Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 March 1877 — The Golden Fish of Owari castle. [ARTICLE]

The Golden Fish of Owari castle.

In nearly every large city in Japan there is, or was, a large castle, in which the Prince of the province or his soldiers lived in time of peaee, or fought in time of war. In Nagoya, in the Province of Owari, in the central part of the main island, was seen the largest and finest of all the castles in Japan. They were built of . thick walls Of stone masonry from twenty to one hundred fl!et high, and divided from the outside land by moats filled with water. At the angles were high towers, built of heavy beams of wood covered with Ume to make them fire-proof, and roofed with tiles. They had many gables like a pagoda, and port-holes or windows for the archers to shoot out their arrows oh the besiegers. These windows were covered with copper or iron shutters: At the end of the topmost gable of the tower, with its tail in the air, was a great fish made of bronze or copper, from six to ten feet high, weighing thousands of pounds. It was a frightful monster of a fish, looking as if Jonah would be no more in its mouth than a sprat in a mackerel’s. It stood on its lower gill, like a boy about to walk on his hands and headIt always reminded me of the old fashioned candlesticks, in which a glass dolphin rampant, with very thick lips, holds a candle in his glass tail. In Japan, however, the flukes of this bronze fish’s tail, instead of a candle, were usually occupied by a live hawk, or sometimes an eagle, cormorant or falcon. Half the birds in Fukui solemnly believed the castle towers to have been built for their especial perch and benefit. I often have seen every fish-tail of the castle occupied by crows. They were finishing their toilet, enjoying an after-dinner nap, or making speeches to each other, observing the rules of order no better than some assemblies in which several persons talk at once. We sometimes say of a boy having wealthy parents, that “he was bom with a silver spoon in his mouth.” Now, as the Japanese eat with chop-sticks, and use their silver for other purposes, they express nearly the same idea in other words. In Japan, the better class of people—those who enjoy the privilege of wealth, education or position—live either within or near the castle. One of the first things a well-bom Japanese baby sees and learns to know out-doors is the upright bronze fish on the castle towers. HenceaJapanese is proud to say, “I was bom within sight of the ehachiboko” (the Japanese name of this fish.) The Princes of Owari were very proud, rich and powerful; and they determined to erect gold instead of bronze fishes on their castle. Bo they engaged famous gold and silver smiths to make them a ehdehihoko ten feet high. Its tail, mouth and fins were of solid beaten silver. Its scales were plates ’of solid gold. Its eyes were of black glass. It cost many thousands of dollars, and required about twenty men to lift it. This was at Nagoya, a city famous for its bronzes, porcelain vases, cups and dishes, its wonderful enamel work called cloisonne, and its gay fans. Thousands of the Japanese fans with which we cool our faces in summer were made in Nagoya. Well, when, after much toil and-the help of great derricks ana tackling, the great object was raised to its place, thousands of persons came from a distance to see the golden wonder. The people of Nagoya felt prouder than ever of their handsome city. In all kinds of weather, the golden fish kept its color and glittering brightness, never tarnishing or blackening like the common ehaehihoko on other castles. Morning and evening, the sunbeams gilded it with fresh splendor. The gold and the sunlight seemed to know each other, for they always kissed. The farmers’ children, who lived miles distant in • the country, clapped their hands with joy when th» flashing flukes on the castle towers gleamed in the air. The travelers plodding along the road, as they mounted a hill, knew when the city was near, though they could not see anything bqt the gleam like a star of gold. Alas that I should tell it! What was joy to the many, was temptation to some. They were led to envy, then to covet, then to steal the prize. A man whose talents and industry might have made him rich and honored, became a robber—first in heart, and then in act. He began to study how he might steal the golden fish. How was he to reach the roof or the tower ? Even if he could swim the moat and scale the wall, he could not mount to the top story of the roof.’ The gates were guarded. The sentinels were vigilant, and armed with sword and spear. How should he reach the golden scales! A kite, twenty-five feetsquare, was made of thick paper, with very strong but light bamboo frame, with tough rope for a tether, and a pair of bobs strong enough to lift two hundred pounds. No man could hold such a kite. The rope was wound round a windlass and paid out by one person, while two men and three boys held the hand-cart. A very dark, cloudy night, when a brisk wind was up, was chosen. When all was ready at midnight, the hand-cart was run out along the moat, the robber, with prying-tools In his belt, and his feet in loops at the end of the bobs, mounted on the perilous air-ship, more dangerous than a balloon. The wind was in the right direction, and by skillful movements of the cart and windlass, the robber, after swinging like a pendulum for a few minutes, finally alighted on the right roof. Fastening the bobs so as to secure his descent, he began the work of wrenching off the golden scales.- * This be found no easy task. The goldsmiths had riveted them so securely that they defied bis prying, and the soft, tough metal could not be torn off. He dared not make any clinking noise with hammer or chisel, lest the sentinels should hear him. After what appeared to be several hours’ work, he had loosened only two scales, worth scarcely more than fifty dollars. To make a long story short, the man was caught. The sentinels were awakened, and the crime detected. The robber was sentenced to die a cruel death—-to be boiled in oil. His accomplices received various other decrees of punishment. The Prince of Owari issued a decree forbidding the flying of any kites above a certain small size. Henceforth the grand

. old kites which the boys of the province had flown in innocent fun won jsbmt ward taken down from the castle in Nagoya, and kept in the Prince’s treasure, house. When I saw It, it was in Tobin at the museum. It was afterward taken Nicholas for March. ’ ’