Kiyohime

The Story of Kiyohime

Kiyohime is a girl in an old Japanese story. She lives near a river. A monk named Anchin stays at her house. Kiyohime likes Anchin very much. Anchin says he likes her too. But Anchin is a monk. Monks cannot marry.

Anchin wants to leave. He tells Kiyohime he will come back. But this is not true. Kiyohime finds out. She gets very angry. She runs after Anchin.

Kiyohime runs across the river. She is so angry she turns into a big snake. Anchin is scared. He hides in a big bell at a temple. Kiyohime the snake goes around the bell. She breathes fire. The bell melts. Anchin dies inside the bell.

Remember:

1. Who is Kiyohime?
2. Where does Kiyohime live?
3. What is Anchin’s job?
4. Where does Anchin hide?
5. What does Kiyohime turn into?

Understand:

1. Why can’t Anchin have a girlfriend?
2. How does Kiyohime feel when Anchin leaves?
3. Why does Anchin tell Kiyohime he will come back?
4. What happens to the bell when Kiyohime breathes fire?
5. How do you think Kiyohime feels at the end of the story?

Apply:

1. If you were Anchin, what would you do differently?
2. How might the story change if Kiyohime didn’t turn into a snake?
3. What could Anchin have done to avoid making Kiyohime angry?
4. How could Kiyohime have reacted differently to Anchin leaving?
5. If you could add a new character to the story, who would it be and why?

Analyze:

1. What are the main parts of this story?
2. How does Kiyohime change during the story?
3. Why do you think Anchin lied to Kiyohime?
4. What does Kiyohime turning into a snake tell us about her feelings?
5. How are Kiyohime and Anchin different from each other?

Evaluate:

1. Do you think Anchin did the right thing? Why or why not?
2. Was Kiyohime’s reaction fair? Explain your answer.
3. What is the most important part of the story? Why?
4. Is this a happy or sad story? Give reasons for your answer.
5. What lesson can we learn from this story?

Terrie’s Version of Kiyohime

I’m Teresa Matsuura and you’re listening to Uncanny Japan.

Imagine this.

In a thunderous roar, she bursts through the surface of the water.

No longer a weak young woman, but a dragon.

Her wet scales sparkle crimson, gold, and green as her snake-like body flies at furious speed undulating toward her prey.

She can smell him.

Meanwhile, a monk, handsome, sweating, desperate, presses his forehead against the dirt, bowing and begging the monks of this unfamiliar temple to hide him.

They calmly listen to his panicked explanation, not sure whether or not to believe such a wild story.

Then they hear her in the distance, like thunder, fast approaching.

“I have an idea.”

The men race to the temple’s bell tower.

Together the monks untie the ropes and lower a large bronze bell over the shivering and terrified runaway.

Then they scamper off to hide themselves.

Moments later, the dragon crashes through the temple gates and stops.

She belches fire from her mouth.

She listens.

She smells.

She’s close.

He’s not fleeing anymore.

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Terrie’s Version in Simple English

A woman comes out of the water. She is now a big dragon. Her skin is red, gold, and green. She moves fast in the air. She is looking for someone.

Far away, a man is scared. He is a monk. He asks other monks to help him. He tells them a strange story. They don’t believe him.

Then they hear a loud noise. It is the dragon coming. Now they believe the monk’s story.

One monk says, “I have an idea.” They all run to a big bell. They put the scared monk under the bell.

The dragon comes to the temple. She looks around. She can breathe fire. She listens and smells the air. She knows the monk is close. But she can’t see him.

Remember:

1. What does the woman turn into?
2. What colors is the dragon’s skin?
3. Who is the dragon looking for?
4. Where do the monks hide the scared monk?
5. What can the dragon do with her mouth?

Understand:

1. Why is the monk scared?
2. How does the dragon move in the air?
3. Why do the other monks believe the scared monk’s story?
4. What does the dragon do when she comes to the temple?
5. How does the dragon try to find the monk?

Apply:

1. If you were a monk, how would you help the scared monk?
2. What might happen if the dragon finds the monk?
3. How else could the monks hide the scared monk?
4. What would you do if you saw a dragon coming?
5. How could the story end differently?

Analyze:

1. How does the dragon’s behavior show she is angry?
2. Why do you think the woman turned into a dragon?
3. How are the scared monk and the other monks different?
4. What parts of the story are exciting? Why?
5. How does the story make you feel? Why?

Evaluate:

1. Do you think hiding the monk was a good idea? Why or why not?
2. Is the dragon right to be angry? Explain your answer.
3. What is the most important part of the story? Why?
4. Who do you think is the good character in this story? Why?
5. What lesson can we learn from this story?