Japanese legends, Davis retelling
Kintaro
Kintaro lives on Ashigara Mountain and makes companions of a bear, deer, hare and monkey. Davis gives him unusual strength and an axe. He pulls a tree across a river to make a bridge. His strength then draws the attention of Yorimitsu, who offers him a place as a retainer.
Also known as Golden Boy
Loading your archive…
In the sources
Account in the source
TraditionalKintaro lives on Ashigara Mountain and makes companions of a bear, deer, hare and monkey. Davis gives him unusual strength and an axe.
Further detail
TraditionalHe pulls a tree across a river to make a bridge. His strength then draws the attention of Yorimitsu, who offers him a place as a retainer.
Context & interpretation
The entry follows Davis’s Golden Boy legend. Extraordinary strength and animal companionship belong to that retelling, rather than independently established events in the life of a historical warrior. The move into service is described as the tale presents it, without certifying its chronology.
Original passages
Source 1
Myths and Legends of Japan
he made companions of the bear, deer, hare, and monkeyOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Davis, Myths & Legends of Japan, active reader leaf 397
Checked against the active prepared edition; reader leaf and original-page mapping verified, spacing normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0052-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0052-E001-P0397
- Original scan leaf
- 431
- Recorded leaf number
- 431
- Current Reader position
- 396
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Myths and Legends of Japan
pulled it across the river so that it formed a bridgeOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Davis, Myths & Legends of Japan, active reader leaf 398
Checked against the active prepared edition; reader leaf and original-page mapping verified, spacing normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0052-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0052-E001-P0398
- Original scan leaf
- 432
- Recorded leaf number
- 432
- Current Reader position
- 397
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed