batch.motif.japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki-gutenberg-l4529-l4625
---
record_id: batch.motif.japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki-gutenberg-l4529-l4625
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
passage_locator:
label: THE GOBLIN OF ADACHIGAHARA / THE SAGACIOUS MONKEY AND THE BOAR / THE HAPPY
HUNTER AND THE SKILLFUL FISHER / THE STORY OF THE OLD MAN WHO MADE WITHERED TREES
TO FLOWER; lines 4529-4625
start: '4529'
end: '4625'
translation: Japanese Fairy Tales
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: An old couple love and care for their white dog Shiro. Shiro leads the
old man to dig beneath a yenoki tree, where he finds valuable coins. A cruel,
envious neighbor borrows Shiro, tries to force him to find treasure under another
tree, finds only refuse, blames the dog, kills him with a spade, and buries him
in the hole.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The old man and his wife live by cultivating a small plot of land and have
no child.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The couple keep a white dog named Shiro and give him affectionate care, including
food saved from their meals.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: The neighboring old couple are described as wicked and cruel and mistreat
Shiro when he comes near them.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Shiro barks in the field, drags his master to a large yenoki tree, and digs
there with his paws.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: The old man digs at the spot Shiro indicated and finds a heap of old valuable
coins, with more gold coins deeper in the ground.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:6
text: The cruel neighbor secretly watches the treasure being found and becomes envious.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:7
text: The cruel neighbor borrows Shiro from the good old man, who consents despite
knowing the neighbor has mistreated the dog.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:8
text: The cruel neighbor takes Shiro to his own field, threatens him, and holds
the dog’s head to the ground so that he scratches and digs to free himself.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:9
text: The cruel neighbor digs under his tree expecting coins but finds a foul-smelling
refuse heap instead.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:10
text: The cruel neighbor blames Shiro for the failed search, strikes him with a
spade, kills him, and buries the body in the hole.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: good old man
description: An old cultivator who lives peacefully with his wife, loves Shiro,
follows the dog’s indication, and finds coins.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: good old wife
description: The old man’s wife, who shares his childless household and helps carry
home the treasure.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:11
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Shiro
description: A white Japanese dog loved by the good old couple; he leads his master
to buried coins and is later killed by the cruel neighbor.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:10
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: cruel old neighbor
description: The neighboring old man who hates Shiro, envies the treasure discovery,
borrows and coerces Shiro, finds refuse, and kills the dog.
role_refs:
- role:6
- role:7
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: cruel neighbor’s wife
description: The neighboring wife, described together with her husband as wicked
and cruel; he later tells her of his plan to borrow Shiro.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:8
roles:
- id: role:1
label: kind owner
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: He loves Shiro, gives him food, and lends him only on condition that he be
cared for.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:7
- id: role:2
label: recipient of discovered treasure
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: He digs where Shiro indicates and uncovers valuable coins.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:3
label: household partner
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: She shares the old man’s childless household and carries home the treasure
with him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:11
- id: role:4
label: faithful animal helper
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Shiro leads his master to the spot beneath the yenoki tree and digs there
before the coins are found.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:5
label: victim of violence
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The cruel neighbor strikes Shiro with a spade and kills him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: role:6
label: envious witness
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: He secretly observes the treasure discovery and wants similar fortune.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:7
label: greedy imitator
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: He borrows Shiro and tries to make him find gold under his own tree.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: role:8
label: animal killer
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: After finding refuse instead of coins, he blames Shiro, strikes him, and
kills him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: role:9
label: cruel neighbor
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: She is introduced with her husband as wicked and cruel, and he later tells
her of his scheme.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:8
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: white dog
literal_form: Shiro, a white Japanese dog
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: yenoki tree
literal_form: large yenoki tree under which Shiro digs and where treasure is found
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:3
label: buried coins
literal_form: heap of old and valuable coins, including gold coins
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:4
label: spade
literal_form: tool used to dig for treasure and later used to kill Shiro
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:10
- id: sym:5
label: refuse heap
literal_form: foul-smelling refuse heap found beneath the cruel neighbor’s tree
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Childless couple and beloved dog
summary: The old couple live modestly, have no child, and pour their affection on
Shiro, while the neighboring couple mistreat him.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:2
label: Shiro reveals buried treasure
summary: Shiro leads the old man to a yenoki tree and digs there; the old man digs
with a spade and uncovers valuable coins.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:3
label: Envious borrowing of Shiro
summary: The cruel neighbor sees the good old man’s fortune, asks to borrow Shiro,
and takes the dog away for his own search.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: scene:4
label: Failed imitation and killing of Shiro
summary: The cruel neighbor forces Shiro to scratch under his tree, digs up refuse
instead of coins, then kills and buries the dog.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: kindness to an animal repaid by treasure
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The old couple care lovingly for Shiro, and Shiro leads the old man to buried
valuable coins.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The passage implies grateful return through Shiro’s behavior but does
not present an explicit supernatural explanation.
- id: motif:2
label: hidden treasure revealed by animal guide
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The dog barks, drags his master to the tree, digs, and the man finds buried
coins at that spot.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The passage does not specify how Shiro knows the treasure is there.
- id: motif:3
label: greedy imitation brings worthless result
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The envious neighbor tries to reproduce the treasure-finding event under
his own tree but uncovers a foul refuse heap.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:8
- ev:9
confidence: high
cautions: This extract ends before any later consequences for the neighbor beyond
disappointment and violence.
- id: motif:4
label: abused helper killed after failed forced service
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The neighbor coerces Shiro to locate treasure and kills him when the search
yields refuse rather than coins.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: The passage records the killing but not any subsequent restoration, punishment,
or transformation.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 4529-4538
quote_or_summary: An old man and wife cultivate a small plot, have no child, and
love their white dog Shiro.
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 4540-4548
quote_or_summary: After supper, the old man saves food for Shiro, who begs and receives
the treat.
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 4548-4553
quote_or_summary: The next-door old couple are described as wicked and cruel, hating
and sometimes wounding Shiro.
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 4554-4563
quote_or_summary: Shiro barks in the field, leads his master by the kimono to a
large yenoki tree, and digs there joyfully.
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 4565-4575
quote_or_summary: The old man digs beneath the tree and uncovers old valuable coins
and more gold coins deeper down.
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 4572-4584
quote_or_summary: The neighbor secretly watches the treasure discovery through the
bamboo hedge and later wants to find a fortune too.
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 4584-4593
quote_or_summary: The neighbor asks to borrow Shiro; the good old man finds it strange
but agrees if the dog is cared for.
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 4595-4610
quote_or_summary: The neighbor tells his wife of his plan, takes a spade, forces
Shiro to his field, threatens him to find coins, and holds his head down until
he scratches.
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 4612-4618
quote_or_summary: The neighbor believes Shiro has scented coins, digs under the
tree, and finds only a foul-smelling refuse heap.
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 4620-4625
quote_or_summary: Angered by finding refuse, the neighbor blames Shiro, strikes
him with a spade, kills him, and buries him in the hole.
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 4577-4580
quote_or_summary: The old man calls his wife, and together they carry the treasure
home; the poor old man becomes rich.
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: high
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Extraction uses only the supplied passage. No external tale-type or comparative
claims were added.
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: |-
The supplied locator label names several tale titles, but the provided passage text covers the opening portion of “The Story of the Old Man Who Made Withered Trees to Flower.”
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki-gutenberg__l4529-l4625
passage_sha256=9d5f9fccc1bcac595eb2183980c13cca1a54d8a650ada4cdd1d8cef78e431adc