The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter

This is a translation of an old Japanese tale. The translation has been done by Kawabata Yasunari & Donald Keene.

It is an interesting story of a young, beautiful girl-Kaguya-Hime setting unachievable tasks for five of her suitors. Their failure automatically excludes them from the race to marry her. The emperor also gets interested and tries unsuccessfully to abduct her. Finally, it ends with the young girl returning to her kingdom in the moon leaving behind her parents (who had brought her up). It is known that she is on earth as a punishment for some misdeeds done on the moon.

What is interesting in the story, are the 5 tasks and how failure in these tasks leads to the origin of certain words. I feel that the fact that these words have a corresponding origin in English is a bit far-fetched.

1^st task:

To obtain the stone begging bowl of Buddha from India (this begging bowl is supposed to emit light). It goes without saying that an imitation is exposed and the bowl is thrown away. The suitor, however, is still diligent in his pursuit of Kaguya-hime. So, people have ever since spoken of surprise at a shameless action as “bowled over”

2^nd task:

To obtain a branch of a tree that grows on a mountain called Horai. This mountain exists in the eastern sea. The tree supposedly has roots of silver, a trunk of gold and bears fruits that are of pearl. Well, another imitation gets caught (the craftsmen betray the owner). People begin to speak of someone as being “stone hearted” if he astonishes others by trying to pass off genuine as a false stone.

3^rd task

To bring a robe made of fur of Chinese fire-rats (this supposedly does not burn in fire). Another imitation-another embarrassment. The word here is “abeyance”. When a plan is not carried out it falls into abeyance.

4^th task

To bring a jewel that shines five colors and is found on a dragon’s neck. The suitor here makes a sincere attempt at obtaining something like this. It ends in a failure. He ends up with eyes that look like plums and a engorged stomach. People speak of any ill-starred venture as being “plumb foolish”

5^th task:

To obtain the easy delivery charms of a swallow (that aids in easy delivery of eggs). This venture ends in the death of the suitor. This rather touched Kaguya-hime. So, something slightly pleasurable has been said to have a modicum of charm.