Editor’s note: This version of Jiraiya folklore was written by William Elliot Griffis. During Japan’s modernisation, he was invited to Japan to reform the education system (nearly 150 years ago). Learn more about him at the end.

Tale of The Gallant Jiraiya (by William Elliot Griffis)

Ogata was the name of a castle-lord who lived in the Island of the Nine Provinces, (Kyushu). He had but one son, an infant, whom the people in admiration nicknamed Jiraiya (Young Thunder). During one of the civil wars, this castle was taken, and Ogata was slain; but by the aid of a faithful retainer, who hid Jiraiya in his bosom, the boy escaped and fled northward to Echigo. There he lived until he grew up to manhood.

At that time Echigo was infested with robbers. One day the faithful retainer of Jiraiya being attacked, made resistance, and was slain by the robbers. Jiraiya now left alone in the world went out from Echigo and led a wandering life in several provinces.

All this time he was consumed with the desire to revive the name of his father, and restore the fortunes of his family. Being exceedingly brave, and an expert swordsman, he became chief of a band of robbers and plundered many wealthy merchants, and in a short time he was rich in men, arms and booty. He was accustomed to disguise himself, and go in person into the houses and presence of men of wealth, and thus learn all about their gates and guards, where they slept, and in what rooms their treasures were stored, so that success was easy.

Jiraiya meets his master – Toad Magic

Hearing of an old man who lived in Shinano, he started to rob him, and for this purpose put on the disguise of a pilgrim. Shinano is a very high table-land, full of mountains, and the snow lies deep in winter. A great snow storm coming on, Jiraiya took refuge in a humble house by the way. Entering, he found a very beautiful woman, who treated him with great kindness. This, however, did not change the robber’s nature. At midnight, when all was still, he unsheathed his sword, and going noiselessly to her room, he found the lady absorbed in reading.

Lifting his sword, he was about to strike at her neck, when, in a flash, her body changed into that of a very old man, who seized the heavy steel blade and broke it in pieces as though it were a stick. Then he tossed the bits of steel away, and thus spoke to Jiraiya, who stood amazed but fearless:

“I am a man named Senso Dojin, and I have lived in these mountains many hundred years, though my true body is that of a huge frog. I can easily put you to death but I have another purpose. So I shall pardon you and teach you magic instead.”

Then the youth bowed his head to the floor, poured out his thanks to the old man and begged to be received as his pupil.

Mastering Toad Magic

Remaining with the old man of the mountain for several weeks, Jiraiya learned all the arts of the mountain spirits; how to cause a storm of wind and rain, to make a deluge, and to control the elements at will.

He also learned how to govern the frogs, and at his bidding they assumed gigantic size, so that on their backs he could stand up and cross rivers and carry enormous loads.

When the old man had finished instructing him he said “Henceforth cease from robbing, or in any way injuring the poor. Take from the wicked rich, and those who acquire money dishonestly, but help the needy and the suffering.” Thus speaking, the old man turned into a huge frog and hopped away.

What this old mountain spirit bade him do, was just what Jiraiya wished to accomplish. He set out on his journey with a light heart. “I can now make the storm and the waters obey me, and all the frogs are at my command; but alas! the magic of the frog cannot control that of the serpent. I shall beware of his poison.”

Jiraiya helps the weak

From that time forth the oppressed poor people rejoiced many a time as the avaricious merchants and extortionate money lenders lost their treasures. For when a poor farmer, whose crops failed, could not pay his rent or loan on the date promised, these hard-hearted money lenders would turn him out of his house, seize his beds and mats and rice-tub, and even the shrine and images on the god-shelf, to sell them at auction for a trifle, to their minions, who resold them at a high price for the money-lender, who thus got a double benefit. Whenever a miser was robbed, the people said, “The young thunder has struck,” and then they were glad, knowing that it was Jiraiya, (Young Thunder.) In this manner his name soon grew to be the poor people’s watchword in those troublous times.

Yet Jiraiya was always ready to help the innocent and honest, even if they were rich. One day a merchant named Fukutaro was sentenced to death, though he was really not guilty. Jiraiya hearing of it, went to the magistrate and said that he himself was the very man who committed the robbery. So the man’s life was saved, and Jiraiya was hanged on a large oak tree. But during the night, his dead body changed into a bull-frog which hopped away out of sight, and off into the mountains of Shinano.

Tsunade masters snail magic

At this time, there was living in this province, a young and beautiful maiden named Tsunadé. Her character was very lovely. She was always obedient to her parents and kind to her friends. Her daily task was to go to the mountains and cut brushwood for fuel. One day while thus busy singing at the task, she met a very old man, with a long white beard sweeping his breast, who said to her:

“Do not fear me. I have lived in this mountain many hundred years, but my real body is that of a snail. I will teach you the powers of magic, so that you can walk on the sea, or cross a river however swift and deep, as though it were dry land.”

Gladly the maiden took daily lessons of the old man, and soon was able to walk on the waters as on the mountain paths. One day the old man said, “I shall now leave you and resume my former shape. Use your power to destroy wicked robbers. Help those who defend the poor. I advise you to marry the celebrated man Jiraiya, and thus you will unite your powers.”

Thus saying, the old man shrivelled up into a snail and crawled away.

Tsunade & Jiraiya meet

“I am glad,” said the maiden to herself, “for the magic of the snail can overcome that of the serpent. When Jiraiya, who has the magic of the frog, shall marry me, we can then destroy the son of the serpent, the robber named Dragon-coil (Orochimaru).”

By good fortune, Jiraiya met the maiden Tsunadé, and being charmed with her beauty, and knowing her power of magic, sent a messenger with presents to her parents, asking them to give him their daughter to wife. The parents agreed, and so the young and loving couple were married.

Hitherto when Jiraiya wished to cross a river he changed himself into a frog and swam across; or, he summoned a bull-frog before him, which increased in size until as large as an elephant. Then standing erect on his warty back, even though the wind blew his garments wildly, Jiraiya reached the opposite shore in safety. But now, with his wife’s powers, the two, without any delay, walked over as though the surface was a hard floor.

Soon after their marriage, war broke out in Japan between the two famous clans of Tsukikagé and Inukagé. To help them fight their battles, and capture the castles of their enemies, the Tsukikagé family besought the aid of Jiraiya, who agreed to serve them and carried their banner in his back. Their enemies, the Inukagé, then secured the services of Dragon-coil.

Battle with Orochimaru

This Orochimaru, or Dragon-coil, was a very wicked robber whose father was a man, and whose mother was a serpent that lived in the bottom of Lake Takura. He was perfectly skilled in the magic of the serpent, and by spurting venom on his enemies, could destroy the strongest warriors.

Collecting thousands of followers, he made great ravages in all parts of Japan, robbing and murdering good and bad, rich and poor alike. Loving war and destruction he joined his forces with the Inukagé family.

Now that the magic of the frog and snail was joined to the one army, and the magic of the serpent aided the other, the conflicts were bloody and terrible, and many men were slain on both sides.

On one occasion, after a hard fought battle, Jiraiya fled and took refuge in a monastery, with a few trusty vassals, to rest a short time. In this retreat a lovely princess named Tagoto was dwelling. She had fled from Orochimaru, who wished her for his bride. She hated to marry the offspring of a serpent, and hoped to escape him. She lived in fear of him continually.

Orochimaru hearing at one time that both Jiraiya and the princess were at this place, changed himself into a serpent, and distilling a large mouthful of poisonous venom, crawled up to the ceiling in the room where Jiraiya and his wife were sleeping, and reaching a spot directly over them, poured the poisonous venom on the heads of his rivals. The fumes of the prison so stupefied Jiraiya’s followers, and even the monks, that Orochimaru, instantly changing himself to a man, profited by the opportunity to seize the princess Tagoto, and make off with her.

Jiraiya and Tsunade close to death

Gradually the faithful retainers awoke from their stupor to find their master and his beloved wife delirious, and near the point of death, and the princess gone.

“What can we do to restore our dear master to life?” This was the question each one asked of the others, as with sorrowful faces and weeping eyes they gazed at the pallid forms of their unconscious master and his consort. They called in the venerable abbot of the monastery to see if he could suggest what could be done.

“Alas!” said the aged priest, “there is no medicine in Japan to cure your lord’s disease, but in India there is an elixir which is a sure antidote. If we could get that, the master would recover.”

“Alas! alas!” and a chorus of groans showed that all hope had fled, for the mountain in India, where the elixir was made, lay five thousand miles from Japan.

Saving Jiraiya and Tsunade

Just then a youth named Rikimatsu, one of the pages of Jiraiya, arose to speak. He was but fourteen years old, and served Jiraiya out of gratitude, for he had rescued his father from many dangers and saved his life. He begged permission to say a word to the abbot, who, seeing the lad’s eager face, motioned to him with his fan to speak.

“How long can our lord live,” asked the youth.

“He will be dead in thirty hours,” answered the abbot, with a sigh.

“I’ll go and procure the medicine, and if our master is still living when I come back, he will get well.”

Now Rikimatsu had learned magic and sorcery from the Tengus, or long-nosed elves of the mountains, and could fly high in the air with incredible swiftness. Speaking a few words of incantation, he put on the wings of a Tengu, mounted a white cloud and rode on the east wind to India, bought the elixir of the mountain spirits, and returned to Japan in one day and a night.

On the first touch of the elixir on the sick man’s face he drew a deep breath, perspiration glistened on his forehead, and in a few moments more he sat up.

Jiraiya and his wife both got well, and the war broke out again. In a great battle Dragon-coil was killed and the princess rescued. For his prowess and aid Jiraiya was made daimyo of Idzu.

Ending the life of battle

Being now weary of war and the hardships of active life, Jiraiya was glad to settle down to tranquil life in the castle and rear his family in peace. He spent the remainder of his days in reading the books of the sages, in composing verses, in admiring the flowers, the moon and the landscape, and occasionally going out hawking or fishing. There, amid his children and children’s children, he finished his days in peace.

Who was William Elliot Griffis?

William Elliot Griffis was born on 17 September 1804 in Philadelphia. He was was invited to modernise schools in Japan by Matsudaira Shungaku in 1870. A year later, he became the Echizen province’s Superintendent of Education.

Aside from his official duties, William also wrote extensively about Japanese culture. He passed away in 1928 in Florida, USA.

To learn more about the Jiraiya folklore, check out this report. It includes the kabuki summary of the folktale, profiles of the three characters and actual movies you can watch online.

The post Jiraiya Folklore retold by an American (who visited Japan in 1870) appeared first on Way Of Ninja.

Most people know Jiraiya, Tsunade and Orochimaru from the Naruto series. But did you know that these characters were originally from “Jiraiya Goketsu Monogatari”, a 200-year-old folklore?

Here are the origins, story, character profile and early movies of Jiraiya, Tsunade and Orochimaru.

Origins of Jiraiya, Tsunade & Orochimaru

Jiraiya Goketsu Monogatari (児雷也豪傑物語; “The Heroic Tales of Jiraiya” or “Tale of the Gallant Jiraiya”) was first published in 1839. Over the next 29 years (till 1868), it became a popular series of 43 illustrated novels completed by 4 different authors.

If you thought Naruto was draggy, this story took 10 years longer to complete.

Yet, the inspiration for Jiraiya has its origins in old legends in Song-era China. This bandit, whose real name is unknown, was a heroic bandit whose deeds were similar to Robin Hood. The only reason he was called 自来也 (zi lai ye – Mandarin Chinese pronunciation), was because he’d leave those characters in graffiti at places he robbed. Those characters translate to: “I was here”.

When that bandit legend made it to the Japanese novel, elements of shape-shifting magic and ninja mysticism were added. The Japanese Jiraiya’s name in kanji later became 児雷也 (young thunder).

So, after the series was completed, part of the story was adapted for the Kabuki theatre in 1852.

Here is the Kabuki version of The Tale of the Gallant Jiraiya. Enjoy this Japanese ninja folklore…

Story Time: The Tale of The Gallant Jiraiya

In this kabuki summary, the demonic giant snake spirit was the cause of misery for the Tsukikage, Ogata and Matsuura clans – in which Orochimaru (大蛇丸), Jiraiya (自来也 or 児雷也) and Tsunade (綱手) belonged to respectively.

A long time ago, there existed an evil giant snake spirit that preyed on humans. This demonic snake spirit had ambitions to gain power over all of Japan.

For that to happen, it decided to take control of the influential Tsukikage clan, whose feudal domain was Echigo province. Their leader – Tsukikage Gunryo Miyukinosuke – was also the regent of the Shogunate (feudal government of Japan) and crucial to the evil snake’s plan.

The Giant Snake Spirit takes over the Tsukikage Clan

On that fateful day, the snake spirit attacked Lord Tsukikage Miyukinosuke. Had it not been for Orochimaru who came out of nowhere to intervene, the lord of Echigo and regent would have died.

Therefore, out of indebtedness, Lord Miyukinosuke adopted Orochimaru as a son. This was a huge mistake for it sealed the fate of the Tsukikage, Ogata and Matsuura clans.

Unbeknownst to Lord Miyukinosuke, the demonic snake spirit had possessed Orochimaru and he was merely a puppet from the start. The snake spirit and Orochimaru had staged the attack and rescue. And the lord of Echigo effectively adopted the evil snake into his clan.

Over time, the snake manipulated the lord into murdering all of his offspring, leaving Orochimaru as his sole successor.

Massacre of the Ogata & Matsuura clans

The Ogata and Matsuura clans held two powerful seals (i.e. insignia stamps) in trust for the feudal government. Documents marked by these seals were proof of the Shogun’s support to raise an army and navy fleet.

The giant snake spirit wanted the power afforded by those seals and needed the two powerful clans out of the way.

As a result, Lord Miyukinosuke first led the shogunate into believing that their allies were staging a coup. He then tricked the two clans into giving up their seals before obliterating them. His forces then threw the infants Jiraiya and Tsunade down the cliff, thereby eliminating the two respective successors of the Ogata and Matsura.

Luckily, a hermit by the name of Senso Dojin saved and raised them.

Training Jiraiya & Tsunade to defeat Orochimaru

Determined to avenge their clans and restore the tarnished honour, Senso Dojin began to train Jiraiya and Tsunade respectively in the shape-shifting magic of the toad and slug.

However, the three-way deadlock was a problem. Snake magic surpassed toad magic; toad magic surpassed slug magic; slug magic could defeat snake magic. The key to defeating Orochimaru was to use the Nakirimaru sword (wave-cutting sword).

First Battle against Orochimaru

In their first battle, Orochimaru fought and severely wounded Jiraiya. Fortunately, Tsunade arrived in time and saved Jiraiya with her prodigious use of slug magic. While he escaped death, the wounds were serious enough to disable Jiraiya.

The only antidote was the blood of a maiden who was born in the year, day and hour of the snake.

A Sister’s Sacrifice to Save Her Brother

Jiraiya and Tsunade continued their search for the sword. As they entered the Echigo province, they met Ayame of all people, the adoptive daughter of the Tsukikage clan.

Jiraiya then made a surprising discovery that Ayame was his sister (spared during the clan’s massacre).

Realising that she was the maiden born in the year of the snake, she stabbed herself as a sacrifice to save her brother. Her blood was the antidote. And with her sacrifice, she ensured that Jiraiya and Tsunade could take revenge and reinstate the two clans.

Jiraiya was fully healed.

Defeating Orochimaru

Years pass when both Jiraiya and Tsunade finally found the Nakimaru (wave-cutting sword) at Hell Valley.

Together they cornered Orochimaru with the sword and exorcised the demonic spirit. The misunderstanding over the Ogata and Matsura clan was cleared. And the Shogunate reinstated their clans.

Since the demonic snake was exorcised, Orochimaru was no longer possessed. He was pardoned for his crimes at Jiraiya’s request to the Shogun.

Note: This kabuki play was written by  Kawatake Shinshichi II and summarised by Watanabe Hisao. There are other versions – closer to the original – where Orochimaru was the former disciple of Jiraiya. 

Characters in Jiraiya Goketsu Monogatari

The character profiles may have discrepancies as there are different versions of the folklore. For full movies related to the Jiraiya folklore, scroll to the next section.

Main Characters

Supporting Characters

Jiraiya in Pop Culture

Besides the kabuki theatre, the original series clearly inspired numerous modern adaptations in film and anime. Here are a few.

Jiraiya the Brave (Silent Film) in 1921

Also known as Goketsu Jiraiya, this short silent film has kabuki-style action scenes. There may also have been an accompanying narration when it premiered in the past, but that can no longer be found. The battle scenes are comical.

The Magic Serpent in 1966

George Lucas’s Star Wars movies was said to have a plot similar to this film, The Magic Serpent (Kairyu Daikessen).

This video happens to be the full movie, dubbed in English. Watch it if you have the time.

Naruto – Jiraiya, Tsunade & Orochimaru

In the Naruto series, Jiraiya, Tsunade and Orochimaru are extremely prodigious ninjas who have the ability to summon toads, slugs and snakes respectively. They were former teammates until Orochimaru betrayed the village. This is a battle scene, similar to what you might expect in the original folklore.

With that, the report on the original Jiraiya, Tsunade and Orochimaru has come to an end. Another version of the Jiraiya folklore will be posted next week.

The post The Tale of The Gallant Jiraiya (Original Folklore) – from Edo Period appeared first on Way Of Ninja.