Japanese culture; The Weaver Princess Story
On 7 July Japan celebrates the Tanabata or Star Festival. Japanese children make special bamboo tree decorations. Branches of bamboo grass are covered with paper decorations, and children write their wishes for the year on long strips of paper which they hang from the branches. Adults write haiku poems on strips of paper which they attach to the bamboo trees.
The festival itself dates from medieval times. Through Japanese folklore, the story about the Weaver Princess, who fell in love with a cowherd, is now associated with the festival. According to the story, when they fell in love they forgot to work. The Heavenly Emporer banished them to either end of the Milky Way. On 7 July of each year they can cross the Milky Way to renew their love for each other.
The text that follows is a retelling of this story.
The Heavenly Emperor had a beautiful daughter called the Weaver Princess. She was also called Orihime.
Her father was very proud of her as she wove beautiful clothes. She worked so hard that she never had the time to fall in love. She felt very sad and lonely.
The Emperor learnt of her sadness and arranged for her to marry with a cowherd called Hikoboshi. The two of them fell deeply in love and were blissfully happy.
The Weaver Princess was so happy that she began to neglect her work and the Emperor no longer had any beautiful clothes to wear. He became so angry with the lovers that he ordered them to be separated. They were sent to live on either side of the River of Heaven or, as we know it, the Milky Way. Orihime is the star Vega in the Milky Way, and Hikoboshi is the star Altair.
The Emporer did agree, however, to allow them to meet just once a year. On the seventh day of the seventh month, the Heavenly Boatman of the Moon comes to ferry the Weaver Princess across the Milky Way to meet her beloved cowherd. And so on 7 July every year, the Japanese people celebrate Tanabata.
Story acknowledgement: retold by Pam Stewart
On 7 July Japan celebrates the Tanabata or Star Festival. Japanese children make special bamboo tree decorations. Branches of bamboo grass are covered with paper decorations, and children write their wishes for the year on long strips of paper which they hang from the branches. Adults write haiku poems on strips of paper which they attach to the bamboo trees.
The festival itself dates from medieval times. Through Japanese folklore, the story about the Weaver Princess, who fell in love with a cowherd, is now associated with the festival. According to the story, when they fell in love they forgot to work. The Heavenly Emporer banished them to either end of the Milky Way. On 7 July of each year they can cross the Milky Way to renew their love for each other.
The text that follows is a retelling of this story.
The Heavenly Emperor had a beautiful daughter called the Weaver Princess. She was also called Orihime.
Her father was very proud of her as she wove beautiful clothes. She worked so hard that she never had the time to fall in love. She felt very sad and lonely.
The Emperor learnt of her sadness and arranged for her to marry with a cowherd called Hikoboshi. The two of them fell deeply in love and were blissfully happy.
The Weaver Princess was so happy that she began to neglect her work and the Emperor no longer had any beautiful clothes to wear. He became so angry with the lovers that he ordered them to be separated. They were sent to live on either side of the River of Heaven or, as we know it, the Milky Way. Orihime is the star Vega in the Milky Way, and Hikoboshi is the star Altair.
The Emporer did agree, however, to allow them to meet just once a year. On the seventh day of the seventh month, the Heavenly Boatman of the Moon comes to ferry the Weaver Princess across the Milky Way to meet her beloved cowherd. And so on 7 July every year, the Japanese people celebrate Tanabata.
Story acknowledgement: retold by Pam Stewart