Good evening. Welcome to the Just Sleep podcast. I'm Tasia, your host.

Every week, I will read you an old story to help you relax, put the stressful day behind you, and drift off to sleep.

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Tonight, I'm reading fairy tales from the book Japanese fairy tales by Yee Theodora Ozaki.

So lie down, close your eyes, and let me read you a story.

The jellyfish and the monkey.

Long, long ago, in old Japan, the kingdom of the sea was governed by a wonderful king. He was called

Ringen, or the dragon king of the sea. His power was immense, for he was the ruler of all sea creatures,

both great and small, and in his keeping were the jewels of the ebb and flow of the tide.

The jewel of the ebbing tide, when thrown into the ocean, caused the sea to recede from the land,

and the jewel of the flowing tide made the waves to rise mountains high and to flow in upon the shore like a tidal wave.

The palace of Rinjin was at the bottom of the sea,

and was so beautiful that no one has ever seen anything like it, even in dreams.

The walls were of coral, the roof of jade stone and chrys,

and the floors were of the finest mother of pearl.

But the dragon king, in spite of his widespreading kingdom, his beautiful palace and all its wonders,

and his power which none disputed throughout the whole sea, was not at all happy, for he reigned

alone.

At last he thought that if he married, he would not only be happier, but also more powerful.

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