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The Lantern and the Fan
In a Japanese village lived a man who had two sons. When the sons were grown up, each brought home a wife from another village long distance away. The farmer-in-law was very pleased with the daughter-in-law. So the lived very happily together.
After several months the young wives asked their father-in-law to allow them to go and visit their relatives and friends. After having refused them again and again, he at last agreed to let them go. But he wanted to know whether they loved him or not. So he asked each to bring a present for him. The older daughter-in-law was to bring fire wrapped in paper and the younger one was to bring air wrapped in paper. If they failed to bring these presents, they were asked not to come back again.
They did not think it would be difficult to bring such presents. So they gladly agreed and went to visit their relatives and friends. They were so happy with their relatives and friends that time passed very quickly. It was for them to return. But they had totally forgotten about the present for their father-in-law.
They asked one wise man after another if they knew of any paper that would hold fire and air. Everyone of them said that there was no such paper in Japan. So the young wives became very sad. They thought they would not be able to go back to their father-in-law.
They left their friends and relatives and traveled a long distance in search of that strange paper. At last they were passing through a forest. They were crying as they walked.
“I do not allow anyone to cry in my woods,” said a voice. “My trees do not grow well in salt water.”
They looked around but could not see anyone anywhere. They were greatly frightened. So they cried all the more and said, “How can we help crying? We cannot go back home because we cannot find a paper that will hold fire and another that will hold air.”
“It is very easy to wrap fire in paper,” answered the same voice. “Here Is a pieces of paper. Now look carefully.” A piece of paper actually fell on the ground and it folded itself into a Japanese lantern. The voice again said, “Now put a burning candle inside and you will have fire wrapped in paper.”
The older daughter-in-law was happy but the younger one still cried. Again the voice was heard, “Your case, younger lady, is easier still. Here is another piece of paper. Watch carefully.”
They saw a piece of paper falling on the ground. It had a flower tree with white blossoms on it. Two young ladies were seen gathering the blossoms. Some twigs also fell on the piece of paper. Then the piece of paper with the help of the twigs shaped itself into a Japanese fan.
Again the voice was heard, “Now, young lady, take the fan in your hand and wave it against your face. You will feel the air. Then don’t you see that you have air wrapped in paper?”
Both the ladies were very happy now. They thanked the voice again and again and then left for their home. Their father-in-law was also very happy to see his daughter-in-law. He gave them rich presents of gold and silver.
He was very proud to have the first Japanese lantern and fan in his house. But he was prouder still of his two daughters-in-law. He loved them no less then his own daughters.
After several months the young wives asked their father-in-law to allow them to go and visit their relatives and friends. After having refused them again and again, he at last agreed to let them go. But he wanted to know whether they loved him or not. So he asked each to bring a present for him. The older daughter-in-law was to bring fire wrapped in paper and the younger one was to bring air wrapped in paper. If they failed to bring these presents, they were asked not to come back again.
They did not think it would be difficult to bring such presents. So they gladly agreed and went to visit their relatives and friends. They were so happy with their relatives and friends that time passed very quickly. It was for them to return. But they had totally forgotten about the present for their father-in-law.
They asked one wise man after another if they knew of any paper that would hold fire and air. Everyone of them said that there was no such paper in Japan. So the young wives became very sad. They thought they would not be able to go back to their father-in-law.
They left their friends and relatives and traveled a long distance in search of that strange paper. At last they were passing through a forest. They were crying as they walked.
“I do not allow anyone to cry in my woods,” said a voice. “My trees do not grow well in salt water.”
They looked around but could not see anyone anywhere. They were greatly frightened. So they cried all the more and said, “How can we help crying? We cannot go back home because we cannot find a paper that will hold fire and another that will hold air.”
“It is very easy to wrap fire in paper,” answered the same voice. “Here Is a pieces of paper. Now look carefully.” A piece of paper actually fell on the ground and it folded itself into a Japanese lantern. The voice again said, “Now put a burning candle inside and you will have fire wrapped in paper.”
The older daughter-in-law was happy but the younger one still cried. Again the voice was heard, “Your case, younger lady, is easier still. Here is another piece of paper. Watch carefully.”
They saw a piece of paper falling on the ground. It had a flower tree with white blossoms on it. Two young ladies were seen gathering the blossoms. Some twigs also fell on the piece of paper. Then the piece of paper with the help of the twigs shaped itself into a Japanese fan.
Again the voice was heard, “Now, young lady, take the fan in your hand and wave it against your face. You will feel the air. Then don’t you see that you have air wrapped in paper?”
Both the ladies were very happy now. They thanked the voice again and again and then left for their home. Their father-in-law was also very happy to see his daughter-in-law. He gave them rich presents of gold and silver.
He was very proud to have the first Japanese lantern and fan in his house. But he was prouder still of his two daughters-in-law. He loved them no less then his own daughters.
