixir of Life, partly drunk by the Princess,
entrusted with the letter, and later burned.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: sym:3
label: moon-chariot
literal_form: A chariot associated with the moon beings that rolls heavenward toward
the moon.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:4
label: moon
literal_form: The celestial destination toward which the chariot travels.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:5
label: Mount Fuji
literal_form: The most sacred mountain in the land, where the elixir and letter
are burned on the summit.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:6
label: fire and smoke on Mount Fuji
literal_form: The burning of the elixir and letter at sunrise and the smoke said
to rise from Mount Fuji to the clouds.
associated_figures:
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:7
label: first obi
literal_form: A broad brocade sash of scarlet and gold tied around the daughter's
waist on her third birthday.
associated_figures:
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:8
label: dolls festival dolls
literal_form: A set of dolls and miniature belongings given by the parents at the
daughter's first dolls festival.
associated_figures:
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:9
label: garden gate
literal_form: The gate from which the wife and child watch the father depart down
the road.
associated_figures:
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Princess receives celestial objects and writes farewell
summary: Moon beings bring a winged coat and the Elixir of Life. The Princess drinks
a little, is prevented from giving the rest to the old man, and delays departure
to write a farewell to the Emperor.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:2
label: Ascent of the moon-chariot
summary: The chariot carries the Princess and the moon beings heavenward toward
the moon and disappears among clouds at dawn.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Burning of the elixir on Mount Fuji
summary: The Emperor fears touching the Elixir of Life and sends it with the Princess's
letter to Mount Fuji, where royal emissaries burn it on the summit at sunrise;
the passage links this to smoke rising from Fuji.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Happy family and daughter's early rites
summary: The Matsuyama family is introduced as a happy household with one daughter
whose infancy and early childhood are marked by a temple visit, dolls festival,
and first obi.
figure_refs:
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:5
label: Father's departure for the capital
summary: The father is summoned to Kyoto, prepares for the difficult journey, bids
farewell to his wife and daughter, and leaves while they watch from the gate.
figure_refs:
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
- ev:12
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: celestial ascent or return to the moon
taxonomy_refs:
- ascent
basis: Princess Moonlight receives celestial items and is carried heavenward toward
the moon in a chariot.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage presents the return itself but not the earlier full circumstances
of the Princess's origin.
- id: motif:2
label: immortality substance withheld and destroyed
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The Elixir of Life is partly drunk by the Princess, not allowed to be given
to the old man, later feared by the Emperor, and burned on Mount Fuji.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: No explicit taxonomy reference for immortality elixir is available in
the supplied list.
- id: motif:3
label: sacred mountain smoke explained by burning of celestial gift
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The passage says the Elixir of Life and letter are burned on Mount Fuji's
summit at sunrise and connects this with smoke seen rising from the mountain.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: This is an etiological pattern within the passage, but no direct motif-family
taxonomy item for etiological mountain smoke is supplied.
- id: motif:4
label: childhood threshold rite
taxonomy_refs:
- initiation
basis: The girl's first obi at age three is explicitly described as a sign that
she crossed the threshold of girlhood and left infancy behind.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: The rite is a social childhood marker; the passage does not frame it as
a secret or ordeal-based initiation.
- id: motif:5
label: departure of a family member on a difficult journey
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
basis: The father is summoned to the capital, prepares for a long and arduous journey,
and leaves his wife and child behind.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:11
confidence: high
cautions: The passage begins the departure episode but does not yet show its later
narrative consequences.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 3062-3066
quote_or_summary: Moon beings in a chariot hold a coat of wings and a phial of the
Elixir of Life; the Princess drinks a little and is prevented from giving the
rest to the old man.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 3067-3073
quote_or_summary: Before the robe of wings is placed on her, the Princess asks to
write one more farewell to the Emperor while still in human form.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 3074-3077
quote_or_summary: The Princess keeps the messengers waiting, writes, places the
Elixir of Life with the letter, and gives both to the old man for the Emperor.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 3078-3083
quote_or_summary: The chariot rolls heavenward toward the moon; at dawn the moon-chariot
and its occupants are lost among clouds.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 3084-3090
quote_or_summary: Princess Moonlight's letter reaches the Palace; the Emperor fears
touching the Elixir of Life and sends both to Mount Fuji, where royal emissaries
burn them on the summit at sunrise; people say smoke rises from Fuji to the clouds.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 3094-3101
quote_or_summary: In Echigo, a man and wife have been married for years and have
one little daughter, described as the joy and pride of their lives.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: 3102-3114
quote_or_summary: The daughter's growth is marked by a temple visit at thirty days
old, a dolls festival, and a first scarlet-and-gold obi on her third birthday,
described as crossing from infancy into girlhood.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: 3118-3131
quote_or_summary: The father is summoned to the capital; the text describes travel
from Matsuyama to Kyoto as difficult, with rough roads and long walking distances.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: 3132-3141
quote_or_summary: The wife anxiously helps her husband prepare; she cannot accompany
him because the distance is too great and her duty is to care for the home. The
husband asks her to care for everything, especially their daughter.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: 3142-3153
quote_or_summary: The wife weeps, the child does not understand the sorrow of parting,
and the girl asks her father for a present while promising to be good.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: 3154-3163
quote_or_summary: The father struggles emotionally to leave, exits through the garden
gate, and the wife carries the child to the gate to watch him until he vanishes
in the distance.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
- id: ev:12
type: summary
locator: 3164-3176
quote_or_summary: The mother tells the child that they must take care of everything
until the father returns, says he will bring a doll, and tells the child to think
of him and pray for his safe journey.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary generated from supplied passage.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: Extraction is based only on the supplied line range. Motif candidates are
literal and cautious; no comparison claims were added because the passage does
not itself support a cross-text or cross-tradition 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: |-
Source metadata identifies the text as public-domain English retelling of Japanese fairy tales. The passage spans the ending of one tale and the beginning of another, so scenes and motifs are separated by narrative segment.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki-gutenberg__l3062-l3176
passage_sha256=5daccbc9324ef33118104b1a9a0015ad8a69dc1414349f79d18878fbc641c4b2