curious that the daughter of a peasant dwelling in an obscure country village near Aska, in the
province of Yamato, should become a Queen! Yet such was the case. Her father died while she was yet
in her infancy, and the girl applied herself to the tending of her mother with all filial piety. One
day when she had gone out in the fields to gather some parsley, of which her mother was very fond,
it chanced that Prince
Shotoku, the great Buddist teacher,
Prince Shotoku Taishi a great patron of Buddhism, who though a layman, is
canonized (see \"The Religions of Japan\", p. 185. A story much like that of \"The Parsley Queen\"
is told in the province Echizen. Yamato is the old classic centre of ancient life and history.")?>
was making a progress to his palace, and all the inhabitants of the country-side flocked to the road
along which the procession was passing, in order to behold the gorgeous spectacle, and to show their
respect for the Mikado's son. The filial girl, alone, paying no heed to what was going on around
her, continued picking her parsley. She was observed from his carriage by the Prince, who,
astonished at the circumstance, sent one of his retainers to inquire into its cause.
", "
", "center", "70",
"2", "2", "[Illustration]", SmallCapsText("Imitating the procession to the temple.")) ?>
The girl replied, "My mother bade me pick parsley, and I am following her instructions — that
is the reason why I have not turned round to pay my respects to the Prince." The latter being
informed of her answer, was filled with admiration at the strictness of her filial piety. Alighting
at her mother's cottage on the way back, he told her of the occurrence, and placing the girl in the
next carriage to his own, took her home with him to the Imperial Palace, and ended by making her his
wife, upon which the people, knowing her story, gave her the name of the "Parsley Queen."