A story from the wonders of international children’s stories, collected and formulated by Toshio Ozawa, and the tale of the Goblin Medicine is a tale from old Japanese stories, or more precisely, it is Japanese folklore from past times, which is taught to Japanese children until the end of elementary school. The story of the Goblin Medicine is told as follows.
The Beautiful Moon: Once upon a time in ancient days, a Buddhist priest lived in one of the temples. One night, when the moon was full, he went out to the outhouse to relieve himself. When he squatted and contemplated the moon, he muttered: Ah… oh, beautiful moon!
The Buddhist Priest and the Moonlight: He felt something touching his back. He was surprised and wondered about the matter, but he said to himself: It’s fine, perhaps it’s the mischief of some children! He did not pay attention to the matter. The next night, the priest wanted to relieve himself in the moonlight as well. While he was squatting contemplating the moon, three pointed claws extended gently through the white and blue moonlight, as if it were a frog’s hand, and scratched his back. He was also surprised by this, so he jumped up and quickly cleared the place!
The Harmful Goblin Kappa: The Buddhist priest said to himself: No doubt this harm is what the goblin Kappa does to the village residents. I have heard that a while ago, she put her hand into the mouth of one of the Tasako family while he was sitting eating cucumbers on the edge of the river water. If so, she must be punished a little.
Punishing the Goblin: He took the sickle and quickly returned to the place, then squatted in his spot and waited. There, the same hand with three claws extended suddenly and quietly toward his back. He quickly took the sickle and cut it off, shouting: Take this..! The goblin screamed in pain, ah, ah, ah, and fled in fear, leaving behind her severed hand.
The Goblin’s Supplications to the Priest: After that day, she began coming to the priest’s pillow every night, pleading to him: Please return my hand to me, because if you don’t return it within seven days, it will not stick in its place as before! The Buddhist priest answered her: No problem, I will return it to you, but in return, you must leave this area from now on and not live here near the river ever again! The goblin answered him: Don’t say such words. Please return it to me if you allow.
Leaving the Village: No, no, this is not possible, because if you live here in your current state, the village residents cannot go down to the river, nor can they relieve themselves in the outhouse with peace and comfort. Therefore, I will not return it to you until you promise me to leave the village immediately.
Supplications and Persistence: The goblin returned moaning, crying with a strange and sad voice because the priest did not forgive her, but she did not stop coming every night, crying and pleading. One night, he said to her: Then, oh goblin… can you promise me to leave the village?
The Goblin Leaves the Village: The goblin surrendered in the end and said: Yes, I will leave it immediately. Please return my hand to me… Then, the priest returned her hand to her, and she was very happy. In return for this kindness, she began planting medicinal herbs around the temple suitable for treating cuts, and she left the place.
The Goblin’s Medicine: Thus the goblin disappeared from the village river, and it is said that the village residents, if they get wounds while working in the fields, pick some of the goblin’s herbs at the temple and put them on the wound opening.