Okikurumi, Samayunguru, and the Shark

Name: Okikurumi, Samayunguru, and the Shark
Author: Basil Hall Chamberlain

"Okikurumi, Samayunguru, and the Shark" is a novella written by Basil Hall Chamberlain in 1920. The story follows three main characters: Okikurumi, a young Japanese man who becomes obsessed with a shark he believes to be his spirit animal; Samayunguru, a Buddhist priest who tries to help Okikurumi find inner peace; and the shark itself, which represents the untamed power of nature. As Okikurumi's obsession grows, he becomes increasingly isolated from those around him, including his friends and family. Samayunguru tries to intervene, but Okikurumi is unwilling to listen to reason. The novella reaches its climax when Okikurumi finally encounters the shark in person, leading to a dramatic and tragic conclusion. Throughout the story, Chamberlain explores themes of isolation, obsession, and the struggle between nature and humanity. His writing is descriptive and evocative, immersing the reader in the world of the novella. Overall, "Okikurumi, Samayunguru, and the Shark" is a thought-provoking and haunting tale that lingers long after the final page has been turned.

By Basil Hall Chamberlain · First published 1902 · Genre: Folklore, Historical, Anthropology · 532 words

First lines

Okikurumi and his henchman Samayunguru went out one day to sea, and speared a large shark, which ran away, up and down the sea, with the line and the boat. The two men grew very tired of pulling at him, and could not prevent the boat from being pulled about in all directions. Their hands were bloody and blistered both on the backs and on the palms, till at last Samayunguru sank dead in the bottom of the boat. At last Okikurumi could hold on no longer, and he cursed the shark, saying: "You bad shark! I will cut the rope. But the tip of the harpoons, made half of iron and half of bone, shall remain sticking in your flesh; and you shall feel in your body the reverberation of the iron and the scraping of the bone; and on your skin shall grow the "rasupa"-tree and the "shiuri"-tree of which the spear-handle is made, and the "hai"-grass by which the tip of the harpoon is tied to the body of it, and the "nipesh"-tree of which the rope tying the harpoon itself is made, so that, though you are such a mighty fish, you shall not be able to swim in the water; and you shall die, and a last be washed ashore at the river-mouth of Saru; and even the carrier-crows and the dogs and foxes will not eat you, but will only void their foeces upon you, and you shall at last rot away to earth."

What this Textopian page supports

Okikurumi, Samayunguru, and the Shark is listed on Textopian as a short story by Basil Hall Chamberlain, dated 1902 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Short story
Author: Basil Hall Chamberlain
Date: 1902 CE
Language: English
Genres: Folklore, Historical, Anthropology, Cultural, Non-fiction
Length: 532 words
Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Work identity for Okikurumi, Samayunguru, and the Shark by Basil Hall Chamberlain
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Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters

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How does this short story by Basil Hall Chamberlain fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Folklore first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Folklore — The title refers to characters and entities from the Ainu folklore. Okikurumi is a divine hero in Ainu mythology, Samayunguru is an Ainu god, while sharks are essential beings in various mythologies worldwide.
Historical — The book extensively covers the Ainu culture and traditions which fall under the subset of Japanese historical heritage.
Anthropology — The story educate about Ainu tribal practices and rituals, their mythologies and socio-cultural hierarchy, making it a good resource for anthropological study.
Cultural — The book gives a detailed description of Ainu people's lifestyle, beliefs and cultural legacy.