The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter in English | Stories for Teenagers | @EnglishFairyTales

Brief Summary

This story tells the enchanting tale of a bamboo cutter and his wife who discover a tiny girl named Moonlight inside a bamboo. As they raise her, they become rich and she grows into a beautiful woman. However, as suitors come to seek her hand, Moonlight sets impossible tasks to keep her from leaving her parents. As tensions rise and the day approaches when she must return to the moon, the family must confront their fate.

  • A bamboo cutter finds a tiny girl inside a glowing bamboo and names her Moonlight.
  • Moonlight grows quickly into a beautiful young woman, drawing the attention of many suitors.
  • She gives the suitors impossible tasks to ensure she can stay with her parents.
  • On the day Moonlight is to return to the moon, she must decide between her earthly family and her celestial duties.

The Discovery of Moonlight

A bamboo cutter and his wife live happily in a small hut. While cutting bamboo one day, the cutter discovers a strange shining bamboo and finds a tiny girl inside, no bigger than his thumb. He takes her home, and they name her Moonlight. A breeze transforms Moonlight into a normal-sized baby, surprising the couple. From that day on, they experience great fortune, bringing home gold nuggets continually.

Moonlight Grows Up

As time passes, Moonlight matures into an exceptionally beautiful young woman, captivating the villagers. The bamboo cutter worries about her future and the growing attention from suitors. After discussing it with his wife, they agree that Moonlight should meet potential husbands. Reluctantly, she agrees but expresses her fear of leaving her parents.

The Suitors' Challenge

Five suitors come to meet Moonlight, each eager to win her affection. However, Moonlight sets a challenge, asking them to bring her impossible items: a shining bowl from a monk in India, a branch from a rare tree, a robe of the fire rat, a jewel from a dragon, and a shell from a swallow. The suitors set off, but Moonlight knows the tasks are beyond their capabilities.

The Emperor’s Interest

As the suitors fail in their missions, the emperor arrives to ask for Moonlight's hand in marriage. He respects her wishes and does not pressure her for demands. Instead, they develop a friendship, and he spends time speaking with her, while the bamboo cutter restricts further visits from other suitors.

The Moon’s Call

One night, Moonlight reveals to her father that she dreams of returning to the moon, where she truly belongs. The day is nearing when she must leave Earth, making her family distressed. The bamboo cutter seeks the emperor's help, and they prepare to protect Moonlight from being taken away.

The Farewell

On the appointed day, a radiant light shines down as fairies arrive to take Moonlight back to the moon. She transforms into a stunning gown, and despite her tears, she reassures her parents that she will watch over them. Moonlight explains that she is the source of the moon's light and must return to fulfill her purpose.

Life After Moonlight

Moonlight waves goodbye and ascends to the moon, restoring its brilliance. The emperor never marries again, forever cherishing the memory of his love. The bamboo cutter and his wife revert to their humble home, content with the memories of their beloved daughter. They live the rest of their lives peacefully, always aware of her presence in the night sky.

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Transcript

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0:00 [Music] the tale of the bamboo cutter once upon a time there lived a bamboo cutter with his wife in an old hut every morning he would go to the forest to cut bamboos and bring them home he and his wife would then make different things from the bamboo and sell them in the market they were a poor couple with no child of their own but they were happy together one day while cutting bamboos in the forest he saw a strange bamboo right in the center the bamboo shun like a bright full moon

0:49 the bamboo cutter was very curious he carefully gave a light cut to the bamboo in order to open it and when he did he could not believe his eyes [Music] it's it's a girl there was a tiny girl inside she was as big as the bamboo cutter's thumb she was the most beautiful child he had ever seen he instantly decided to take her home to his wife carefully taking the girl out in his palms he cautiously walked back home he had to be careful not to crush her hurry my love come out and see what i

1:37 found he narrated the incident and slowly opened his hands instantly their entire house lit up the couple was surprised she shines like the moon we should name her moonlight moonlight she is beautiful the wife took a cloth and placed moonlight on it as she admired her a soft breeze came through the window the tiny girl almost flew out of the wife's hands she tried to hold moonlight as firmly as she could finally as the wind stopped the cloth

2:25 came off and the tiny girl transformed into a normal sized baby [Music] the couple looked at each other surprised our little moonlight is going to be a handful isn't she the next morning the bamboo cutter went to the forest again to cut bamboos [Music] the bamboo cutter and his wife knew at once it was their little moonlight who had brought good fortune with her

3:14 from then on each day the bamboo cutter returned home with a gold nugget soon they became rich they gave their moonlight good food and dresses made of expensive silk months passed and their tiny daughter was growing up faster than ever in a short period of time moonlight grew to be a beautiful young woman her hair was silkier than the expensive dresses she wore her eyes sparkled like stars her skin was as soft as a feather and her smile was brighter than the moon itself she was probably the most beautiful woman on earth

3:59 but the bamboo cutter had something else to worry about the villagers had begun to ask him about the beautiful girl in their house one night as moonlight fell asleep the bamboo cutter talked to his wife i am worried i told everyone that we found her in the forest alone and now we brought her home to take care of her but she has come of age now they have been whispering about her beauty i know we cannot keep her in this house forever the next day the bamboo cutter talked to his daughter about her marriage he told her that there were many suitors who had asked for her hand

4:45 no father i can't live without you why are you sending me away oh my lovely child i can't live without you either but i can't keep you in this house forever i love you but love does not teach us to be selfish i have to let you go and live your life i will never force you to marry someone against your wish but at least meet those suitors will you moonlight loved her father dearly and could not say no to him the next day five young suitors came to see moonlight they could not take their eyes off her moonlight looked at them with no smile

5:31 on her face and spoke with no excitement in her voice i will ask all of you to get me different things from different places i will only marry the one who can bring me what i ask for i will get you the dark dull moon if you ask for it my love just say it i will say two words to you get out the beautiful young lady doesn't need your doll moon i will bring her all the sparkly stars if she wishes so don't listen to both of them princess i will bring you the shiniest pearl from the ocean um i want no moon no stars and no pearl

6:18 from the ocean but i want exactly what i asked for from each of you she then asked the first suitor to bring her a bowl made of stone from a monk in india but the bowl has to shine brighter than i do from the second suitor she asked for a branch of the only tree which grew at the peak of the tallest mountain on the eastern sea its roots were made of silver and its trunk made of gold its branches bore fruits of jewels and i want the original branch of the tree don't disrespect me by bringing a fake one

7:03 the third suitor was asked to go to china and bring the robe of the fire rat the fourth was asked to bring the jewel that had seven colors it lay on the head of a dragon and finally find the swallow who carries a shell in her stomach and bring me that shell thank you all for coming [Music]

7:55 moonlight knew that the tasks were impossible but this was the only way for her to stay with her parents forever weeks passed but the suitors never returned the bamboo cutter told his wife of how the second suitor was caught in a thunderstorm in the eastern sea and had to return without the branch the third suitor tried to find the fire rat but found geese instead who bit him the fourth tried to find the dragon but when he was asked to enter the dark forest afraid he gave up and the fifth tried to catch the swallow but was bit by her in return the only suitor who returned

8:40 was the one who was asked to bring a bowl made of stone from a monk in india he brought the shiniest bowl but it could not shine brighter than moonlight herself is there no one on this land who is capable to marry our daughter [Music] the emperor at our house oh we are blessed it is i who must bow down to you for i have come to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage i have heard of the things she demanded from those who wish to marry her

9:27 with your permission i would like to talk to her and find out what task she may have for me of course please have a seat i will call her out the emperor waited nervously to see moonlight as she walked out he was struck with her beauty he was determined to marry her but moonlight had something to say oh noble one i know you can give me anything that i wish for the jewel of the dragon the robe of the fire rat the branch of the golden trunk are challenges which you can easily overcome so

10:13 i ask you for only one thing respect my wish do not want to marry and make no demands to know why you are right i can give you anything that you wish for and if this is what you ask then your wish is my command but can i ask for something in return you are a strong woman may i have the honor to be your friend the emperor and moonlight stayed friends and talked often the bamboo cutter didn't let any more suitors in he did not want to upset his moonlight

10:58 again one night as he entered her room he saw that moonlight was sitting by the window she was staring at the moon and there were tears in her eyes moonlight why are you crying there is one dream that i have every night father i never told you because i did not want you to worry what is it i dream that i am being taken away to the moon by the moon people and last night a voice told me that the day has come on the 15th day of this month they will come to get me i don't want to leave you

11:46 the bamboo cutter looked at the moon in all these months for the first time he realized that the moon looked dull as if someone has stolen its light he was worried for his daughter he immediately sent a message to the emperor and asked for his help the emperor swore to not let anybody take his moonlight away on the 15th day of this month i want 2 000 royal guards outside moonlight's house nobody is to touch her [Music] the 15th day arrived moonlight's house was surrounded by 2 000 royal guards ready with their arrows the emperor himself drew his sword and

12:34 stood in front of the house the bamboo cutter took moonlight to the basement her mother held her tight everybody was ready to protect her then suddenly a bright light shone from the sky [Music] what is that well i can't see anything a beautiful heart flew down with many little fairies flying around they played a beautiful tune on their flutes suddenly moonlight closed her eyes and was flown towards the music she flew out of her basement with her parents running behind her the fairies touched moonlight with a silver shiny feather and moonlight's dress was transformed into a long flowy

13:22 white gown she opened her eyes and smiled brightly her fear was gone she walked to her parents and hugged them father you took such good care of me but i must return to my people to do my duty what i don't understand the moon is dull because i am here on earth i am the moonlight the moon is incomplete without me i am the light that guides humankind in their dark nights i wandered off during the day and forgot who i was when i set foot on earth

14:10 confused and tired i sat in the bamboo and you found me so you have to go now won't you miss us mother i will come to see you every night the only time you won't see me is when there will be no moon in the sky you have been a great friend but i will have to leave now moonlight sat in her cart and happily waved goodbye to her people on earth she was not sad for she knew she will always watch over them from the sky the car took her up to the moon the bamboo cutter wiped his tears and

14:56 waited for his moonlight to return and she did as the light to the full moon the moon shone with its full might the emperor never married anyone else every night he would stare at the moon for hours and smile at the love of his life the bamboo cutter transformed his big house into the old small hut for that was the only way to let his moonlight enter their house through the roof in the night the bamboo cutter and his wife spent the rest of their lives in peace the end

15:45 you

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