Foreword:
This article mainly talks about the literary form of the Heian period in Japan—monogatari literature. And carefully narrates to the world that Japanese novels have embryos. The article introduces “Monogatari Literature” in detail with “Taketori Monogatari”, the “ancestor of the Japanese story”.
Monogatari literature refers to the literary form of the Heian period in Japan. And “Monogatari” means to tell people what happened in detail. “Monogatari Literature” said that Japanese novels have embryos. Which laid a solid foundation for the final formation and development of Japanese novels.
There are two types of “Monogatari Literature”:
(1) “Song Monogatari” centered on Waka;
(2) “Legendary Monogatari” with the theme of myths and legends, also known as “fictional Monogatari”.
Legendary stories are represented by “Taketori Monogatari”. Which is known as the “father of the mountain” of Japanese monogatari, and its author is unknown. “Taketori” means cutting bamboo. And “Taketori Monogatari” tells the strange story of an old man’s family who made a living by cutting bamboo.
The old man raised a girl in a bamboo tube and became a rich man
According to legend, a long time ago, an old bamboo cutter named Taketori no Okina. He founds a little girl in a bamboo tube when he was chopping bamboo. The girl was beautiful and moving, but only four inches long. The old man took the girl home, and his wife raised the girl in a bamboo basket. Three months later, the bamboo girl was born into a peerless beauty. The old man named her “Kaguya-hime”.
From then on, when the old man was cutting bamboo, he found gold from time to time. Before long, he became a rich man.
Bamboo girl was proposed by five princes
The news quickly spread all over the country, and many people came to propose to Zhunv, including five prominent princes. Zhunv asked them five difficult problems: goes to Tianzhu (Yangdu) to get the stone bowl of the Tathagata Buddha. Goes to Penglai Xiandao (China) takes the precious tree with a golden stem and white jade fruit. And goes to the Tang soil to get the fire mouse. And goes to the Dragon King of the Sea to get the five-color jade on his head. Takes out the Zi’anbei in the swallow’s nest, that is, the agate shell.
The five princes went to carry out the tasks of the bamboo girl respectively. But they all failed to complete the task. And resorted to deceit and risky means. So in the end they were all seen through by the bamboo girl and failed to propose marriage.
Bamboo girl’s identity was revealed, and she was picked up by the people in the moon
At this time, the Emperor heard that Bamboo Girl was beautiful. And wanted to marry Bamboo Girl by force. But Bamboo Girl was a fairy from the Moon Palace, and no one could force her. After the emperor knew that she was not a mortal. He wrote a poem: After hunting, board the car, the spring breeze is full of all kinds. And the beauty of the country is amazing, and there is no reason to want to see her! The bamboo girl Kaguya-hime also wrote a poem to answer him. That I am used to living in a hut with bamboo fences. And the spring flowers and autumn moon are long. How dare you try to favor and climb the Yuyu Qionglou? Later, Kaguya-hime became very sad. Seeing her appearance, the old bamboo cutter asked her to tell the reason for her sadness. When she saw the moon, she thought of the pain in the world.
Soon, Kaguya-hime told the old man that she was actually a fairy of the Moon Palace. So she was going back to the moon.
The old man was very sad when he heard the news. And the emperor was also very sad when he heard about it. He planned to send an army to protect the bamboo girl and kill the enemies from the moon.
When the man from the moon came down, the royal soldiers went to meet the enemy. They drew their bows and shot arrows, but they always missed the shot. Finally, the man in the moon still snatched the bamboo girl.
The origin of “Mount Fuji”
Before leaving, Kaguya-hime, the bamboo girl, left a pack of elixirs to the old man who raised her. And wrote another letter to the emperor. The old man and the emperor saw things and thought about people. And the emperor decided to take the medicine and the letter to the highest mountain in Japan and burn them. He ordered the officer to take the medicine and the letter to the top of the highest mountain in Suruga. Not far from the capital, where he burned the letter and the elixir of life. From then on, the mountain was named “Mount Fuji”, which means “mountain of immortality”.
According to legend, the smoke after burning is still rising from the peak, mixing with the clouds in the sky.
Summary and comments on “Tale of the Bamboo Cutter/Taketori Monogatari”
This myth and legend not only shows the wisdom of the bamboo girl and the kindness of the old man. But also reflects the greedy and stupid behavior of some princes and nobles. And praises the noble spirit of the common people. The myth also links this spirit with the symbol of Japan——Mount Fuji. Indicating that the entire Japanese nation has perseverance, kindness and noble character. Because this story vividly portrays the character image of the bamboo girl Kaguya-hime. It has become a myth widely spread in Japan. And “Tale of the Bamboo Cutter/Taketori Monogatari” thus opened the precedent for Japanese novels.
