Obatsuyama: Abandoning the Aged

The Story of the Farmer and His Mother

• A poor farmer lived with his aged mother in a land ruled by a tyrannical leader who disliked weak and sick people.
• The ruler ordered that all old people had to die, and the farmer was forced to take his mother to the desolate mountain summit of Obatsuyama to abandon her.

The Journey to Obatsuyama

• The farmer had difficulty navigating the mountain paths, and his mother grew anxious about him getting lost on his return.
• Unbeknownst to her son, the mother broke twigs off trees and threw them along the path to create a trail for him to follow.

The Mother's Sacrifice

• The mother revealed her plan to her son, and he was moved by her actions, deciding not to leave her on the mountain.
• The farmer took his mother back home, and they lived together for a time.

The Governor's New Order

• The governor ordered the people to make a rope of ashes, which seemed impossible.
• The farmer's mother, using her wisdom, suggested making a rope of straw and burning it on a large flat stone.

The Consequences

• The governor heard about the farmer's solution and asked how he had acquired such wisdom.
• The farmer revealed the story of his mother's help, and the governor finally recognized the value of older people's wisdom and experience.
• The governor abolished his cruel laws, acknowledging the importance of having a mix of ages in the community.