A long, long time ago, in a small village in Japan, there was a kind but poor old woodcutter. Every day, he would go to the bamboo forest near the village to cut bamboo. One day, while he was cutting bamboo as usual, he found a glittering bamboo. The old woodcutter curiously approached the bamboo and discovered a tiny baby inside. The baby was extremely cute. The old woodcutter was overjoyed. He thought it was a gift from heaven, so he decided to take the baby home and raise her. He named the baby Kaguya - hime.
Under the careful care of the old woodcutter, Kaguya - hime grew up slowly. She became more and more beautiful and was very clever. She lived in the room carefully arranged for her by the old woodcutter. The room was full of a warm atmosphere. Kaguya - hime liked playing in the room the most. She would talk to the cloth dolls made by the old woodcutter as if they were her closest friends. Her smile was like sunshine, illuminating the whole room. Looking at her, the old woodcutter was full of relief and love in his heart.
As Kaguya - hime grew up, her beauty spread throughout the country. Many nobles and wealthy people heard of her beauty and came to propose marriage one after another. Among them were five particularly well - known suitors. They each brought what they considered the most precious gifts to propose to Kaguya - hime. They waited in the garden of the old woodcutter's house for Kaguya - hime's reply. Kaguya - hime calmly faced these five suitors. She was not easily impressed by those precious gifts because she had her own thoughts and judgments.
Kaguya - hime began to reject these suitors one by one. She used her wisdom to give each suitor an almost impossible task. The first suitor was required to find the stone bowl used by the Buddha. The second suitor was required to fetch the jade branch from Penglai Mountain. The third suitor was required to obtain the fire - rat fur coat. The fourth suitor was required to get the five - colored jewels on the dragon's head. The fifth suitor was required to obtain the swallow's safe - delivery shell. Although the suitors were full of confidence at first, in the end, none of them could complete the tasks. Kaguya - hime firmly rejected them. There was a resolute look on her face. Although there was a trace of reluctance in her eyes, she knew her own choice.
After rejecting the suitors, Kaguya - hime often stood quietly in the yard alone, looking up at the sky. There was a faint melancholy in her eyes. She seemed to be missing something, or waiting for something. The autumn wind blew gently, and the leaves fell beside her, just like her somewhat melancholy mood. Looking at Kaguya - hime like this, the old woodcutter was a little worried, but he didn't know the secret deep in Kaguya - hime's heart.
One night, suddenly a strange light appeared in the sky. Then, several mysterious figures landed in the yard of the old woodcutter's house. They claimed to be envoys from the moon. They told Kaguya - hime that she was originally a princess on the moon and had been exiled to the earth because of some mistakes. Now that her punishment period was over, she needed to return to the moon. Hearing this news, Kaguya - hime showed a surprised expression on her face, but she also seemed to have a feeling of relief.
Kaguya - hime knew that she had to go, but she was reluctant to part with the old woodcutter. They hugged each other tightly, both in tears. The old woodcutter stroked Kaguya - hime's hair as usual. His voice choked as he told Kaguya - hime that he would always miss her. Kaguya - hime also told the old woodcutter that she would always remember his kindness in raising her. This loving world made her feel extremely warm.
Finally, accompanied by the lunar envoys, Kaguya - hime embarked on the journey back to the moon. Her figure rose slowly under the moonlight. There was a calm expression on her face. The surrounding stars twinkled as if seeing her off. The old woodcutter stood in the yard, looking at Kaguya - hime until she disappeared into the sky. Since then, the story of Kaguya - hime has been passed down in this small village and has become the most beautiful legend among the people.
