Part 19: Mythology Dissection 1

Urashima and the Dragon Palace

In today’s Mythology Dissection, I’ll talk about Urashima and the Dragonians. I mentioned in my commentary that the resolution of Urashima’s story arc doesn’t make much sense unless you’re familiar with Japanese folklore. Here’s the explanation, as promised!

Urashima

Urashima’s story is pretty much lifted straight out of folklore, specifically, the story of Urashima Taro. In the tale, a young fisherman named Urashima-taro was fishing when he noticed group of children tormenting a turtle. He told the youngsters off and released the turtle back into the sea. Thinking nothing further of the incident, Urashima went back to fishing.


Urashima and the turtle

The next day, Urashima was out fishing again when a huge turtle approached him. The turtle informed him that the small turtle he’d saved the other day was in fact the daughter of Ryujin (meaning “dragon god”), the Emperor of the Sea. Furthermore, Ryujin wanted to meet Urashima and thank him personally for saving the princess!

The turtle cast a spell on Urashima to enable him to breathe underwater and led him to Ryugu-jo, the Palace of the Dragon God. It was a magnificent structure made of red and white coral. Urashima was presented to the Emperor and his daughter, who had shed her turtle form to become the lovely maiden Otohime. Her name means “youngest princess.”

Urashima and Otohime became fast friends. He stayed at the palace for a few days, spending most of his time with Otohime, but he soon grew homesick. He asked Otohime’s permission to return to his own world. The princess was sad to see her friend go, but she granted her permission. As a parting gift, she presented Urashima with a magical box. She told him the box would protect him from harm, but that he must never open it.


Urashima, Otohime, and the mysterious box

Urashima thanked Otohime, and hopped on the back of the giant turtle to return to his own world. However, when he arrived, he found his home much changed. All the buildings were different, and he didn’t recognize any of the people. Confused and dismayed, he asked an old man if he had heard of a young fisherman named Urashima Taro. The old man replied that someone by that name had gone out to sea 300 years ago and never returned.

Urashima was shocked. He soon sank into a deep depression. Everyone he had ever known was dead! Absentmindedly, he opened the box Otohime had given him. A white puff of smoke emerged from the box and enveloped Urashima. He was suddenly aged into an old man! From the sea, he could hear a sweet, sad voice whispering on the waves, “I told you never to open that box. It was your old age.” Urashima recognized the voice of Otohime.


A statue of Urashima, astride the giant turtle

The tametebako, the folded paper box that Otohime gave Urashima is analogous to Pandora’s Box, a metaphor for bringing evil into the world.

In the game, Orca is the emissary of the Dragon Palace, rather than a giant turtle. (And he’s literally an orca.)

The Dragonians

The Dragonians, of course, are the citizens of Ryugu-jo. In the game, the Dragonians are supposed to be dragons, but they look an awful lot like mermaids. Plus, they run the Mermaid Springs. Come on.

According to Japanese tradition, eating mermaid flesh grants immortality.

Otohime

Otohime is addressed as “Queen Oto.” That’s because, as you know if you’ve been paying attention, “hime” means princess. It signifies that she’s been elevated from a mere king’s consort to Dragonians’ queen and sovereign ruler.

The Water Dragon

King Wada, or the Water Dragon, is the dragon god Wadatsumi-no-Kami, the Shinto god of the seas. He’s also known as Ryujin, as seen in the Urashima folktale.


Wadasumi pursuing a jewel thief (Thumbnailed for semi-NWS)