THE MOON MAIDEN

                      (A Japanese Moon Myth)           

One spring, a fisherman named Hairukoo sat down on the seashore to
rest. He marveled at the blue sea sparkling in the sunlight, the
shining sands, and the tall pine trees in the background. "The world
is fair", he thought to himself. 

Looking around, he spotted a robe hanging on a tree. He thought no
more of the lovely scene in front of him, for the robe was the most
beautiful and rare thing that he had ever seen. It was made of pure
white feathers, wonderfully fashioned and soft to the touch. He was
just about to lift it from the tree, when he saw a maiden coming
towards him from the sea.

"The robe is mine," she said. "Give it to me, kind fisherman." She was
a lovely maiden and her voice was sweet and musical, that Hairukoo
found even more pleasure in looking at her and listening to her words.

"I have found it," he said "and cannot possibly part with a thing so
wonderful. It must be placed among the treasures of Japan."

The maiden clasped her hands and implored, "Without it I cannot fly,
and will never be able to get back to my home in the heavens. Give it
to me kind fisherman, I pray you."

Hairukoo could not make up his mind. The maiden was beautiful, but so
was the robe, so he hardened his heart and continued to refuse. The
maidens pleading finally softened his heart and he said, "I will give
it to you, if you dance here on the sands before me."

The maiden's face brightened, and she replied, "I will dance the dance
which I dance at home with my sisters, that makes the Palace of the
Moon turn around, so that even men can see it. But I cannot dance
without my feathers."

"I will not give it to you until you have danced," said Hairukoo. "If
I do you will fly away and I will never see you dance at all."

The maiden grew angry. "On earth you may break your promises." she
said "But among those who dwell in the Heavens, falsehood is unknown."

Ashamed of himself, Hairukoo handed the robe to the maiden without
another word. She donned the robe, and drew from it a musical
instrument that gave forth the most delightful sounds. In a clear
voice, the maiden sang of the wonderful things that were to be seen in
the Palace of the Moon. Thirty kings were throned in that Palace.
Fifteen of them wore white robes, and while they ruled the Moon shone
down upon the people of the earth. Fifteen of the kings wore black
robes, and during their reign the Moon waned until it was seen no
more. When the maiden was finished, she sang of Japan and blessed the
country promising that the gods would grant it fruitfulness and
beauty.

Then her song became a chant in a language that Hairukoo could not
understand and her feet left the golden sands, and her feathers bore
her up to the heavens, back to the Palace of the Moon.


E.B.
Toronto
Homestead BBS
(416) 272-4067
1:250/626