The Mirror of Matsuyama

(From Myths and Legends of Japan by F Hadland Davis)

– a Japanese lore; a folk tale that gives moral lesson

Summary

In a remote part of Japan lived a man named Matsuyama, his wife, and their little daughter. Once Matsuyama went to a distant place on business and returned with gifts for his wife and his daughter. He brought a doll and cakes for his little girl and a mirror for his wife.

Soon after this, the woman became very ill and died. But before she died, she called her little daughter and giving her the mirror she said to her, “You will miss me when I have left you. But take this mirror, and when you feel most lonely, look into it and you will always see me.” In due time Matsuyama married again, and this new mother treated the little girl very unkindly. Whenever she was hurt, she would retire to a corner and look into the mirror searching for her mother’s face, and thus, find consolation.

One day the little girl’s step-mother found her crouching in a corner over some object. She thought that the girl was practicing some kind of witchcraft to harm her step-mother. She informed her husband, who believing the accusation came at once and began to scold his daughter. He asked, “What have you hidden in your sleeve?” The poor girl answered, “The mirror you gave my mother, and which she on her deathbed gave to me. Whenever my heart aches, I look into the mirror, and seeing the beautiful kind smile of my mother brings peace to me.”

Only then Matsuyama understood the truth and was filled with even more love for his daughter. Even the girl’s step-mother was ashamed of the misunderstanding and asked for her forgiveness. The little girl forgave both, but then she departed for ever from home. (The man and the woman loved the girl now, but it was already late; they lost her as she left home never to return again.)

Moral of the Story

Step-mothers should not treat their step-daughters unkindly. The fathers also shouldn’t be blind, unkind and uncaring to their children after marrying another woman.