这个经典的日本童话故事讲述了一对长年没有孩子的老夫妇生下了一个体形微小的儿子，并给他取名为一寸法师。微小和勇敢——这些是一寸法师最重要的两个特点。他的母亲多年以来一直渴望生个孩子，最后她在愿望中加上了“即使这个孩子很小”。当这对老夫妻确实生下一个儿子的时候，结果却只有一寸高。因此，他们叫他“一寸法师”，在日语中是“一寸男孩”的意思。虽然他的父母从小到大都很爱他，但一寸法师有一天意识到他再也长不高了。后来他离开家，开始去外面寻找属于他的地方。他把自己当作一名剑士、武士，所以他带上了合适的装备：一根针当剑，一个汤碗当船，一只筷子当舵。就像任何传统的童话故事一样，一寸法师在几场冒险中受到了考验。他表现得非常勇敢，最后赢得了公主的爱。

This classic Japanese fairy tale tells the story of Issun Boshi, the tiny son of an old, long childless couple. Tiny and brave--these are the two most striking characteristics of Issun Boshi. His mother had longed to have a child for so many years that she finally added "even if it is a very small one" to her wish. When the elderly couple did in fact bear a son, he turned out to be only one inch high. He was thus called Issun Boshi, Japanese for one-inch boy. Although his parents raised him very lovingly, Issun Boshi realized one day that he would not grow any taller. He then left his home to set off on a journey to find his place in the world. Because he saw himself as a swordfighter, a samurai, he made sure to take along the right equipment: a needle was his sword, a soup bowl was his boat, and a chopstick was its rudder. As in any proper fairy tale, Issun Boshi is tested in several adventures. He handles himself so bravely that, in the end, he is rewarded with just the right princess.