Summary
Once upon a time, the Northern God set out on a long journey to marry the daughter of the Southern God. As night fell and he searched for a place to stay, he came across a wealthy house with a luxurious gate. When he called out, “Excuse me,” the man coldly shut the door, saying, “I have no need to talk to a stranger like you.”
In despair, the Northern God found a thatched hut. When he knocked, a man dressed in shabby clothes came out. The Northern God asked, “Excuse me. I am looking for a place to stay tonight, could you possibly accommodate me for one night?” The man replied, “Come in. As you can see, it’s a shabby place, but if you don’t mind, please stay.”
The kind man was actually the brother of the wealthy but cold man. The Northern God was treated to warm rice porridge and enjoyed pleasant conversation with the couple.
Several years later, while traveling with his wife and eight children, the Northern God visited that house. He said, “Once, I received warm hospitality in this house,” and the husband welcomed them, saying, “Don’t mention it. Please, come in and rest.”
The wife served them cold water and said, “On such a hot day, this is the best hospitality.” In gratitude, the Northern God taught them, “If you make a ring out of reeds, wear it around your waist, and write your name on the front door, you can live without worries even when a plague spreads in the neighborhood.”
Later, a plague broke out in the area, and the wealthy family lost their lives, but the kind couple remained healthy. Since then, every summer, the villagers began to make rings out of reeds and leave doors with written names. This was a result of believing in the teachings of the Northern God.
