E

LITERAT
URE
The Happy Mirror
A Japanese Folktale
JAPANESE
LITERATURE
Early Japanese literature was greatly inspired by cultural
connection with China, literature written in classical
Chinese, as well as Indian literature. For example, Japanese
folklore is heavily influenced by both Shintoism and
Buddhism Japan's two primary religions. The tales and
stories often involve the supernatural and characters or
situations that are either humorous or peculiar.
 The Happy
Summary:
Mirror
Many years ago, there was a small family in Japan. There lived a father,
mother and their little daughter. They took their daughter to the temple
when she was only thirty days old wearing a long kimono like all Japanese
babies do. The parents gave the baby a set of beautiful dolls on her first
doll festival, and when their daughter turned three, she was no longer a
baby but a little girl fast growing up. She was loved by her parents very
much. One day, a messenger came and brought news that the father is
needed by the Emperor to Tokyo. They haven’t had a horse so the father
will need to walk the long way. The mother and the little daughter bid
farewell to the father and promised him that they will take care of each
other and will wait for him.
 After many days, the father came back and brought the
mother and daughter presents. The little girl received a doll and
she was very glad while the mother was amazed by the present.
It was a thing which she saw a beautiful face of a woman. The
husband laughed and told her it was a mirror and she only saw
her own reflection. He told her that if she brings a smile to the
mirror, she will see a smiling face and if she didn’t it will reflect
the mirror. The wife thanked her husband and promised that she
will always bring a smiling face to the mirror. She often looked
at the mirror and does what she had promised. She would always
see a happy face in it. Many years passed and she grew tired of
looking at it.
 She decided to give the precious gift to her daughter who grew
into a woman exactly like her mother. One day, she called the
daughter and gave a beautiful box and the daughter was surprised of
what she saw. It was the image of her mother inside the round shiny
thing. It was the image of her mother she used to look at when she
was a little girl. The mother told her to smile every time she will look
at her inside the mirror and assured her that she will smile back. For
that day on, the daughter kept the box near her. Once each year, she
opened it and proved that her mother’s words was always true. Always
she saw her mother’s smiling face when she smiles at her. The
daughter always remembers to bring smiles to the thing inside the
little box, and always the smiles come back at her.
SETTI
The story happened in
NGS: Japan many years
ago. The little house
of the little family
was home full of
love and affection
to each other.
 Characters:
Father – a loving husband and father. He
value and appreciates his wife and daughter
very much.
Mother – a good and loving wife. She was a
perfect example to their daughter.
Daughter – a good daughter to her parents.
She was exactly like her mother.
 Theme:
Everything we do reflect to
what kind of person we are.
WHAT IS YOUR
INTERPRETAT
ION
OF THE
STORY?