Japanese legends, Davis retelling
Celestial River
The God of the Firmament separates Tanabata and Hikoboshi by a celestial river after their marriage leads them to neglect their duties. Birds can form a bridge for their meeting on the seventh night of the seventh month. Rain makes the river too wide to cross, turning favourable weather into a condition of reunion.
Also known as River of the Star Lovers · Tanabata's Celestial River
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In the sources
A boundary imposed on the lovers
TraditionalDavis says Tanabata neglects her weaving and Hikoboshi allows his ox to wander. Her father responds by placing the river between them.
A crossing dependent on the weather
TraditionalA bridge of magpies allows their yearly meeting when the weather is fine. Rain defeats the crossing and forces another year of waiting.
Context & interpretation
This entry concerns a heavenly setting in Davis's legend rather than a mapped terrestrial river. His tentative identification of the lovers' stars is not treated as a settled astronomical conclusion. The bird bridge and change in the river's width are part of the tale, with no physical crossing or measured waterway established.
Original passages
Source 1
Myths and Legends of Japan
these too ardent lovers should henceforth be separated by the Celestial RiverOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Star Lovers, printed p. 126
Read directly from the active prepared scan; line breaks and spacing normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0052-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0052-E001-P0142
- Original scan leaf
- 162
- Recorded leaf number
- 162
- Current Reader position
- 141
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Myths and Legends of Japan
the Celestial River would become too wideOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: The Star Lovers, printed p. 127
Read directly from the active prepared scan; line breaks and spacing normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0052-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0052-E001-P0143
- Original scan leaf
- 163
- Recorded leaf number
- 163
- Current Reader position
- 142
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed