Shita-kiri Suzume facts for kids

Shita-kiri Suzume (which means The Tongue-Cut Sparrow) is a famous Japanese folk legend. Parents often tell this story to their children. It teaches important lessons about being kind and helping others. It also shows what can happen when someone is mean and greedy.

The Story of the Tongue-Cut Sparrow

The story begins with an old man and an old woman. One day, the old man finds a hurt sparrow. He is very kind and takes the sparrow home. He gives it food and takes good care of it.

However, the old woman is not kind. She treats the sparrow badly. In a cruel act, she cuts out the sparrow's tongue. After this, the sparrow flies away.

The old man is very sad when he realizes what has happened. He decides to go look for the sparrow. He travels far into the mountains, searching for his feathered friend.

The Sparrows' Gifts

When the old man finally finds the sparrow, it is with a group of other sparrows. They are all very happy to see him. To thank him for his kindness, the sparrows offer him a choice between two baskets. One basket is large and heavy, and the other is small and light. The old man, being humble and not greedy, chooses the smaller, lighter basket.

When he gets home and opens his chosen basket, he finds it filled with many wonderful and valuable things. He is very happy with his good fortune.

The Greedy Old Woman

The old woman sees all the good things the old man received. She becomes very greedy and wants treasures for herself. She decides to go to the sparrows to get a basket.

When she finds the sparrows, she is rude and demanding. Even though she is mean, the sparrows still offer her a choice of two baskets. Being greedy, she immediately picks the largest and heaviest basket, thinking it will hold the most treasures.

The sparrows warn her not to open the basket until she gets home. But the old woman is not patient. She opens the basket before she reaches her house. To her horror, the basket is filled with scary and unpleasant things. This teaches her a harsh lesson about her greed and unkindness.

Images for kids

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  A famous Japanese woodblock print by Katsushika Hokusai showing a sparrow and scissors, related to the story.

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  An image of a friendly robot.