A Tale of Justice and Wisdom from Japan
One day, a case concerning a baby boy came to Ooka’s court. Two women claimed to be the boy’s mother, and Ooka was faced with the challenge of deciding which woman was telling the truth. Both women had recently come to Yedo (old Tokyo), and so there were no witnesses to support either claim.
Thinking that the child himself would be sure to recognize his own mother, the judge placed him in the middle of the floor, expecting him to crawl toward one of the women. But the child paid no attention to either of the two women and cried for Ooka to pick him up.
Whispers of amusement ran around the courtroom and Ooka’s ears began to rum pink.
The great judge soon thought of another test, however. He ordered the two women to take hold of one of the baby’s arms and to pull as hard as they were able.
“I am sure the real mother will be given strength so that she will win the struggle,” he explained. What he really expected was the real mother would stop pulling the child, for fear of hurting him.
Sadly the two women were not fooled by Ooka’s cleverness, and told the judge they knew he was playing a trick.
Ooka sighed. Finally, he called a court attendant and said, “Go buy me a bowl of goldfish, a handful of bamboo sticks, three pieces of wood, a magnifying glass, and a copy of a book on fortunetelling.”
Ooka the Wise was embarrassed as loud laughter spread around the courtroom. Many of the spectators believed that at last the great judge was defeated by a case.
Ooka quickly called for silence. His ears were very red.
Soon the attendant returned with the articles Ooka had requested. Ooka spread them out carefully in front of him with much ceremony and solemnity. “Now it is obvious to me – as it is to many of you – that I cannot solve this matter,” he said. “Nevertheless, I shall arrive at a just decision, for I shall use these articles to look into the future. There I shall see what my decision should be.”
The spectators were astonished. Ooka the Wise had always used logic and common sense to solve cases. They had never known him to rely on mystical arts such as fortunetelling.
Gravely, the judge took each of the objects and studied them carefully, consulting the fortunetelling book from time to time. He rolled the bamboo sticks to learn their secret. He counted the bubbles in the goldfish bowl. He held the pieces of wood to his ears, and listened to their echoes. Finally, he studied the two women’s palms.
All this Ooka did very thoroughly and slowly, and by the time he had finished, the crowd had become very restless. Everyone was relieved when at last the judge said, “I see it quite clearly now, I have used all the best methods of foreseeing the future, and they all give the same answer. Therefore what I see must be the truth.”
Ooka paused and looked around the courtroom. The spectators waited anxiously to hear what Ooka the Wise had learned.
The judge continued. “I saw very clearly the real mother with her son as they will be twenty years from now. The boy had met with an accident and was a helpless invalid. His mother was working in the rice fields to support him.”
Both women gasped in horror. Ooka looked at them sorrowfully and added, “And the woman I saw in my vision was…”
“Stop!” cried one of the women. “lt was not I! Children are supposed to take care of their parents when they become old, not the other way around.”
“ls that so?” Ooka said. He turned to the other woman. “And how do you feel about my prophecy?” he asked.
“It makes no difference, Most Honorable Sir,” the woman replied.
“I will work for my child while there is breath in my body, and then I will die happy, knowing that I have served him.”
“Then this is really your true son,” said the judge. “The other wanted him only so that he could take care of her in her old age. Take the child with the court’s good wishes.”
The happy mother took the child in her arms. Ooka the Wise said casually, “Oh, I forgot to finish the prophecy. The child recovered from the injury i saw. He became rich and famous. He, his mother, his fine wife, and thirteen children lived happily together for many, many years.”
Strangely enough, Ooka’s prophecy came true. Everyone was surprised, except the judge. “If I had not been called to the law,” he often said later, “I would probably have made an excellent fortuneteller.”
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)
