The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter was written by an unknown Japanese author around the tenth century AD. It is considered the earliest piece of Japanese literature still in existence. The story is a blend of romance and science fiction as a baby is found amongst some bamboo. As she grows, she reveals that she is a Princess exiled from the Moon, and eventually her people come in their spacecraft to take her home. Thus this story becomes the earliest known tale to tell of extraterrestrials visiting Earth. This version is a re-telling of the story by Japanese author Yasunari Kawabata originally published in 1998 and translated by Donald Keene.

This story would be at home in any collection of fairy tales as it is about a beautiful princess who cannot stay on Earth. The Emperor falls in love with her but stands aside and watches her return to the moon. Of course this is also a morality tale as many of the moon maiden’s suitors cheat at their tasks and suffer for that cheating. This very short tale was an easy read and an easy tick for the 1,001 Books To Read Before You Die list. ( )

"The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter" is thought to be one of the oldest examples of Japanese stories. There are a variety of versions, apparently, but this edition is very well done-- telling the story in English and Japanese, amid some very beautiful artwork.

The story itself doesn't have a ton of depth -- it's the story of a woman, found by a couple in bamboo, who is so beautiful she has piles of suitors. She isn't interested, so she sets them off on ridiculous quests to get them out of her hair. Her true origins are revealed at the end of the tale, and were a bit of a surprise.

The story was simple but enjoyable. ( )

[3.5]

This is a short Japanese folktale about a girl who falls from the Moon to Earth and is so beautiful that she is pursued by many suitors, whom all she refuses to marry. It is discovered towards the end that she is from the Moon and must return. It is an interesting little tale and I'm interested to see how it fits in the progression of classical asian literature. ( )

[3.5]

This is a short Japanese folktale about a girl who falls from the Moon to Earth and is so beautiful that she is pursued by many suitors, whom all she refuses to marry. It is discovered towards the end that she is from the Moon and must return. It is an interesting little tale and I'm interested to see how it fits in the progression of classical asian literature. ( )

"Como los pinos de Suminoe
que no reciben las olas del mar,
años espero sin verte aquí.
¿es verdad lo que dicen?".

2a lectura iniciada en enero 10 del 2024 y concluída en.... ( )