The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter Essay Example

The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter is considered as the oldest sci-narrative of the Japanese history. The narrative was written during the Heian Period and tells a traditional fictional prose tale filled with Japanese folklore. Also known as "The Tale of Princess Kaguya," The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter gives an account of a princess discovered by a bamboo cutter. On his natural bamboo cutting exercises, the bamboo cutter splits open a bamboo stalk and finds the princess asleep. He takes the beautiful young girl to his wife, and they adopt her. The narrative is a familiar cultural narrative in the Japanese culture and has gradually been taken up into contemporary values of the Japanese people through books, television, and musical presentations. The princess grows into a lovely young woman, becoming a beautiful sought after the bride. With all the suitors trying their best to win her hand in marriage, she gives them an impossible task to accomplish. They all fail the test. Angels come down from heaven to collect her; she dons a lovely robe and is taken back to her home as an immortal. Despite her immortality, her beauty shone right through her eyes, as it opened the doorway to her inner self, where all the suitors wanted to reside to prove their undying love and interest.

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The author acknowledges that "The fame of the Princess's loveliness spread far and wide, and many were the suitors who desired to win her hand, or even so much as to see her" (10). It is no doubt that beauty is a lovely concept and beauty often lies in the beholder's eye. Despite her immortal status, the Princess's beauty captured many and it showed right through the hearts and minds of many persons in the land and far beyond. Her beauty spread far with many acknowledging that she was indeed a rare beauty. Her fame became the talk of the land as many came to have a glimpse of the wonderful rare beauty. Many sacrificed their time and slept to see her, while those with the required resources made it known that they desired to suit her oblivious to her immortality. The bamboo cutter and his wife built for her a beautiful home as "no one else on earth could compare with her beauty." The author continues, "She was so beautiful that the inside of Grandpa's house seemed to dazzle and shine" (14) She was simply comparable to non in the entire land. She became the center of the once dull life occasioned with the bamboo cutter and his wife. With all the wealth, the commanded attention and respect in equal measure. Their lives showed bright, the princess coming into their life turned everything beautiful, full of life, and opened up their souls for love from the people of the land.

Over the years, many have been captured and mesmerized by physical beauty, captivated and undertaken considerable efforts to their undying affection for anything beautiful. When the princess came into the lives of the Bamboo Cutter, her wife "brought her up as one of her own" (Jingjun 020) She was captivated and fascinated by her physical beauty, an aspect that drew her towards the little princess. It is no doubt that beauty played a critical role in her accepting the little princess. When the bamboo cutter discovered her in the woods, shining bright, he remarked, "What a pretty child! Surely, she is a gift from God" (Keene 330). Her beauty thrilled him, and he retorted in amazement drawing the name of God. Often and many a time, people associate beautiful things with good health, wealth and good tidings. Although it's difficult to attribute it to her presence in their lives, as soon the princess settled in their lives, they attained wealth and much respect and recognition in the region. The author states, "When Grandpa went out to cut bamboo as he always did, gold coins poured from inside the bamboo," (Jingjun 020). They experienced strange good things that changed their lives courtesy to the princess. It is no doubt that her immortality and beauty in many ways contributed to the sudden change of the Bamboo cutter financial situation. Beauty is no doubt associated with good things, lovely tidings that give forth a positive emotional response.

A light, an illumination shining right through her heart and eyes not only captivated the suitor's attention but also got them love-struck. They were ready to sacrifice their position as leaders, businesspeople, and prominent members of the society to attract and be associated with the princess especially due to her beauty. They dedicated much of their time to wait upon the Princes to appear in public to enable them to have a glimpse of her dazzling beauty. Despite the shame that would have come with such an action, they minded less on the consequences but stayed dawn to dusk to associate themselves with the beauty of the princess with the undying love and hope of marrying her. One of the people exclaimed upon seeing her, "Oh my, she has the beauty of the moon" (Keene 335) Inner beauty that translates to soul beauty is a captivating concept that goes beyond the skin. While she shone, what captivated many was the doorway to her soul, a symbol of her mesmerizing loveliness in the eyes of many. It is internal radiation of splendor, attractiveness, charm, and prettiness. As the protagonist, the Princess has managed to captivate the suitors with her beauty and loveliness in addition to her stainless conduct.

The central theme of the narrative is beauty. The princess beauty is highlighted many times and is what keeps the narrative moving. From her discovery in the bamboo woods to her adoption by the bamboo cutter, the suitors, the high-level attention she received from the locals and the adoration and dotting that she received from the family of the Bamboo Cutter. Despite not being a reasonable being, she took up the human form to illuminate the world of the bamboo cutter and their environs (Jingjun 020). Although she was not in direct contact with the people, she influenced them in several ways that had a positive impact on their lives.

Conclusion

The Bamboo Cutter continues to influence many in the Japanese society with many translations and moving picture production. Additionally, the narration has been adopted into both audio production and other related tales with changed characterization but still reflecting on the central theme of the original narrative. For example, in the year 2002, the Castle Beyond the Looking Glass was produced, and it highlighted on how the Princes rose to heaven. Other adaptations included the Capcom's game, a video game and an animated series known as Naruto. It has influenced many productions in addition to songs and comedy series that ha played a crucial role in Japanese culture.

Works Cited

Jingjun, Ren. "Connotation of" Bamboo Root" in The Tale of The Bamboo Cutter in Japanese Bamboo Culture." World Bamboo and Rattan 5 (2010): 020.

Keene, Donald. "The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter." Monumenta Nipponica (1956): 329-355.