The Bamboo Cutter's Tale

Long ago in ancient Japan, there lived an old bamboo cutter named Taketori no Okina. Every day, he would venture into the bamboo grove to cut bamboo for making baskets and other household items.

One morning, he noticed a peculiar bamboo stalk that glowed with a soft, golden light. Curious, he cut it open and discovered inside a tiny, beautiful girl no bigger than his thumb. She was so radiant that she seemed to be made of moonlight itself.

The old man and his wife, who had no children of their own, were overjoyed. They took the tiny girl home and named her Nayotake no Kaguya-hime, Princess Kaguya of the Flexible Bamboo.

As the days passed, Princess Kaguya grew rapidly, becoming more beautiful with each passing day. Her beauty was so extraordinary that it seemed otherworldly. Word of her remarkable appearance spread throughout the land, and soon, suitors from far and wide came to seek her hand in marriage.

Five of the most prominent suitors were particularly persistent: Prince Ishizukuri, Prince Kuramochi, Minister Abe, Captain Otomo, and Counselor Isonokami. Each man was wealthy, powerful, and accustomed to getting what he wanted.

Princess Kaguya, however, was not interested in marriage. To discourage her suitors, she devised a plan. She told each man that she would only marry the one who could bring her a specific, seemingly impossible treasure:

To Prince Ishizukuri, she said, “Bring me the stone bowl of Buddha from India.”

To Prince Kuramochi, she requested, “I want a jeweled branch from the mythical island of Horai.”

To Minister Abe, she asked for, “The fire-rat’s robe from China.”

To Captain Otomo, she demanded, “A cowrie shell born from a dragon’s neck.”

And to Counselor Isonokami, she said, “Bring me a swallow’s cowrie shell.”

The five suitors, confident in their abilities and resources, accepted the challenge and set off to find these impossible treasures.

Prince Ishizukuri traveled to India but could not find the true stone bowl of Buddha. In desperation, he purchased a plain black bowl from a temple and tried to pass it off as the genuine article. When he presented it to Princess Kaguya, the bowl showed no signs of the divine radiance it should have possessed, and she saw through his deception.

Prince Kuramochi commissioned skilled craftsmen to create a fake jeweled branch. The artificial branch was so beautiful that even Princess Kaguya was momentarily impressed. However, when the craftsmen arrived demanding payment for their work, the truth was revealed, and the prince was humiliated.

Minister Abe purchased a fire-rat’s robe from a Chinese merchant, paying an enormous sum. But when Princess Kaguya tested it by throwing it into a fire, the robe burned like any ordinary cloth, proving it was not genuine.

Captain Otomo sailed dangerous seas in search of a dragon’s cowrie shell. During a terrible storm, his ship was nearly destroyed, and he returned empty-handed, beaten by the elements.

Counselor Isonokami climbed high into trees and mountains searching for a swallow’s cowrie shell. In his desperate attempt to reach a swallow’s nest, he fell and was severely injured, returning home in defeat.

All five suitors had failed, and Princess Kaguya remained unmarried.

As time passed, even the Emperor himself heard of Princess Kaguya’s beauty and came to court her. Unlike the others, the Emperor was humble and kind. Princess Kaguya was touched by his genuine nature, but she revealed a secret that broke his heart.

“Your Majesty,” she said with tears in her eyes, “I am not of this world. I come from the Moon, and soon I must return to my true home. I was sent here as punishment for a crime I committed in the lunar court, and my time on Earth is nearly over.”

The Emperor, deeply saddened, asked if there was anything he could do to keep her on Earth.

Princess Kaguya shook her head. “The people of the Moon will come for me soon. Not even your imperial power can prevent this.”

On the promised night, the moon shone brighter than ever before. Celestial beings descended from the sky in robes of light, accompanied by heavenly music. They had come to take Princess Kaguya home.

Before leaving, Princess Kaguya gave the Emperor a letter and an elixir of immortality. “This potion will grant you eternal life,” she said, “but what good is immortality without the one you love?”

The Emperor, heartbroken by her departure, climbed to the top of Mount Fuji and burned both the letter and the elixir. It is said that the smoke from that fire still rises from the mountain to this day, carrying his love toward the Moon.

Princess Kaguya put on the celestial robe brought by the Moon people, and as she did, all her earthly memories and emotions began to fade. She ascended to the Moon, leaving behind only the memory of her brief but extraordinary time on Earth.

The old bamboo cutter and his wife mourned the loss of their beloved daughter, but they cherished the joy she had brought to their lives. And sometimes, on clear nights when the moon is full, people say they can still see the silhouette of Princess Kaguya, looking down with love upon the world she once called home.

Moral: True beauty lies not in appearance alone, but in the heart. Love transcends worldly boundaries, and some things are too precious for this world to hold forever.