The fisherman and the turtle, a virtuous Japanese legend

There is a Japanese legend that helps us value the time we spend happily, it is that of the fisherman and the turtle.

Legends are stories that have been passed down throughout history not only to entertain, but also to teach values and powerful lessons. These are stories capable of awakening emotions and making us reflect on our daily lives. The fisherman and the turtle is one of them.

Despite being a short story, its message is clear and powerful. It invites us to question the pace of life we lead, what we dedicate our time to and, above all, the importance of our decisions. and acts. We hope you like it!

The fisherman and the turtle, a Japanese legend to think about

Many years ago, There lived in a small coastal town a humble fisherman, whose name was Urashima.. One day, when she returned from a long day of fishing, she observed a group of children mistreating a turtle on the shore of the beach. Without hesitation, he reproached them for their behavior and to ensure that they released her, he paid them a few coins.

Once the animal was free, Urashima helped him return to the sea. The next day, while she was fishing on the high seas, she heard a voice saying his name. When he looked for the origin of said voice, he identified that it was from the turtle that he had freed the day before.

She told him that She was the servant of the queen of all the seas, which resided in the Dragon Palace, where he had been invited in gratitude for his action. So the fisherman climbed on the turtle’s back and traveled along the bottom of the sea until he reached the place where the queen lived.

Read Also: The life of Pi, imagination as a defense mechanism

Once there, He was amazed by the sumptuousness of the palace and the great beauty of the queen. She entertained him and showered him with attention. But when the fisherman had been there for three days, he informed the monarch that he wanted to return to her house, since he had dreamed that his parents, now elderly, needed him.

The Japanese legend continues…

The queen had no objection to his return, but Before leaving, he gave him a box lacquered with pearl inlays. And she also told him an important warning: the box It should not be opened under any circumstances, if he complied he could be happy.

After surfacing, Urashima headed home. As he progressed, he became more and more surprised, because He did not recognize his town. In fact, when he arrived at the place where his home should be, he found another building and when he asked the people he found there about his parents, no one could answer him.

When he said his name, a very old person said that in his childhood he had heard the story of a fisherman with the same name who had disappeared at sea. The detail is that it happened hundreds of years ago, although for Urashima only three days had passed.

Alone, sad and desperate, he went to the seashore. It was then that He thought that if he opened the box that the queen had given him, perhaps he could return to the Dragon Palace. But when he opened it, white smoke came out from inside.

Read Also: Persuasive communication: the power of intention

That’s how, suddenly, Urashima grew older with every step he took. His face became more and more wrinkled, his body became heavier, and his hair turned white. It was at that moment when He realized what that box contained: the years that had passed while he was in the palace., which returned to his body. The next day, Urashima’s body was found on the beach.

Lessons from the Japanese legend of the fisherman and the turtle

The Japanese legend of the fisherman and the turtle invites us to reflect on the quality of our time and our actions. As well as the importance of being aware of the consequences that ours have.

Often, when we feel well or are happy, we perceive the passage of time much more quickly. The point is not to lose focus and always keep in mind what is important: the people around us and our life plan. Because we must not confuse pleasure and desire with well-being, nor what we obtain instantly to satisfy our need with the satisfaction resulting from having achieved something through our effort and work.Nor can we forget the repercussions of our decisions and actions. Everything has consequences, for better or worse. The legend of the fisherman and the turtle exemplifies this very well when Urashima opens the box, despite being warned not to do so.