The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter

Long ago, in ancient Japan, there lived an elderly bamboo cutter named Taketori no Okina, which means "The Old Man Who Harvests Bamboo." He and his wife lived a humble and quiet life in the countryside. One day, while he was out cutting bamboo in the forest, Taketori no Okina noticed a glowing stalk of bamboo. Intrigued, he carefully cut it open and was astonished to find a tiny, radiant girl inside, only a few inches tall.

The old man and his wife had no children of their own, so they took the tiny girl home, naming her Kaguya-hime, meaning "The Shining Princess." As the days passed, Kaguya-hime grew rapidly into a beautiful young woman of normal size. Her beauty was extraordinary, and it soon became known throughout the land.

Whenever Taketori no Okina cut bamboo after finding Kaguya-hime, he would find pieces of gold inside the stalks. With this newfound wealth, he and his wife were able to live in comfort, and they treated Kaguya-hime as their beloved daughter.

As Kaguya-hime matured, word of her beauty spread far and wide, attracting many suitors from noble families who sought her hand in marriage. However, Kaguya-hime was not interested in marriage. To dissuade her persistent suitors, she set impossible tasks for them, promising to marry whoever could complete them.

One suitor was asked to retrieve the stone begging bowl of Buddha from India, another to bring back a branch from the jeweled trees of the mystical mountain Horai, and others were given similarly unattainable quests. Despite their efforts, none of the suitors succeeded in their tasks, and they eventually gave up.

One summer night, Kaguya-hime sat outside and gazed at the full moon with tears in her eyes. Concerned, her parents asked why she was sad, but she could not bring herself to explain.

As the months passed, Kaguya-hime's melancholy grew, until finally, she revealed the truth to her adoptive parents. Kaguya-hime explained that she was not from Earth, but from the Moon. She had been sent to live on Earth as a form of exile, but now the time had come for her to return to her true home. Her luminous appearance was due to her celestial origin.

Her parents were heartbroken at the thought of losing her. They begged her to stay, but Kaguya-hime knew she had to return. On the night of the next full moon, a celestial entourage descended from the sky to escort her back to the Moon. Despite the efforts of the Emperor of Japan, who had also fallen in love with her and sent his guards to prevent her departure, Kaguya-hime returned to the Moon, leaving behind her earthly life and the people who loved her.

Before she left, Kaguya-hime wrote farewell letters to her parents and to the Emperor, expressing her gratitude and sorrow. She also left behind a small jar of the elixir of life, but the Emperor, heartbroken by her departure, refused to use it. Instead, he ordered it to be taken to the highest mountain in Japan and burned. It is said that the smoke from this elixir still rises today from Mount Fuji.

Moral of the Story

1. The Impermanence of Life:

   • The tale of Kaguya-hime is a reflection on the transient nature of life and beauty. Despite the joy she brings to those around her, Kaguya-hime's time on Earth is temporary, highlighting the Buddhist concept of impermanence, where all things are fleeting and subject to change.

2. The Limits of Human Desire:

   • The suitors' quests for Kaguya-hime's hand in marriage illustrate the futility of human desires, especially when those desires are based on material wealth or external beauty. The impossible tasks serve as a reminder that some things cannot be obtained, no matter how hard one tries.

3. The Conflict Between Duty and Emotion:

   • Kaguya-hime’s return to the Moon symbolizes the conflict between duty and emotion. Despite her love and attachment to her earthly parents and the Emperor, she must fulfill her duty to return to her celestial home. This reflects the tension between personal desires and obligations in life.

4. The Duality of Love and Loss:

   • The story is also a poignant exploration of love and loss. The deep love that Kaguya-hime’s adoptive parents and the Emperor feel for her is met with the inevitable sorrow of her departure. It teaches that love often comes with the pain of separation, but also that true love is selfless and understanding.

5. Cultural and Spiritual Significance:

   • The story embodies elements of Shinto and Buddhist beliefs, particularly the reverence for the moon and the understanding of life’s cyclical nature. The imagery of the moon as a distant, unattainable place reflects the mystery of the unknown and the spiritual journey of the soul.

6. The Elixir of Life and Mortality:

   • The Emperor's refusal to use the elixir of life left by Kaguya-hime emphasizes the acceptance of mortality. It suggests that the natural order of life and death should not be disrupted, and that immortality is not a desirable goal if it means living without those you love.

The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, also known as The Tale of Princess Kaguya, is a timeless story that continues to resonate for its deep emotional impact and its exploration of universal themes such as love, loss, and the acceptance of life’s fleeting nature. It is considered one of Japan’s oldest and most beloved folktales.