【 The Lady in the Painting 】 Classic Japanese Folktale

“The Lady in the Painting” is a poignant Japanese folktale that delves into loneliness, longing, and the magical essence of art. A poor young man, struggling with life after his mother’s death, finds solace in a painting of a beautiful lady. His conversations with the painting turn magical, making him realize the extraordinary power of connection—even with something inanimate.

Japanese Title: Nishikie no Neesama / 錦絵の姉さま
Translation: The Lady in the Painting
Location: Aomori Prefecture / 青森県

Contents

The Story of 【 The Lady in the Painting 】

Once upon a time, in a certain place, lived a poor old woman and her son. The son would work odd jobs every day, earning just enough to scrape by. Eventually, the old woman passed away, unable to overcome the burdens of age.

With her gone, the son found life to be incredibly difficult, having to take care of meals, laundry, and all other chores by himself. He wanted to get married, but had no money, so he lived a lonely life.

One day, he found a painting of a beautiful lady in the yard of a house where he was working. He picked it up, brought it home, and hung it on his wall. When he returned from work, he would talk to the painting as if it were a living person, telling it about his day.

Then, one day, when he returned home at night, he found the house was cleaned, a fire was lit in the hearth, and boiling water was ready. Even a meal was prepared, all set for him to eat. “I wonder who did all this?” he thought. Intrigued but grateful, he ate and while eating, spoke to the painting of the lady on the wall.

“You always look so beautiful. I may not be able to marry anyone, but coming home to a warm house makes me feel as if I’m married to you. Thank you.”

That night, he slept well. To his amazement, the house was cleaned and meals prepared day after day. Realizing he should thank whoever was doing this, and possibly ask them to marry him if it was a girl from the village, he decided to hide upstairs to observe.

Around noon, he saw a beautiful lady appear inside his house. Stunned, he watched as she started tidying up the place, sweeping and cleaning. After finishing, she started boiling water in a pot over the fire. The moment he jumped down from the second floor, the lady vanished into the fire, consumed in flames.

Shocked, he inspected the ashes and saw a shape resembling a painting left in the ash. “This looks familiar,” he thought and glanced at the wall. To his astonishment, the part of the painting where the lady was had turned completely white.

The lady in the painting had felt pity for the lonely son and had come to life to take care of household chores for him. Sadly, she was blown into the fire when he jumped down. It was as if to say, even a painting can possess a soul when spoken to often.

Notes of 【 The Lady in the Painting 】

Cultural Background

Respect for Art

The story reflects a traditional Japanese appreciation for art as not merely aesthetic but also as a source of emotional and spiritual sustenance.

Concept of Kami

Although not explicitly stated, the idea that objects can possess spirits or life forces is deeply ingrained in Shinto beliefs prevalent in Japan.

Family and Loneliness

The story highlights the cultural emphasis on family and the consequences of loneliness, which is often explored in Japanese narratives.

Glossary

TERM

Odd Jobs

This refers to miscellaneous tasks that the young man undertakes for a meager income. This is a universal concept but gains poignancy considering his isolation and poverty.

TERM

Hearth

In a traditional Japanese setting, a “hearth” would be a ‘kotatsu’ or ‘irori,’ a kind of sunken hearth. Families often gather around it for warmth and cooking.

TERM

Painting

In the context of the story, it’s likely that the painting is a type of “Nishiki-e,” a multi-colored woodblock print, a traditional Japanese art form.

TERM

Soul in Objects

The belief that talking to an object might imbue it with a soul ties into the broader cultural concept of ‘animism,’ where spirits can reside in objects, animals, or even phenomena.