The Tale of Princess Kaguya

Long ago, nestled deep within the dense forests of ancient Japan, lived an elderly bamboo cutter named Okina and his gentle wife, Ouna. Though they had each other, the couple often felt an emptiness in their hearts, for they had no children to share their love and legacy with. They spent their days among towering bamboo groves, quietly accepting their fate. But the universe had a different plan for them.

One bright morning, as Okina ventured into the forest, he stumbled upon a stalk of bamboo that glowed softly in the early light. Curious, he carefully cut it open. Inside, he found a tiny princess, barely three inches tall, wrapped in a delicate silk gown and smiling up at him with eyes that held a world of wisdom. She looked at him with a warmth so pure that it filled Okina’s heart instantly. Awestruck, he named her Kaguya, and with gentle hands, he carried her home to Ouna. Together, they pledged to protect and nurture this gift from the heavens, showering her with love.

In no time, Kaguya began to grow, transforming from a tiny figure into a radiant young girl with a spirit as wild as the wind and a heart as pure as spring water. Her laughter echoed through the bamboo groves, her innocence a balm to the simple lives of her foster parents. The villagers, enchanted by her beauty and grace, called her “Takenoko,” or Little Bamboo. Her dearest friend was a boy named Sutemaru, who taught her how to catch fish and climb trees, and with him, Kaguya found a friendship that felt as boundless as the skies above.

Yet, Kaguya harbored a melancholy that she couldn’t understand. At times, she’d gaze at the full moon, feeling an ache in her heart that she couldn’t explain. Okina and Ouna noticed her sadness, but they believed that it would pass once she achieved a “true” happiness: a life of status and wealth. One evening, Okina discovered that whenever he cut a stalk of bamboo, it was filled with gold coins. Convinced this was divine providence, he used the fortune to build Kaguya a grand mansion in the capital and adorned her with fine clothes. He believed that, by raising her as a noble, he was securing her happiness.

When it came time to leave her beloved village, Kaguya felt a pang of sorrow. She could not bring herself to say goodbye to her childhood friends, especially Sutemaru. Instead, she slipped away quietly, hoping to hold on to the memories of her simple life. Her heart remained in the mountains, amidst the trees and laughter of her village.

In the grand mansion, Kaguya was taught the ways of nobility. Her days were filled with lessons on etiquette, music, and dance, but her heart felt trapped. She grew weary of the constant discipline, longing for the carefree life she had left behind. Her only moments of peace came when she spent time in the garden with her foster mother, Ouna, who would grow vegetables and share stories of their old life. Despite her discomfort, Kaguya continued to obey her father’s wishes, hoping to please him.

When Kaguya reached womanhood, her beauty had become renowned across the land, and nobles from far and wide sought her hand in marriage. To each suitor, she gave an impossible task: to retrieve legendary treasures that did not exist. Some tried to trick her with counterfeit items, while others failed and left in despair. Kaguya felt no joy in watching these men struggle; instead, she felt a growing sense of guilt and a deeper sadness.

One day, the Emperor himself heard of her beauty and came to see her. Though he was enchanted by her radiance, Kaguya found herself repulsed by his advances. In her distress, she called out silently for help, and her plea reached the moon. Her memory of life in the heavens returned to her in a wave. She realized then that she was not truly of this world; she was a celestial being sent down as a consequence of her own forgetfulness of her ethereal nature.

As the realization dawned on her, Kaguya’s sorrow deepened. She knew that she could not stay on Earth. The heavens had decreed her return, and a celestial entourage would soon come to take her back. She told Okina and Ouna of her fate, and they wept, devastated at the thought of losing her. Kaguya herself was heartbroken, knowing she would leave behind her beloved foster parents, her dear friend Sutemaru, and the simple joys of earthly life that she had come to cherish.

Determined to experience one last moment of true freedom, Kaguya escaped her mansion and wandered into the mountains. There, she found Sutemaru, now a young man. Together, they soared through the skies, reliving the joyous memories of their youth. But as the moon began to rise, the vision faded, and Kaguya was left alone, clutching the bittersweet ache of what might have been.

When the night of her departure arrived, heavenly beings descended to escort Kaguya back to the moon. She begged for a few moments to say her goodbyes, and the celestial beings granted her wish. She embraced Okina and Ouna, thanking them for their love and the life they had given her. She knew she would soon forget them, as the robe of forgetfulness was to be placed upon her shoulders. As she ascended into the sky, a tear escaped her eye, a silent testimony to the depth of her earthly experiences.

As the light of the moon enveloped her, Kaguya felt her memories slipping away. Yet, in her heart, a faint memory lingered — a whisper of laughter, the scent of pine trees, the warmth of her parents’ embrace. The moon was silent and serene, but somewhere within her was the knowledge that she had once loved and been loved.

**The Moral of the Tale**

“The Tale of Princess Kaguya” teaches us that true happiness lies not in wealth, status, or fulfilling societal expectations, but in the simple joys and connections we form with others. Despite her celestial origins, Kaguya found her deepest fulfillment on Earth, in moments of laughter, friendship, and love. Her foster father’s quest for her “happiness” through nobility blinded him to her true desires, illustrating the danger of imposing one’s values on others.

This story also underscores the importance of cherishing every moment, for life’s joys are often fleeting. Kaguya’s memories of Earth, filled with both beauty and sorrow, were what made her brief existence meaningful. The tale reminds us to embrace life fully — to experience love, friendship, and joy without fear, for these moments are the essence of what it means to truly live. In the end, it is not the length of life but the depth of experiences that make it worthwhile.

Thus, “The Tale of Princess Kaguya” encourages us to seek a life of authenticity, to find happiness in simplicity, and to cherish the beauty of fleeting moments, for they are the heart of the human experience.