The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter

 The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter

Discovery of the Bamboo Princess

Once upon a time, in ancient Japan, there lived an old bamboo cutter named Taketori no Okina, which means "the Old Man Who Harvests Bamboo." He lived with his wife in the mountains, earning his living by cutting bamboo and crafting various items from it.

One day, while walking through the forest, the bamboo cutter noticed a radiant bamboo stalk glowing mysteriously in the moonlight. Curious, he approached it and cut the stalk open. To his astonishment, he found a tiny, beautiful girl no bigger than his thumb inside the bamboo. She was so luminous and ethereal that he believed she must be a divine being.

The old man took the tiny girl home to his wife, and they decided to raise her as their own child. The tiny girl grew rapidly, and within just three months, she became a full-grown, stunningly beautiful woman. The bamboo cutter and his wife were overjoyed and named her Kaguya-hime, meaning "The Shining Princess of the Bamboo."

Princess Kaguya's Suitors

As news of Kaguya-hime's beauty spread, many noblemen from across Japan sought her hand in marriage. However, she did not wish to marry and devised a plan to deter her suitors. She gave five of the most persistent noblemen seemingly impossible tasks, promising to marry the one who could bring her what she asked for:

1. The First Nobleman: Was asked to bring her the stone begging bowl of the Buddha from India.
2. The Second Nobleman: Was tasked with obtaining a branch from the mythical island of Horai, which bore jeweled fruits.
3. The Third Nobleman: Was to find a robe made from the fur of the legendary fire-rat.
4. The Fourth Nobleman: Was to bring her a jewel from the neck of a dragon.
5. The Fifth Nobleman: Was asked to bring her a shell that was born from swallows.

The suitors, desperate to win Kaguya-hime’s hand, embarked on their quests. However, one by one, they failed. Some tried to deceive Kaguya-hime with fake items, but she saw through their tricks, and they were sent away in disgrace. The only suitor who actually managed to obtain a rare item, the fire-rat's robe, still failed to win her heart as Kaguya-hime had no intention of marrying anyone.

The Emperor’s Love

Even the Emperor of Japan, Mikado, heard of Kaguya-hime’s beauty and fell in love with her. He visited her and was enchanted by her radiance. However, despite his sincere feelings, Kaguya-hime gently declined his marriage proposal, explaining that she could not stay with him forever.

The Emperor, deeply saddened but respectful of her wishes, asked only to stay in contact with her. They exchanged letters and poems, and he sent her many gifts, hoping that one day she might change her mind.

Kaguya-hime's Departure

As time passed, the bamboo cutter and his wife noticed that Kaguya-hime grew increasingly melancholic, often staring at the moon with tears in her eyes. When they pressed her for the reason, she revealed the truth: she was not of this world but a being from the Moon, sent to Earth as a punishment. Now, her time on Earth was coming to an end, and she must return to her celestial home.

The bamboo cutter and his wife were heartbroken, as was the Emperor when he learned the truth. On the night of the full moon, a procession of heavenly beings descended from the sky to escort Kaguya-hime back to the Moon. The Emperor sent his guards to protect her, but they were powerless against the celestial beings.

Before leaving, Kaguya-hime wrote a letter to the Emperor, expressing her gratitude for his kindness and leaving him with a vial of the Elixir of Immortality. However, the Emperor was so heartbroken that he could not bear to live forever without her. He ordered the vial to be taken to the highest mountain in Japan and burned, so that his message of love and sorrow might reach her in the heavens.

The Legacy

The mountain where the Emperor’s men burned the Elixir of Immortality is said to be Mount Fuji. The smoke from the burning elixir, according to legend, continues to rise to this day.

Thus ends the tale of the Bamboo Cutter and the celestial princess, Kaguya-hime, a story of love, loss, and the ephemeral beauty of life.