Tōryanse facts for kids
Tōryanse (通りゃんせ) is a famous traditional Japanese children's song. In Japan, you often hear this tune playing at traffic lights. It tells people when it is safe to cross the street. It's a type of Japanese children's song called a warabe uta.
Contents
Words of the Song
The words to Tōryanse tell a story. They describe a conversation between someone wanting to pass and a guard at a checkpoint.
| Japanese: | Romaji: | What it means: |
|---|---|---|
通りゃんせ 通りゃんせ
|
Tōryanse, tōryanse
|
You may go in, you may pass
|
天神さまの 細道じゃ
|
Tenjin-sama no hosomichi ja
|
It's the narrow path to the Tenjin shrine
|
御用のないもの 通しゃせぬ
|
Goyō no nai mono tōshasenu
|
Only those with a good reason can pass
|
| 行きはよいよい 帰りはこわい | Iki wa yoi yoi, kaeri wa kowai | Going in is easy, but returning is scary |
こわいながらも
|
Kowai nagara mo
|
It's scary, but
|
Understanding the Lyrics
The song talks about a path leading to a Tenjin shrine. Tenjin is a Japanese god of learning. People would visit these shrines for important events.
The lyrics also mention an ofuda. This is a special paper charm. People get them at shrines for good luck or protection.
The line "Going in is easy, but returning is scary" might sound a bit spooky. It probably means that once you enter a special place like a shrine, it might be hard to leave. Or it could mean that the path back is difficult. It's part of the story, not truly scary.
The Tune
<score %vorbis="1"%%T257066%>{ \relative d' { \key d \minor \tempo 4 = 120 \time 4/4 a'2 a4 g4| a4 a8 g8 e4 r4| bes'4 bes8 bes8 d4 bes8 a8| bes8 a8 g8 g8 a4 r4| bes4 bes4. d8 bes8 a8| bes8 a8 g8 g8 a4 r4| f4. f8 a4 f8 e8| f8 e8 d8 d8 e4 r4| f8 f4 f8 a8 a8 f8 e8| f8 e8 d8 d8 e4 r4| bes'8 bes bes bes d d bes a| bes a g g a4. r8| f8 f f f f a f e| f e d d e2\fermata| r8 a a a a a a g| a a a g d d e4| r8 d e f g a bes a| bes4 d4 e8 d8 bes4| a4 a8 g8 a2\fermata \bar "|." } \addlyrics { とお りゃん せ とお りゃ ん せ こ こ は ど こ の ほ そ み ち じゃ てん じん さ ま の ほ そ み ち じゃ ちっ と とお し て く だ しゃ ん せ ご よう の な い も の と お しゃ せ ぬ こ の こ の な な つ の お い わ い に お ふ だ を お さ め に ま い り ま す い き は よ い よ い か え り は こ わ い こ わ い な が ら も と お りゃ ん せ とお りゃ ん せ } }</score>
Meaning of the Song
People have different ideas about where this song came from. But most agree it's about a conversation. It's between a person and a guard at a special gate or checkpoint. One idea says this checkpoint was at Kawagoe Castle.
In the past, it was a big deal for a child to reach the age of 7. Families would celebrate this milestone. Ordinary people could only visit shrines inside castles for very special reasons, like these celebrations.
The Game and Traffic Lights
This warabe uta is also part of a traditional children's game. Two children face each other and hold hands high to make an arch. This arch acts like a "checkpoint." Other children walk in a line under the arch. When the song ends, the child under the arch gets "caught." It's a bit like the game "London Bridge is Falling Down" that you might know.
The tune is played at Japanese pedestrian crossings for a good reason. It's like the game! The music tells you it's safe to cross. When the music stops, it means the "checkpoint" is closing, and you should not cross anymore.
See also
In Spanish: Tōryanse para niños
