batch.motif.japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki-gutenberg-l614-l726
---
record_id: batch.motif.japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki-gutenberg-l614-l726
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
passage_locator:
label: PREFACE / JAPANESE FAIRY TALES / MY LORD BAG OF RICE / THE TONGUE-CUT SPARROW;
lines 614-726
start: '614'
end: '726'
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 the old man receives a small box filled with riches from the sparrows,
the old woman reproaches him for not taking the larger box. Driven by greed despite
her earlier cruelty to the Lady Sparrow, she goes to the sparrow’s house in the
bamboo grove and demands the large box. The Lady Sparrow gives it to her. On the
way home, the old woman opens the heavy box expecting wealth, but demons, monsters,
a huge snake, and a frog come out. Terrified, she flees home, where the old man
tells her that her wickedness has met its reward.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The small box received by the old man is filled with gold, silver coins, and
other precious things.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The old man repeatedly thanks the sparrow after seeing the contents of the
small box.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: The old woman reproaches the old man for refusing the large box and says they
might have had twice as much silver and gold.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: The old woman makes the old man describe the way to the sparrow’s house and
goes there despite his attempt to stop her.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: The sparrows remember that the old woman cut off the Lady Sparrow’s tongue
after the sparrow ate rice-paste by mistake.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: The sparrow family and relations determine to punish the old woman if they
have the chance.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: The old woman finds the bamboo grove and the sparrow’s house, then knocks
at the door.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: The old woman asks for the big box and says she does not want to be entertained.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: The Lady Sparrow consents and has the servants bring out the big box.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:10
text: The old woman takes the big box, does not stop to thank the Lady Sparrow,
and hurries homeward.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:11
text: The big box is heavy, and the old woman has to rest while carrying it.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:12
text: The old woman opens the big box by the wayside because she expects it to contain
wealth like the small box.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:13
text: Horrible demons and monsters come out of the big box, including a one-eyed
demon, gaping-mouthed monsters, a huge snake, and a big frog.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:14
text: The old woman runs away frightened and later tells her husband that demons
in the box nearly killed her.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:15
text: The old man tells the old woman not to blame the sparrow and says her wickedness
has met its reward.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: old man
description: The husband who received the small box of riches and later tells the
old woman that her wickedness has met its reward.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:10
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: old woman
description: The greedy wife who had earlier cut off the Lady Sparrow’s tongue,
seeks the large box, opens it, and is terrified by the beings inside.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Lady Sparrow
description: The tongue-cut sparrow who receives the old woman at her house and
has the big box brought out.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: sparrow family, relations, and servants
description: The sparrow household remembers the old woman’s cruelty, intends to
punish her, and serves the Lady Sparrow.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: demons and monsters from the big box
description: Frightful beings that emerge from the big box and surround the old
woman.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: one-eyed demon
description: A demon with one huge eye in the middle of its forehead that glares
at the old woman.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: huge snake
description: A huge snake that coils and hisses about the old woman after the box
is opened.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: big frog
description: A big frog that hops and croaks toward the old woman after the box
is opened.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
roles:
- id: role:1
label: rewarded recipient of small gift box
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The old man receives the smaller box, which contains gold, silver, and precious
things.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: greedy seeker of larger gift
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The old woman reproaches the old man for not bringing the large box and goes
to get it herself.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:6
- id: role:3
label: injured hostess and giver of the big box
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The Lady Sparrow had been harmed by the old woman but politely greets her
and consents to give the big box.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: role:4
label: avenging sparrow household
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The sparrow family and relations discuss the old woman’s cruelty and determine
to punish her when possible.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:5
label: frightening agents of punishment
assigned_to:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
basis: The beings from the big box terrify the old woman and make her flee.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: role:6
label: moral interpreter
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The old man states that the old woman’s wickedness has met its reward and
that the event should be a lesson.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: small box of riches
literal_form: small box filled with gold, silver coins, and precious things
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: large box
literal_form: big heavy box requested by the old woman and carried on her back
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: sym:3
label: bamboo grove
literal_form: bamboo grove containing the sparrow’s house
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:4
label: demons from the box
literal_form: horrible and frightful looking demons and monsters emerging from the
big box
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:5
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:5
label: serpent in the box
literal_form: huge snake coiling and hissing about the old woman
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:6
label: frog in the box
literal_form: big frog hopping and croaking toward the old woman
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Small box opened at home
summary: The old man and old woman find that the small box contains gold, silver,
and precious things; the old man thanks the sparrow.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Old woman resolves to seek the large box
summary: The old woman reproaches the old man for leaving the big box and the next
morning makes him describe the way to the sparrow’s house.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Sparrow household remembers the injury
summary: The sparrow family recalls the old woman’s cutting of the Lady Sparrow’s
tongue and decides to punish her when possible.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Demand at the sparrow’s house
summary: The old woman finds the bamboo grove and sparrow’s house, asks for the
big box, and receives it from the Lady Sparrow.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:5
label: Opening of the big box
summary: On the way home, the old woman opens the heavy big box expecting wealth,
but demons, monsters, a huge snake, and a frog emerge and frighten her.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:4
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: scene:6
label: Return and moral explanation
summary: The old woman returns home frightened and blames the sparrow, but the old
man says her wickedness has met its reward.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: modest gift rewarded, greedy choice punished
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The small box chosen by the old man contains riches, while the large box
demanded by the old woman contains terrifying beings.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:6
- ev:8
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: The taxonomy list supplied does not include a precise standard label for
this reward-and-punishment gift-box pattern.
- id: motif:2
label: retribution for cruelty to a helpful animal
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The sparrows remember that the old woman cut off the Lady Sparrow’s tongue
and determine to punish her; the big box later frightens her.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: The passage frames the outcome morally, but it does not explicitly describe
the box contents as magically created by the sparrows.
- id: motif:3
label: dangerous container opened from impatience or greed
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The old woman opens the big box by the wayside because she cannot resist
seeing the expected wealth, and frightening beings emerge.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage does not call the box forbidden; the danger is tied to greed
and expectation rather than an explicit prohibition.
- id: motif:4
label: animal household as organized moral agents
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The Lady Sparrow has servants, family, and relations who discuss the old
woman’s conduct and arrange a punitive response.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: This is a passage-level pattern rather than a formal taxonomy match from
the supplied motif list.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: 'The episode functions like a reward-and-punishment gift pattern: a modest
or kindly recipient receives treasure, while a greedy recipient who demands more
receives a harmful or frightening outcome.'
claim_level: same_function
target: paired gift boxes as moral reward/punishment pattern
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:6
- ev:8
- ev:10
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: This claim identifies narrative function only; it does not assert historical
contact, common inheritance, or identity with any external tale type.
- id: claim:2
claim: The emergence of demons and animals from a coveted container can be compared
at the level of narrative function to dangerous-container patterns in which opening
a vessel releases threatening contents.
claim_level: same_function
target: dangerous container opened with harmful contents released
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The passage does not mention a prohibition against opening the box,
so the comparison is limited to the release of frightening contents from a container.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 614-626
quote_or_summary: The small box is found full of gold, silver coins, and precious
things; the old man is overjoyed and thanks the sparrow many times.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized for extraction.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 627-641
quote_or_summary: After seeing the riches, the old woman reproaches the old man
for not bringing the large box and says they might have had twice as much silver
and gold.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized for extraction.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 642-653
quote_or_summary: The next morning the old woman makes the old man describe the
way to the sparrow’s house; he tries to stop her, but she goes because she wants
the big box.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized for extraction.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 654-666
quote_or_summary: The sparrows remember that the old woman cut off the Lady Sparrow’s
tongue after she ate rice-paste by mistake; they love the old man, hate the old
woman, and determine to punish her if they can.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized for extraction.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 667-675
quote_or_summary: The old woman finds the bamboo grove, calls for the tongue-cut
sparrow’s house, sees the eaves among the bamboo foliage, and knocks at the door.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized for extraction.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 676-695
quote_or_summary: The Lady Sparrow greets the old woman despite surprise; the old
woman demands the big box, the Lady Sparrow consents, servants bring it out, and
the old woman takes it without thanks.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized for extraction.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 696-707
quote_or_summary: The big box is very heavy, and while carrying it home the old
woman becomes unable to resist opening it because she expects gold, silver, and
jewels.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized for extraction.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 708-718
quote_or_summary: When the old woman opens the box, frightful demons and monsters
come out, including a one-eyed demon, gaping-mouthed monsters, a huge snake, and
a big frog.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized for extraction.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 719-723
quote_or_summary: The old woman runs away frightened, returns home, falls to the
floor, and tells her husband that demons in the box nearly killed her.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized for extraction.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 724-726
quote_or_summary: When the old woman blames the sparrow, the old man stops her and
says her wickedness has met its reward and should be a lesson.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized for extraction.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: Passage actions, figures, and objects are explicit. Motif labels are passage-level
analytical candidates and require human review for alignment with formal motif
indexes.
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: |-
Used only the supplied passage and metadata. Taxonomy references were limited to the supplied list; only the explicit snake was mapped to the available symbol ref serpent.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki-gutenberg__l614-l726
passage_sha256=1d5c30f39368649a856822bb125586b4eab6204d2d6810ebb2fb37c82c6706a2