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The Japanese folklore of the Tongue-Cut Sparrow has a long history of retellings and translations: From William Elliot Griffis's 1880 version to Yei Theodora Ozaki's version to Lafcadio Hearn's 1918 version. Two of the major morals hinted at in the story are the punishments of greed and the rewards of giving.
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The story starts with an elderly man and woman living together disharmoniously. While the elderly man desperately wanted his own child, the elderly woman refused many times. Without the joys of raising a child, the elderly man kept a sparrow as his companion. Even toward the tiny, harmless sparrow, the elderly woman harbored resentment towards it.
Whenever wash day came around, the elderly woman's mood soured even more. As her back was strained and her knees were weakened, she had great pains washing the tub on the ground. On one particular day, she set some starch in a red bowl to cool. The sparrow ate some of the starch and drove the elderly woman to extreme measures. Using a pair of scissors, she cut the sparrow's tongue off and ousted it from her home.
When the elderly man returned from his daily outing, his beloved sparrow was gone. Asking his wife about the situation, she candidly stated what the sparrow had done and what she had done to the sparrow in retaliation. The elderly man grieved immensely for his friend, the sparrow.
Many years passed. While wandering in the mountains, the elderly man stumbled across his lost sparrow! Upon their meeting, they exchanged courtesies toward one another. The sparrow, who harbored great affection toward the elderly man, invited him to his house.
The sparrow's house was impressive with a bamboo garden, a tiny waterfall, and stepping stones. The elderly man was ushered inside, where he was introduced to the sparrow's wife and daughter. Mrs. Sparrow served him a feast of treats, while Miss Suzumi, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow, brought him tea.
The elderly man feasted on the food and drank many cups of tea. Near the end of the feast, he was asked several times to stay the night, and he obliged humbly. Not only did he stay one night, but the elderly man also stayed with the sparrow family for many days and nights. He played games, watched the moonlight, and listened to the merry strumming of Mrs. Sparrow's guitar.
After the fifth day, the elderly man made his way back to his home. Before he left, the sparrow family offered him a parting gift. He had two options: a lighter or a heavier basket. As he was grateful toward the sparrow family and not greedy for goods, the elderly man chose the lighter basket and went on his way.
Returning home, the elderly woman endlessly scolded him. Explaining his visit to the sparrow's home, the elderly woman, for once, stayed silent. The elderly man opened up his parting gift basket and discovered riches beyond belief – gold, silver, gems, and more precious items were found within.
Staring at the gifts that the elderly man received, the elderly woman flashed a greedy smile. Bidding her husband farewell, the elderly woman went off on her own journey to the sparrow's house. After reaching the sparrow's house, she flattered the sparrow to no end.
As the sparrow was polite by nature, he allowed her inside; however, she wasn't introduced to his wife or his daughter. Additionally, she was only served a cup of tea. Seeing as she wasn't going to naturally be offered a parting gift, she brazenly asked for one. Given the same two options as her husband, the elderly woman chose the heavier basket.
Upon opening the lid of the basket, the elderly woman was met with all sorts of vile creatures and monsters who attacked her. One of the monsters was a serpent who squeezed the life out of her. After her passing, the elderly man buried his wife and adopted a son. Due to the sparrow's gifts, the elderly man and his adopted son lived comfortably and happily in the end.
