A Japanese miscellany - University of Oregon

166 Japanese Miscellany
Sore de mata
Kaganda.
— The little Buddha inthemididle [of the dancing-circle],
the little Buddha in the middle, — why does he remain thus
always bent?— On the anniversary of his parents' death,
he ate shrimps : i therefore he remains thus always bent.
(Another version.)
Mawari, mawari no
Kobotoke wa,
Naze se ga hikui ?
Oya no hi ni
Toto kutte,
Sore de se ga
Hikui so na.
— The little Buddha in the middle of the dancing-round,
the little Buddha in the middle, — why is his stature thus
low?— Having eaten fish upon the anniversary of his
parents' death, therefrom his stature remains low.
(Centipede-dance— Province of Kii.)
Yurasu ya mukade
Atama wa cha-usu
O wa hiko-hiko yo
1 On the anniversary of a parent's death, and during the Festival of
the Dead, no good Buddhist should eat fish of any kind.
; ! !