batch.motif.japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki-gutenberg-l983-l1099
---
record_id: batch.motif.japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki-gutenberg-l983-l1099
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
passage_locator:
label: JAPANESE FAIRY TALES / MY LORD BAG OF RICE / THE TONGUE-CUT SPARROW / THE
STORY OF URASHIMA TARO, THE FISHER LAD; lines 983-1099
start: '983'
end: '1099'
translation: Japanese Fairy Tales
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: Urashima remains in the Sea King's realm, celebrates a splendid wedding
with Otohime Sama, tours a coral and pearl palace and a garden showing all four
seasons at once, then remembers his parents and asks to return home. Otohime gives
him the tamate-bako, forbidding him to open it, and Urashima departs across the
sea on a large tortoise.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Urashima thanks the woman for her speech and says he wishes to stay in the
beautiful land.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Fishes in ceremonial trailing garments enter the hall with coral trays of
fish and seaweed delicacies for the bride and bridegroom.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: The young pair pledge themselves in the wedding cup of wine three times three,
followed by music, songs, and dancing fishes.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Urashima is shown a palace built of coral and adorned with pearls in an enchanted
land where youth and joy are untouched by time and age.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: The palace garden displays the scenery of spring, summer, autumn, and winter
at the same time in different directions.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: Urashima's happiness makes him forget his home, parents, and country for three
days before he remembers them.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:7
text: Urashima tells Otohime Sama he must go back to his old parents, while she
weeps and asks him to stay one more day.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:8
text: Otohime Sama gives Urashima a lacquer box tied with a silken cord and red
tassels, names it the tamate-bako, and tells him never to open it.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:9
text: Urashima promises never to open the box, says goodbye, mounts a large tortoise,
and is carried eastward over the sea.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Urashima
description: A fisherman and bridegroom who marries Otohime Sama in the Sea King's
realm and later seeks to return to his parents.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:3
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Otohime Sama
description: The Sea King's daughter, Urashima's bride and wife, who asks him to
stay and gives him the tamate-bako.
role_refs:
- role:2
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Ceremonial fishes
description: Fishes dressed in ceremonial trailing garments who serve the wedding
feast; fishes with silver scales and golden tails dance.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Urashima's parents
description: Urashima's old father and mother at home, whom he remembers and wishes
to visit.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Large tortoise
description: A large tortoise waiting at the seashore that carries Urashima over
the sea.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Sea King
description: The ruler associated with the sea realm, palace, and daughter mentioned
in the passage.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
roles:
- id: role:1
label: bridegroom
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Urashima is explicitly called the bridegroom during the bridal feast.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:2
label: bride and princess
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Otohime Sama is identified as the Princess, the Sea King's daughter, and
Urashima's wife.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
- id: role:3
label: visitor to enchanted realm
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Urashima is shown the palace and garden of the enchanted land.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:4
label: wife who asks him to remain
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Otohime Sama weeps and asks Urashima to stay another day.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:5
label: giver of forbidden box
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: She gives the tamate-bako and commands that it must not be opened.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:6
label: son returning to parents
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Urashima says he must return to his old father and mother.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: role:7
label: wedding attendants and dancers
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: The fishes serve the feast and dance after the wedding cup pledge.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:8
label: absent parents
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: They are not present in the sea realm but motivate Urashima's return.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: role:9
label: sea transport
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The tortoise carries Urashima across the sea.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:10
label: ruler of the sea realm
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The passage names the Sea King's realm and his palace, and identifies Otohime
Sama as his daughter.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: Sea King's realm
literal_form: Otherworldly sea realm and palace
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:8
- id: sym:2
label: coral and pearl palace
literal_form: Palace built of coral and adorned with pearls
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:3
label: four-season garden
literal_form: Garden showing spring, summer, autumn, and winter at once
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- seasonal_cycle
- tree
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:4
label: wedding cup of wine
literal_form: Cup of wine used by the young pair three times three
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_marriage
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:5
label: tamate-bako
literal_form: Beautiful lacquer box tied with a silken cord and red tassels
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- forbidden_knowledge
- sacred_exchange
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:6
label: large tortoise
literal_form: Large tortoise waiting at the seashore and carrying Urashima over
the sea
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Wedding feast in the Sea King's realm
summary: Urashima and Otohime Sama are celebrated as bridegroom and bride with ceremonial
fish attendants, coral trays of food, a wedding cup, music, songs, and dancing
fishes.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Tour of palace and four-season garden
summary: Urashima follows Otohime Sama through the coral and pearl palace and sees
a garden where the four seasons appear simultaneously in four directions.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Remembrance of home and request to return
summary: After three days of happiness, Urashima remembers his parents and country
and tells Otohime Sama that he must go back to them.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: scene:4
label: Gift and prohibition of the tamate-bako
summary: Otohime Sama gives Urashima a lacquer box as a token of love, identifies
it as the tamate-bako, warns him not to open it, and receives his promise.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: scene:5
label: Departure over the sea
summary: Urashima says goodbye, mounts a large tortoise at the seashore, and is
carried eastward over the shining sea toward his own land.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Marriage with otherworldly sea princess
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_marriage
- divine_beloved
basis: Urashima is married to Otohime Sama, the Sea King's daughter, in the Sea
King's realm with a formal wedding feast and cup.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage identifies Otohime as a princess and Sea King's daughter;
it does not explicitly call her divine.
- id: motif:2
label: Enchanted realm outside ordinary time
taxonomy_refs:
- seasonal_cycle
basis: The realm is described as one where time and age do not touch youth and joy,
and the garden displays all four seasons at once.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The broader time-displacement consequences are not shown in this passage.
- id: motif:3
label: Remembering home and returning from an otherworld
taxonomy_refs:
- return
basis: After forgetting his home and parents, Urashima remembers them and insists
on returning to his own land.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The passage ends during the return journey and does not show his arrival.
- id: motif:4
label: Forbidden opening of a gifted box
taxonomy_refs:
- forbidden_knowledge
- sacred_exchange
basis: Otohime gives Urashima the tamate-bako as a token of love and warns that
something dreadful will happen if he opens it; he promises not to open it.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The contents of the box and the result of opening it are not revealed
in this passage.
- id: motif:5
label: Animal conveyance across the sea
taxonomy_refs:
- water
basis: A large tortoise waits for Urashima and carries him over the sea toward his
own land.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: medium
cautions: The taxonomy list supplies water as a symbol rather than a specific animal-vehicle
motif family.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 983-997
quote_or_summary: Urashima thanks the speaker and says he wishes to stay in the
beautiful land he has heard of but never seen.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary supplied.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 998-1011
quote_or_summary: Ceremonial fishes bring food on coral trays; the bridal is celebrated,
the young pair pledge themselves with the wedding cup of wine three times three,
and fishes dance.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary supplied.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 1012-1022
quote_or_summary: Urashima follows his bride, the Sea King's daughter, through an
enchanted land; the palace is built of coral and adorned with pearls, and time
and age do not touch youth and joy there.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary supplied.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 1023-1040
quote_or_summary: The garden around the palace displays spring in the east, summer
in the south, autumn in the west, and winter in the north at the same time.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary supplied.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 1041-1052
quote_or_summary: Urashima's happiness makes him forget home, parents, and country
for three days; then he remembers he does not belong there and must return to
his old father and mother.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary supplied.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 1053-1071
quote_or_summary: Urashima tells Otohime Sama he must go back to his old parents;
she weeps and asks him to stay another day, but he insists and says he will return.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary supplied.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 1072-1091
quote_or_summary: Otohime Sama gives Urashima a beautiful lacquer box tied with
silk, calls it the tamate-bako, says it contains something precious, and warns
him never to open it or something dreadful will happen.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary supplied.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 1092-1099
quote_or_summary: Urashima says goodbye, finds a large tortoise waiting at the seashore,
rides it over the shining sea into the East, and looks toward his own land.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/japanese/project-gutenberg/japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summary supplied.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Extraction is based only on the provided passage. Motif candidates use supplied
taxonomy refs where directly supported; claims about divinity or later consequences
of the box are limited because they are not explicit in this line range.
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 external comparisons were added because the passage itself does not provide explicit comparative claims beyond the motif patterns identified.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:japanese-fairy-tales-ozaki-gutenberg__l983-l1099
passage_sha256=14b80bdd2780d61cf4c926d31afa3fddb3caa41233cfe0ac53e3b7f38e5e29ec