The Tengu’s Gourd: A Magical Twist of Fate in Japanese Folklore

Embark on a journey through Japanese folklore with “The Tengu’s Gourd”—a tale of mischief, clever bargains, and a twist of fate that transforms misfortune into fortune. Discover how one man’s encounter with a magical treasure leads him down a path of unexpected prosperity.

The Tengu’s Gourd

Once upon a time in a small village, there lived a man whose dreams of striking it rich through gambling were shattered time and again. Penniless after repeated losses, he wandered through life with dwindling hope.
One early morning, before dawn had fully broken, the man passed beneath a towering pine tree near the village shrine. There, he noticed a Tengu perched on one of its branches—a Tengu renowned for his mischievous antics.
Expecting to be pranked, the man began planning a counter-mischief. But before he could act, the Tengu greeted him cheerfully, “Hey there, gambler! Lost again today?”
Unable to conceal his frustration, the man replied, “No, I didn’t lose—I simply lent my money to my opponent.” The Tengu roared with laughter at his response.
Then the Tengu asked, “By the way, what scares you most in this world?”
After a moment’s thought, the man answered, “Without a doubt, the scariest thing in this world is manju (steamed buns)! They look so delicious, yet somehow, they terrify me. And what about you, Tengu—what frightens you?”
The Tengu admitted, “I am most afraid of cannons. While I don’t mind when bullets fly, the deafening sound of a cannon is unbearable.”
Hearing this, the Tengu began teasing the man by dropping one manju after another from the pine branch. As a mound of steamed buns accumulated, the man feigned terror, exclaiming in a trembling voice, “Ah! Manju! They’re terrifying!”
Then, imitating a cannon’s booming sound with a resounding “Boom!” the man startled the Tengu so much that the creature flapped his wings in panic and fled.
Amused by his own cleverness, the man began to eat the fallen manju.
Looking up, he noticed that in the place where the Tengu had perched, a single gourd was hanging. This was the legendary “Tengu’s Gourd”—a magical treasure that, when shaken while naming one’s desire, would produce anything the holder wished for.
Delighted, the man exclaimed, “This is a true treasure!” From that day forward, he abandoned gambling and used the Tengu’s Gourd to fulfill his every wish, eventually becoming immensely wealthy.

Conclusion

The Tengu’s Gourd is a testament to the unexpected twists of fate in Japanese folklore. It reminds us that sometimes fortune is found in the most unlikely places—and that a little mischief combined with magic can change a life forever.

• Tengu: Japan’s Mysterious Guardian, Demon, and Folk Legend
• Wikipedia – 天狗