■ あらすじ　
　善良で優しく美しい娘の年老いた母は、娘の美しさが災いすることを恐れ、娘の顔が見えないように頭からスッポリと鉢を被せた。母が亡くなって一人になった娘は鉢を被ったまま懸命に働き、その働きぶりに
感心した地主の家に雇われた。娘の性質を知った主人の息子に求婚
され、娘も彼を愛していたものの、家人の反対にあいこれを断った。
するとその夜亡母が夢枕に立ち、自分の心に従うよう言ったため、二人は結婚することになった。式の日になっても頭の鉢は取れなかったが、三三九度の際に突然鉢が割れ、財宝と共に驚くほど美しい花嫁の顔が現れて、楽しい結婚式となった。

■ Outline of this story
　An elderly woman whose only daughter was good-hearted, gentle, and beautiful placed a wooden bowl on her daughter’s head out of fear that her beauty would bring her woe. Even after her mother had passed away, the maid kept the bowl on her head even as she worked hard. Impressed with her diligence, a rich farmer hired her. The master's son was taken with her and asked for her hand Although she loved him as well, his relations opposed the idea, and she therefore declined his proposal. That night, her mother appeared in her dream and told her to follow her own heart, and then the two decided to marry. Even on the day of the wedding, the maid's head was still covered with the bowl at first. But when the two exchanged nuptial cups in the "three times three" ceremony*, the bowl suddenly split apart, revealing treasure and the surprisingly lovely face of the bride, to the delight of all.

*"Three times three" ceremony is a Japanese wedding custom in which the bride and groom exchange three cups of sake, drinking three times from each cup in turns.

Note
　The origins of this story can be traced to "Kannon-reigen-dan" tales of miracles worked by Kannon (i.e., Avalokitesvara, the Buddhist goddess of mercy) and the "Mamako-dan" stories of stepchildren appearing in Otogi-zoshi books from the late Muromachi era to the early Edo era. In the typical pattern, the abused stepchild is saved by Kannon and lives happily ever after. In the English translation by Mrs. T.H. James, there is no divine grace by Kannon, so the plot is very simple.