Among the chain of islands in the Riukyu Islands lies a small island like a strip of land, called Okinawa. Okinawa has a city—Naha city. Beyond the city, at the very edge of the town, in a broken-down hut live a mother and her son. The mother is very ill. The boy is seven years old; what does he understand about illness? Calling him close, the mother said, "Janis, my child, I will not live any longer."
"Why, mother?"
"You will understand later. But listen—on the roof there are three big bundles of straw tied up. Those are left for you."
"No, mother."
"Yes, listen. Other than these, I have nothing else to leave for you, my son."
"Let them be, mother, let them be."
"No. When I die, after seven days cut the straw bundles and take them to the rice-wine (sake) shop. Sell the straw to the shopkeeper and buy rice with the money."
"No, mother." The boy began to cry
Seeing the boy crying, the mother sat up and placed her hand on his head.
"Look, my son, you have grown up. Don't cry. Listen, Janis, your home is your father's home."
The boy looked at her in surprise.
"Listen. When I was the queen of the king's palace, one day I went with the king to walk along the seashore. Thousands of people were standing silently along the shore, building a new harbour tied with ropes and bamboo. The sky and the sea seemed to blend together like a blue painting. From far away, floating on the waves of the sea, something like a small bird was coming closer—was it a bird or a ship? See how a big trading ship was coming to our harbour!"
With joy and excitement I shouted loudly. Hearing my cry, thousands of people left their work and turned back to look at the sea.
The king looked at them and said, "How young you are! If you disturb the work of so many people, it is a great fault."
That very day I was banished from the royal palace. No one could stop the king's order.
Your father, my husband, wiping his tears, tied three bundles of straw and placed them in my cloth. "Keep these carefully," he said. "For so long I have saved them little by little for your dowry."
Within seven days after the mother's death, the boy shaved his head according to the custom. When seven days were over, he tied the straw bundles on his shoulder, took a small bundle of food, and started walking along the rough road.
After walking a long way, he reached the rice-wine (sake) shop. He arranged the straw bundles and sat down in front of the shop.
Morning passed, noon passed, evening passed, and the whole day went by. After three days, the shopkeeper finally came out and asked,
"How much will you sell your straw for?"
The boy had three bundles of straw. When he asked the price, the shopkeeper gave him only a small bag of rice in exchange for the three bundles. The boy put the rice in his cloth and started walking again.
After walking some distance, he reached a farmer's shop. The farmer was sitting at the door and smoking his pipe.
"Where are you going, boy?" the farmer asked.
"I am going home," the boy replied.
"What do you have with you?"
"A little rice."
"If you want, you can exchange it with me," said the farmer.
The boy agreed. In exchange for the rice, the farmer gave him a small earthen pot. The boy then continued on his journey carrying the pot.
After walking for a long time, he came to a blacksmith's house. The blacksmith was working with iron tools.
"What do you have in that pot?" the blacksmith asked.
"A little rice."
"Give me the pot. I will give you something better," said the blacksmith.
The boy gave him the pot, and the blacksmith gave him a small knife.
The boy walked again for a long distance. At last he reached a fisherman's hut near the sea. The fisherman saw the knife and said he would give the boy a fishing net in exchange for it.
Thus, the boy kept exchanging what he had for something else and continued his journey.Just a little more ahead—was it the sea or the sky? A tall palace appeared where the sky and the sea seemed to meet. The boy walked toward it.
On the way he saw a beautiful palace. He asked someone, "Whose palace is this?"
They told him, "This is the palace of the king."
The boy went closer and stood at the gate. The guards asked him what he wanted. He said he had brought something to sell.
The guards took him inside. There he saw many people and great wealth. The boy stood quietly and waited.
After some time the king heard about the boy and called him. When the boy came before the king, the king asked him what he had brought.
The boy showed what he had. The king looked at it with great interest and asked where he had got it.
The boy told the whole story of how he had exchanged things from place to place and finally brought this item.
The king was pleased with the boy's honesty and intelligence. He said that such a clever and honest boy deserved a good future.
Then the king ordered that the boy should stay in the palace and be looked after. In time, everyone saw that the boy was wise and capable.
Later, the king chose him as his successor.
Thus the poor boy became the new king.
At last the boy reached the royal palace. The palace was very beautiful and magnificent. The king of that country loved rare and wonderful things.
One day the boy brought a very beautiful bird. The bird had bright feathers and sang sweetly. People gathered around to see the bird and were amazed.
The news reached the king. The king called the boy and asked, "Where did you get this wonderful bird?"
The boy bowed respectfully and told the king the whole story—how he had travelled from place to place and exchanged one thing for another until he finally got the bird.
The king was very pleased with the boy's cleverness and honesty. He said, "You are a very wise boy. Such intelligence and patience are rare."
The king kept the bird and rewarded the boy with money and kindness. From that day the boy stayed near the palace and gradually gained the king's trust.
In time the king realized that the boy was brave, intelligent, and honest. Therefore the king decided that the boy would be his successor.
After some time, when the king became old, he declared the boy as the new king.
Thus the poor boy, through patience, wisdom, and honesty, became the ruler of the kingdom.
The boy said, "If you give me the water of the river and the water of the sea together, then I will give you the bird."
The king was surprised and asked what the boy meant.
Then the boy explained, "My lord, the river water and the sea water always mix together. If you can separate them and give them to me, then I will give you the bird."
The king realized that the boy was very intelligent. He laughed and said, "You are a clever boy indeed."
The king then asked, "Tell me honestly, what do you really want in return for the bird?"
The boy replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, I do not want gold or money. I only want your kindness."
The king was very pleased with the boy's humility and wisdom. He said, "A boy who asks for kindness instead of wealth is truly noble."
From that day the king kept the boy in the palace and treated him with great care. The boy learned many things and became wise and capable.
After many years, when the king became old, he decided to make the boy his successor.
Thus the poor boy finally became the new king.
Tears came to the boy's eyes. He quickly lifted the cage.
Then the king asked thoughtfully, "Why are you crying?"
The boy replied, "My lord, I only want water. If you give me the water of the river and the sea together, then I will give you this bird."
The king listened carefully and understood the meaning. He realized that the boy was not greedy for wealth but valued wisdom and kindness.
The king became very pleased with the boy's honesty and intelligence.
Later, the king kept the boy in the palace and took care of him. The boy grew up to be wise, brave, and capable.
After many years, when the king became old, he decided to make the boy his successor.
Thus the poor boy finally became the new king of the kingdom.