Helpers of the Dragons

Ever since the section about Dragon Slayers was added, there has been a need to add an antithesis page. These people or creatures have all helped dragons in some way, shape, or form.

• Tawara Toda
• Urashima
• Footnotes

History: Urashima was a fisherman who saved a tortoise's life. After he let the creature go free, he continued on his way only to meet the creature again. Then, she revealed herself to be a daughter of the dragon king, and she transformed into a beautiful woman to prove it.

In thanks, she brought him to the kingdom under the sea, where her father lived. There, Urashima married her and lived happily with her for many years. However, Urashima was only human, and he longed to return to the shores to see his human family once again.

Reluctantly, his wife agreed to let him return, but she would not go with him. Before they left, she gave him a small box and made him promise that he would not open it before he returned. If he did, she warned, he would not see her again. After this, she brought him to shore in her tortoise form and left him on the shore.

To his dismay, he found that over four hundred years had passed, and no one knew his name any longer, except a very old man who said that he was reported to have died at sea a very, very long time ago. His family was dead. He returned to shore, sad, and opened the box his wife gave him, despite his promise. In the form of smoke, all the years of his life came out of the box, making him grow old and die instantly.

Symbolism: Urashima's broken promise was obviously to teach a lesson about keeping promises, especially to your spouse. He was a kind-hearted fisherman who, though a good deed, became gifted with long life and a beautiful wife. Obviously, the lesson is clear: if you perform good acts, you shall be rewarded.

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History: Tawara Toda was crossing a bridge over Lake Biwa. There, he saw a huge sleeping serpent, but he did not attack it. Instead, he steppd over the creature and continued on his walk. When he reached home, he met a woman who claimed to be the daughter of the dragon king. In some variations of this story, he turned around and saw the Dragon King himself where the serpent had lain before.

Regardless of how he met with the Dragon King, he did speak with him. Tawara Toda was asked to slay Centipede, which long had been troubling the Dragon King. He accepted this challenge and slew Centipede, which brought about the thanks of the Dragon King.

Unlike most stories involving the Dragon King of Japan, Tawara Toda did not marry one of his daughters. Instead, he recieved an endless bag of rice, an endless roll of silk, a self-heating cooking pot, and a non-magical bell.

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1. Japanese Mythology by Juliet Piggot
2. Japanese Mythology by Juliet Piggot

For more information, see the Bibliography