There are many different symbols commonly found in Japanese Folk Tales. These can be grouped into four different topics: People, Supernatural, Animals and Nature.
In Japanese folk tales, the old women and/or old men are a symbol of wiseness. They are considered as wise beyond their years, not as aged and helpless, but as mature, experienced and wise in the ways of the world with the characteristics they have gained over the years. Therefore in Japanese folk tales they appear as wise, giving sound advice to the main character in need of advice.
Beggars appear in many Japanese folk tales. They often appear to the main characters in the folk tales to test them. In most stories they appear to poor families and ask to stay with them for one night. If the family allows them to stay the night in the morning they will find that their money problems are forever over, as the beggar will have left a big pile behind as thanks for their kindness. Therefore these beggars have become a symbol of good fortune.
The most common profession for men in Japanese folk tales is woodcutting. From these stories the woodcutter has become a symbol of strength, as to be a woodcutter in those days in Japan it involved the man needing to acquire a great amount of strength.
The most common profession for women in Japanese folk tales is weaving. In the stories they weave delicate materials with grace on their looms for their husbands or fathers which make a lot of money to support the family. Therefore female weavers are considered as symbols of gracefulness.
Momotaro is the main character in the story 'The Peach boy'. To the Japanese he is a symbol of strength and bravery, which they can all learn from. Momotaro is also connected to the symbol of the 'Peach' in Japanese folk tales.
In Japanese folk tales, Demons or Ogres are known as the Japanese name 'Oni'. In the early Japanese legends, the Oni was said to be able to ward off evil and malevolent sprits and that they punished evil-doers. In the Buddhism religion they were believed to be the guardians of Hell, and were torturers of the wicked there. Also in the Shinto religion they were known as the Shinto sprits. However, over time the perception has changed to the Oni being seen as harbingers or agents of calamity. Folktales show them as dumb, sadistic brute, content only to destroy. Today in Japan they are variously described as the sprits of the dead, of the Earth, of the ancestors, or the vengeful, of pestilence, or of anger. The Oni is today seen as something to avoid and ward off. The Japanese people believe that monkey statues guard against Oni.
The Monkey is a prominent figure in Japanese folktales. The monkey is the most human like animal in Japanese folk tales and it is a native animal of Japan. In Japanese folk tales the monkey is described as a smart, evil, cunning animal. The monkey is also considered as a good, scared messenger of many deities and Buddha, and also as witty, humorous and somewhat lovable. In Japan it is believed that monkey statues guard against Oni.
The Fox is also a prominent figure in Japanese folktales. The fox is believed to be a messenger of the God of the rice fields, known as Inari. Just like the monkey, the fox is also a native animal of Japan and is considered as a smart animal. In many Japanese folk tales the fox is symbolized as a deceiver, as the fox often outsmarts humans and other animals using its trickery. The fox is often associated with weirdness and mysteriousness by the Japanese people. It is believed to be the sprit of the rich ground, and to have supernatural powers, because of this the Japanese people worship the fox. The fox is very cunning and malevolent, and is considered as the primary trickster animal in Japanese folk tales.
The Crane is well loved by the Japanese people and is considered as the bird of good fortune and long life. The Crane is believed to live for a thousand years, and is a symbol of beauty and longevity. The Crane often appears in Japanese folk tales in the disguise of a beautiful, obedient and hard-working wife to mortal man. One such story is 'The Crane Wife', in which a Crane who is saved by a mortal man turns into a beautiful woman and becomes his wife.
In Japanese folk tales the Rabbit and hare is sometimes seen as good and sometimes as a bad character. They tend to be clear, tricky characters who are usually male. The Hares in Japanese folk tales tend to be crafty, clownish, mischievous figures. The Rabbit is also seen in the Japanese folk tale 'The rabbit in the Moon' as a symbol of kindness who thinks of others before itself, and this is why the old-man-from-the-moon chooses it to come and live with him.
The Cherry blossom or 'Sakura' is a well known ubiquitous symbol of Japan found in many of the folk tales. The Cherry blossom is also a ephemeral beauty symbol of nature in Japan. One of the most famous Japanese folk tales in which cherry blossoms play a big part is 'The old man who made trees blossom', this story is about an old man who is able to make cherry trees blossom with their beautiful cherry blossoms.
The peach, since the old days in Japan, has been a symbol of long life and was also believed to be effective in warding off devils/oni. This is why it is 'Momotaro' (the Peach boy) who fights the oni of Ogre Island and is able to defeat them all.
The tree has long been a symbol of harmony, tranquility and purity in Japanese folk tales, and to those who look after them in these folk tales, fortune will come their way, in the way of gold or treasure. Misfortune also comes to those who hurt or damage the tree without good cause.
