The Story of Chu Cuoi

Long ago, in a small village surrounded by dense forests and winding streams, there lived a young woodcutter named Chu Cuoi. He was known throughout the village for his kind heart, his skill with an axe, and his deep knowledge of the forest paths. Every day, Chu Cuoi would venture into the woods to gather firewood, which he would sell in the village market to support himself and his elderly mother.

Chu Cuoi was not wealthy, but he was content with his simple life. He took pride in his honest work and was beloved by his neighbors for his helpful nature and cheerful disposition. Though he dreamed of one day finding a wife and starting a family, he was patient and believed that good things would come to those who lived with virtue and kindness.

One morning, as Chu Cuoi was working deep in the forest, he heard the desperate cries of a mother tiger echoing through the trees. Following the sound, he discovered a tragic scene: a magnificent tigress lay motionless on the forest floor while her two small cubs mewed pitifully beside her body. The mother tiger had been killed by hunters, leaving her babies orphaned and helpless.

Chu Cuoi’s heart was moved by the sight of the grieving cubs. Though tigers were feared by most people, he could not bear to see the innocent babies suffer. As he stood there wondering what he could do to help, something extraordinary happened that would change his life forever.

A small banyan tree nearby began to glow with a soft, golden light. Its leaves shimmered as if touched by starlight, and a gentle warmth emanated from its trunk. Intrigued and somewhat frightened, Chu Cuoi watched as several leaves fell from the magical tree and landed directly on the body of the dead tigress.

To his amazement, the moment the glowing leaves touched the tiger’s fur, her body began to stir. Her chest rose and fell with breath, her eyes fluttered open, and within moments, she was alive again, nuzzling her cubs with maternal affection. The tigress looked at Chu Cuoi with intelligent eyes that seemed to express gratitude before she gathered her cubs and disappeared into the forest.

Chu Cuoi stood transfixed, hardly believing what he had witnessed. He approached the banyan tree with reverence and wonder, understanding that he had discovered something truly magical. The tree’s leaves continued to shimmer with an otherworldly light, and he sensed that this was no ordinary plant but a gift from the heavens themselves.

Testing his theory, Chu Cuoi found a small bird that had died nearby and placed one of the magical leaves upon it. Immediately, the bird came back to life, chirped happily, and flew away. The young man realized that he had been blessed with the discovery of a tree that possessed the power to resurrect the dead.

Being a thoughtful and careful person, Chu Cuoi decided to dig up the magical banyan tree and replant it in his own garden, where he could tend to it properly and use its powers wisely. He worked carefully to preserve every root and branch, and when he transplanted it near his humble home, the tree continued to thrive and maintain its magical properties.

Word of the miraculous tree eventually spread throughout the village, though Chu Cuoi was selective about how he used its power. He would help families whose loved ones had died in accidents or from sudden illness, but he was careful not to interfere with the natural order too frequently or carelessly. His mother, who had been ailing, was restored to health by the tree’s leaves, and several villagers were saved from death through Chu Cuoi’s compassionate use of the magical gift.

The fame of Chu Cuoi’s miraculous abilities reached the ears of the village chief, who had a beautiful daughter named Chang’e. She was known for her grace, intelligence, and beauty, but also for her curious nature and strong will. When she heard the stories about the young woodcutter and his magical tree, she became determined to meet him.

Chang’e convinced her father to arrange a meeting with Chu Cuoi, ostensibly to thank him for his service to the community. When the two young people met, they were immediately drawn to each other. Chu Cuoi was captivated by Chang’e’s beauty and wit, while she was impressed by his kindness, humility, and the extraordinary gift he had been blessed with.

Their courtship was swift and joyful. Chang’e’s father, recognizing Chu Cuoi’s good character and the value of his magical abilities, gladly consented to their marriage. The wedding was celebrated throughout the village, and the young couple settled into a happy life together in Chu Cuoi’s home, with the magical banyan tree growing in their garden.

For a time, their marriage was blissful. Chang’e proved to be a loving wife, and Chu Cuoi delighted in her company and her quick mind. However, Chang’e’s curious nature, which had initially attracted her to Chu Cuoi, gradually became a source of tension in their relationship.

Chu Cuoi had explained to his wife that the banyan tree was sacred and must be treated with the utmost respect. He warned her that certain things must never be done near the tree: no dirty water should be poured on its roots, no disrespectful words should be spoken in its presence, and above all, no one should urinate near or on the tree, as this would be considered a grave insult to its divine nature.

Chang’e listened to these warnings but found herself increasingly curious about the tree and its powers. She wondered what would happen if the rules were broken, and whether the consequences would really be as serious as her husband claimed. Her strong-willed nature made it difficult for her to simply accept restrictions without understanding their reasons fully.

One hot afternoon, while Chu Cuoi was away in the forest gathering wood, Chang’e was working in the garden near the magical tree. She had been drinking plenty of water to stay cool, and soon felt the urgent need to relieve herself. The house seemed far away, and the tree provided convenient privacy.

Despite her husband’s explicit warnings, Chang’e’s curiosity and her immediate physical need overcame her caution. She decided to test whether the taboo was really as serious as Chu Cuoi had claimed. Thinking that one small transgression couldn’t possibly have severe consequences, she urinated near the base of the magical banyan tree.

The reaction was immediate and catastrophic. The moment Chang’e committed this act of disrespect, the magical tree began to tremble and glow with an angry, pulsating light. The earth around its roots started to shake, and the tree began to rise slowly into the air, lifting the soil around its roots as it ascended.

Chang’e watched in growing horror as the tree continued to rise higher and higher into the sky. She realized the magnitude of her mistake and called out desperately for forgiveness, but the tree continued its ascent toward the heavens. In her panic and remorse, she grabbed onto the tree’s roots, hoping to somehow anchor it to the earth or at least show her repentance through her actions.

But the magical tree’s power was far greater than human strength. Instead of pulling the tree back down to earth, Chang’e found herself being carried upward along with it. As the tree rose higher and higher into the sky, she clung desperately to its roots, carried away from her home, her husband, and her life on earth.

When Chu Cuoi returned from the forest and discovered what had happened, his grief was overwhelming. He could see the tree and his beloved wife ascending into the heavens, growing smaller and smaller as they traveled toward the moon. He called out to Chang’e, pleading with her to let go and fall back to earth, but she was already too high for his voice to reach her, and even if she could hear him, letting go would mean certain death.

Chu Cuoi watched helplessly as the magical banyan tree, with his wife still clinging to its roots, finally came to rest on the surface of the moon. There, in the cold, distant realm of the lunar sphere, Chang’e was transformed by the magic and became the immortal Lady of the Moon, forever separated from her earthly life and the husband she loved.

The tree, having found its new home on the moon, continued to grow and flourish in its celestial environment. Chang’e, now immortal but eternally lonely, tended the tree and lived in a beautiful palace that appeared on the moon’s surface. Though she had gained immortality, she had lost everything that had made her life meaningful: her husband’s love, her earthly home, and her human connections.

From that day forward, people on earth could see Chang’e and the banyan tree on the moon’s surface, especially during the full moon when the lunar light was brightest. Children would point to the shadows and shapes visible on the moon and recognize the figure of the beautiful woman and the tree that had carried her there.

Chu Cuoi, heartbroken by the loss of his wife and his magical tree, lived the rest of his life in solitude. He would spend his evenings gazing at the moon, hoping to catch glimpses of Chang’e and remembering their brief but happy time together. His story became a cautionary tale about the importance of respecting sacred things and the tragic consequences that can result from seemingly small acts of disrespect or disobedience.

The legend of Chu Cuoi and Chang’e became deeply embedded in Vietnamese culture and folklore. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, when the moon is fullest and brightest, families would tell this story to their children while sharing mooncakes and admiring the lunar beauty. The tale served as both entertainment and moral instruction, teaching the importance of respecting sacred boundaries and the tragic price of curiosity unchecked by wisdom.

The story also became associated with the Vietnamese belief in the power of sacred trees and the importance of treating nature with proper reverence. Many Vietnamese people would be careful about how they behaved around ancient trees, especially banyan trees, remembering the lesson of Chu Cuoi’s magical tree and the consequences of showing it disrespect.

In some versions of the legend, it is said that Chu Cuoi eventually found a way to join his wife on the moon, where they were reunited in the celestial realm. In other versions, they remain forever separated, with Chang’e looking down longingly at the earth while Chu Cuoi gazes up at the moon, both eternal symbols of love that transcends even the boundaries between earth and heaven.

Today, when Vietnamese people look at the full moon, many still see the silhouettes of Chang’e and the banyan tree, reminding them of this ancient tale of love, magic, and the importance of respecting the sacred boundaries that exist in our world. The story of Chu Cuoi continues to be one of Vietnam’s most beloved legends, teaching each new generation about the power of love, the consequences of our actions, and the eternal connection between earth and sky.