The Ashes That Made Trees Bloom Summary
Class 7 English Honeycomb
Chapter 4: The Ashes that Made Trees Bloom
This Japanese folktale revolves around a kind old couple and their beloved pet dog, Muko. The couple, who had no children, treated the dog like their own child, feeding it well and caring for it lovingly.
One day, while working in the fields, the dog led the old man to a buried treasure of gold coins. Overjoyed, the couple shared their wealth generously with their poor neighbors. However, a greedy and cruel couple living nearby, envious of their fortune, tried to use the dog to find treasure for themselves. Instead, they found only a dead kitten. In anger, they killed the innocent dog and buried it under a pine tree.
That night, the dog's spirit appeared in the kind old man’s dream and instructed him to make a mortar and a mill from the pine tree. When they used these, they magically produced gold. The greedy couple, upon hearing this, borrowed the mortar and mill, hoping for the same fortune. However, when they tried, the objects only produced worms. Furious, they destroyed the mortar and mill.
The dog’s spirit later guided the kind old man to take the ashes of the burnt mill and sprinkle them on withered trees, which miraculously made them bloom. When the local lord (daimio) witnessed this, he was impressed and rewarded the old man with gifts. Seeing this, the greedy neighbor tried to replicate the act, but instead of creating blossoms, the ashes flew into the daimio’s eyes, causing sneezing and discomfort. As punishment, the greedy old man was beaten and thrown into a ditch.
In the end, the kind old couple lived a peaceful and prosperous life, while the wicked couple faced a miserable fate due to their greed and cruelty.
Moral of the Story:
The tale highlights values like kindness, generosity, and honesty, while showing that greed and cruelty ultimately lead to downfall.
One day, while working in the fields, the dog led the old man to a buried treasure of gold coins. Overjoyed, the couple shared their wealth generously with their poor neighbors. However, a greedy and cruel couple living nearby, envious of their fortune, tried to use the dog to find treasure for themselves. Instead, they found only a dead kitten. In anger, they killed the innocent dog and buried it under a pine tree.
That night, the dog's spirit appeared in the kind old man’s dream and instructed him to make a mortar and a mill from the pine tree. When they used these, they magically produced gold. The greedy couple, upon hearing this, borrowed the mortar and mill, hoping for the same fortune. However, when they tried, the objects only produced worms. Furious, they destroyed the mortar and mill.
The dog’s spirit later guided the kind old man to take the ashes of the burnt mill and sprinkle them on withered trees, which miraculously made them bloom. When the local lord (daimio) witnessed this, he was impressed and rewarded the old man with gifts. Seeing this, the greedy neighbor tried to replicate the act, but instead of creating blossoms, the ashes flew into the daimio’s eyes, causing sneezing and discomfort. As punishment, the greedy old man was beaten and thrown into a ditch.
In the end, the kind old couple lived a peaceful and prosperous life, while the wicked couple faced a miserable fate due to their greed and cruelty.
Moral of the Story:
The tale highlights values like kindness, generosity, and honesty, while showing that greed and cruelty ultimately lead to downfall.
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