The Legend of the Matsuko and Yamakaze

Matsuko was a goddess. Her kingdom was high in the mountains. There, a small valley was always lush and green, despite the winter's cold. The snow melted in her valley, and formed a spring, which became sacred by her power.

On the edge of the valley, the winds howled fiercely, and Cloud Falcons soared lazily. From his home in the winds, Yamakaze watched Matsuko. She was gentle, and kind, and cared for those who crossed the mountain. She was well loved and served by all of the earth bound creatures – particularly the red wolves that populated the mountains. She would watch the world outside of her valley through a reflecting pool fed by her spring, but she would not leave her valley.

Yamakaze was a wind god – not a god of the earth as Matsuko was. His "children" the Cloud Falcons brought him news and prayers. He was not bound to the mountain as she was, although he did not like to stray from there – not when he might miss an afternoon of listening to her singing quietly in her garden.

One day, he sent one of his Cloud Falcons requesting permission to visit the goddess in her garden, and she accepted.

"My Lord," she bowed politely as he appeared before her. "To what do I owe this honor?

"The honor is mine, my Lady," he bowed deeply. "I have long watched you, my Lady. You are as kind as you are beautiful. I wish to make you my wife."

Matsuko smiled kindly. "I can not leave the mountain," she said gently. My powers are tied to the forest. From my garden, I protect my lands."

Yamakaze bowed. "Then I shall protect you here," he pledged.

From that day forward, the Children of the Wind protected the Children of the Earth. Yamakaze's Cloud Falcons brought their prayers to Matsuko. They scoured the mountains for any danger, and sped away to the god and goddess when trouble arose. They were vigilant protectors of her secret realm.

People began to settle on the mountain. They offered their prayers to the gods protecting their lands, and were cautious to never harm a Falcon or a Wolf. A shrine was built on the mountain, and guarded by sacred priestesses.

One day, a terrible demon attacked the mountain. Yamakaze engaged the monster in battle, but was mortally wounded. Matsuko left the mountain and brought him back to her garden. There, she called forth from the earth, a tree of healing. Its low, thick branches cradled the wounded god as she gave what was left of her strength to revive him.

Yamakaze awoke to find his beloved fading into nothing, for she had left her garden for too long. With what power remained in him, he blessed her sacred spring, and used its powers to bind their souls. When she breathed her last, they left the garden as one… as the wind.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Translations:

Matsuko: pine tree child

Yamakaze - mountain wind

I collect folk tales. I have read stories from almost every major culture, and I have found that in almost every one of them, the more interesting stories are compressed into a simplified overview that relays the key details. We do not need to know what Yamakaze looked like, or why the demon attacked the mountain – we just need to know what happened overall.

Several of the chapters have this same feel, and I have done it to allow the reader to fill in the gaps. Think of it as an approach to the Cinderella story. Every culture has one – and we all tell it differently. But we all know the moral; Great shoes Happily ever after

…..right?