batch.motif.japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki-gutenberg-l5455-l5593
---
record_id: batch.motif.japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki-gutenberg-l5455-l5593
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
passage_locator:
label: THE STORY OF THE OLD MAN WHO MADE WITHERED TREES TO FLOWER / THE JELLY FISH
AND THE MONKEY / THE QUARREL OF THE MONKEY AND THE CRAB / THE WHITE HARE AND THE
CROCODILES; lines 5455-5593
start: '5455'
end: '5593'
translation: Japanese Fairy Tales
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: A white hare living on Oki wants to cross the sea to Inaba. He tricks a
crocodile into summoning many crocodiles to form a line across the water, then
crosses on their backs while pretending to count them. After he mocks them, the
crocodiles take revenge by pulling out his fur and leaving him injured on the
beach, where men who look like king's sons find him crying.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The passage is set in a time when animals could talk, and the white hare lives
on the island of Oki near the mainland of Inaba.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The hare wants to cross the sea from Oki to Inaba and repeatedly looks across
the water toward the mainland.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: The hare sees a crocodile near the island and decides to obtain passage by
trick rather than directly asking a favor.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: The hare flatters and plays with the crocodile, then asks whether the crocodiles
are more numerous than hares.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: The crocodile summons many crocodiles, who arrange themselves in the water
as a bridge between Oki and Inaba.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: The hare crosses by hopping from one crocodile's back to another while pretending
to count them.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:7
text: After reaching Inaba, the hare mocks the crocodiles instead of thanking them.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:8
text: The crocodiles become angry, catch the hare, pull out his fur, and leave him
on the beach.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:9
text: The injured hare lies helpless, crying and bleeding, until men who look like
king's sons pass by and ask what is wrong.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: white hare of Inaba
description: A little white hare living on Oki who wants to cross to Inaba, tricks
the crocodiles, and is later stripped of his fur.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: first crocodile
description: A crocodile swimming near Oki who speaks with the hare, boasts of crocodile
numbers, and summons other crocodiles.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: company of crocodiles
description: A large group of crocodiles who form a line across the sea, are tricked
by the hare, and then take revenge.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: men who looked like King's sons
description: A number of men who pass by the beach, see the hare crying, and ask
what is the matter.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
roles:
- id: role:1
label: trickster
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The hare intentionally uses deception to get the crocodiles to create a crossing.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:2
label: boundary-crosser
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The hare crosses from the island of Oki to the mainland of Inaba over the
sea.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- id: role:3
label: deceived helpers
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:3
basis: The crocodile and his company form a bridge, unaware that the hare is using
them to cross the sea.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:4
label: avengers
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: After learning of the trick and being mocked, the crocodiles punish the hare
by pulling out his fur.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:5
label: injured sufferer
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: After the revenge, the hare is left fur-less, bleeding, helpless, and crying
on the beach.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:6
label: questioning passersby
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The men stop when they see the crying hare and ask what is wrong.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: sea crossing
literal_form: the sea between the island of Oki and the mainland of Inaba
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:2
label: living bridge
literal_form: a line of crocodiles arranged in the water as a bridge between Oki
and Inaba
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:3
label: stripped fur
literal_form: the hare's white fur pulled out by the crocodiles
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Hare longs to cross the sea
summary: The hare on Oki repeatedly looks across the water toward Inaba and wants
to find a way to cross.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Hare devises a trick
summary: The hare sees a crocodile, decides not to ask directly for help, and begins
a friendly conversation that leads to a boast about crocodile numbers.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Crocodile bridge across the sea
summary: The first crocodile summons many crocodiles, who line up across the sea;
the hare hops across their backs while pretending to count them.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Mockery and revenge
summary: After reaching the mainland, the hare mocks the crocodiles, who catch him
and pull out his fur in revenge.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:5
label: Injured hare found on the beach
summary: The hare lies helpless and crying on the beach until men who look like
king's sons pass by and ask about his condition.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: trickster obtains a sea crossing by deceiving animals
taxonomy_refs:
- trickster_boundary
basis: The hare uses deception to make crocodiles form a bridge over the sea, enabling
him to cross from Oki to Inaba.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The taxonomy reference is broad; the passage presents a trickster boundary-crossing
but does not name a formal motif category.
- id: motif:2
label: boast exploited by a trickster
taxonomy_refs:
- trickster_boundary
basis: The hare prompts the crocodile to boast about the number of crocodiles and
uses that boast to induce the crocodiles to line up across the sea.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: This is a sub-pattern within the deception episode rather than a separately
named motif in the passage.
- id: motif:3
label: trickster punished after gloating
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The hare reveals and mocks his deception after crossing, and the crocodiles
retaliate by stripping off his fur.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy family directly corresponds to punitive reversal
after trickery.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 5455-5470
quote_or_summary: In the age when animals could talk, a white hare lives on Oki
and longs to cross the sea to the mainland of Inaba.
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 5471-5484
quote_or_summary: The hare sees a crocodile near the island and thinks that he will
try to get what he wants by a trick rather than by asking a favor.
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 5485-5514
quote_or_summary: The hare greets the crocodile, plays with him, and asks whether
the crocodiles are more numerous than the hares; the crocodile boasts that crocodiles
in the sea far outnumber hares.
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 5515-5543
quote_or_summary: At the hare's request, the crocodile summons many crocodiles,
who arrange themselves in the water to form a bridge between Oki and Inaba.
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 5544-5558
quote_or_summary: The hare asks permission to walk over the crocodiles' backs to
count them, then hops from back to back and crosses to Inaba.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: quote
locator: lines 5559-5566
quote_or_summary: 'The hare jeers at the crocodiles: “Oh! you stupid crocodiles,
now I have done with you!”'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 5567-5578
quote_or_summary: The crocodiles realize the trick, become angry, catch and surround
the hare, pull out his fur, and say that it serves him right.
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 5579-5588
quote_or_summary: After the crocodiles leave, the hare is fur-less, bleeding, in
pain, unable to move, and crying on the beach.
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 5589-5593
quote_or_summary: Men who look like king's sons pass by, see the hare crying, stop,
and ask what is the matter; the hare says crocodiles pulled out his fur.
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 passage provides clear figures, actions, and sequence. Motif labels are
candidate analytical labels based only on this passage and supplied taxonomy options.
No comparison claims are made because the passage itself does not compare traditions
or texts.
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: |-
Only the supplied passage and metadata were used.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki-gutenberg__l5455-l5593
passage_sha256=dc8de5c06a67c4361d9759f91890af6c5b5a1fb3b3093bbf0d24cef204cfbf0c